Minister MacDonald responded to a question about business investment
Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald attended question period last week where he fielded a question about business investments in Canada.
Michael Guglielmin, the Conservative MP for Vaughan—Woodbridge, cited a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business indicating that for six straight years, more businesses in Canada have closed than have opened.
He asked the government when it would cut red tape and remove other barriers to allow businesses to thrive.
The minister’s response highlighted multiple investments happening in Canada.
“Mr. Speaker, just recently, we have seen that foreign direct investment is at an all-time high in decades. Kraft Heinz is investing $250 million in Montreal. Bayer is investing $45 million in canola research in Winnipeg,” the minister said on April 16. “Froneri ice cream giant is expanding its Canadian operation. Mars Canada is investing $180 million across Ontario. Coca-Cola is investing $141 million into its Brampton facility.”
Guglielmin pushed back, saying an RBC report counted about “$1 trillion in capital flight over the last 10 years,” and again asked if the government would reverse policies to make Canada a destination for business investment.
Minister MacDonald’s response highlighted a different part of the report which indicated Canada is attracting investment at levels not seen since 2015.
“We are strengthening domestic food processing, increasing capital public partnership investments, reducing regulatory impediments, and growing and diversifying our markets. We are working alongside business communities right across the country, to make this place a much better place,” the minister said.
On April 17, John Barlow, the Conservative ag critic, criticized the government for how its policies affect Canadian farmers.
“Farmers lost $3.3 billion in 2024 and are expected to lose another $30 billion over the next decade, yet the Liberals continue to double down, closing research centres, imposing a fertilizer import tax and increasing the industrial carbon tax,” he said before asking when the government will give farm families a fighting chance.
Ryan Turnbull, the parliamentary secretary to multiple ministers, didn’t address the question, instead choosing to highlight the RBC report which showed Canada is attracting over $100 billion of global investment.