Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Bourassa for the trust they placed in me during the last federal election. Serving the people of my riding is an honour, a responsibility and a privilege that I take very seriously. Since becoming a member of the House of Commons, I have been fully involved in issues such as public safety, standard of living and community …
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Madam Speaker, today I am extremely proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of a youth robotics team from our riding of Bourassa. I want to give a shout-out to the gold medallists of the FIRST Global Challenge world championship in robotics: Aaraf Alam Choudhury, Ashley Carolina Vazquez Cabrera, Donnovon Manlius, Iyad Zaabi, Justine Dubuc, Kenlee Suy, Manuela Christy Nzali Wakem, Raul André Varg…
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-235, introduced by the hon. member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford. This bill addresses an issue that strikes at the very heart of our justice system—the way that our country punishes the most severe, devastating crimes resulting not only in death or serious injury, but also in lasting trauma for family members, survivors and society at large. The bill …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for her eloquence and the way she summarized the budget. This budget allows us to invest in a systemic package that includes housing, transportation, infrastructure, SMEs, young people and older people. I think my colleague summed it up well, but I would like to focus on the issue of infrastructure, particularly social infrastructure. These investme…
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Mr. Speaker, perhaps the real question is this: What role does the Bloc Québécois play and what place can it really have in Parliament? What surprises me the most is to see the decisions and positions of the Bloc Québécois increasingly align with those of the Conservatives in a number of committees, not just the finance committee. That really scares me. It bothers me to see that Quebeckers are rep…
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Mr. Speaker, as I rise today, I would like to start by stating a fact: We live in a world of uncertainty. All of the decisions that we are going to make, whether they are departmental decisions or decisions taken as part of a budget or government strategy, are really decisions that we have to make against the backdrop of a changing world. I speak of change, but I could also use the word “disruptio…
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Mr. Speaker, are we going too far? I would say no, quite the contrary. The member must understand that we are going through a period of disruptions and we need to make significant changes. This also gives me an opportunity to answer the question to some extent. Canada is still one of the G7 countries with the most competitive corporate tax rates. If we do not give the minister the power to assess …
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Mr. Speaker, I am extremely grateful to my colleague for his question, which gives me the opportunity to address two very important points. First, we are dealing with a President who changes his mind every day. Second, we are still negotiating. Our government was not the one that stopped the negotiations. That being said, have negotiations stopped? The answer is no. The Prime Minister of Canada is…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about a novel that touches our hearts as much as it makes us think: L'ombre de tes lumières, by the author Kamal Benkirane. Using a simple yet deeply stirring writing style, Benkirane leads us into a story about love, resilience and a search for identity. He talks about families, communities, the often-fragile ties that unite us and the strength it takes to protec…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague very much for her speech. Before I ask my question, I would like her to know that I agree with several points she raised. In my experience with the Montreal police force and as vice-chair of Montreal's public safety commission, I have been confronted with these realities. I have witnessed a surge in violence, particularly among couples. We are talking about financ…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that my heart is filled with emotion as I rise here today to speak to Bill C‑221, especially after listening to my colleague earlier. This bill is not just about tinkering with the wording, regulations and provisions. As the House will hear from my remarks, this is about restoring some sincerity in how we treat human beings. I see this as something de…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague very much for his intervention and to congratulate him. I would also like to congratulate his father for his contribution to society. Since my colleague had limited speaking time, could he now explain how this bill could make it easier to collaborate with municipal and regional authorities and reduce crime committed by potentially very dangerous indi…
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Madam Speaker, that is a very good question with two different aspects to it. First, why invest now? By investing in infrastructure, we are creating jobs. There are jobs created by the project itself, which is an investment, and future employment opportunities, which are ongoing jobs that can become permanent afterwards. Second, Bourassa, in Montreal North, is the only borough in Montreal that did…
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Madam Speaker, first, I would like to point out that I have been in politics for more than eight years and that even my political aides do not write my speeches. These are not talking points from the Prime Minister or cabinet. Last week, I met several people who only wanted to talk to me about the budget. I would like to thank them for their trust, and I am repeating what they told me at the groce…
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Madam Speaker, it is with a deep sense of responsibility and great pride that I rise today to speak to the 2025 federal budget. Before I begin my speech, I just want to say that it has been over six months since I was elected and I want to once again thank the people of Bourassa for putting their trust in me and for giving me this responsibility. This budget is not just an accounting exercise. It …
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Mr. Speaker, I would simply like to say that the future is not carved in stone. The future is what we make it. I would like my colleague to tell us what this budget does in terms of building. Is it an investment in building buildings, or are we also building Canadians' future? As far as infrastructure is concerned, can my colleague explain how this budget will also help people find jobs, including…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for that very good question because it focuses on people who we really listened to in the context of this budget. I would simply like to say that, although that measure is not included in the budget, there are other measures that take seniors into account. That said, it is really important to understand what we are doing here. Our primary goal is to deal with ur…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the global economy is at a historic turning point. The international trading system is in turmoil, and new tariffs now seem to be the norm. Our country is suffering the consequences: a trade slowdown, job losses and growing uncertainty. Our main trading partner is not as reliable as it once was, which is weakening our economy. As we look forward to budget 2025, can the Minister respon…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his intervention, which I would describe as very eloquent. I also want to commend the intelligence of his remarks. On that, I cannot be against virtue. I agree with him on several of the points he raised. I completely agree on the fact that there is no correlation between youth unemployment and the temporary foreign worker program. Far from wishing to contradi…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my hon. colleague from Terrebonne for this bill, because I think it is remarkable. In Montreal, particularly on the West Island or even in Rivière-des-Prairies, there has been flooding that affected people's lives and their peace of mind. The member has taken a unique approach to this problem, which affects everyone. She raised a very interesting aspect in …
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Mr. Speaker, I have to agree when it comes to consistency. I also find it unacceptable that this descent issue, which was rejected by the Conservatives at the time, is now being reintroduced. However, we also have to be careful. If immigration is always associated with security issues, there is a risk of creating stigma. Security issues do not only involve immigrants; they affect the entire popula…
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Mr. Speaker, I will begin by answering the question asked by my hon. colleague. Who should we trust? We need to trust all Liberals who were selected by Canadians across the country. I want to make another point. Proposing amendments is one thing, but distorting a bill is quite another. When amendments alter the spirit of a bill, things get problematic. This is no longer committee work. This is an …
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in support of Bill C‑3, an act to amend the Citizenship Act, and to reaffirm the importance of the requirement for a substantial three-year connection. This measure is central to our vision of a strong, vibrant, and equitable Canadian citizenship. Every time we talk about citizenship, we talk about what it means to be Canadian. Not only is it a legal status, but …
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague raises a good question. All I can say is that this bill will take national security, stability and verifications into account. I nevertheless invite my colleague to introduce the amendment. Our way of working, as a government, is to collaborate, coordinate and find some way to co-operate on all aspects, particularly on public safety.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government has always been there to support health care workers, the dedicated women and men who care for our loved ones and our seniors every day. My question is for the Minister of Health. Can she explain how the newly announced measures, including the tax credit for personal support workers and increased support for union training, will help strengthen our health care system an…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Terrebonne, for her eloquence and, of course, for her presentation. My question concerns the substantial connection test for members of the second generation. Why is this test necessary for members of the second generation born after the legislation comes into force, but not for those born before it comes into force?
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Mr. Speaker, the main purpose of this bill is to establish greater coordination and collaboration between the federal government, the provinces, the municipalities and the regions. With that coordination, I do not think a single thing needs to be added, because every border and every region has completely different constraints. Coordination and collaboration are what is most needed, and that is wh…
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Mr. Speaker, I believe the Minister of Public Safety has already answered that question. He has already made it clear that we are committed to strengthening recruitment in this field and to providing the necessary resources to combat trafficking at our borders. At today's meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, the discussions were reassuring, and we are working t…
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Mr. Speaker, when we consider any bill, we need to ask a fundamental question: Who will this bill benefit? Will this measure that the government or the House is proposing make our programs more effective, make our services more compassionate and make our country fairer? When we look at Bill C‑12, a bill that aims to strengthen our immigration system and our country's borders, I think that the answ…
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Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, there is no duality. Rather, we are trying to strike a balance between openness and vigilance. That is very important. No one can say that the government has done nothing, quite the opposite. We invite our colleagues to come and discuss the matter in committee, because we simply must get the bill passed. What we are striving for is balance, not a duality.
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Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that my colleague's question is irrelevant, but it strays a little outside the scope of the bill. I can still give him an answer, though. This bill does not compromise national security. Quite the contrary, it strengthens identity and background checks, and it helps all stakeholders play a more proactive role in the fight against fentanyl trafficking.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, October is Women's History Month, and I want to pay tribute to Maude Royal, a caring woman of action who has had a profound impact on the riding of Bourassa. For 15 years, she enthusiastically managed the St-Hubert restaurant on Pie-IX Boulevard, making it into an inclusive gathering place. In 2018, at the peak of the construction work on Pie-IX Boulevard, she played a key role in set…
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Mr. Speaker, let me begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Madawaska—Restigouche. Before I begin my speech, I would like to wish all my colleagues here in the House a happy Thanksgiving. I hope they have a good time with their families and enjoy this time in their ridings. Once again, we find ourselves debating a Conservative Party motion that is long on slogans but sho…
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Mr. Speaker, I can outline what the Conservatives did, quite simply. I would like to finish what I started. They were able to do it by reducing frontline services. They sold off assets. They cut spending at the expense of services to Canadians. Is that really what increasing the GDP means to you—
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Mr. Speaker, although some may think that this balanced the budget, in fact, the opposite was true. The Conservatives merely fudged the numbers. Canadians cannot accept this. The Conservatives cannot claim to have balanced the budget when all they did was reduce services to Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to shift the focus back to the government's actions. Our government's measure was a strategic adjustment, not an ideological reversal. We shifted to carbon pricing for the big polluters, the ones actually causing the emissions. Canadians should not have to pay for pollution that really comes from the big polluters. That is why we are focusing on the big polluters in large…
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Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. What we want to do is to spend smart. We want to invest in Canadians, not make them poorer. There is a difference between spending to survive and investing to grow. Our government wants a growing Canada, a freer Canada, a stronger Canada and, above all, a Canada that is independent from its neighbour to the south.
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Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to know what the Conservatives built in 10 years. The answer is next to nothing. Unlike them, we want to spend smarter. We want to reduce current operational spending. We want to invest in a freer country. We want to invest in our economy. We want to build Canada strong. We want Build Canada Homes to build for future generations and especially for young people.
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Mr. Speaker, we simply need to distinguish between operational spending and investing. That is another thing my colleagues across the way need to understand. However, it would take a long time to explain it to them. They really need a class, not just a speech in the House. Simply put, growth is very important. Canada is experiencing positive growth, has the lowest debt in the G7 and is keeping inf…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this week, the Minister of Finance presented a budgeting framework that differentiates and distinguishes between recurring operating spending and capital investment. This budgeting framework also revises the budgetary calendar, so the budget will now be tabled in the fall, followed by an economic review in the spring. People in the riding of Bourassa are eagerly awaiting the budget. H…
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Mr. Speaker, of course, it is very important to recognize the agreements. As I said, it is a matter of moving from agreement to action, but these are actionable variables that must be monitored and supervised. Ultimately, what we are putting in place is not simply an administrative measure. It is a renewed promise, that of a Canada where we do not just talk about reconciliation, but where we truly…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question, which is a very good one. I would simply say that we want to give this commissioner the freedom to pursue intergovernmental relations and relations with the regions. My colleague's proposal would complicate the process, and that is what we want to avoid.
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Mr. Speaker, I will begin by answering the last part of my colleague's question. Are the Liberals scared? Obviously the answer is no. Establishing this commissioner means establishing a mechanism for transparency and oversight. I hope that members across the way will vote in favour of establishing this commissioner. Contrary to what my colleague is saying, I think that by establishing this commiss…
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Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to note that I will be sharing my time with the Member for Yukon. Kwe kwe. Ullukkut. Taanshi. I would like to say hello to everyone. To begin, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that we are gathered today on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe nation, who have been the custodians of these lands since time immemorial. It is with deep…
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Mr. Speaker, I think the issue is much more important than bureaucracy, but I would answer the question in the negative. It is an accountability mechanism. No, the position of commissioner will not create red tape. It will ensure that commitments are kept and that resources are used effectively and efficiently. That is what our government is aiming for.
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Mr. Speaker, I am deeply honoured to rise today and speak on such an important topic that affects Canadians, their peace of mind and their safety. My speech will address the issue from a number of angles. Specifically, I would like to discuss the need to work in a much more systematic way with multiple stakeholders. I would also like to talk about the need to address the issue in a much more thoug…
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Mr. Speaker, what is important to say about this bill, and I will say it again, is that it will be a smart, thoughtful bill that respects the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. What I can say for certain is that it will not be an American-style bill, like the one proposed by the Conservatives. I can assure my colleague that there will be no American-style bill.
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Mr. Speaker, since the member referred to my constituents in his question, I would obviously like to talk about prevention. What my constituents need most is prevention aimed at young people. They need programs that can prevent them from falling into a life of crime, programs that can help them stay in school, and they need a sports centre where young people can gather so they can become the champ…
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Mr. Speaker, I believe we can work with our neighbours to the south to secure our border. We really need to coordinate our security efforts. However, importing and copying American laws — I do not know if I can say this, but it is not a smart move. We want to work in a smart way with all stakeholders while respecting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We are in Canada. We are not south o…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, I missed part of the question. Could the member repeat it?
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