Parliamentary Speeches
525 speeches by Claude DeBellefeuille — Page 4 of 11
Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I am not a forestry expert. I do know that forest management is a provincial responsibility, which puts it within the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces, and that each province manages its own forestry sector. I am not all that familiar with my colleague's claims that improper forest management could be the cause of some fires. I am therefore unable to answer my colleague's qu…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague that there is nothing better than collaboration among all levels of government to find solutions to what indigenous communities may be experiencing. I know the current situation in Manitoba is hitting them the hardest. They are literally surrounded by flames. I know some indigenous leaders have complained that they do not have everything they need to stop t…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, as a member of Parliament representing a riding that borders the United States, I have an interest in border security. The throne speech mentions the hiring of additional RCMP officers, but there is not a word about the government's intention to add human resources to the Canada Border Services Agency. Does my colleague not find it odd, even abnormal, that the previous government's co…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have a reminder for the Liberals. Quebeckers elected a minority government, and so they expect the parties to co-operate. They expect transparency. Most of all, they expect restraint. Tabling over $200 billion in new spending without a budget explaining where the funds are coming from is a blatant violation of the Liberals' mandate in every sense. We asked the government to co-opera…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, during the previous Parliament, parliamentarians passed Bill C-21, legislation aimed at increasing gun control. However, since the bill passed, we have been waiting for the regulations that the government was supposed to introduce. Does my colleague, who is concerned about safety, find it unusual that the regulations for such an important bill have not yet been introduced?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, yes, seniors in Quebec and other Canadian provinces are increasingly falling victim to financial scams, as well as romance scams. It should be noted that there seems to be a bit of a vacuum, in that no one feels responsible for going after those who are scamming seniors. Like my colleague, I believe that we need to talk about this and do more to address it. I think the government has …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, in her speech, the member talked a lot about hope. Apparently one constituent voted for her in the hope that things would change. I am the mother of three young women who have young children, babies. They need hope too. They wonder what kind of world their children are going to live in. They wonder what kind of planet we are going to leave them. I gather from the member's speech that …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the wonderful member for Shefford. Before I begin my reply to the Speech from the Throne, I would like to warmly and sincerely thank the voters of Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon for their renewed trust. I am beginning my fifth term with the same enthusiasm, the same desire to serve my constituents and, I would say, the same strength to defend…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new position. I listened carefully to my colleague's speech, in which he emphasized the importance of public safety and border security. The throne speech makes no mention of the promised hiring of 1,000 additional border officers to ensure border security. I would remind my colleague that the real number of officers needed is closer to 3,000, as documented. Ho…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind my colleague that this is my fifth term. I think there is a lesson to be learned from that about being careful when asking questions. Arrogance is never welcome. That said, I am in touch with the people of my riding. Seniors aged 65 to 74 did not get an increase. True, they might have access to dental care now, but that does not pay the rent or buy groceries. In …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, that is a good question. Personally, I truly believe in co-operation, but who we are must be respected. Co-operation does not mean saying that I have a good idea and that anyone who disagrees is not co-operating. Co-operation is about discussion, negotiation and respect. When I look at the throne speech, I do not get the impression or the sense that a wave of co-operation is on the ho…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the Canadian Dental Care Plan: what is the number of beneficiaries enrolled in the program, broken down by (i) province or territory, (ii) federal electoral district, (iii) Quebec municipality, if available?
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, important votes usually take place here in the House but, today, that work is being done in the Senate. Senators are voting on an amendment that would kneecap Bill C‑282 and prevent it from protecting supply management. Unelected representatives will vote on whether or not they should respect the will of elected officials from all parties to protect our farmers in trade agreements. Di…
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Mr. Speaker, I am appealing to the party leaders. Each one of them voted to protect supply management in trade agreements by passing Bill C‑282. Today, senators will either vote to respect our will or they will vote to reverse our collective decision, in a complete break from the basic principles of democracy. The party leaders must know that the farmers in their ridings are watching them. Will al…
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Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote, and we will be voting in favour, along with the member for Manicouagan.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, the Université du Québec à Montréal, or UQAM for short, has just scored a major coup by appointing Pauline Marois chancellor. This is another first for the woman who was elected Quebec's first female premier. Throughout her impressive career serving Quebec, it was her role as education minister that Ms. Marois says she enjoyed the most, because that is where she was able to make the b…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and votes no.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the result of the vote and will vote in favour.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and votes no.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, people who live near the border in Salaberry—Suroît and Châteauguay—Lacolle all know that smugglers are already one step ahead of the federal government. With the return of Donald Trump, people are even more worried. Cutting the CBSA's hours of service does nothing to reassure the public. At a time when the RCMP should be stepping up its efforts and we are asking Ottawa to support tho…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on October 24, the band Lendemain de Veille won “group of the year” at the Gala Country, which celebrates French-language country music. This is a big deal. These musicians are as talented as they are high-spirited, and that is saying a lot. Lendemain de Veille won this honour for the third year in a row, but their fans will not be surprised to hear that they have won again. Anyone wh…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, throughout Quebec, people are at the heart of the social economy, and that heart beats strong: There are more than 220,000 engaged workers who are happy to work at 11,200 group ventures, generating more than $47.8 billion annually. Social economy is the idea that the future belongs to us and we can all contribute to building a more just and more united world. November is the time to r…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I must note that the Bloc Québécois made the effort to notify the government. The government learned last night that we would be debating this report. It is therefore false—
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to use my time to heartily congratulate my colleague from Montcalm. He has a level of knowledge and expertise that should make the minister envious. The Bloc Québécois believes that the member for Montcalm understands the issue 100%. He understands it in a much more tangible and practical way than the Minister of Health does, which is a shame. We are hearing all sorts o…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I am so angry at what I have been hearing over the past 20 minutes. The parliamentary secretary to the government leader clearly showed his ignorance when it comes to advance requests. He showed his ignorance and lack of knowledge. He does not even know what is in Bill C‑390, which was tabled here in May 2024. He said he is not familiar with its content, which offers a solution for …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. I imagine she has read the report of the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying. The committee is made up of parliamentarians from all parties in the House as well as senators. In recommendation 13, all committee members agreed that we were not ready to make a decision on extending MAID to people whose sole medical condi…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, it is with a great deal of emotion that I rise today to speak to this report. We are talking about it because advance requests for MAID are a topical issue in Quebec, which implemented its legislation yesterday. It was a big day. It took a year for the act to pass, and it came into force this week. This is a great day for Quebeckers. From now on, people diagnosed with an incurable, …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' decision to abandon seniors is heartless. The insinuations that seniors are too rich to deserve a pension increase are shameful. There are seniors in Quebec whose pension is their only source of income. These people do not have any financial leeway to deal with rent increases. They do not have a rainy day fund to deal with the cost of replacing a vehicle, even with a use…
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Mr. Speaker, the Quebec lieutenant is against increasing the pensions by 10% because among those 65 to 74 there are rich people like him who do not need it. That is not true. Rich people like him are seeing their pensions reduced by clawback taxes. The government is already paying the 10% increase to people 75 and up. It is universal. If the Liberals think that it is good enough for people 75 and …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with pride to congratulate Mélissa Bourdon on being named woman farmer of the year in the Montérégie‑Ouest region. From farmwork and fieldwork to financial management and direct sales, Ms. Bourdon is always finding ways to innovate on the farm she manages alongside her father, François. With the strong support of those close to her, and on top of her endless plans and pro…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, for years now, the Bloc Québécois has been calling for the Senate to be abolished. It is an outdated institution and there is nothing democratic about it. We said it was useless, but we were wrong. It is not useless; it is harmful. To the Senate, the will of elected representatives does not matter. Senators can decide not to respect that will without any problem or consequence. Bill C…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, supply management is the farming model that ensures a secure future for our dairy, egg and poultry farmers. It is a model that we must protect. Everyone agrees on that except for senators Boehm and Harder, who think they are wiser and smarter than everyone here, than our farmers, than the millions of people that we represent in the House. They are part of the global intellectual elite…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today, October 7, marks the end of a year of horror. It has been a year since Hamas terrorists massacred over 1,200 people in Israel. It has been a year since Hamas took nearly 250 people hostage, including dozens who are presumed to be alive but who are still missing. It has been a year since the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust. Last October 7, Hamas committed acts of incr…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member took fiendish delight in calling me on that. Maybe he wants to be the whip in the next Conservative government. The debate we are having on this opposition day is very important. The Bloc Québécois did not conjure this out of thin air. As everyone knows, this has been one of its priorities since 2019. Just this morning, our position was endorsed by the president o…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the member opposite is raising doubts about the universal old age security system. Under a universal plan, everyone 65 and up gets the same old age pension. If people have more income, that is dealt with through taxes. Now, it sounds like my colleague is saying, loudly and clearly, that Canada's old age security system is no longer a universal system and that he is okay…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. I know she cares deeply about seniors, and her sincerity and candid spontaneity have often surprised me. I would like to ask her a simple question. I am sure that there are 65-year-old seniors in her riding who do not have the privilege of having a private pension plan and who therefore have only their old age security pension and the guaranteed in…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I will share my time with my colleague from Terrebonne. Today is a very special day. October 1 is National Seniors Day in Quebec. In Salaberry—Suroît, as in the rest of Quebec, people have organized all kinds of events to celebrate seniors, thank them and recognize the work they do. People tend to forget what a tremendous asset seniors are to communities. They volunteer with most of t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what to make of these two questions. On the first, I think that what is clear to Quebeckers, and the message has been heard loud and clear, is that before putting the Leader of the Opposition in charge of the country, I know that my constituents and Quebeckers want us to work on securing a better old age pension for our seniors. Now, will there be an election? I do not k…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my colleague, who is always so thorough in the way he asks questions. There are many other ways to support seniors. I think that the Bloc Québécois, in its last election platform, also suggested tax incentives, among other things. I think that when someone purports to run a progressive or social-democratic government, choices also have to be made. What we understand ab…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on July 17, Quebec lost a great unionist, feminist, sovereignist, and progressive with the passing of Réjean Parent. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to offer his loved ones my condolences, starting with his wife Pauline and their children Marie-Hélène, Claudia, and Olivier. As a unionist, Réjean Parent served the cause of education, which led him from the Syndicat de Cha…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That the House reiterate that elected officials are invested with the trust of the people and have a responsibility to the office they hold; That the House reaffirm that violence and threats have no place in Parliament; and That the House urge all…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, if I may, on behalf of the members of the Bloc Québécois and our teams, I too would like to thank you and to thank the Clerk of the House, the Chief Administrator, the Sergeant-at-Arms and their entire teams in all areas, including finance, human resources, IT, the Parliamentary Protective Service and food services. I would like to thank all the staff who, day in and day out, make our…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting against.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour of the motion.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting against this motion.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting against.
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