Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, it is my honour today to speak to the private member's bill, Bill C-241, an act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting, put forward by the MP for Terrebonne. As always, I am pleased to rise on behalf of the people of La Prairie—Atateken. Bill C-241 proposes the development of a national strategy to ensure that partners and stakeholders have access …
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Madam Speaker, the question that was submitted had to do with spending on the backs of future generations. There were concerns about whether the Prime Minister realizes that his spending is lining the pockets of his banker and bondholder friends, instead of funding our doctors and nurses. Budget 2025 makes generational investments while maintaining Canada's strong fiscal advantage. This foundation…
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Madam Speaker, budget 2025 is about fiscal responsibility. We are determined to make responsible choices to reduce government operating expenses and wasteful spending, so Canadians can invest more in the workers, businesses and infrastructure that will build Canada strong, and so we can strengthen our health care system in collaboration with the provinces and territories.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by mentioning that the Canada Border Services Agency manages borders at 1,200 designated ports of entry. It works very hard. It enforces our laws and constitutes our first line of defence nationwide. The CBSA is an impressive organization with 8,500 frontline employees who play a critical role every day in protecting our communities, stopping the flow of illegal …
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Mr. Speaker, I apologize. What the member for York—Durham was alluding to is CARM, a newer software from 2024. It is not unusual for there to be outages or bugs with new software. Furthermore, the department is not happy about the high number of outages, and the minister has acknowledged that. This is nothing new. I am not revealing anything new here in the House today. The minister has requested …
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Mr. Speaker, just last week, I met with the people that the member for York—Durham alluded to. He is not telling us anything new today. We are taking responsibility. We have acknowledged the situation. We are taking steps to identify any defects in these new software programs. We fully expect the situation to be rectified in the short term. We recognize the importance of having a border system in …
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to two women who have left their mark on municipal life in my riding of La Prairie—Atateken. Jocelyne Bates was first elected as a councillor for Sainte‑Catherine in 1990 and then went on to serve as mayor for 31 consecutive years. She was also the first woman to hold the position of reeve of the Roussillon RCM. Lise Poissant served as a councillor fo…
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Mr. Speaker, I think similar problems exist in my colleague's riding and in my riding of La Prairie—Atateken. As just one example, we hear a lot about housing construction, but there is an underlying problem, which is the lack of infrastructure needed to support that construction. With this measure, we will enable cities and towns to obtain subsidies to build the infrastructure needed to accommoda…
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Mr. Speaker, to answer the question I can simply go back to what I was saying earlier. Investments create a virtuous cycle that grows the economy, increases GDP, and generates more revenue for the government. That is what our government is proposing to Canadians. Ultimately, Canadians sent us here to do just that. They believed in our plan, and we are delivering on it. I think it will work. I thin…
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take a few minutes to review the measures in the 2025 budget that will impact my constituents in La Prairie—Atateken. Last week, while walking down Saint-Pierre Street in Saint‑Constant, I was able to see how the budget is addressing the concerns of the many people I spoke with. I am going to start with Bill C‑4, making life more affordable for Canadians act and …
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Mr. Speaker, this is an issue that is close to my heart as well. In my riding, La Prairie—Atateken, there are also businesses that depend on temporary foreign workers. It is important to understand that our local workers also depend on these businesses that rely on foreign workers, so it is not a question of one or the other. We are building our economy together. Our government is considering this…
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Mr. Speaker, I think these are valid suggestions that deserve to be studied. I think that Quebec in particular has more temporary workers because the process leading to permanent residency was more complex. Certain things need to be checked with our provincial partners, including the Government of Quebec, but some things can certainly be done. The health of our economy depends on it. The health of…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and in accordance with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between Canada and Ukraine on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters”, done at Kyiv on August 24.
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Mr. Speaker, we respect Supreme Court decisions. We will analyze them, and my colleagues in the Department of Justice will handle things from there. In the House, we respect the RCMP. Our leader is not like the Conservative leader, who called this institution despicable. We respect the Supreme Court and we respect our institutions. When it comes to public safety, we are investing to protect a busi…
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Regina—Lewvan changed his question a little, but we will answer it anyway. Like the member, the Conservatives invariably present the situation as though we live in a binary world. It is always one or the other. It is either the assault-style firearms compensation program or support for food banks. On this side of the House, we have chosen both: support for families…
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak to Bill C-243, an important piece of legislation formerly known as Brian's bill, in honour of Brian Ilesic, a young man who was tragically murdered in Edmonton. I think we are all aware of the ongoing trauma that victims' families experience during parole hearings when they are forced to relive the heinous crimes committed against their loved ones over and over, …
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Madam Speaker, the programs offered within our correctional services allow prisoners to learn new skills and ensure that, when they get out of prison, they will be able to find a job and not find themselves back in prison. These programs are very popular among inmates and well liked by the general public.
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Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and to feel safe, including our indigenous communities. We will ensure that they have the police services, resources and tools they need to deal with this crisis. We will fight crime and fight inequality in this regard. That is why Canadians elected us. That is why indigenous communities have confidence in us. We will be there. We are monitoring …
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Mr. Speaker, our government has already taken decisive action to protect victims of intimate partner violence. Bill C‑75 made it harder for repeat offenders to get bail. Under Bill C‑48, anyone previously convicted of intimate partner violence is required to demonstrate why they should be released, even if they had previously received a discharge. Our government is not stopping there. Today, we ar…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Lanark—Frontenac for this very interesting, pertinent question. I thank him for the opportunity to speak to the topic of AEDs in RCMP vehicles. While the RCMP's primary mandate is for the provision of law enforcement services, it is often called upon to support and fulfill broader first responder roles. The RCMP remains committed to doing so in its …
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Mr. Speaker, the tragic death of Bailey McCourt shocked our communities and highlighted the urgent need to strengthen our justice system's response to domestic violence. Her life was cut short by an act of unparalleled brutality. I offer my deepest condolences to her loved ones. Today, we must honour her memory, but words are not enough. Concrete action must also be taken, and that is what this go…
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Mr. Speaker, currently, the RCMP provides contract policing services through police service agreements. The costs for RCMP services are shared between the provincial, territorial or municipal government, and the federal government. With the exception of Ontario and Quebec, RCMP contract policing services are provided to all other provinces and territories in Canada, as well as to approximately 150…
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Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague knows full well that we cannot announce the measures that will be in the upcoming bill, which will be announced this week. He knows full well what our obligations are, and I hope he is not asking me to betray them. Let me be clear: Our government is taking action. Our government is ramping up its efforts with new legislation and major investments. We are supporting…
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to address concerns about public safety and bail reform. Canadians are rightly concerned about repeat and violent offending. They expect our justice system to keep communities safe while upholding the rule of law. Let me be clear. Former Bill C‑75 does not require courts to release violent offenders at the earliest opportunity and under the least onerous conditions. Tha…
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Mr. Speaker, of course, the work done here helps improve bills. Naturally, we are listening. We in the Liberal Party of Canada are quite proud, actually. We pride ourselves on listening to civil society, putting opinions to good use and, as necessary, improving our bills. We have not given up on the measures left out of Bill C‑12 but retained in Bill C‑2. We believe them to be necessary. We believ…
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Mr. Speaker, this month, as we celebrate women who inspire, innovate and transform the world around them, I would like to highlight the stellar journey of a young woman named Cindy Ouellet, a top paralympian in wheelchair basketball and para nordic skiing, a demanding discipline in which she excels. She has represented Canada at four summer games and once at the winter games. Although she trains f…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question. We are currently seeing a 20% to 25% decrease in auto thefts. At the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, we had an opportunity to hear all the stakeholders explain things to us. They told us that what was needed most was co-operation and collaboration. Bill C‑12 will ensure that all stakeholders have all the relevant information on …
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the inimitable member for Davenport. Our government is committed to taking all the steps necessary to keep our border secure. Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act, is a crucial step in our ongoing commitment to keeping our communities safe, cracking down on sophisticated criminal networks and modernizing our immigratio…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, it is important to remember that the Canadian Coast Guard falls under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, but now it will also fall under a second department in accordance with the bill. We will therefore be able to assess the budgets needed to complete operations. Having said that, we have full confidence in the Coast Guard. It has already proven that it is capable …
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are good at playing with numbers. Here is a statistic: In the United States, there are three times as many homicides as in Canada, particularly involving guns. We should ask ourselves a question: Why are all the Conservatives' measures copied from American measures that we know do not work? Canadians want Canadian methods for fighting crime. There is a good reason fo…
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Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves to be safe and feel safe. That is why we are giving police services and the CBSA the resources and tools they need to fight crime. Whether it is fighting fentanyl trafficking, illegal firearms imports, human trafficking, online pornography or money laundering, we are taking action. Canadians elected the Liberal Party of Canada because they know they can cou…
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Mr. Speaker, this option has been considered before and is entirely valid. It involves costs and coordination with law enforcement and local organizations. A number of provinces already have similar programs that are producing good results. We can confirm that defibrillators are an effective way to save lives.
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Mr. Speaker, allow me to offer my condolences to the victim's family. We strongly condemn such actions and, above all, we want to keep them from happening again. We are going to reform the bail system. It is coming. It is just around the corner. The Conservatives are dwelling on this issue, but there is no need. The legislation is coming. We will also ensure that there are harsher sentences for re…
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Mr. Speaker, our condolences go out to the victim and to the families. These are unbearable situations. We are going to do everything we can to keep them from happening. The Conservatives have a single solution to all the problems: build prisons. We are going to do a lot more than that. We are going to reform the bail system. We are going to impose harsher sentences. We will also ensure that law e…
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Mr. Speaker, everyone in Canada deserves to feel safe. We heard Canadians and we are acting on that. We are taking action. We are bringing forward bail reforms. We are going to introduce longer, tougher sentences for repeat offenders and violent criminals, and we are taking action in communities to stop drug trafficking, limit illegal firearms and get assault weapons off the streets. We are taking…
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Mr. Speaker, we already have a number of constitutional and legislative instruments guaranteeing privacy. Bill C‑8 is very clear on this. It simply allows information collection when faced with a risk that is serious and known. There will be no fishing expeditions. We have established the parameters that will guarantee Canadians' civil rights and liberties.
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Mr. Speaker, the consequences of any breach in our telecommunications and cybersecurity would be catastrophic. It could paralyze the country. That is why we are taking action. We have a legislative model that will be the envy of all G7 and G20 countries. We are confident that we are fulfilling our obligations while respecting the privacy of all Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, first, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saint‑Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton. I am honoured today to have an opportunity to speak in support of the bill on cybersecurity. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we take action to protect our most important pieces of infrastructure against ever-changing security threats and cyber-threats. This is without a doubt a key piece of legisl…
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Mr. Speaker, let me remind members that this bill was brought before the House in the last Parliament. Obviously, we would be more than willing to consider amendments on anything that has changed since that time. I think it would be rather tedious to have the parliamentary committee repeat the same work done during the previous Parliament. In my view, the amendments we proposed are significant. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, we had the same concerns as my colleague. We made sure to strengthen those safeguards in the bill. There is now a reasonableness standard that the Governor in Council will be required to consider before issuing a direction or order. I think those safeguards are entirely satisfactory at this stage.
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Mr. Speaker, my thoughts are with Gabie Renaud's family and loved ones during this painful time. No one should have to experience such a tragedy. Gender-based violence simply has no place in Canada. We will soon be introducing legislation to make it harder for violent offenders to get bail. We are going to make hate-motivated murder, including femicide, a first-degree murder offence. We will alway…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Bill C‑8, an act respecting cyber security, is being debated today in the House. This legislation aims to secure Canada's critical infrastructure by bringing the Canadian telecommunications sector in line with other critical sectors of the Canadian economy. This bill will allow us to notify operators of threats and vulnerabilities so they can pro…
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Mr. Speaker, we are taking plenty of measures to counter these events. I would like to take this opportunity to address a few words to the family of Denis Blanchette and to Pauline Marois, former premier of Quebec. Having served as coroner during the Metropolis attack, I can finally tell them that we will be collecting the CZ 858, the weapon used by Richard Henry Bain at the Metropolis. I hope thi…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Canadian women's rugby 15s team, which, despite their opponents' terrifying haka, won a historic victory last week against former world champions the Black Ferns. This past Saturday, our players lost to the new world champions, the Red Roses, but not without putting up a stellar fight. Anyone who has ever played with a Gilbe…
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Mr. Speaker, I respect the opinion of the member for Calgary Centre. We spent the entire summer touring the country from coast to coast to coast, and now we know what Canadians expect from this budget. Budget 2025 is the next step in our plan to stimulate investment and build a strong, united Canadian economy that provides better-paying jobs, higher incomes and a buffer against global shocks. It w…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Calgary Centre for his question. Our government is working to implement a clear and ambitious plan to build a strong, united and resilient economy that serves Canadian businesses, workers and families. The Minister of Finance and National Revenue has already announced that he will present budget 2025 on November 4. We are faced with a series of historic challeng…
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Mr. Speaker, all the weapons that have been declared prohibited were selected by a committee of experts, by people who know about firearms. We are not talking about members of Parliament here, but experts who know about firearms. These weapons meet all the criteria for military-style assault firearms. I want to reaffirm our government's commitment to upholding public safety through strict gun cont…
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Mr. Speaker, in reply to the hon. member's question, I am pleased to rise to discuss our government's commitments to strengthen gun control and to address gun violence in Canada. The safety of Canadians is the number one priority for this government and we are taking decisive action to stop the increase in gun violence at our borders and in our communities across Canada. The Ruger Mini-14 used by …
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to discuss the bail system and criminal justice policy. Recent tragic events, marked by violent crimes committed by repeat offenders, are a painful reminder of the impact these acts have on our communities. These situations are unacceptable. I want to begin by offering my deepest condolences to the families of the victims, including the loved ones of Bailey McCourt in K…
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Mr. Speaker, dozens of tuberculosis advocates and survivors are here in Ottawa today. They have come from across Canada and around the world to raise awareness among parliamentarians about this ancient infectious disease, which remains the deadliest in the world. Their tireless efforts have pushed governments worldwide to act on TB. Despite their successes, TB still claims the lives of over 1.2 mi…
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