Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, I am saddened to see him rise in the House when, on previous occasions, he failed to defend the interests of his constituents, protect them from the rising cost of living and fight for affordability and their purchasing power. I am thinking of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, for example, which helps 12 million Canadians, including thr…
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Mr. Speaker, we are able to deliver old age security benefits to 7.7 million Canadian seniors using Cúram. According to what the Auditor General said in 2014, the old system had reached the end of its useful life. If this change had not been made, it would have jeopardized the benefits of 7.7 million Canadians. Yes, there are cases that need to be dealt with, and they are being dealt with urgently…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like set the record straight in terms of what we are hearing from the other side. Repeating something day after day in question period does not make it true. To keep it simple for my colleague, according to all of the serious and rigorous analyses that have been conducted, the impact of the industrial carbon tax is virtually zero. The Conservatives are telling us that there ar…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. However, I see that there are some really far-fetched assumptions being made here. I invite him to attend a technical briefing to fully understand what this is about. The Bloc Québécois has been talking about about the Auditor General. In 2014, the Auditor General sounded the alarm, saying that the 60-year-old system was a recipe for disaster and…
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Mr. Speaker, on the first point, I would like to make a modest suggestion. There will be a provincial election in 2026, and if the member for Berthier—Maskinongé and the member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles want to run—
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Mr. Speaker, the theatrics are remarkable, but votes speak louder than theatrics. The member voted against an increase in the guaranteed income supplement, which helps the most vulnerable seniors. She voted against the Canada child benefit, against the Canadian dental care plan and against a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. She voted against affordable housing. Next year, I encourage the Conserva…
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Mr. Speaker, the ones living on another planet are the Conservative members, like my esteemed colleague, who voted against a budget that provides such direct assistance to their constituents. Take, for example, the Canadian dental care plan, which is helping at least 20,000 people in the member's riding. Another example is the Canada child benefit, which has reduced child poverty in Canada by 38%.…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague; this is an important issue. The homelessness situation in Canada and Quebec is of particular concern to us. That is why we have had a strategy to combat homelessness for several years now, backed by significant investments. I invite my colleague to review the 2025 budget, which, I would remind her, she voted against. This budget provides $1 billion …
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Mr. Speaker, if my esteemed colleague wants to review our track record, we can talk about the 180,000 jobs created in Canada in the past three months or the unemployment rate that has fallen for three months in a row and is now 5.1% in Quebec. We can also talk about major investments in Canada, like the $19-billion investment Microsoft announced this week. How about the fact that inflation is with…
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Mr. Speaker, I notice that the Conservatives make up imaginary taxes faster than they come up with questions for question period, because they always ask the same questions. However, if the member wants to talk about the reality on the ground, there is nothing imaginary about it. The Canada child benefit has reduced child poverty by 40% in our country. The Canadian dental care plan provides access…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the House, for the sixth time today, that the policy the member is referring to is not a Government of Canada policy, and it never will be. If she wants to talk about culture, I can tell her that I am very proud of our Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and this government, which has invested $4.1 billion in official languages, among other things, and $77…
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Mr. Speaker, in my previous answer, I listed everything the Conservatives have voted against. These are measures that directly support the people in my colleague's riding and Quebeckers and Canadians across the country. We were elected to provide opportunities to young Quebeckers and to Canadians from coast to coast to coast. That is exactly what we are doing. In November, 54,000 jobs were created…
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Mr. Speaker, after expending so much energy to get elected to the House of Commons, it is sad to see members come here day after day and simply repeat the same talking points written by the Leader of the Opposition. To answer his question, it is even sadder to see my colleague vote against measures like the Canada child benefit or the national school food program, which is saving the most vulnerab…
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Mr. Speaker, what sets us apart from the Conservative Party is that on this side of the House, we believe that we need to build a strong economy to protect the most vulnerable. When it comes to the first part, a strong economy, 54,000 jobs were created in November, 67,000 in October, and 60,000 in September. The unemployment rate is falling and inflation is within the Bank of Canada's target range…
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives keep talking about inflationary spending. We ask them what inflationary spending they would cut. During the election campaign, the Leader of the Opposition was asked if he would cut the Canadian dental care plan, which is helping more than one million Quebeckers and six million Canadians. He said that the program did not even exist, but I can assure the House that in…
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Mr. Speaker, throughout the last election campaign, Bloc Québécois members proposed nothing. All they ever said was, if it is good for Quebec, we vote for it, and if it is not good for Quebec, we vote against it. When they had the opportunity to vote for a budget that is good for Quebec, a budget that includes $4 billion for Hydro-Québec, a project in Contrecœur, a project with Nouveau Monde Graph…
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Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Bloc Québécois members want to create a diversion. I would nevertheless like to remind them that we have invested historic sums in culture, not for the sake of artists' loyalty, but rather so that artists can be loyal to themselves and their artistic expression. For the leader of the Bloc Québécois to claim that Canada's investments in culture could neutralize ou…
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Mr. Speaker, the total failure is the Conservatives who voted against a budget that makes historic investments in housing and that lowers taxes for 22 million Canadians and for first-time buyers of a new home. That is the total failure, and it is clearly on that side of the House.
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Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, every housing organization heaved a sigh of relief to see that Stephen Harper's 10-year reign was finally over, since the Conservatives completely neglected this issue and got out of the affordable housing game altogether. By way of evidence, their own leader oversaw the construction of only six affordable housing units. It is really unbelievable to see that these Quebec…
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Mr. Speaker, this side of the House feels it is important to support the sectors that have been affected by the tariff war with the United States. I would note, however, that my colleague voted against a tax cut that represents approximately $800 per family in Canada and Quebec. She voted against Canada's national school food program, which helps the most vulnerable families save approximately $80…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a big leap for a Conservative member to talk about affordable housing. In my 10 years in politics, I have never met a housing organization that has praised the Conservative Party. At every turn, that party has always voted against investments in affordable and social housing. That is, when they do not outright disparage the concept. On this side of the House, we are investing $1…
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Mr. Speaker, whose interests did my colleague have in mind when he voted against the budget, which provides for a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, the Canadian dental care plan, the Canada child benefit, jobs at the port of Quebec City, jobs at the port of Saguenay, economic development, and jobs in his region at the Davie shipyard? He certainly was not thinking about his constituents' interests.
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Mr. Speaker, while I do recognize my colleague's flair for the dramatic every time he rises in the House, his remarks remain rather weak. When the Leader of the Opposition was in charge of the housing file, he built six housing units across the country. On this side of the House, we are making unprecedented investments to build affordable housing, increase the housing supply and reduce pressure on…
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Mr. Speaker, we have the best fiscal position of all the G7 countries, the best debt-to-GDP and deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7 and a AAA credit rating. There is a reason why the International Monetary Fund is praising Canada's approach. There is a reason why the economists in the House are on this side of the chamber. There is also a reason why I am sure that, deep down inside, my colleague from …
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Mr. Speaker, it is mind-boggling to hear the opposition member talk about endless spending when what he is referring to are things like the Canada child benefit, which has reduced child poverty by 40% in Canada and which helps tens of thousands of Canadians in his own riding. He also talked about the Canadian dental care plan, which, again, helps hundreds of thousands of Canadians, including tens …
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Mr. Speaker, it is always fascinating to hear the Conservatives repeat their leader's talking points day after day and go on about imaginary taxes. They had the opportunity to vote for tax cuts for 22 million Canadians and a school food program for the most vulnerable youth. They had the opportunity to support investments in defence, in productivity and in infrastructure such as the Port of Québec…
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Mr. Speaker, it is true that the situation at the Canada Revenue Agency was unacceptable. Our government is acting quickly to provide Canadians with fast, efficient and reliable service. The plan is working. They can yell all they want, but the plan is working. We have doubled the capacity of call centres. Now, 70% of Canadians get an answer within 15 minutes, and all Canadians can access online s…
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Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are doing. We recognize that Canadians deserve fast, accurate and reliable service from the CRA. The Minister of Finance's plan is working. Seventy per cent of Canadians now get an answer in less than 15 minutes. People no longer need to call the CRA to access its online services. We have also doubled the capacity of CRA call centres.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform my colleague, as was announced by the Minister of Finance and National Revenue in the fall, that we have a 100-day plan to ensure that Canadians receive fast, accurate and reliable services from the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA. Since the plan was implemented, the CRA's call centre capacity has doubled, and 70% of callers now receive a response in less than 15 …
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Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, given the choice between a Prime Minister who visits our allies and trade partners to diversify our markets and an opposition leader who spends his time disparaging our institutions on obscure podcasts, the choice is clear and simple. Canadians made the right choice. We are focusing on diversifying markets to reduce our dependence on the United St…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, my colleague had the opportunity to vote to lower taxes for 22 million Canadians. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to vote for a school food program for the most vulnerable children in Quebec. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to vote for investments in housing, infrastructure and the Espace Hubert‑Reeves. Yesterday, he had the opportunity to invest in defence to increase …
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Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that Canada has the best fiscal position in the G7, with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio among G7 countries. The situation we are currently facing, given the changing world economic order, requires us to be ambitious and serious for the country's future. That is exactly what budget 2025 does, with investments in infrastructure and defence. It is aiming for greater…
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Mr. Speaker, it is fascinating to listen to the Conservatives during question period. It is not surprising that Quebeckers and Canadians rejected a leader who spends his time writing slogans for question period that his members happily regurgitate. The Conservatives are incapable of supporting a budget that presents a real vision for building Quebec and Canada. This budget includes investments, pa…
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Mr. Speaker, let me set the record straight. The budget includes an average tax cut of $800 per middle-class family. It eliminates the GST on new homes for first-time buyers. There is an unprecedented pay increase for the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. They received the increase last Friday. The budget includes investments to modernize infrastructure across our country, to increase th…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be clear. Canada has an enviable fiscal situation. We have a AAA credit rating and the lowest debt-to-GDP and deficit-to-GDP ratios in the G7. What my colleague is about to vote against is a 20% salary increase for 6,000 soldiers at Valcartier, in Quebec City. We are reinvesting in our Canadian Armed Forces. I know this is important to my colleague. How can he vote against that…
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Mr. Speaker, the serious and ambitious alternative to what the Conservatives are proposing is budget 2025, with the best fiscal position of any G7 country, a AAA credit rating, and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio of any G7 country. This is also about making infrastructure investments to modernize our infrastructure. These are major projects to build the country, notably with Nouveau Monde Graphite, w…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Brome—Missisquoi for his question. I want to be clear: Modernizing port infrastructure is essential to increasing our productivity, stimulating our regional economies and strengthening the national economy. On Monday, I was very pleased to stand with Carl Laberge and Stéphanie Desforges from the Port of Saguenay; Louis Ouellet, the reeve of of t…
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Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, it would be irresponsible not to make the investments we are proposing in budget 2025 to stimulate growth in Canada, respond to a change in the global economic order and increase the sovereignty and resilience of the Canadian economy. I urge my colleague to reconsider and support budget 2025.
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Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleague to actually read the budget. He mentioned housing. There is a massive investment to build housing in Quebec. He mentioned health care. Quebeckers want high-quality health care infrastructure. There is money for that in the budget. Quebeckers want good jobs. Major projects are planned across Quebec to develop our resources and create opportunities for you…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to inform my colleague that the Canadian economy added 67,000 jobs in the past month, and that is just the start. If the Conservatives help us pass budget 2025, we will unleash the power of the Canadian economy by building major projects such as the one in Contrecoeur or the container project at the port of Quebec, which my colleague's leader was praising yesterday in …
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Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what the Prime Minister said, as I think it could be useful for my colleague. The impact of the industrial carbon tax on food prices is approximately zero. Now, to pick up on what my colleague was saying, when the Conservatives talk about food insecurity, the hypocrisy shown on the other side of the House does not stop with that one inconsistency, considering that my col…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada has a AAA credit rating from the credit rating agencies, the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7 and the lowest borrowing rate in the G7. That is Canada's fiscal position. What is in the budget? Housing is being doubled. Investments in infrastructure are being made. The salaries of the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces are being increased like never before. We are e…
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Mr. Speaker, to use one of the Conservatives' lines, every word a Conservative member recites obviously comes straight from the office of the Leader of the Opposition. My colleague recites them very well. He wants to talk about the future. They do not take question period very seriously, so it is no wonder that Canadians chose a serious and ambitious government that gives the middle class more buy…
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Mr. Speaker, I am really looking forward to my colleague hearing tomorrow's budget. The Minister of Finance will be presenting a generational budget for Canada. It will enable us to build the strongest economy among G7 countries, so that we can afford to have social programs that support Canadians. Here is the big difference between us on this side of the House and the Conservatives. They do not c…
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Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives fritter away every question period with talk of imaginary taxes, we on this side of the House are working on real programs with tangible effects on the lives of Canadians and Quebeckers. Take, for example, the national school food program. It is a school for all. The Breakfast Club of Quebec says that this program is having a major impact on the lives of thousa…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Terrebonne for her excellent question. I am so glad to have her here with us. I know that there are many businesses in her riding that care about buying Canadian. What does buying Canadian mean? It means prioritizing Canadian companies and having Canadian content requirements. It means helping SMEs so they can get federal government contracts. It ultimat…
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Mr. Speaker, the reason we are on this side of the House is that we promised Canadians and young Canadians a serious plan to grow the economy by creating one Canadian economy and making key investments to build Canada's economy while reducing the cost of living and increasing buying power. That is what we have done from day one, when we introduced a tax cut for 22 million Canadians. That is what w…
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Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to offer my opposition colleague a briefing to help him understand the nature of this contract, which was awarded as part of a tendering process. All of the costs incurred, the $190 million over 10 years, were included in the initial contract, which was good value for money. If my colleague wants to know more about this specific contract, then I will be pleased to mak…
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot compete with my colleague's performance, which was very impressive, although we have seen him do better. I congratulate him in any case. As for his question, if he wants to talk about sacrifices, I find that a bit hypocritical on their part. The Conservatives would sacrifice the Canada child benefit, the Canadian dental care plan, the national school food program and a pay ra…
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Mr. Speaker, it is simply astounding the way the Conservatives take every opportunity to vote against programs that truly benefit Quebeckers and Canadians. Take, for example, the Canada child benefit, which has reduced child poverty in Canada by 38%, the Canadian dental care plan or the national school food program, which the Breakfast Club describes as a huge success that will help the youth of Q…
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