Parliamentary Speeches
415 speeches by Marie-France Lalonde — Page 1 of 9
Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “Removing Barriers to Entrepreneurship Among Veterans”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. While I am on my feet, I move: That the House do now proceed to orders of th…
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Mr. Speaker, recently Canada was selected to host the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank following negotiations among allied countries. This decision reflects the confidence of our allies and will lead to the creation of a defence-funding institution, providing affordable loans and facilitating strategic investments. As Canada's national capital region, Ottawa-Gatineau is uniquely positioned to…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF. The first report concerns its participation in the electoral observation mission in Chisinău, Moldova, from September 22 to 30, 2025. The second report concerns its participation…
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Madam Speaker, from June 17 to 25, exactly 1,871 students from eight high schools in Orléans will be celebrating their graduation, one of the most important milestones in their academic journey. This journey is marked by perseverance, growth and success. They have acquired the tools they need for the next stage of their lives. It is always quite inspiring to personally sign each of their certifica…
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Mr. Speaker, from May 17 to May 23, we mark Paramedic Services Week, a time to honour the dedicated professionals who respond with compassion during Canadians' most difficult moments. In Orléans and across Ottawa, paramedics serve our community every day with courage, professionalism and care. To all those who answer the calls, I thank them. It was very important for me to recognize their work and…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “Main Estimates 2026-27”.
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Mr. Speaker, Orléans is a community with a vibrant cultural scene. I would like to congratulate the Mouvement d'implication francophone d'Orléans, which has launched its 2026-27 artistic program, featuring shows, comedy, theatre and, new for this year, a youth component, all of which will help promote francophone culture. Orleans is also home to a vibrant local economy, where we see new small busi…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada's mission in Afghanistan was the largest deployment of Canadian troops since World War II. From 2001 to 2014, more than 40,000 Canadians served with courage and sacrifice. We honour the memory of the 158 service members and seven civilians who lost their lives. We must make sure this legacy lives on. Can the Minister of Veterans Affairs explain why today's groundbreaking ceremo…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, which relates to the motion adopted on April 20, 2026, regarding the creation of an independent Canadian military honours review board.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs entitled “Suicide Prevention Among Canadian Veterans”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Mr. Speaker, as chair of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and the MP proudly representing Orléans, I often hear about the need to strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces to meet the challenges ahead. Our new government has embarked on an ambitious plan to rebuild, reinvest in and re-equip our armed forces. Can the Minister of National Defence provide an update on this important plan?
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Mr. Speaker, on March 19, I had the privilege of attending Rideau Hall, where two Orléans residents received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. Eileen McCauhey was honoured for her remarkable work with Busy Fingers, a group of 120 women who crochet thousands of items for organizations in the region. Fourteen-year-old Hana Fatima was also recognized for her exceptional leadership, becoming the y…
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Mr. Speaker, on March 20, we celebrated the International Day of La Francophonie, a perfect opportunity to highlight the vitality and impact of the French language and the richness of our linguistic duality, which strengthens our identity and unites us. All month long, francophone communities have been actively celebrating our heritage. The theme of the 28th Rendez-vous de la Francophonie was “Act…
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Mr. Speaker, Ontario is home to a vibrant francophone community. Now more than ever, I am proud to rise in the House to celebrate the wealth of the French language. The International Day of La Francophonie is an important time to strengthen the francophone presence and attract and retain francophone talent in Ontario and across Canada. Can the Minister of Immigration tell us what our government is…
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Mr. Speaker, March 8 was International Women's Day. This day gives us an opportunity to highlight the progress made in advancing women's rights, while also recognizing the work that remains to be done. On March 6, I had the honour of hosting my 12th annual International Women's Day breakfast, followed by the Orléans Leading Women and Girls Recognition Awards, celebrating outstanding women and girl…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF. The first report concerns its participation in the 40th session of the APF America Regional Assembly, held in Quebec City, Canada, from September 9 to 11, 2025. The second report…
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Mr. Speaker, the new defence industrial strategy is a testament to our confidence in Canada's industrial capabilities and our strength on the international stage. We are allocating $81 billion to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our Canadian Armed Forces. The government has taken meaningful action, including a $900-million investment in innovative dual-use technologies. Can the Minister of Industry …
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Mr. Speaker, the new defence industrial strategy is a testament to our confidence in the industrial capabilities—
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Mr. Speaker, last week, from February 16 to 22, we celebrated scouting week 2026 with the theme “Proud and United in Scouting”. In Canada, the francophone scouting movement brings together some 10,000 youths and 3,700 volunteers in an active community that brings adventure to life. In my riding, the 24th Orléans scout troop includes 104 outstanding youths who are known for their bravery, team spir…
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Mr. Speaker, on Friday, February 6, the 2026 Olympic Winter Games will officially open in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. I want to extend my best wishes to all Canadian athletes competing, with a special cheer for those representing the national capital region: Zachary Connelly, Mike Evelyn O’Higgins, Antoine Cyr, Paul Poirier, Kayle Osborne, Isabelle Weidemann, Katherine Stewart-Jones, Rache…
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Mr. Speaker, on November 29, our community came alive as thousands of residents, including families, children and even a few pets, all gathered along St. Joseph Boulevard to witness the magical Orléans Santa's parade of lights. More than 60 beautifully designed floats made their way down our main street, each meticulously crafted and decorated, and sprinkled with that special Orléans charm. The pa…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs entitled “The Experience of Indigenous Veterans”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
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Mr. Speaker, I know how much of an advocate this member has been on the subject of mental health, and I want to commend him for his advocacy. As a former social worker who has first-hand experience on the impacts on mental health, I have to say it is most important that we continue. I was actually quite pleased to see, in the past few years, our federal government, while doing its accord on health…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, because I think 343 members have been able to take advantage of this program over the past few years. I know it has been useful to me in Orléans. I have always been well aware of the significant benefits of this program, which is making a difference. We have been asking for this program to be enhanced for several years now, and that is what this …
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Mr. Speaker, of all the questions my colleague could have asked, I am glad he chose that one. With all due respect to him, what I will say to Canadians and to the people of Orleans that I represent is that our government is there for them. Our government will protect the necessary investments that are important to them while allowing for responsible budgetary expenditures. We are in an era of mode…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF. The first report concerns the Bureau meeting of the APF and the Parliamentary Conference on Francophone Cooperation in the Areas of Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Cli…
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to answer this question because we have increased funding over the past few years for transfer payments. I was previously a member of a provincial cabinet. I can assure the member that funding was increased by more than $200 billion, which the provinces have been able to benefit from in recent years. We will continue to be there for the health of Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House today to speak about budget 2025, the “Canada Strong” budget. I will be sharing my time with my great colleague, the hon. member for Kanata. On Tuesday, the government presented a plan that makes a generational investment to build the foundation of a stronger, more resilient Canada. It is a plan to build more homes for Canadians, to deliver major…
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Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to pay tribute to Juliette Trudeau, who is retiring after 39 years of devoted service to Parliament. Originally from Charlo, New Brunswick, Juliette began her career as a legal secretary before moving to Ottawa in 1986. That same year, she came to work for the House of Commons, where she served as a parliamentary assistant and then a ministerial assistant. …
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Mr. Speaker, in my role as chair of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, I had the privilege of presenting the insignia of the Ordre de la Pléiade to five extraordinary Canadians at a ceremony held on September 23. These leaders of the French fact were recognized for their ongoing commitment and dedication to promoting the French language in the arts, business, co…
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moved for leave to introduce Bill C-248, An Act respecting the holding of a pan-Canadian conference on time change. Mr. Speaker, as the Government of Canada focuses on building one economy that works for everyone, by removing federal barriers, expediting nation-building projects and making things more affordable, we must look at all avenues that can supplement this effort. That is why today I am p…
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Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago today, our magnificent green and white flag, a symbol of Franco-Ontarians, was raised for the first time in Sudbury. This morning, together with the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages and colleagues from across Canada, we proudly raised the flag on Parliament Hill. Ontario is home to the largest francophone population…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to pay tribute to a remarkable man and a dear friend our Orléans community has lost, Vaughan Patrick Martin. A proud Canadian and a devoted public servant, Vaughan served as director of protocol at Global Affairs Canada, a role he called the best job in government. He played a key role in organizing major international events, including G7, NATO and Commo…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. The first report is entitled “The Persian Gulf War Was a War”. The second report is entitled “Reforming Transition from Military to Civilian Life”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to e…
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Mr. Speaker, the world is becoming an increasingly dangerous and uncertain place, from rising geopolitical tension and economic instability to the impacts of climate change and conflict, yet Canadians can be confident that their government is putting their safety, security and prosperity first by working closely with our allies and defending the values that matter to us. Can the Minister of Foreig…
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Mr. Speaker, since this is National Public Service Week, I would like to begin by thanking all public servants in Orléans and across Canada for their essential work. The next two weeks mark the beginning of graduation season for grade 12 students. I want to congratulate the 1,514 graduates from the eight high schools in Orléans. I congratulate the class of 2025. They did it. I look forward to seei…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we marked a historic moment: the 50th anniversary of the Festival franco-ontarien. For half a century, this festival has been proudly celebrating the culture, language and identity of francophones in Ontario through music. It is an opportunity to bring together different generations, showcase local and foreign artists and celebrate the wealth of our francophone heritage. I …
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Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF. The first concerns its participation in the commemoration of the the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide in Kigali, Rwanda, on April 6 and 7, 2024. The second concerns its participation …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the residents of Orléans for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the House of Commons. I consider it a tremendous honour and privilege, and I am grateful for their trust. I also want to thank my campaign team and the hundreds of volunteers who took the time, day after day, to come out and help us spread our message. The people of Orléans shared their c…
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Mr. Speaker, as 2024 comes to an end, I want to extend my warmest wishes to everyone in the House and to the people of Orléans. As the representative of the most beautiful riding in Canada, I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of the residents of Orléans. Their unwavering support, leadership and dedication to our community has made a profound impa…
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Mr. Speaker, it is with gratitude and admiration that I thank Robert Rainboth of the Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters Association for organizing the Orléans Parade of Lights for the past 27 years. Thanks to his vision and leadership, this event has come to symbolize real joy and magic in Orléans. Every year, he made the eyes of young and old alike sparkle and gave the community a unique opportuni…
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Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to acknowledge the excellent work done by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 632 to support our veterans. I want to take this opportunity to thank the organizers, Serge Lavoie and Jim Grant, and all the volunteers for their efforts throughout the poppy campaign, which raised just over $150,000. I want to thank the Orléans community for its continued generosity. I also wa…
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Madam Speaker, our government has been clear. Our CAF members and veterans deserve better than Conservative cuts and office closures. This week, I was pleased to join the Minister of Veterans Affairs and my colleagues from the national capital region in announcing more than $11 million to support the veteran well-being fund. We will always stand up for our serving members and veterans. Today and e…
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Madam Speaker, first, I want to take this opportunity to thank our members and our veterans for their service and their sacrifice. However, let us be absolutely clear: The chaplain general issued this directive independently, and it does not ban prayer. Actually, the directive simply seeks to help our CAF chaplains make their public addresses more inclusive, reflecting the spiritual diversity of C…
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Madam Speaker, I want to once again take the opportunity to thank our members and our veterans for their service—
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Madam Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank our members and our veterans for their service and their sacrifice. What the member is alleging is absolutely not true, and I feel ashamed that he is proclaiming this. As we said, we have not banned prayer. We are looking to reflect the diversity of our CAF, and this is a directive that comes from the chaplain general.
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Mr. Speaker, as outlined in “Our North, Strong and Free”, Canada has always believed that a multilateral approach is critical to the effective delivery of the defence mandate. That is why National Defence has many partnerships on the continent and around the globe, including through the Five Eyes alliance with the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In relation to the que…
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Mr. Speaker, let me say that, as a government, we remain committed to fighting climate change while putting more money back in the pockets of Canadians. Experts agree that putting a price on pollution is the most cost-effective way of fighting climate change. Climate change is real, and unlike the Conservatives, who are trying to avoid the conversation on the world stage, we as a government have a…
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Mr. Speaker, this is a very serious issue. Certainly, when I think about the seriousness, I want to make sure I respond accordingly. The Government of Canada recognizes that safe recycling processes are vital to ensuring the careful and secure handling of environmentally hazardous substances such as asbestos, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and ozone-depleting substances. Canada aims to ensure that shi…
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Mr. Speaker, I have to say that the member gets a gold star, because she actually mentioned something so important: The average household gets back more than it pays. The Conservatives seem to be obsessed with the idea of a secret cover-up, but there is none. We have always fully cooperated with the Parliamentary Budget Officer and will always do so. Our government has been clear: The vast majorit…
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