Parliamentary Speeches
432 speeches by Maxime Blanchette-Joncas — Page 1 of 9
Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague on his speech. I gave an example earlier, following a speech by a Conservative colleague, about how Imam Adil Charkaoui had incited hatred, notably with his speech at an event. No charges were brought under the existing Criminal Code, and that is why the Bloc Québécois is seeking to modernize it, as suggested by the RCMP. There were no grounds for the RCMP to la…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote from a speech delivered by Imam Adil Charkaoui in Montreal on October 23, 2023. He said, “Allah, take care of these Zionist aggressors. Take care of the enemies of the people of Gaza. Identify them all, then exterminate them. And don't spare any of them.” If that is not hate speech, then I would like my Conservative colleagues to tell me what is. No charges were …
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Madam Speaker, we completely agree that this just adds more bureaucracy, that it adds a new structure. They already had the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, but now they are adding Build Canada Homes instead of optimizing what is already in place. I would like to know if we can agree that this is another attempt by the federal government to interfere in Quebec's jurisdictions, including in…
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Madam Speaker, I am rising today at second reading of Bill C-237. At first reading last October, the Bloc Québécois indicated that we were open to this bill. At that time, we had already found some problems with the bill, but we were willing to analyze it, hear the arguments and look at the actual impacts it would have. Since then, we have worked hard to do just that. We have listened to Quebecker…
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Madam Speaker, we are experiencing the worst housing crisis in decades, and the government is boasting that it is going to create a new entity called Build Canada Homes. The Parliamentary Budget Officer says that Build Canada Homes will create a mere 26,000 new homes, when 690,000 are needed. Does anyone on that side of the House know how to count? I thought the Prime Minister was supposed to be a…
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Madam Speaker, the government is saying that it wants to solve crises. However, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the crisis will not be solved because the government's actions are inadequate. The government wants to build 26,000 new housing units although we need 690,000. Allow me to explain it to my colleagues who are good at math on the other side. This means that it is addressing …
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Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on her speech. She talked about something very important, something that I see as a hallmark of the Conservative Party, specifically, government accountability. That is what the Bloc Québécois wanted to pursue with our bill, and yet that is what the Conservatives rejected. Under our bill, the government would be required to table new trade agreeme…
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Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague and congratulate him on his speech. Today, the Conservatives are saying that this new position of commissioner for modern treaty implementation would not be good for indigenous communities. I would like to remind my colleague that, when Bill C-5 on projects of national interest was being studied in June, indigenous communities were not consulted. At the time, …
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Mr. Speaker, what great news we are getting today from the Minister of Finance. Members of the Bloc Québécois support a measure that is designed to help the most vulnerable among us, finally. However, I would like to remind the minister what he said a few months ago. He said that the government did not have the money to fix an injustice of its own making. I am referring to the OAS increase for per…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, our debate today centres on a fundamental disagreement between Quebec and Canada, a pivotal disagreement, a deep fracture that reveals what Quebec is and, most importantly, what Quebec refuses to be. This debate is not about openness, diversity or immigration. It is about Quebec's vision of itself as a nation and its right to make its own collective choices. Bill C‑245 is simple. It s…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is supposedly a financial expert. Meanwhile, we just had to wait 20 months for a budget, which is not something that has happened very often in history. Another thing that has not happened very often in history is having the largest deficit in Canadian history with a financial expert as Prime Minister. Now, we have a finance minister who is patting himself on the ba…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Quebec has lost a great explorer. Robert Grenier, a figurehead in the world of underwater archaeology, has passed away. Robert Grenier was a world-renowned expert who had worked for Parks Canada since the 1960s. He was even featured on the cover of National Geographic. His greatest achievement was the discovery of the San Juan, a 16th-century whaling ship, off the coast of Labrador, p…
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Madam Speaker, I listened to my colleague's speech, and a fairly simple question came to mind. Bill C-16 seeks to put an end to automatic dismissals of cases under the Jordan decision, which was handed down 10 years ago. Who has been in power for the past 10 years? It has been the same Liberal Party all that time. My question is quite simple: Why did the government wait 10 years to fix a problem t…
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Mr. Speaker, I commend my Conservative Party colleague. From 2017 to 2023, some 150,000 people crossed the border irregularly at Roxham Road. It is fair to say that, at the time, the Bloc Québécois pretty much talked itself hoarse in the House asking the government questions to try to get the situation resolved. The Conservatives were pretty quiet on this issue. In fact, they stayed completely mum…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my esteemed colleague from Lac‑Saint‑Jean on his speech. The government likes to repeat itself to give the impression that it is doing a good job. In April, the Prime Minister announced at a press conference that the government was going to hire additional CBSA officers to secure our borders. However, that request came from the Americans. It was not his idea. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Liberal government simply wants to do as it pleases. We have a Prime Minister who wants to run the government like a big board of directors. Here are the facts. The Assembly of First Nations is calling on the federal government to withdraw the MOU that it signed with Alberta for the construction of a new oil pipeline. Other voices within the government, namely two…
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Mr. Speaker, today is all about the Conservative fantasy: pipelines and “drill, baby, drill”. We need to refocus the debate on the facts. The federal Liberal government bought a pipeline called Trans Mountain. In 2017, it was supposed to cost about $7.4 billion. How much did it actually cost? It cost taxpayers $34 billion, which is six to seven times more than the project was supposed to cost. The…
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Mr. Speaker, what is the world coming to? Now we are wondering whether the Liberals still believe in climate change. From what they are saying, it seems as though they have spent too much time with the Conservatives, or perhaps the Conservatives have spent too much time with the Liberals. Either way, red or blue, it amounts to more or less the same thing. They all want more pipelines. I would like…
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Mr. Speaker, what is the world coming to? The Conservatives are accusing the Liberals of not doing enough to buy a new pipeline. Who was it that bought a new pipeline with our public funds? It was the Liberals; the Conservatives never bought a pipeline. Let us not forget the facts: The Trans Mountain pipeline cost $34 billion, or six to seven times the initial price estimate. In addition, the Parl…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like my colleague to explain why her government ignores scientific opinions on projects of national interest, such as the pipeline it proposes to build. I questioned Canada's chief science advisor at the Standing Committee on Science and Research. When I asked her to confirm that the government was creating a law in order to circumvent every law but the Criminal Code, includin…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment, the Prime Minister is ignoring the science. If that was not obvious enough from all the recent resignations, then take it from Canada's chief science advisor, Mona Nemer. I asked her questions about the Liberals' plan to push through major projects such as the pipeline by circumventing every law but the Criminal Code. She called it a nightmare scenari…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' climate betrayal was not the only reason why the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie resigned as minister. We have learned that two expert members of the Canadian Environment Domestic Advisory Group, who were supposed to advise the Prime Minister on the climate, have also thrown in the towel. They say that they were accustomed to giving advice that was not followed. Now, the…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the 60th edition of the Salon du livre de Rimouski, which once again this year brought together hundreds of authors, publishers and volunteers as well as thousands of visitors. This reminds us once again that people in the regions can accomplish great things. The Salon du livre de Rimouski was founded in 1964 by the Dames de Champlain and is now the oldest bo…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, we are looking forward to the government stepping up, telling us what it really thinks and taking action. I do not think that is too much to ask. The government is delaying meetings of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights so that it can take action. It is procrastinating and bowing to pressure from religious lobbies. It does not know what to do; there is infighting withi…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, for years, the Bloc Québécois has been calling for the Criminal Code to stop protecting hate speech under the guise of religion. The law must apply equally to all. Religion must never justify hate. Once again, we see that, within Canada, Quebec is regressing or stagnating. The same thing happened with secularism, conversion therapy and medical assistance in dying. Quebec settled the…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the situation is quite clear today. Religious lobbies are influencing both the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The Conservatives are spreading disinformation to mobilize their religious base, while the Liberals have capitulated and withdrawn their support for removing the religious exemption for hate speech. The Quebec National Assembly has stated clearly and unanimously tha…
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Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech, and I would like to hear what he has to say about the record deficit that the current Liberal government is forcing on us. The member says that this an intergenerational budget, but I would say it is more of an intergenerational disaster. We are talking about a $78-billion deficit. Justin Trudeau seems positively frugal compared to the cu…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-241, which seeks to create a new federal structure to improve flood and drought forecasting. We all share the same goal, namely, to better anticipate climate events that are becoming more frequent, more severe and more costly. However, the proposed solution is not the right one. A careful reading of this bill reveals one thing that really stands out. …
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Mr. Speaker, the government is talking about its new program, or the new entity, Build Canada Homes. This morning, the Parliamentary Budget Officer reported that this program will add only 26,000 units over five years, barely 2% more than expected supply growth, but that federal spending on housing will decline 56% in the next three years. How can the government claim that it wants to double the p…
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Mr. Speaker, the NDP says it opposes handouts for oil companies, the underfunding of health care, and inaction on the housing crisis and on employment insurance reform. In fact, they have been calling for this reform for many years. However, it was the NDP that was able to get this budget through, because two of its members, the member for Courtenay—Alberni and the member for Nunavut, abstained on…
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Mr. Speaker, today, the member for Courtenay—Alberni is denouncing cuts to the public service, profits made by big grocery chains, oil subsidies, and inaction on the housing crisis and on homelessness. Where was he on November 17 during the deciding vote on the budget? He abstained. Today he is denouncing a budget that does nothing to resolve the problems he is talking about. I am trying to unders…
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Mr. Speaker, I did not think I would be saying this today, but it is a topsy-turvy world, or rather, a topsy-turvy pipeline. We just found out that the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture has resigned. He is the former minister of environment and climate change, for those who still believe climate change exists. We know that one side is not so sure it exists and the other side, the side of t…
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Mr. Speaker, there was a lot to take in from my colleague's speech. Where to begin? I want to talk about the one thing that the Liberals and the Conservatives agree on: oil. Recently, we found out that there will be an announcement on Thursday about a new pipeline. I would like to remind the Conservatives and everyone listening that we already invested $34 billion of taxpayers' money to buy the Tr…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague said in his speech that health care was a priority for him, so he will have to provide me with some explanations regarding the budget. Under the agreement between the federal government and Quebec, the federal government was supposed to cover 50% of health care costs. It is currently paying about 22%. I think that my colleague can see that there is a discrepancy there. We…
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Mr. Speaker, there is something extremely dangerous about this budget. I invite my colleague to turn to page 301. She will see that the government is being allowed to circumvent all laws, except the Criminal Code, in order to push forward projects disguised as innovation. Here in Parliament, we make the laws. However, now those laws can be circumvented if a minister comes along and says he has a g…
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Madam Chair, I rise in the House this evening with a great deal of pride and respect to represent and speak on behalf of the people in my riding, the workers, entrepreneurs and businesses that have been struggling for far too long. In my region, in the Lower St. Lawrence, in Rimouski-Neigette, in La Mitis and in La Matapédia, the forestry industry is our lifeblood, just as it is for Les Basques, w…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague said in his speech that we must focus on what we can control. The Council of Canadian Academies has confirmed that Canada is experiencing a major research and innovation crisis. Investment is falling. There is a brain drain. Productivity is stagnating, and the federal system is falling behind the rest of the world. What is there for research and innovation in the most rec…
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Madam Chair, I have a point of order. The hon. member for Madawaska—Restigouche must be in his seat to speak.
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Madam Chair, I want to say hello to the people tuning in this evening from Rimouski-Neigette, La Mitis, La Matapédia and Les Basques. This is an extremely important debate for the people back home in the Lower St. Lawrence. The forestry industry is a major economic pillar. It supports over 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. It encompasses nearly 250 businesses. Our region alone accounts for 10% of Qu…
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Mr. Chair, I hope the people listening tonight, especially the government, can understand that where there is a will, there is a way. When it is time for Ottawa to help the oil industry, the cheque is signed mere days or even hours later. When it is time to help the auto industry, then presto, Ontario is up and running. However, when it is time to help Quebec's forestry industry, what is the rush?…
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Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the speech by my colleague from Bow River, and I was really struck by one of the answers he gave to another member. He said we need to let private companies do what they do best, which is stimulate the economy. Under the Liberals, the federal government paid $34 billion for the Trans Mountain pipeline, which was more than four times the original price. Now, wha…
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. I encourage my colleague to reread the budget. Research funding is being cut by 2% at the three granting agencies. He says that I am stating falsehoods. I think it is up to him to take another look at things.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague just said that this government has a clear vision. Let us discuss its clear vision. It is running a record $78‑billion deficit, based on $45 billion in so-called investments in assets, a practice that has been criticized by the Parliamentary Budget Officer himself. I want my colleague to explain how he can talk about fiscal restraint when he is involved in running the big…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague on her speech. I agree with some of the things she said. One is that the Liberal government changed the accounting rules. This criticism was echoed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer. The Liberals are trying to hide a deficit with artificial assets of $45 billion out of $78 billion. That is basically tantamount to trying to deceive people, at leas…
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Mr. Speaker, it is rather funny to hear the Conservatives say today that they are not in favour of the budget because the deficit is too high. I would like to remind my colleagues that Quebec's motto is "Je me souviens", or I remember. In 2009, the Harper government ran a record $55.6-billion deficit. If we enter that number into a calculator and adjust for inflation, we get about $78 billion. Tha…
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Mr. Speaker, I commend and congratulate my colleague from Drummond for his very thorough work. I enjoyed the touch of humour he added at the end of his speech, and I think it really picks up on what a lot of people are thinking. Over the years, my colleague has also demonstrated thoroughness in his work on culture and the media, whether national or regional. Right now, we are still faced with a me…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and I salute him. If I may make a pun on his name, I would say that he is very “generous” with his comments, and I am humbled by them. This is a red-letter day. I appreciate the way the member operates. I think we are both clear-headed. We come from the same region. We experience the same situations. I wish to salute the fine people of Témiscouata…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to take part in this historic debate. The title of this budget is “Canada Strong”. Let me tell the House what I really think about it. Let us be clear: The budget tabled by this government is, in my opinion, an absolute sham. It contains a record deficit of $78 billion dressed up with some creative accounting in an attempt to make $45 billion in fiction…
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Mr. Speaker, it always amuses me to hear my colleague from Winnipeg North speak. He says that his government makes laws, but then it makes other laws to get around and sidestep the laws it made. What is the point of making laws if they can be sidestepped? That is what the government did with Bill C‑5. That is quite clear. He tells us that his government has some good bills, and yet the government …
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Mr. Speaker, can we have an emergency debate on this in 20 seconds? It is so insulting. We get robbed and ripped off, and then we are supposed to say thank you when they give us our own money back. Unbelievable. The Liberals spent $814 million on an election goody, a vote-buying handout, all from a tax that was never collected. To borrow another member's catchphrase, it is scandalous. In my view, …
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