Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, after more than five decades in business, Laura Landers of Laura's Art Shoppe in Cobalt has retired, closing the doors on a remarkable career that helped shape the artistic and cultural life of the Timiskaming region. For 45 years, her shop has been a destination for artists, collectors, tourists and residents alike. Laura promoted the work of countless northern Ontario creators, he…
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Madam Speaker, I would remind my colleague that the Bank of Canada and leading economists, including today, the C.D. Howe Institute, have cautioned against spreading fear and uncertainty when Canadians are looking for solutions. I am proud to be part of a government that is focused on supporting good-paying jobs and growing our economy. A moment ago, I mentioned Electra Battery Materials in Cobalt…
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Madam Speaker, there is a lot of good news today. It is important to mention that the first Canada groceries and essentials benefit payments were deposited today. In my riding, they went out to 28,000 residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming. A single person will receive $950 and a family of four will receive up to $1,890. As we know, this measure is one of the government's many initiatives to help Cana…
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Madam Speaker, this week is a good week for northern Ontario. Well-paid jobs are important. In the north, there are more than 900 companies operating in the mining supply and services sector. Premier Mining Products, a company in my riding, just announced that it is using the regional tariff response fund to modernize and expand its operations. Electra Battery Materials in Cobalt recently made sig…
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Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg North. I would also like to thank my colleague across the aisle who moved that we have this debate this morning, as I do feel that there are still a few words to be said regarding the matter of an independent military honours review board. On April 15, the day e-petition 6661 was presented to the House of Commons, I was pleased …
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Madam Speaker, I am not sure if this is a recommendation, but I will give my own personal point of view. In life, I have always believed that we must never put all our eggs in one basket. I always believe that outcomes are best when there is a mix of different viewpoints. That is simply my own point of view that I would put forward, that there is value in a diversity of points of view. At the same…
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague and his question. I was very pleased that certain members of the Bloc Québécois and other parties took part in this process. On April 15, there were representatives from the province of Quebec. I was very pleased to see that people from all over Canada had come to Ottawa. I think that is an answer in itself. There was involvement from all corners of the cou…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for all his work and effort on this matter. The Department of National Defence has already reached out to members of Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, and it is preparing the next steps. It will be a matter of looking at other models. For example, in NATO there are such committees, independent boards, so it will be a matter of looking at how they are formed. …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on April 15, I had the honour of presenting petition e-6661 to the House of Commons. Since then, nearly 65,000 letters of support have been received, adding to the tremendous backing reflected in the petition. In addition, unanimous motions of support have been adopted by the provincial governments of Alberta and New Brunswick, joining similar motions previously passed in Saskatchewan…
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Mr. Speaker, I have two comments. The International Monetary Fund speaks of Canada and its economy as being strong. It truly is the aggregate of the many organizations that work in the economic field. Canada's Infrastructure Bank is an excellent example of that. As I said, there are many other indicators that are in support of all of the various investment actions and tools that the government is …
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Mr. Speaker, I understand the question fully. I would like to point out to my colleague that the International Monetary Fund is a very important organization. Practically 90% of countries across the world belong to the fund. It plays an important role in comparing economies across the world. What it states, with respect to Canada, is very important. Basically, in April, it stated that Canada, amon…
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Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague's concern. It is very important to have local media. In my riding, CBC/Radio-Canada plays a very important role. The support given to local journalists is also important. This program plays an important role in our community with media outlets, such as Le Voyageur. I agree with my colleague's comment. He can count on my support in that regard.
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Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to point out that I was surprised to see the numbers. In my riding, approximately 28,000 residents will begin benefiting from the new groceries and essentials benefit in July. There are more than 14,000 residents in Nipissing—Timiskaming who qualify for dental care support, more than 12,000 elementary school students benefit from healthy meal programs, and over 10,000 fa…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from La Prairie—Atateken. I rise today to speak to the spring economic statement and to confirm that I will be voting in support of Bill C-30, an act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update that was tabled in the House of Commons on April 28. There are many important elements within both the bill and the statement, but …
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Mr. Speaker, I always find my colleague's comments very informed and knowledgeable, and I do feel that they elevate the quality of the debate in this House, so I thank him for that. This morning I was at a meeting with the Parliamentary Budget Officer, and she spoke about the spring update. She described Canada's economy as being resilient, and she also spoke about how a number of economic indicat…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciated my colleague's comments regarding the modern-day treaty that has been 150 years in the making. I especially appreciated hearing him describe how it has shaped the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba. I would like to hear him speak on the sentiment from the general population in the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba regarding this modern-day treaty.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, e-petition 6661, tabled today, calls for an independent review of military decorations from the Afghanistan mission. This is not about reopening the past. It is about ensuring that when new evidence emerges, our system allows us to look again. Canada established its own Victoria Cross in 1993. It has never been awarded, despite more than 40,000 Canadians serving in Afghanistan. Our al…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today we are joined in Ottawa by veterans; representatives from Valour in the Presence of the Enemy, True Patriot Love, the Royal Canadian Legion; retired general Rick Hillier; and the family of Private Larochelle. They are calling for an independent review of Afghanistan-era acts of valour, where new evidence suggests that the criteria for the Victoria Cross may have been met. The is…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by Nipissing—Timiskaming residents who wish to draw the attention of the House to Bill C-218. The petitioners express concern regarding proposed amendments that may affect eligibility criteria and existing safeguards as they relate to the protection of vulnerable persons, particularly those suffering from mental illnesses. Accordingly, the petitione…
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Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, I was surprised by the amount of disinformation, or distortion of the facts, which I think is probably a better term, that came forward from my riding and that has circulated in our community and in our country. For me, the real issue is that communities across Canada are experiencing hate incidents, and they are asking Parliament to act, which I think is our job. We n…
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Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate my colleague's question. It is a very good one. I am wondering the same thing. This is critical in our communities, in his as in mine. Legal experts, prosecutors and police officers are saying that they need these changes to the Criminal Code to combat hate in our communities. We have before us a bill that brings balance. It strikes a balance between respecting the…
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Mr. Speaker, I sense that my colleague would like to draw me into debate. While I agree that debate in Parliament is essential, for me, in the spirit of the motion that was passed this morning, what is most important today is to reflect on our duties as parliamentarians. As I look around my riding, what I believe is most important is for parliamentarians to do their job. The question that has been…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to follow in the footsteps of my hon. colleague from Ottawa Centre. I rise today to speak to Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, and on the notice given to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights this morning. I would like to start by addressing specific concerns with Bill C-9 that have been raised in my riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming. I would then li…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I recently met with people from real estate boards in northern Ontario. They talked about the need for affordable housing and supportive housing. They want us to pass the Build Canada Homes legislation and the budget implementation legislation as soon as possible. I encourage my colleagues to vote with us.
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Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate my colleague's comments, and I am very impressed by the fact that Quebec is a leader in Canada when it comes to embracing EVs. I was wondering whether my colleague could tell me about charging stations. What role do they play in reaching these target numbers?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the vital role Canada's independent automotive repair sector plays in my riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming. Independent service technicians and repair shops help keep vehicles safe, reliable and on the road. For households already working hard to make ends meet, a vehicle out of service for days can mean missed shifts and lost income. Local, highly skilled repair b…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very impressed by the way my colleague is defending the interests of his riding of Beauport—Limoilou. I was wondering if he could elaborate on the main recommendation of Food Banks Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate how my colleague for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam outlined all the measures the government has encouraged to make life more affordable for Canadians. I am very interested in knowing how the citizens in his riding are responding to these measures.
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Mr. Chair, there is one thing I did recently that I would like to mention. I went to Kapuskasing to represent the government and confirm the announcement of the funding that FedNor is providing to Kap Paper. I was able to meet with all the workers in that industry. This is certainly not an easy time, but these people and this company greatly appreciate the work being done by our government. They u…
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Mr. Chair, I am very happy to know my colleague is a member of the transportation committee, so he would know that since World War II, most of our Trans-Canada Highway routes have been supported by our federal government. Actually, in 2023, in Newfoundland, our government announced shared funding of the Trans-Canada Highway widening with the province. There are multiple examples. This is simply to…
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Mr. Chair, I understand the gist of my colleague's question, and I am glad he mentioned historical amnesia. The other day, one of my colleagues used the term “historical amnesia”. It is also true that the softwood lumber dispute dates back some years. However, I want to point out that when the dispute was resolved in 2007, American and Canadian manufacturers agreed to create a $5-million fund in C…
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Mr. Chair, I am thankful for the opportunity to rise tonight to speak in support of Canada's forestry sector. This important sector, as we know, employs nearly 200,000 Canadians. It relies on efficient, reliable and cost-effective transportation supply chains, from trucks and railways to ports, to move its products to domestic and global markets. The Forest Products Association of Canada reports t…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on her excellent remarks. At the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said that separating operating and capital expenditures is, in fact, a best practice. It is a best practice in government and it is a best practice in private industry. He said it allows us to track investments from both…
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Mr. Speaker, this morning in the media, there was an article entitled “‘Quiet buzz’ on Bay Street about Carney's ‘nation-building’ major projects”. It said, “There is a strong response within the finance community, within the engineering community, within the construction community. People are awake, people are aware”. People are interested in knowing about the timelines on these projects as they …
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Mr. Speaker, I want to ask my colleague how the businesses in his community have reacted to some of the many tax incentives that were included in our budget. I know, in my riding, businesses reacted very positively to the productivity superdeduction. I would like the member's thoughts on how his business community is reacting.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on the excellent work he is doing in the House of Commons. The budget includes a plan to develop our communities. This includes $115 billion over five years for community infrastructure. Can my colleague talk about the impact this plan will have on the communities in his riding of La Prairie—Atateken?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of budget 2025. In preparation for the budget, I had the pleasure of meeting with many different organizations and, certainly, people of all ages, including young people in my riding of Nipissing—Timiskaming. One such group was the Embers, an inspiring group of young Girl Guides. In relation to the budget, they shared what matters most to them: helping communities g…
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to live in a community in northeastern Ontario where nearly one-third of the population is francophone or speaks French. Federal government support is very important for us. It greatly improves things for minority communities outside Quebec. The federal government plays a key role, and this budget ensures important services for our community. I mentioned services that are o…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell my colleague about the Union culturelle des Franco-Ontariennes, a group of women who are actively involved in the communities of New Liskeard, Earlton and Belle Vallée in my riding. They sent me a petition signed by nearly 100 people. What is important for them is that the budget does not make any cuts to the program offered by the Department for Women and Gender …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming in support of the 2025 budget and our plan to build Canada strong and Nipissing—Timiskaming strong. The budget is of critical importance to the 90,000 residents across the 35 communities that make up our riding. In the weeks leading up to the budget, I met with constituents to understand their situation. I also spoke with memb…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague asks a very good question, but I would like to reply with the many good things that our budget includes and focus on the real relief it would bring to Canadians. I would like to speak about personal support workers in my community. It is an excellent example of how this budget is different and why it is important to Canadians. For example, I have a 95-year-old father, and…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this week, the House of Commons welcomes the Canadian Airports Council to Ottawa. Included are representatives from my community's Jack Garland Airport in North Bay. From Jack Garland Airport, citizens in need of specialized medical services fly to Toronto. There are firefighters who jump on an airplane at a moment's notice to assist communities facing natural disasters. From North Ba…
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Mr. Speaker, please join me in wishing the city of North Bay a happy 100th birthday. Even if it is only 100 years old, it is still a city that is just getting started. This is why: With its modern infrastructure, higher-level education centres, strategic location at the crossroads of Highway 11 and Highway 17, and access to rail and air transportation, North Bay, nicknamed “your gateway to opportu…
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Mr. Speaker, I am a new member of the House, and I was very impressed this morning with the vote and the support in the House for our bill. To me, it speaks about action. Action is so important, and I think, certainly, that is what Canadians are looking for. I was impressed with my colleague's comments. I have been following as well, at a distance, the matter of tolls on ferries, and I appreciate …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this morning a 26th annual memorial service was held to recognize the parliamentarians we have lost over the past year. Included was Bob Wood, who represented the riding of Nipissing as a member of the Liberal Party for nearly 16 years, up until 2004. He passed away in North Bay a few months ago at the age of 85, and Anthony Rota succeeded him in the riding, now known as Nipissing—Tim…
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Mr. Speaker, we are very fortunate in Canada to be blessed with many great financial institutions, and within these institutions are economic departments with great economists leading them. I wonder if my colleague could comment on the position of our Canadian banks with respect to this particular bill.
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Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to congratulate my colleague on his election and his recent appointment as parliamentary secretary. If I understand correctly, the La Prairie—Atateken riding has changed colours. I would like to know which of the highlights of the plan for a strong Canada made the people in his riding inclined to vote for my dear colleague.
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Madam Speaker, I was very interested in what our colleague described in terms of the meetings that were held with the Minister of Industry. I would be interested in better understanding how the business community in Hamilton reacted to the outcomes of those meetings.
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, like my esteemed colleague, I am also new to the House of Commons. For me and our community as well, the armed forces are very present. I appreciated the comments that were made by my esteemed colleague. Could he give his views on what is included in the throne speech, as well as the “Canada Strong” plan, related to rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting in our Canadian Armed Forces?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, when the plan entitled “Canada Strong” was released, it immediately resonated with the people in my riding, so I congratulate all who developed this plan, which addresses our nation's fundamental need at this critical time: economic prosperity. I would now like to share some of the significant comments I received regarding economic prosperity from three sectors of my riding: mining, a…
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