Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Of course we need to reduce CO2 emissions, but we can do that with new technologies, not with a carbon tax. It is important to keep one other thing in mind. I would like to know what target the Liberals have met since coming to power. We often get fingers pointed at us, but it is important to look at what the Liberals have done. Canada ranks 58…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the very good question. We see the importance of having adequate equipment when certain disasters happen or situations arise. The problem is that often the situation has not been anticipated, and we do not think about what equipment is needed when a disaster occurs. Of course, we must be very vigilant. My colleague is right. We must also be aware of the fact…
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Madam Speaker, I think it is very important to listen, to be present on the ground if the situation becomes more urgent, to talk to the mayors across our ridings and to be aware of everything that is happening. It is also important to know where the SOPFEU is at with its operations and so on. I think those are very important things, but we also have to stay connected with the people and stakeholde…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to paint a picture of what Canada looks like after eight years under this Prime Minister. It is not pretty, even though the Prime Minister thinks that everything is fine. Canada is experiencing the worst inflation in 40 years. Housing is unaffordable and food banks cannot keep up with demand. The Liberals have been hurting the Canadian economy for the past eight years. The leas…
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Mr. Speaker, Liberal inflation has made it so that Canadians' paycheques are no longer stretching far enough to make ends meet. The Liberals already have a carbon tax that has raised the cost of gas by 41¢ a litre. Now we find out that they are going to add another tax on top of the first. The two taxes combined will add up to an extra 61¢ per litre of gas, driving up the cost of food and transpor…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that, at first, she fully supported Bill C-21. She even felt that Bill C-21 did not go far enough. Then, at some point, she saw people everywhere on social media saying that the bill had missed the mark and that it would be dangerous for hunters. That struck fear in the hearts of the Bloc Québécois, and because of pressure from the Conservatives, th…
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Madam Speaker, many hunters in my riding are very nervous about Bill C-21. Their concerns are not unfounded. Bill C-21 is the biggest attack on hunting rifles in the history of Canada. Hunting is part of Quebec's ancestral traditions. In our province, hunting is an important cultural and economic activity. During the 2021-22 hunting season, 563,228 hunting licences were sold in Quebec. That is ove…
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Madam Speaker, the member for Lac-Saint-Jean is clearly a team player. He is defending his colleague on this. However, I want to make one thing clear. The Bloc Québécois went and did its job because it knew it was going to lose votes in the regions and it would not get re-elected. That is why the Bloc members ended up doing their work. In reality, they thought that Bill C-21 did not go far enough,…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for a very good question. I can tell him one thing. We heard an Olympian testify at committee. She is involved in sport shooting. She said that she would no longer be able to play the sport she loves so much because the exemptions are very limited. I would like to tell my colleague that, right now, Olympic athletes are allowed to play their sport. However, befor…
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Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague for her speech. That called to me when she said that they listened to people, hunters and so on. I remember very well that from the beginning, they were in complete agreement on Bill C-21. One of her colleagues was even in favour of amendment G-4 and was very comfortable tabling it. All of a sudden, they turned right around. What happened for them to, first…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to speak on a subject that is near and dear to my heart, namely, official languages, and the French language in particular. First of all, I hope everyone can hear my Saguenay accent, because I am very proud of it. There are many types of linguistic variations: morphological, syntactic, diachronic. Speakers choose a certain word and not another, and th…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague wants to know why the Liberals rejected this option, which was a very good option. They rejected an option that would have significantly improved things because they were not interested. We never know what truly goes on in their heads. We never got the sense that they wanted to move this bill forward.
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Mr. Speaker, I find it rather odd that the Liberals are always looking back at the past. We had an opportunity here. The Liberals had the opportunity to move this bill forward, but they did everything they could to delay it. The bill was not ready, but they were saying that it was ready to be introduced and voted on. Now we find out that there are 10 motions that we need to debate. What is more, t…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. That is a good question. First of all, the Liberals are out in left field because English is not in decline. I completely agree with my colleague. We are missing three things that the Liberals failed to pay attention to. We need a central agency. We need to give the commissioner more powers, particularly for part VII, and we need to give the commissioner the powe…
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleague well knows, we are currently at report stage. It is not yet time to vote. The next step will be to debate the amendments and then, further down the road, we will vote. I remember noticing when I was in committee that there were a lot of contradictions among the Liberal caucus members who were there. It seemed like the West Island contingent had one version and everyone…
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Mr. Speaker, I am extremely surprised by my colleague's comments. He had a lot to say there, and my answer will probably be shorter than his question. One thing I have noticed is that, although this government has been in power for eight years, nothing is getting done. It almost feels like the Bloc Québécois is supporting the NDP-Liberal coalition. Nothing is happening, and the Bloc seems to be su…
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Mr. Speaker, I blame the government for its inflationary spending since it came to power in 2015. Every year, it told us that it would have small deficits, but instead it posted very large deficits. Inflation is hard on everyone. Mortgage rates have soared. That is why people are having a hard time finding housing today. The cost of groceries and electricity, among other things, has increased beca…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to discuss the motion we are moving today to call on the government to make renting more affordable and make access to first-time home ownership easier. This is something that the government does not seem to be too concerned about. Who pays the price at the end of the day? It is Canadians yet again. After eight years of this Prime Minister, things are…
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Mr. Speaker, I am a little surprised that the NDP would ask me that kind of question, since they are supporting the Liberals and supporting so much spending. We know that inflation has changed everything. Before inflation got so high, people could still pay for their homes, their mortgages, their housing. Inflation has driven up the price of everything, including groceries and electricity. People …
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Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak to a subject that could have been a source of hope for Canadians who are struggling to make ends meet, but that is not the case. Sadly, this discussion is just a formality, since the costly and socialist NDP-Liberal coalition has control over the government for the next few years. In fact, that is how things will stay until the Conservatives are in…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to what will happen following the coming into force of Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation), from the 43rd Parliament: (a) when will the government set a coming into force date for the new act; (b) as of what date will transactions be affected by this act; (c) what directives is the government issuing for acco…
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Madam Speaker, these are investments in North America, but the question is, when will it actually happen? First of all, there are always delays and huge costs. It costs far too much. Taxation also needs to be reviewed, because all the delays and paperwork do not help us persuade foreign investors to come here. Everything is complicated. Projects that people think can be done quickly sometimes take…
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Madam Speaker, obviously, health transfers have been pretty minimal. They did not live up to the provinces' expectations. There comes a point when it is hard to understand why a lot more funding is not being transferred to the provinces for health care. Basically, we have seen the current government waste a lot of money. We are talking about $120 million in contracts given to McKinsey, when many p…
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Madam Speaker, I do not know why we are talking about cutting services. We just have to pay attention to the wasteful spending of the Liberals over there. If the government would control its spending and stop the waste, everything would be fine. I always have a problem with saying that services need to be cut. It is more a matter of putting the money in the right place.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is displaying a special kind of incompetence, and once again, Canadians are the ones who will pay the price. He increased the cost of the public service by 50% in eight years without being able to prevent 150,000 employees from going on strike, the worst strike in 40 years. We also found out that 700 soldiers are living on a base without heat or hot water because of…
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Mr. Speaker, the FBI arrested two suspected Chinese agents yesterday morning for allegedly operating a police station in New York City. In Quebec, the RCMP recently informed the public that Chinese authorities were running covert police stations in the Montreal area. While the United States proactively dismantles Beijing-operated police stations, Canada sits idly by doing nothing. What is the gove…
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Mr. Speaker, the carbon tax will increase on April 1. Unfortunately that is not an April Fool's joke. The carbon tax increases the cost of food and the cost of fuel for truckers. It also directly impacts our farmers and our producers. According to Canada's Food Price Report 2023, if the tax triples, a 5,000-acre farm will pay more than $150,000 in taxes. The Liberals have until tomorrow night at m…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister drove Canadians into the worst inflation in 40 years. If that were not enough, he is now attacking Canadian microbreweries. On April 1, the excise tax on beer, wine and spirits is going up by 6.3%. This will hurt everyone from producers to consumers. After eight years under this government, the price of everything is going up. Will the Prime Minister end his thirst …
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals keep breaking records, but not records we can be proud of. The Prime Minister has plunged us into the worst inflation in 40 years. Because of him, Canadians have to tighten their belts and choose between feeding, housing or clothing themselves. After eight years with the Liberals in power, Canadians have to choose between one essential need and another. When will the Prim…
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Mr. Speaker, here is how Canada has changed since 2015. After eight years under this Prime Minister, average mortgage payments have more than doubled. After eight years under this Prime Minister, the cost of groceries has gone up by 11.6%. In a G7 country, it is now extremely difficult for people to feed and house themselves. The Prime Minister says none of this is his fault. Will he at least admi…
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that the minister is still trying to protect the legislation flowing from Bill C‑5. There is clearly a problem with the word “justice” in the office of the Minister of Justice. Under this new legislation, a crook caught in possession of a fully loaded illegal firearm and a rapist will serve their sentence at home. That is the Liberal record after eight years. We are l…
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Mr. Speaker, after eight years of this Prime Minister, the numbers are worrisome. Violent crimes are up 32% and gang-related murders are up 92%. That is where things stand under the Liberals. Why? It is because they have introduced policies that benefit criminals rather than victims. Could the minister protect victims and leave rapists and thieves in prison where they belong?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I would like to describe the situation in Canada after eight years under the Liberals. Things are not looking so good, even though the Prime Minister says that everything is fine. Inflation is at a 40-year high, houses are unaffordable and food banks cannot keep up with the demand. Full-time workers can no longer make ends meet. Those who were donating food are now the ones using food…
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Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were in office, a serious crime resulted in serious consequences. Now, there is no longer a minimum sentence for rapists. That is what happened with Jonathan Gravel, a man found guilty of rape, who will serve his sentence from the comfort of his own home. A Quebec Crown prosecutor had the courage to stand up and speak out against this completely unacceptable sit…
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Mr. Speaker, violent crime in Canada has increased by 32% since 2015 and gang-related homicides have increased by 92%. What is more, the Liberals, supported by the Bloc Québécois, passed Bill C‑5, a piece of legislation that eliminates minimum sentencing. That is what is happening in Canada after eight years under this government: more crime and more criminals out on bail. Can the Minister of Just…
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Mr. Speaker, this is not the first Liberal scandal. There was also WE Charity, SNC-Lavalin, and the list goes on. In the latest ethics violation, the Minister of International Trade awarded two contracts to her very close friend, Amanda Alvaro. An apology is just not enough when Canadians' wallets are empty and the Liberals are lining their friends' pockets on the backs of taxpayers. It is not com…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, we are in for a particularly spectacular winter. Record-setting temperatures and impressive snowfalls are expected, which make for perfect conditions for winter sports and attractions. One thing is certain, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord will be ready. On December 1, along with mayors from various municipalities, I had the opportunity to participate in the launch of the winter tourist season in …
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Mr. Speaker, a young man who was caught with a prohibited weapon loaded with 72 rounds of ammunition managed to avoid prison thanks to a Liberal law, which of course was supported by the Bloc Québécois and the NDP. There is no longer a minimum sentence for this type of crime in Canada. On the one hand, the government lets criminals roam free and, on the other hand, it wants to penalize honest gun …
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Mr. Speaker, it is pretty ironic to hear the Liberals say that they understand Canadians' suffering when they have no problem handing out $32 billion in benefits to dead people and prisoners. What they need to understand is that we live in Canada. In winter, the temperature can drop to -45°C, and we are expecting record-breaking cold temperatures. Heating their homes in winter is not a luxury for …
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians woke up yesterday morning to news that is the stuff of nightmares. The Bank of Canada announced an increase in the interest rate, the seventh increase in a year, thanks to the Liberals and their inflationary spending. For a family with an average mortgage, that represents $7,000 more in interest per year and then they still need to heat their home. We know that the carbon ta…
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe that the member opposite gave us that answer when the government has completely lost control of public spending. The Auditor General confirmed that the government is trying to track down $32 billion in benefits that were paid to ineligible recipients. What are the consequences of that? Nationwide, Canadians' debt is increasing. People do not have enough money, so they…
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Mr. Speaker, according to a new report released yesterday, the cost of groceries is going to keep going up in 2023. The grocery bill for an average family will climb to $16,300 next year. That is a big hit to the family budget. Parents are already stretched thin and are unable to feed their family. Now they are being told it is only going to get worse. All these increases are unaffordable for Cana…
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Mr. Speaker, since the Liberals took office, violent crime has risen by 32% and gang-related murders are up 92%. The Liberals are not addressing the real problem. They should have done something about the illegal gun trafficking at the border a long time ago. Instead, with the support of the Bloc Québécois, the Liberals want to prevent hundreds of thousands of Quebec hunters from participating in …
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Mr. Speaker, I agree that kids should get the treatment they need, but even more important than dental care, they need to be able to eat. Some 30% of food bank users are children. Kids are going hungry and they are going to school on an empty stomach. I remind the House that the basic needs of a child include food, water, a roof over their head and access to medicine when they are ill. Can the gov…
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Mr. Speaker, the holiday season is fast approaching, but Canadians are not really in the mood for a celebration. Inflation is stretching families thin, food banks are overwhelmed and the profile of those seeking help is changing. Some people used to donate food, but now they are the ones coming to get it. Even people with good jobs are asking for help. Families have a simple wish list for 2023. Ca…
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Mr. Speaker, to hear the Liberals tell it, we live in a world where everything is fine and nothing is wrong. I would like to bring them back to planet earth. After seven long years under this government, the rate of violent crime in Canada has increased by 32%. Again, it is up by 32%. The Liberals responded by passing Bill C‑5, which abolishes mandatory minimum sentences for importing illegal weap…
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Madam Speaker, it might be more important for people to have something to sink their teeth into before we worry about dental care. Food insecurity is not even something we should be talking about in Canada, and yet one out of two employed people are experiencing food insecurity. Men and women who get up every day to go to work are going hungry. Things have gotten that bad in Canada. We have worker…
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Madam Speaker, people are skipping meals and going hungry because they can no longer make ends meet. It sounds like I am talking about people somewhere else in the world but no, I am talking about Canadians, people in Canada, in a G7 country. Every month, 671,000 Quebeckers, a third of whom are children, use food banks. The reasons are obvious: inflation and rising food prices. Will this governmen…
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Mr. Speaker, one thing is for sure, anyway. I do not know where they are getting their numbers from when they say they are lifting people out of poverty, but right now, in 2022, 671,000 Quebeckers are using food banks, and one-third of those people are children. Minister of Families is not just a title, actually. It comes with responsibilities, such as making sure families do not have to water dow…
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Mr. Speaker, food insecurity means worrying every day about not being able to pay for food. It means a mother or father skipping a meal to feed their child. We should not even be talking about this in an industrialized country like Canada, but according to the numbers that were released just yesterday, 16% of Quebeckers are suffering from severe food insecurity. The research is clear: The main rea…
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