Government Orders
Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Windsor West for his impassioned speech. We know that the riding of Windsor West includes the Ambassador Bridge and is affected by this situation of exports to the United States. I understand the concern about that and the impact that the economic slowdown and the crisis with the United States is having. If Canada produced only electric cars, but there was stil…
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Mr. Chair, in his remarks, my colleague talked about contracts, and that reminds me of the battle that took place at the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology two years ago, specifically regarding the Stellantis, Honda and Volkswagen contracts. The Conservatives were fighting what I thought was an irresponsible battle to release the contracts. We had access to them. Although I thought it w…
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Mr. Speaker, if I may, I will be sharing my time with the member for Berthier—Maskinongé. To no one's surprise, the Bloc Québécois will oppose this bill, because it fails to meet Quebeckers' real needs in several respects. Let us begin with the elephant in the room: the tax cut. No one can be against tax cuts, obviously, but it is all a matter of perspective. Currently, the maximum tax reduction f…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Laurentides—Labelle for emphasizing something so fundamental. Again, I will use the word cheap to describe the federal government. In Quebec, we have an industry that has been unstable for decades because of the crisis with the Americans. We are not in this situation just because of Donald Trump. This has been going on for decades because the federal governme…
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Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned at the beginning of my speech, I oppose Bill C-4 for obvious reasons. Yes, a cheque will be sent out that might amount to $210 for one fiscal year. However, I am a Quebec taxpayer, and scrapping the carbon tax will cost me more because health care costs are skyrocketing. Climate change is generating health care costs of $6 billion a year. That money will come out of the…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Edmonton Northwest. I particularly appreciative his very sensible contributions to the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs and the role he plays as a first nations member in ensuring that the voice of first nations is heard in the House. Bill C‑4 does not put forward anything specific for first nations, yet the needs are enormo…
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Mr. Speaker, I really enjoyed my colleague's speech, and I especially appreciated when he mentioned the forestry plant closures in Quebec. That is what happened with the Arbec mill in Amos, in my riding. I wonder if he could talk about solutions that could have been included in this bill. For example, the Bloc Québécois is proposing that the federal government pay 50% of the countervailing duties …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Yellowhead for his question and for the compassion and rigour he has shown on the two committees on which I serve. I really appreciate this member, especially because he talks about tax fairness in his speeches. When it comes to seniors, I consulted with seniors in a dozen municipalities in Abitibi—Témiscamingue, including indigenous communities. The take-awa…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my Conservative colleague for her speech, which was clearly based on her convictions and came from the heart. I appreciated it. While the member was giving her speech, another speech was being delivered that we could describe as also coming from the heart: Minister Guilbeault announced his resignation as minister—
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Simcoe North for his leadership on this issue, which I think is grounded in one fundamental value: transparency. I would like to hear his comments on the consequences this measure could have in that regard, as well as the costs it could entail, both in terms of human resources and for the government. I would particularly like him to elaborate on the expecte…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear my colleague's reaction.
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Madam Speaker, before I begin my speech, I just want to take a moment for some acknowledgements. I am fortunate to be supported by a parliamentary intern, Emily Gough. I thank her for being part of our team and for the conscientious approach she takes to her work, both for committees and for speeches. Many of the words I will read today are hers. As the Bloc Québécois critic for public accounts, I…
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Mr. Speaker, on November 16, 1885, Manitoba's founder, Louis Riel, a Red River Métis and a brother to Quebec, was hanged. Unlike English Canadians, Quebeckers have always seen him as a hero who took a stand for the French language and for his people. Like the Patriots of Quebec, he suffered the same fate that Canada reserved for anyone who opposed its power: the gallows. The men and women of Quebe…
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his very thoughtful speech. First and foremost, I would like to point out that an error was made in good faith during the debate. I call on all parties to allow us to repeat the second five-minute segment and, in the spirit of debate, to allow my colleague to share his speaking time with me, the member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue. We know that this debate is fun…
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Madam Chair, I want to clarify something. In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 600 people have temporarily lost their jobs in the forestry industry over the past year. Obviously, these people still have hope. That said, the forestry industry is an entire ecosystem. There are forestry contractors who work and invest in machinery, who take out loans ranging from $100,000 to $300,000 for machinery without any g…
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Madam Chair, we all need to be aware of the situation and its impact. Last week, Arbec cut 100 jobs. Abitibi—Témiscamingue has been hit hard over the past year. Hundreds of jobs have been lost. I will ask the question. We all know the metaphor. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Clearly, that sound is not reaching Ottawa, it is not reaching the gov…
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Madam Speaker, we agree that the budget contains massive amounts of money for the deficit and huge amounts for defence. That is a $78‑billion deficit with more than $50 billion invested in defence. Does my colleague think it is responsible to invest in defence by using deficit spending?
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Madam Speaker, I would like to point out that my colleague's speech was very thoughtful, covered a number of issues and was rather nuanced. I appreciate that and hold her in high regard. My colleague raised the issue of public safety in rural areas. I am very concerned about that particular issue. I was in Notre‑Dame‑du‑Nord yesterday, a village near Ontario, in Témiscamingue, where thefts are bec…
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Madam Speaker, I find it interesting to hear my colleague talk about the consequences this budget will have on taxpayers. Is it normal for the federal government to invest public money to purchase a pipeline, as it did with Trans Mountain? Elsewhere in the budget, tens of billions of dollars is being paid out in subsidies. The forestry industry is basically being ignored in this budget, yet tens o…
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Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not start my speech by wishing a very happy birthday to my dear colleague from Laurentides—Labelle, who is kicking off her 50th year with her usual poise. I am pleased to rise today to speak to this motion, which proposes a new international assistance framework in Canada. The Bloc Québécois supports the spirit of this motion, but, as is often the case in …
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Calgary Confederation for his speech. Obviously, we have heard a lot about his concern for the oil and gas industry, and that is reflected in the budget. That is not the problem. The oil industry has virtually unlimited financial resources. The people who need help are in the forestry industry. Since last fall, 600 jobs in Abitibi—Témiscamingue have been af…
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Mr. Speaker, our hearts go out to the 100 or so workers at Arbec, in Amos, who have been laid off. The company had no choice, because Ottawa ignored the needs that the industry and the Bloc Québécois have been hammering home for weeks. We need a wage subsidy, specifically in order to avoid layoffs like these. For the industry in general, the federal government must offer 50% of the Americans' coun…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and for having the nerve to rise in the House to defend the indefensible, and by that I mean this budget. Obviously, I will be voting against it. Why? For one thing, because my constituents gave me a mandate to defend them. Barely seven months have gone by, but if we have to go plant signs in the snow again, we will, because this budget tramples o…
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Madam Speaker, we are debating the budget. This morning, I got a letter from Arbec, a forest products processor and plywood manufacturer in Amos, saying that it is shutting down its plant temporarily. This will affect over 100 workers. Arbec is calling for co-operation and asking for support for its workers. There is something very alarming about this announcement, coming as the result of the gove…
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Madam Speaker, my region of Abitibi—Témiscamingue has been experiencing some stormy weather. Fortunately, I have my winter tires on. It took me an extra hour to get here to Ottawa last night. We should all be ready for a potential election, unless the Conservative Party decides to chicken out, as the saying goes. Can my colleague give us the scoop or some sort of indication of what her party plans…
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Madam Speaker, I would like my colleague to tell us more about the impact that a bill like this one would have on the Oval Office, on Donald Trump. Some things are taking a long time, but we have come under pressure from the Americans to take swift action. Do we feel as though we are taking too long? Should we bend even further to the will of the United States? That is exactly what the Liberals to…
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Mr. Speaker, service at the Canada Revenue Agency is worse than ever. Yesterday, the Auditor General confirmed that, eight years after a damning report by her office, the agency's services to the public have gone further downhill. The situation has not improved. Only 5% of citizens managed to get through to an agent within the 15 minutes specified by the service standards. The Liberals cannot clai…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague from Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon for her speech, which was very relevant given the circumstances. First, the reason why Bill C‑2 was introduced so early on is that it was an urgent matter for the government. Donald Trump forced the government to improvise, and Canadians are under a lot of pressure in the climate of fear and insecurit…
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola for his speech and for his concern and his leadership when it comes to these issues. I should point out that the member for Rivière-du-Nord will be presenting the Bloc Québécois's position on this issue, while acknowledging the member for Shefford's leadership in such matters. Quebec has already implemented several legislative measures…
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Mr. Speaker, I think that the government is taking an important step toward reconciliation with first nations today. I would like to begin by paying tribute to the late Jim Aldridge, a distinguished lawyer, tireless advocate for modern treaty rights and friend to the Bloc Québécois. Throughout his career, Mr. Aldridge helped shape our legal and political understanding of modern treaties, particula…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for introducing this important bill this morning. I should emphasize that this bill was co-developed, which is real progress. At the end of her speech, the minister reached out to us all when she used the word “together”. Let us allow that to inspire us in our work. There is one issue that is important to me, though. She said in her speech that modern treaties are…
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Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to enable the appointment of a commissioner, who will obviously keep an eye on what is happening in all branches of the federal government. However, modern treaties also concern relations with the provinces. Giving first nations autonomy to develop on their territory has an impact on the role of the provinces. Can the minister reassure us that the commissio…
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Mr. Speaker, I am aware of my colleague's interest in indigenous affairs, but also in public accounts. His question seems to allude to an amendment that we are going to study and that I am obviously inclined to support. Having watchdog positions whose role it is to bring things out into the open is essential in any democracy. All parliamentarians and the public, especially indigenous, Metis and In…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes. I will learn the name of his riding since we work together fairly often. I like to see him working hard, persevering and getting down to business. That is what we will have to do. As for the question that he raised, I completely agree with him on the principle. Accountability rules are fundamental in our democracy. I am aware that t…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my special thanks to the member for Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes for his very thorough speech. In this context, I find it particularly interesting that the member refers to the five modern treaties that his government was able to conclude during the Conservative years under Mr. Harper. That is one treaty less than the six social housing units built at the time by t…
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Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe in this function of independent officers, in those who have a comprehensive view of the work of the House, who rise above partisan politics and who emphasize accountability. To me that is fundamental. In our work, raising these issues also helps us to better understand the reality of what is happening on the ground in our own constituencies. All too often, it is ups…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague once again for his thoroughness and for the additional explanations he has provided during this question and comment period. However, it is a bit contradictory to say that the role of commissioner is unnecessary but that he will support the bill anyway. The Liberal government has absolutely nothing in its legislative agenda right now. We do not even …
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Mr. Speaker, I am pretty sure I talked about that in my speech. We know the idea of consultation is fragile. Bill C‑5 showed us how the government can worm its way out of things. How can anyone think that merely sending a letter and giving certain indigenous communities—not all of them, just some of them—five days could possibly make them feel they have been consulted? That is where things can go …
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Mr. Speaker, that will allow me to make further points. The problem is not that the amounts are not announced in a transparent manner by the government. The problem is the actual application of these funds. Standards are being imposed that do not apply to the reality of first nations and northern communities. This means that, in the current context, billions of dollars announced in budgets that ma…
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Mr. Speaker, our positions can change here in the House. I was indeed inclined to support the speedy passage of this bill because of the clear consensus that has emerged, because first nations have been calling for it and it was co-created, and because the commissioner is independent and there will be ways of implementing it. I find the points that my colleague raised in his speech to be particula…
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Mr. Speaker, this bill is essentially about justice for victims of the military and its lack of transparency. About 10 days ago, I attended the premiere of the film Out Standing, which is based on the life of Sandra Perron, Canada's first female infantry officer. It is an incredibly powerful film. She started an initiative called The Pepper Pod, which I would like to commend. Considering the bill …
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Mr. Speaker, obviously, there was a culture of silence. There was the Fish report and the Arbour report. Time passes and the Liberals have not taken action. What does the member think of the recommendations in this report? What should be put in place? I empathize with the victims who are waiting for answers from this Parliament that never come. What are we to do? The bill is interesting, but we ne…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers can feel even prouder today because Kim Clavel is once again the world boxing champion. She told us that she would be stepping into the ring as a proud Quebecker and promised that she would once again become world champion. That is exactly what she did with a brilliant performance on September 28, defeating her Argentinian opponent by unanimous decision in a hard-fought bat…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Sudbury for her thoughtful speech. She is clearly a woman of action. The problem we have with her government in the current context is that it is doing the exact opposite. It has failed to take action on behalf of victims, who are mostly women. In this context, will she commit to putting pressure on her party to speed up the passage of this bill…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton for his excellent speech and for raising the level of debate on such an important bill. Obviously, this culture of military silence has had very serious consequences for a great many victims. Speaking of silence, Minister Sajjan's silence spoke volumes. Going forward, this bill gives the minister greater responsibilities. W…
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Mr. Speaker, for the first time in history, a Quebec woman is a world champion in cycling. Magdeleine Vallières-Mill, a young woman from Sherbrooke with roots in the Gaspé region, has achieved something remarkable. She just won the rainbow jersey at the world road bike championships in Kigali, Rwanda, becoming only the third non-European cyclist to win this prize. She amazed the crowd with her rac…
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Madam Speaker, kuei, kwe. I rise today to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, like the Huskies from Rouyn-Noranda, who are once again this year dedicating a special game to reconciliation with first nations in order to honour the indigenous children who were lost in the residential school system. This event is being organized in my riding in collaboration with the organizati…
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Mr. Speaker, my question for the member for Regina—Qu'Appelle is pretty simple: Do the Conservatives have no shame? The same week that the Canadian Climate Institute tells us that we will not be reaching our greenhouse gas emissions targets for 2030, the Conservatives bring up a matter that will produce even more greenhouse gas emissions. Personally, I cannot help but draw a parallel to what happe…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Winnipeg North for his speech, in which he boasted about Canada's investments in liquefied natural gas in Canada. He has also sung the praises of major projects of national interest and defended Bill C-5, going so far as to claim that it was drafted in collaboration with stakeholders from indigenous communities. Nearly all these communities, however, say that…
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Mr. Speaker, it is rare that we get to ask a follow-up question. I want to keep talking about Bill C-5, because it could have an impact on the greenhouse gas emissions cap. In that regard, indigenous people are stewards of the land, and we thank them for that. Let us talk about the process. The Indian Act has been excluded from the laws that the committee, the group of close friends of the Privy C…
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