Parliamentary Speeches
625 speeches by Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — Page 2 of 13
Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that we agree with Bill C-14. Obviously, like everything else, we will study it more thoroughly in committee. My colleague, the Bloc Québécois justice critic, will be taking care of this file. However, certain questions come to mind. Contrary to popular belief, we know that the number of inmates awaiting trial has never been higher. The percentage of …
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Madam Speaker, on the same point of order, I would just like to inform you that the Bloc Québécois is going to make a statement, but at a later time.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his highly enlightening speech. There is something I do not understand. What is causing the growing number of crimes committed by repeat offenders? Something about that perplexes me. Could it be that the causes go deeper than the parole system alone? Should we be looking somewhere else? My colleague is an expert. I would appreciate it if he could enlighten us …
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be with you at this critical time as this sitting of the House draws to a close. During these final two minutes in your company, I will be pleased to speak to you and hope that I will not put you to sleep or make you wonder whether this will ever end. Since my time is very limited, I will get straight to the point: The Bloc Québécois is going to vote against this bill.…
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Madam Speaker, I will respond in a very practical manner because my actions, our actions, speak for themselves. We have always supported this. We have always been in favour of it. That said, a trade agreement is not a religion. When there is something in an agreement that is not good, then of course, we have a right to reject it. We support the principle, which is even part of the legacy of the so…
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Madam Speaker, I do not understand the question. I have already said that we are in favour of this trade relationship. We like doing business with the United Kingdom. It is our largest partner after the United States, even though it is very far behind and not comparable. We have a number of strong companies in the aerospace industry. It is in our best interest to do business with the U.K. We have …
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to work with my colleague at the Standing Committee on International Trade. First, I would like to know what he thinks about the fact that the government violated its own policy on tabling treaties by introducing the bill 15 days after the announcement of the content of the agreement itself, and not 21 days as set out in the policy. Does he not think that this illus…
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-13 as the Bloc Québécois critic for international trade. As members know, the bill enables the U.K.'s accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Let me end the suspense and say that we are voting in favour of the principle of this bill. Although it changes a lot for the U.K., it does not change much for us. However, I will …
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Madam Speaker, I want to start by thanking the Liberal government. A few years from now, the Liberals are going to tell us that there is no guarantee that a new country will honour the agreements it was party to when it left a customs union that had previously negotiated those agreements. By supporting the United Kingdom's bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Liberals are showing us that…
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Madam Speaker, we live in a monarchy, so that comes with certain stipulations. I think that there is no better example of this than what happened in late 2020, when the committee had to study an agreement with the United Kingdom without having received the text of that agreement. I remember it well. We heard from witnesses, representatives from businesses, organizations and institutes, who were ta…
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Madam Speaker, we are unable to change any agreement, although we may be able to understand its implications. That is the main problem, the issue. Treaties are quite lengthy. Last week, when we were debating Bill C‑228, some members said that it would be hard work. Sorry, but that is our job. International agreements may be complicated and complex, but they have a profound impact on the day-to-day…
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Madam Speaker, there is so much I would have liked to say about that because, for starters, there is the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine. There are procedures in place for a high level of transparency regarding Quebec's National Assembly. That said, to take things a step further, I think we need a law that provides a place at the negotiating table for Quebec and any provinces that want it, at least with res…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if my colleague agrees with us and with the customs officers' union. We all agree that there is a staffing problem. It is all well and good to say that staffing levels are going to be increased. It is time to do it. I am not minimizing the issue. There is a staffing problem; there is a staff shortage. Does my colleague agree that Canada Border Services Agency offi…
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Mr. Speaker, this is an important issue, especially in these troubled times, these times of crisis, these global hard times. The world is changing in potentially dangerous ways. However, we should not overlook the fact that the global issues of misery, poverty, exploitation and violence have never been completely eradicated at any point in history. Too often, most of the time in fact, they fall th…
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Madam Speaker, there are fairly significant differences of opinion between the Bloc Québécois and the NDP but, on the issue of workers' rights, I think we can often find common ground. In this particular case, a customs union has commented on the bill, saying that they have been making demands for many years yet nobody is listening to them and they are not being consulted, either on this matter or…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Could you please ask members who are not interested in the speech to take their conversations outside?
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moved for leave to introduce Bill C-251, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff (forced labour and child labour). Mr. Speaker, only one shipment from all regions of origin combined has been seized and detained at Canadian customs due to the use of forced labour in the manufacturing of the products it contained. In contrast, the United States has seized millions of U.S. dollars' wor…
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Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise this evening as the Bloc Québécois critic for international trade to speak to Bill C‑228. This bill, which I think is very important, seeks to strengthen transparency and parliamentary oversight around trade agreements. Ottawa's lack of transparency in these matters is downright monarchical. I have been here for six years, and as my colleagues have said, no…
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Mr. Speaker, in her speech, my colleague did a good job summarizing the Bloc Québécois's position, which is what I will be standing up for at the Standing Committee on National Defence when this bill is studied there, probably soon. In short, we are thinking that it is about time. We will not say it is too little, too late. It took a while, but at least there is something now. While it is far from…
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Mr. Speaker, what does my colleague think about General Vance's statement that he had nothing to fear because he controlled the judicial process? How did we get to this point, where a person in authority believes he is above the rules, above the law, and safe from punishment because judgments involving military personnel are under the control of the military high command itself?
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Mr. Speaker, how does my colleague explain the fact that we have always tolerated the absurd situation in which those responsible for adjudicating cases of potential misconduct in the military are the senior military officers themselves? Does he consider this to be odd?
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Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague well enough to know that he loves asking this type of rhetorical question. The answer is often in the question. He is gesturing at me, denying it. At least he is smiling. I think he knows that I am close to the mark and that the shoe fits. I would say that it is indeed a real scandal. That being said, I do appreciate the nuance he mentioned about the difference bet…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a fairly fundamental issue. Honestly, we will be watching this closely. That is why an in-depth study is so important. As a number of people have already pointed out, the government's previous version of the bill, which died on the Order Paper, did not properly address the problem. We will do an in-depth study. That said, I agree with the government's reason for wanting to inc…
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Mr. Speaker, I have only one reservation, which is that we are not going to blindly trust anyone or any bill that is voluminous by nature, that has legal implications and for which the devil is in the details, as with any document of this nature. That is why I am simply saying that we need to do our job properly. When the government presents us with a bill, we, as an opposition party, cannot simpl…
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Mr. Speaker, the reason for transferring power to politicians is precisely to get it out of the military's hands. This should help avoid situations like the one where Mr. Vance said he controlled the judicial process. Now, we will have to look very closely at whether it is better to—
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Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague. Impunity must be replaced with accountability. The bill puts forward a plan to do just that. The bill broadens access to what I believe are called victim's liaison officers to include individuals acting on behalf of victims. In other words, it is not just alleged victims who will have access to this service; their representatives will too. Expandi…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House as the Bloc Québécois national defence critic to address the government's response to an extremely delicate issue, namely the unfortunate occurrence of sexual misconduct. As delicate as the subject may be, it remains our duty to take a serious look at the bill before us to put an end to this scourge and ensure greater accountability as well as a healthier env…
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Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my speech, the Bloc Québécois will be supporting the bill at this stage so that it can be studied in committee.
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Mr. Speaker, the civilian court problem is very real, as our colleague mentioned. Obviously, the bill does not directly address that issue. The issue remains to be addressed. I think it would be better to ask the Minister of Justice about that matter. That said, it is definitely a consideration. I understand that sending these cases to the civilian court system could result in longer processing ti…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to this issue. In fact, I spoke to the previous version of the bill, Bill C‑26, in the last Parliament. It is easy to get lost in all these “C” bills. Since the elements of Bill C‑8 are absolutely identical to those in the previous version, our hopes and fears are exactly the same as well. I could copy and paste what I said last time. H…
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Mr. Speaker, there are a number of positive elements in the bill. One example is that it enacts the new critical cyber systems protection act. Another is the impact that amending the Telecommunications Act to add promotion of security could have. However, what is being proposed may also have an impact on provincial infrastructure, such as Hydro-Québec, and we are worried about that encroachment. A…
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Mr. Speaker, that is why I was saying that it is important for the committee to do a thorough job. It must ensure that the bill's objective, which is commendable, is not pursued without regard for the consequences, which could be devastating. Our remarks are summed up nicely in the testimony of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. He said that he supported the idea but urged caution. Are there safe…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not disagree with my colleague on that. I think this will likely come up in committee. As soon as we start hearing from witnesses, some will say that they agree with the idea, but that they need more time and a transition plan. Needless to say, no one can argue against virtue and common sense. That is why it is hard to disagree with what my colleague said.
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Mr. Speaker, it is important for the economy as a whole, especially in today's world. That said, there are some important privacy considerations at stake. That about sums up my remarks. Yes, doing this is essential, but not at any cost. I think that is my speech in a nutshell.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, in June, the Prime Minister said that he would reach an agreement with Donald Trump within 30 days. Since then, he has chalked up one defeat after another. Our softwood lumber industry is being hit with new tariffs, talks are under way to allow more American milk into the country, Ottawa has eliminated the digital services tax, and now it is backtracking on a global minimum tax for U.…
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Mr. Speaker, once again, there are new tariffs affecting our forestry industry. Washington announced an additional 10% tariff on our softwood lumber, which was already subject to tariffs of 35%. This is not all. Donald Trump also announced tariffs of 25% on our wood products, like cabinets. Meanwhile, the assistance announced by Ottawa in August is still not available. It is one defeat after anoth…
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Mr. Speaker, Trump keeps handing the Prime Minister one defeat after another. Today, there are new tariffs on lumber. Yesterday, we learned that a new deal could allow more American milk to cross the border. Last summer, the Prime Minister decided to sacrifice the digital services tax that web giants were supposed to pay. It is one defeat after another, and Quebec's forests, milk and culture are t…
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Madam Speaker, since we are talking about hate speech, I would like to ask my colleague whether he agrees with this religious exemption. Does he agree that certain elements of the Criminal Code can be recognized as hate speech, but that, as long as such speech is religiously motivated, it can be exempted, risk free? Does my colleague think that makes sense?
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Saskatoon West seems very committed to individual rights, but he also seems aware of the need to tackle genuine hate speech. Does he find it acceptable that the Criminal Code includes a religious exemption allowing hate speech as long as it is based on a sacred text?
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Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a bill that seeks to expand the powers of the authorities in place, including border services. However, there are not enough officers. There are not enough officers. There are not enough officers. According to the customs union, they are not short 200 officers, but 3,000. What do we do about that?
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Mr. Speaker, I too want to congratulate our colleague on his first speech and his very first election. I welcome him to the House. We have come to expect magic formulas from the Liberal government, even if the magic amounts to nothing more than window dressing and smokescreens instead of real results. I am curious, I truly wonder how the border can be strengthened and how new means and capacities …
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to hear that our colleague is as keen as we are to ensure the government takes a serious and thorough approach to the committee process. We do not want it to pull a fast one, as they say. We have to be able to examine every line of these 130 pages, down to the last comma, with experts and affected groups. Now, could my colleague elaborate on his concerns about rights and fr…
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Mr. Speaker, I am going to pick up where my colleague's response left off, when she mentioned the need to listen to the experts. I liked her speech. As I understand it, however, the New Democrats are going to vote against the bill. We are going to vote for it, but with the aim of dissecting it in committee. We will listen to the experts and the affected groups. Then, if necessary, we will vote aga…
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Mr. Speaker, yes, it was a government commitment. That said, I do not believe that the 130 pages of this bill, right down to the smallest detail, were actually specific Liberal commitments during the election campaign. The devil is often in the details. We are quite willing to co-operate, but things need to unfold differently than they did last June, when there was a super closure motion, fast-tra…
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Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, I need to point out that it took a wake-up call, like so many other situations. The same thing happened with the previous American administration with regard to Roxham Road. It took the White House saying that the situation was no longer working and that enough was enough. All of a sudden, the government, which has rediscovered the concept of Canadian sovereignty—so des…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague is using a figure of speech known as a “rhetorical question”. If such a committee existed, my colleague, who is the immigration critic, would probably know more about it than I do and know where it is now. I therefore take it that the answer was implied in the question. Nonetheless, I will take this opportunity to say that it took a long time and a lot of turning in circl…
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Mr. Speaker, finally! Finally, that is the word. Ottawa has finally understood the need to look at border security. In recent years, Ottawa has consistently turned a deaf ear to calls from all sides, including our own. Now, Ottawa seems to be starting to wake up. How unfortunate that it took a barrage of hostile comments and tariff threats from the newly appointed President Donald Trump for Ottawa…
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With regard to goods imported into Canada with ties to Xinjiang: (a) what goods are entering the Canadian market after being refused entry into the United States, and in what quantities; (b) how many of these goods did not comply with the United States’ Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act; and (c) what goods and materials entering Canada have ties to Xinjiang, and in what quantities?
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With regard to products containing polysilicon that are imported into Canada: (a) how many of these products are linked to Xinjiang; (b) what percentage of all imported products containing polysilicon do the products in (a) account for; and (c) how many were previously denied entry to the United States because they were not compliant with the United States' Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?
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Mr. Speaker, I do not know if my colleague was here earlier when my colleague from Rivière-du-Nord made his speech. We are glad that something is finally happening, because it has been a long time coming. It took Donald Trump bringing out the big guns to get things moving. However, we are also concerned about the presumably disproportionate and freedom‑killing response contained in this bill. I as…
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