Parliamentary Speeches

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, only women can truly understand the insecurity they feel and the importance of ensuring that their rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the Canadian charter.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, we agree that Canadians are more united than ever in facing up to the impact of Donald Trump's tariffs on our economy. We have seen their enthusiasm for buying Canadian, their support for our businesses and organizations and their support for the Prime Minister. It is very important that we stand united behind him, because we are facing historic economic challenges. As Simone de Bea…

Adjournment Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for reminding us once again about the importance of agriculture. I completely agree with him. The agricultural sector is a pillar of our economy that feeds not only our country, but much of the planet as well. It is an economic driver, as my colleague said, and not just with respect to jobs, although it accounts for one in nine jobs in Canada. It also accounts for…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister and our government are working really hard to resolve these unfair tariffs from China on our canola producers, our pork producers and our pea producers. We are not waiting for that to be resolved. We are proposing to double the advance payments program for canola farmers. We have added $75 million to the AgriMarketing program. We have also opened the market for biof…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right. Farming, the entire agricultural sector, is a pillar of our economy. It accounts for one in nine jobs. To support our farmers who are facing completely unjustified tariffs from China, we have doubled advance payments, added $75 million to the agrimarketing program and, on top of that, opened up the biofuel sector. We will never turn our backs on our f…

Adjournment Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I think that is an important aspect. Those risk management programs are so important and so vital. These are programs that are shared federally and provincially. There will be another round of discussions with the premiers and with the territories. The second round of the partnership, the strategic partnership, will be discussed. There is improvement that needs to be done on both thos…

Adjournment Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, we do not talk enough in the House about the agriculture and agri-food sector, and I am so thankful the member raised this important issue. Our farmers and I echo what the member said. It is very important. They are at the end of the season. Some have experienced drought, extreme weather events, smoke and fires. It is a difficult time for farmers. They are resilient and great, and I t…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, in these difficult economic times, the Canadian dental care plan provides real support to seniors and families in my riding. Since the end of May, this program has been available to all Canadians earning less than $90,000 per year. My question is for the Minister of Health. What is the status of the program's rollout for all Canadians, and what efforts are being made to make it access…

Speech from the Throne

Mr. Speaker, I know that my colleague is a great advocate for rural areas and especially rural health care. We are at a time when it is no longer possible to die or be born in our community because we have to go to urban centres to receive health care. The situation in rural Canada is dire. I would like to hear my colleague explain what the issues are and what he thinks the solution could be for r…

Emergency Debate

Mr. Speaker, I thank the minister for her very important speech. In the Outaouais, we have had similar situations where one of the indigenous communities in my riding had to be evacuated. I would like to thank everyone at Indigenous Services Canada for their support. Can the minister elaborate on what steps the department is taking to support indigenous communities affected by the wildfires in Man…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the holiday season should be a stress-free time for all Canadians, but we know that this is unfortunately not the case for many of them. Some families really struggle with the extra holiday expenses. I would really like to hear the minister tell us about our government's plan to help those families in these tough times.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, last year we signed an historic agreement with the province of Quebec to make a join $1.8-billion investment in affordable housing through the housing accelerator fund. These investments will enable us to carry out construction projects over the coming years. This means that 8,000 affordable and social housing units will be built from one end of the province to the other, including in…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, the Chalk River site is directly opposite my riding. I am very concerned about the waste already there now, on the banks of the river. Although a plan exists to secure this waste, I would like to hear from my colleague about his plans for the waste currently on the riverbank, in an old building slated for demolition. The current plan involves securing the waste. Does my colleague thin…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, over 30 years ago, the Supreme Court of Canada established women's right to safe abortion and reproductive health. Still, I am worried today. I am worried because Conservative Party members continue to present petitions and introduce bills. Some have even gone to Florida to attend anti-choice rallies. It is none of their business. Can the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible f…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling an important petition started by Patrick Robert-Meunier, executive director of MOBI-O and spokesperson of Coalition S'allier pour le tramway, which gathered nearly 900 signatures from residents in the region. This petition calls on the government to fund the Ottawa side of the preliminary design studies for the Gatineau-Ottawa tram as soon as possible to ensure the …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, for nearly a year, workers at Videotron, Outaouais residents, have been locked out. The workers and their families have suffered a lot. However, on Friday, the parties finally reached an agreement and the workers went back to work. Can the minister give us more details on this great news and tell us how he helped resolve the dispute?

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this House to express my gratitude to the former chief of the Kitigan Zibi community. He stood by his community during difficult times, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he worked towards making his community one of the most vibrant in Canada. Like me, Dylan Whiteduck is a fan of The Lord of the Rings, and he made me smile one day when he said that he wanted hi…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, a very important event took place this summer, specifically the opening of an elementary school in the Atikamekw community of Manawan. This school, funded in part by the federal government, will enable the community's children to study their own culture and in their own language. This is very good news. I would like the Minister of Indigenous Services to update the House on the effort…

Routine Proceedings

Madam Speaker, I have the honour of presenting an important petition calling on the government to amend the National Capital Act to protect Gatineau Park for future generations. This petition was launched by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ottawa Valley chapter. I send my warmest thanks to the hard-working volunteers for their dedication on behalf of thousands of residents of this regio…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, water is essential to indigenous communities. Water is life. Water is sacred. Before 2015, the Conservative government refused to listen to the heartfelt pleas from indigenous peoples. There were 105 long-term drinking water advisories at that time. Can the Minister of Indigenous Services tell us what Canada is doing to protect this vital resource that is so essential in indigenous co…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, while the Conservatives continue to deny the reality, but also the impact of climate change, and they have no plan to deal with this crisis, we are making the necessary investments to guarantee a green and prosperous future for our children and a healthy environment. Can the Minister of Environment tell us the exact nature of these investments that are going to protect our environment…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the regional economic development agencies of Quebec are very important. They contribute to the growth, productivity and innovation of Quebec companies. That is why I was a bit upset with my Conservative colleague from New Brunswick Southwest, who said that these agencies were hurting the local economy. Can the minister reassure Canadians, and can she also talk about how our governmen…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, our sisters south of the border no longer have the right to safe access to abortion. If anyone thinks Canada is immune to such attempts to control women, they are wrong. As Simone de Beauvoir said, all it takes is an economic, political or religious crisis for women's rights to be called into question. These rights can never be taken for granted. Can the Minister of Tourism and Minist…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the other day I was thinking about why it is so important for Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. It is important for the economy. Obviously, economic prosperity and ecological prosperity go hand in hand. I was looking at the national inventory report, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that we have reduced greenhouse gas emissions. I would like to ask the environment mi…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, newsrooms and journalists are one of the pillars of Canadian democracy. In our rural communities, local media play an even more fundamental role. In December, the Minister of Canadian Heritage reached a historic agreement with Google, which committed to giving newsrooms more than $100 million. Can she tell the House when and how newsrooms, and local media outlets in particular, will b…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, communities across Canada are marching to remember missing and murdered women, girls and two-spirited people. Indigenous women are still afraid to leave their communities at night. As this year marks the fifth anniversary of the national inquiry's final report on this issue, can the Prime Minister provide an update on efforts to implement the report's calls to action?

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, affordable day care is so important. It is essential to provide women with the freedom to choose whether they stay home to raise their kids or pursue their careers, in most cases, balancing both. Women in my riding tell me they have trouble finding spots in day care. Can the Minister of Families update the House on exactly what discussions she has had with provinces to ensure the succ…

Statements by Members

Madam Speaker, supporting women so they can claim their full and proper place in the economy is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. Are members aware that, by promoting women's participation in the economy, we could increase our GDP by $150 billion? Unfortunately, only 17% of SMEs are currently owned by women. That is why I was so proud to vote in favour of the women entre…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, here in Canada, we have attracted an incredible amount of foreign investment by making the most of Canada's assets. In Quebec, 99% of businesses are SMEs. To say that we are going back to an economic stone age where we are lining the pockets of foreign multinationals and letting them dictate our policies is simply not true. No, we are investing in the heart of our businesses and SMEs.…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development recently recognized Canada as a world leader for its national action plan to end gender-based violence. One important component of that plan is a better justice system. It was not so long ago that a judge presiding over a rape trial asked the victim why she could not just keep her knees together. The Conservatives at the time …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, we know that, during the pandemic, Canadians received support from community and non-profit organizations. Now, those organizations are having trouble generating revenue and dealing with rising costs and growing demand for services. They are even having trouble retaining staff and volunteers. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, more than 400,000 homes in Quebec still heat with oil. Quebeckers are ready for a green transition, but the reality is that not everyone can afford to replace their heating system. That is why greener homes programs and heat pump subsidies are so important. Can the Minister of Environment tell us how these grants and programs are being used? Have there been any discussions with Quebec…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, when it comes to housing, I would invite my colleague to take a look at the substantial investments we are making to speed up construction and increase housing supply. I think this is the first solution. For example, we are removing the GST from the construction of new rental housing. In my riding, I am told that this will create more housing for people.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I, too, am a Quebecker and very proud of my language. In my hon. colleague's opinion, what is preventing Quebec from choosing francophone immigrants? As for integration capacity, I can reassure him right away. I personally participated in the family reunification program. My husband is from Michigan. I made him feel very welcome, and he even speaks very good French. Our two children…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague. We need skilled immigrants like doctors and nurses. It is in our best interest to do our best to help all decision-makers speed up credential recognition. I know that in Quebec, for example, individuals need to be recognized by the Collège des médecins du Québec. Obviously, we need to speed up the process. In my riding, this has resulted in a number of doc…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today. Tomorrow, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is going to present the immigration targets for the coming years. When it comes to welcoming newcomers to Canada, we need to make sure we have growth, and newcomers support our economy, they make a significant contribution. I would like to talk about an extraordinary example. In my ridin…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would say to my hon. colleague that we need immigration. Earlier, I mentioned the example of Dr. Amahzoune in Maniwaki. Without him, there would be no operating room in Maniwaki. Hospitals in the regions are struggling. We need skilled immigration. I do not understand why the hon. member would not want us to have skilled immigration to provide assistance to Quebeckers, especially …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, before becoming an MP, I had the opportunity to go to several countries with flawed tax systems. In other words, seniors, young people and the unemployed were left behind. I saw them in the streets. I know that the Conservatives would like to take an axe to our tax system, but we are not going to go backward. I would like the minister to tell us how the Canada Revenue Agency is helpin…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the question. I think I understood it. If I understand correctly, he is wondering why international agreements are negotiated at the government level and parliamentarians only learn about the results of these negotiations. I think it is important to pay attention to all the consultations that take place ahead of negotiations with a country. There are a …

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, at this stage in the global economy, we are well aware that climate change is intrinsically linked to developing a greener, more resilient and more innovative economy. This agreement, which is central to this environmental chapter, includes a number of obligations and considerations. I feel it is really going to foster technology sharing to develop this 21st-century economy, so that…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I think that it is always a good idea to take the best parts of an agreement and include them in new agreements.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Nepean. I have the honour of rising today to support the bill to implement the free trade agreement between Canada and Ukraine. As we have already mentioned, modernizing this agreement not only enabled us to add new chapters, but it also gave us an opportunity to update the existing chapters so as to ma…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to recognize the fact that, on October 18, 1929, the highest court in Canada recognized women as persons under the law. That may seem strange to us, but it is indeed the case. That is why we celebrate Persons Day on October 18. This day makes me think of all the women in our beautiful country who became pioneers to make sure that a person like me can rise in the Ho…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, SMEs and in my riding and across Quebec are a real economic driver. That is why it is so important for the government to support them at key moments in their economic development. I would appreciate it if the Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec could tell us how the government is supporting SMEs, includin…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, indigenous peoples have always been the guardians of the lands, waters and ice. It is only natural that they should be at the heart of initiatives to protect nature and meet protection targets by 2030. That is by design, both here in Canada and in many other countries as well. Could the Minister of Environment inform the House of the benefits that could come from additional investment…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot about affordability these days, but we also need to build an economy that will create good jobs and a better quality of life for Canadians. The Outaouais boasts tremendous ecotourism and recreation potential. I would like to hear what the Minister of Tourism plans to do to help the Outaouais achieve its full potential.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, many families in my riding are finding the cost of living to be a challenge, and they are having a hard time making ends meet. Times are tough, especially at the grocery store. Prices are going up. What gives me hope is the discussions that are currently taking place with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. He reached out to major grocers, major retail grocery chains, to…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, a very important federal-provincial-territorial meeting was held last week to discuss wildlife and biodiversity conservation. Specifically, the parties discussed practical ways that they can work together to achieve the important biodiversity targets that they committed to at COP15. One of the most important targets is to conserve 30% of Canada's land by 2030. Can the Parliamentary Se…

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, Bill C‑18 on online communications requires web giants to pay their fair share to local media when they profit from their work. That makes sense. However, Facebook does not want that. When Australia introduced a similar bill, the web giants even tried to use intimidation tactics. Now they are doing the same thing in Canada and California. Today, we find out that Facebook is doubling…

—filibustering when we should be debating Bill C-47.