Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, every year on March 20, we mark the International Day of La Francophonie. With over 320 million speakers worldwide, the French language serves as a bridge between communities, a source of cultural wealth and a driving force for international co-operation. In Canada, and Quebec in particular, French lies at the heart of our identity. It shapes our culture, our history and our ability t…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate something that my colleague mentioned and elaborate on it. It is important to remember that this bill does not target opinions; it targets acts of hatred and hate crimes. I will give a very simple example. Let us remember what happened at the Quebec City mosque. The young man who opened fire on the people in that mosque had posted hate messages on social media. Whe…
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Mr. Speaker, I just want to clarify two points that need to be understood when asking this sort of question. Protecting freedoms does not mean tolerating hatred. On our side of the House, we do not want to tolerate hatred. We do not want to, nor can we, tolerate violence against any place of worship. We do not want to prevent anyone from exercising their right to free speech, regardless of their r…
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Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound sense of responsibility that I rise today to speak at the report stage of Bill C-9. This bill seeks to combat hate. It is an essential bill that is urgently needed to protect Canadians. We have all observed a troubling reality across the country, namely the increase in hate-motivated crime. These acts are not abstract. These acts inflict harm, cause trauma and, a…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to once again clarify something. The bill has been amended, and I hope that my colleagues opposite have read the amendments. I talked about Montreal, which is a large urban centre, but I could just as easily have been talking about Toronto or any other big city. The issue is that the police need this regulatory power so that they can take preventive action, so that they c…
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Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to say that I will be sharing my time with the member for Kingston and the Islands. Over the past few years, we have all seen the importance of good public governance. Canadians expect their government to manage public funds responsibly, but never at the expense of our values. Canadians' values are reflected in the values of our government. These are our c…
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Mr. Speaker, I did not hear a question but I think the comments are very clear. We must be careful. We are talking about the health care system. Once again, a correlation is being made with an immigration issue, which we agree on. During that time, I was a city councillor in Montreal. We did indeed welcome these people. I am the member for Bourassa, and I work very hard to strike that balance I ta…
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Mr. Speaker, that is one way to ask the question. Is there an issue? The answer is clearly yes. Have there been problems? Are there things that need to be corrected? In fact, my introduction was along those lines. Are the delays really long? Yes, but what has the government done? I have identified four important measures that the government is working on to reduce costs and delays, so that immigra…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a good question, and it is an opportunity to get back to the issue of correlation. Making simplistic correlations between immigration, asylum seekers, vulnerable people and the health care system is nothing but two-bit politics. We really need to work very hard to make sure that Canadians truly understand the real impact indicators that are causing problems and longer wait tim…
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Mr. Speaker, before I begin my remarks, I would simply like to say that, as a member of Parliament, as the member for Bourassa, and above all as a father, I am deeply affected by the events that occurred in Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday evening. I would like to express my sincere solidarity. I would also like to express my deepest sympathies to the victims, their loved ones, their families and the comm…
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Mr. Speaker, my answer will be very short and very simple. Had members listened carefully without trying to obstruct anything, they would know that the plan I outlined is based on investment in manufacturing, innovation and workforce support, support for workers. The primary goal is to revive our auto sector in a very sustainable way.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question is very relevant, but his analysis is, to put it simply, flawed, if not false. In fact, as I said earlier, our goal is to have jobs right here in Canada, in our communities, and to be able to export. Our goal is not just to export our products, but also to keep and preserve our jobs.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague wants to know whether I am aware of climate and environmental issues and whether our government is also aware them. The answer is obviously yes. Now, to answer the part of the question where my colleague talked about, or rather made inferences about economic ambitions, the answer is once again yes. However, our economic ambitions and development also come with a certain r…
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Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. I would say that charging stations play a role in many ways. First, everyone knows that Quebec covers a very large area, so for EV users, the more charging stations there are, the better. Second, it is important to note that Quebec has exceptional expertise in designing, developing and installing these charging stations. Once again, Quebec is not only a …
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Madam Speaker, I want to start by saying that when it comes to the information system problem, the technology problem or the solution, my heart goes out to those who may be experiencing difficult situations. However, I do not really like the idea of revisiting that point to provide explanations. I do not really like teaching. I am not in a position to teach anything. I do not relish the idea of ad…
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Madam Speaker, the member is skirting around my remarks. I hope the member is looking to understand what an impact indicator is. When we take an action, an impact indicator helps us choose the measure that will have the greatest impact on the majority of Canadians. I talked about the 12 million Canadians who are going to benefit from this measure. That is the impact I wanted to talk about. No, we …
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Madam Speaker, no one, but no one, in the House today can ignore the cost of living situation, certainly not our government, not our side of the House. The cost of living is now one of the leading concerns of Canadians and of our government especially. This concern centres on the price of groceries. Groceries are getting more and more expensive. I see this reality in the riding of Bourassa. My col…
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Madam Speaker, I just want to repeat something I said before, to make it clearer. Our government is going to work with the provinces and territories on standardizing product labelling. That is a very important factor. The unit price is very important because it makes it easier for consumers to compare prices and pick the most affordable option. That is something that I mentioned in my speech and w…
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Madam Speaker, I just want people to remember that food inflation is a global phenomenon. People also have to remember that we are choosing targeted measures, as I said earlier. We chose actions with action indicators for a much greater impact. The problem that we are talking about today is something we are seeing. It is here and now, as members on the other side of the House say every question pe…
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Madam Speaker, I just want to say that I will be sharing my time with the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. Our country's sovereignty is not a slogan. It is not a political catchphrase. It is not just a word. It is certainly not a potentially partisan marketing tool. Sovereignty is having the actual capacity to produce, decide, invest, protect the national interest and s…
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Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for asking me to learn about Quebec's history. It is something that all of us really need to know. I am sorry, but I do not think I need to take any lessons from him. That being said, I would simply like to say that we are not undermining any province in particular. No national project will be implemented without public approval, without the approval of Quebe…
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Madam Speaker, I believe that my colleagues on the other side of the House all have one thing in common. Their interpretation of our government's strategy is completely wrong. In their minds, we are stifling development. On the contrary, each of our projects, each of our programs, is an exercise in making an informed decision. That does not weaken our economy. Quite the opposite. We are moving for…
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Madam Speaker, I can answer with one simple statement. It is no longer a choice. These days, AI is part of a comprehensive, global infrastructure, similar to electricity and other such things. We need digital sovereignty that is based on the integration of AI. Rather than letting it integrate us, we need to decide how to integrate it and control it.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today we remember the victims of the Islamophobic attack at the Quebec City mosque. I remember Mamadou Tanou Barry, Ibrahima Barry, Aboubaker Thabti, Khaled Belkacemi, Azzedine Soufiane and Abdelkrim Hassane: six lives cut short in a place of peace, spirituality and reflection, and 17 children left fatherless. I am also thinking of the survivors, including Aymen Derbali, whose life wa…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the citizens of Bourassa for the trust they placed in me during the last federal election. Serving the people of my riding is an honour, a responsibility and a privilege that I take very seriously. Since becoming a member of the House of Commons, I have been fully involved in issues such as public safety, standard of living and community …
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Madam Speaker, today I am extremely proud to celebrate the remarkable journey of a youth robotics team from our riding of Bourassa. I want to give a shout-out to the gold medallists of the FIRST Global Challenge world championship in robotics: Aaraf Alam Choudhury, Ashley Carolina Vazquez Cabrera, Donnovon Manlius, Iyad Zaabi, Justine Dubuc, Kenlee Suy, Manuela Christy Nzali Wakem, Raul André Varg…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-235, introduced by the hon. member for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford. This bill addresses an issue that strikes at the very heart of our justice system—the way that our country punishes the most severe, devastating crimes resulting not only in death or serious injury, but also in lasting trauma for family members, survivors and society at large. The bill …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the parliamentary secretary for her eloquence and the way she summarized the budget. This budget allows us to invest in a systemic package that includes housing, transportation, infrastructure, SMEs, young people and older people. I think my colleague summed it up well, but I would like to focus on the issue of infrastructure, particularly social infrastructure. These investme…
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Mr. Speaker, as I rise today, I would like to start by stating a fact: We live in a world of uncertainty. All of the decisions that we are going to make, whether they are departmental decisions or decisions taken as part of a budget or government strategy, are really decisions that we have to make against the backdrop of a changing world. I speak of change, but I could also use the word “disruptio…
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Mr. Speaker, perhaps the real question is this: What role does the Bloc Québécois play and what place can it really have in Parliament? What surprises me the most is to see the decisions and positions of the Bloc Québécois increasingly align with those of the Conservatives in a number of committees, not just the finance committee. That really scares me. It bothers me to see that Quebeckers are rep…
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Mr. Speaker, I am extremely grateful to my colleague for his question, which gives me the opportunity to address two very important points. First, we are dealing with a President who changes his mind every day. Second, we are still negotiating. Our government was not the one that stopped the negotiations. That being said, have negotiations stopped? The answer is no. The Prime Minister of Canada is…
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Mr. Speaker, are we going too far? I would say no, quite the contrary. The member must understand that we are going through a period of disruptions and we need to make significant changes. This also gives me an opportunity to answer the question to some extent. Canada is still one of the G7 countries with the most competitive corporate tax rates. If we do not give the minister the power to assess …
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Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about a novel that touches our hearts as much as it makes us think: L'ombre de tes lumières, by the author Kamal Benkirane. Using a simple yet deeply stirring writing style, Benkirane leads us into a story about love, resilience and a search for identity. He talks about families, communities, the often-fragile ties that unite us and the strength it takes to protec…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that my heart is filled with emotion as I rise here today to speak to Bill C‑221, especially after listening to my colleague earlier. This bill is not just about tinkering with the wording, regulations and provisions. As the House will hear from my remarks, this is about restoring some sincerity in how we treat human beings. I see this as something de…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague very much for her speech. Before I ask my question, I would like her to know that I agree with several points she raised. In my experience with the Montreal police force and as vice-chair of Montreal's public safety commission, I have been confronted with these realities. I have witnessed a surge in violence, particularly among couples. We are talking about financ…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague very much for his intervention and to congratulate him. I would also like to congratulate his father for his contribution to society. Since my colleague had limited speaking time, could he now explain how this bill could make it easier to collaborate with municipal and regional authorities and reduce crime committed by potentially very dangerous indi…
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Mr. Speaker, I would simply like to say that the future is not carved in stone. The future is what we make it. I would like my colleague to tell us what this budget does in terms of building. Is it an investment in building buildings, or are we also building Canadians' future? As far as infrastructure is concerned, can my colleague explain how this budget will also help people find jobs, including…
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Madam Speaker, that is a very good question with two different aspects to it. First, why invest now? By investing in infrastructure, we are creating jobs. There are jobs created by the project itself, which is an investment, and future employment opportunities, which are ongoing jobs that can become permanent afterwards. Second, Bourassa, in Montreal North, is the only borough in Montreal that did…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for that very good question because it focuses on people who we really listened to in the context of this budget. I would simply like to say that, although that measure is not included in the budget, there are other measures that take seniors into account. That said, it is really important to understand what we are doing here. Our primary goal is to deal with ur…
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Madam Speaker, first, I would like to point out that I have been in politics for more than eight years and that even my political aides do not write my speeches. These are not talking points from the Prime Minister or cabinet. Last week, I met several people who only wanted to talk to me about the budget. I would like to thank them for their trust, and I am repeating what they told me at the groce…
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Madam Speaker, it is with a deep sense of responsibility and great pride that I rise today to speak to the 2025 federal budget. Before I begin my speech, I just want to say that it has been over six months since I was elected and I want to once again thank the people of Bourassa for putting their trust in me and for giving me this responsibility. This budget is not just an accounting exercise. It …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the global economy is at a historic turning point. The international trading system is in turmoil, and new tariffs now seem to be the norm. Our country is suffering the consequences: a trade slowdown, job losses and growing uncertainty. Our main trading partner is not as reliable as it once was, which is weakening our economy. As we look forward to budget 2025, can the Minister respon…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his intervention, which I would describe as very eloquent. I also want to commend the intelligence of his remarks. On that, I cannot be against virtue. I agree with him on several of the points he raised. I completely agree on the fact that there is no correlation between youth unemployment and the temporary foreign worker program. Far from wishing to contradi…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my hon. colleague from Terrebonne for this bill, because I think it is remarkable. In Montreal, particularly on the West Island or even in Rivière-des-Prairies, there has been flooding that affected people's lives and their peace of mind. The member has taken a unique approach to this problem, which affects everyone. She raised a very interesting aspect in …
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Mr. Speaker, I will begin by answering the question asked by my hon. colleague. Who should we trust? We need to trust all Liberals who were selected by Canadians across the country. I want to make another point. Proposing amendments is one thing, but distorting a bill is quite another. When amendments alter the spirit of a bill, things get problematic. This is no longer committee work. This is an …
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Mr. Speaker, I have to agree when it comes to consistency. I also find it unacceptable that this descent issue, which was rejected by the Conservatives at the time, is now being reintroduced. However, we also have to be careful. If immigration is always associated with security issues, there is a risk of creating stigma. Security issues do not only involve immigrants; they affect the entire popula…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague raises a good question. All I can say is that this bill will take national security, stability and verifications into account. I nevertheless invite my colleague to introduce the amendment. Our way of working, as a government, is to collaborate, coordinate and find some way to co-operate on all aspects, particularly on public safety.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak in support of Bill C‑3, an act to amend the Citizenship Act, and to reaffirm the importance of the requirement for a substantial three-year connection. This measure is central to our vision of a strong, vibrant, and equitable Canadian citizenship. Every time we talk about citizenship, we talk about what it means to be Canadian. Not only is it a legal status, but …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government has always been there to support health care workers, the dedicated women and men who care for our loved ones and our seniors every day. My question is for the Minister of Health. Can she explain how the newly announced measures, including the tax credit for personal support workers and increased support for union training, will help strengthen our health care system an…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the member for Terrebonne, for her eloquence and, of course, for her presentation. My question concerns the substantial connection test for members of the second generation. Why is this test necessary for members of the second generation born after the legislation comes into force, but not for those born before it comes into force?
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