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Mr. Speaker, yes, it would be good to know that. Will it be 150,000 people? Will it be less or more? Evidently, the number of people affected has a financial impact. There needs to be accountability. As parliamentarians, we have the right to know and we should get an annual update. That would be critically important. There is a reason this amendment was proposed. This confirms to me that, unfortun…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order out of respect for the interpreters and to avoid a problem. They are telling us that a telephone seems to be interfering with the audio.
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Madam Speaker, we know that there is a deadline for passing this bill, and if it is not met, the ruling of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will take effect. Has my colleague looked into what will happen if the bill is not passed and the court ruling takes effect?
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to Bill C‑3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, 2025, following my colleague from Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, who explained the issue well. This topic interests me because certain places in Quebec have been identified as settlement areas, and Granby is one of them. These are communities located in regions outside major urban centres. The Quebec department…
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot speak for the Liberals and say why they voted against that. I would like to remind the House that naturalized citizens are subject to security screenings. Those requirements are already in place. Why should the two groups be treated differently? Why should these applicants not also have to undergo security screenings? There is a reason why these amendments were put forward. S…
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Mr. Speaker, if I understand my colleague's question correctly, he is saying that the amendments put forward by the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives were actually crucial. All we wanted was for applicants to undergo a security test and be able to speak our language. We asked for accountability to Parliament. I think the proposed amendments absolutely respected democracy. I would like to ask my…
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Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women is currently studying a motion that I moved because I was worried and wanted to know whether the justice system is currently responding to the concerns of victims and survivors of violence. In particular, I proposed a study to review section 810 of the Criminal Code. Working with the Conservatives, we finally managed to get another study a…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague and I are especially concerned about human trafficking. We are all on the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Bill C‑14 contains a provision to establish a reverse onus, particularly for some offences related to human trafficking or human smuggling. Will this new provision really bring about significant changes to deal with this scou…
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Mr. Speaker, we are currently studying this issue of section 810 and minimum sentences at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. We are conducting a study on this subject. What we are hearing, and what we heard in previous studies is that the use of the Jordan decision must also be regulated with respect to gender-based violence. Earlier, a Conservative member was talking about Cait Alexan…
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Mr. Speaker, the bill talks about giving “primary consideration to denunciation and deterrence of repeat...offences”, particularly in the case of organized crime. Has my colleague had a chance to look into that? The Bloc Québécois has proposed measures that we think would be much more effective in addressing organized crime. They include cutting off their financial resources and creating a registr…
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Mr. Speaker, under certain new measures, people who have been in Canada for more than a year will no longer be able to claim asylum. Does my colleague think that the government should provide a humanitarian carve-out for vulnerable individuals or victims of persecution that occurred after their arrival?
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hamilton Mountain for her speech and her bill. I heard some of the testimony she referred to at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, but that was during a study on the criminalization of coercive control. I remember that the committee members, including my colleague, said that this issue merited separate study so that it could be examined in greater…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke at length about fentanyl. I extend my condolences to all who have lost loved ones to the fentanyl crisis. What are my Conservative colleague's thoughts on the federal government strengthening co-operation with the Government of Quebec and the United States in order to effectively tackle this crisis and end cross-border smuggling of these synthetic drugs?
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to border security, the Bloc Québécois and the unions have long called for patrolling between border crossings to be allowed, not because we want to replace the RCMP, but to increase flexibility and the possible scope of action on the ground. Will the government commit to amending the regulations to allow patrolling?
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Mr. Speaker, I am speaking this evening about Bill C‑223, an act to amend the Divorce Act. It is a delicate subject that requires great sensitivity. There are human tragedies behind this bill, as well as a lot of distress. I am very aware that this bill is a response to the study on the criminalization of coercive control that I proposed to the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. I will pre…
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Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the issue is that additional resources are needed. Additional resources have been announced for the RCMP, but nothing has been announced for the Canada Border Services Agency. There are some good measures, but there is still room for improvement. We would be happy to go back to committee to study the issue of border security. Some unions are calling for more resourc…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise this afternoon to speak to Bill C‑12, which deals with border security and immigration and follows on from an earlier bill, Bill C‑2. The government ultimately came back with Bill C‑12. We are now discussing this whole matter of border security and immigration against the backdrop of these two successive bills. Of course, we will study Bill C‑12 at committee with the thoroughne…
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Mr. Speaker, it will be important to look at that in committee. The Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security will be examining Bill C‑12 and the matter of border security. The issue of sentencing will be looked at by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. I encourage members to examine these serious and important issues in the most non-partisan way possible. That bein…
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Mr. Speaker, when we talk about border security, we are also taking about the RCMP. What does my colleague think of the attacks on the RCMP at a time when what we actually need is to increase funding and strengthen security at our borders?
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Mr. Speaker, I want to come back to a previous question. It has been pointed out that Bill C‑2 had already been introduced. This is one of the bills that people were asking me about because they had concerns. Was it these concerns or other factors that motivated this change? How did we go from Bill C‑2 to this new version, Bill C‑12, and what was the main reason for this change?
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Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the work that my colleague from Lac-Saint-Jean has done on this file. He always asks us to deal with this immigration issue meticulously and compassionately. That being said, where were the Liberals and the Conservatives when the Bloc Québécois was talking about reviewing the safe third country agreement? Where are the Liberals and the Conservatives when the Bloc…
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Mr. Speaker, an important aspect of border security that I talked about in my speech is human resources. We need enough officers and workers so that border crossings are effective. To improve the situation, the Bloc Québécois suggested allowing the CBSA to patrol between border crossings. Budget cuts at the CBSA are nothing new. When I was working as an assistant to the former member for Brome—Mis…
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Mr. Speaker, today's motion contains some things that we agree on, and some things that we agree on less. What we most agree on is our impression that there is no one at the controls, that the government has lost control of public finances. I am going to cite a few figures about the deficit since last December. It all started a long time ago, but I am going to talk about events over this brief per…
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Mr. Speaker, I am fascinated by the discussions and debates in the House today. I really feel like I am witnessing Harry Potter-like budget magic, or highly creative budgeting. Numbers can be made to say a lot of things. That is exactly what my colleague is showing us. On the other hand, I am trying to see how we can properly control public finances when we are forgoing revenue like the carbon tax…
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Mr. Speaker, there is one aspect that has not been discussed much today. In this difficult economic climate, there are some very active groups that are considering ways to develop the economy in the regions. Yesterday in Granby, there was an event that focused on economics. It brought together representatives from the chambers of commerce across the Eastern Townships. I would have liked to have be…
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Mr. Speaker, here is another example of Liberal hypocrisy. It is true that in committee, the Liberals voted in favour of the bill to increase OAS. That vote took place in the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. However, when the time came to defend their position in the House and take responsibility for their decision, o…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his speech, in which he promised us a budget that will revolutionize the Canadian economy. Among other things, he spoke about the idea of establishing one economy, which was proposed by the Prime Minister. I would like to know whether the hon. member is aware that a unanimous motion was tabled in the National Assembly of Quebec on April 1, 2025. …
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke at length about the importance of nation-to-nation relationships and supporting projects designed and led by and for indigenous peoples. Last year, I met with a group that came to talk to me about the Yänonhchia' project. I hope I am pronouncing that correctly. This project, which needed $150 million in funding, aimed to facilitate access to affordable capital for i…
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Mr. Speaker, we still have to do the work in a reasonable and rigorous manner in committee, as the Bloc Québécois always does. What we do know is that the media reported on this story in 2021, and it is now 2025. Things need to change. Among other things, the Quebec government's report on rebuilding trust recommended the creation of independent tribunals and the transfer to the civil system. This …
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Mr. Speaker, that question from my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot—Acton is important and essential. My colleague will be the one who will be able to propose improvements to this bill in committee on behalf of the Bloc Québécois. As I said, issues related to purges and cases of assault have existed within the armed forces for decades. These situations have dragged on. Although the Conservativ…
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Mr. Speaker, it is true that it has been 10 years. That was the timeline we saw with the Liberals. My hon. colleague and I worked together on this file, and I remember studying this issue. With all due respect, I would like to ask him a question. Who appointed Mr. Vance 10 years ago? Was it not the Conservatives?
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with my hon. colleague, the member for Laurentides—Labelle. Today, we are talking about Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. This is an issue that I have been following since the beginning of my first term. As the Bloc Québécois critic for the status of women, I have had to take a stand on this issue a…
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Mr. Speaker, in my speech, I mentioned some proposals. What women are still waiting for is a real culture change, so there is some action that can be taken. We also want civilian prosecutors to receive mandatory training on military realities and trauma. It is all well and good to set up independent tribunals, but we must also proactively educate people to ensure that they are truly aware of the d…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague's speech comes at a time when we are preparing to study a report on crimes against women. These crimes obviously leave their mark. When victims came to testify before the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, they said that regulating the use of the Jordan decision could make a real difference. The Bloc Québécois previously introduced Bill C-392 to regulate the use o…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to join my colleague from Rivière-du-Nord in expressing condolences to the family of Gabie Renaud. My colleague also mentioned other cases that prove the number of femicides is growing. The Standing Committee on the Status of Women agreed to study a report from the last Parliament on gender-based crimes, particularly crimes against women. What we heard from victims and su…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to pick up on the question that was just asked. The Liberals have been talking a lot about this bail reform promised by the Minister of Justice. I have colleagues on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women who have spoken to me about it. We were told that it would happen this fall and that the Standing Committee on the Status of Women should not take on too much because w…
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Mr. Speaker, today, we are talking about an important and serious subject that warrants important and serious debate. Right now, the opposition motion that the Conservative Party is proposing is more of a gag order on a bill that affects people's rights. That is what my question for my colleague is about. The Conservatives' bill should be debated and studied in committee with the seriousness it de…
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Mr. Speaker, one thing that has not been discussed much in today's debate is the fiscal imbalance. My colleagues may be wondering what the fiscal imbalance has to do with today's debate and whether I am out to lunch. Let me explain. What we are debating today is a federal matter, but let us not forget that every decision made here regarding the Criminal Code inevitably has repercussions on the fin…
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Mr. Speaker, crime is a complex issue. It is also a matter of intervention. We need to look at this from a perspective that is as broad as possible. That is what the Bloc Québécois is trying to do by making various suggestions, such as cracking down on criminal organizations. That is important. We are also proposing to create a registry of criminal organizations, to facilitate the seizure of asset…
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Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, of which I am a vice-chair, is finalizing our report on coercive control, gender-based violence and femicide. These studies started during the last Parliament and we are picking up where we left off. Our next study will focus on a motion that was tabled in collaboration with the Conservative members of the committee. The study will seek t…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. He spoke about a community that is particularly important to me, since I come from the riding of Shefford, which is home to fantastic rural communities that support Quebec agriculture. We have heard from people in the farming community about what is really causing prices to go up, which we have seen over the years. Input prices are up, with fertili…
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Mr. Speaker, on October 1, International Seniors Day, I want everyone to take a moment to think about those who built Quebec. We need to find solutions to the issues that affect them most, such as isolation and abuse. More importantly, we need to take action to support them in dealing with the skyrocketing cost of living. That is why the Bloc Québécois is taking this opportunity to announce that w…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his speech, which I think complemented mine well. Today's discussion covers a very broad topic. We see the consequences of inflation, price increases. I thank him for pointing out that creating false taxes or waving a magic wand for solutions does not work. It takes real action. Right now, farmers are the first to see the effects of climate chang…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by stating that I will be sharing my time with our chief whip, who is first and foremost the member for Berthier—Maskinongé. I think that he himself would say that his role as a member of Parliament is the more important one. We Bloc Québécois members are, above all, here to represent our constituents. It is in the rather unusual context of the return of Parliame…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member, who is a new colleague of mine at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. I welcome her to the committee. Right now, I am genuinely deeply concerned about the federal government's attempts to interfere in Quebec's jurisdiction once again, instead of taking concrete action to lift women out of poverty. Here is an example. Some women stay in violent situations…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé, whom I call the super whip and who is also the agriculture, agri-food and supply management critic. That is, of course, what the agricultural community is asking us for right now. I must applaud my colleagues for passing the Bloc Québécois's bill because, this summer, people were thanking me for getting that bill passed. We need to contin…
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Mr. Speaker, a school food program is all well and good, but when we are talking about what we can do to help people in our ridings cope with this inflation, I find it somewhat unfortunate that the Liberals keep reminding us that they are helping students in schools. It is like when they told us that they were helping seniors because they were giving more money to food banks. The Liberal governmen…
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Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to work with my colleague on sensitive issues such as women experiencing violence and the need to empower women economically so they can break the cycle of poverty. Like me, she is her party's critic for seniors. I remember going to her office to discuss the importance of increasing seniors' income in order to improve their financial situation. That is cruci…
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Mr. Speaker, if there is one thing my colleague and I agree on, it is the mismanagement of public finances. That is clear. The government is being led by someone who presented himself as the great banker-in-chief during the last election campaign. He boasted about being able to control public finances. What we saw, however, was someone who deprived the government of revenue by lowering taxes and f…
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Mr. Speaker, the tax cut was just a scheme to get more votes, and it was temporary. Cutting the carbon tax was the same thing. What seniors want is a long-term increase in their income. If my colleague opposite were listening to seniors' groups, he would know that they need long-term assistance. The government needs to increase pensions by 10% for seniors aged 65 to 74, who were left out last time…
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