Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, last week, along with my colleagues, I had the privilege of meeting with some of the largest companies in my riding. They all told me the same thing: they are feeling the impact of the U.S. tariffs, economic uncertainty, the current recession and labour shortages. Most concerning is that several of them told us they have never been consulted by the Liberal government on the future of CUSMA, despite the direct impact on their workers and investments. Why do the Liberals keep making decisions that affect our businesses without taking the time to listen to them?

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. Yesterday, my colleague on the other side responded by trying to convince us that their approach is working. She said, “It is working.” However, a tremendous number of people back home are telling me that they feel a lump in their throat when they get to the supermarket checkout, praying that the payment will go through, because they are not sure there is enough money in their account. How can she say it is working when a rich country like Canada is forced to rely on food banks to feed its people?

Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only G7 country in a recession. The Liberal recession is not just a graph. It is parents standing silently in front of an empty fridge when the children ask what is for dinner. It is watching children go to school on an empty stomach when our food banks can no longer provide. If the crisis is global, as the Liberal government claims, why are our communities the only ones suffering, unlike all the other ones in the G7?

Mr. Speaker, I have a quick question for my colleague. How much money have the Liberals managed to raise so far with the 5% that was already in place? How much money do they estimate they will raise with the 15%? Who will end up paying the 15%, at the end of the day? Obviously, it is not the government. The government is going to pocket the money and may well redistribute it. That is what the Liberals are saying. Who is actually going to pay this 15% tax?

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about advertising. The Canadian government is currently running 80% of its ads on platforms owned by the tech giants. It gives them money every day, millions and millions of dollars in advertising, instead of advertising in our local and regional organizations and media. I will ask my colleague again. How much money did the government collect with the 5% it implemented through Bill C‑11? By the way, that legislation has been in place for a number of years, and it is not even in effect yet. Now they are increasing it to 15%. At the end of the day, who is going to pay the 15%?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of families in Quebec who are sick and tired of being bled dry. On May 21, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the CRTC, made a unilateral decision that is out of touch with reality. It announced that it is tripling the tax on streaming platforms from 5% to 15%. That is aggressive taxation. Let us think about this for a second. The initial 5% tax is still being challenged in court, and the CRTC has not yet collected a single penny of it, but that is not stopping the CRTC from trying to triple the tax before the court has even ruled. This is madness. Let us be realistic. Who will end up footing the bill? I asked two of my Liberal colleagues about this earlier, and neither was able to answer me. The obvious answer is: consumers. Web giants will not absorb the cost; our own consumers will have to shell out. Once again, the middle class will get hit. I am talking about families in Saint-Pacôme, La Pocatière and the 73 other municipalities in my riding whose bills will go up yet again. Who else will get hit? Seniors who keep track of every dollar so they can make it to the end of the month. Subscriptions to Netflix, Spotify, Disney+ and YouTube will cost quite a lot more. Given the current inflation, the groceries that cost an arm and a leg, and the housing crisis, a bit of family entertainment will end up becoming a luxury. This tax hike is yet another punitive measure by the Liberal government. It is another tax that is driving up the cost of living. Let us talk about the regions. In many parts of Quebec, cultural offerings are rather scarce. Not everyone can have a large movie theatre, a theatre or a performance hall across the street. Online platforms are becoming a way for families in the regions to access new releases, both Canadian and foreign, and the same culture as everyone else at the same time. Taxing these services by 15% creates an additional geographic injustice for Canadians who live farther and farther away from major urban centres. It is doubly punitive for the regions. There is a fundamental principle in our democracy, and our parliamentary work has been clear for decades and centuries: Parliament alone has the power to tax citizens. The CRTC is a committee of civil servants appointed by people elected by the public. By what right can these bureaucrats decide overnight to tax Quebeckers and Canadians? The government has the power to reject this decision, and it must do so. If it refuses to act, it is complicit. The CRTC is becoming our very own Internet czar. People sitting in offices decide what is good or bad for citizens. It is an insult to consumers' intelligence. Ultimately, it is consumers who decide what they want to consume. Freedom of choice is an important value in both Quebec and Canada. People are mature enough to decide for themselves what they want to listen to or support. Quebeckers are proud of their culture and have always shown it, as have the Conservatives. When a local show is good, we watch it in droves. When a song is good, we listen to it on repeat—which I do regularly, by the way. We do not need Ottawa to dictate what we should watch or listen to. The Quebec public is sovereign when it comes to its cultural choices. Furthermore, by imposing a 15% tax, Canada is totally shooting itself in the foot. Our country is becoming one of the most expensive and least competitive countries in the world for investment. What message are we sending to investors? What message are we sending to all the communications and culture giants and non-giants that are interested in investing in Canada? We are telling them to come here to be taxed. Who is going to pay at the end of the day? Once again, it is always the same people: consumers. The message we are sending companies that might want to invest in Canada is that they should not come here because it is complicated and unpredictable and they are going to be taxed to the hilt. This is impeding investment in this country, of course. It is threatening paying jobs in technology and film. Heaven knows that in Quebec and especially Montreal, the top global hub, especially for video games, there are all kinds of organizations making films and that world-class productions are also being created in Quebec and Montreal. In the long term, what message are we sending these people? Time and time again, the message is that the government is going to tax them. Some will say that the francophone minority in Quebec and across the country certainly needs the tax money to survive. That is a bad idea masquerading as a good one. That involves a misunderstanding of the reality of the francophone market. If we impose such a heavy tax, what is going to happen? The major platforms will make economic choices. Producing in French is expensive, and the content is intended for a smaller market. If the government slams them again with a 15% tax, these multinationals may simply cut their francophone production budgets to cover their losses. Instead of helping francophone culture, this tax will discourage platforms from commissioning new series or films in French. It is our own culture that we are stunting. Our technicians, directors, actors, visual effect experts and post-production studios also work with these major platforms. They are already funding, in part, some productions. These people earn their living through huge contracts with them, which brings new money into our economy. By imposing a punitive 15% tax, the government is halting this economic momentum. If Canada becomes hostile and unpredictable, these companies will simply go film their series and produce their projects somewhere else. Quebec cultural workers will lose good-paying jobs. The way to protect the francophone minority is not by putting our own people out of work. Quebec content producers, technicians and artists need solid partnerships, predictability and private investments to showcase our talent. The government, by waging war on the big platforms, is hurting our artists, pulling the rug out from under them, and denying them a unique opportunity to become known worldwide. To add to the absurdity, this decision comes at the worst possible time. The U.S. administration and its ambassadors have clearly warned us that they see this as an unfair provocation and trade barrier targeting their companies. Canada is getting ready to renegotiate CUSMA, a trade agreement that supports thousands of Quebec families, workers and businesses. Why is the government trying to pick a fight with our biggest economic partner? I am going to digress for a moment. In my riding, like everywhere else in Quebec and Canada, this agreement with the United States, the one that the Liberals are dragging their feet on renegotiating, offers Canada and our regions, especially Quebec, absolutely fundamental economic benefits. This holds true in all sectors, including the cultural sector, the industrial sector, the agricultural sector and the food sector. The U.S. is our biggest customer, partner and friend. Right now, we are putting up all kinds of barriers to stop these people from showing any interest in doing business with Canada. We have no idea why the government is picking fights with the United States like it is right now. It is sheer recklessness. Instead of making us competitive, it is damaging our ability to compete internationally. It is absolutely unbelievable. There is still time to backtrack. The minister and the government have the power to block this ridiculous CRTC decision. They need to heed the warnings of our trading partners. They need to stop thinking that every problem can be solved with a new tax. Once again, the Liberals are telling us that they are giving more and more money, but they are putting that on credit. Then they turn around and collect more and more taxes to be able to pay for it. In doing so, they are harming the Canadian cultural economy. Canadians are asking for a break, not for unnecessary tax hikes. I do not want to hear that the Conservatives need to be better informed. The Conservatives have our culture and the protection of the French language in mind and at heart. We are proud of our artists. We have always been proud of our artists. The government is saying that the Conservatives do not like artists and other such things, but that is not so. That is completely false. We refuse to believe that the only way to support homegrown talent is to punish consumers and drive away investment. That is absurd. That is not the way to build a strong, competitive economy. The more prosperous our economy gets, the easier it will be for our local businesses to fund, produce and disseminate homegrown works. Making people poorer and hurting economic growth is no way to help Quebec and Canadian culture flourish. The Conservatives are staunchly opposed to this tax, and we demand that it be eliminated outright. We need to give taxpayers some breathing space, encourage investment and stop creating taxes that make life harder for people.

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that we can have regulations in Canada and that we can make all kinds of decisions. The problem is that all the decisions the Liberal government has made over the past 11 years have been to impose taxes, fees and all sorts of regulations, left and right, that inevitably have an impact on the cost of the products we consume. This is true for housing, it is true for food, and it is true for gas. It is true for everything. In this case, we are adding another 15% tax on a product that people consume at the end of the day, often in the evening, watching a movie on Netflix. The Liberals always find a way to add taxes and make consumers pay.

Mr. Speaker, I would simply say to my colleague that the federal government invests astronomical sums, more than $1.2 billion a year, in culture in Quebec and across Canada. I sit on the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, and during our most recent studies, we were told that money is not currently an issue. Rather, more authority is needed to ensure wider distribution across Canada. I therefore believe that the crux of the matter is that, as we speak, the average consumer has had enough. People are fed up with paying taxes. It is the only way the Liberals have found to squeeze extra money out of consumers' pockets, and people are sick of it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his French. That is a really great question. I have anglophone colleagues who are making incredible efforts in French. In fact, some come to study in La Pocatière, in my riding, in the summer. The answer to that is the consumer. At the end of the day, it is the consumer who is going to pay this 15% tax, which used to be 5%. By the way, that 5% tax has still not been collected because it is being challenged in court. The legislation stemming from Bill C‑11 is still not enforced. This future tax will inevitably apply one day if the court settlement is finally reached. Once again, the reality is that ordinary Canadians are the ones who will end up paying the tax.

Mr. Speaker, I challenge the Liberal Prime Minister to look a young Quebecker in the eye and tell them that the economy is doing well. How can he justify the 91,000 jobs lost so far this year in Quebec, including 43,000 in April alone? The Liberal Prime Minister is racking up endless credit card debt, and our young people will be getting a bill that they will never be able to pay. It is unbelievable. When will the Liberal government stop making costly budgets and give the next generation hope and a chance?

Mr. Speaker, here is the definition of this costly Liberal Prime Minister: more agencies, more taxes, more spending, more credit card spending, more interest payments on the credit card and more job losses. It is always the same old story. The proof is that, after 11 years of Liberal government, all that the government is doing right now is losing jobs. When will the Prime Minister realize that throwing money down the drain is not the way to grow the economy?

Mr. Speaker, he is talking about fiscal restraint when the Liberals just doubled Canada's deficit. The current Prime Minister is an illusion. Contrary to what my colleague is saying, Canada is currently shedding jobs by the tens of thousands every month. Quebec alone lost 43,000 jobs in April, bringing the total job losses in 2026 in Quebec to 91,000. That is the fault of Liberal management. How can the Liberals then turn around and say that everything is fine? It is unbelievable. It is impossible.

Mr. Speaker, today marks 12 years since I have had the privilege of becoming the member of Parliament for my constituency, now known as Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata. I was first elected in 2009 and, although I lost by nine votes during the “orange wave” a year and a half later, that gave me the determination to return in 2015 to continue my work. The greatest satisfaction as an MP is helping people resolve the issues that worry them. There is nothing more rewarding than helping to improve people's lives. Throughout all these years, I have been fortunate to be able to count on an exceptional person: Annie Francoeur. She has guided and supported me every step of the way, and she managed four of my six election campaigns. I would be remiss if I did not mention the incredible work of the rest of my team: Denise, An, Annie, Lauriane and Marianne, who give their all, every day, for my constituents. Being an MP is an immense privilege. It also comes with great responsibility, and I hope to live up to the expectations of the people of my riding, both here in Ottawa and in the most beautiful riding in Canada. I would like to thank all of my constituents.

Madam Speaker, how can a G7 country brag when families are cutting back on groceries and skipping meals just to make ends meet? The Dalhousie University report states in no uncertain terms that Canadians are buying what they can afford, not what they need to eat. It is always the same old story with the Liberals, the same old tune on repeat. They pull out the credit card and spend without a second thought, and the bill always ends up on Canadians' plates. How are the Liberals going to make life more affordable for Canadians?

Madam Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, she is taking us for fools. I hope I do not look like a puppet. Canadians are not stupid. Everything the Liberals are doing is going on the credit card. The reality on the ground is clear. Groceries are getting more and more expensive, household debt is rising and food banks across the country are overwhelmed. How can the Liberal government claim that everything is fine when more and more people are having to cut back on food and turn to food banks to put food on the table?

Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of Liberal governments, it is the same old story: more spending, more debt, higher taxes and a spike in the cost of living. This economic update proves that nothing has changed. The current Liberal Prime Minister is continuing his predecessor's policies and out-of-control deficits. He has even doubled the deficit, contrary to what the Minister of Industry just told us. It makes no sense. The Globe and Mail is reporting that the Liberals have no intention of arresting our economic decline. Will the Liberal Prime Minister finally acknowledge that copying Trudeau's costly policies is a recipe for disaster?

Mr. Speaker, that is what Trudeau was saying 10 years ago. My colleague's comments make it clear that the Liberals are completely out of touch with Canadians' reality. Families are cutting back on groceries, young people are giving up on the idea of buying their first home and seniors are continuing to work after retirement to be able to survive. Meanwhile, this government continues to spend recklessly and pat itself on the back as if money grows on trees. It is absolutely outrageous. Will the Prime Minister finally admit that things have not changed in 10 years and that he is at the head of another costly Liberal government?

Mr. Speaker, after a lifetime of working, twice as many seniors can no longer afford to retire and have to keep working past age 65 just to make ends meet. That is alarming. The price of everything, including groceries, rent and gas, is going up. Many people now have to count every penny, even after a lifetime of work, and have to find a second career. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister continues to rack up charges on the nation's limitless credit card. My question is simple. What does the Prime Minister intend to do to truly help our seniors?

Mr. Speaker, it seems that many people do not realize that it is easy to announce one program after another, but, at the end of the day, it all goes on the government's credit card, with no real limit. However, there is, in fact, a limit. An unpaid credit card balance at the end of the month means interest charges. It always means more spending and more deficits. The interest charges amount to over $3,300 a year for every family. When will the Liberals finally get their spending under control and cut it back so that Canadians can make ends meet?

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I would like to present, as my colleague from Montmorency—Charlevoix has done, a petition concerning fisheries and the abundance of striped bass in the St. Lawrence River. When I was young, there used to be striped bass fishing competitions and we would see monster-sized fish. That fishing has disappeared over time and striped bass have been reintroduced. Now, the overabundance of striped bass is harming the entire ecosystem in the St. Lawrence River near Côte-du-Sud, in my region. I call on the government to take action following the tabling of this petition.

Mr. Speaker, cutting 10¢ from a litre of gas right now is like trying to put out a fire with a glass of water. Canadians need a lot more relief than 10¢ a litre. The Liberals asked us if we had any good ideas. Well, eliminating all federal taxes on gas and diesel by the end of the year would be a relief measure for families, farmers and businesses, not only in Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, but for all Canadians and Quebeckers. When will the Liberals listen to us and take 25¢ off a litre of gas, like we are calling for?

Mr. Speaker, in our regions, travel is not an option; it is a necessity. Our young people rely on transportation to get to school and to their activities, but the skyrocketing price of gas is hurting our transport companies, and our young people are paying the price. In the meantime, the federal government is raking in billions of extra dollars from higher oil prices. Yesterday, the Liberal Prime Minister said he was looking at solutions. Unfortunately, Canadians do not have time to wait for his solutions. Why is the government refusing to suspend the federal tax on gas and diesel, which would bring some real relief to young people and the regions?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that Canada would be the best-performing economy in the G7, yet here we are as the worst: more than 100,000 jobs lost in two months, the second-highest unemployment rate, the highest household debt and the highest food inflation in the G7. Instead of solving the problem, the Prime Minister continues to block projects, impose taxes on production, and inflate the deficit at the expense of Canadians. How can this Liberal government say that everything is fine when its decisions are hurting families and the economy?

Mr. Speaker, I spoke to farmers in my riding recently and they have had enough. They are paying more and more for inputs like gas, fertilizer and farm equipment all because of the Liberal carbon and clean fuel taxes, for example. Meanwhile, grocery prices continue to rise and everyone is paying more and more, which is really hard on families. When will this Liberal government finally stop going after those who help our communities survive and eliminate these inflationary taxes?

Mr. Speaker, Ottawa does not just have a software problem. It has a systemic problem. Every time the Liberals hire a private firm, costs skyrocket and accountability goes out the window. First there were Phoenix and ArriveCAN, and now we have Cúram, which is costing $6.6 billion. Half of that money is going to consultants, while thousands of seniors are waiting for their pensions. When will the Liberals admit that the real problem is not just the software but their management approach? Consultants are getting richer while our seniors our getting poorer waiting for their cheques.

Mr. Speaker, we thought we had seen it all with Phoenix and ArriveCAN, but then Cúram came along and surpassed even Quebec's infamous SAAQclic fiasco. That says a lot. The Liberals said they would be responsible with taxpayers' money. Instead, we are at $6.6 billion and seniors are still waiting for their pension benefits. The worst part is that half of that money is going into the pockets of consultants. How can the Liberals justify this mess? Why are the Liberals continuing to make seniors pay the price for glitchy software?

Mr. Speaker, the college and community innovation program supports research centres like Solutions Novika, Biopterre and Optech in La Pocatière. These centres support entrepreneurs' efforts to innovate and create jobs in the regions. However, the government is set to cut 30% of their budget. Meanwhile, it is throwing more than $6 billion at the the Cúram fiasco and continues to spend billions of dollars on consultations, with fiscal management that always leaves Canadians with more debt and fewer results. It is quite simply outrageous. Why are the Liberals cutting research and innovation instead of cutting spending?

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers saw the cost overruns of SAAQclic. Hundreds of millions of dollars were wasted. That is a drop in the bucket compared to the federal fiasco involving Cúram, which cost $6.6 billion instead of $1.6 billion. That is $5 billion in cost overruns for a failed software program that was supposed to deliver old age pensions and does not even work properly. Currently, there are 86,000 seniors who are not receiving their money because of federal incompetence. The Liberals are still wasting billions of dollars, and Canadians are paying the price. What is this government going to do with this federal version of the SAAQclic fiasco?

Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to fix all our issues, but thousands of Canadians are still struggling to make ends meet. In January, Canada lost 25,000 jobs. In addition, since the start of his mandate, $58 billion has fled to the United States. That is unacceptable. The Prime Minister is in luck. We, the Conservatives, have proposed a Canadian sovereignty act to protect our industries and reduce our dependence on the United States. Will the Prime Minister finally work with us to protect our Canadian sovereignty in the face of American threats?

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague from Mirabel on his speech and thank him because it is a speech filled with compassion for the people of his riding. He is right to say that, whether working on Parliament Hill or in their riding, elected members are there to represent the people who elected them. I therefore offer my colleague my heartfelt congratulations. My colleague was not an MP when all of this happened. He was very young at the time. He said in his speech that everything that happened in Mirabel was an absolute nightmare for many people at the time. Some apologies have been made by successive governments, both Conservative and Liberal. I would like to know what additional apologies he expects for his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, we learned today from the member for Beauport—Limoilou that the cost of the Quebec City tramway has risen to $13 billion, whereas it was estimated at about $750 million several years ago. Now, it is going to cost $13 billion and construction has not even begun. Obviously, we are all in favour of public transit. Nevertheless, we are currently talking about 20 kilometres of tracks costing Quebec $13 billion. What is the estimate for building 1,000 kilometres of tracks across Canada's farmland?

Mr. Speaker, today, buying groceries in Quebec has become a luxury. Food inflation is 6.2% higher than last year. It is the worst in the G7. In 2026, feeding a family of four will cost an extra $1,000. That is mind-boggling. Grocery prices are rising twice as fast in Canada as they are in the United States, and 2.2 million people are visiting food banks every month. Why is everything more expensive? It is because of Liberal deficits and taxes: The gas tax is set to rise from 7¢ a litre to 17¢ a litre, and that will show in the cost of groceries. Every time a producer, processor or transporter gets taxed, the consumer inevitably ends up footing the bill. Conservatives are ready to take action. We want to end the taxes, rebalance the budget, break up the monopolies and, above all, support our farmers and give Quebec families a break. These are policies that work and that would lower food prices.

Mr. Speaker, we are seeing evidence of the housing crisis on the streets and in the homes of Quebeckers. Families are being forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table. Young people are putting their plans on hold because they cannot find affordable apartments. According to a Leger poll, one in five renters in Quebec had trouble paying their rent last year. In Montreal, it is one in four. That is unacceptable. After 10 years of Liberal government, when will Quebeckers have access to truly affordable housing?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that we should judge him by the prices at the grocery store. Well, Canadians have judged him. Groceries now cost twice as much as they did 10 years ago, and the latest food price report says that the cost will go up another $1,000 next year for a family of four. Today, families are telling us that they have to choose between milk and fruit or even skip the occasional meal to make it to the next paycheque. It is appalling that such a thing is happening in a country like Canada. Will the Liberals finally stop the inflationary spending, which is driving up prices, and axe the hidden taxes on food so that Canadians can get enough to eat?

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his moving speech. Of course, our thoughts are with him and his family following the loss of his son. I recently had an opportunity to speak with a nurse from Rimouski who works in a hospital emergency department. She told me that fentanyl is becoming a serious problem, even in the regions, along with marijuana, of course, since it was legalized. My colleague referred to that. New and increasingly more powerful drugs are finding their way here on a regular basis, which can make it harder for young people to break free from addiction. Will my colleague's bill give judges the opportunity to expedite the process so that people can get help?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank some people who mean a great deal to me. We know that our role as members of Parliament would not be the same without our teams, and mine is no exception. Annie Francoeur, who has worked with me for more than 12 years, is not just my right hand; she is both my hands. She is continuing to rest after our accident in October. We miss her very much and we wish her a speedy recovery. There is also Denise, who gives a warm welcome to residents in my riding when they visit my constituency office in Rivière-du-Loup. Annie Boutin in Montmagny is equally appreciated for the outstanding job she does. An skilfully manages our communications. We are also lucky to have Shane, our amazing intern, who always gives 110%, and last but not least, Lauriane, whose cheerfulness and efficiency help me to do an even more professional job here in Ottawa. I am spoiled to have such wonderful support. I wish to thank the members of my team for their passion and their dedication to the people of Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish my whole team and everyone across my riding a very happy holiday season.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak honestly about the budget tabled by the Liberal government. It is a budget that lets down families, workers, businesses and, above all, strategic economic sectors such as softwood lumber. The Prime Minister's recent budget talks about a generational investment plan. It is more like generational debt. It is 404 pages of promises. In our communities, it rings hollow. Business owners back home have been clear: It is one step forward and two steps back. People are fed up and disgusted. That is what I am hearing in my riding. Back home, people are saying that this budget is completely disconnected from their reality. I come from a part of the country where people work very hard. The riding of Côte‑du‑Sud—Rivière‑du‑Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata has more than 116,000 people living in 75 rural, urban, industrial and agricultural municipalities. They are entrepreneurs, forestry producers, sawmill employees, labourers, public service employees. They are families who want to live with dignity. These days, people often tell me that they can no longer make ends meet. That is the message we are receiving regularly at our offices right now. People are sending me texts and emails, not because they refuse to work or they are not working, nor because they want a handout. That is not what they are asking for. They want to be able to breathe a bit. This budget does not give anyone any breathing room. Municipal officials in my region have been clear: We must respond to needs now. Drinking water, waste water, recreation and housing are all urgent matters. However, as the reeve of the Rivière-du-Loup RCM said, it takes time for these initiatives to reach our communities. The intentions are good, but when is it going to happen? The problem with this government, after all its investments and deficits over the past 10 years, is that we are still waiting to see any results. The promise of two billion trees has simply disappeared. The housing investments that were promised five or six years ago are completely gone as well. People back home are not asking for the moon. They want a government that respects the regions, that understands that Montreal and rural regions do not share the same reality, and that action must be taken accordingly. When a government does not understand the reality of Canadians, that immediately affects the daily lives of families, and it starts with something as essential as groceries. We see it in all the grocery stores in Montmagny, Saint-Pamphile, Saint-Jean-Port-Joli, La Pocatière and Rivière-du-Loup. Groceries are becoming unaffordable. It is not because families are wasting money or buying luxury items. It is simply because the cost of living and the cost of food have literally exploded under this government. Let us also remember that the Prime Minister himself asked to be judged based on people's experience at the grocery store. Seven months later, families are judging him, and it can be said that things are not going well for him at all. In any case, just remember how he presented that to us by saying “elbows up”. He was all proud to say that he was going to bring down grocery prices. His Minister of Finance, who used to be the industry minister, said that he was going to reach an agreement with the grocers. We can forget about that; it did not happen. That is just another broken promise. Everything has gone up since the Prime Minister took office. The price of strawberries is up 51%. Beef and chicken have increased by 30% and 23%. Even ground beef is up 14% just since April of this year, which was the month the Prime Minister was elected. Canada's Food Price Report 2026 tells us that 2026 will be even worse. I just saw an article in La Presse about that. The average Canadian family of four will be paying $1,000 more for groceries in 2026. If we divide that by 12, it starts adding up every month. That means an extra $1,000 for the same food. This amounts to a 112% increase in family food budgets since 2015. Today, 85% of Canadians say that the price of food is their top concern, and rightly so. A record 2.2 million people visited food banks in just one month. That is unprecedented. For a lot of people, it has become a question of survival. Meanwhile, the Liberal budget contains no serious measure to reduce the cost of groceries and no strategy to curb food inflation. Worse still are the taxes, like the gas tax, the clean fuel tax and the carbon tax, which inevitably impact the price of fertilizer and equipment. Farmers inevitably pass on all of these costs to consumers in the price of the products they supply to distributors. It is inevitable. People are tired of feeling like the government has no idea what they are going through. I also have to talk about the really big elephant in the room, which is the deficit. The Liberals have been in power for 11 years now, and that means 11 budgets. Year after year, we see the same thing. Spending goes up, the deficit never goes away and there is no credible path back to a balanced budget. Every time we ask the government questions, it repeats the same things, like a broken record. It says that there is no reason to panic, that Canada has the lowest debt in the G7, that it has fiscal room and that there is no problem. Honestly, do we really need to go back to being among the worst? Why do we have to be at the back of the pack in the G7? Why are we heading in that direction instead of trying to be the best? Canada is not mediocre. We are capable of making sure we do things right so we do not saddle our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with debt. They are the ones who will end up with the bill. The truth is that the government lacks discipline, and that lack of discipline comes at a cost, a cost the government will not have to pay. The ones on the hook for it are our grandchildren and the grandchildren of all Canadians. By running deficit after deficit without ever coming up with a serious plan to stabilize and balance the budget, the government is just passing the bill on to future generations. I refuse to accept that. I have grandchildren, and I hope to have great-grandchildren someday. Honestly, when I think about the country they are going to inherit, my heart sinks. I refuse to accept that a country as rich as Canada can just go ahead and rack up debt with no respect for future generations. Our constituents work too hard to give their children and grandchildren a future mired in debt because the government is incapable of managing its priorities. Speaking of lacking vision, there is no better example than the way key sectors are being treated. I am going to talk specifically about one sector that is of crucial importance to my riding: softwood lumber. The Lower St. Lawrence, the south shore and Chaudière-Appalaches are home to sawmills, processors, transporters and thousands of families that directly or indirectly depend on this sector. Companies like Groupe Lebel, Maibec, Bardobec and Matériaux Blanchet are all feeling the pressure of U.S. tariffs, which are stifling our industry. What did the Prime Minister say? He said that a deal would be made shortly and that workers could hold on to hope. Now, when he is asked about the need to resolve this issue with President Trump, he publicly responds, “Who cares?” Who cares? We care. Not only do we care, but we want an assurance that the negotiations with the U.S. will restart. The Prime Minister said there is no “burning issue”. There is no learning issue. I am sorry, I meant to say burning issue. There certainly are still burning issues, more than a few of them. It would not be good to have learning issues. We are laughing, but it is not funny. I am going to talk about what happens when a mill closes in a riding like mine and in villages like the ones in my riding. The same thing is currently happening in British Columbia, where my colleagues are experiencing this. When this happens, it is not just a case of one mill closing and 30 or 40 employees losing their jobs. Sooner or later, the entire community collapses. In Rivière-du-Loup, for example, 175 very good, well-paid jobs were directly affected by the closure of the White Birch paper mill, but 1,800 indirect jobs were affected up and down the supply chain. Is anyone going to say, “Who cares?” to workers in Saint-Pamphile, Sainte-Perpétue, Saint-Just-de-Bretennères, Lots-Renversés, Dégelis and Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac? Those are all municipalities that are directly connected to these mills. They usually import wood from Europe, which is cheaper than buying wood from Canadian mills, to sell to the United States. I still have five pages of my speech left to read. I should not just get cut off like this. How unfair. I should have read faster, because there are some very important things I would have liked to say, but I understand that I have run out of time. I can talk about them when I answer questions. I will listen very carefully to my colleagues' questions.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I cannot swear in the House of Commons. I can assure everyone that it is not for lack of desire. If I could, he would be getting an earful. The reality is that the Liberals have been in power for 10 years. They have been running deficits for 10 years. They are bringing up Harper again. Harper was prime minister in 2008, during the worst global crisis since the 1930s. The Liberals have been in government for 10 years. They have tons of money to spend. The government is literally throwing money out the window. Meanwhile, people in our ridings are struggling to put food on the table. That is the reality.

Madam Speaker, my Bloc Québécois colleague is right about seniors. There is nothing in this budget for them. It is extremely disappointing. She is absolutely right. As for the softwood lumber issue, people do not want government assistance or a handout. They want to make a decent living from their jobs. Business owners want to make a profit from their sales. The problem is that they can no longer sell to the United States, and they are losing their market in Europe. Why? It is because the government has failed to get a deal, and tariffs have actually tripled in six months. That is how our regions are becoming poorer because of this government.

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his kind words. My colleague said 35%, but it is actually up to 45%. That last 10% the U.S. President tacked on was really a death knell for every softwood lumber industry in my riding. It was the straw that broke the camel's back. Let us remember how the Prime Minister danced when he said “elbows up”. I honestly cannot wait to see if he will be dancing elbows-up at his Christmas party.

Mr. Speaker, people in our regions are fed up with seeing one set of rules for ordinary people and another set of rules for the Prime Minister's buddies. While families are cutting back on groceries and 2.2 million people are visiting food banks, the Liberal government found a way to help Brookfield, the Prime Minister's former company. This giant company hid profits in tax havens and dodged $6.5 billion in taxes. These taxes could have supported our workers and our communities. While unemployment is rising to 6.9%, the Liberals are signing a $500-million contract to create jobs in Europe, at a campus where Brookfield owns half the assets. Back home, we call that a free ride for their pals. A government exists to serve the people, not its buddies. In my riding, in the Lower St. Lawrence and in Chaudière‑Appalaches, people play by the rules. They deserve a government that does the same.

Mr. Speaker, December is shaping up to be the toughest month in decades. Back home, the director of Moisson Kamouraska told me that demand is literally exploding. Across Quebec, we are talking about 3.1 million requests in 2025. That is 37% more than in 2022. The demand for Christmas hampers is going to be off the charts. With the price of food going up, eating is becoming almost a luxury. The Liberals are keeping their fuel tax in place, driving up the cost of food even more. Why does the Prime Minister refuse to help families struggling to put food on the table?

Madam Chair, like my colleague, I represent a region, Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata, that is obviously very heavily forested. It borders the United States. In my region, as in his, jobs are extremely important in communities, especially smaller ones. He referred to some of the communities in his region. It is not just forestry jobs that are affected by the current U.S. tariffs. The entire community and municipal sector is affected by these events. The solutions proposed by the industry are very good, but they inevitably carry risks. I would like my colleague to explain what those risks are. Is it still worth it for the government to take those risks in order to give back to businesses what they have given so far, which is $10 billion over 10 years?

Mr. Chair, I want to mention that I will be sharing my time with my colleague from North Island—Powell River. Today, I am going to talk about my region, the Lower St. Lawrence and Chaudière‑Appalaches. It is a corner of the country filled with hard-working people, small businesses, rural roads and community pride. In short, people there just want to work and earn a decent living. The Lower St. Lawrence and Chaudière‑Appalaches are home to about 600,000 people spread out across several hundred municipalities, including 75 in my riding alone. It is a land where every job counts, a land filled with hard-working Canadians and tight-knit communities. These regions are also supported by major employers from the forestry sector that are the lifeblood of entire municipalities. For example, Groupe Lebel has a major presence in a number of RCMs, five of which are in my riding. Maibec is a key player in wood processing. Matériaux Blanchet is heavily involved in innovation. Bégin & Bégin, Groupement forestier de Témiscouata and Groupe NBG are family businesses that support hundreds of families and are among the largest wood processing companies in Quebec. In my riding, their plants are economic institutions. They not only support residents, they support businesses and rural communities too. Every year, we harvest 4.2 million cubic metres of timber, or nearly 15% of all the timber in Quebec. This supports more than 590 businesses in all sectors combined. I want to emphasize that I am talking about hauling companies, next-generation loggers with state-of-the-art machinery that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy and operate, businesses that sharpen the plants' blades, mechanics who maintain the plants' machinery, as well as electricians and electrical mechanics. They are all key jobs in this sector of activity that are essential to the forestry industry and form part of this major industrial and manufacturing chain. Forestry provides close to 13,700 direct jobs in our plants, in addition to thousands of indirect jobs in trucking, maintenance, retail and services. In 2021 alone, it generated $1.3 billion in work income in my region. Now, all of that wealth is threatened by the U.S. tariffs. For years, the industry has faced duties on Canadian softwood lumber. Currently, the U.S. is imposing a 45% tariff on Canadian softwood lumber, while European lumber is entering the U.S. with a 10% tariff. I have a simple question: How is it that European lumber pays a 10% tariff, but Canadian lumber pays 45%? We are neighbours with the Americans. We are partners. However, we are the ones being penalized the most. During the debate tonight, I heard some of my colleagues talk about how far away Europe is from us. In Saint‑Pamphile and Saint‑Just‑de‑Bretenières, it would take us less than seven or eight hours to drive to the United States to sell our lumber there. Now, the U.S. is bringing in just as much lumber from Europe, with tariffs at 10%. Canada is completely losing its markets. The industry is now rightly demanding the release of the $10 billion in countervailing and anti-dumping duties that the United States is holding. We are talking about $10 billion that has been tied up for 10 years. Who has been in power for 10 years? The Liberals. Meanwhile, what are we hearing in Ottawa? The Prime Minister is saying that there is no pressing need to discuss tariffs with Washington, that there are no burning issues to discuss. Where does this Prime Minister live? Certainly not here. The money being held in U.S. coffers belongs to workers and should be reinvested in plant, equipment and wages in Canada. This is urgent. There are 13,000 jobs at stake. They say they care. When 500 businesses are at risk of going under, it is urgent. If they care so much, they need to provide support. I am glad I made this speech. I am wondering if I still have some time left, because I have a lot more to say. One thing is certain: We cannot leave these jobs, these people and these families in limbo, as is currently the case. It makes no sense. The Liberal government has had 10 years to solve this problem, yet it still has not been able to do it. I hope the Liberals will finally give us some answers tonight so that we can solve this problem, which has been going on for far too long.

Mr. Chair, the answer is quite simple. We do not want more bureaucracy. What we want is to be able to build homes. Currently, the number of houses being built in Canada is at its lowest level since the 1970s. What has the Liberal government built? It has not built any houses during all these years. Instead, it has built bureaucracy. That makes no sense. All these bureaucrats are not the ones building houses. Obviously we need wood, and we have wood in Canada. We also have a market right next door in the United States. We are partners with those people. In 2006, Mr. Harper resolved this issue in just 80 days. Ten years later, it still has not been resolved. That is why I voted against the budget.

Mr. Chair, we listen to the industry just as much as the Bloc Québécois does. The Bloc Québécois do not know everything. We listen to industry as well. We proposed several measures to the government that it could have included in its budget to allow housing construction, such as cutting red tape. The idea is not to create new agencies for building houses. Public servants are already looking after that in Canada. The Liberals insist of adding more and more bureaucracy and red tape. Someone said earlier that it was awful. That was announced in August, yet we have not even seen the programs or the money. Why? It is because of bureaucracy. It might take another year before we see any of the money. Implementing programs is all well and good, but people do not want programs. They want a market.

Mr. Chair, forestry is critically important in my riding. It is not complicated. We are right next to the United States, to the American border. I will give a very simple example. One of the largest manufacturers, Groupe Lebel, sources lumber from the United States, transports it to Saint‑Pamphile for processing and resells it to the United States. That means it is American lumber, not Canadian lumber. That lumber is now subject to a 45% tariff. The company buys the lumber, and it has to pay a 45% tariff when it sells it back to the United States. Does anyone think that is viable? As my colleague from the Bloc Québécois pointed out, these 45% tariffs are unsustainable. What industry could survive financially while paying these kinds of tariffs? It is the government's responsibility to ensure that these tariffs are lifted so that we can have a viable industry in our regions.