Parliamentary Speeches
127 speeches by Caroline Desrochers — Page 1 of 3
Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, during the last election, we committed to making Canada a clean and a conventional energy superpower. Canadians elected us on that promise, and we are already delivering on that mandate. The projects referred to the Major Projects Office represent hundreds of billions of dollars in direct investment and tens of thousands of jobs. In this time of energy uncertainty, Canada is a beaco…
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Madam Speaker, we have been making representations in Washington that the tariffs are unjustifiable, and we welcome the members' engagement in ensuring that we continue to advocate and put forward the position of the government. This is work that we need to do together. That is not happening right now, and members know it. We are not doing this in a concerted way. We are not doing this in a team C…
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Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I take a moment today to highlight World Plumbing Day. Plumbers play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities every day. Their work helps to ensure that we have access to clean water every day in our schools, homes, workplaces and more. Canada's plumbing professionals are also advancing modern conservation, energy efficiency and in…
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Mr. Speaker, I will share my time with the member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski. I am very proud to have this opportunity to talk about Bill C-20, the Build Canada Homes act, and why Build Canada Homes plays an important role in supporting the Canadian economy and the federal government's buy Canadian policy. Launched in September 2025, Build Canada Homes is a special operating agency that, thank…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague raises an important issue. We must ensure that Build Canada Homes also responds to the realities of rural regions and remote communities. This is extremely important to me, and I often bring it up in conversations. Right now, Build Canada Homes is exploring options to better support small municipalities, rural areas and remote communities in order to ensure that they have…
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Mr. Speaker, Build Canada Homes has been established very quickly. Very little time passed between when we made that commitment during the election campaign and when Build Canada Homes was launched in September. In addition, shovels will be in the ground soon. The process happened exceptionally fast because we know that there is a real crisis. We absolutely must propose concrete solutions, not jus…
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Mr. Speaker, it is really ironic to hear the Conservatives talk about ideology and pretend to defend young Canadians, when they voted against all measures to improve housing affordability for young Canadians. They voted against GST cuts for first-time homebuyers, against expanding mortgage criteria, against first home savings accounts and, most recently, against Bill C-227, which proposed a housin…
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Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis is real, and we have to deal with it. We really need to think outside the box. We need to try something different. Clearly, what has been done so far has not worked. Some very good projects have been launched since 2017 under Canada's national housing strategy. Hundreds of homes have been built. Now we have to tackle the issue of affordability. That is what we are d…
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Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleague to have that conversation with the Government of Quebec, which is very enthusiastic about the agreement we signed. Our collaboration with the Government of Quebec has been going very well since the agreement was signed on January 21. We have already met several times to discuss working together, and some projects are close to being approved. I encourage …
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been clear that we need to focus on what we can control. That is why our government announced a new partnership with B.C. that will deliver 1,100 homes across the province, with shovels in the ground in the months to come. This partnership includes 700 supportive and transitional homes. We are also delivering right now. Just today, the minister is visiting Bob a…
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Mr. Speaker, it is really ironic for the Conservatives to talk down our programs, when they do not even have a plan. Not only that, but they are voting against every solution we are putting forward to ease the burden of families and put more money into the pockets of Canadians: the dental plan, the groceries benefit, affordable child care and the national school food program. No one really believe…
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Mr. Speaker, we have a plan on this side of the House to help families and young Canadians buy their first home. Build Canada Homes will increase the supply of housing and help reduce pressure on the market. I have to say that it is ironic to hear the Conservatives talk about this when they voted against the tax credit for first-time home buyers, against the first home savings account, against exp…
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Mr. Speaker, I know the NDP do not have much of a budget for information, but I really encourage its members to do more research. We held information sessions. We have given all members of the House a very good idea of how Build Canada Homes is going to work. It includes affordable housing, co-operatives and social housing. We will do this in every community across Canada. We are going to build, w…
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Mr. Speaker, I am surprised to hear the Bloc Québécois member using fear tactics. These are the same tactics used by the Conservative Party. What surprises me even more is the absolutely inappropriate language he used and the context in which he used it. I am not sure whether the member feels that, because there are not many members who speak French in the House right now, he can say things that a…
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Mr. Speaker, once again, we see members of the opposition resorting to fear tactics over high-speed rail. We know very well that high-speed rail is a generational project that will bring a lot of very positive economic benefits to all the regions between Quebec and Peterborough, where it is going to be. The opposition member is well aware that the laws were changed in 1985 to ensure that consultat…
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Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. I also really appreciate his tone, which is much more constructive than that of his colleague. I am extremely pleased to be working with him. He is also my riding neighbour, incidentally, so I understand very well how folks in his riding feel about the train. High-speed rail is a once-in-a-generation project. It is a project that will e…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member keeps using language that has absolutely no place in this Parliament. This language, in effect, denigrates the Prime Minister of Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, again, Canadians are not fools. Canadians know which party supports affordability, which party is there for them. On the Conservative side, there is no plan and no solution, just rhetoric. On our side, we have signed agreements: one with Quebec, another with Nova Scotia, and we have announced one with Nunavut. More are in the works, specifically to accelerate the construction of affor…
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Mr. Speaker, Build Canada Homes is a program that responds to what Canadians really need. Canadians need us to build housing that fits their needs and their budgets. All the member opposite and his colleagues are saying today is that we need to abolish the tax on all homes. There is no tax anymore. I do not know how the Conservatives think they can govern when all they do is filibuster and say the…
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Mr. Speaker, again, day in and day out, it is slogans. There is no solution, no plan, just filibustering. Canadians in my colleague's riding expect better. They expect their MP to stand up to protect their interests. On this side of the House, we have a plan. It is called budget 2025, which, by the way, is still stuck in committee. It is a plan to address today's threats and build tomorrow's econo…
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Mr. Speaker, we know that young Canadians are struggling right now because of the cost of living and the cost of rent. The good news is that Build Canada Homes is already delivering results. We took action in the first 100 days. We have reached major agreements with provinces and municipalities, and there are projects that are currently under review. However, these projects will not move forward u…
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Mr. Speaker, it is ironic to hear the member talk about affordability day after day. The core mission of Build Canada Homes is to accelerate the construction of affordable housing across Canada. We will do that by stimulating sectors that are going through tough times right now, sectors such as steel, wood and aluminum. We will protect and create jobs and, above all, we will provide Canadians with…
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Madam Speaker, for a party that does not believe in climate change, it does a lot of recycling. We hear it every day here in the House. Our plan to build is working. Yesterday, we introduced a bill to strengthen Build Canada Homes, which will fast-track the construction of housing across Canada. We will do that by stimulating the steel, aluminum and lumber sectors, which are seeing tough times rig…
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Madam Speaker, this is exactly what we are doing. We are building Canada strong. We are building more and more housing. We are building at a speed never seen before. Yesterday, we introduced in the House the bill to enact the build Canada homes act. Day after day, the Conservatives are in the House talking about affordability, yet they are blocking everything. I am sure Canadians and Conservative …
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Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, consultations have already begun. Even though construction is expected to start in four years, consultations have already begun. They were held in Montreal and will continue. The door is already open. The approach is that, even though we do not have all the information yet, we have already begun consultations to understand the different communities along the ro…
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Mr. Speaker, the people of Trois-Rivières are very excited about this project happening at long last. This project will enable people to get from Trois-Rivières to Quebec City and Montreal much more quickly. It will provide eco-friendly transportation and enable people to get around without cars. Trois‑Rivières has a university and three CEGEPs. This will really bring incredible economic growth to…
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Mr. Speaker, it is truly appalling to see a fear campaign being waged and to see this House being used to spread misinformation. My colleague knows full well that the Expropriation Act of 1985 was overhauled to ensure that consultations are included. He also knows that the railway legislation that we introduced in the budget implementation bill goes even further by ensuring consultation, the impac…
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Mr. Speaker, I very much like working with him too. I would just like to correct something. The current corridor that Alto and Cadence have put forward is a 10-kilometre-wide corridor, not 100-kilometre. I am coming back to what I said earlier in my speech. People say no, that is not what we want to talk about, we do not want to block the project, but that is exactly what it is. That is what I mea…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his leadership and for making sure that the municipalities are engaged. Despite what the opposition says, I think his speech made it very clear that we do not intend to repeat past mistakes. I can confirm that the people in my riding of Trois-Rivières are eagerly looking forward to this high-speed rail project. In addition to the spin-offs for cities w…
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Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, I am a new member, and I am extremely proud to represent the riding of Trois-Rivières, which, for the first time in decades, is fortunate to have a woman member representing it. Together, we are going to do some great things. When I told my friends and family that I was considering going into politics, they told me that I would get eaten alive, that I was too concil…
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Madam Speaker, day after day, the opposition parties tell us that we are not doing enough on affordability. It seems a bit ironic to me that both Conservative Party and Bloc Québécois members are constantly voting against the measures we are putting in place to make life more affordable for Canadians. The tax cut for 22 million Canadians, the national school food program for children, our investme…
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Madam Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. I know she works hard for her constituents. I am a bit surprised to hear her say that we are not doing anything about affordability when her party keeps blocking measures that the government is putting in place to try and make life more affordable for people. It is a shame that she calls the Canada groceries and essentials benefit a marketin…
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Mr. Speaker, the government is committed to solving the housing crisis by focusing on affordable housing across the full affordability spectrum. Budget 2025 is making generational investments in housing and infrastructure in order to do so. Build Canada Homes is going to work with partners across the housing ecosystem to drive the development of affordable housing options that will support a mix o…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for bringing up this issue. The world is changing rapidly. The United States, the world's largest economy and Canada's main economic partner, is fundamentally reshaping all of its trading relationships. To say that it is causing disruption for Canada is an understatement. This is not an economic transition. It is a generational shift, a rupture. Sitting ba…
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Mr. Speaker, I am glad to report that the Government of Canada is taking action to lower housing costs for Canadians across the country. Budget 2025 is making generational investments in housing and infrastructure because we know that housing costs have a significant impact on the cost of living. These strategic investments will build major infrastructure and homes, create lasting prosperity and e…
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Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what we are doing. We are putting Canada first and building Canada strong. The Premier of Alberta supports this entire memorandum of understanding. The Premier of Saskatchewan supports it. The Premier of Ontario supports it. There is a reason why, and that is that it is a plan to lower emissions, unlock our natural resources and build a stronger, more sustainable and m…
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Mr. Speaker, today, my colleague and I would like to highlight the exceptional work done by the organizing committee for the 59th Quebec Games, which took place last summer in Trois-Rivières and brought together more than 3,500 young athletes from across Quebec. The committee's goal was to raise $100,000 to donate to Excellence sportive Mauricie, but thanks to the committee's efforts and the priva…
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Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member actually read the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report, because the number mentioned was actually 86,000. We are talking about affordable housing. Build Canada Homes is focused on affordable housing. There are all sorts of other incentives that will support construction across the country, but what we are actually talking about here is affordable housing. I wou…
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleague very well knows, housing and the cost of living are the main issues of concern for Quebeckers. Our government is putting forward a well-thought-out plan with investments that will double the rate of home construction, including the construction of affordable housing. Also in the plan are investments in infrastructure, particularly health infrastructure, and investments…
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Mr. Speaker, today I want to highlight the exceptional work of the women and men of the Canadian Forces Reserves in Trois‑Rivières. Every day, the men and women of HMCS Radisson and the 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada embody the professionalism and dedication that is at the core of our armed forces. Whether they are on a mission here at home, supporting Canadians during floods or helping battle COVI…
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Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for his excellent question. Indeed, the investment policy of Build Canada Homes clearly promotes the use of Canadian wood, including mass timber. It also encourages developers to use wood for the construction of large structures. This is not really being done in Quebec yet, but it is being done extensively in British Columbia. The building code allows for building…
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Madam Chair, action has already been taken. Last week, I visited a company that specializes in prefabrication and met with Arbec workers who thanked me for the measures introduced by the Government of Canada. That does not mean that the situation is not difficult for industries; we understand that. It is also difficult for workers and their families. However, we are here and we are taking meaningf…
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Madam Chair, I worked at Global Affairs Canada for 20 years, including under the Harper government, when we were grappling with the same tariffs, the same problem. People can say whatever they want, but these issues have been around for years. We fought, we always succeeded, and we will do the same this time around.
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Mr. Chair, I understand that the forestry industry is very important in my colleague's riding. I want him and the families in his riding to know they have my support. With Build Canada Homes, we made a commitment to double housing construction. We know that this will help our forestry industry because it will get all these contracts. If 13,000 jobs are on the line in my colleague's riding, I have …
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Madam Chair, it is a privilege to rise in the House today to take part in this debate on an issue that is very important in my region of Mauricie. For more than 40 years, the softwood lumber dispute with the United States has been weighing heavily on the Canadian economy. Our neighbours' unfair arguments have been repeated over time, through changing priorities and different administrations, regar…
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Madam Speaker, the Build Canada Homes investment plan will emphasize sustainable construction. We will prioritize the use of sustainable materials, such as certified Canadian recycled wood, as well as low-carbon materials in order to reduce our emissions, ensure climate resilience and support the Canadian value chain. We will prioritize technologies that will make it possible to build buildings an…
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Madam Speaker, I rise today in the House to talk about the impact budget 2025 will have on the people and businesses in my riding of Trois‑Rivières. This budget will strengthen what we already have, build for the future and protect our territory. First of all, this budget tackles the cost of living by implementing measures to leave more money in the pockets of Canadians and strengthen their purcha…
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to work with my colleague on housing issues. I can assure him that the issue of homelessness continues to be a priority. The 2025 budget includes a $1‑billion investment in transitional housing to address the challenges associated with homelessness. For example, we are in discussions with the Réseau Solidarité Itinérance du Québec and the National Right to Housing N…
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Madam Speaker, if my colleague is so concerned about the industries he is speaking about, I strongly encourage him to vote for the budget we are putting forward because, first of all, it protects jobs in strategic sectors. Second, as I said earlier, we are committed to doubling the construction rate. This will help the forestry industry in particular. It will create more jobs. In recent months, on…
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Mr. Speaker, unlike the Conservatives, Canadians do not live in a pretend world. They know there is no tax on food. They know which party always votes against affordability, dental care, pharmacare, child care and basically anything with the word “care” in it. Most importantly, Canadians know that our government is there for them with a budget that will protect jobs in critical sectors like auto, …
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