Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, how can the Bloc Québécois claim that a $600-million investment in the cultural sector is bad news? I see that as good news, and so does the industry. This investment is boosting a sector that needs our support. We are there for artists. We will always be there for Canadian artists.
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Mr. Speaker, the world lost a hero on Monday, May 18. Randy Eric Dickinson passed away in Fredericton at the age of 71. Randy was a tireless advocate for accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. He served as the first executive director of the Premier's Council on Disabilities and as chairperson of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission, among countless other roles. His work sh…
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear out of the gate. This is not a tax. This is an imaginary tax. Since day one, we have been relentlessly focused on affordability. That is why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. This is about equity for creators. This is about fair competition, but mostly, it is about supporting Canadian storytellers, Canadian creators and Canadian artists, because we know how import…
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Mr. Speaker, once again with the slogans. Once again with being a little loose on the facts. This is not a new tax. Since we want to talk about the economy, let us talk about the cultural sector and how much it does for the Canadian economy. It generates billions of dollars across the country and employs hundreds of thousands of people in each of our ridings. It tells us who we are as Canadians. I…
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Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, this is not a new tax. This is an imaginary tax, once again brought up in the House. Our government is relentlessly focused on the cost of living for Canadians. That is why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. This decision from the CRTC only ensures that existing rules are applied in a way that fosters fair competition. This is about protecting Canada's distin…
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Mr. Speaker, again, what we are talking about here are imaginary taxes. Once again, the way that Canadians consume content over the last decade has changed entirely. People are streaming content. It is not only with broadcasters. It is important that our regulatory regime reflect that change.
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Mr. Speaker, the CBC is an independent Crown corporation. Commenting on specific programming would be inappropriate, and I am sure the member opposite would agree. To be clear with regard to this show, production has been paused, and the show has never aired. However, I think it is right that every citizen of Canada has the right to have an opinion on CBC, as it is a public broadcaster, so you can…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate firefighter David Gamble on his retirement from the Oromocto Fire Department after 37 years of service. Mr. Gamble has always had a reputation for doing things the right way. His uniform was meticulous, his tools were clean, his gear was organized, and 7:30 a.m. meant radio check time, no exceptions. According to his colleagues, it was largely thanks to hi…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for his question. I am proud to be part of a government that clearly understands the connection between a strong cultural sector and a strong, sovereign country. That is why we have made huge investments of over $700 million in the Canadian and Quebec cultural sector in budget 2025.
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Madam Speaker, I have to ask myself what the opposition considers inflationary spending. For instance, yesterday, I heard a member opposite refer to our defence investments as if they were not important, as if they were all inflationary spending. I will tell members that when I am in Oromocto, when I am in Fredericton, at Base Gagetown, they do not see these as inflationary spending. They see thes…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge an extraordinary moment for Canadian animation and film. The Oscar for best animated short film this year is a global tribute to Montreal filmmakers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski. It also reflects the talent and creativity in our country. This award serves as an inspiration to our artists and is a source of pride for Canada. At the podium, Chris and M…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the University of New Brunswick's women's basketball team on their historic season. For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Reds made it to the U Sports women's basketball championship. Despite fierce competition in the finals, their determination, discipline and unwavering team spirit led to a historic win. Though they did not bring home gold, they have i…
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Mr. Speaker, when I am home, talking with constituents in Fredericton—Oromocto, what I hear is that they appreciate that our Prime Minister and our government have a plan, a plan to diversify our exports, foster and facilitate interprovincial trade and make historic investments in the infrastructure that is going to enable all of this. This is going to mean a stronger economy, more housing, better…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the passing of gunner Sebastian Halmagean, a brave member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Gunner Halmagean, originally from Hamilton, Ontario, was based at the 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in Oromocto. He had just deployed to Latvia on Operation Reassurance, his first overseas deployment, with a strong sense of duty to serve his country. His death is …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Constantine Passaris, a constituent of Fredericton—Oromocto who was recently awarded the 2024 Canada's Volunteer Awards Atlantic prize for his outstanding contributions to building a welcoming and inclusive New Brunswick. For more than 50 years, Constantine has dedicated thousands of volunteer hours to connecting people from diverse backgrounds and champio…
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Mr. Speaker, on behalf of SOCAN, the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, I would like to invite everyone to celebrate the first-ever Canadian Music Creator Day on Friday, November 7. Canadian Music Creator Day reaffirms SOCAN's mission to ensure that Canadian music creators are respected, recognized and fairly compensated. SOCAN has been doing this important work for 100 …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a beloved institution in downtown Fredericton, Tony's Music Box. The family-owned musical instrument store has served the community with passion and dedication for 50 years. Founded in 1975 by the late Tony George, Tony's Music Box quickly became more than just a store. It was a hub of creativity, a gathering place for musicians and a pillar of Fredericton's …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of a beloved constituent, Ruth Phyllis Kavanaugh. Ruth devoted her life to serving her community. She was a founding member of Fredericton's Women in Transition House in 1980, the province's first shelter for abused women and children. She would later take on the important role of coordinator at the Oromocto Food Bank. Under her le…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Wolastoqey Tribal Council and Under One Sky for welcoming me and my family to their truth and reconciliation events yesterday. Hundreds of community members gathered at sunrise to remember through ceremony all those who never made it home after being sent to residential schools. In the afternoon, many others gathered on the Sitansisk powwow grounds to share t…
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Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to stand in the House today to highlight the significant achievements of Jeremy Dutcher, who is being awarded this year's Governor General's National Arts Centre Award in recognition of his extraordinary work as an artist, composer, activist, ethnomusicologist and language carrier. A Wolastoqiyik member of the Tobique first nation, Dutcher was born and raised in Frederic…
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Madam Speaker, it is absolutely an important issue, as the minister spoke to in question period. It is a real priority of our government to make sure that people with disabilities live with the same dignity and accessibility that all of us do in Canada.
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Madam Speaker, I would say first of all that there is a new government, and affordability is very important. I have actually spent many years dedicating much of my work to raising money for food banks, and I do understand families and how they struggle. It is a really important priority for me here, and I think that the first step is a tax break for 22 million Canadians. That is good news, and I s…
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Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital. I am thankful for this opportunity to rise in the House for the very first time. I am grateful to be here. It is not lost on me what a special privilege this is. I want to start by thanking the constituents of Fredericton—Oromocto for entrusting me with this responsibility. To be their representative here in P…
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Madam Speaker, I am a big fan of jazz. I am not as talented as Miles Davis, but I do play the trumpet. I thank the member for making that association. We have already started doing things we can be proud of. We are already going ahead with some big plans, like the tax cut I just mentioned. We also have plenty of other plans that we will be talking about more in the coming weeks.
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Madam Speaker, these are projects of national significance, so it is important that people who come from other ridings support us in getting these projects done, because it would be impossible to get major infrastructure projects built without the support of Canadians. We now have the support of Canadians. That is important.
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