Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have lost touch with reality. Quebeckers' pockets are empty. In Bellechasse, a young mother without child care services is forced to stay home, living on a fraction of her income, and leaving her partner to pay all the bills. Paying $1,200 in rent along with groceries, gas and baby care essentials is becoming a major headache for them. Will the Liberals adopt our Conservative economic action plan so that this young mother can finally afford to meet her family's needs?

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, that is not working. Families are stretched to the limit. Parents are now skipping meals so their kids can eat. This all because of the government's taxes and out-of-control spending, which are driving up the cost of living. We have identified $150 billion that could be saved by cutting red tape. This could give nearly $10,000 back to every family. Once again, will the Liberals adopt our Conservative economic action plan so that these parents can finally afford to put food on the table for their families?

Mr. Speaker, my colleague has been very clear. What we want on this side of the House is to leave money in Canadians' pockets. The plan the Conservatives are proposing involves savings of $150 billion. That is $10,000 per family. How do we do that? It is by cutting down on red tape and consultants. Given the soaring cost of living, will the Liberal government finally scrap the industrial carbon tax and adopt our Conservative economic action plan?

Mr. Speaker, as we mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day today, the Liberal government is standing in the way of organizations that support seniors. The new rules for the New Horizons for Seniors program are forcing volunteer groups to get a business number from the Canada Revenue Agency. This process can take months and also requires them to navigate an online application system. These organizations want to help seniors, not fight Ottawa's bureaucracy. Is the government going to back down on these bureaucratic reforms? Yes, we know the people in our ridings.

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are totally out of touch, but I want to raise a different topic. Last week, the President of the Treasury Board was unable to answer a simple question from my colleague. That embarrassed his government and, according to La Presse, angered his fellow Liberal MPs. He has had all weekend to recover and find the right page in his briefing book. Does he believe he still has the Prime Minister's confidence? I will give him a few seconds to find the answer in his briefing book.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague said, a United Way survey confirms that this government is a disaster, as 60% of Canadians are feeling financial anxiety and 22% of Canadians have personally experienced poverty, compared to 19% last year. Under this Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession, and it is because of this government's mismanagement. We have said it before and we will say it again. When will the Prime Minister finally reverse his costly policies so Canadians can finally get ahead financially?

Mr. Speaker, under this Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. This comes as no surprise. We have experienced three out of four quarters of negative growth. We are seeing a record decline in productivity. The public finance watchdog confirms that there is a 99% probability that the government will fall short of its fiscal anchor. Despite repeated warnings from the banks, this government continues to run up the debt. It will borrow $72 billion this year. Will the Prime Minister finally stop denying the obvious and admit to Canadians that our economy is indeed in a recession?

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise, as we were not sure I would have enough time. I would like to thank my two colleagues from the Bloc Québécois, who spoke so eloquently, as well as my colleague from King—Vaughan, who gave a really poignant speech about seniors. She is able to do so because she travels around many ridings. As the Conservative Party of Canada's critic for seniors, she is well aware of everything to do with seniors and what affects them, especially when it comes to the cost of living. I think that, in the House, we all have an opportunity in front of us. As members of Parliament, we have an opportunity to use our power to correct a situation that is hurting seniors aged 65 and over. I hope we all have enough dignity and foresight to show compassion and take action. The problem is very simple. In 2021, the Liberal government decided to take an important step, make a meaningful gesture, by increasing the pensions of seniors aged 75 and older by 10%. However, it stopped halfway. The government omitted a significant portion of seniors from its approach, namely people aged 65 to 74. They were completely excluded from this increase. That created inequity and an unusual situation. As parliamentarians, as people who meet with seniors all the time, we cannot allow this situation to continue. We absolutely must use this opportunity to fix this. Our Bloc Québécois colleagues tried to do so once. Everyone here agreed, except the Liberals. The bill died on the Order Paper because it required a royal recommendation, since it involved spending. My colleague worked tirelessly to reintroduce a bill. Since we are so stubborn, we decided to support it once again. We are giving our colleagues on the government side an opportunity to take action and get it right. Seniors are not asking for a handout. These are people who have worked hard all their lives, who have contributed to society and who, at age 65, need an income, especially during these very difficult times when the cost of living has skyrocketed to levels not seen in 40 years. While their fixed incomes remain the same, the cost of living continues to add to their headaches. Between paying for food, medication and housing, seniors can no longer make ends meet. What the bill says is that we will be fair and fix the situation. Someone somewhere made a mistake, and we are going to fix it. We will allow seniors aged 65 to 74 to receive the same increase, an increase of 10%, as was granted to seniors aged 75 and over in 2021. Another interesting approach in the bill is that it gives seniors who want to continue working the opportunity to do so without being penalized because their income is too high. That plays a role in determining the amount they can receive under the GIS. The bill tabled by Mrs. DeBellefeuille proposes an increase from $5,000 to $6,5000 to accurately reflect the situation of many seniors who decide to work. Some work because they have to in order to make ends meet. Others do so to keep up their spirits and stay in good health. Still, it is not right for the government to creep up from behind and take their money. I congratulate my colleague.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women: the fourth report, entitled “Preventing Violence Against Women: Criminal Code Peace Bonds, Bail and Sentencing Reforms in Canada”, and the fifth report, entitled “Main Estimates 2026‑27: Votes 1 and 5 under Department for Women and Gender Equality”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the fourth report.

Mr. Speaker, food insecurity is a very real problem. In my region of Chaudière–Appalaches, demand is skyrocketing. One food aid organization has seen a 66% surge in visitors in just three years. The situation is so critical that some organizations will soon have to tighten up their eligibility criteria and, unfortunately, turn away families and requests for help. As we know, the increase in demand is caused by this government's costly policies. When will the Liberal Prime Minister finally help Canadians pay their bills and feed their families properly?

Mr. Speaker, this government's housing and inflation crisis is tearing families apart. Rents have jumped 3.6% in one year. Since 2021, there has been a 31% increase. Today, food insecurity is so severe that some Canadians have to spend 120% of their income just to put food on the table or pay for housing. When is this Liberal government going to put an end to its costly, out-of-control budgets and finally take the cost-of-living crisis seriously? Now would be best.

moved that Bill S-242, An Act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence, be read the first time. Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise in the House to introduce Bill S-242, an act respecting national action for the prevention of intimate partner violence, also known as Georgina's Law. This is an initiative by our colleague Senator Fabian Manning, who decided to take action after meeting with Georgina McGrath, a survivor of domestic violence. This bill proposes that the government pursue, on a permanent basis, national action to combat violence against women and intimate partner violence, while also—and this is important to emphasize—requiring accountability for its performance. Here are some statistics. In Quebec, there have already been 10 femicides since January alone. Across Canada, a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours in an act of gender-based violence. There has been a 76% increase in sexual assault in Canada. We are facing a national crisis affecting women. Bill S-242 will serve as the guiding principle that brings together every province, every territory, and every community so that everyone can mobilize, unite, and overcome this challenge. Bill S-242 is another tool in our arsenal for protecting women. (Motion deemed adopted and bill read the first time)

Mr. Speaker, while Quebeckers are cutting back on their groceries to make ends meet, we found out that the Prime Minister spent a cool $524,000 on food aboard his plane. How can the Prime Minister still look Canadians in the eye and talk to them about inflation when he spends the equivalent of several years of a family's wages on a single flight, while adding to their grocery bills with his fuel tax?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are carrying on with their decade of costly budgets, which, of course, are being charged to the credit card. This Prime Minister has doubled the deficit left by former Prime Minister Trudeau. Who would have thought? The Globe and Mail condemns this upside-down land where this government's spending spree is considered prudent. The Liberals are spending more, but Canadians have less. When will the Prime Minister put an end to his costly budgets so that Canadians can make ends meet?

Mr. Speaker, it is the way they have chosen to do it that is not right. The Prime Minister is following the same borrowing policies as his predecessor. Economists are sounding the alarm. Without measures to boost productivity, the weight of the debt relative to the economy will rise to a breaking point. We already have the worst food inflation in the G7. Why are the Liberals stubbornly following this path that is forcing Canadians to pay more for gas, groceries and housing?

Mr. Speaker, today I want to pay tribute to Michel Garant, a Lévis resident originally from Saint‑Lazare‑de‑Bellechasse who died much too soon on March 20 at the age of 68. As a building contractor, he made his mark by delivering superior workmanship, particularly while contributing to the restoration of heritage buildings across Quebec. Following an accident in 2004 that left him a paraplegic, Mr. Garant showed remarkable resilience. He became actively involved in his community as a paracyclist, completing a cross-Canada tour to help the organization Fondation MIRA and launching the Pédal-Don fundraising initiative. Through his involvement with the Association des personnes handicapées de Bellechasse, he became an inspiration to many. He was also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He leaves an incredible legacy. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, Le Journal de Montréal reported that over half of Quebeckers aged 50 and over are worried about running out of money during their retirement. That is what they said. Johanne Boissonnault said that after working her entire life, she now has to get by on $1,960 a month. As we all know, that is not enough to live with dignity anymore. While the Prime Minister keeps using our credit card to ramp up his deficits, our seniors are paying the price, especially at the grocery store. When will the Prime Minister put an end to his irresponsible budgets so that Canadians can make ends meet?

Mr. Speaker, all we are seeing at this point is Liberal smoke and mirrors. The Prime Minister is offering nothing more than peanuts. Canadians will save just 10¢ a litre, while he is going to rake in nearly $10 billion, taken from Canadians' pockets. Why will the government not implement the Conservative Party's plan to eliminate the GST on gasoline and diesel, the industrial carbon tax and the fuel standard? It would be so simple. Plus, it would help people.

Mr. Speaker, what I also find odd is that Canadians already pay about 20% more for gas than Americans do, while the Liberals are proposing partial relief that will cover barely a third of taxes for a third of the year. What we in the Conservative Party propose is that the Liberals keep co-opting the Conservative Party platform, but in its entirety, instead of just half of it. Then we would agree with them.

Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the commitment of organizations that are having a positive impact in my riding. First, I want to acknowledge the Saint‑Romuald Lions Club, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary, and the Lévis Lions Club, which is celebrating its 80th. For decades, their members have been working hard to support the most vulnerable and improve the quality of life of members of our community. I also want to recognize the Rotary Club of Lévis on the occasion of its 35th anniversary. Through their many initiatives, both in Canada and abroad, Rotary Club members embody the values of solidarity, leadership and service. All of these committed volunteers are pillars of our community. Their often low-profile work has real and lasting impacts. On behalf of everyone in Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, I thank them. I want to congratulate these three organizations on their anniversaries and I wish them many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, the government's economic record is abysmal, with 100,000 jobs lost in two months. Today it was announced that 1,000 workers at Algoma Steel are being laid off. While our G7 partners are moving forward, Canada is moving backward. How did the Liberals manage to turn Canada into the country with the second-worst unemployment rate and the only declining economy in the G7? How did they do that?

Mr. Speaker, I encourage the Liberals to take off their rose-coloured glasses. It is their taxes, their bureaucracy and their anti-energy laws that are suffocating our businesses. The result is that Canada leads the G7 in food inflation and in household debt. When will the Liberals get rid of their taxes and their red tape so that Canadian businesses can breathe again and Canadians can finally get back to work?

Mr. Speaker, the February jobs report is troubling and, as everyone knows, numbers do not lie. In just one month, this government is reporting a loss of 108,000 full-time jobs. That is the worst drop since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. While our G7 partners are moving forward, Canada is falling behind. We are still waiting for the results this government promised Canadians. The Liberals' economic policy is failing. Will they stop punishing job creators and cut the taxes and red tape that are killing jobs in Canada?

Mr. Speaker, businesses are not investing because they have no confidence. Young people are suffering because of the government's economic incompetence. In February, youth unemployment hit 14%. In Quebec, 57,000 jobs disappeared in a single month. Young people are out of work because the Liberals' policies simply do not work. While the Liberals pat themselves on the back, our constituents are left wondering how they are going to pay the rent. Will the government stop denying the obvious, listen to the Conservatives and put our plan into action? We are giving them all our ideas. They just need to implement them.

Mr. Speaker, the only thing that is zero is their score. Canada has the worst food inflation in the G7. On top of that, this government continues to increase the industrial carbon tax on steel, aluminum, plastics and agricultural equipment, which is driving up costs throughout all supply chains. When will this government eliminate its taxes on food so that Canadians can finally have an affordable life?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised us the most dynamic economy in the G7. Statistics Canada released data today that tells a different story. The GDP shrank by 0.2% in the last quarter of last year. Canada is now the only G7 country whose economy is in decline. Given that our per capita GDP is stagnating and that Canadians are working harder but only falling further behind, when will this government stop stifling our economy with its taxes and bureaucracy so that we can be competitive with our allies again?

Mr. Speaker, I have the most recent data. Today's report shows an alarming trend. For the third year in a row, government spending is artificially boosting GDP, while business investment is declining. In the auto sector, production has dropped by half since these Liberals came to power, threatening thousands of jobs. Projects are on hold, and capital is fleeing the country. When will the government cut the red tape and give Canada's entrepreneurs some breathing room?

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we have other things to talk about. After 11 years of Liberal government, young adults are at the end of their rope. An RBC survey shows that 64% of them are experiencing financial anxiety and 57% of them do not have a penny left over after paying their bills. Meanwhile, Canadian household debt is breaking records, primarily because of the cost of housing. Our young people are stuck between crippling taxes and inflationary deficits. They are barely surviving. When will the government show some common sense?

Mr. Speaker, where is his minister when it comes to taking care of seniors? At 81, instead of enjoying her retirement, Jeannette Larrivée has to look for work because she is short $500 every month for housing and food. Her pension is gobbled up by inflation. In Lanaudière, the number of job seekers over the age of 75 has risen from 3% to 14%. The Liberals do not need to tell us where the ministers are. They are never here and they are not taking care of anyone. Who is taking care of seniors?

Mr. Speaker, following the Phoenix disaster, now we have Cúram ruining the lives of our seniors. It was initially expected to cost $1.75 billion, but the price tag has now ballooned to $6.6 billion. That is four times more. While the Liberals waste taxpayers' money, our seniors have been waiting for their pension cheques for nine months. My questions are very simple. The first is this: Why do the Liberals' programs always go way over budget? The second is this: Why should seniors have to pay the price for the federal Liberals' incompetence with yet another failed software program?

Mr. Speaker, same government, same old Liberal habits: Once again, consulting firms are getting rich. Since the Liberals took office, they have awarded $26 billion in outside contracts. With Cúram—a project that is totalling $6.6 billion, half of which is going to private companies—history is repeating itself. In the meantime, 85,000 pensioners are suffering due to late pension payments or endless administrative errors. Why do seniors have to pay the price for Liberal incompetence?

Mr. Speaker, this is the Phoenix fiasco all over again. As members will recall, that pay system deprived thousands of public servants of their salaries for months. Now, with the Cúram software, the Liberals are creating a Phoenix for seniors, but on a larger scale, according to federal employees. The project was supposed to cost $1.7 billion, but the cost has skyrocketed, currently coming in at $6.6 billion. Some 93% of employees are giving it a failing grade. Why do the Liberals insist on repeating the same IT mistakes, wasting billions and billions of dollars? Who is paying for these mistakes? In this case, it is our pensioners.

Mr. Speaker, that response was frankly embarrassing. The government talks a good game, but there are retirees who have been waiting nine months for their cheques. That is shameful. Worse still, an internal report criticized a departmental procedure that orders civil servants to hide the truth from the public. They are formally prohibited from mentioning the name of the Cúram software to explain these unacceptable delays. Why is the minister so determined to cover up her incompetence rather than ensuring that our seniors receive their pensions on time? They need the money.

Mr. Speaker, Canada is now leading the G7, but for all the wrong reasons. We have the highest food inflation. Prices have been rising twice as fast since this Prime Minister took office. The Liberals are taxing farmers and truckers. The Liberal fuel tax will cost up to $1,000 per household. As we all know, taxing farmers and truckers means taxing families. The Conservatives are proposing to eliminate the fuel standards tax and increase competition in the grocery sector. Can we count on the Liberals' support?

Mr. Speaker, eating has become a luxury. The numbers are painful. The price of beef is up 17%, lettuce is up 13% and apples are up 10%. Under this government, making a simple salad is like investing in the stock market. Even coffee is 41% more expensive. When will the government finally stop taxing our farmers and truckers? Will the government commit today to axing the industrial carbon tax and the taxes on fuel standards?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal announcement this morning is merely a band-aid solution for the 2.2 million Canadians who will continue to rely on food banks. Canada has the highest inflation rate in the G7 because of Liberal taxes, which are killing our local businesses. For example, it is estimated that 7,000 restaurants shut down in 2025, and another 4,000 are expected to shut down this year, in 2026. Will the government axe the tax on fuel, which is driving up transportation costs and the price of food?

Mr. Speaker, food banks are overwhelmed, but the Prime Minister is living on another planet. While Canadians are struggling to put food on the table, this Liberal Prime Minister spent $736,000 of taxpayers' money to travel on a private jet when a government plane was available at a third of the cost. Meanwhile, 86% of Canadians are cutting back on meat because they cannot afford it. When will he stop making us pay for his whims while people are struggling to put food on the table?

Mr. Speaker, I am going to talk to him about the consequences of his own policies. One 75-year-old senior in my riding spends half of her income on rent and medication. In front of a grocery store shelf, she realized she could not afford anything and left the store in tears. She admitted that she felt ashamed, that she had worked all her life and that she never imagined she would one day have to ask for food. That is the reality of their useless policies.

Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister told Canadians that he should be judged by the cost of groceries. That is perfect. I hope he has a good lawyer because the verdict is brutal. According to Le Journal de Montréal, 36% of Quebeckers are experiencing food insecurity. The most tragic thing about all this is that 41% of them have a job. Hunger is hitting so hard that Quebec's food banks received a record 3.1 million requests in one month. When will these Liberals finally stop their inflationary spending so that Canadians can afford to feed themselves?

Mr. Speaker, that is very unfortunate, because it is not working. This is the nightmare facing a family of two parents and three children in my riding. Because they are struggling with inflation, they are spending the winter in a trailer. They were so ashamed that they did not dare ask for food. It was a frontline worker who stepped in and requested food assistance for them. Now a report confirms that next year, it will cost $1,000 more to feed a family. When will the Prime Minister stop his inflationary spending and give Quebeckers back their dignity? It is as simple as that.

Mr. Speaker, it is always a bit difficult to rise to speak after listening to such a heartbreaking and personal account. What we heard from the Minister of Women and Gender Equality this morning was a cry from the heart. It is essentially an appeal to us to work together, to make sure that we live in a society, a country, a city, a town where every person is respected for who he or she is, with his or her own unique strengths, weaknesses, values and beliefs, regardless of sex. That is in part what we heard from the minister this morning. She also spoke to us about our shared responsibility. That is absolutely true. We will get there only if we work hand in hand, whether we are in government in Ottawa, in Quebec City, in Alberta or somewhere else. This morning, I hope that Canadians were able to see how connected we can be. We may sit on opposite sides of the House, but beyond that, we are men and women. Women stand up for each other and must support one another because, as I was saying at committee this week, right now is a terrible time for women. It is not easy. Violence against women is on the rise. The rate of violence is not slowing down or stopping. It is going up, and I see this clearly as a member of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, along with my Liberal, Conservative and Bloc Québécois colleagues. We have conducted nine studies in four years and have issued recommendations to strengthen women's safety. Why? It is because the situation is not improving. Today is the day we set aside to commemorate a past event that is difficult to revisit. It is difficult for me to speak about it here today. It is difficult for the Minister of Women and Gender Equality. It is difficult for our colleague from Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville, who was at École Polytechnique in Montreal on the evening of December 6, 1989, when a young man walked in, armed to the teeth. He separated the men from the women. The men were spared. This was a shocking femicide: Fourteen women lost their lives that night, and for what? It was primarily because they were women. The young man in question was angry because these women were studying for a career in engineering which, at the time, was viewed predominantly as a career for men. In this House, we are fortunate to have among our colleagues the member for Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, who is, I believe, the first female engineer to be elected to Parliament. That act of violence took place 36 years ago, and we are still talking about it today. Unfortunately, I think we will be talking about it next year and the one after that, since the situation is not currently improving. I remember that event, because I was the same age as those women. I was at university when it happened. At that age, namely, 21, 22 or 23 years old, we were thinking about the future. Life was good. We were studying; the holidays were approaching; the excitement was palpable; studies were drawing to a close, and we had our lives ahead of us. For me, life continued. For those 14 women, life was brutally stopped that night. Other women were also injured that night, and families were broken forever. As I said last week when we were commemorating the start of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, what happened on December 6, 1989, is deeply painful for Quebeckers and Canadians to remember. I will say the names of the women who were murdered that day so we never forget who they were: Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte. Their future was cut short because one day, a man decided they were unwanted, especially in a field like engineering. In Canada, a woman is murdered every 48 hours. Last year, 240 women and girls lost their lives just because they were women and girls. The numbers keep going up. According to a statement by the Minister of Justice in a recent press release, violent crime in Canada is up 41% since 2015. Canadian police forces report a 39% increase in domestic violence and a 76% increase in sexual assaults. How can we accept that? Quebec has recorded around 15 cases of femicide since the beginning of the year. This figure varies depending on definitions. Why do my sisters and I have to be afraid when we go out at night? It is not normal for us to live in a constant state of hypervigilance. On top of that, if we cannot go to work or go to school without wondering whether something is going to happen to us, that means we are living in a very sick society. We must do something about that. However, there is some good news. There was a great show of solidarity on Parliament Hill yesterday when parliamentarians from all parties stood together. In the past few weeks, our colleague from Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola introduced Bill C-225, which seeks to strengthen safety for women who are caught in situations of intimate partner violence. The bill was supported by all members of the House. We should be proud of the wonderful moments of humanity we shared this morning, with heartfelt testimonies, including from the Minister of Women and Gender Equality, and of the vote on a private member's bill that took place yesterday. This is not a government bill. It is a private member's bill. I think we can be extremely proud of that. In fact, this law that was passed yesterday is going to be called Bailey's law. Everyone remembers the story of this woman who was murdered by an ex-partner who had previously been convicted. There were warning signs that this was coming. We will also remember Ms. Renaud, who recently suffered a similar fate in Quebec. I want to acknowledge the families of our sisters who were gunned down on December 6, 1989. I want us all to remember that we are greatly responsible for each other's safety and, given the circumstances, for the safety of women in particular. Many of us have daughters, wives and mothers. We must make sure women are protected.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure she understood my question, so I will ask it again. Canadians can no longer afford to put food on the table because of the cost of living, and this government continues to empty their pockets and fill those of big corporations. This Prime Minister found $72 million for Nokia, $400 million for Algoma Steel and $15 billion for Stellantis. What do the Liberals get in return? Job cuts. Is this the new Liberal strategy: make Canadians poorer in order to make big business richer?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank and congratulate my colleague, the Secretary of State (Nature). I believe that there is no such thing as too many opportunities to talk about women and violence against women. We have the chance to talk about it here from November 25 to December 10, although we should be talking about it all year round. In fact, that is what we do at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, but I will come back to that. The period from November 25 to December 10 is a key time of year when men and women come together to look at what is happening in our communities, in our country, in our provinces, in our cities and in our towns. How are women's issues being approached? How are women being treated? I want to share some background information about the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. There are three key dates, as my colleague mentioned. In 1999, the United Nations declared November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. There is obviously December 6, a date that is painful for all Canadians and, it goes without saying, for all Quebeckers to remember. I am the same age as the women who were murdered on December 6 simply for being women and perhaps for studying in traditionally male-dominated fields. They were murdered. My colleague called them her 14 sisters, but I would call them our 14 sisters. There is also December 10, Human Rights Day, which celebrates the adoption of the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1948. The news for women is not especially positive today. The picture is not completely bleak, but neither is it very rosy when it comes to women's safety. A woman or girl is murdered in Canada every 48 hours, meaning every other day. In 2024, 240 women and girls were murdered. There have been approximately 15 femicides in Quebec over the past year. These women, these people, were murdered simply for being women. Our committee is in the middle of a study about women's safety and the Criminal Code. We have heard chilling statements from witnesses. They told us there is an epidemic of violence against women. I would go even further and call it a national crisis. I think we have a national crisis on our hands when it comes to the status of women and women's safety. Here are some statistics. Sexual assault is up 76% since 2015. Homicides are up 30%, and violent crime is up 55%. Two or three weeks ago, the Liberal Minister of Justice said that the violent crime index in Canada has increased by 41%. According to police across Canada, the number of female victims of domestic violence has risen by 40% nationwide, which is very high. That is extremely concerning. A number of initiatives have been implemented. Every small step, every small gesture, no matter how small, is important and brings us one step closer to being able to keep women safe. I drew up a list of the work we have done. Perhaps some will say that the women on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, and the men who sometimes attend, are hyperactive. The committee has conducted about nine studies that have resulted in resolutions, recommendations and observations that have been presented to the current government to get things moving and speed up action to improve protection for women. Let us talk about coercive control. As I was saying earlier, the committee did a study on that topic, and the report will be tabled today. The House passed a bill on this subject that even made it to the Senate. It was Bill C‑332, if memory serves. This bill had to do with criminalizing coercive control. This is no one's fault, but that bill died on the Order Paper when the election was called. I would therefore like to issue my colleagues a challenge. If this is not already in the works, would it be possible to fast-track the bill to get it moving forward again? The House of Commons passed it, and it got to the Senate. It did not have much further to go. I hope that the Chair will allow me to make a somewhat more partisan comment. I am not the most partisan person here, so I hope he will indulge me. First, there is no full-time minister for the status of women. We know that the minister has other jobs and other portfolios to deal with. She is not just responsible for the status of women. Second, we learned in the budget statement that the funding for the department responsible for the status of women has been cut by 78%. Off the top of my head, I think that can be found on page 209 of the French version of the budget. It seems to me that there is an inconsistency when government members who are wearing the ribbon are presenting these kinds of numbers and rising in the House to pay lip service to women's issues, while, at the same time, cutting the budget to protect women. Something is wrong here. I would therefore urge the government to bring back Bill C‑332 and fast-track it. We all agreed on it. Let us hit one out of the park and move forward with a bill to criminalize coercive control. All of the stakeholders we have met with in recent weeks are calling for that. While we are at it, perhaps the government should also reconsider the budget it has allocated to the Minister for Women. I will close by saying that one of the arguments in favour of criminalizing coercive control is that coercive control, as invisible as it may be, can lead to physical violence. I am sure my colleagues know where things go from there.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad that the member asked me this question. Food banks have never been busier. I believe that the number of monthly visits to food banks is now 2.2 million, which is double what it was in 2019. That is just off the top of my head. These are not the unemployed; these are working people. The people who are ending up at food banks are people who have jobs, who get up in the morning and go to work. My office called a food bank in my riding. They told us that they cannot keep up. They said that demand keeps rising. Just this week, six new families came in and 20 new families have registered since mid-September. Available supplies are down, with a decrease of $82,000 compared to last year. There was no meat in the Moisson Beauce delivery this week. What will those who rely on Essential des Etchemins eat this week?