Parliamentary Speeches
95 speeches by Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault — Page 1 of 2
Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague how today's announcement regarding Bill C-19 fits into a broader strategy to address the cost of living in Canada. In other words, how will it help Canadians deal with the rising cost of living and how will it strengthen food security? This is not a stand-alone measure. It is part of a plethora of other measures that really help Canadians. I would li…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member that his party supports Bill C-19, from what I understand, and I think it is a welcome measure that will receive unanimous support in the House. My colleague talks about structural problems. In fact, I would say that a bigger structural problem is our Conservative colleagues' unwillingness to help Canadians in need. Every time we propose measures to…
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Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear my colleague talk about how important the long term is. I am also pleased to hear that the Bloc will support us in the short term to help people who need it right now. As for the long term, we know that climate change has an impact on food prices. However, on December 3, when we voted on whether to implement a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting, the …
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Madam Speaker, I think that everyone who cares deeply about Canadians should work to pass this budget, which will tackle infrastructure needs, help with the cost of living and address the housing shortage. We are at a critical moment in Canadian history. We want to transform the Canadian economy to make it stronger and more resilient in order to increase our purchasing power. We are facing a tarif…
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Madam Speaker, the cost of living and affordability are top concerns for Canadians. We want to listen to Canadians and meet their needs on an ongoing basis. In budget 2025, we implemented a number of measures that directly address the issue of the cost of living. I am thinking of the middle-class tax cut, the school food program becoming permanent, and the investments we will be making in infrastr…
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Madam Speaker, today we are discussing an important bill that will roll out the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This benefit is based on the existing GST credit. It will put more money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. People with low or modest incomes will see an increase in the amount of money they receive. We are doing this because we recognize that there is a real need to …
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Mr. Speaker, let me just say that we are putting long-term measures in place. These include the national food security strategy, which I just discussed, measures in budget 2025 that will stimulate investment and attract foreign investment and our efforts to diversify our international trading partnerships. All of these measures have the potential to transform the Canadian economy, strengthen it an…
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Mr. Speaker, in his introduction, my colleague mentioned that it is important for us to work together constructively and to set aside partisanship in order to find solutions that meet the public's needs. He also mentioned his dissatisfaction with the fact that our Conservative colleagues are seeking to roll back our environmental protection measures. However, in my book, actions speak louder than …
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Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of our mandate, we have been taking meaningful action to strengthen and unify the Canadian economy and make it more competitive and resilient. We started by removing federal barriers to interprovincial trade. We are in the process of developing new international trade partnerships. We are attracting foreign investment here in Canada. In budget 2025, we proposed var…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that the country's rural regions are important to my colleague and friend. I had the opportunity to discuss the priorities of rural Canada with him several times over the past year. I would like him to tell us how the different economic and social policies that the government is putting in place will have a positive impact on the rural communities across the country.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her wonderful question. I think increasing funding by $20 million is an excellent decision. This will help food banks across the country. The federal government already supports food banks through funding that is sent to regional and provincial organizations, which in turn share the funding equitably with food banks in the communities we represen…
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Mr. Speaker, there are several parts to my colleague's question. He mentioned the potential impact of floods and droughts on the cost of food. I could not agree with him more. That is why we need to improve Canada's ability to prevent floods and droughts. Incidentally, my colleague from Terrebonne introduced a private member's bill calling on Canada to adopt a national strategy in this regard. We …
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Mr. Speaker, we have been working since day one to build a strong economy that works for everyone. We want people to have access to better jobs, better opportunities and better wages. Thanks to our efforts to strengthen the Canadian economy, that is what is going to happen. In the meantime, we must be there to support people. We have already announced several measures, such as a tax cut for the mi…
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Mr. Speaker, I heard some great news in my colleague's speech. He said that he would support any measure to strengthen Canadians' purchasing power. Bill C‑19 will help us support Canadians while we wait for the effects of our transformative changes to the economy to take place. If I understand correctly, my colleague will not only vote in support of Bill C‑19 but also in support of our budget beca…
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Madam Speaker, the Criminal Code must meet the public's expectations and evolve with the times. Bill C-16 proposes criminalizing the creation of deepfakes. When someone's face is manipulated to create deepfakes using tools such as AI and then disseminated, it can have a significant impact on the victim's life. Bill C-16 will criminalize that. It also criminalizes threatening to distribute non-cons…
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Mr. Chair, I would say that our government's guiding principle from day one has been perfectly clear: We were elected to strengthen the Canadian economy and make it more resilient. That means diversifying our markets. It means supporting key sectors of the Canadian economy. It means providing targeted support for the sectors hardest hit by U.S. tariffs. I would remind the House that we did not ask…
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Mr. Chair, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin. The auto industry plays a vital role in the Canadian economy, contributing approximately $16.8 billion in economic activity in 2024, which accounted for nearly 8% of Canada's total manufacturing GDP. In my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche, there may not be a large auto sector presence, but I…
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Mr. Chair, our government is working on developing new economic relationships with the United States, in addition to diversifying our economy through various partnerships around the world. On the issue of the United States, I believe that, yes, we need a new agreement with the U.S., but one that truly meets the needs of our industries and the interests of Canadians and workers. We must not sign an…
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Mr. Chair, our government is determined to protect every worker in our country. We have already put measures in place to do just that. We hope to protect every job. In the unfortunate event that job losses do occur, we have recently made adjustments to the EI system. For example, we have extended the waiver of the one-week waiting period for EI until April 2026. We have invested in people who want…
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Mr. Chair, I am a relatively new member of the House, and there is one thing that I have a hard time understanding. The Conservatives say one thing in the House, but when it comes time to vote, they always do the opposite. They talk about the cost of living every day in the House, but when it comes time to vote for measures to help with the cost of living, the Conservatives vote against them. This…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to Jean‑Guy Levesque, who recently announced his retirement after a decade in municipal politics. A well-known figure in Restigouche, he has dedicated his life to public service, beginning in the school system as a teacher, school principal, and district superintendent. A tireless volunteer, he made a name for himself in several community and sports organizations. …
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Mr. Speaker, a strong Canada means strong protections to keep our communities safe. Our new Liberal government is taking a rigorous approach to fighting crime, as evidenced by our many bills, our investments to support law enforcement and our Bill C-14. That legislation proposes more than 80 amendments to the Criminal Code to bring in tougher sentences and stricter bail conditions for repeat and v…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to congratulate my colleague for his excellent speech and most of all for the important project he is proposing to this House. Housing is a key issue for our government. It is an important issue for my own riding, Madawaska—Restigouche, as it is for many other ridings across the country. I would like to hear his view on how this bill would ensure that young …
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Mr. Speaker, last week, Réfam, a network of women entrepreneurs, managers and professionals in the Madawaska region, presented the prestigious 2025 women entrepreneur award to an inspiring mother-daughter duo: Nicole Deschênes and Josée Levesque, co-owners of Buffet Nicole et Josée. They founded their company in 2004 in Saint‑Joseph‑de‑Madawaska, and it quickly grew into a well-known catering serv…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Terrebonne, for her excellent speech and her excellent bill, which I am pleased to endorse. This is a critical step in our efforts to protect Canadians from the risks posed by climate change. It is a major issue for my riding, Madawaska—Restigouche, which has been affected by rising water levels in recent years, and it is a major issu…
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Mr. Speaker, since day one, our new government has been laser-focused on defending and diversifying Canadian trade. We have signed new agreements with countries like Ecuador and Indonesia. We have an ongoing dialogue with many of our international partners. I would like to ask my colleague why this work is important for strengthening the Canadian economy. I would like him to tell me how this will …
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Mr. Speaker, as an Acadian, I am proud to support the objectives of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. Our policies supporting multiculturalism and others promoting our two official languages can be mutually reinforcing. Consider all the work our government has done to promote francophone immigration. In fact, the first week of next month will be National Francophone Immigration Week, which brings…
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Mr. Speaker, the bill seeks to correct an historic injustice by allowing people to pass on their citizenship to their children in the future. One of the amendments made by my committee colleagues concerns the length of residence: Instead of the three non-consecutive years that were initially required, it would now be three consecutive years out of five. However, I would like to understand why, for…
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Mr. Speaker, today, we are addressing a very important issue with our study of Bill C-3. Canadian citizenship is more than just an administrative status. It is a powerful symbol of belonging to a country. It confers certain fundamental rights, such as the right to vote and the right to travel with a Canadian passport, and it also embodies a civic responsibility, a shared identity and a deep connec…
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Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. In fact, Bill C-3 seeks to correct a historic injustice. People with genuine ties to Canada have been stripped of their Canadian citizenship. Bill C-3 responds to those injustices. The amendments our Conservative colleagues brought forward in committee would create new injustices and could create new generations of lost Canadians. There are people with s…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question puzzles me a little. A lot of information seems to be mixed up. We are not discussing an immigration program here. We are discussing access to citizenship by descent, meaning by birthright, when a parent is a Canadian citizen or has maintained substantial ties to Canada. The two are not the same by any stretch. When we mix everything together, we end up mislead…
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Mr. Speaker, acquiring citizenship by descent and acquiring citizenship by naturalization are two completely different things. People are given access to citizenship by naturalization at the end of an immigration process that includes various requirements, including knowledge of the official languages. Those requirements are justified by the fact that it is an immigration process. Once the require…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that naturalization is the result of an immigration process in Canada, while citizenship by descent applies when a person is the child of a Canadian citizen and that parent has maintained a substantial connection with Canada. Citizenship by descent is not an immigration program. It is completely false to claim otherwise. I would like to know why my colleague …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, we have a number of important bills before the House. As my colleague mentioned, this afternoon, we were supposed to be debating Bill C-3, which seeks to correct a historic injustice regarding access to citizenship. We also have a bill on ambitious bail reform, as well as a bill on border security. Can my colleague tell me why the opposition insists on using debate time in the House…
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Madam Speaker, I wonder. In the House of Commons, there are standing committees that cover diverse topics ranging from defence to official languages and natural resources. In each of these committees, members discuss important matters. There may be discussions on reports. Why was this debate reopened in the House of Commons today when we should be discussing Bill C‑3? What is more, the opposition …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, this week is child care worker and early childhood educator appreciation week in francophone minority communities. It is a time to celebrate professionals dedicated to helping our little ones learn, grow, and thrive. Early childhood is a crucial period for learning French and building identity. I would like to ask the minister to speak to us about the measures our government is taking…
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleague mentioned, Bill C‑12 includes several measures to strengthen the integrity of our immigration system. We made a commitment to do so during the election campaign. We are delivering on our commitment through Bill C‑12. In doing so, we will take steps to protect the integrity of our system while respecting fundamental humanitarian principles. There will be enhanced measur…
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Mr. Speaker, as my colleague says, we campaigned on a promise to make our communities safer. This requires a series of measures, including legislation such as Bill C‑12 on border security and Bill C‑9 on hate crimes. It also includes our upcoming bail reform, investments to hire more RCMP officers, and strategies, including the one announced yesterday about combatting online fraud. When we talk ab…
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Mr. Speaker, the truth is that we have a plan with an investment of over $1 billion, the largest amount ever dedicated to border security in Canadian history. I mentioned that there are five border crossings in my riding, Madawaska—Restigouche, and our officers are doing an amazing job on the ground. They work hard to protect our borders. I wanted to congratulate them in my speech. Bill C‑12 intro…
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Mr. Speaker, during the last election campaign, Canadians across the country asked us to take concrete measures to build a safer Canada. They elected a new Liberal government with the clear and legitimate expectation that we would reform our bail system, improve public safety and make sure that our communities are safe. We also made a commitment to secure our borders and preserve the integrity of …
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Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑12 addresses some long-standing requests from law enforcement for the necessary resources to crack down on auto theft, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime. Does my colleague recognize the importance of taking action to keep Canadians safe? If so, will he commit to working with us to quickly pass Bill C‑12?
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleagues that Canada is in an enviable position. We have the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We have a government that is focused on building an even stronger economy through strategic investments that will benefit Canadians for generations to come. Our investments in housing, defence and critical infrastructure, along with our plan to catalyze major pr…
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Mr. Speaker, no, I do not agree. Our record shows that we are there for Canadian workers. We have put in place measures to help with the cost of living. I am thinking of the Canada child benefit, the Canadian dental care plan and the programs to create child care spaces. We have also adjusted the employment insurance system to help people who sadly lose their jobs. On this side of the House, we ar…
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Mr. Speaker, inflation and a high cost of living are global issues. Canada is not the only country facing them; all of the western nations are. In Canada, we are coming out of it in an enviable position, with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio and a AAA credit rating. We understand that if we want help Canadians with the cost of living, we need to present concrete measures, such as the school food progr…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke about the cost of living. I would like to know why she voted against affordable child care, a concrete measure that allows parents to participate fully in the labour market. What do the people of Lethbridge think about their MP opposing affordable child care?
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Mr. Speaker, last month, I had an excellent meeting with representatives of the Eel River Bar indigenous community in my riding. We talked about housing. This is a major issue in that community. Since 2023, the federal government has invested more than $10 million in the community through the rapid housing initiative. We have also invested over $375,000 through the affordable housing fund. Would m…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from London West for her excellent speech. Last April, Canadians gave us a strong mandate. I believe this is because they realized that our party was the only one with a real plan to defend our workers, our industries and our economy. In my colleague's opinion, how is the budget, which will be presented on November 4, an essential step in strengthening our economy…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke about investments that our government is making. These are investments that boost our economy. Moreover, we have an ambitious plan in place in terms of housing construction. I am already seeing real impacts in my riding that are the result of federal investments in cities like Edmundston, Campbellton and Saint‑Quentin. Could my colleague tell us more about our ambit…
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Mr. Speaker, in his speech, my colleague mentioned that the Conservative motion before us today lacks substance and contains several inaccuracies about our economic situation. I would like to know if my colleague could help us set the record straight.
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Mr. Speaker, the motion before us today talks about the importance of investments, the cost of living and the economy. This is timely because Canadians gave our new government a strong mandate in the spring. They trusted us to build a strong economy that works for everyone. When we talk about an economy that works for everyone, we are talking about having measures in place to help Canadians deal w…
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