Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by correcting some facts. I did not say that everything was hunky-dory. Immigration is a major issue that has implications in different sectors. It is an issue that we are addressing on a priority basis. The context has changed since 2015, because of the wars, of the Afghans and Ukrainians wanting to settle here, and of all the people who need to flee violence …
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Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Vaughan—Woodbridge. I am pleased to rise here this morning to speak to the Bloc Québécois motion. I would like to talk about how our government is supporting newcomers, as well as the economic needs of our provinces, territories and municipalities, including Quebec. Canada benefits from good immigration policies and, as we have seen d…
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Madam Speaker, I handle a number of immigration-related issues and files in my riding too. I am also in constant contact with organizations in my riding that welcome immigrants and help them integrate. Just yesterday evening, I joined a virtual round table with 20 or so entrepreneurs who were originally from all over the world. They shared with me how Quebec and Canada have created opportunities f…
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Madam Speaker, I really appreciate my esteemed colleague's question because my riding of Sherbrooke is indeed a welcoming place. Every year, many immigrants settle there. Thanks to organizations that work hard to help them integrate and feel welcome, we have managed to achieve that objective. I see it when I visit hospitals, the Maison Aube-Lumière palliative care facility, schools and day care ce…
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Madam Speaker, I really enjoy working with my colleague on the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. From the proposed changes, we can see that the courts will be able to exercise discretion in ordering lifetime registration in cases where an offender's risk of reoffending is high. Is my colleague confident that the courts will be able to use this discretion wisely to make decisions that…
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Mr. Speaker, it was a unique experience for me to participate in the 22nd edition of Homelessness Awareness Night in Sherbrooke on Friday. Over 200 people were there to raise public awareness of the growing vulnerability of those who have no choice but to live on the streets. Many organizations also demonstrated their support for the cause. I want to thank the Salvation Army, Chaudronnée de l'Estr…
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Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, Canada has been there to provide assistance, whether military, humanitarian or financial. My colleague's question about the need for heating fuel in winter is obviously a very important one. I would even go so far as to say that it is a human rights issue. Staying warm in winter is a basic necessity. I am certain that Canada…
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Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise in the House today in support of the legislation to implement the modernized Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement and present to the House important new additions that were negotiated in the area of services. Nine specific new chapters and nine updated chapters of the 2017 Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement are the result of extensive negotiations as part of ou…
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Mr. Speaker, as the member said, international trade agreements are one way to help countries. This agreement creates a lot of opportunities, both for Canada and for Ukraine, notably by creating good jobs for the middle class. Specific chapters have been added, such as those my colleague was discussing earlier, on trade and gender, as well as on trade and the environment. This demonstrates that pr…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his important question. As we said earlier during our initial answers, we have been there to help Ukrainians from the start. This agreement will allow Canadian businesses to participate in the economic rebuilding of Ukraine and its recovery after Russia's illegal and unjustified invasion. With the addition of new chapters, we will be able to help women become …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a topic that I am very familiar with, and that is menopause. It is an important but often overlooked topic that affects many women in our society. Menopause is a normal occurrence in the life of a woman, but it can have a major impact on her mental and physical health. During menopause, women go through changes that can cause many symptoms, including hot fla…
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Mr. Speaker, today is a big day. This morning, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry announced the largest private investment in Quebec. The Swedish company Northvolt has chosen Quebec to build its new plant for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries. This project will create thousands of manufacturing jobs and once again reinforce the enviable position of Canada, and especially Quebe…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke for the opportunity to talk about our government's commitment to strong, profitable and sustainable farm businesses across this great country. I would like to remind opposition members that the majority of the agricultural sector's emissions are not subject to carbon pricing. There are also exemptions for gasoline and diesel fuel use…
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Madam Speaker, the member knows full well that many factors affect food prices, including, of course, climate change. That is why we are helping farmers to take action on climate change through popular programs such as the on-farm climate action fund. We also fully recognize that the rising cost of food is putting tremendous pressure on families. In Canada, food insecurity is directly linked to in…
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Mr. Speaker, the consultation period for the proposed order closed on September 2, 2021. Health Canada received over 25,000 submissions and continues to assess the input it received from Canadians. The Government of Canada remains committed to preventing youth vaping and has taken a number of measures to that effect. The Tobacco and Vaping Products Act, TVPA, prohibits the sale of vaping products …
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Madam Speaker, Facebook's decision to block Canadian news targets major media outlets—
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to mark the retirement of someone very dear to me. Sylvain Raby worked as a printer at École Mitchell-Montcalm in Sherbrooke for 38 years, but he was much more than a printer. A very active volunteer, he took part in multiple projects for his school. Whether it was for the graduation dance, the annual play, creative projects or building the student hall, Sylvain nev…
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Mr. Speaker, at this time, the Convention Secretariat to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control has not published an agenda for the tenth session of the Conference of the Parties. Therefore, Health Canada has not yet confirmed details such as participants in the Canadian delegation, the budget for Canada’s participation, or key priorities and action items.
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), the online questionnaire was first communicated to the public on September 22, 2022, when Canada’s federal health ministers, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced the launch of the legislative review of the Cannabis Act at an in-person event alongside the chair of the independent exp…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. The Conservative members from Quebec, specifically the member for Mégantic—L'Érable, are calling for additional rail safety measures. Does my colleague not see that Bill C-33 includes a safety and security framework that would make it possible for the people of Mégantic to have their bypass?
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, every day, we lose more loved ones to the toxic drug and overdose crisis. This week, the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions is in Washington to attend the Trilateral North American Drug Dialogue Public Health Summit, where she will discuss continued collaboration with the United States and Mexico to address the toxic drug and overdose crisis, the importance of trilateral and int…
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Mr. Speaker, as a region with numerous lakes and rivers, the Eastern Townships face many challenges in terms of preserving their waters and ecosystems. Last month, the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announced the new aquatic invasive species prevention fund, which will provide $875 million over the next five years for projects across the country. My colleagues from the …
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Mr. Speaker, World No Tobacco Day is a good opportunity to remember that, despite decades of efforts, tobacco use is still the leading preventable cause of premature death and disease in Canada. Sadly, tobacco still kills about 48,000 Canadians every year. Our government recognized the need to do more to protect Canadians' health and inform them of the health risks of tobacco use. That is why, tod…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his strong advocacy. In April of this year, the BC Coroners Service affirmed that there continues to be no evidence that prescribed safe supply is contributing to illicit drug deaths. In fact, B.C.'s chief coroner said, “safer supply...is absolutely not driving this crisis.” I am disappointed with the misinformation and misconceptions the Conservatives are p…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for that important question, and no, I will not answer him in the same way. The government's approach is built on four main pillars: harm reduction, supervised consumption sites, treatment and enforcement. This comprehensive and holistic approach provides a variety of solutions for people using drugs. It is a complex problem that affects everyone differently. We d…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer that question. As I was saying, the four pillars are prevention, risk reduction, treatment and enforcement. By relying on these four pillars, we can provide solutions that are better adapted to each person using drugs. The latest statistics show that 46,000 overdoses have been reversed at safe consumption sites. That clearly shows that these sites are essential …
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Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague's pain and emotion. To be quite honest, I prefer her emotion to the Conservatives' rigidness. She talked about how others see people who use drugs and how those people see themselves. We know that stigma has a major impact on how they react, on how they act. Does my colleague agree that working on reducing the stigma surrounding drug users could improve the curren…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to address the motion from the member for Carleton and provide an update on our government's response to a complex challenge facing our country, the overdose crisis. This crisis is having a tragic and unrelenting toll on Canadians, their families and communities. Each one of these deaths is tragic and creates a void in the community that can nev…
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Mr. Speaker, my thoughts are with the people in his riding. There are several ways to help drug users, and if we want to keep people safe, supervised consumption sites and overdose prevention sites are part of the solution. They play a significant role in saving lives. Almost no one has died of illicit drug poisoning at these sites. We are there, and we will move forward with the opening of others…
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Madam Chair, in my riding, Sherbrooke, a new 12-room house for women, Maison Margot, will soon open its doors and offer a home to women who are in crisis or in a period of transition. This wonderful project was developed by Habitations l'Équerre. It is a great example of collaboration between different organizations so that people in local neighbourhoods feel involved. I would like the minister to…
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Madam Chair, we brought in the one-time top-up to the Canada housing benefit. I would like the parliamentary secretary to talk to us about this top-up. Who is eligible and how does this top-up help the recipients who are affected by inflation?
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Madam Chair, how will prohibiting people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents from flipping homes help keep prices low for Canadians?
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Madam Chair, we talked earlier about housing co-operatives. I would like to know how the government intends to use housing co-operatives to help increase the housing supply. How much money has been allocated to support housing co-ops?
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Madam Chair, between May 1 and May 3, the minister and the parliamentary secretary held a series of round tables to gather stakeholder views and feedback on the national housing co-investment fund and the rental construction financing initiative. Can they share with us the main points that have been raised by the various stakeholders in the housing sector?
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Madam Chair, I am thankful to have the opportunity to be part of the discussion about housing. To solve Canada's housing challenges, we need all hands on deck. It is great to see the interest from all sides of the House on this matter. I talk to people in my riding and one of their main concerns is the cost of housing. Too many Canadians are having a hard time paying their rent or making their mor…
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Madam Chair, we hear the Conservative members opposite pay a lot of lip service to supporting the dream of home ownership, but I have yet to see any policies that will actually do just that. What are the minister's thoughts on this?
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, I join my voice to that of my many colleagues who are concerned about the Conservatives' Bill C‑311, which is an attempt to reopen the abortion debate. Our government will always protect access to abortion and affirm that it is an essential right for women's health. In budget 2023, we committed to pay Health Canada $36 million to renew funding for sexual and reproductive health and to…
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Mr. Speaker, our government obviously takes the diversion of controlled substances very seriously. This is a deeply concerning issue with regard to all prescription medications, not only those prescribed through safer supply programs. Health professionals, including those who manage safer supply services, have to follow federal rules on the secure handling of controlled substances, including measu…
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Mr. Speaker, today marks the start of National Nursing Week. What a great opportunity to thank the nurses of Sherbrooke, Quebec and the entire country for their work on the front lines delivering care to Canadians. The COVID‑19 pandemic was a painful reminder of the harsh working conditions facing our guardian angels. Their efforts on behalf of patients in need during that difficult time came at a…
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Mr. Speaker, as part of Mental Health Week, I am paying tribute to the Sashbear Foundation. It was created in 2012, shortly after the suicide of Sasha Menu Courey, the daughter of its founders, who lost her fight against borderline personality disorder, or BPD. Since 2012, the Sashbear Foundation has offered free mental health and suicide prevention programs in English and French to more than 14,0…
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Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about Mental Health Week. This year's theme, “My Story”, is about sharing stories and experiences with others to improve our mental health, fight stigma and help others feel less alone. Talking about mental health is important every day, but this week is an excellent opportunity to highlight how important it is to be aware of our own mental health and that of thos…
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Madam Speaker, someone was stabbed yesterday in my riding. Although it is too early to confirm whether mental illness was a factor, I wonder if my colleague could talk about how our integrated approach to improving mental health care, particularly with an investment totalling nearly $200 billion, will help people who need mental health support.
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to take part in today's debate on Bill C‑323, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act with regard to mental health services. I want to thank the member for Cumberland—Colchester for bringing forward this important subject. The MP for London—Fanshawe also introduced a bill on this subject. The bill would exempt psychotherapy and mental health counselling services fro…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech and for introducing Bill C-323. The basic objective of the bill is to expand access to mental health services, and we agree with that. However, given that the majority of provinces do not yet have a definition for psychotherapy and mental health counselling services, how can we ensure that the bill will be applied in the same way in every province?
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Madam Speaker, in her speech, my colleague stated that she would be voting for what is good for Quebeckers. Does she consider providing a grocery rebate for 11 million Canadians, increasing the Canada workers benefit, doubling the tradespeople's tool deduction, and capping the inflation adjustment for excise duties on alcohol at 2% to be good for Quebeckers?
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. She spoke a lot about workers. However, she did not mention official languages at all. Budget 2023 provides for more than $1 billion for official languages, on top of the roughly $2 billion already allocated under the action plan. I have no doubt that, like me, my colleague thinks it is important to protect French in Quebec and Canada and to prot…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition on behalf of some of my constituents, including Ms. Brouillette and Ms. Nguyen, two active citizens who are involved in Development and Peace. They came to deliver this petition to me in person. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to adopt legislation on due diligence for human and environmental rights that would require companies to …
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Mr. Speaker, it is playoff time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. After sweeping the Blainville Armada, the Sherbrooke Phoenix will now face the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The famous “route 55” rivalry is back. Having finished in third place after a record year, the Phoenix team is ready to give the Voltigeurs a lesson in how to play hockey. It is off to a good start. I am so confident that…
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Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has not joined or participated in any legal action against any tobacco company in relation to the harm caused by tobacco usage since November 4, 2015.
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Mr. Speaker, provincial and territorial governments, along with the Government of Canada, are part of the proposed class action commenced by British Columbia against 50 opioid manufacturers and distributors that allegedly acted inappropriately in the marketing and distribution of opioids. The defendant companies are listed in the attached addendum. One of those defendants was the Canadian entity o…
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