Parliamentary Speeches

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois agrees to apply the vote and will be voting in favour of the motion.

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, the government is increasing spending. We understand that. Much has been said about the $38 billion in new operating expenditures in the main estimates, which are up by 8.4%. However, when we take a closer look, it is even worse. Major transfers to individuals, such as old age security, or to the provinces, such as health transfers, are statutory appropriations that have not been voted …

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, it is odd that the estimates are being tabled a little later than usual, yet the government is increasing spending eightfold. I hope that the health transfers will be sizable. In Quebec, the government is on the defensive because the new computer system for the Société de l'assurance de l'automobile du Québec, or SAAQ, cost twice as much as expected, $1 billion instead of $500 million. …

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, the government is trying to cut costs and get unions to agree to less compensation. It recovered overpayments and was sometimes not justified in doing so, and only then did it reimburse public servants dealing with pay errors that cost them thousands of dollars. For a person who lost their house, a total of $2,500 for four years is not very generous. Will the government finally provide …

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, during the election, the new Liberals promised to enable border services officers to retire after 25 years of service instead of 35, as their union requested. As the employer of the public service, does the President of the Treasury Board intend to implement that measure?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, on top of having to go through Phoenix when it comes to their pay, public servants now have to go through Canada Life when it comes to their insurance. As the employer of the public service, when will the President of the Treasury Board address the situation?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, the estimates detail the amount of spending that the government is asking Parliament to approve. At the same time, the government is supposed to tell us what it intends to do with that money through the departmental plans that it usually tables at the same time. However, we still do not have the departmental plans. The government is asking us for money but refuses to tell us how it plan…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, before he asks us to authorize $487 billion in spending, could the President of the Treasury Board tell us what the projected deficit will be this year?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, that was actually not my question. I asked the President of the Treasury Board to tell us what the projected deficit will be this year.

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, during the pilot phase, several departments reported that the system was far from satisfactory. Why did the government continue to roll out the pay system despite the warnings and poor test results?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, at the time, Australia had already experienced problems with the system, and the unions alerted the federal government, whether it was the old one or the new one. Why did it still buy the software?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, there is something strange in the estimates. The Canada Revenue Agency's budget is cut by $7 billion, or 40%. For years, when we press the government to take action against those who profit from the use of tax havens, it has been telling us that it will add resources to the CRA to fight against international tax avoidance. Now the government is cutting that money. Are the estimates tell…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, this new government is already 10 years old and after the answer I just got, it seems that it is not really going to change, either. I will move on. Is the CRA's reduced budget good news, in fact? Will Ottawa finally agree to allow Quebeckers to file a single tax return and to allow Revenu Québec to handle it? Is the elimination of the duplication reflected in the estimates?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I was actually referring once again to a reduction that might make Quebeckers less inclined to use tax havens. In budget 2023, amidst a big scandal over contracts awarded to McKinsey, the government announced that it would substantially reduce the budgets allocated to consulting firms. That never happened. Instead, the main estimates indicate that the amount allocated to consultants, th…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I hope there will be a conclusion, not just a discussion. The French language commissioner published a report in November 2024 about understanding the decline of French and reversing that trend. It stated that the federal public service is primarily responsible for the anglicization of the Outaouais region, with rates of nearly 60%. Will the secretary repeat what his organization says, …

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, does the minister agree with no longer hiring employees on the promise of learning French since they do not meet the requirements of the job at the time of hiring?

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I hope it happens faster than it is taking to address the Phoenix issues. Speaking of Phoenix, that pay system has been failing for nine years, and those failures are putting public servants' lives at risk. As a member from the North Shore, I know what I am taking about. Does the government intend to launch an independent investigation into this scandal?

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, the simplest answer I can give my colleague is no. Productivity is not discussed at all here, even though the Bloc Québécois is asking that businesses receive assistance precisely to improve their productivity. Talking about productivity also means talking about competition. No, this bill does not in any way accomplish what it should as far as things like productivity are concerned.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the government that, typically, when voters go to the polls, they want to elect a government that is accountable. The Prime Minister promised that the government would be accountable, that the economy would perform well and that Canada would be in a strong position to deal with the United States. As someone who has worked in finance for many years, I know what I…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I think we could talk some more about the fiscal imbalance, for example. We are always on the losing end in this situation. Until we have full power to decide what is right for Quebec, using our own money, I think this is going to keep happening. This is a prime example. Another example is the fight against Quebec's secularism law. Once again, the federal government is using Quebecker…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to go back to what I was saying earlier. Right off the bat, I addressed the responsibilities of the government, which was elected with a mandate that I would call economic. The tariffs imposed by the U.S. government are threatening the economy, especially where I live on the north shore. I am talking about responsibilities because we expect a government elected on the i…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, since we started this morning, we have heard, for example, the Minister of Finance talk about relief, young people and the government's plan. He has been a member of the House for about 12 years now, even if he has not always been finance minister. I would expect a plan after 10 years. When it comes to housing, we agree with the GST exemption. It helps, even though it does solve the w…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, again yesterday, senators conspired to delay a crucial vote on Bill C-282, which would protect supply management. They have been working against our farmers for 18 months by putting off passing this one-clause bill. Rather than respecting the will of elected members of all parties, unelected senators are filibustering. Ironically, the delay tactics that senators used yesterday consist…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I appeal to all the party leaders. Every one of them voted to protect supply management in trade agreements. Today, they have a duty to ask senators to respect the will of elected members. They must tell the senators, who are not elected, that they are not being paid to take a break, that they have a job to do no matter how superfluous it may be. The Senate overlords are sitting again…

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, the Quebec National Assembly has unanimously called on the federal government to repeal the religious exemption in the Criminal Code that permits hate speech under the guise of religious belief. Religion is not an excuse for inciting hatred. One would think that everyone would agree on that, but on Wednesday, the Liberals blocked a motion defending this simple principle, even though…

Statements by Members

Madam Speaker, the north shore is a land of extremes. It is a place of great beauty and riches, but where Mother Nature can also be merciless. That is why it produces souls worthy of those extremes. Before winter turned our forests white, 80-year-old Jean-Guy Carrier was paddling on one of our thousands of lakes with his son-in-law when their boat capsized. The two men tried to get back to shore, …

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, the National Assembly of Quebec wants to abolish the religious exemption that allows for hate speech. In Ottawa, some want to protect the religious exemption and protect hate speech. In Quebec, we defend communal harmony and social peace. In Ottawa, some defend division and violence. In Quebec, we defend secularism. In Ottawa, some defend the right to commit crimes in the name of re…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, briefly, a threat to disrupt the Bloc Québécois's next opposition day was made against us. I heard, “Just you wait and see when your next opposition day comes around”. Really, that is what I heard. I consider that to be intimidation.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I have been hearing insults since I entered the House. I would like—

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would just like to ask you to remind members to simply respect each other. We are trying to have direction on how to handle the relationship we have with all of our colleagues and our employees here. What I am hearing right now is insults and even threats against our political party. I find that deplorable, and I would like things to calm down. I am not responsible for the fact th…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, with regard to what you just said, I would also like to remind the House that there is a delay before the francophones can hear the simultaneous interpretation. You asked members not to speak when you have the floor, because you cannot hear what is being said. On our side, when people talk over you, we cannot hear what you are saying, nor can we hear what the interpreter is saying. …

Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. I witnessed the situation. It was not just the member for London—Fanshawe who tried to take the floor. Another member from the same party also wanted to do so. Obviously, everyone knows that it is not over until it is over. Nothing was finished. Everyone had already risen. The House leader wanted to speak. However, I would like to talk about the fact t…

Routine Proceedings

Madam Speaker, today, I am proud to present two petitions in support of my colleague from Shefford's Bill C‑319. These petitions seek to put an end to the injustice, unfairness and discrimination towards people aged 65 to 74. One of these petitions was signed by 403 people and the other was signed by 91 people who support this bill, which I hope will pass because we owe it to seniors.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask a question about businesses. I wonder whether businesses were also consulted before this measure was adopted. It will be expensive for small businesses to change how they do things for two months. We are talking about businesses and people in our ridings and, at some point, some may decide to close their doors because they will not be able to manage. Consider Chr…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I saw that my colleague had the bill in front of him and was reading out the various products covered by the bill. The government keeps saying that these are essential products, truly essential. They keep repeating the word “essential”. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on the list he read. When champagne is included in the list of tax-free products, are we really talking…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, clearly it can be hard to discuss this in a way that is constructive for society. The fact that this bill will not go to committee is problematic. Everyone is accusing everyone else of hypocrisy. Personally, I think that is unfortunate. People are having trouble defending this bill, and the choice of goods on the list seems somewhat arbitrary. Even regular people think this is a vote-…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by addressing some of the people in my riding. I want to acknowledge the people who are still fighting for employment insurance reform, because they are already in the spring gap. They will not make it to Christmas. Never mind Christmas trees and all that; they will not even be able to put food on the table, not until April. They know all about vulnerability. Ear…

Emergency Debate

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry, but you can see why it is sometimes difficult for francophones in the House. I think everyone would agree. We try to listen to the interpretation even when there is heckling or someone is singing Y.M.C.A. in the House. It is just that there is a lot of noise. It has been a bit difficult for us since the beginning of the sitting. Out of respect for the interpreters too, I w…

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, Donald Trump's deportation threats are dangerous. The federal government needs to wake up when it comes to the border. We keep telling it that. Today, we are not the only ones saying so. Fen Hampson, president of the World Refugee and Migration Council, was quoted in today's Le Devoir as saying, “The government needs to get ready to deal with a potential humanitarian crisis”. He is …

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, if the federal government stays asleep at the switch when it comes to our borders, then there are dark days ahead for both asylum seekers and Quebeckers. There could be a wave of people crossing the border illegally, and they may be exploited by criminal organizations. These people may have to hide out, possibly under dangerous circumstances, for two weeks before they are able to cl…

Statements by Members

Madam Speaker, the town of Fermont is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The name Fermont naturally evokes its mountain of iron ore, its immense open-pit mines and its mythical wall. Personally, I also think of its pioneers, who are now watching their children and grandchildren grow up in Fermont, where the warmth of humanity is matched only by the love that the people of Fermont have for…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, the interpreters are saying that there is a phone on vibrate near a microphone, so they are having difficulty doing their job.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to thank the people of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun for placing their trust in Louis-Philippe Sauvé. Mr. Sauvé made just one election promise, specifically to prove himself worthy of that trust. I have known Louis-Philippe for many years, and I am sure he will keep his word. The people sent a clear message by electing someone who staunchly defends…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would just like you to confirm whether we can refer to the presence or absence of other members in the House. I do not think that is allowed.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, listening to my colleague's speech made me wonder about something. They are talking about nutrition north Canada and the need for reform. We have actually known that for years. The program did not only just now stop working in the north and other remote regions. In my riding, the boat often fails to arrive, forcing us to transport food by plane. It is getting more and more expensive…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, qujannamiik to my colleague from Nunavut, with whom I was pleased to work on the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. I am happy that we are talking a little about the north today. Rural and remote communities, in particular indigenous and Inuit communities, often face difficulties due to their geographical remoteness. My colleague touched on the issue of housing. Ob…

Orders of the Day

Madam Speaker, as I said earlier, we need to rise above the fray, because it does not matter where the Speaker is from. What matters to me is that the Speaker has the skills to do his job and that he earns the trust of the entire House. As for the anti-Quebec conspiracy, that is not what this is. Other parties are stuck on this because we are the Bloc Québécois. The fact remains that we need to se…

Orders of the Day

Madam Speaker, we are not attacking him. This term is being used by the member because he does not wish to rise above the fray. Once again, I may be a Bloc Québécois member, but I do not care which province or territory members who aspire to become Speaker come from. We have to rise above the fray. To answer my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, as a Bloc Québécois MP, I make sure that I am…

Orders of the Day

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to say that I will be sharing my time with the member for Thornhill. To begin, I would like to convey to the House my respect for my colleague, the member for Hull—Aylmer, who is an affable, warm and cordial person and who also happens to be the Speaker of the House right now. I wanted to make the distinction because it is not the individual, the MP himself,…

Orders of the Day

Madam Speaker, the member for Winnipeg North is making it clear that he could never be the Speaker of the House of Commons because he does not understand the impartiality and discernment needed for the job. That is what he just said: He does not understand and it seems unfair to him. We need to look beyond perceptions and really acknowledge what the role of Speaker involves. The person who occupie…