Parliamentary Speeches

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Main Estimates 2024-25”.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, oyez, oyez! Lords, ladies, nobles and all the good folk of Vaudreuil-Dorion will gather on June 6, 7, 8 and 9 for the 32nd edition of the Seigneuriales de Vaudreuil-Dorion. At this festival honouring the history of New France, they will eat, drink, play and sing as they celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community, Vaudreuil—Soulanges. Thanks to the extraordinary work of the …

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to speak about Hudson's St. James Anglican Church in my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. The venerable institution, which has stood proudly since 1842, was struck by a heart-wrenching tragedy on April 14, when a fierce fire devastated the historic structure. For over 180 years, St. James Anglican Church has served proudly as a place of worship, a venue for music and art…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, Canada's skilled workers and entrepreneurs are our greatest resource. Capitalizing on their ideas, innovations and hard work is an essential way to keep our place at the forefront of the world's advanced economies. Can the Prime Minister tell the House about the new measures announced in the budget that will support not only our workers, but the Canadian economy as well?

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, this past week, my family and I celebrated my 12th year in remission from cancer. I am immensely grateful for the continued time we have together. Today, I am privileged to rise in this House to extend a heartfelt thanks to the team at the Canadian Cancer Society for the role it played in seeing me through my own experience and the support it has provided to countless more each and ev…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, it is almost that time of year once again, and thanks to an army of volunteers led by Jay de la Durantaye, Rob Dumas, Ken Bell, Mark Noonan and Eileen McAleese, and the entire team at the Soulanges Irish Society, our community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges will become Irish for a day at the 13th annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Hudson. This year, our grand marshal, renowned Canadian musici…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, with the cold and snow of winter all around us, the warm weather seems a long way off. However, I have it on good authority that spring is on the way, which means it will soon be time for that delicious symbol of warmth and joy, Quebec-made maple syrup. Yes, the time has come once again for families, friends and visitors to gather for the maple harvest, a ritual as sweet as the syrup …

Private Members' Business

Mr. Speaker, as always, it is an honour to rise in the House to speak to a bill, this time, Bill C-317, which directly affects my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. As everyone is well aware, historic floods affected thousands of my constituents in 2017 and 2019, forcing people out of their homes. Dozens of homes were destroyed in Vaudreuil—Soulanges. The situation was so sad and so serious that th…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in relation to BillC-33, An Act to amend the Customs Act, the Railway Safety Act, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, the Marine Transportation Security Act, the Canada Transportation Act and the Canada Marine Act and to make a c…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincere gratitude to the dedicated individuals and organizations that support the Vaudreuil—Soulanges food banks. I want to thank them for their outstanding service to our community, especially during this holiday season. The holidays are a time of joy and celebration for many, but they can also be challenging for those experiencing economic hardship. It is …

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, 968 finger pricks, 3,178 insulin injections and 256 hours of sleep lost is what nine-year-old Paloma from my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges has already experienced since being diagnosed just 454 days ago with type 1 diabetes. People would think that would make her tired and frustrated, but not Paloma. Instead, she and her mother, Leana, have been taking action. She walked into my of…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Building a More Climate Resilient Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. I want to thank our clerk, our analysts, the interpreters and the c…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the steadfast and dedicated team at Creek 53, a conservancy trust based in my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges. Made up of landowners, trustees, academics and environmental stewards, the team at Creek 53 is working toward the environmental preservation of the Hudson escarpment and the creek 53 watershed, an area rich in biodiversity that is located in Hudson.…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I extend my congratulations to you once again. When conversations are held in my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges and in every corner of our beautiful country about the giants of Canadian rock, April Wine's unmistakable rhythm and sound reverberate powerfully. April Wine has woven itself into the fabric of our identity, capturing hearts across generations, with unforgettable tracks su…

Mr. Chair, right hon. Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, leader of the Bloc Québécois, leader of the NDP, leader of the Green Party, hon. colleagues, hon. candidates, dear friends, it is a privilege for me to rise in the House today as an official candidate for Speaker of the House of Commons. Colleagues, I am running for this position because I want to follow in the footsteps of the extrao…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, for anyone interested in enjoying the colours of fall, Rigaud is the place to be. Next October 7, 8 and 9, the Festival des couleurs de Rigaud is celebrating its 25th anniversary with more music, more activities and more fun than ever. All residents of Vaudreuil-Soulanges are invited to come and enjoy this outstanding event, made possible through the fantastic work of Christiane Léves…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and congratulate the Hudson Village Theatre on its 30th anniversary. Created by Heather Markgraf, a Hudson resident and theatre educator, in the summer of 1993, the Hudson Village Theatre has grown to become a staple in our community and the largest off-island English theatre in Quebec. In 2000, the community came together in support of the theatre and raised…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Addressing Port Infrastructure Expansion in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, this is a message to all the dads who are celebrating their first Father's Day or their 50th, to the new dads who gaze at their infant son's face and know that their priorities will never be the same, to the dads who work overtime so their kids can go to summer camp for the first time, to the dads who rushed home after a long day to tell their children bedtime stories. To the dads who…

Statements by Members

Oyez, oyez, Mr. Speaker! Lords, ladies, nobles and the good folk of Vaudreuil-Dorion will gather again on June 8, 9, 10 and 11 for the 2023 edition of the Seigneuriales. At this festival honouring the history of New France, they will eat, drink, play and sing as they celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community, Vaudreuil-Soulanges. In partnership with the City of Vaudreuil-Dorion and the…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Improving Bus Connectivity in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise to speak in favour of Bill S-5, one of the most important pieces of environmental legislation to come before the House of Commons. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, or CEPA, is a vital piece of legislation that regulates the products we use every day in Canada. From food packaging to the personal care products we put on our bodies to ou…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, once again, I thank my colleague, the member for Repentigny, for her exceptional work on the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. I was fortunate to work with her. We worked well together and collaborated closely with the community and environmental groups that came to share their ideas. I think that all of the parties and the Government of Canada did a gre…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his advocacy. I know he works very hard on environmental protection. The one thing I would say, and I think my hon. colleague knows this very well, is that the reason those references were removed for those specific activities is that they were already captured under subsection 46(1) as activities that may contribute to pollution. The real…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I know my hon. colleague is a strong advocate, and I very much enjoy working with him and having discussions about how we can improve environmental protection in Canada. I would be honest to say that I would like to have seen more robust inclusion of a right to a healthy environment in this piece of legislation. I would be lying if I said anything different, but this is a huge impro…

Statements By Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the memory of the Hon. Marc Lalonde, a distinguished Canadian statesman, lawyer, dedicated politician and Order of Canada recipient, who passed away on Saturday in Notre‑Dame‑de‑l'Île‑Perrot, with his wife, Claire, by his side. Born in Île‑Perrot in 1929, Marc was a lifelong learner, earning degrees from the Université de Montréal, Oxford University and the Univ…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Main Estimates 2023-24”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Reducing the Impact of Commercial Shipping on Shoreline Erosion in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Corridor”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, as always, it is a privilege to rise in the House on behalf of my constituents in Vaudreuil—Soulanges to speak to budget 2023, “A Made-in-Canada Plan”, tabled by the hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. This budget reflects the global challenges we are facing as Canadians. It is a prudent, responsible and considered budget. We must invest in the future of this incredibl…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce to the House and to my constituents in Vaudreuil—Soulanges that I will be giving them the opportunity to ask a few questions. I will be holding a town hall with my constituents in the coming weeks here in Ottawa, virtually and in my community. I look forward to answering their questions in person and explaining how the 2023 budget will help them and their fa…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, one thing I will say is that we differ on the definition of affordability. On this side of the House, we like to provide more support for Canadians when they need it the most. On that side of the House, they like to vote against all the measures we are putting in place, including the Canada child benefit and child care. In the budget, we put money toward helping Canadians pay for gr…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I know this is an issue that is extremely important to my colleague. It is one that is important to me. I spent 10 years in the environmental field prior to entering politics. For me, the proof is in the pudding. We have been fighting for record investments in transitioning towards a green economy. This budget alone commits $88 billion to make that happen. It means more charging sta…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his commitment and dedication to the environment even prior to entering politics. I would say that this budget continues along our promise to reduce our subsidies to the fossil fuel sector by 2025. It is a commitment that we made. It is one that I will be pushing for continuously behind the scenes, with many members of our caucus, to ensur…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, we live in the most beautiful country in the world. However, the threats to our environment have never been greater. Climate change is threatening nature, our communities and our economy. The 2023 budget announced new measures to protect our environment, fight climate change and make Canada more resilient to the threats posed by extreme weather. Could the Minister of the Environment a…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, in my colleague's speech, there were several instances where I think he shared with all of us in the House and with Canadians misinformation, perhaps, or was not clear on the facts. There was one in particular where the hon. member referenced the idea that the Prime Minister goes on vacation every three months. With all of the research the hon. member has done, can he please share w…

Statements By Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my sincerest gratitude to the outstanding firefighters, hydro crews, mayors, city workers, and countless dedicated volunteers who worked relentlessly during the recent ice storm that battered my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges and affected over a million Quebeckers. Throughout this challenging time, they put their lives on the line, working day and night to re…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Strengthening Air Passenger Rights in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, after dozens of games and practices, and after more than one return trip home because someone forgot something, the end of another incredible hockey season for our kids in Vaudreuil—Soulanges is upon us. As the Hawks, Riverains, Prédateurs, Vikings, Gladiateurs and my son Andy's team, the Titans, hang up their skates for the season, I want to pay tribute to those who made it all possi…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, this week, as I celebrate 11 years of remission from cancer, I had the honour of being chosen as the honorary president of the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life, being held in Pincourt on June 10. That night, I will be walking for Tarik, a young, bright man who went to Westwood High School and completed his first year at John Abbott College. He was passionate about history and po…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Addressing Labour Shortages in the Canadian Transportation Sector”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. I want to thank all of my hon. colleagues…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Enhancing the Efficient, Affordable Operation of Canada's Airports”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. I also want to add that the committee h…

Statements By Members

Mr. Speaker, it is almost that time of year again, and thanks to the hard work of Jay de la Durantaye, Rob Dumas, Craig Nolan, Ken Bell, Ken Doran and the entire team at the Soulanges Irish Society, our community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges will become Irish for a day at the annual St. Patrick's Day parade through Hudson. This year, I am truly honoured to lead the parade as grand marshal and to be join…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents depend on a functioning health care system. Whether we are talking about emergency rooms, intensive care units or long-term care, they need their staff to have all the resources necessary to care for our children, our seniors and the most vulnerable. Can the Prime Minister update the House on the recent progress made with his provincial and territorial counterp…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I was invited to meet with the students on the École secondaire de la Cité-des-Jeunes environmental committee. They led an initiative to collect hopes for the environment as a way of sharing their ideas about how best to protect our planet. Some want unnecessary plastics banned. Others hope there will still be snow in the years to come. Many hope the government will g…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, a community is the reflection of its people. These are the extraordinary people who make a community like Vaudreuil-Soulanges famous across Canada. Today I would like to pay tribute to one of these people. Gilles Boyer is an exceptional man who dedicated his life to the well-being of the population of Vaudreuil-Soulanges. As president of the Kiwanis, founding member of the Regroupemen…

Statements by Members

Madam Speaker, I rise today in the House to pay tribute to a pillar of the Vaudreuil—Soulanges community. Daniel Boyer, the City of Saint-Lazare's director of public safety and fire safety, will be retiring on December 31 after 30 years of loyal service. Beginning in 1992, Mr. Boyer rose through the municipal ranks from firefighter to lieutenant to deputy director and, finally, director, a positio…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, every year during the holidays, the people of Vaudreuil—Soulanges come together to make the holiday season a happy one for everyone. With global inflation this year, it is more important than ever. I rise today to thank the organizations and individuals in my community who play a leading role. I want to thank organizations like Moisson Sud-Ouest, which provides food to 92 food banks a…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities entitled “Improving efficiency and resiliency in Canada’s supply chains”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Statements By Members

Mr. Speaker, our entrepreneurs and our small businesses are the driving force of our economy. That is why the Vaudreuil-Soulanges chamber of commerce and industry, the CCIVS, is so important. Its objective is to support, consolidate and defend the interests of its members and contribute to the success and economic development of our community. I want to thank the CCIVS for all it has done to suppo…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I quote: Carbon pricing is a remarkably elegant market solution to reducing emissions. Pricing would enable the reduction of a wide array of regulations and government interferences in the market. Pricing would give consumers and companies clear signals about the cost of the negative externality, and allow them to figure out for themselves the best way to respond. Can the Minister of …