Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canadians understand that inflation is a global phenomenon. Here are some numbers that prove it: Canada's latest inflation rate was about 4.8%. In the U.S., it was 7%. In Germany, it is over 5%. I would note that our inflation rate is lower than the G7 average, the G20 average and the OECD average.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, I was in Quebec City last Saturday to take part in a ceremony commemorating the fifth anniversary of the tragic attack on the great mosque. I rise today to once again pay tribute to the six men who were taken from us on January 29, 2017: Ibrahima, Mamadou, Khaled, Abdelkrim, Azzedine, and Aboubaker. They were all Quebeckers and were all shot by a murderer who entered their mosque carr…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Mississauga East—Cooksville. First, I want to say just how grateful I am to be here again in the House, in person, despite the protests being held in downtown Ottawa. I am especially grateful to the Parliamentary Protective Service and the Ottawa Police Service, who are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe, including protesters, MPs,…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, honestly, I know sometimes we like to speak in long parables in this House. I will answer very simply: exploration tax credits.
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, I know my colleague has done good work on the firearms file, but I disagree with her on this. I personally attended a solemn ceremony in Quebec City commemorating the Quebeckers we lost five years ago. With respect to our political battle over the firearms file, I would note that we have banned over 1,500 assault weapons. We have strengthened border security and added more resources…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, as I mentioned in my speech, I am working on the ground now to create affordable housing in my riding, as are 338 MPs in this room. It is through our efforts and funding from our government, as I mentioned, that we will build 100,000 new affordable housing units by 2025. That is a record number of units in a record amount of time. I encourage the member to work with us in order to i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I was pleased and relieved to hear the leader of the NDP say that he stands in solidarity with Ukraine. However, the NDP member for Winnipeg Centre described the Ukrainian government as “an anti-Semitic, neo-nazi & fascist militia”. The NDP member for Churchill—Keewatinook Aski retweeted a suggestion that our Deputy Prime Minister's “Nazi past” is the reason that Canada is supporting …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Chair, I would like to highlight, as many have, the important contribution of the Ukrainian Canadian community to building the Prairies in Alberta. That community continues to add so much to the vibrancy of the Prairies. Could the minister comment on what he is hearing on the ground? We know that in Alberta there are 370,000 Ukrainian Canadians living in the province. I am sure that the minist…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, with the rising threat of the omicron variant, it is absolutely crucial that Bill C-2 pass in order to bring in the supports that Canadian businesses and workers need. What we have learned over the past 12 months is that the most important and effective economic policy is one that protects the health of Canadians. I would like to remind the Conservatives and the NDP, who voted against…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his concern and his dedication to the tourism sector and to independent travel agents and advisers. As I mentioned in my speech, Bill C-2 will be open and they will be eligible to apply for supports. I also note that we did extraordinary work to support Canadians when they had to cancel their travel plans last year at the height of the pandemic. …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question, but I want to correct something my colleague said. We will continue to make health transfers to the provinces and territories. That is what we have always done and that is what we will continue to do. That is how Canada's health care system works. We procured all of the vaccines, we bought the tools and equipment required to administer these vaccines…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I feel quite strongly about this. I was the parliamentary secretary for international trade and worked first-hand on this issue. Canada was a leader at the WTO when we were discussing the TRIPS waiver. Many countries in the WTO did not want to have that discussion. We were actually a convening power to bring everybody to the table. Many other issues are causing countries around the wo…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the sentiment from which the question comes, but, very respectfully, I would point out that three months ago we had never heard of omicron. Therefore, to ask what our plan is with respect to vaccine mandates for federal workers over a period of the next three years is fooling ourselves into thinking we can plan three years in advance. What the government is doing, and I b…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, what I support is everybody in this world getting vaccinated. How we get there is very complex. It involves working with pharmaceutical companies. It involves educating populations as to the importance of vaccines. It also involves ensuring that the manufacturing capacity of these developing countries is going to produce vaccines that are safe for our populations. I fully support the …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we came forward with Bill C-2 in response to what we heard on the ground. I have been speaking to businesses and workers. The tourism industry needs the support that is found in Bill C-2. I have been speaking to caregivers, as I am sure others in the House have, and they need the supports that are also found in Bill C-2. We are also extending sick leave benefits through this bill. I d…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Brantford—Brant, congratulate him on his election and welcome him to the House of Commons. I welcome this discussion, to be quite frank. I feel that the issue the member is raising is one of the most important issues facing this country and our government. I would like to assure him that it is absolutely top of mind in the work we are doing. In fac…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious that I answered that question already, but to keep the debate going, maybe I can share a few important facts. Right now, Canada is already at 106% of pre-pandemic employment levels. At 5.4% in the last quarter, our economic growth leads the G7, and our perfect AAA credit rating was recently renewed. I can understand my colleague raising concerns about inflation, b…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this year, like every year, I will be at this afternoon's vigil, surrounded by my grieving community. Thirty-two years ago to the day, 14 female students at Montreal's École Polytechnique lost their lives. I want to pay tribute to those 14 brilliant young women whose whole lives lay ahead of them and to the survivors, such as Nathalie Provost, who was shot that evening and who works w…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our economic recovery is going well thanks to our high vaccination rate and the support measures put in place by our government. I am thinking of the Canada emergency wage subsidy, the Canada emergency business account, and many more. We are seeing the effects of that today with very robust economic growth in the third quarter. Would the Prime Minister like to enlighten members of the…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a petition today signed by members of my community in Outremont and Mile End. The petitioners are calling on the government to act more quickly and decisively to reduce our emissions and make the just and green transition we all want. I am extremely honoured to be presenting this petition on behalf of For Our Kids. These are grandparents and parents who are asking the …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, our government laid out measures in order to ensure a strong economic recovery. We also laid out steps in order to keep Canadians safe; safe from COVID-19, but also safe from the scourge of gun violence that has been attacking our cities. We have committed to building on the assault weapons ban, on instituting a mandatory buyback and on cracking down on …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-2, an act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. This bill will implement some significant support measures, including measures for the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic and for the workers and small businesses that have really been struggling, for example those in the tourism and hospitality sectors. There is no denying t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to be very clear. Inflation is a very real concern and Canadians are feeling its impacts, absolutely. However, as experts have pointed out, inflation is a global phenomenon driven by rising energy prices, a global economic rebound, supply chain constraints and many other factors. Inflation is unfortunately high almost everywhere at the moment. Yes, it is 4.7% here in Ca…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his work during the course of the last 20 or so months for small businesses. We did indeed have that conversation. I believe it was in February 2021. Absolutely, we have increased the number of businesses that we are including in our programs. Of course, as the member opposite knows, it is important that we make sure that public money goes to bus…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, let me clarify if I was not clear in my speech that our theatres, our festivals and arts and culture are included in Bill C‑2. That is very important, and I am proud that the tourism sector includes the arts and culture sector in the bill that we are debating today. As my colleague heard last week, the Minister of Finance announced that the government was going to table a bill for s…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, since I have little time left, I will be brief. I believe my colleague is talking about the importance of supporting seniors, which is something we have been working on very diligently since day one. We have increased direct payments to seniors over the course of the pandemic. We are going to continue to increase, by 10%, GIS payments, and we will always be there to support our seni…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. From what I understand, he is working very closely with the Minister of Canadian Heritage on this program to help artists and self-employed workers in the cultural sector, and I thank him for that as well. There was one thing that bothered me. The member said that Bill C‑2 would help businesses that have been hit hard, including those in the arts…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. I believe that he is asking a very important issue about the functioning of our hybrid system. Of course, in our last mandate, we were all in virtual mode. Personally, I hope that there will be more than 300 members, even 338, in the House. However, I would like to make one thing clear. If someone cannot be in the House because they have symptoms or were in conta…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, this is the first time that I have had the opportunity to stand in the House in this new Parliament. I will therefore take a minute to thank the voters of Outremont, Côte-des-Neiges and Mile-End for their renewed trust. My constituents sent me here with a clear message. They want to see progress in the fight against climate change, and they hope that the housing crisis will be resolve…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, in fact, what I am arguing is that I would like to ensure that all 338 members can work all of the time. If, when I go grocery shopping, as the member pointed out, with others who are perhaps not vaccinated, and my COVID alert app tells me I have been in contact with COVID, I should be allowed to vote. However, without passing the motion that is currently before this chamber, that is …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have found common ground with my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie. I commend the Bloc's proposal to perhaps find more resources for the interpreters to ensure that everyone can understand and hear each other in both official languages.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, small neighbourhood businesses across the country are reopening, and the federal government is here to support them, as it has been from the first day of the pandemic. After working with the Minister of Small Business for several months, I was present for the announcement of our national shop local program this morning. The federal government is working with chambers of commerce acros…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let me just repeat, if the member is not aware, that Canada has actually been playing a leadership role since the very beginning of this pandemic, whether at the World Trade Organization or elsewhere, to ensure that we keep our supply chains open, that no country turns inward and that we keep our rules-based international trading system intact. We will continue to advocate for free tr…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and in accordance with the requirements for greater transparency set out in the updated policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, it gives me great pleasure to inform the House of Commons that the government plans to begin negotiations toward a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Canada and Indonesia. The Government of Canada pl…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, the good weather is here, and Montreal is coming out of lockdown. Our patios and shopping streets are bustling. After these long and difficult months, it feels so good to be able to get together and celebrate life. Nothing says summer in Montreal like festivals. With the MURAL Festival, the Festival des musiciens du monde, the MAPP Festival, the Montreal St-Ambroise Fringe Festival,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I think there was a technical problem earlier when I gave my member's statement. I am wondering if I could get the unanimous consent of the House to give my statement again.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the good weather is here and Montreal is coming out of lockdown. Our patios and shopping streets are bustling. After these long and difficult months, it feels so good to be able to get together and celebrate life. Nothing says summer in Montreal like festivals. With the MURAL Festival, the Festival des musiciens du monde, the MAPP Festival, the Fringe Festival, the Festival internatio…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. These American duties are completely unjustified and, quite frankly, counterproductive since they hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the border. The minister has raised this with President Biden directly and with Ambassador Tai, and our government continues to press for a negotiated settlement, because a negotiated settlement is in the best interests of both…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (a) to (d), the “2018 Export Development Canada Legislative Review” report was tabled in Parliament on June 20, 2019. The report has not yet been reviewed by a parliamentary committee. However, Export Development Canada, EDC, and the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade have taken measures that address the key findings of the report…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. These tariffs are absolutely unjustified and harm workers in both countries. The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade raised this issue directly with President Biden and Ambassador Tai. Our government continues to push for the negotiation of a voluntary agreement. We will defend our forestry industry at any costs including, if necessary…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to report to this House that yesterday an advisory was sent to our financial institutions. We have found a solution for those new businesses that are having difficulty accessing the CEBA loan program, whether it is the $40,000 initially or the top-up of $20,000 that we introduced in September. I would also like to add that we are working on a number of other initia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, as the member opposite knows, it is the provinces and territories that are responsible for imposing local restrictions that may be affecting our small businesses. What the member opposite should also know is that this federal government has been there since the very beginning in order to support all of our small businesses and all of our entrepreneurs right across the country. We ha…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. As all members of the House know, the federal government has been there from the start of the pandemic. The priority has always been to support our small businesses and workers. We know that SMEs continue to have difficulty making ends meet because of the pandemic. To date, close to 900,000 businesses have been supported by the Cana…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I absolutely hear my colleague. I hear our entrepreneurs. This is a priority for me and our government, and I will continue to work with both the Minister of Small Business and Export Promotion and the Minister of Finance to ensure that we find a solution to this issue as quickly as possible. No, we will not wait for further waves. I hope there will not be any further waves. I hope th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, one of the little-known success stories over the course of the pandemic has been Canada's leadership on the international stage in ensuring that our supply chains remain open and that countries do not turn inward and adopt protectionist policies. I wonder if the minister could elaborate a bit on the important work that Canada has done at the World Trade Organization, including but not…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, I would like to ask the minister for a little more information on something she mentioned in her earlier remarks. I understand the minister was able to meet with her CUSMA counterparts. For the benefit of all members in the House, I am not sure if everybody realizes that one in six jobs in Canada is supported by exports to either Mexico or the United States. I am hoping the minister c…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, I was very pleased and quite proud when I saw Kearney's Foreign Direct Investment Confidence Index of this year. In 2021, Canada rose to second place, up from fourth place in 2015. Obviously there is a robust foreign direct investment strategy that our government and our minister, in her leadership, was able to implement. I wonder if the minister would like to comment on that aspect a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, I understand there is a ruling of the House that a cap is permitted as long as it is removed before a member takes the opportunity to speak. Therefore, I will remove my cap, but I understand the Montreal Canadiens won the series just a few moments ago. I would like to thank my hon. colleague, the parliamentary secretary, for raising the issue of supporting indigenous entrepreneurs. I …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, the Minister of Small Business just a few moments ago, in answer to another colleague's question, mentioned that Canada was a trading nation, and that is so true. Nearly two-thirds of our economy and millions upon millions of Canadian jobs depend on international trade and investment. That is one of the reasons why Canada in fact took a leadership role on the international stage to en…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, our green economic recovery requires a lot more than 30 seconds to discuss. However, the most recent climate summit with our counterparts in the Biden administration was extremely successful. We are on track for a very strong, robust economic recovery that will be based on green technologies and ensure that we fight climate change.
Read full speech →