Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Statistics Canada shared some good news: Inflation is down again here in Canada. Our government is working to help Canadians struggling to make ends meet. In fact, here in the House, we introduced a bill that parliamentarians are studying and that will stabilize grocery prices across Canada. The Conservatives are playing political games with measures that will help Canadian…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, what Montrealers do not understand is why the Conservatives are delaying the implementation of measures that will help build more apartments and houses across the country. We have a bill and the Conservatives, even those who stated publicly that they would vote in favour of this measure, do not want to move forward. We are behind schedule and we cannot do our job because the Conservat…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my friend and colleague, the hon. member for Winnipeg North. We learned just this morning from Statistics Canada that inflation fell to 3.8% in this country. That is well below market expectations and good news for Canadians as our economy continues to stabilize. We know that many Canadians are still having trouble making ends meet. Our government unders…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the members opposite raising important issues local to their own communities. I have to say that I am hearing very similar things in my community. I know that the banks are working very hard to find solutions for their customers. The news this morning that inflation is falling is certainly welcomed by our government not only in that we need to stabilize inflatio…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, of course, we are working tirelessly to respond to the housing crisis. In fact, we were the first to acknowledge that there actually was a crisis. We put money on the table. Yes, negotiations with Quebec took some time. I am glad we were able to reach an agreement, as my colleague mentioned. We signed an agreement with Quebec to transfer funds. The money is there. We expect it to be u…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate the questions from my hon. colleague. They help elucidate all of us in the House as to the situation in her community. I know that in the last budget, many of us worked very hard to ensure that we had the right strategy, not just the money, but the right strategy, to address indigenous and northern housing. That was found in budget 2023. I look forward to working w…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am always happy to work for the middle class. We are always happy as a government to continue supporting the middle class. The Conservatives, on two occasions, voted against a tax break for the middle class, and now they pretend to care about the middle class. I am confused. We have legislation on the floor of this House that would stabilize grocery prices and would help build more …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would remind my colleague opposite that Canada continues to have the lowest deficit among all G7 countries. I would also advise her, in case she missed the news this morning, that Statistics Canada announced inflation has come down in Canada. That is because our plan is working. However, we know that Canadians still need support, which is why, before this House at this very moment, …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the questions coming from the Conservatives, but I wonder if they are keeping up with the announcements made by our government. About an hour ago, we announced new measures that will help reduce costly banking fees, which Canadians have told us are a very real irritant for them. This is real support for Canadians. We are going to enhance low-cost and no-cost chequing acco…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I represent a riding in Montreal. Having spoken to Montrealers, I can say that they are afraid the Conservatives will set us back. We can expect cuts from the Conservatives, cuts in pensions for our seniors, cuts for families with young children. They will certainly set us back—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to respond to my colleague because I know for a fact that Montrealers are afraid that the Conservatives will set us back, because the Conservatives are going to cut pensions for our seniors and subsidies for families with children. They will certainly set us back on the environment and the fight against climate change. I am surprised to hear a Conservative colleague talk …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my Conservative colleague, so I would like to correct him. Statistics Canada confirmed today that inflation in Canada has dropped. With regard to his questions, I would also like to mention that our government will, of course, update the House on our revenues in this fall's economic statement. That is coming soon, as members know. My colleague will, …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old from Montreal. His mother told RDI that her son had called, over video, at about 11:15 p.m., Quebec time. He said, “Mommy, we're in the middle of a terrorist attack.” His father added, “We witnessed our son's murder.” Young Alexandre took refuge in a shelter with about 30 other people. According to reports, survivors who were wi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that Hamas has been keeping the Palestinian people hostage. I agree that the Hamas terrorists must be stopped and destroyed. I am not here to speculate on how we do that. I am certainly open to suggestions. However, as I said in my speech, and if my colleague was listening, this is a conflict halfway around the world. I am not sure that, right at this moment,…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have worked with my colleague on several occasions toward a common cause. He is touching upon a very important point, which is that October 7 and the horrific attack by Hamas mark the day when the most Jews were killed since the Shoah and the Second World War. That has served to retraumatize survivors of the Holocaust, and all Jewish people, here in Canada and around the world. I th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that is a subject I care very deeply about, and I would like to just make absolutely clear that acts of hatred, whether Islamophobic or anti-Semitic, have no place in this country. We must all work together in order to bring people together and ensure the safety of all Canadians.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech. He touched on a few points that I also feel very strongly about. I believe the member mentioned the importance of our government taking action in order to help Canadians feel safe in their communities, and I could not agree with him more. As I mentioned, that is a priority, of course, of our government. However, does he not feel that this should be…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, if the Conservative member wants to see grocery prices lowered, I hope that she asks her leader why it is that the Conservatives continue to delay the legislation that is before the House. Just this morning, I was so pleased to see the member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon say that he supports Bill C-56. I wonder if other Conservatives can convince their leader to support this bill…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there are important measures that can be immediately implemented to help Canadians, but the problem is that, we hear from Conservatives very sincere concerns in question period, but when it comes time to vote and debate legislation, we see procedural delay tactics and Conservatives voting against the interests of Canadians. I would urge everybody in the House to act to support Canadia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying earlier, we have presented tangible measures in the House. I do not understand how the Conservatives can claim to be sincere in their concern for Canadians while using procedural tactics to prevent us from helping Canadians. I just cannot understand it. If the Conservatives want to be there, then they should pull up their socks, take action and help us help Canadians.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, perhaps the Conservatives can explain in debate what it is about cutting GST on the construction of new homes that they disagree with. What is it about strengthening competition laws to stabilize grocery prices here in Canada that they disagree with? I ask because I have not heard a single argument in debate that has convinced any Canadian in this country that we should not proceed wi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the government is focused on lowering grocery prices, and we have legislation on the table that would do that. However, what are the Conservatives focused on? In Alberta, they are trying to pull out of the Canada pension plan. Canadians who have contributed for their whole lives to the CPP, seniors who have contributed for their whole lives to their pensions, are having the rug pulled…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there are a number of measures that we have put on the table that will stabilize grocery prices and that will build more homes in this country. Consistently, what we have seen from the Conservatives are delay tactics. Thankfully, this morning, we had a Conservative member stand up in the House and say that he was supportive of the government's legislation and that he would be voting f…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to let the Bloc Québécois respond. I want to say that 35 Liberal MPs are from Quebec, and we fought, with our minister from Shawinigan and our Prime Minister, to ensure that foreign investments come to Canada. We announced today that a new company, Northvolt, is going to set up shop in Saint‑Boniface, Quebec. That means thousands of jobs are being created in Quebec th…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, obviously I hit a nerve with the Conservatives, because when I spoke to a member of my constituency, when I spoke to this mother, she was concerned about how much the Conservatives' plan would cost her. She is relying on the Canada child benefit, which continues to go up because it is indexed to inflation. She is relying on the supports of our government. She is relying on the constru…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as my colleague from the finance committee well knows, all of the rating agencies have reconfirmed our AAA credit rating. What I would like to address is the fact that the Conservative members are oddly silent when it comes to investments that our government has made in order to attract companies like Northvolt, which just announced today that it is coming to Canada. It could have gon…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I spoke with a mother in my riding who is wondering how much a Conservative government would cost her. Our government has been supporting families through this difficult time—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, what I heard from Canadians, what every member of our government heard from Canadians, is that they want lower rent and lower grocery and food prices. Today we introduced legislation that will help do just that. The affordable housing and groceries act will remove the GST from the construction of rental housing in order to build more homes in this country faster. It also strengthens C…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I know why the Conservatives are having a hard time connecting with Quebeckers. Quebeckers simply do not buy their policy of fiscal restraint. The Conservatives want to cut employment insurance, cut seniors' pensions and cut child care subsidies. We sent $6 billion to the Quebec government for child care, and the Conservatives want to cut that too.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague opposite that Canadians are hurting, and that is exactly why I do not understand why the Conservatives do not want to help Canadians. The legislation that we tabled today will help build more homes for Canadians right across the country, and that will lower rents and mortgages for all Canadians. The legislation that we tabled today will also strengthen Canada…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I hope this feigned compassion on behalf of the Conservatives is not fooling Canadians, because on two previous occasions, the Conservatives voted against lowering taxes for the middle class in this country. We have been criss-crossing the country over the course of the summer. Not a single Canadian has told us they would like us to cut our programs. Canadians are relying on the suppo…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, once again, just a few weeks ago, rating agencies confirmed Canada's AAA credit rating. That is because what we are doing is spending in order to support Canadians, but doing so in a responsible way. We have just announced the next step in our plan to build more homes faster. What we will do is create more apartment buildings for more Canadian families right across the country. The re…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, we are seeing an increase in hate speech against the LGBTQ community in Canada. This is happening in a global context that has authoritarian regimes targeting LGBTQ communities with cruel and draconian laws. We are fortunate to have many organizations in Canada that are standing up to fight hate and discrimination. I would especially like to highlight the work of the Centre de solidar…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance has instructed the department to conduct a comprehensive review of Canada's involvement, and our government has halted all government-led activity at the bank.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his question. The forest fires raging in Quebec right now are certainly having an impact on the national caribou population, which is already in decline. This situation makes it all the more urgent to take action. Just yesterday, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change set out a timetable for the plans to protect Quebec's caribou.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, as the member opposite knows, the Government of Canada has halted all government-led activity at the bank, and the Minister of Finance has instructed the Department of Finance to lead an immediate review of Canada's involvement. The Canadian government is currently discussing this issue with allies and partners that are also members of the bank.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, as I was saying, the Government of Canada has effectively halted all government-led activity at the bank. The Minister of Finance has instructed the Department of Finance to lead a review of Canada's involvement. The Canadian government is also discussing this issue with our allies and partners who are members of the bank.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the development of this funding is still under way by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and, as such, funds have not yet been distributed to recipients. The development of the fund is being informed by engagements, ongoing since April 2022, involving indigenous tourism partners. These engagements are providing information on key challenges and opportunities facing in…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague referred to what happened yesterday evening. While those difficult conversations were happening at the supper table, the Conservative leader was in the House, where I heard him rambling on and on for four hours. He talked about King Henry VIII and the difference between copper coins, silver coins and IPads, but I did not hear him talk about an economic plan for Canad…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about balance. We have struck a balance between fiscal responsibility and compassion. What the Conservatives are proposing is austerity and cuts. Our government is offering a new grocery rebate. Our government is offering subsidies for dental care. Our government is proposing a low-income workers benefit in Canada to support and help workers. The Conservatives are just not…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the reality is that families in Quebec are going to receive $1,400 with the doubling of the GST tax credit. Unfortunately, with the Conservatives' austerity plan, those families would not get that money. I would also like to point out that inflation in Canada peaked at 8.1% and has now fallen to 4.4%. Yesterday, the Bank of Canada said that it expected inflation to drop to 3% this sum…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, at a time when wildfires are raging across Quebec and Canada, the Conservatives' priority is to filibuster a bill for implementing the measures set out in our budget. Clearly, the Conservative's plan centres on austerity. We have made it very clear that our government will never give up our fight against climate change. We will never abandon the environment. We are here for future gen…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am extremely pleased to participate in this evening's debate on Bill C‑47, which implements our government's 2023 budget. The budget sets out a host of measures for supporting Canadians and growing the Canadian economy of the future. That is our government's priority. This week, the Conservative leader let us know what his priority is. On Monday, he said his priority is to use all…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I believe, if I understood it correctly, he is talking about getting serious. I could not agree more. It is time to get serious. The member pretends that he does not know who is to blame for these wildfires. I will tell him. It is climate change. Climate change is to blame for these wildfires. What we have done is put forward a concrete plan…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from the Bloc Québécois. Our government is proposing to give an organization the mandate to create the clean economy of tomorrow. This mandate will have very clear instructions attached. We are in government and we have the power to do it. We will do this not only in Quebec, but across Canada. This will benefit all Quebeckers.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, indeed, here in this House we can also smell the smoke from the wildfires. It comes right into this chamber. I hear my colleague when he says he can smell it where he is in northern Ontario. I, too, found it deplorable that not a single Conservative participated in the emergency debate on wildfires. Communities right across the country are being evacuated. Seven thousand Quebeckers …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I do agree that this is a not a partisan issue and I regret very much that it has become one in the House. There was a time when Brian Mulroney, a friend of mine, was a leader, the then-prime minister of Canada, a Conservative prime minister. He brought forward important life-changing reforms in order to make our planet greener, in order to fight climate change. The Conservatives ha…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague opposite. I know him to be a learned member of the House. The simple fact is that a majority of Conservative Party members voted against climate action in the House. We know that the global environment has changed. There are challenges at the moment, but what the Conservatives are proposing are simply cuts. What the Conservatives are proposing are austerity…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I find it ironic that the Conservatives are talking about answering questions. Several times, we have asked the Conservatives what they are proposing by way of economic policy or what they are proposing by way of climate policy, and the answer has been silence. It has been silence on the other side. They have no plan for the economy. They have no plan for our planet. They have no pl…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I also deplore what is happening in the House. I would have liked to have a debate on the issues, including how we could help our seniors. We have already done a lot to support our seniors. We have increased old age security. There are other policies we could put in place, but we spend our time dealing with the Conservatives' partisan games, which is unfortunate.
Read full speech →