Parliamentary Speeches
512 speeches by Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay — Page 1 of 11
Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank him for correcting me, just as I corrected him earlier. That is a very fair thing to do. I really enjoy working with him too. I would like to throw the ball back to him along with the compliment. I gave incorrect information earlier, and I apologize. It was June 16, not June 13. The member for Châteauguay—Les Jardins-de-Napierville had voted in favour. Now, to get back to the …
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Mr. Speaker, as far as I am concerned, we are resuming debate and I an resuming my speech, because I was barely able to begin it the last time. The two minutes I had was barely enough time to say good evening. I will pick up where I left off. Housing is an issue that is—
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Is four years too long? It depends on the project. For some, it is. For example, in the Quebec City region, there is still talk of a third link. The governing party is in the midst of a leadership race. Not all projects are structured in the same way. Not all projects require the same speed or the same level of verification. Not all projects are of the same scope either. A high-speed train that wo…
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Mr. Speaker, that is an easy answer. So far, the only political games and disinformation I have seen have come from the members accusing us of doing everything we can to block high-speed rail, especially when those members are champions of oil subsidies who are now lecturing us about the environment.
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Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to my colleague's speech, just as I have been listening to all of our colleagues' speeches for a while now, but there is something that I do not understand. Our motion is written in three parts. Regarding the apology to the those whose land was expropriated in Mirabel, the Liberals tell us that it has been done and that they agree with it. As for acknowl…
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Thank you Mr. Speaker. Quite often, the questions we get later on come from the people who did not listen. Then they ask us about things that we repeated about 15 times during our speech. Before I continue, I should mention that I will be sharing my time with my esteemed colleague from Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj. Now let us briefly discuss a few points. We know that the proposed ro…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, the member speaking is certainly a member who asks questions. I invite him to listen first and then ask questions. Housing is an issue that is extremely important to me because there is a major housing crisis in my region, like everywhere else. It is hitting us so hard that the city of Saint‑Hyacinthe, which is home to two-thirds of my riding's population, has long had the dubious dis…
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Mr. Speaker, I did not think it was my turn to give a speech. If I had known, I would not have fought to ask a question so quickly. I would have saved a few punches for my speech. In any case, I will be repeating some of what I said. I am pleased to rise in the House now to speak to the motion we are moving on our opposition day today. I will read the text, which has three parts: That the House ca…
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Mr. Speaker, this is what fascinates me. The government has been telling us for a while now that apologies were already given, that it is unacceptable and that it must not be minimized. If true, it would not cost the Liberals much at all to vote for the motion if they think it makes no difference.
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Mr. Speaker, June 13 was the date of the closure debate. We are checking whether the member voted on it. We will give her the answer in a minute. My colleagues can whisper the answer to me. As far as Bill C-5 is concerned, it definitely does not mention Mirabel or the high-speed rail. It does not talk about the projects themselves, but it offers the ability to assume the powers to carry them out. …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, in Davos, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of diversifying trade markets, and rightly so. However, he himself is blocking a trade agreement with Taiwan. Taiwan's representative in Canada has confirmed that all pages of the agreement have been initialled by both parties and that the document is ready and has been printed in three languages. All that is missing is the Prime …
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Mr. Speaker, I think that, as we pursue a more stable geopolitical environment, that is a given. It would help restore ties with the United States. It is a model that has proven its worth. I am not saying that is the only reason. If the model does not work, I would not say that we need to follow it just for the sake of following it. If it works, why not draw inspiration from it? That is what I am …
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Mr. Speaker, I want to say hello to all my colleagues. Please excuse my hoarse voice. I seem to have caught a cold, probably from partying too hard over the holidays. My energy levels are still not back to normal, and neither is my voice. In any case, I am happy to be here. It lifts my spirits. I want to wish everyone a happy new year, although it is getting rather late to say that. Today, we are …
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Mr. Speaker, the bill before us contains a number of items. First, the good news: This time, unlike the last agreement tabled here, the deadline between tabling an agreement and introducing the bill ratifying it in the House was met. That did not happen for the United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP. That bill is currently …
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Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's intervention, and I wholeheartedly agree. However, to be honest, I did not hear any specific questions. I will simply say that I thank him for his work in this area. We are also working together as part of certain interparliamentary associations, some of which specifically focus on the issue of human rights violations in China and on Chinese infl…
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Mr. Speaker, I spoke about it for about 20 minutes already. I do not know what else I could say. Let us move away from the agreement, and I will talk in general terms about what we need. I want to come back to my bill, C‑251. Hopefully, if it does come back to the House, the Conservatives will support it. That would be much appreciated. It would also allow us to regain the trust of the Americans, …
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Mr. Speaker, I honestly have nothing against the agreement and the fact that it includes grains. That is fine, and I am sure it will create opportunities. If the agreement comes into force, I will definitely hold training sessions with farmers, the Quebec farmers' union and local chambers of commerce to explain what they can do. We will help them to ensure that everything goes smoothly. I chose to…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not want to keep giving the same answer to these questions. His colleague just asked the same question. The positive parts are positive. I have no problem saying so. That is all.
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Mr. Speaker, as I said at the outset a few weeks ago, the Bloc Québécois will vote in favour of this bill even though it will oppose investor-state dispute settlement during clause-by-clause consideration, since we have always been against that. My question will not be on the substance of the agreement, which is good for everyone. My colleague and I once served together on the Standing Committee o…
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Mr. Chair, that is absolutely the case. Unfortunately, Ottawa put an end to sales quotas and purchase support measures. Of course, the future lies in the development of the electric auto industry, but it must be done the right way. The battery sector, including processing of critical minerals, would have been the best way forward. That is what should have been done, rather than subsidizing exclusi…
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Mr. Chair, I certainly would not say that the Quebec government has gone too far. However, I would say that Ottawa went too far in putting the brakes on electrification. I gave some examples, such as the rollbacks in terms of incentives. My colleague tells us that he is representing his riding. I am fortunate to represent a riding that includes a city in Quebec with the largest number of green lic…
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Mr. Chair, I want to begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Abitibi—Témiscamingue. This debate is about one of the most emblematic industries for Canada and Ottawa. That does not mean that this industry is not fragile, but it is certainly something that Canada's elite are constantly obsessed with, to the point of forgetting all other industries. They are nowhere to be f…
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Madam Speaker, I want to ask my colleague a question, because her answer provided a nice segue. She just talked about the negotiations that took place under the government of Prime Minister Harper. However, that government also adopted a policy on introducing and tabling agreements and treaties in Parliament. Currently, that policy is not being followed, given that the government introduced the bi…
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Mr. Chair, I ask myself this question. What does my colleague think about the fact that trucks built here were originally duty free when they were sent to the United States, but have not been since October? What does that say about the Prime Minister's negotiating skills, which were supposed to be so extraordinary?
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Mr. Chair, it is costing us dearly. It is costing us a lot to have a government that only cares about Ontario and that backs down on transportation electrification. I think my colleague can speak to that even better than I can. He gave some compelling examples. The government tells a company to go ahead, and then they abandon it. It also costs us when a supposedly brilliant negotiator gets elected…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague opposite a question. Regardless of the substance, we have already said that we are in favour of this agreement, despite certain details that we can examine together in committee. I hope that he will vote with me against some of the more contentious aspects. However, that said, we are in favour of the agreement itself. What does he think about the fac…
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Madam Speaker, I apologize because you must be getting sick of hearing my voice, but I have not received an answer yet. I asked two members on both sides of the House the same question. I will ask it again now. What does my colleague think about the fact that the government did not follow the existing policy, the public policy adopted under the Harper government, if I am not mistaken, that there s…
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Mr. Chair, I would not have wanted to leave my colleague without one last question like this: What does he think of all the money that has been poured into an industry that seems to be an obsession, while so many other sectors that are equivalent in terms of the number of jobs are completely ignored because their only misfortune is that they are in Quebec?
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Mr. Chair, my comments will stray somewhat from what my colleague was talking about. He and I probably disagree on the issue of electric batteries. I see the electrification of transportation as the future of the industry. How does he explain the fact that 90% of federal funds were invested in Ontario, while Quebec was left with crumbs? Quebec has always been at the forefront in this area, while t…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister returns from a mission to Asia, let us not forget that China trades heavily in products made using forced labour, including child labour. Canada's economic diversification must never be achieved through modern-day slavery and by violating human rights. The Bloc Québécois introduced Bill C-251 to block imports from regions suspected of using modern slavery, unless…
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Mr. Speaker, the dispute with Washington is far from over. The Liberals have even gone so far as to apologize on bended knee when we are the ones who are being negatively affected by the tariffs. Since this dispute is far from over, the priority in tomorrow's budget must be to support the people. We made six demands based on the needs of Quebeckers: funding for health care, fair pensions for senio…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his highly enlightening speech. There is something I do not understand. What is causing the growing number of crimes committed by repeat offenders? Something about that perplexes me. Could it be that the causes go deeper than the parole system alone? Should we be looking somewhere else? My colleague is an expert. I would appreciate it if he could enlighten us …
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Madam Speaker, on the same point of order, I would just like to inform you that the Bloc Québécois is going to make a statement, but at a later time.
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, why not simply release the money owed to Quebec and the provinces for housing—we are talking about billions of dollars—with no strings attached, and I want to emphasize the “no strings attached” part, instead of introducing a bill that ultimately aims to issue a mandate for developing a strategy? We would like to know how this bill really changes anything and what purpose it serves, c…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be with you at this critical time as this sitting of the House draws to a close. During these final two minutes in your company, I will be pleased to speak to you and hope that I will not put you to sleep or make you wonder whether this will ever end. Since my time is very limited, I will get straight to the point: The Bloc Québécois is going to vote against this bill.…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that we agree with Bill C-14. Obviously, like everything else, we will study it more thoroughly in committee. My colleague, the Bloc Québécois justice critic, will be taking care of this file. However, certain questions come to mind. Contrary to popular belief, we know that the number of inmates awaiting trial has never been higher. The percentage of …
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Madam Speaker, I will respond in a very practical manner because my actions, our actions, speak for themselves. We have always supported this. We have always been in favour of it. That said, a trade agreement is not a religion. When there is something in an agreement that is not good, then of course, we have a right to reject it. We support the principle, which is even part of the legacy of the so…
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Madam Speaker, I want to start by thanking the Liberal government. A few years from now, the Liberals are going to tell us that there is no guarantee that a new country will honour the agreements it was party to when it left a customs union that had previously negotiated those agreements. By supporting the United Kingdom's bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Liberals are showing us that…
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Madam Speaker, there is so much I would have liked to say about that because, for starters, there is the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine. There are procedures in place for a high level of transparency regarding Quebec's National Assembly. That said, to take things a step further, I think we need a law that provides a place at the negotiating table for Quebec and any provinces that want it, at least with res…
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Madam Speaker, we live in a monarchy, so that comes with certain stipulations. I think that there is no better example of this than what happened in late 2020, when the committee had to study an agreement with the United Kingdom without having received the text of that agreement. I remember it well. We heard from witnesses, representatives from businesses, organizations and institutes, who were ta…
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to work with my colleague at the Standing Committee on International Trade. First, I would like to know what he thinks about the fact that the government violated its own policy on tabling treaties by introducing the bill 15 days after the announcement of the content of the agreement itself, and not 21 days as set out in the policy. Does he not think that this illus…
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to speak to Bill C-13 as the Bloc Québécois critic for international trade. As members know, the bill enables the U.K.'s accession to the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Let me end the suspense and say that we are voting in favour of the principle of this bill. Although it changes a lot for the U.K., it does not change much for us. However, I will …
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Madam Speaker, we are unable to change any agreement, although we may be able to understand its implications. That is the main problem, the issue. Treaties are quite lengthy. Last week, when we were debating Bill C‑228, some members said that it would be hard work. Sorry, but that is our job. International agreements may be complicated and complex, but they have a profound impact on the day-to-day…
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Madam Speaker, I do not understand the question. I have already said that we are in favour of this trade relationship. We like doing business with the United Kingdom. It is our largest partner after the United States, even though it is very far behind and not comparable. We have a number of strong companies in the aerospace industry. It is in our best interest to do business with the U.K. We have …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to know if my colleague agrees with us and with the customs officers' union. We all agree that there is a staffing problem. It is all well and good to say that staffing levels are going to be increased. It is time to do it. I am not minimizing the issue. There is a staffing problem; there is a staff shortage. Does my colleague agree that Canada Border Services Agency offi…
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Madam Speaker, there are fairly significant differences of opinion between the Bloc Québécois and the NDP but, on the issue of workers' rights, I think we can often find common ground. In this particular case, a customs union has commented on the bill, saying that they have been making demands for many years yet nobody is listening to them and they are not being consulted, either on this matter or…
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Mr. Speaker, this is an important issue, especially in these troubled times, these times of crisis, these global hard times. The world is changing in potentially dangerous ways. However, we should not overlook the fact that the global issues of misery, poverty, exploitation and violence have never been completely eradicated at any point in history. Too often, most of the time in fact, they fall th…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Could you please ask members who are not interested in the speech to take their conversations outside?
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-251, An Act to amend the Customs Act and the Customs Tariff (forced labour and child labour). Mr. Speaker, only one shipment from all regions of origin combined has been seized and detained at Canadian customs due to the use of forced labour in the manufacturing of the products it contained. In contrast, the United States has seized millions of U.S. dollars' wor…
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Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise this evening as the Bloc Québécois critic for international trade to speak to Bill C‑228. This bill, which I think is very important, seeks to strengthen transparency and parliamentary oversight around trade agreements. Ottawa's lack of transparency in these matters is downright monarchical. I have been here for six years, and as my colleagues have said, no…
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