Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, as Remembrance Day approaches, it is essential to acknowledge the invaluable role that our Royal Canadian Legion branches play in supporting veterans. Across the country, members of the Royal Canadian Legion look after the well being of those who have served our country with courage and dedication. In my riding of Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation, regions such as Lachute, Brownsburg‑Chatha…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government has kept its word. The Minister of Justice tabled Bill C‑14 to strengthen bail and sentencing provisions. This bill will ensure that no sex offender will be able to serve their sentence at home. Bill C‑14, which was developed in collaboration with the provinces, territories and law enforcement, puts victims at the heart of our justice system. Can the Minister of Justice…
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Mr. Speaker, today on National Seniors Day, we pay tribute to the invaluable contribution of the seniors who shaped our country. That said, many of them are wondering if they can continue to age with dignity in their community. Can the secretary of state tell us what the government is doing to ensure that seniors have the right to affordable housing?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate two of our constituents from Montebello who are true baking artisans: Sabrina Sigouin, owner of La Belle Pâtissière, and Sandra Major, owner of Le Sucre au Four. Together, they were crowned overall winners at the International Baking Industry Exposition, or IBIE, in Las Vegas. The competition was held from September 13 to 17. IBIE is the grain-based food i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my colleague to brush up on his history. It was decisions made in 2009 that led to a generational break in family reunification. It was written into the law. I cannot make this stuff up. That was when the value placed on family reunification and Canadian citizenship began to be reduced. Today, a court ruling is forcing us to introduce a bill to comply with the Canadi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-3 and the transformative power of Canadian citizenship. Fundamentally, this bill is about people from real families, as well as their history, their sacrifices and their deep and lasting ties with Canada, regardless of where their careers or lives take them. In my role as an MP since 2015, I have had the opportunity to meet many families i…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. Family reunification is an important value for Canadians, and it is part of the Liberal DNA. One of the primary reasons I entered politics in 2015 is that we are a welcoming country. Canada is known for being inclusive, and we are there for all communities. Personally, I had the good fortune to live surrounded by family, an entirely Quebec Canadian famil…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to have the opportunity to answer my colleague's question. We are talking about family reunification, about a government that cares deeply about helping families reunite. That being said, I would like my colleague to answer a specific question. How many families have not been able to be together since 2009, when the Harper government made changes to the family class ru…
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Mr. Speaker, agriculture is top of mind for many people in Canada. We are facing increasing global instability, including unfair tariffs imposed by China on Canadian agricultural products such as pork, canola and seafood. The Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues met with Premier Moe and other key industry players this week in Ottawa. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agricult…
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Mr. Speaker, as Canada implements major infrastructure and clean energy projects, the vocational instructor in me is well aware that skilled workers will be essential. Can the minister tell us about the measures being taken to support workforce mobility and training?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I have the immense honour of acknowledging the exceptional contribution of an artist back home, watercolourist Jean‑Yves Guindon. He is an artist from Saint‑André‑Avellin in my riding, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation. With a more than 40-year career and 5,000 paintings to his credit, Mr. Guindon is an emblematic figure of Quebec art. From his unique perspective he has captured the beauty,…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his interest in improving Service Canada. Service Canada is currently working with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to assess every opportunity for expanding the services that are currently available. Locations are selected based on a number of criteria, including access, the demand for passports and demographics. We are always looking for ways to …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate the numbers my colleague just mentioned. Nearly 98% of Canadians have access. In addition, according to the figures from his riding, 92% of passports can be delivered in his riding within 20 business days. Now, I would still urge everyone to plan ahead. Travel plans must be made beforehand, and passports should be applied for 20 days in advance in order to en…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers in my riding who help those in need. I also thank the Deputy Prime Minister for making this important gesture and giving us a GST holiday, a measure the Conservatives voted against. I invite my colleague opposite to meet with his constituents over the holidays and tell them that his party voted against the GST relief me…
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and friend for his speech. I serve with him on the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. I also want to thank him for his introductory course on how we can build a Canadian economy that revolves around small businesses. I like how he said that his selection criteria were based on permanent or long-term measures, rather than…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, you took the time to explain the rules before the first vote to ensure that there was no movement in the House. I would like the video footage to be checked, because the Leader of the Opposition stood up during the first vote, left his seat and sat down again before the vote was finished.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, today we commemorate the tragedy that took place at École Polytechnique on December 6, 1989. Thirty-five years ago, 14 women were brutally murdered simply because they were women. This femicide left a lasting mark on our society and impresses upon us the importance of fighting violence against women and hate speech. We honour the memory of the victims, and we support their families …
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Madam Speaker, affordability for our families and for our kids is top of mind for everyone. We have put measures in place, such as breakfast programs for kids and a GST break. The Conservatives had a great opportunity to vote with us. They had a great opportunity to tell families in need this holiday season that, yes, the Conservatives have their backs. They did exactly the opposite. They voted ag…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Regarding the situation my colleague just reported, I would like it if the cameras could be checked to ensure that, if photos or videos were taken, they will be deleted from any devices belonging to the House of Commons. We know that filming or taking photos in the House is not permitted. Is it possible to ensure that photos or videos will be deleted?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this is the time of year when we are all getting ready to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. We are planning our holiday meals with family and buying gifts for children, relatives and friends. Big box retailers are having sales on a wide range of items, but we must not forget the small businesses, artisans and makers in our communities. Shopping local means investing in our economy t…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have full confidence in our Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The minister is working to protect national security. He is working with the Prime Minister's Office and with the best experts in Canada. The Minister of Immigration is supported by various services to keep Canadians as safe as possible. We have strengthened our borders. We have invested in technology. We…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House and answer my colleague's questions. We heard my colleague make personal attacks against a minister he disagrees with about the immigration system, but he also tried to stoke Canadians' fears over immigration. However, I want to say how important it is to our government and to the department that these matters be discussed at length and publicly. We …
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Madam Speaker, the government is aware that this labour action will have a major and immediate impact on millions of people. No one wants this strike. Canada's small businesses and charitable organizations rely on Canada Post during the holidays. We understand in particular that the most significant impact will be felt in remote regions. We want just one thing. We encourage both parties to continu…
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Madam Speaker, one thing the Bloc Québécois cannot be faulted for is inconsistency. Yesterday, the Bloc Québécois voted against a measure to cut the GST. I would remind my colleague opposite that Bloc Québécois members also voted against lowering the retirement age from 67 to 65. They voted against the guaranteed income supplement for seniors. They voted against the 10% increase for seniors aged 7…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, I had the pleasure of celebrating not one but two 90th anniversaries in my riding. The Lions Clubs of Lachute and Buckingham have both reached this important milestone in their history. The Buckingham Lions Club was founded on December 4, 1934, followed by the Lachute Lions Club a few days later, on December 11, 1934. Lions Clubs are charitable organizations that help the less fortu…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, I would invite my colleague to look her constituents in the eye and tell them where the Bloc Québécois was when our government lowered the age of retirement eligibility for seniors from 67 to 65. We set up a dental care program for Canadians for which over 972,000 Quebeckers are eligible. People in her riding are benefiting from that. When she is out and about in her riding at Chris…
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Mr. Speaker, I would invite the Bloc Québécois members to go see their constituents and look them in the eye. Every time they tell them that they support a pension increase for seniors between 65 and 74, they should have the guts to admit that they also voted against every measure proposed for Quebec seniors. Bloc members did not want a GIS increase. They did not want a dental plan. They did not w…
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Mr. Speaker, where was the Bloc Québécois when we increased the OAS for seniors aged 75 and over? The Bloc voted against it. Where was the Bloc Québécois when we brought in a 10% increase to the GIS, a benefit for the most vulnerable and needy seniors? Where was the Bloc Québécois when we voted in favour of the Canadian dental care plan? The Bloc voted against it. The Bloc Québécois has consistent…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, for the past 11 years, the Fairmont Château Montebello has organized a major Christmas tree-decorating celebration known as Trees of Hope. The majestic Château is filled with trees sponsored and decorated by generous local businesses, and all the money raised is donated to the Petite-Nation food bank. I had the pleasure of decorating my Tree of Hope this year with my daughters Jade an…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I recently learned that the folk music group Le Diable à cinq has been selected to represent Canada at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. This group is well known in Quebec and is originally from Ripon, which is in my riding. This is one of the most prestigious events in the world, and it will be held in May 2025. What an honour. The group will be part of the National Arts Centre delega…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, on the eve of Remembrance Day, I suggest that we pay tribute to the veterans who served our country, the women and men who sacrificed their lives in the name of freedom to ensure our future and that of our children. We must never forget their sacrifices and the terrible consequences of war. Let us also pay tribute to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces. On Remembrance Day, we h…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my colleague must know that we are in the middle of a debate and that there will be a vote at the end. That is how it works. Let me just explain to her how the House of Commons works. In the House of Commons, a member proposes an idea, we debate it, and then at the end, we vote. My colleagues will see at the end of the debate how we are going to vote. I will, however, say that we ha…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, in politics it is easy to say we can move $3 billion from one line item to another. I would like to ask my colleague if we should cut $3 billion from the dental care plan, which we just launched and is working very well, and redirect that money to seniors. Should we take $3 billion from somewhere else, like the breakfast program we want to set up so that young Canadians start their …
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Madam Speaker, there is no question of dividing our seniors up. We know how important they are. I have had my Quebec FADOQ membership card since I turned 50. I have been in at least four clubs since then. I am only 58 now, and I am considered a senior. Who decides who gets a senior's card? Some people are seniors at 65 years old. People in Quebec are seniors at 60 years old. My colleague was in th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we have often heard Bloc members say that they vote for whatever is good for Quebec. Why, then, did the Bloc Québécois vote against changing the program's age of eligibility from 67 to 65? This is on top of the GIS increase. We increased the GIS at the very start of our term. Today, we are talking about increasing the pensions of the most vulnerable seniors, those aged 75 and over. Th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, our government's approach to seniors has been very thoughtful. In my riding, Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation, we are very involved in projects to help seniors, whether with respect to old age security, lowering the age of eligibility from 67 to 65 or, now, the dental care program. We have also brought in the New Horizons for Seniors program. In Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation, we have been th…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to congratulate Simon Henneuse, a 24-year-old young man with autism spectrum disorder. Simon was hired through the Canada summer jobs program by Initiatives Biodiversité, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of endangered species across the Laurentian region. Simon recently helped rescue a painted turtle hit by a vehicle o…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to my sister, Sylvie, who left us far too young at the age of 67. She was a caring woman who loved her family. She dedicated 37 years of her life to the Library of Parliament. She loved her husband, Frank, deeply, she was a trusted confidante to her daughter, Giovanna, and she loved her granddaughter, Giada, unconditionally. Sylvie was my number one supporter. She …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to seek the unanimous consent of the House to change my vote on C‑377. I am voting against the bill.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle. I am pleased and grateful to have a chance to speak today, and I would like to take this opportunity to talk about our government's commitment to Quebec. I am a proud MP from Quebec who represents a predominantly francophone rural region. I am an ardent defender of the French language, and I would like to point ou…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that this program was introduced by the Liberal government. Today, over two million people are already enrolled in this program; it is already making a difference in my riding. Over 9,500 oral care providers and specialists are already registered, with more to come this week and next. The program is working, and it is working well for the entire p…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to answer this question. Whether the Bloc Québécois likes it or not, investments in Quebec's aerospace sector are good news. All the grocery CEOs and business leaders I have spoken with who are setting up shop in Quebec ridings, whether in Mirabel, Laurentides—Labelle or my colleague's riding, will benefit from significant economic spinoffs. Every business, every i…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for making the notable effort of asking his question in French. When we talk about the global economy, we are talking about having been through a pandemic, about war, about a difficult economy in terms of food, about many side effects, and about interest rates that have gone up. The current government was there to help people during the pandemic. I…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I made the wrong choice during the first vote. I therefore seek the unanimous consent of the House to have my vote recorded as a “nay”. An agreement was reached with the whips.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would ask that the first division be amended. I made the wrong choice. I am requesting the unanimous consent of the House to vote nay.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, everyone knows how passionate I am about music and singing, which is why I was delighted to learn that Gabriel Fredette, a young firefighter from Lachute, in my riding, is one of the talented young artists selected to participate in the television show La Voix. He was even lucky enough to see all four coaches turn around and ask him to join their respective teams. In the end, he cho…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague opposite for his speech and for his commitment to defending French, science and technology. We sat together on the same committee and found that virtually nothing prevents researchers from publishing in their mother tongue or in French. I would like my colleague to explain why some researchers, whether French-speaking or bilingual, may choose to publish their work…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is critical that we recognize the importance of supporting our valued dairy farmers. This is not just about the economy; it is also about preserving our cultural heritage and our nation's food security. Their hard work not only ensures the availability of a quality product, but also helps maintain our traditions and our identity. In this era of globalization and rapid change, it is…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General’s report on Benefits Delivery Modernization, or BDM, states that “Employment and Social Development Canada, since 2017, encountered numerous obstacles and delays in its implementation of the programme and had to make difficult choices about the sequence of key steps.” BDM is a complex, large scale, multi-year undertaking, and the programme plan continues to be refi…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), as a result of the strategic assessment conducted by Canada’s chief information officer, CIO, in June 2022, Employment and Social Development Canada, ESDC, reviewed the remaining approved scope of the benefits delivery modernization program, BDM, and proposed moving several planned BDM deliverables to organizations outside of BDM, such as digital identity serv…
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