Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, as a result of an error in the transmission of information from the House yesterday, I now believe there is unanimous consent among the parties to record my vote, and I will be voting no.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight a major winter event in my riding that takes place every year, the Canadian Ski Marathon, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Held on February 6, 7 and 8, this great tradition brings together thousands of skiers and volunteers from across the country. The Canadian Ski Marathon shows off our landscapes, our northern trails and the spirit of ac…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to offer my condolences to my colleague across the way and to his entire family. An incident like this does not go unnoticed. I was a teacher for at least two decades, and I saw situations deteriorate right before my eyes for certain groups of students. Teachers are still only allowed to speak to parents if the student gives consent. It is extremely diffic…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, as the holiday season approaches, our communities are mobilizing to help those most in need. Food drives organized by big-hearted volunteers remind us of the importance of community and sharing. Every donation, large or small, helps provide food security to disadvantaged families and offers a little comfort to those for whom this time of year can be very difficult. I would like to com…
Read full speech →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 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 →Oral Questions
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…
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…
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 →Oral Questions
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 →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his first speech in the House and on getting elected in the riding of Bourassa. My question is very simple. I represent a rural riding. It is a bit different from the more urban ridings. My colleague focused a lot on AI. How can AI be used in a region like mine or in other rural and remote regions of Canada?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, a throne speech is meant to be broad. The issues it covers serve as our guidelines. There is work to be done. That is why we were elected as members of Parliament. For my part, as a member of Parliament, I am committed to ensuring that housing is built as quickly as possible in my riding and across Quebec. I also want to help my colleagues across Canada make it easier to build housing…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, we have had the opportunity to work with engineers who understand the existing market well. The Quebec municipalities we worked with all told us about the infrastructure deficit. There can be no building without drinking water and waste water infrastructure. That is why, in the Speech from the Throne, we promised to help developers with up to 50% of the development charges associated …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I want to share my time with my colleague from Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to speak to the Speech from the Throne delivered on Tuesday by His Majesty King Charles III. This speech will mark the beginning of a new parliamentary session. It charts a course to a fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous future for all Canadians. Today, I would like to highlight cert…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I am a big fan of prefab construction because I represent a rural riding. However, I am also familiar with urban centres. Urban centres thrive with a government willing to fully co-operate with provincial, territorial and municipal governments so that we can work together to further develop and facilitate the environmental and urbanization process across municipalities. Together, we w…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to recognize three exceptionally talented young people from my riding for their outstanding performance at the Olympiades québécoises des métiers et des technologies, a competition for up-and-comers in skilled trades and technology. The event took place in Quebec City from May 7 to 10, 2025. Théolie Lajoie's culinary prowess earned her a gold medal. Mathis Rozon's gol…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
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 →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 …
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 →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 →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 …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
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 …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
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…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
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…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
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 →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, taking care of seniors also means taking care of their oral health. As my Bloc colleague well knows, there are hundreds and hundreds of seniors who have benefited from dental insurance in her riding, yet she voted against this measure. The reality is that the dental plan enables us to give $731 to each senior in her riding to help them take care of their oral health. Then there is the…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the ability to feed our children is a priority in Quebec and in Canada. The Conservatives and the Bloc voted against the best possible plan for young people in school. I defy my opposition colleagues to say the same thing to our Quebeckers and to look teachers in the eye and tell them that feeding our school children is unnecessary.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government has done more for seniors than any other government. Where was the Bloc Québécois when we lowered the age of eligibility from 67 to 65? Where was the Bloc Québécois when we increased OAS by 10% for the most vulnerable seniors? My colleague is a woman herself, and we are here to protect older women, who are often the most vulnerable. Many seniors are unable to work. Queb…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a good day because we reached a milestone. One million Canadians have received dental care from an oral health professional. More than 22,340 oral and dental care professionals, or nearly 90% of them, have signed up for the program nationwide. Every year, many seniors end up in hospital because of untreated infections that could have been prevented if they had received t…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, the Outaouais-Laurentians branch of the Fédération de l'UPA in is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. I would like to highlight the important work it has accomplished for farmers in the Laurentians and Outaouais, which includes my riding. This branch represents some 2,259 farms and their 3,410 farmers and therefore accounts for nearly 10% of all farm businesses in Quebec. I wo…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to pay tribute to Hubert Pilon, a resident of Lachute, in my riding of Argenteuil—La Petite‑Nation. Last spring, Mr. Pilon received the Quebec Lieutenant Governor's Medal in recognition of his involvement in numerous causes as well as his many achievements. An engineer by trade, Mr. Pilon has been involved in his community at all levels, both at the municipal level…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois has had many opportunities to support seniors. It is somewhat ironic to hear what my colleague opposite is saying. She supported raising the age of pension eligibility to 67, yet now she is advocating for seniors aged 65 and over to get an increase. The Bloc voted against increasing the GIS supplement. They voted against the dental plan. The Liberals are the ones wh…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my colleague on behalf of people with disabilities in Canada for his collaboration on the first Canada Disability Benefit Act. Building an inclusive Canada is the cornerstone of our government. We have made historic investments of $6 billion, and that is just the start. Now, we just need to work together to develop the rest and establish a plan…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, it is also important to inform that 79% that it is our government, who, since 2015, did all the great things for seniors. What did we do? We reset the age of retirement from 67 to 65. We increased by 10% the pension for the most vulnerable seniors, including women, those living with disabilities, those who are in need. We increased the guaranteed income supplement. Who voted against…
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