Parliamentary Speeches

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 …

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…

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…

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…

Government Orders

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…

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…

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 …

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.

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…

Government Orders

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…

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), in 2017, the benefits delivery modernization program was in the initial planning or program definition phase. As is typical and expected for programs of this size and magnitude, at the program definition stage there is uncertainty around the program’s overall scope, full requirements, including the technology solutions, and the procurement necessary to support…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, on this side, we want a recorded division.

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, today I want to highlight our firm commitment to Canada's middle class. The government is investing in policies to support families, including by offering affordable child care and benefits for children. We understand that the well-being of the middle class is the pillar of our prosperous economy. At the same time, we are enhancing pensions plans to ensure that seniors have financial …

Statements by Members

Madam Speaker, Wednesday was a very special day. I had the opportunity to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Centre action générations des aînés de la Vallée‑de‑la‑Lièvre. I would like to thank and commend the volunteers for their outstanding dedication and commitment. They have made a huge difference in making the centre a wonderful place where seniors in our community can turn for support and…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday evening at the Bell Centre, we paid a moving tribute to Karl Tremblay, the soul of the Cowboys Fringants, who left us too young, too soon. In that iconic place, we celebrated his music's indelible impact on our lives. The meaningful melodies and poignant lyrics resonated in our hearts, a reminder of Karl's exceptional musical legacy. In front of a vibrant crowd, we shared m…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to a very timely issue: affordability. Investments in the middle class and in housing are core features of our policies. Affordability is essential in all aspects of life. Financial accessibility, whether in terms of housing, education or health care, creates equitable opportunities. A society where goods and services are affordable promotes inclusivity and reduc…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, in politics, it is never too late to take positive action. We have adopted several good measures, including the family benefit for children and families. We have also helped Canadians with housing through other programs. What we are putting in place today is aimed precisely at responding to the housing crisis. We know that when there is a housing crisis, investing in affordable hous…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, earlier on, we were accused of wanting to manage affordability and housing. We are not to blame for the pandemic or climate change. We know that the Conservatives do not believe in climate change, which has caused tornadoes and flooding across the country, perhaps even in the member's own riding. I know that there have been some in my riding. Today, the cost of inflation is due to t…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his speech. He has identified himself as an MP who is not on the far right like his leader. He talked a lot about inflation. In Canada, the drop in inflation over the record high of 8.1% in June 2022 must be good news for him. However, more needs to be done, without filibustering committees, to get bills passed. Having more affordable hous…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Ottawa—Vanier. Today I had the honour of participating in the discussion on Motion No. 30 and listening to remarks from our Conservative friends, which sort of made my hair stand on end. Our goal is to put an end to Conservative obstruction of this bill. That is what we are working on. …

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I will answer his first question. I am in Quebec, in Canada, in my riding, and I am proud to be here. As for homelessness, my colleague has been shouting at us since the beginning of this session about respecting our jurisdictions and not meddling in Quebec's jurisdictions. We take the issue of homelessness to heart. Even though we are the federal government, we care about people in…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, the people of my riding, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, are deeply committed to their children's future and to environmental responsibility. The fact remains that 450,000 households in Quebec are still heating with oil, an expensive method that is harmful to the environment. The cost of acquiring and installing heat pumps, which are cleaner and more cost-effective, is a barrier for many…

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, once again, our thoughts are with the workers and their families, particularly as the holiday season approaches. This situation could have been avoided and all of those workers would still have jobs if the Conservatives had not spent the past few years opposing Bill C-11. Yes, Bill C‑11 is enough. Yes, we are here with a bill that is in place to help save media jobs. We managed to g…

Oral Questions

Madam Speaker, my heart goes out to the journalists and workers at Quebecor and TVA, all the 500 employees who lost their jobs yesterday. This is not good news for Quebec. This decision was made by a private company. We always support journalism and information sharing. That is why Bill C‑11 is so important. We hope that the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives will vote with us to support Canadia…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, it is vital to recognize and celebrate the cultural wealth that flourishes in our rural regions. It is an essential driver of social cohesion and economic development. That is why today I want to commend the exceptional work of Yan Proulx and Danny Monette, from Productions Les 2 vallées, which is starting its third season. These passionate and dedicated men work tirelessly to make Qu…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite well knows, Quebec sets its own immigration targets. It can select the francophone newcomers who will build the homes and infrastructure they need, and who will fill essential jobs in the health care sector. We always respect Quebec's jurisdiction in immigration, but it is also important to recognize that newcomers are undeniably part of the solution.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is asking us to be there for immigrants in Quebec. We are very pleased to be part of the solution. Quebec has the exclusive power to select the majority of immigrants who arrive in the province. As set out in the Canada-Quebec accord, Quebec also receives financial compensation from the federal government for its assistance. We respect Quebec's jurisdiction on immig…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and celebrate Sylvie Pharand‑Gosselin, the first woman president of the Club Quad Petite‑Nation and an Outaouais area trailblazer. Her years as a volunteer, a trail patroller and keeper of a portion of the Duhamel area are indisputable proof of her dedication. I would also like to acknowledge former club president Alain Lamarche for encouraging women to ta…

Mr. Chair, I want to thank you for your excellent work. Upon reflection, I wish to withdraw my candidacy.

Statements By Members

Mr. Speaker, our town of Namur in the Outaouais region has a special link with the city of Namur in Belgium. Last August 26, I was delighted to attend a reception dinner organized by mayor Gilbert Dardel and the Papineau RCM team to honour our wonderful Belgian guests. Last week, a delegation of 26 residents from the Papineau RCM, led by reeve Benoît Lauzon, was hosted by Maxime Prévot, mayor of N…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight an act of bravery that occurred in my beautiful riding of Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation. On May 11, when Yan Piché was out fishing with his friends, he did not hesitate to dive into the Grenville Canal to save a 9-year-old girl who had been swept away by the current. Despite the freezing cold water, he was able to bring her safely to shore. The values that Mr. …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. Of course, our hearts go out to all the first responders who are helping in the affected region, as well as elsewhere in Quebec and Canada. We are keeping a very close eye on the forest fires. We are working directly with the province. We are in constant contact to make sure they have everything they need. At the province's request, we approved t…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for offering a different perspective on forest fires. We have to realize that climate change has a direct impact not only on forest fires, but also on floods and tornadoes. We have brought in the Canadian army to help. We have formed a coalition with foreign countries. We also have a consultation and working group with the province of Quebec that mee…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his fine speech. I had the opportunity to meet with the media in my riding of Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, along with the Minister of Canadian Heritage. Together we saw how important it is to speak with the media, to get information out, and to share good news like what we announced in my riding. Could the minister tell us a bit about the potential impact of…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague opposite a very specific question, but I would first like to give a small introduction. The pandemic forced us to innovate. It forced us to make greater use of technology. Let us think of our families who are benefiting from it today. During the pandemic, my children were able to learn at home without missing a class, and my wife, who is a teacher, t…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, my colleague must be proud to speak in French in the House. I have also decided to speak French in my committees. My colleague mentioned a number of statistics related to the situation facing interpreters, so my questions are along those same lines. I would like to see her source indicating that some witnesses prefer to speak English because of interpretation issues. Since 2015, I h…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, protecting Canada's democracy is a responsibility that we take extremely seriously. While the opposition is playing politics, we are taking very serious measures. We want to implement a transparency registry on foreign influence and strengthen oversight mechanisms because the protection of our institutions is our top priority.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, once again, my colleague wants to play politics. Protecting Canadian democracy is a responsibility we take very seriously. While the Conservatives focus on playing political games, we are taking strong action. The person in question is highly qualified. Frankly, I have not heard anyone in my constituency tell me that he is not credible. We are working with someone who is reliable. He …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the special rapporteur. I have a quote here from the Conservative leader, who said, “we are dealing with a very credible individual and I think that history bears little relevance to the fact that he has a very distinguished career”. At some point, the Conservatives decided to turn this into a political game. They could simply accept the briefing they have been offer…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, I would like to talk about our non-partisan collaboration on the wildfires. Our government is working hard to meet its G20 commitment to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. Although we cannot stop using oil overnight, we have made a lot of commitments in this regard. Let us talk about what really matters today, which is solidarity in the fight against the wildfires. Let us talk about t…

Government Orders

Madam Speaker, as a government, we have taken real action. We created the national risk profile. This document, which we have been working on since we took office, is now available. Today, we have an understanding of the risks in a world increasingly affected by climate change. In addition to equipment, this is one of the best ways to keep Canadians safe. It lets us determine what we need, and wha…