Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to split my time with the member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam.
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Mr. Speaker, the recommendation was to help Canadians. I see this in my riding. I checked recently and I found that 27,000 people in my riding are enrolled in the dental care plan. We know that just as many still need to register. That is a real need. As for food banks, I visited Entraide Agapé, which is just a few steps from my office. The people who were there need assistance. The centre itself …
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to hear that there is no partisanship here. This measure will be adopted for the people, for Canadians. As for the second question concerning quarterly or monthly payments, that is exactly what I was talking about earlier. Unfortunately, some people or members are out of touch with reality at times. I had children, and government benefits were paid quarterly. No one …
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Mr. Speaker, in life, we only control what we can control. What we can control is putting money back in the pockets of our constituents. That is what we are doing now in the easiest and fastest way. We trust Canadians to use that money where it is needed. The other night, at a committee, I was listening to economists discussing and questioning certain things. There were calls for the payments to b…
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Mr. Speaker, today we are debating an issue that directly affects the daily lives of millions of Canadians, specifically, the ability to feed one's family, pay for groceries and meet basic needs with dignity. Behind the numbers, the budget tables and the partisan debates, there is a very real human reality. There are parents who count every dollar at the checkout, seniors who worry about seeing th…
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Mr. Speaker, here we are in early February, and Expo habitat Québec is hosting its 40th home show at the Centre de foires d'ExpoCité in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou. For 40 years now, Expo habitat has been a must-see event for the construction and housing sector. Every year, it brings together contractors, experts and professionals from across Quebec. Given the challenging housing environment ac…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very familiar with my colleague's riding and I have a question for him. He talked about complicated, ineffective programs. However, nearly 200,000 people in his riding have registered for the Canadian dental care plan. That suggests there is a real need. Knowing that at least twice as many people in his riding could benefit from dental care and that people really need it, I would…
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Mr. Speaker, January 17 was a historic day for Canada. The Canadian government, together with the Quebec government, announced the launch of the assault-style firearms compensation program in Montreal. Quebec occupies a special place in the Canadian landscape when it comes to public safety, particularly because of its history, its collective awareness and its unique legislative frameworks. Can the…
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Mr. Speaker, in Beauport—Limoilou and across the country, the cost of living is still too high for many families. Our government has already taken concrete action by eliminating the consumer carbon tax, cutting taxes for nearly 22 million middle-class Canadians and eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers. However, we know that we need to do more and that we can do more to help Canadians keep…
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Mr. Speaker, over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to meet a number of extraordinary women who are making a real difference in their community. This year, we are proud to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Dominican Missionary Adorers, who are right in the heart of my riding, in Beauport—Limoilou. Founded in 1945 by Mother Julienne du Rosaire, the organization has been an essenti…
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Madam Speaker, Bill C-4 is good for the middle class. We are lowering the tax rate for the first income bracket from 15% to 14%. This will save each family up to $840. This practical measure has been in place since July 1, with the money going straight into people's pockets. It affects them directly. It is combined with all the other measures in the budget. The entire population is therefore affec…
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to hear my colleague say that there are good measures in Bill C-4. I am pleased to hear him say that there is a collection of good measures. That makes me really happy. I have had the opportunity to work with my colleague on several committees. What is important here are the people who are affected. In my riding, more than 50,000 people are directly affected. In the 18-…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his passion. What is important here is to highlight all the measures that are helping many segments of our society. In Beauport—Limoilou, the benefits are direct, quick and immediate. As soon as we took office, we implemented measures right away. As of July 1, people saw the rebate on their paycheques. That is concrete action.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak to Bill C‑4, the making life more affordable for Canadians act. I am pleased to rise today to proudly represent the people of Beauport—Limoilou. It is the proudest and most beautiful riding in Canada. Representing it is the greatest honour I have ever been given. Beauport—Limoilou is made up of young families, workers and seniors who believe that we need strong l…
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Mr. Speaker, today I wish to pay tribute to Normand Lapointe, a federal Liberal member for Beauce from 1980 to 1984, who passed away in Saint-Georges on October 22. A man of conviction with deep ties to his community, Mr. Lapointe left his mark on regional politics through his sense of duty, his connection with residents, and his sincere commitment to serving the common good. A true mentor to many…
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to draw the House's attention to an absolute scientific treasure located in the riding of Beauport—Limoilou: the VITAM research centre, a sustainable health centre of excellence. VITAM's vision is both simple and inspiring: Healthy minds and bodies living in healthy environments on a healthy planet. Under the leadership of professor and researcher Jean‑Pierre Despré…
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Madam Speaker, during the last election, Quebeckers and Canadians were clear: They want action from us and they are tired of waiting. From its first days in office, this government has shown that it has heard their plea. We have rolled up our sleeves, put on our work boots and already started making agreements. That is what Canadians expect from us. That is what businesses expect from us. With eve…
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Madam Speaker, a trade agreement like this one is not the right framework for negotiating those kinds of things. Right now, people need diversified markets because of what is going on south of the border. That is what we intend to focus on.
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Madam Speaker, I am pleased to hear that my colleague supports this agreement, that he supports its evolution and that he welcomes the United Kingdom's accession to it. It is good for Canadians and good for our businesses. I want to emphasize that the new government did not wait before taking action. We have only been in power for six months, and we have already rolled up our sleeves to get to wor…
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Madam Speaker, we know that we can no longer count on the market predictability that we once had. Businesses need this predictability to be able to invest, but we no longer have it. We have two choices. We either sit back and wait for it to return, or we go out and find new markets. There is actually a good book on this subject that I often recommend called Who Moved my Cheese?. We are going to op…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. I hold him in high regard and I enjoy serving with him on the Standing Committee on International Trade. We recognize the concerns of the beef and pork industries. We are committed to working with them to get rid of certain barriers. It is a fact that, currently, nearly one in five companies in the market does business abroad and relies on exports for its livel…
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Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to work at banks for over 20 years, in business for over 10 years and at the Quebec City chamber of commerce and industry for four years. To ensure the growth of our businesses, we need to open up the global market. We know this, and we have seen it. We need reliable partners, and we must diversify our markets. As I said earlier, putting all our eggs in one bas…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to the bill to enable the accession of the United Kingdom to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. This is an important step in advancing Canada's trade diversification strategy and in strengthening one of the most ambitious trade agreements in the world. Before I get into the details of what this means for Quebec and my ridin…
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Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I want to pay tribute to the outstanding and often unnoticed contribution of one exceptional woman. Born during World War II, she raised seven children while working alongside her husband day after day on the family farm in the Lower St. Lawrence. Despite her demanding and exhausting days, she found the strength and courage to sit as a board memb…
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to welcome to Ottawa a delegation of entrepreneurs and economic leaders from the greater Quebec City area, led by Québec International and its president and CEO, Carl Viel. In these times of economic uncertainty, these women and men brilliantly embody the drive, creativity and expertise that form the backbone of our regional economy. Their presence here today demons…
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Mr. Speaker, on September 23, a fire ravaged Patro Roc‑Amadour, in the heart of Limoilou. A true pillar of our community, this organization supports hundreds of families, children, seniors, and people living with disabilities every week. The losses are staggering. Over $100,000 in food has been destroyed, and essential services, such as meals on wheels, have been disrupted. The community rallied i…
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Mr. Speaker, food self-sufficiency is becoming an important solution for our families and communities. That is exactly what Urbainculteurs, a Quebec City organization, is doing: changing the way we think about urban agriculture. From rooftop gardens to the greening of schools and neighbourhoods, Urbainculteurs's innovative projects are giving people back the power to grow some of their own food wh…
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Mr. Speaker, this summer, I had the privilege of meeting, in my riding, representatives from Alliance des Ukrainiens de Québec, an organization that plays a key role for its members and for our entire community. This meeting was an opportunity to listen to their reality, their needs and their aspirations, but especially to see once again the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian community here …
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Mr. Speaker, as everyone knows, I am a proud Quebecker. I come from a family in the Lower St. Lawrence and was raised by proud parents on a dairy farm, but that does not make me any less Canadian. Today, we are talking about prejudice that could cause harm in the future. I come from the world of finance, and I can tell members that the past is no indication of the future. The actions we are taking…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Les Pays-d'en-Haut. I rise today in response to a motion calling on the government to fully withdraw from legal challenges on Bill 21. The motion would have the House agree that the Government of Canada, the government of all Canadians from coast to coast to coast, should not participate in one of the most important constitutional appeals …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify a few points for my colleague. The Bloc Québécois is trying to bring the debate back to Bill 21 and religious freedoms. When I was a child, we went to church every Sunday. I was raised in the church. I have aunts who are nuns. Now, I am before the House to talk about protecting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Bloc Québécois would love to reopen the deba…
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Mr. Speaker, we are not trying to create a crisis. Quite the opposite, in fact. We are not trying to create controversy, as I said earlier. The people who elected us with a clear mandate want us to protect them. That is what we are doing right now. We are stepping up and standing up to defend our constituents from coast to coast to coast, right across the country. Yes, I am a Quebecker, but I am a…
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Madam Speaker, I listened to my colleague talk about cash transactions. As we know, cash facilitates money laundering and anonymity. Canadian banks abide by the Basel accords, which is why Canada's banking system is one of the best in the world. Does my colleague want us to continue letting people use cash, which increases the number of crimes committed by the very criminals we want to lock up by …
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Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about an inspiring woman who is having an extremely positive impact on her community. Marie‑Hélène Ross has devoted her energy to the social, cultural and economic development of Beauport for many years. A lawyer by profession, she has always combined her expertise with a sincere desire to build a stronger and more supportive community. Through her involvement as …
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Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. I would like to read a few words from a document I have before me. It talks about something “expensive, unreliable and limited in its performance”. I was sure it was talking about electric vehicles but no, that is not it. It is talking about the internal combustion engine, when it made its debut on the market. It was expensive, unreliable…
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Mr. Speaker, the rebate cheques were issued on April 22, as planned and out of respect for Canadians. Many families are in need, and they expected to receive their cheques on April 22. This refund was not made out of favouritism, but out of respect for Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, this motion is indeed causing division. However, the federal government respected the will of the provincial government to have its own carbon exchange. Today, the families who were counting on that April 22 cheque have received it and they were compensated. It is not favouritism. It is a question of fairness for these families. We are not sowing division. We are acting out of respect…
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