Parliamentary Speeches
692 speeches by Yves-François Blanchet — Page 8 of 14
Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of businesses say that the Canada emergency business account has put them in jeopardy. The pandemic hurt them. Inflation is hurting them. Interest rates are hurting them. Forecast consumption by Quebec and Canadian consumers is hurting them. We requested an additional one-year extension. We requested some form of accommodation from the banks. We requested a credible …
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says he will continue to try to consider the priorities of Quebeckers. I will tell him about one priority that Quebeckers have and it is the subject of a motion in the National Assembly of Quebec. I am talking about extending the deadline for the repayment of emergency loans that were issued during the pandemic that, at this point, are threatening the survival of te…
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Mr. Speaker, what all the businesses, all the provinces and Quebec are saying is that it is not enough time and there is a risk of closures. If the government does not do it, it stands to lose more money than it will save. There are two options: Will the Prime Minister agree that businesses need more help or will he agree that it turns out Quebec should take its own money and manage its own econom…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously passed a motion asserting the economic viability of a possible sovereign Quebec, another in a series of unanimous motions that speak for all of Quebec. Regardless of his personal preference, does the Prime Minister recognize Quebec's ability to succeed economically as an independent country?
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec has heard the “we want change” rhetoric before. However, I would remind the Prime Minister, who claims to speak for the masses, that everyone, including the Premier of Quebec, voted in favour of the motion saying that Quebec is capable. I am not asking if that is what he wants. I am not asking if he knows how to count. I am asking him if he agrees with the statement that Quebec…
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Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister proudly makes funding announcements in Quebec with the member to his right, he is actually talking about money that belongs to Quebeckers. Those are our tax dollars. With respect to the motion, if he says he agrees, he is in trouble. If he says he does not agree, he is in trouble. Since he is in trouble either way, and because he will be asked about it the next…
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Mr. Speaker, I am bit like those people. I am reluctant to talk to him about things he does not necessarily understand, but I have no choice. He does not want to provide an answer so I will answer for him. Quebec can and should become independent as soon as possible. He may agree or disagree, but he cannot deny that there are 125 members of the National Assembly of Quebec who have said that Quebec…
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Mr. Speaker, did the President of the United States talk to the Prime Minister about the need for at least a consensus within his own party so that Canada and Quebec can speak with a coherent voice internationally? Speaking of consensus, the Prime Minister told me last week that he agreed to organize meetings between him and the leaders of the opposition parties to build up a bit of information fl…
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Mr. Speaker, my friend Paul in Quebec City will be happy to know that the year one budget has brought the debate on Quebec independence to the Parliament of Canada, and that even the Leader of the Opposition is talking about it. In the meantime, the Prime Minister has put himself at odds with the United States, U.S. intelligence and the U.S. President on the issue of the hospital in Gaza. Accordin…
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Mr. Speaker, in the terrible conflict that is tearing apart the Gaza Strip, civilians are losing their lives or living in unspeakable distress. Humanitarian aid needs to get to the civilians on the Gaza Strip and aid has to get there unconditionally, no matter where it comes from. To do its work under these circumstances, Canada needs a strong voice. It needs a strong voice to convey the desire fo…
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Mr. Speaker, we were one of the first nations, but our nation has too little weight on the international stage to be the only voice. We need friends and we need credibility. Since we have heard nothing about that, am I to understand that the Prime Minister of Canada, over the past 11 days, has not once talked to the President of the United States? As they say in Quebec's two neighbouring countries…
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Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of co-operation, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister a few questions yesterday. Perhaps this came as a surprise to her, because the answers we received left much to be desired and were rather vague. I would like to put them directly to the Prime Minister this time. The Quint group, which is made up of the United States, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, has be…
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Mr. Speaker, we agree that this is very much a humanitarian situation. The international community must take humanitarian action, but it must do other things too. The Prime Minister's answer was long, but what he meant was that, no, he will not be part of the group, which has a lot more power to influence and intervene than even the G7 does in this context. Because I want to know more and understa…
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Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the U.S. Department of State obviously does not see it that way because it simply did not invite Canada. That is deplorable because it prevents the government from doing its job for its own communities and citizens properly. To ensure that everyone here speaks with a common voice on behalf of members of Canada's Jewish community and peaceful Muslims, this morning I sugg…
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Mr. Speaker, if Canada were a part of the group of five countries formed by the United States to address the conflict between Israel and Gaza, then Canada would be helping to make decisions and would have first-hand information. Let us see. Can the government and the Deputy Prime Minister tell us whether humanitarian corridors will be opened in Gaza starting today and whether civilians will be abl…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to extend our condolences to all Quebeckers and Canadians who have lost loved ones in the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. I would also like to extend our condolences to all Israelis who are going through an unspeakably difficult situation, as well as to all the innocent civilians in Gaza whose suffering is just as tragic. …
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Mr. Speaker, if we listen closely, we will hear the footsteps of a titan climbing his way to the stars. That would be Hubert Reeves, who left us on Friday at the age of 91. An astrophysicist and an outstanding communicator, Hubert Reeves left his mark on Quebeckers as a teacher, a researcher, as well as a man who deeply loved science. In a career spanning from 1960 to the turn of the millennium, D…
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Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to congratulate you. The United States joined forces with four other western powers—Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and France—to speak as a single strong voice in response to the crisis centred in Gaza that has rocked the whole world. Canada was not invited to participate, despite having a sizable Jewish community. I am not criticizing, but I am disappointed. Di…
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Madam Speaker, I find that very interesting. In 1999, I went to Vancouver for four days. This means that I know as much about British Columbia as the Conservative leader knows about Quebec. I do not claim to know British Columbia. I say that with no malice whatsoever. I do not speak on behalf of British Columbia, and I do not wake up longing for the Rockies. However, I will tell everyone here that…
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Mr. Speaker, the leader of the official opposition used the word “clown” a few minutes ago. That is interesting. Why would he not eliminate oil profits and subsidies? That is a matter for another time. We still have at least a year. In the meantime, we have to get back to what happened last Friday. There was no call to Mr. Zelenskyy, to the Jewish community or to the veterans of Quebec and Canada …
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Mr. Speaker, the government is going to move forward without taking the necessary action. Meanwhile, because it took five days before the government even thought about doing something, Russia, India and China, none of which are friends to the government or to Canada in general, began spreading propaganda and wreaking havoc on the interests and global perceptions of Canada and, unfortunately, Quebe…
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In other words, Madam Speaker, how old is the captain? That is nonsense, but it is not entirely unexpected. The member wants to do the math, so let me just say that it is $5,000 per capita. That makes me want to say, “It is scandalous”.
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Madam Speaker, I want to start by saying that I have the pleasure of sharing my time with my esteemed colleague, the hon. member for Jonquière. Next, I want to quickly thank our Conservative friends. They have given us an amazing opportunity to expose their battle tactics. In my view, they have given us this opportunity far too early, to their own disadvantage. These tactics could prove to be thei…
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Madam Speaker, everyone must do more at all times to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the temptation to shift this responsibility to individuals is potentially rather regrettable because it removes some of the responsibility from those who are the biggest emitters. I would remind my esteemed colleague that my work, at the time, with respect to Anticosti, was to regulate a project that would ne…
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Mr. Speaker, we all agree that this is unacceptable, but it did not take us all five days to realize that an apology was needed. I am formally asking the Prime Minister to call Volodymyr Zelenskyy and apologize to him on Canada's behalf. I am asking him start coordinating an effort to counter Russian propaganda, and I am asking him to immediately organize a healing meeting or start the healing pro…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister did not call Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He said he went through diplomatic channels. He did not call a meeting with Canada's Jewish community. Three days have gone by. What has the Prime Minister been doing for the past three days? The Prime Minister usually churns out one apology after another, but this time, it took five days. He could have been coordinating an effort t…
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Mr. Speaker, I also want the Jewish community of Quebec and Canada to know how ashamed and sorry I am. I want to apologize to them as well and offer my full co-operation. I want to know whether the Prime Minister personally did the same and whether he met with representatives of the Jewish community of Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, in 2020, a teacher was beheaded in the south of France and it took two weeks for the Prime Minister to call President Macron. Is the same thing going to happen now or will he call President Zelenskyy? This is totally unacceptable. If I may, I want to apologize to President Zelenskyy on behalf of Quebeckers and offer my collaboration. I will ensure that the message on behalf of Quebeck…
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Mr. Speaker, it is distressing because that was the first thing that should have been done. I understand from the Prime Minister's response that he has not called President Zelenskyy, who is the biggest victim of this terrible mistake after Jewish communities. Can he correct that mistake, call President Zelenskyy and make sure we counterbalance Russian propaganda? Also, can the government make an …
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Better late than never, Mr. Speaker. I commend the Prime Minister for his decision to acquiesce to the repeated requests that he apologize to Parliament and well beyond. His description of the leader of the official opposition is not bad either. However, I would like to know whether the Prime Minister personally called President Zelenskyy to apologize on his and our behalf and whether he has a str…
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House: (i) utterly condemn Nazism in all its forms, (ii) express its full solidarity with all victims of Nazism, past and present, (iii) condemn the invitation extended to a former Waffen-SS soldier on Friday, September 22, 2023, and withdraw a…
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Mr. Speaker, six questions later, I can hardly believe that the leader of the government in the House of Commons has failed to understand that the responsibility of the Speaker of the House and the responsibility of the Prime Minister of Canada are two separate things in such matters. Though he stands accused of nothing, he cannot ignore his responsibility as head of government. He has to accept t…
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Mr. Speaker, it is less about the form and more about the substance, but if the leader of the official opposition and I agree on something, it must be because it is so evident. The Prime Minister did not make the mistake, but he is responsible for fixing it, as head of government, whether we like it or not, even for those who want to take his place. Will he apologize on behalf of Canada and, unfor…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister responsible for housing admitted that there are strings attached to the $900 million Quebec is supposed to get to build social housing. The thing is, social housing is not his responsibility. Is he telling people in distress, who may soon be unable to pay their rent or who are at risk of ending up homeless, that they are being held hostage by the Liberals' desi…
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Mr. Speaker, we are wasting time while people are suffering. We know how to solve the problems of poverty, housing and homelessness. We are capable of funding social housing and we are capable of helping seniors who are struggling to make ends meet with the increased cost of living. Oil companies made $200 billion in profit last year, but the government does not have money for social housing or se…
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Mr. Speaker, if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move: That whereas all parties have agreed on the parameters for the establishment of a public and independent commission of inquiry into foreign electoral interference on Canadian soil, whereas all parties have agreed to the appointment of Judge Marie-Josée Hogue as Chief Commissioner of this inquiry,…
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Mr. Speaker, it is only natural for Quebec to see itself as more than a mere province, since it was shaped by giants like Jacques‑Yvan Morin, who passed away on July 26. In 1973, he became leader of the official opposition with just six elected members from the Parti Québécois, which would transform Quebec three years later. He then served as deputy premier of Quebec alongside René Lévesque, and l…
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Mr. Speaker, as long as Canada is bent on interfering, it should help the least fortunate cope with the rising cost of living and housing. It should also rein in its own spending so that it does not further contribute to inflation, yet Ottawa is giving billions of dollars to the oil industry. Would it not be better for Ottawa to end oil subsidies and use that money to increase seniors' pensions, e…
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Mr. Speaker, this week, Calgary is hosting the World Petroleum Congress. Ottawa has sent three ministers there. That sends a clear message. At the same time, they have the nerve to attend a United Nations meeting on climate change. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies are lining their pockets. Everyone knows that the main reason gas prices have gone up is oil and gas company profits. Will the governme…
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Mr. Speaker, the government is subsidizing rich oil companies that have absolutely no need of subsidies. At the same time, it is withholding money needed for social housing and refusing to adjust seniors' pensions, who are being hard hit by inflation. This inflation has been exacerbated by oil company profits. Why does Ottawa not take the money it gives to oil companies and invest it in social hou…
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Mr. Speaker, too many Quebeckers and too many Canadians are having to choose between impossibly high rent and the threat of homelessness. Removing the GST on rental housing cannot hurt, but it may also do nothing to help tenants, who so desperately need it. Will the government agree to stop wanting to encroach on the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces, and does it recognize that the ideal so…
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Mr. Speaker, I feel like I have gone back in time 10 years. No serious person can deny that oil and gas are to blame for some of the terrible tragedies happening around the world, and increasingly right here, too. This obsession with oil comes at a very high price. Will the Prime Minister agree to halt all forms of funding, direct or indirect, to the oil companies and transfer the money saved to Q…
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec is grappling with forest fires that are causing 11 times the devastation we have seen for the last 10 years, on average. We are talking about three million hectares and it is only June. In terms of length of season, intensity and frequency, periods of drought and heat conducive to fires can be linked to climate change, while climate change can be linked to oil and gas developme…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not know what animates this moving and magnificent individual, this artist who left an indelible mark on Quebec, its history, the hearts of its people and the promises of the 1970s and beyond. Serge Fiori is extraordinary. He crafted a brand new musical universe that crossed borders and stood the test of time. His music pierced right through the skin of Quebeckers, flowed through…
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Mr. Speaker, a number of suggestions come to mind. As I recently said in the House, we need to walk the talk. In this case, that means that we need to do whatever it takes—even if we are hogtied and gagged—to prevent a government partner from spending billions of dollars on measures that support the oil-related economic chain. That in itself would be a major contribution.
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Mr. Speaker, there is not much I can say, because I am not familiar with the bill in question. It has not been on my radar for a long time. However, in the past few days, I have heard statements that have made it rather hard to differentiate between the positions of the People's Party and the Conservative Party, both of which basically claimed that wildfires are a ploy by environmentalists to make…
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Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the reality is one of investments in the form of tax credits or assistance for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the process of extracting petroleum resources. The only petroleum resources that are safe to develop are biofuels and biogas. They exist, but that is not what we are talking about. The suggested approach is not really useful. If the ind…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my speaking time with my esteemed colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé, who will be displaying the excellence we all strive for. Quebec and Canada are grappling with unprecedented wildfires. As we speak, we could even say it is a—
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moved: That the House: (a) stand in solidarity with and express its support for all those affected by the current forest fires; (b) acknowledge that climate change is having a direct impact on people’s quality of life, and that it is exacerbating the frequency and scale of extreme weather and climate events (floods, tornadoes, forest fires, heat waves, etc.); (c) recognize that the federal governm…
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Mr. Speaker, right now, in Quebec, we are seeing a level of devastation roughly 11 times greater than the average for the last 10 years. We have not even begun to assess the dramatic economic impact of these wildfires. Over the next few years, we will likely experience many phenomena that will dramatically worsen the impact of climate change. This is very worrisome. The seasons conducive to extrem…
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