Yves-François Blanchet

Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑39 seems to reveal the Prime Minister's real priority in building his Canada strong. It is really about building a pipeline for western oil companies by suspending environmental laws. The Prime Minister is not hiding the fact that he is doing this to appease the Alberta separatists. If Bill C‑39 is good for appeasing Alberta separatists, perhaps it will also be good for enraging Quebec sovereignists. Given that this government's biggest and most costly achievement is the pipeline to American oil companies, what place would Quebec have in its strong Canada?

Mr. Speaker, it is worth noting that the largest project for Quebec is actually in Newfoundland and Labrador. The cost of the Prime Minister's new pipeline is currently estimated at $40 billion. We can only imagine how much it will actually end up costing. Quebeckers' share of the bill for this gift for the American-owned oil companies in western Canada will come out to at least $9 billion. That is more than Quebec's entire deficit. That means money coming out of the pockets of Quebeckers and going into the pockets of American shareholders of western Canadian oil companies, supposedly to ensure independence from the Americans, even though there is no tariff on oil. If this is the Prime Minister's idea of a strong Canada, why is he so determined to not—

Mr. Speaker, he sacrificed billions of dollars earmarked for culture by caving to pressure from the tech giants. In the fight against climate change, he has completely surrendered. He is not providing sufficient support for the aluminum and forestry sectors, yet when a pipeline is involved, there is $40 billion available for oil, which is not even tariffed. The companies are owned by Americans. The profits go to the United States. Moreover, 95% of the oil is purchased by Americans. Pacific link is not a gateway to economic diversification. It is a pipeline for carrying Quebeckers' money to western Canada and the United States. Does he not realize that Quebeckers' money should be used to develop Quebec, not to destroy the planet or benefit friends in financial circles?

Mr. Speaker, Quebec democracy has spoken, and now more than ever, the future belongs to us. Paul St‑Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois, has been elected the 34th Premier of Quebec, backed by a delegation of 59 outstanding members of the National Assembly. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to offer my friend Paul my most sincere congratulations. I would also like to offer the new Quebec government the full and dedicated co‑operation of the Bloc Québécois team. Quebec will have a trustworthy ally in the federal Parliament. I want to congratulate everyone who won their race last night, and I thank all the people from every political party whose sense of public duty motivated them to run for office. As our new Premier said last night, a new political cycle is beginning. A new chapter in our nation's history will unfold over the next few years. The Bloc Québécois will make sure it has a say in this chapter and sees it through to the end.

Mr. Speaker, first, there were projects of national interest. Then there were corridors of national interest. Now there are regions of national interest. The Bloc Québécois, experts and media outlets know that, with Bill C‑39, the federal government is permanently taking over jurisdiction from Quebec and the provinces, particularly regarding the environment, and suspending its own laws based on the judgment of a single minister. Can the Prime Minister confirm that this interpretation is accurate?