SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 195

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 11, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 195 - May/11/23
Hon. Greg Fergus (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)
  • May/11/23 5:33:36 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague from Ontario, who was born in British Columbia, on the quality of his French. I know that he is of Italian origin and he also speaks English, but it warms my heart to hear him speak French. Often, when people talk about the Century Initiative, they say that it is a federal government initiative. We know that is a false argument because it is just one initiative out of the 3,000 stakeholders that chose to submit ideas to the federal government. The government does not have any intention of increasing the Canadian population to 100 million people. Can my colleague make a few comments on this? How can we encourage francophone immigration in Canada and certainly in Quebec?
127 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 195 - May/11/23
Hon. Greg Fergus
  • May/11/23 5:47:55 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, I am pleased that my hon. colleague from Saint-Jean said that we should take immigrants' interests into account. We should not resort to a utilitarian argument to speak on behalf of these people. I am a Quebecker. If we want to ensure the vitality of the French language in Quebec and if we really want to put ourselves in the immigrants' shoes, we could ask the hundreds of thousands of francophone immigrants from West Africa and the Caribbean who would like to come to Quebec if they are ready to accept the conditions in Quebec and—
100 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 195 - May/11/23
Hon. Greg Fergus (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the President of the Treasury Board, Lib.)
  • May/11/23 5:49:54 p.m.
  • Watch
Madam Speaker, it is rare that I have an opportunity to debate with the member. These people are francophone and do not need to be francized. We can attract teachers who are ready to teach. They could also offer their services to Quebeckers. Why not let these people determine their own future? Why, as Canadians, should we determine what they should do and in what conditions they should live? Why not let these people vote with their feet?
78 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
Context: House Hansard - 195 - May/11/23
Hon. Greg Fergus (Hull—Aylmer, Lib.)
  • May/11/23 6:02:59 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, as a Quebecker, I would like to thank my colleague. We definitely do not have the same point of view. In my community, which is not that far from his, there are many francophones and many new immigrants from western Africa and Haiti. The percentage of these immigrants has increased significantly. Why are these people settling in Quebec? It is because they have the right to continue speaking French, living in French, going to school in French and seeing their family grow in French. These people play such a significant role in building the vibrant province and country I call home, and I believe that is a good thing. I would like to hear my colleague's comments on that, because for me it is obvious.
128 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border