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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 314

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 21, 2024 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ)
  • May/21/24 2:34:28 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals seem to have a newfound appreciation for the cause of the francophonie. The Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF, had 18 Liberals in 2021, 11 in 2022, and 22 in 2023. Since last week, there has been a sudden awakening: No less than 112 members of the Liberal caucus are now members of the APF. I say bravo. Francophiles thank them. It is an extraordinary commitment to the French language. However, could someone tell us what is the Liberals' priority issue at the APF that explains such a sudden commitment on their part?
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • May/21/24 2:35:08 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I really want to thank the member for her question. Our government and I, personally, understand that French is in decline in Montreal, Quebec and across the country. I must tell the member opposite, however, that I do not find this situation amusing. For me, this is no joke. The Quebec nation is so important to us. The French language is so important.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Ms. Christine Normandin (Saint-Jean, BQ)
  • May/21/24 2:35:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, no one is pulling the wool over our eyes. They have not decided to overtake the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie because they had an epiphany about the fact that French is under threat in Quebec, Canada and around the world. No, they signed up because there is nothing more important to a Liberal than another Liberal. A friend is a friend. They signed up because they have to save their friend, the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell. After that, we will never see them again. It might be a good idea for this government to start working as hard in the interest of the French language as it does in the interest of the Liberals.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Hon. Chrystia Freeland (Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lib.)
  • May/21/24 2:36:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the French language, whether in Montreal, Quebec or anywhere else in Canada, is very important to our government. We understand that the French language is in decline, and we will always support the French language, as well as the Quebec and French culture throughout Canada.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)
  • May/21/24 2:49:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, what we do not invite at these meetings is bickering. Working together is very important to us. For once, Quebec fully agreed with the news release we issued. In terms of French language training, we have given Quebec $5.2 billion since 2015. We are committed. We want to ensure, once again, that French, the common language, is strengthened in Quebec.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Hon. Marc Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)
  • May/21/24 2:50:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the status quo is the Bloc Québécois doing nothing for 30 years, while we make $5.2 billion available to Quebec for French language training, with clear results.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Mr. Joël Godin (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, CPC)
  • May/21/24 3:15:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are defending the indefensible. The member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell used foul and aggressive language towards Quebec witnesses defending the French language before the Standing Committee on Official Languages on May 6. This MP must be sanctioned, as he has damaged the reputation of the committee and all its members. The Liberals always protect their own, however. They will go to any lengths. Can the Prime Minister show respect for francophones by immediately removing the MP from the Standing Committee on Official Languages and replacing him as president of the international Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie?
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Hon. Steven MacKinnon (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.)
  • May/21/24 3:16:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell has spent far more time in this Parliament defending the French fact in Canada than any member of the Conservative Party has. We will continue to defend the French language throughout Canada, including Quebec. The member for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell will do everything in his power to be with us in defending French across Canada.
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Mr. Mario Beaulieu (La Pointe-de-l'Île, BQ)
  • May/21/24 4:52:20 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on her speech. Earlier, during oral question period, we heard the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance tell us how important the Quebec nation and the French language in Quebec are for her. However, there is nothing in the budget to subsidize French. From 1995 to 2002, I found that 94% of funding of official languages in Quebec went to support English. Furthermore, in the action plan for official languages 2023-28, it is the same thing, with 94% of the money going to supporting English. I know that my colleague believes in people's right to self-determination. In her opinion, should the federal government not stop using official languages funding to undermine Quebec’s self-determination?
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Context: House Hansard - 314 - May/21/24
Mrs. Salma Zahid
  • May/21/24 4:53:22 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to highlight that in Bill C-13 there are major investments for the French language. Within the 2024 budget, we are here to support Quebec by investing $3.4 billion to support young researchers in Canada and in Quebec, $1.28 billion to fight homelessness and $1.5 billion to protect and to expand affordable housing. These are some of the measures being taken in this to make sure there is help to support Quebec.
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