44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 18, 2024 10:00AM
- Jun/18/24 12:16:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am anxious for Quebec to become a country so that we do not have to listen to the bickering of these three federalist parties. It will happen one day, I guarantee it.
I listened to my colleague's speech. Something we have agreed on since the beginning is that it is offensive to have wanted to change the date of the election, especially for a completely unreal reason, namely that that day is a holy day. There are many holy days because there are many religions and many days in a year. At some point, that cannot be used as an excuse to change the date. We all know that it is mainly to allow some members to get their pension.
My question is simple. Does my colleague find it as offensive as I do that they drew religion into an election date?
146 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 1:09:37 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, there is a double standard at play here that should be pointed out. The Bloc party articulated quite well, much like the member just did, why postponing the date of the election would have a negative impact on the province of Quebec because of Quebec's municipal elections.
At the time when the Bloc first raised the issue, it was not even aware there was a municipal election taking place in the province of Alberta on the exact date of the next scheduled federal election. When I pointed that out to the member in the Bloc Party, the response what that it was not the Bloc's problem and that it represents Quebec.
There are many members of Parliament who are national in their thinking. Many of them sit in the Alberta caucus in the Conservative ranks, and they seem to have completely forgotten that particular point. The minister made it very clear that he will support what the committee has to propose.
The NDP is proposing we change the date. We are open to ideas. Should we be respectful of the municipal election, with Calgary and Edmonton having the same election date as the federal election? Those who live in Calgary and Edmonton would be going to vote for a mayor and a prime minister, their members of Parliament. Should we at least be open to the idea at the committee stage?
235 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 1:11:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. He clearly explained the problems Quebec would have if a federal election were held a few days before or after municipal elections are held in every municipality in Quebec. It is very difficult.
We went through this in 2021. We saw our municipal colleagues hold elections at the same time as ours. We would run into each other going door to door. That being said, I want to reach out to the NDP. If the NDP is prepared to bring down the government, we could have an election in the coming weeks. Would my colleague be amenable to that?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 1:14:55 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, all I am asking the member to do is to apply to the province of Alberta the same standards he applies to the province of Quebec with respect to the election law. If the member is concerned about the municipal election in the province of Quebec, should he not at least be concerned about the municipal election in Alberta? It is an issue of fair treatment. Someone can be a separatist in Quebec and still be sympathetic to the democracy in other regions of the country.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 1:16:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I know that the member is from Quebec; usually I would speak French, but I want to be clear to the parliamentary secretary, who keeps raising the point, and I would like to hear the member on it.
I am an Alberta MP. The Local Authorities Elections Act in my province, in section 11, says that any municipality can move up its election to the Saturday before a federal or a provincial election. It is a non-issue, and it is a talking point the Liberals keep abusing in order to try to curry favour or find a way to wedge the Bloc in its principal position on the bill.
What does the member think about the issue? The Liberals seem to want to use Alberta as a talking point, the same way they sometimes use the member's province as a talking point, to further their political ambitions.
151 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:05:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the francophonie is at the heart of Canadian identity. It represents a fundamental pillar of our history and culture. It is a source of pride for our country to count among us francophones who, across the country, contribute to Canada's vitality and linguistic diversity.
On June 24, I am very proud as a Quebecker to celebrate Quebec's national holiday, an emblematic day that brings together Quebeckers and all those who carry in their hearts the love of our dynamic and endearing nation.
How can we talk about Quebec's national holiday without talking about Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day? This celebration, that draws its origins from popular traditions, has become a time for festivities across Quebec, but also in countless francophone communities from coast to coast to coast.
Throughout Canada's history, as Quebeckers, we have contributed to building a unique and prosperous country. I wish everyone a happy national holiday and a happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.
162 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:20:08 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the radical Liberal Minister of Environment's decree is jeopardizing thousands of forestry jobs in Quebec.
I will reverse this radical decree and protect those jobs, but, until then, the cost of wood for building housing is going to go up, and that is on top of the jobs that will be lost.
How many Quebeckers are going to lose their jobs because of this radical Liberal decree?
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:20:49 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has been responsible for protecting species at risk across the country for decades. When we need to protect species at risk, in this case caribou, we work with the provinces that have jurisdiction. We are looking at how to protect species at risk, as well as jobs.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Quebec government to protect both the environment and jobs.
70 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:21:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Quebec nation is capable of doing both. This falls under provincial jurisdiction.
It is because the Bloc Québécois has kept this radical Liberal government in power that this minister is now adopting this job-killing decree. What is more, the Bloc MP for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia said that the Bloc Québécois recognizes that Ottawa might interfere in this file.
Why did the Prime Minister listen to the Bloc Québécois's advice about getting involved in Quebec's jurisdiction to kill jobs in the forestry sector?
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:27:15 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Premier of British Columbia, David Eby, wrote to the Prime Minister to ask him to do a better job of sharing information on foreign interference with his province.
We know that the Prime Minister is not very proactive when it comes to foreign interference. In a very partisan way, he would rather shut his eyes and hope that the problem goes away. However, as we saw in Quebec with Hydro-Québec, the problem is that foreign interference is not just happening at the federal level.
Why is the Prime Minister refusing to share critical information on foreign interference with the Quebec and provincial governments?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:28:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's scatterbrained, laissez-faire approach to domestic security has consequences.
There are consequences to his refusal to provide information about the Winnipeg lab, to the point of suing the Speaker of the House, to his stubborn refusal to launch a commission of inquiry for months on end, to his refusal to co-operate with the Quebec and provincial governments on sharing information. The Prime Minister is part of the problem, not the solution. He needs to get his act together.
What is he waiting for to provide Quebec and the provinces with the information in his possession?
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:35:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is not for nothing that people are saying that the Minister of Environment needs to step down. Once again, he is going after forestry workers. He is jeopardizing thousands of jobs in Saguenay, even though Quebec has the largest network of protected areas for woodland caribou.
He wants to go ahead and impose his decree without understanding the social and economic impacts. A minister who lives in Montreal will never understand our regional issues. It feels like they want to shut down the regions.
When will the Minister of Environment stop punishing forestry workers, who are just trying to do their job and earn a living?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:36:14 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to remind my colleague that I was born and raised in the very beautiful town of La Tuque, just south of Lac‑Saint‑Jean, in the very beautiful riding of my friend, the Minister of Industry.
Second, Quebec itself has been promising to present a caribou recovery plan since 2016. In a joint letter between the federal government and the Government of Quebec in 2022, the Government of Quebec once again promised to put forward a caribou protection strategy and to protect at least 65% of the species' habitat.
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:36:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, how many times has the environment minister come to Saguenay to meet with forestry industry representatives? Once? Twice? No, it is zero times. He cannot even be bothered to leave Montreal.
The forestry industry is crucial for us. He does not seem to understand that. He needs to stop being so stubborn and scrap his decree. Thousands of jobs are at stake, and that represents thousands of families. The Conservatives will always protect forestry workers' paycheques.
Can the minister respect Quebec's jurisdictions once and for all and leave forestry workers alone?
94 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:38:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, nine years of this Liberal government is nine years of interference in Quebec's jurisdictions. The Minister of Environment wants to impose an emergency decree that will restrict the activities of forestry workers and jeopardize thousands of jobs in this sector in Quebec.
Only a Conservative government will protect forestry workers' jobs. Strangely enough, the member for Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia supports this Minister of Environment, saying that he can interfere in provincial jurisdictions.
When will this minister stop interfering in Quebec's jurisdictions with his radical ideas?
96 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:39:28 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after nine years in office, this Liberal government still does not know its place.
It continues to impose its incompetence on the provinces. It wants to adopt an emergency decree to protect the boreal caribou and trample all over the jurisdictions of the Government of Quebec, which is trying to protect jobs, nature and the economy. For some reason, the Bloc Québécois is helping the Liberals at every turn.
Will the Minister of Environment set aside his radical ideas, mind his own business and let Quebec look after its own affairs?
97 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:40:32 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the age well at home initiative is a perfect example of the federal government's heartlessness. Since 2022, the Government of Quebec has been asking Ottawa to send it the funds, given that the initiative concerns a Quebec jurisdiction, while Ottawa keeps trying to impose conditions.
Today, the federal government would rather stop sending cheques to seniors than reach an agreement with Quebec. Clearly, this government's priority is not to help people, but to make all the decisions and then try to look good by handing out cheques with maple leaves on them.
When is this government going to transfer the money instead of abandoning seniors?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:41:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, there is definitely a problem. This government had already created two classes of seniors. The government refuses to increase old age security for seniors aged 65 to 74, but seniors aged 75 and over are getting an increase.
With its age well at home program, Ottawa is again creating two new classes of seniors, specifically seniors in Quebec and those in Canada. Seniors in Quebec will not receive assistance from Ottawa under the program, which helps them stay in their own homes and supports community organizations, but seniors in Canada will.
What is the government waiting for to transfer the money? Why is it holding Quebec seniors hostage?
110 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:42:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, community organizations have been working hard to present and develop projects under this national program. Seniors need these projects, which involve things like delivering meals and helping with transportation.
We are working on solutions with Quebec because we want to make sure that community organizations get the money they need to help seniors. There are not two classes of seniors; there is only one, and this government will be there to help them all.
76 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Jun/18/24 2:59:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the federal government is slipping again when it comes to the French language. Canada Post is hiring unilingual anglophone mail carriers in Belœil and in Saint‑Rémi. Canada Post claims that people do not have to speak French to deliver the mail. Let us remind them that in Quebec, we work in French. We will not tolerate Canada Post anglicizing the workplace of Quebec employees.
It is just further evidence that the Charter of the French Language should be paramount. Knowledge of French is essential in Quebec.
Will the minister immediately set Canada Post straight?
102 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
