Soraya Martinez Ferrada

[Government Priorities, December 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make one thing clear. On this side of the House, we are working for Quebeckers and we are negotiating with the Government of Quebec to ensure that all of the investments that we are making are good for Quebeckers.

Here are a few examples: the dental care program and the Canada child benefit. In the economic update, there are measures to enhance the rent supplement. In fact, the government pays the rent supplement for low-income housing. There is also AI, housing and more. Our government worked with the Government of Quebec to resolve the situation with Chic Resto Pop.

[Government Priorities, December 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague well knows, we have won the confidence of the House several times in recent weeks.

She may not have read all the appendices and items in the economic statement we presented yesterday, but there is one aspect that should really interest her. We included support for culture and support for tourism in the economic statement in order to bring more conventions and conferences here.

Honestly, everyone should be proud of the investment our government is making in culture.

[Housing, December 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. It gives me the opportunity to tell him, in case he does not know already, that we just announced, precisely in my riding, that 720 housing units would be saved and taken off the market.

One of the challenges we face is not only to build affordable and social housing, but also to ensure the long-term sustainability of affordable housing and to take thousands of units off the market.

That is exactly what we are going to do.

[Taxation, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, what is the Conservative leader doing for people to give them a tax holiday? He is doing nothing.

I am sure my colleagues are all familiar with the popular Christmas movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. That is what is happening here.

That story had a happy ending, but in our case, the heart of the Conservative leader is not growing. He simply does not want to help families with a tax holiday on toys, diapers and groceries. Canadians can no longer trust the Conservative Party leader.

[Public Services and Procurement, December 2nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I will repeat what my colleague said. In fact, her response was very good. I will provide it in French in case my colleague did not hear the interpretation.

We are pleased that the Conservatives can read a report that does not require them to have security clearance. This document, which is very public and everyone can read, mentions one thing that cannot be denied. Were it not for this government, thousands of businesses across the country would not have survived. That is exactly what we are doing. We are ensuring that businesses are able to pay their employees and their expenses, and that they are resilient in the face of the biggest pandemic we have ever had.

[Taxation, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I represent a riding in which, by the end of the month, people often have to buy their food at Dollarama. By downplaying the impact that the measure we introduced today will have on Canadians' and Quebeckers' wallets, some members are showing that they do not understand what people are going through, especially vulnerable people. We want to give them a break. This is a break, a tax holiday, that will help them have enjoy the holiday season more.

I do not understand how the Bloc Québécois can vote against this measure.

[Seniors, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am not trying to buy votes today. I am just trying to give Canadians and Quebeckers a chance to buy essential items during the holidays. What I do not understand is why the Bloc Québécois does not want to support a measure that will directly help not only all Quebeckers, but also seniors during this period.

Today, I received an email from a constituent that said: “The Bloc Québécois just lost my vote, because their blackmail is insulting”.

[Taxation, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again, today is a good day. Canadians across the country, including Quebeckers, are getting a tax holiday.

I do not understand why my colleague on the other side of the House does not want to support Canadians. The Conservatives' hidden agenda involves austerity and cutting programs such as housing construction. Today, it is very clear that they do not want to support Quebeckers and give them a tax holiday during the toughest time of year.

[The Economy, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. We were the first to introduce a disability benefit. My brother has a disability. Our government was the first government to bring in direct help for people with physical disabilities.

The $250 cheque that we want to send out is a cheque that we want to send to workers. It is ironic to hear such a comment coming from a party that has been always said it stands up for workers. That being said, we estimate that more than one million working seniors will be eligible for this cheque. People with disabilities who are in the labour market will also be eligible for this cheque.

[The Economy, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today is a good day.

With support from the NDP, we are going to vote in favour of a tax break for all Canadians, including seniors. We thank the NDP, because all we hear from the other side of the House is a party of grinches who refuse to change and who do not want to vote for a tax break.

I thank the NDP, because it cares about Canadians as much as we do. We will continue to work with the NDP to make sure we support all Canadians across the country.