Sylvie Boucher

[International Day of La Francophonie, March 20th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, today is the International Day of La Francophonie. During the week of March 6 to 12, I took part in a leadership workshop and meetings of the Association parlementaire de la Francophonie with other French-speaking women parliamentarians from around the world at the Quebec National Assembly. This was also an opportunity to note just how much the French language acts as a common link across the five continents.

Many French Canadians, including Céline Dion and Xavier Dolan, have proven that it is possible to be successful internationally in French, just as Alain Bouchard, the founder of the Couche-Tard convenience store chain, has done in the business world.

It is the duty of all parliamentarians to ensure that the French language is respected, maintained, and continually protected. We all need to rise above party politics on this matter.

To the francophones of Quebec, of Canada, and the entire world, and to everyone who choses to speak French, I say happy International Day of La Francophonie.

[Taxation, February 24th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, ever since this government came to power, there has been no end to the tax measures that hurt middle-class families. They are forced to pay more taxes and all sorts of exorbitant fees, and we still do not know whether dental care will be taxed as well.

Sometimes I wonder whether the Liberal slogan should be, “I tax, therefore I am”.

Do Canadians need to pay $1,500 to the Minister of Finance to get him to listen to them and agree to reduce their tax burden?

[Ethics, February 23rd, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been in office for 18 months and is already under investigation by a number of commissioners, including the Ethics Commissioner. That is unheard of for a Canadian prime minister.

Even though the Gomery Commission brought to light the Liberals' questionable ethics, they clearly did not learn anything from their 10-year exile.

How many times will the Prime Minister have to be investigated before he finally puts an end to his questionable practices and flexible ethics?

[Alzheimer's Disease, February 22nd, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, when illness grips a family, life becomes precious. When illness becomes part of our daily lives, we must get up, take stock, and become resilient. That is why today I want to pay tribute to a remarkable woman, my mother. She was my friend, my guiding light, my pillar of strength, my source of comfort during turbulent times in my life. She stood by me during the tough times.

Everything she was for me I now have to be for her because Alzheimer's disease has entered our daily lives and robbed us of so much. It is hard to watch as people we love deeply lose their memories and it is even harder to be so helpless in the face of this disease. Time spent in my mother's company can be both precious and painful.

Becoming a caregiver is not easy, but it is very rewarding.

Thank you, mom. I love you.

[Ethics, February 17th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, never before has a Canadian prime minister been the subject of two ethics investigations, one of which could lead to sanctions.

Either the Prime Minister does not understand that he is supposed to be above suspicion or he does not care.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit that he broke the law when he rode in his friend's private helicopter during his personal vacation?

[Justice, February 15th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, last fall the Minister of Justice pledged to fill 60 judicial vacancies in Canada in order to address the issue of inordinate court delays. Since then, only 24 positions have been filled, which is clearly not enough and has led to trials being dropped, including trials involving such serious offences as murder and rape.

When will the Minister of Justice finally keep her promise and show consideration and respect for the victims and their families?

[Justice, February 13th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, for some time now we have noticed the laxness of the Liberal Party and its propensity to reduce criminals' sentences.

The Liberal government's priority clearly seems to be lighter sentences for criminals, as demonstrated by its Bill C-38. We can see that the Liberals care more about criminals and that they have no consideration for victims and their families.

When will the Prime Minister stand up for victims of crime?

[Small Business, February 10th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have been in office for a year and a half.

For a year and a half, the economy has been mismanaged, no full-time jobs have been created, and SMEs have been abandoned. What is the government's solution? It is overtaxing SMEs, which is cutting into their revenue and preventing them from hiring middle-class workers, all so that it can finance its out-of-control spending.

Why is the Prime Minister directly attacking those that contribute the most to our economy?

[Status of Women, February 2nd, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, we are tired of hearing talking points; we want real answers today.

The former minister of status of women spent the tidy amount of $1.1 million renovating her office. Many organizations that help women could have really used that money.

Can the Minister of Status of Women explain why her priority was renovations rather than women who are very short of money?

[Ethics, January 31st, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie seems to have taken a page out of the Prime Minister's playbook when it comes to lavish spending. She has used the ministerial car service 55 times to return to her riding. Everyone on this side of the House knows that an expense that is technically legal is not necessarily ethical.

In this new year, will the government members finally get their priorities straight and stop picking the pockets of Canadian taxpayers?