Louise Thibault

[Guaranteed Income Supplement, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the throne speech does not address the issue of poverty, particularly that of the elderly. At present, recipients of the maximum guaranteed income supplement live in poverty with $13,600 per year, which is below the low-income threshold, a euphemism for the poverty line. Not only does the government have the means to help seniors by providing a decent pension, it has the obligation and the responsibility to do so.

When will the government tackle the poverty of seniors and review the guaranteed income supplement in order to, among other things, improve this benefit substantially?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member referred to poverty in his speech. I would like him to comment on a specific population that is affected by poverty: our seniors.

Guaranteed income supplement recipients who are getting the maximum benefit are living under the poverty line. The current Conservative government, which has been in power since 2006, has given no real indication, either in the throne speech or in its actions, that it intends to address this dramatic situation.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, the minister spoke about the economy and wealth. He even referred to the North Star, a reference used in the conclusion of the throne speech, to toot his own horn. We were told that:

Like the North Star, Canada has been a guide to other nations—

After congratulating himself, could the minister tell us why the Conservative government ignores and neglects an entire segment of the population and the very sad, but true, reality of poverty? When will the government follow the light of this North Star and tackle poverty?

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, in her conclusion, my colleague touches on the issue of poverty, about which I would like to hear more from her.

In the throne speech, the Conservative government has chosen a so-called offensive strategy in matters of defence, crime and public safety and security. The vocabulary can be found in this document.

The government uses an attack approach and goes full steam ahead with everything connected to its ideology. However, when it is a matter of—to use one of its expressions—addressing poverty, the silence is resounding. And yet an entire segment of our society—comprised of youth, families and the elderly—is affected.

Thus, I would like to hear more about this from my colleague, whom I thank for her speech.

[Msgr. Bertrand Blanchet, October 22nd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, on September 19, on his 75th birthday, the archbishop of Rimouski, Msgr. Bertrand Blanchet, retired.

Msgr. Blanchet has always been deeply committed to his community and the land it occupies, and in 1975 he did his PhD in forestry sciences. He has never hesitated to take a stand on regional issues and has made people, their progress and their development his top priority.

Msgr. Blanchet develops the region as well as the consciousness.He is a committed man who uses his wisdom and humanity to help people cope with today's challenges without ever imposing his own views.

He is an inspiration. The archbishop of Rimouski helps us represent the Quebec we love. I want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to this compassionate man of the cloth who has kept his feet firmly on the ground in eastern Quebec where he has truly left his mark.

[Telecommunications, June 18th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, twice now, when it comes to local telephone services, the Minister of Industry has shown that he does not care about people in rural areas.

First, he denied that his government was leaving the door open to rate increases. Then his parliamentary secretary downplayed the importance of the CRTC's decision and invited people to appeal it, which is a process that does not actually apply in this case.

Back home, communities are getting organized. They will form a coalition and will demand that the government back down from its stance and protect rural people once again.

Will the minister listen to the people, hear their message and take action?

[International Trade, June 14th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, to the detriment of Quebec and Canadian companies and citizens, the Conservative government keeps accommodating the United States: a sellout agreement on softwood lumber; the implementation of new CFIA standards that penalize our beef producers, while their U.S. competitors will benefit slightly from the situation; and, finally, the U.S. government's announcement that its nationals will only need a simple piece of identification with a small receipt, while our nationals continue to line up at Passport Canada to satisfy U.S. requirements.

When will the Conservative government stop agreeing to be a slave to the U.S. government and start defending the interests of the public—

[Quebec National Holiday, June 11th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, on June 24, more than seven million Quebeckers will show their pride and their solidarity.

With pride in our beautiful language and our strength recognized the world over and in solidarity with Quebeckers who have achieved success around the world, Quebec will thrill to the sound of Québécois and international music and, in the glow of the bonfires, we will say loud and clear that it is good to come from Quebec.

I want to wish the men and women of Quebec a national day filled with humanity, openness and altruism. I hope that this special time will be filled with the well-being that we all feel when we know we have truly succeeded.

May you all enjoy the Quebec national holiday.

[Gasoline Prices, June 8th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, my riding covers over 8,000 square kilometres. Thirty-eight of the 41 municipalities in my riding are rural and located far from the main urban centre. Gasoline prices have an impact on my constituents' everyday lives and the economic vitality of the key sectors that affect them. Constant price hikes are putting rural communities at a real disadvantage. Once again this summer, it is likely that the rising price of gas will cost us dearly.

Given that in rural regions, nearly all travel is by road, and given that the price of gas affects agriculture, tourism and forestry, when will the Conservative government take action to address this problem that is hitting us especially hard?

[Points of Order, June 7th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. First of all, I would simply like to say that I support the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North and, second, that we should be very pleased here in this House, if a process becomes truly transparent. That is the foundation of democracy. Furthermore, I would like to point out to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons that, yesterday, I raised another issue, that is, if this were ever approved, even with the amended version, we would have three kinds of members: members who belong to a party, party members who are not recognized in this House and are not recognized as independent members, and lastly, the independent members. I think we must continue to resist this.