Alain Therrien

[Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, there is no interpretation. There is nothing but silence on the French channel. I am not sure why.

[Presence in Gallery, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on Wednesdays, the Prime Minister is here to answer questions. We appreciate having him here to field all the questions, but unfortunately, he does not answer them. He cannot keep dodging questions like this. He was asked two questions about interference, but his answers were about forest fires.

I wish this noble assembly would be more serious and that questions would actually be answered.

[Democratic Institutions, June 5th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, CBC revealed that David Johnston hired crisis communications firm Navigator. He has the right to hire whoever he wants. That is not the problem. What is strange is that he did not hire this crisis management firm when he was in crisis last week, after he submitted his report that said no to a public inquiry. He hired the firm on the first day of his mandate.

Did Mr. Johnston already know, from the start, that he was going to oppose the public inquiry that Quebeckers and Canadians are calling for?

[Emergency Preparedness, June 5th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to express our solidarity with the Quebeckers who have been evacuated as a result of the forest fires and with all those who are worried. We stand with them. Our MPs are on the ground, and I want to point out that governments are currently working well together.

We are going to have to have a frank discussion about climate change but, in the short term, we must deal with the fires and fully support the victims.

Will the government accept our help and work with us?

[Democratic Institutions, June 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is not inconsequential: A foreign power is attacking our democracy.

Most Canadians are concerned and are calling for a public inquiry. Most of the people elected by these Canadians are calling for a public inquiry. Only one man, the Prime Minister, is going against the will of the people. The Prime Minister's only supporter, David Johnston, is an unelected individual who, by his own admission, reports only to the Prime Minister, and certainly not to Canadians or their elected officials.

If we want to defend our democracy, we must start by respecting our democracy. What does the Prime Minister not understand about that?

[Democratic Institutions, June 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the House voted again yesterday in favour of a public inquiry into Chinese interference.

The three opposition parties stood up for our constituents, who are demanding an inquiry. However, there is no inquiry because, as David Johnston explained yesterday, his mandate comes neither from the House nor from the people. His mandate comes from the Prime Minister himself.

The Prime Minister said, no, over my dead body, the people will not get an inquiry.

I know the Liberal members. They are democrats. Are they not embarrassed that their leader is the only one fighting this inquiry, but more importantly, the only one going against the entire population?

[Criminal Code, May 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the last time, you allowed the member to complete her speech even though she was in breach of the Standing Orders of the House. That was clearly explained in the remarks you read. Now, she is rising wearing the same T-shirt and you have just told my colleague that you would not allow that in the future. This is the future. Now, she is rising wearing the same T-shirt. I am sorry, but at some point, there are limits. Could you enforce the standing order that you read and that is extremely clear? She is obviously in breach of the Standing Orders. It was fine earlier, but this is not earlier, this is now.

[Points of Order, May 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois follows the rules to the letter. I think we are grown-up enough to abide by the rules. I would ask the Speaker to enforce the rules that are clear in this case.

[Democratic Institutions, May 29th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, this report seeks to protect the Prime Minister, not to shed light on Chinese interference. That is why no one has changed their mind about the need for a public inquiry. Quebeckers and Canadians alike are calling for an inquiry. The polls are clear.

This report that is soft on the Prime Minister was written by a man who was selected by the Prime Minister. That is not what the public and the House want.

News flash: The Bloc Québécois will hound the Prime Minister every day until he launches this inquiry.

Does he understand that he will not get away with this that easily?

[Democratic Institutions, May 29th, 2023]

Let us get right to the point, Mr. Speaker. David Johnston's report on Chinese interference is a farce. No one accepts it except the Prime Minister and China, which is having a great laugh.

There is no way we are going to let the Prime Minister get away with not calling a public inquiry.

What would it mean if there were no public inquiry? That would mean no inquiry into the threats against elected officials, no inquiry into the Trudeau Foundation, no inquiry into the intimidation of the Chinese diaspora and no inquiry into the 11 candidates who were funded by China. This charade serves only to protect the Prime Minister.

When will there be an independent public inquiry?