Alain Therrien

[Democratic Institutions, March 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the independence of the special rapporteur. The Prime Minister does not need him in order to take action. The proof is that he did not wait for his recommendations to create his national office. He is dictating the findings of the rapporteur before the rapporteur even gets a chance to speak, and he is adding that to the budget. Hello independence.

The special rapporteur and this new national office are constructs invented by the Prime Minister and under the control of the Prime Minister, because the Prime Minister wants to use them to his benefit and the Prime Minister wants to control the information. Those are the facts.

Quebeckers are no fools. They want an independent public inquiry.

[Democratic Institutions, March 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about Chinese interference. In the budget, the government is creating a new scheme, the national counter-foreign interference office.

By doing so, the Prime Minister is confirming that all the committees, expert panels and robust measures he has been talking about for weeks do not work, and he knows it. He is proving that his government was duped by China in the last two elections, and he knows it.

Does this not prove that we need an independent public commission of inquiry?

[Denise Poirier‑Rivard, March 29th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today I want to take advantage of the fact that Ms. Poirier‑Rivard is visiting Parliament and pay her the tribute she deserves. She has a long list of accomplishments to her name, and her life partner, Jean‑Paul, has been by her side for all of them.

At the age of 40, this mother became a farmer, purchasing a farm and starting up a cheese business called Ruban bleu. She earned the admiration of her peers and received numerous honours, including the UPA's female farmer of the year award in 2003.

This distinguished businesswoman served as the Bloc Québécois member of Parliament for Châteauguay—Saint-Constant from 2004 to 2006, but her political and social involvement did not stop there. She was also a municipal councillor, vice-president of the Fondation Anna‑Laberge and president of La Rencontre Châteauguoise.

I wish to join my friend and mayor of Saint‑Constant, Jean-Claude Boyer, who is also here, in thanking Ms. Poirier‑Rivard from the bottom of my heart for her contribution, which has left an indelible mark on our wonderful community.

[Democratic Institutions, March 28th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister should pay more attention to his credibility, because credibility is key.

Every piece of information that the Prime Minister has received from intelligence services about Chinese interference since 2019 goes in one ear and out the other. Whether it is out of complacency or naivety, we are not sure. The truth is that he does not have the credibility to lead the investigation. He does not have the credibility to choose the commissioner, let alone the rapporteur. He does not have the credibility to give any sort of mandate.

The only credible move is for him to launch an independent public inquiry. When will he wake up?

[Democratic Institutions, March 28th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about interference. Media reports have alleged that a Liberal MP advised a Chinese diplomat to halt the release of Canadians in China. On Friday, The Globe and Mail reported that the Prime Minister had been informed of that conversation in 2021, but he did not consider it serious enough to intervene. However, it was serious enough for the Liberal MP to leave the caucus. It was serious enough for several sources to leak the information. It was serious enough for the media to publish it.

Is everyone else wrong to think this is serious, or is this another example of the Prime Minister's poor judgment?

[Democratic Institutions, March 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I forgot that the Prime Minister is not the only one who does not want an inquiry. His Liberal buddy Jean Chrétien feels the same way. Interference is not a big deal to Mr. Chrétien as long as the Chinese ambassador or consul general were not walking around with envelopes stuffed with cash. In other words, as long as there are no envelopes full of cash, there is no need to launch an inquiry into our democracy.

Is that still the Liberal standard for ethical behaviour? Is the Prime Minister comfortable with the fact that his only ally against an independent public inquiry is the man behind the sponsorship scandal?

[Democratic Institutions, March 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about Chinese interference. We have not forgotten about it. The Prime Minister has not managed to sweep it under the rug.

On Thursday, the House of Commons voted in favour of holding an independent public inquiry into Chinese interference. The Bloc agrees, the NDP agrees, the Conservatives agree and 72% of Canadians agree. Even the member for Don Valley North agrees. Even the Liberal member against whom the most serious allegations have been levelled is calling for a real commission to investigate.

When will the Prime Minister understand that his only defensible option is an independent public commission of inquiry?

[Democratic Institutions, March 23rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, delay can be fatal.

First, we learned that China was interfering in elections. Yesterday, we learned that a Liberal member had allegedly advised a Chinese diplomat to take action that was not in the interest of Canadian citizens. This is serious. I am not making this up.

As we learn about this and more and more incidents are reported by the media, we note that there is still no commission of inquiry and that the government has appointed an old friend to determine whether or not there will be a commission of inquiry, when in fact, one should be launched right now. There should be an independent commission of public inquiry. It is urgent.

When will it be launched?

[Democratic Institutions, March 23rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers were already concerned about Chinese interference in our electoral system, but another line was crossed yesterday when very serious allegations were levelled against a Liberal MP. It is no longer just our electoral system at stake, it is the people's confidence in their elected representatives in this Parliament.

The Prime Minister should not be appointing his friend to reflect on whether or not a commission of inquiry should perhaps be launched at some point. Now is the time to act.

When will the Prime Minister finally set up a public and independent commission of inquiry? It is urgent.

[Democratic Institutions, March 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, using “Johnston” and “independent” in the same sentence does not work.

We are not blaming Mr. Johnston for being a member of the Trudeau foundation. We are not blaming him for having a cottage next door to the Prime Minister's. We are not blaming him for being a close friend of the family. We are not even blaming him for saying that he felt at home when he went on a trip to China.

We are not blaming Mr. Johnston for anything. However, for the Prime Minister to select Mr. Johnston out of the 38 million people he had to choose from, he must be doing it on purpose. He must enjoy being his own worst enemy.

Can the Prime Minister help his friend out of this mess and do as everyone is asking and immediately set up an independent public commission of inquiry?