André Bellavance

[Health, March 31st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the 2004 health accord expires today. Under the new framework, Quebec will lose almost $10 billion in 10 years. Quebeckers who have been anxiously waiting for health care will have to do without that $10 billion. Like the Liberals before them, the Conservatives are forcing sick people to pay the price of their return to a balanced budget. Even worse, with the money saved at the expense of patients, the Conservatives promised to allow income splitting, a measure that helps only the richest members of our society. Is that how the federal government operates? Does it put less money toward health care so that it can give even more to the wealthy?

[Natural Resources, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, it was disappointing to see the National Energy Board authorize Enbridge's line 9B reversal project, even though the company is not abiding by all the conditions set by the Quebec National Assembly. Quebec only wants to ensure that Enbridge—which is responsible for the worst-ever oil spill on American soil—fully complies with all of the security regulations.

When will the Minister of Natural Resources intervene and ensure that security measures will be taken before this project gets under way, in particular by creating an intergovernmental oversight committee, conducting a review of oil transportation legislation and requiring a sufficient financial guarantee to ensure that Enbridge can pay for any and all damage in the case of a disaster?

[International Women's Day, March 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my Bloc Québécois colleagues, I would like to pay tribute to the women who have built Quebec and continue to build it every day. This year especially, my thoughts turn to our former colleague, Francine Lalonde, who was always ready to fight the good fight.

March 8 is an opportunity to look at what has been achieved, to call for change, and to celebrate the courageous actions of women determined to change things. It is a day to reiterate that equality must remain one of our goals.

Every year, the Collectif 8 mars, a coalition of women's groups, chooses a theme. This year, it chose “Keys within everyone's reach” to represent doors opened by women in our society and the importance of using all of the keys available to make strides toward a fairer and more egalitarian society.

The Bloc Québécois is strongly reasserting its commitment to stand up for Quebec women's interests in the federal political arena.

[Canada-Honduras Economic Growth and Prosperity Act, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague for his speech.

This government has often brought in free trade agreements. Some have been beneficial for Canada, Quebec, the other provinces and the signatory countries.

However, in other cases, such as the Colombia agreement—that is the most recent example I can think of—there have been reprisals against journalists, arbitrary imprisonments and environmental and labour rights violations. I believe that we will see the same pattern with the Honduras free trade agreement.

Should the government not be setting an example when ratifying free trade agreements? Should it not be showing the world and the country concerned that an economic agreement could be concluded, but that first and foremost the country must respect fundamental rights? That is what the member mentioned in his speech. It seems to me that we would be setting an example before entering into a free trade agreement.

The Conservatives are doing the exact opposite. They are telling us that they will sign the agreement and then convince them to improve their human rights record.

Does my colleague have any examples where such agreements have been signed with countries such as Colombia and the situation has improved? I do not believe so, and I would like to hear what he has to say about that.

[Infrastructure, February 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the cat is out of the bag. Yesterday, the Minister of Infrastructure put together a hasty announcement about funding to build an ice oval in Quebec City.

When asked where the money would come from, the minister stated that it was money left over from the infrastructure fund. What he did not say was that Quebec and the municipalities were already planning to spend those millions of dollars on other projects, such as widening highway 185 and the drinking water projects in Quebec City, Lévis and Trois-Rivières. Now they are worried that the federal government will cross those major projects off its list.

Can the minister guarantee that the money set aside for those other projects and for the Quebec City ice oval will definitely be available?

[Georges Hamel, February 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the country music community has lost one of its greats, Georges Hamel, who was known as the gentleman of country music.

Georges Hamel began his career 40 years ago as a member of Victoriaville's Trio Western. He went on to become one of the most popular artists on the country music scene in Quebec and North America, selling two million records and winning four Félix awards and the medal of the National Assembly of Quebec. He had recently released his 44th album.

In paying tribute to Georges Hamel, Premier Pauline Marois said that he had “opened doors for many artists of his era and paved the way for the next generation”. Hamel's legacy includes vibrant songs about the everyday lives of ordinary people, songs he had sung from the time he released his first album, Guitare, chante avec moi, up to his latest hit, Une fleur pour vous, a chart-topper from the day it was released.

My Bloc Québécois colleagues and I would like to express our most sincere condolences to his wife, his two daughters, the rest of his family and his fans.

[International Trade, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, according to the Minister of International Development, Quebec cheese makers have to wait for the Canada-Europe free trade agreement to come into effect to find out whether they will be compensated for their loss of revenue.

However, the government did not hesitate to give $280 million to the fishers in Newfoundland also affected by this agreement, or to hand over $500 million to the automotive industry in Ontario to cover the potential consequences of an agreement with South Korea—an agreement that has not yet even been ratified or signed.

Why is it that what is good for fishers in Newfoundland and car makers in Ontario is not good for cheese makers in Quebec?

I would like to have an answer from someone serious.

[Democratic Reform, February 14th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the real intent behind the government's election reform has come to light. The accusation made by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government that the Chief Electoral Officer is engaged in political activism reminds us that, on April 29, 2008, a few days after Elections Canada searched their party's office, the Conservatives all voted against a Bloc Québécois motion demanding that the House express its full and complete confidence in Elections Canada.

How can the Minister of State for Democratic Reform, who voted against the Bloc Québécois motion, still try to have us believe that his bill is not a vendetta against Elections Canada and the Chief Electoral Officer?

[Agriculture and Agri-food, February 7th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of State for Agriculture has made a fool of himself by using the Canadian charter to explain his government's lax approach in dealing with the porcine epidemic diarrhea issue.

In his view, respect for individual freedom would preclude the cleaning of trucks that cross the border. Pork producers have had enough obstacles to overcome over the past few years. There is no need for the minister to laugh at them too.

If there is one serious member in this government, could he or she confirm that biosecurity measures, such as truck cleaning, will be mandatory, as demanded by MAPAQ, the Fédération des producteurs de porcs du Québec, swine veterinarians in Quebec and, finally, the Government of Quebec?

Could anyone give an answer without invoking the Canadian charter to prevent the cleaning of trucks?

[Fair Elections Act, February 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague mentioned some important amendments that should be made to this bill. The government omitted a few things. This may be an oxymoron, but I believe that they were voluntary omissions. This bill is quite broad in that it touches on just about everything, but it does not mention the issue of voting while wearing a veil.

Keep in mind that in 2007 the Bloc Québécois was the first party to introduce a bill requiring voters to show their faces when voting. The Conservatives went along with that and all of the parties voted in favour of the bill at second reading. Since the minister seemed open to this during question period, I would like to ask the member if she and her party would be willing to support a Bloc Québécois amendment in relation to requiring voters to show their faces when voting.