Bernard Généreux

[Carbon Pricing, December 9th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, people in rural regions like mine and across Canada have to heat their homes. The cold weather has set in. What happens in winter? Bills go up. The worst thing is that they will continue to go up with the Liberals' plan to triple their carbon tax. People do not need long-term measures right now. They need immediate action to help them get through the coming winter. They are stretched thin, and the government remains completely indifferent.

What is the government waiting for? Why does it not immediately cancel its plan to raise that tax?

[Committees of the House, November 30th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, we are submitting a dissenting report.

This government went on a spending spree during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Over $200 billion of that was not associated with COVID‑19 at all.

Inevitably, we cannot accept this report as is. That is why we will be filing a dissenting report.

[Democratic Institutions, November 25th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, ever since it was reported in the media that the Chinese communist regime tried to influence the outcome of elections in Canada, the Prime Minister keeps saying that he was not briefed on it, that he was not informed.

He must know something, however, because Canada's intelligence services cannot keep the Prime Minister in the dark. That is impossible.

Did he receive any briefings or memos on Chinese electoral interference, yes or no?

[2022 Business Conference, November 25th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, Rendez-vous Affaires 2022 took place on October 13 and 14 on my initiative. It was an economic event to give us an opportunity to get to know each other in a large riding like mine.

We can be extremely proud of the event's success, which was held with the support of the three chambers of commerce for the Rivière‑du‑Loup, Montmagny and Kamouraska—L'Islet RCMs. Given that 75 exhibitors and more than 2,000 people attended, including many young people from schools in my region, I think we can safely say, “mission accomplished”.

I want to take this opportunity to thank my major partners, Premier Tech, Rousseau Métal, Maisons Laprise and Alstom, for their important contribution to the event. As an entrepreneur myself, I think that the economy has a significant impact on our lives, particularly in our communities. I therefore think it is important to make these businesses attractive to everyone, but especially to employees who want to come work in our region.

I am very proud of my community and pleased to once again say, “mission accomplished”. Long live Montmagny, L'Islet, Kamouraska and Rivière‑du‑Loup.

[Inflation, November 16th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are worried. They feel as though they have lost control of their finances, and they are right.

Today, we learned that the consumer price index was 6.9% higher in October than it was a year ago. Here are some concrete examples. A pound of butter now costs $8.29 and a litre of gasoline costs over $2.50, sometimes even $3 in some regions.

These increasing prices are having unfortunate consequences. Food bank use has reached record highs. Parents are being forced to skip meals so that they can feed their children.

What is this government doing? Nothing. The recent economic update does nothing to stop inflation, nothing to address the cost of living crisis and nothing for citizens who are struggling to stay afloat.

The Conservatives have some very simple and practical suggestions: no tax hikes and no new spending.

[Taxation, November 4th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, we are definitely not living in the same reality.

Families are struggling and they are being forced to use their credit cards more and more to stay afloat and meet their basic needs.

A recent Equifax study shows that the average credit card balance has reached a record high in Canada. Over half of Canadians polled said that they were concerned about their level of personal debt. They need to catch their breath.

Will the Prime Minister listen to them and not increase taxes in 2023?

[Taxation, November 4th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, everything costs more. The cost of food has gone up 10% and the cost of housing has doubled since the Prime Minister took office. Diesel fuel now costs over $2.50 a litre in Quebec.

Rather than helping families, the government wants to take more money from workers' pay cheques.

The only thing we are asking the government to do is to not increase taxes. Will it do that in 2023?

[Taxation, November 4th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, inflation is at a 40-year high. This week, butter, which is usually a staple on Canadian families' tables, is $8.29 a pound. It has practically become a luxury good. More and more parents are being forced to make agonizing choices, or even worse, to go without meals so their children can eat. Food banks were visited by 1.5 million Canadians in a single month. That is the sad reality, and that is on top of the ever-increasing cost of housing, home heating, groceries and transportation.

The inflation we are currently experiencing is a result of the government's out-of-control spending. The government has had its wallet wide open and its credit card out for years now. It has shown no restraint or forethought. We are in this situation because of the government's recklessness, but now it is time to course correct. If the government is serious, it will not increase taxes. It will reduce taxes and continue to lower the carbon tax.

[Public Services and Procurement, November 1st, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, because of this government's non-stop spending, inflation keeps rising and families in Quebec have to cope with ever-increasing bills.

Instead of spending prudently over the past few years, the government kept spending recklessly. For example, it sank $54 million into the pricey ArriveCAN app, an app that could have been developed over a weekend for $250,000. The difference is astounding.

When will the government do the right thing and refer this matter to the Auditor General of Canada so she can get to the bottom of this wasteful spending?

[Petitions, October 24th, 2022]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition about Bill S‑223, a bill that seeks to combat trafficking in human organs.

This bill has appeared in various forms in the House of Commons over the past 15 years at least, and I think we need to pass it. This petition urges us to pass Bill S‑223 as quickly as possible.