Denis Lebel

[Employment, January 30th, 2017]

But it costs $1,500, Mr. Speaker.

Canada will be facing many challenges this year. The government must stop making taxpayers pay more taxes. Forestry workers want an agreement to bring stability to their sector. When it comes to free trade with the U.S., we must protect Canadian jobs.

Will the Prime Minister stop changing the ethics rules that are not to his liking and focus on the Canadian economy and Canadian workers?

[Democratic Reform, January 30th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, instead of following the laws on party financing, the Prime Minister has decided to change the law because the optics will be better. However, that is not the case. The law does the job, but it must be obeyed.

Will the Prime Minister promise to work for all Canadians, and not just do partisan work for the Liberal Party of Canada?

[Ethics, December 13th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, the only full-time position they have created since coming to power is probably the one held by the person responsible for rewriting all of their messaging since yesterday because they completely changed their response.

When one is in government, one must handle state affairs with utmost dignity. I know that the Prime Minister wants to do that, but I am told that yesterday, the government admitted to discussing state business during these events. Meeting people and talking to them is one thing, but getting them to pay $1,500 for the privilege is an ethical problem. This has to stop, and the government has to stop talking government business during party activities.

[Ethics, December 13th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, after weeks of questions, yesterday, the Prime Minister finally admitted that he had discussed government business at fundraising events. Every time the Prime Minister accepts a $1,500 donation for his party, he engages in behaviour that is unworthy of the position of Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister should be above all that and should never give the impression that people can buy favours from the government. Is the Prime Minister aware of the impact this has and will he stop behaving this way?

[Consumer Protection, December 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, we do not need to delay implementation of the bill—the bill should simply be withdrawn. This is what needs to be done.

The premier of Quebec has asked for it to be withdrawn. The premier trusts the Senate, although perhaps he no longer trusts the members across the way. We believe that we need to continue protecting consumers, not bankers.

We will get the job done!

[Consumer Protection, December 12th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, if a member of the Quebec National Assembly were present in the House today, he would agree with us on C-29 , because it encroaches on provincial jurisdictions.

The government is meddling again in areas of provincial jurisdiction. The bill will change consumers' rights and protections.

Will the Prime Minister stop interfering in areas of provincial jurisdiction, withdraw the contentious elements of Bill C-29, and respect consumers?

[Ethics, December 7th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, perhaps it is only unprecedented for the Liberal Party.

I had the honour of being part of a government that travelled across the country, all year round, in preparation for the budget every year, with former ministers Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Oliver. We criss-crossed the country.

Perhaps it is unprecedented for the Liberals, but not for a Canadian government.

Asking for $1,500 for access to the Prime Minister and to be able to talk to him, now that is unprecedented.

Do the Liberals realize that giving access to the Prime Minister in exchange for money violates the rules of ethics?

[Ethics, December 7th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, clearly, the office of prime minister deserves to be treated with a great deal of respect. I am confident that the Prime Minister will continue to do so, but again today, another fundraising activity involving him, this time in Montreal, is raising questions.

The organizers candidly promoted the fact that participants could have privileged access to the Prime Minister if they paid $1,500 to attend the event.

Does the Prime Minister realize that, when people do that, they are tarnishing the Prime Minister's image?

[Ethics, December 6th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, when non-Canadians attend a gathering and did not pay to be there, obviously they are there to lobby the Prime Minister. That is very clear.

This morning, we discovered that we have a very hard time getting access to the Prime Minister so we can ask him our questions.

Will MPs have to pay $1,500 to ask a question?

[Ethics, December 6th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, they can give any answer they want, but the fact is that the Prime Minister admitted to the House that he attended a fundraiser with Chinese billionaires to talk about Canadian issues. He said that his intent was to attract investors to Canada.

Was it a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser or an event during which people could lobby the Prime Minister on matters of personal interest to them?