Francis Drouin

[Christian Lamoureux, October 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to pay tribute to someone I was fortunate to have in my life. Christian Lamoureux was a husband, a father and my friend.

Christian battled cancer for many years, yet despite the side effects that treatment can have, he always had a smile on his face and maintained his sense of optimism. I thank him for the time we shared at the cottage. I thank him for the many times he made us laugh. I will never forget one evening at Jason's, when he enlisted our entire group to help him look for his wallet, only to find it the next morning, right where he had left it, in his bag.

Last Friday, we all asked Christian if there was anything we could do for him. He simply told us to enjoy life to the fullest. That is a testament to his selfless love, even in times of suffering. Every one of us thanks him wholeheartedly for being part of our lives.

I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Mélanie, his children, Jade, Isabelle and Samuel, and his family.

The guys and I want to say “see you later” to Christian. We fully expect him to organize the hockey pool when we are together again someday.

[Volunteerism in Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, September 19th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to recognize some remarkable constituents in Glengarry—Prescott—Russell.

Yesterday, we held a ceremony to honour 20 outstanding individuals who have dedicated hours upon hours to improving the communities they call home.

Volunteerism is at the heart of our communities. Without volunteers there would be no music concerts, baseball leagues for our young people, fundraising for social causes, francophonie monuments in our villages, and so on.

I want to thank those who took the time to nominate the following people: Bernard Boulerice, André Brisson, Elizabeth Caddell, André Chamaillard, Robert Deguire, Paul Emile Duval, Reine Hébert, Liette Hotte, Alain Hupé, Connie Johnston, France Lamarche, Denis Tardif, Murielle Lanthier, Pierre Leroux, Don McDougald, Benoît Paré, Nicole Picard, Francis Lauzon, and François and Rachel Sigouin. I thank them very much for their contribution.

I congratulate them.

[Carbon Pricing, June 19th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, again, I will repeat that climate change costs money to farmers by not acting. In 2021, 30% of the grains out west did not make it to market. That is money that is supposed to go into farmers' pockets, and because of climate change it has not made it into farmers' pockets. Here is one thing we are working on. As of July 1, farmers will have a new opportunity, and I ask him to talk to canola farmers in his riding because they are all on side. They will be able to participate in a new economy, and this is great for farmers.

[Carbon Pricing, June 19th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, on-farm fuels are exempted from farms. They do not pay taxes on them. As the Parliamentary Budget Officer has already admitted in his report last week, there is $600 million of carbon taxes that has not been collected. In 2030, it will be $1.5 million that has not been charged to farmers.

As to the other point, he knows full well that this is good policy for canola farmers everywhere in Canada.

[Grocery Industry, June 16th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I wish my hon. colleague would have spoken to some of his members. What the recommendation says is that politicians should not be deciding what is a reasonable profit and that the Competition Bureau should be looking at it. As the recommendation talked about, if the Competition Bureau decided that, yes, there were excess profits, then perhaps the recommendation would be to look at implementing a windfall tax. However, politicians should not be deciding that. At the Competition Bureau, there is a process in place and it is looking at that.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, June 14th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, five reports of the delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF.

The first is respecting its participation in the APF's Parliamentary Affairs Committee meeting, held in Brussels, Belgium, from May 23 to 25, 2022.

The second is respecting its participation in the meeting of the Working Group on Reforming the APF Constitution, held in Paris on November 3 and 4, 2022.

The third is respecting its participation in the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Sharm el‑Sheikh on November 10 and 11, 2022.

The fourth is respecting its participation in the 18th Summit of La Francophonie, held in Djerba from November 18 to 20, 2022.

The fifth is respecting its participation in the fifth Leadership Workshop for Francophone Women Parliamentarians, held in Paris from December 12 to 16, 2022.

[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Canada, June 14th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark ALS Awareness Month, a time to reflect on a cause that affects the lives of many Canadians.

ALS is a progressive and terminal disease that affects nerve cells in the brain, resulting in a loss of muscle control.

In Canada, approximately 3,000 people live with this debilitating illness, with two to three Canadians diagnosed with ALS every day.

These statistics highlight the need for continued research, improved support for patients and caregivers, and increased public awareness of this disease.

Let us not forget the faces behind these numbers. In their honour, and in recognition of all Canadians affected by ALS, we need to continue on for a future without ALS.

I thank all the researchers who have dedicated countless hours towards developing treatments for this disease. Their work means everything to the ALS community, and I sincerely hope for, and wish them tremendous good luck in finding, a treatment for ALS.

[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness Month in Canada, June 14th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, Awareness Month, a time to reflect—

[Carbon Pricing, June 13th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, a noisy plan is not a climate plan.

We believe on this side of the House that farm fuels should be exempted on farms, and they are. We also believe that the clean fuel standard will bring great opportunities for farmers and especially canola farmers.

I would encourage the members on the other side, especially from out west, to have a conversation with the canola growers and see if they are supportive of this particular policy, because they are.

[Carbon Pricing, June 13th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, farm fuel is exempt from any price on pollution. I would encourage her to speak to canola farmers, as she would know then that the clean fuel standard is great for farmers—