Francis Drouin

[International Trade, September 27th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would encourage my friend, once again, not to spend his time trying to convince us. We are already convinced. He should spend more time on the phone making calls to the other place.

Our government has always defended supply management and it will always defend it. Indeed, we gave $5 billion to protect our dairy farmers, to ensure that our poultry farmers have a future here in Canada. Our government has always defended supply management and it always will. I encourage the Bloc Québécois members to make calls to the other place.

[International Trade, September 27th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have made some calls, and I would encourage my colleague to make the same calls. Our government has always defended supply management, but imagine what would have happened if the Conservatives had still been in power in 2018. They wanted us to kneel down before the American negotiators. We stood up for dairy farmers. We stood up for poultry farmers. We will always stand up to protect supply management.

[20th Anniversary of Groupe Convex, September 27th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Groupe Convex, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Groupe Convex brings together several social enterprises that provide laundry, moving, carpentry and packaging services, as well as recyclable sorting and storage. Groupe Convex does all this by offering employment and skill development opportunities to people living with a disability.

I want to thank the founding members, including Raymond Lemay, Normand Charette and Caroline Arcand, who not only put long hours into ensuring that Groupe Convex became a reality, but who also had the vision to fill an unmet need in our community, while providing meaningful work for a vulnerable population. I also want to thank Éric Drouin, his team and all the employees of Groupe Convex, who continue to provide excellent services. I wish this organization continued success.

[Business of Supply, September 26th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague. I also have the good fortune to work with him on the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Of course, I supported Bill C‑282, as did our government. I am well aware that the Leader of the Opposition and his local riding association have twice raised the idea of getting rid of supply management with his political party. The possibility exists that the House leader of the official opposition could become the minister of foreign affairs. He once described Brexit as a good thing.

I would like my colleague to help me understand the political game that the Conservatives are playing at the expense of farmers, specifically when it comes to Bill C‑234.

[Business of Supply, September 26th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, imagine a member of Parliament who has spent 20 years of his life in this place repeating slogans like “build the homes", but the only plan he can come up with is a Nimbyism line for people to call for “not in my backyard”. I am wondering how many homes that is going to build. The point is that if Conservatives want to go into an election, they have to show Canadians a plan. Five lines is not a plan. How many homes is a phone line going to build for Canadians?

[Lorraine Henderson, June 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight the work of an exceptional member of the House of Commons' broadcasting team who, after a career spanning more than 32 years, will be retiring in the next few days.

Lorraine Henderson began her career at the House of Commons in 1992. She quickly gained her co-workers' confidence after establishing high broadcasting standards that fulfilled members' expectations. Over the years, she has contributed to the success of many important events, including visits by President Biden, Prime Minister Rutte and Malala Yousafzai.

A pioneer in a non-traditional occupation, she was one of the first women to be appointed television production director for the House of Commons. She inspired many women to join the broadcasting team. Her professionalism and dedication over the years have been exemplary.

Her legacy at the House of Commons will live on, and we are extremely grateful.

I wish her a happy retirement and thank her for her service.

[Interparliamentary Delegations, June 12th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, or APF, respecting its participation at the meeting of the APF Cooperation and Development Committee and Symposium on Scientific Information in Parliaments held in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, from May 24 to 26, 2023, and at the bureau meeting of the APF held in Brussels, Belgium, from January 25 to 28, 2024.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, June 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague knows, AgriRecovery involves an analysis conducted not only by the federal government, but also with the province. This is done in collaboration with the Government of Quebec. The two work in partnership. I am sure they will have an answer very soon. However, I understand all too well that, in times of crisis, an answer can never come fast enough.

In the future, we will keep working with all the provinces to ensure that our programs respond more quickly to these climate change crises.

[Agriculture and Agri-Food, June 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, obviously our hearts go out to the farmers who went through some tough times last year.

As my hon. colleague is well aware, AgriRecovery is a partnership between the province and the federal government. We are working to determine whether the program will apply and will have a response very soon.

[Taxation, June 5th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I am old enough to remember that contracts are awarded by public servants, and I am old enough to remember that the same company made quite a living under the previous Conservative government.

Contracts are given to companies such as McKinsey, PwC, Deloitte and KPMG to advise the government, and I would not necessarily put a red hat or a blue hat. They have done very well under significant governments, but if some have broken the rules, then they should face the full consequence of the law, and that is our position.