Jean-François Larose

[Business of Supply, January 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, I heard the government say that Forces et Démocratie has never governed.

I cannot understand how the government can say it is so competent and exhibit such certainty about the budget and the direction it is going to go in with oil, and at the same time say that the reason the budget is being postponed is that the market is volatile. To my knowledge, the market was volatile last year as well.

Since the government, which is so very competent, was not able to foresee this market volatility, does it intend to make any changes or bring anything new to the table? Does it acknowledge that there is a problem? Is it reasonable to have to dip into the $3 billion emergency fund? Does it understand the repercussions that postponing the budget to such a late date is going to have on the provinces and the public?

[National Defence, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised Canadians that the Canadian Forces' mission in Iraq would not be a ground combat mission. He has broken that promise. Even the Chief of the Defence Staff has acknowledged that there are Canadian soldiers at the front.

Since the mission is completely different than what Canadians were told it would be, the Prime Minister needs to set the record straight and move a new motion this week for debate in the House. Will he do that?

[The Environment, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, COSEWIC is recommending that belugas be considered an endangered species, but the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans says that we need to wait for consultations and analyses to be done.

Consultations with whom? Oil magnates? Who is going to conduct a more credible analysis than scientists? When will the minister smarten up and put belugas on the endangered species list?

[Forces et Démocratie, December 12th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I want to wish everyone all the best for the holiday season. I also want to tell people not to lose hope for 2015.

Despite the political cynicism caused by a government that refuses to listen and opposition parties that continue their attacks and perpetuate the lack of decorum, Forces et Démocratie is here to listen to the people and give them the power that is rightfully theirs.

Working with the people and listening to them is the best way to successfully build the solid foundations for long-term collective prosperity. Rallying the strengths of our urban and rural areas is how we will create a future that we will be proud to pass on to our children and grandchildren. We need to do politics differently if we are going to succeed together in creating the wealth that we all deserve.

It is time to stop tearing down and, instead, come together to build our future.

[Expanding the Object of Federal Regional Development Agencies Act, December 11th, 2014]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-647, An Act to expand the object of the federal regional development agencies.

Mr. Speaker, this bill has four objectives.

To begin, it would broaden the mandates of the federal regional development agencies to include not only economic development in the regions and their communities, but also sustainable development, promotion of social and cultural affairs and environmental protection.

It would also ensure that the agencies work in partnership with municipalities, SMEs, not-for-profit organizations and communities to achieve their new objectives.

In addition, it would facilitate the reallocation of funds that are currently managed by various departments working in silos in order to create a single access point, which would increase access to these funds and reduce red tape.

To conclude, Forces et Démocratie wants the agencies to ensure that development in the regions and communities responds better to actual needs.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Supplementary Estimates (B), 2014-15, December 3rd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Forces et Démocratie votes no.

[Natural Resources, November 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we now know exactly where TransCanada wants to lay its pipeline through Quebec. Dozens of communities along the St. Lawrence, including my own, major rivers and even a nature reserve will be affected. What is most alarming is that it appears the decision has been made even before the project is officially launched and the regions have no say in the matter.

When will the government understand that it is up to the regions and the public to choose, not just the pipeline companies?

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I want to clear something up.

I think there was a translation problem earlier when I talked about Bosnia. I never said that we used cluster munitions. What I said was that when officers came back from Bosnia and talked about their experience over there, none of them was thrilled about the prospect of using cluster munitions.

Does my hon. colleague think that people who join the Canadian Armed Forces are comfortable with the idea of using weapons that could kill civilians and children 5, 10 or 20 years after their mission in that country is over? Does she think that officers and sergeants would be interested in using such weapons?

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, during my military training, when I saw officers coming back deeply traumatized from their experience in Bosnia, none of them proudly said how much fun it would have been to leave behind a few surprises that would hurt people and blow them up. On the contrary, they deeply regretted not having the chance to do more to help civilians. I have never seen a well-balanced soldier go overseas with the intent of leaving behind something that would hurt civilians or children.

Since the government is proudly planning to leave that crap behind, will it identify each munition with a small Canadian flag? This would remind future generations and their grandchildren that Canada was once in their country.

[Prohibiting Cluster Munitions Act, June 16th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague from Joliette for her excellent speech. She is an excellent speaker, and we and the people of Joliette are very proud of the job she does.

The Conservatives have read a few too many history books. As a former member of the military, I find it insulting that they would have the gall to say that soldiers would use this type of munition at all costs. I doubt that any soldier would be proud to go into a country to help people, knowing that he is leaving behind munitions, weapons or remnants of war that could kill children and civilians. That is never the intent.

I am insulted to hear my colleague say that Canada is not a pacifist country. Yes, Canada has participated in conflicts, but we have always had the backbone tell the United States that what it was doing was not right and that we would not follow the U.S. if it did not fulfill certain conditions.

I do not know who the Conservatives think they are, but they are certainly not the government.