House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2025, with 29% of the vote.
Taxation February 23rd, 2021
Mr. Speaker, public servants already pay taxes on their wages. The compensation they are getting for the Phoenix fiasco is not wages, a bonus or a promotion.
They are being compensated because the federal government failed to pay its own employees and caused them hardship for years. The government should be ashamed for even thinking of taxing this money.
Will the government change course on March 3 and pay its employees every cent of the $2,500 they deserve?
Taxation February 23rd, 2021
Mr. Speaker, 140,000 members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada were victims of the Phoenix pay system. Some were not paid for months. Some lost their homes, their mental health, their lives.
To make up for this fiasco, the government announced $2,500 in compensation. Now we are learning that it wants to tax this amount. Compensation is supposed to be a financial apology to honest workers who went through hell for four years. It is not income.
Will the government change course and pay these employees the full amount?
Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020 February 22nd, 2021
Madam Speaker, speaking of transparency, a huge amount of money is currently being spent, and we, the Bloc Québécois, believe that it is important that a committee be established to review and study all COVID-19 spending, in order to ensure that past and future spending is managed soundly and responsibly.
What does my Conservative colleague think of this?
Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2020 February 22nd, 2021
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his speech. I am reminded of Félix Leclerc, who said the best way to kill a man is to pay him to do nothing.
What is needed in order to jump-start the economy are vaccines. Two provisions in Bill C-14 will help speed up distribution, but our dependence on foreign vaccines will increase further because the Patent Act was not updated before September 30.
I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on the importance of reviewing the Patent Act, in relation to the highly specialized resources we have in Quebec and Canada.
Business of Supply February 18th, 2021
Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on how the Minister of Foreign Affairs implied that China is a major economic partner and that this economic partnership outweighs the threats against the Five Eyes.
Does she think that by refusing to call what is happening to the Uighur people a genocide, the government is putting the economy ahead of human beings and human feeling?
Business of Supply February 18th, 2021
Madam Speaker, let me paraphrase the late Pierre Mondy and the brilliant Alexandre Astier who believed that a great leader, a hero, always fights for the dignity of the weak. With that sentiment in mind, I would like my colleague to comment on Canada's actions, or lack of action, in response to the genocide of the Uighurs.
Business of Supply February 18th, 2021
Madam Speaker, I was much younger then, but I remember hearing about the Rwandan genocide and about how the government did not listen to General Dallaire. He suffered terribly knowing what he did when no one would listen.
What can the government do today to avoid repeating its mistakes of the past, which are many?
Public Services and Procurement February 16th, 2021
Mr. Speaker, we call that abandoning Davie because $2.4 billion in maintenance is a far cry from the $70 billion it will end up costing to build the frigates instead of $26 billion as was first thought.
That is a cost overrun the equivalent of Quebec's entire annual health budget. It is $1,000 per Canadian. That is what it cost to shut out the best shipyard in Canada.
When will the government give work to Davie and Quebeckers?
Public Services and Procurement February 16th, 2021
Mr. Speaker, it has been 10 years since the federal government awarded Irving the contract to build frigates, but the shipyard has yet to deliver anything. Now we learn that it is going to be another 10 years until the first frigate is built. It will be delivered in 2031, at the earliest.
It is unbelievable. Irving has not produced a single frigate in 20 years. Meanwhile, the Davie shipyard, the best in North America, was shut out.
When will the government finally realize that the only intelligent solution to the 20-year wait and delay is to give Davie its fair share of contracts?
Health February 4th, 2021
Mr. Speaker, we are the only G7 country to take what is meant for the least fortunate and then eventually give it back to the least fortunate. We are the only ones.
The government needs to be transparent. On December 7, the Prime Minister said that we had a head start on vaccination. Now we are behind. We are ranking last among all countries. The Prime Minister has not proven trustworthy, as much as we would hope otherwise.
Why does he not table his entire procurement plan? He should table the plan and not just the objectives.