House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I would recommend that my esteemed colleague spend a little more time listening to Quebec businesses, Quebec universities and communities across Quebec who need workers, who want to welcome people from all over the world and who want to help integrate them into French society and succeed in Quebec.
We will be there to continue to work hand in hand with the Government of Quebec to create a more prosperous future for all Quebeckers and Canadians.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, we know full well that immigration is crucial to helping businesses find the workers they need and also to growing our economy.
Our plan will continue to strengthen the system and extend the benefits of immigration to communities across the country, including francophone immigration outside Quebec.
That is because immigration is not only good for our economy, but also essential to the future of our communities. We will keep working with the Government of Quebec to ensure we can welcome people, put them to work and build a more prosperous future for everyone.
The Economy October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, as we have seen consistently, Canadians are facing real challenges. That is why we have consistently stepped up with measures to support Canadians, whether it is bringing in a reduction of 50% on child care, which Conservatives campaigned against, that has saved thousands of dollars a year for many families; whether it is moving forward with the grocery rebate; or whether it is moving forward with dental benefits for low-income and middle-income families that cannot offer them to their kids. These are things that Conservatives voted against.
We will continue to be there. We are working with the large grocery companies to increase competition and stabilize food prices.
The Economy October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, a number of weeks ago, our Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry brought together the heads of all the large grocery chains in Canada to directly address the challenges that Canadians are facing around high food prices. It is not right that Canadians are as squeezed as they are right now, and that is why we are taking action.
We also continue to take action on investing in housing, as Canadians need more and more supply. This is why we have eliminated the GST on new rental construction and why we have incentivized communities to move forward on greater densification.
We are continuing to respond to the needs of Canadians.
The Economy October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, Conservatives were telling us that we should not be investing to have Canadians' backs through the pandemic and that we should not be there for families. They continue to say we should not be sending low- and middle-income Canadians support to send their kids to the dentist.
We are going to continue to be there for Canadians because we know people are facing challenging times because of the global context. That is why we are building thousands more homes by cutting the GST on the construction of new apartments. We are creating thousands of good, middle-class jobs and cleaning our environment with projects like Northvolt in Quebec. We are making life more affordable for Canadians by working to stabilize grocery prices and by having delivered the grocery rebate.
We have lots more to do, and we are going to keep doing it for Canadians.
The Economy October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, our Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry convened a meeting several weeks ago with the CEOs of the major grocery chains precisely to talk about how we can stabilize the price of groceries for Canadians.
We will continue to work with them on this file to ensure that Canadians can buy their food at the grocery store this weekend and every weekend going forward.
We are here to bring in measures like the grocery rebate and reduced fees for child care. We will always be there to help families.
The Economy October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, we are listening to Canadians' concerns, and that is why we are taking action. Here is what we are doing.
We are making sure that thousands more homes are built by getting rid of the GST on the construction of new apartments. We are creating thousands of good, middle-class jobs. We are taking care of the environment with projects like Northvolt in Quebec. We are making life more affordable for Canadians by working to stabilize the cost of groceries through the grocery rebate. We will continue to work every day to make life more affordable for Canadians.
Election of Speaker October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that it is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor General that the House shall present its Speaker later this day in the chamber of the Senate to receive Her Excellency's approval.
Election of Speaker October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the government and every member of this House, I want to congratulate you on your election.
I also want to thank all the other candidates for the speakership. I thank them for answering the call to keep our democracy healthy and strong.
Mr. Speaker, today, you are the first Black Canadian to become Speaker of the House. This should be inspiring for all Canadians, especially those in younger generations who want to get involved in politics. Congratulations.
The House is the home of Canadian democracy. Members of Parliament come from every corner of the country to represent their communities. Canadians from coast to coast to coast elect us to work hard for them and to be their voices in this place. They elected us to deliver results to help make their lives better. This remains our number one job. The only way we can make progress is by working together and by respecting each other.
The House of Commons is a place of debate. It is to be expected that we will not always agree with each other.
Mr. Speaker, we have elected you to help us keep our debates civil and to remind us that we are all here for the same reason: to serve Canadians.
These are consequential times for Canada and for the world. We must continue to work together to make life more affordable, to build more homes, to keep our democracy strong, to fight climate change and to power the clean economy of tomorrow.
We must keep working to uphold Canada's promise of a better quality of life for every generation.
In these consequential times, Canadians expect us all to work together to deliver results. They expect us to behave to the highest standards. I know you will help us rise to meet this moment.
Canada is the best country in the world. Let us keep working all together to make it even better.
Election of Speaker October 3rd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, you have to say “the right honourable”.