House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Housing December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, this federal government sent $900 million to Quebec to build more homes, reduce bureaucracy, accelerate housing construction and cut the red tape, but the Conservative leader is proposing to take that money away from Quebec.
These young Quebeckers who need affordable homes and opportunities are not going to see any construction under a Conservative government because the Conservatives want to cut investments in housing. That is what people voted against.
Housing December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, what the members of the Bloc Québécois and the Conservative members from Quebec understand is that the $1.8 billion that the federal and provincial governments are investing in the housing accelerator fund is helping to create more density, to accelerate the construction of homes and to cut bureaucracy and red tape.
The Conservative members from Quebec are not allowed to talk about that or about how harmful the $1.8 billion in cuts that the Conservative Party is proposing will be, because they are afraid of their leader.
Housing December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, the problem with what the Conservative leader is saying, leaving aside the childish insults, is that his own MPs are going behind his back, pleading to the minister to please send investments to build more homes to their municipalities, and complaining behind his back to the CBC that they cannot stand up for their communities. MPs are supposed to be their communities' voices in this place, but he gives them a rap on the knuckles if ever they dare be anything but his voice in their communities.
Housing December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, Canadians have long learned that, whenever Conservatives make promises, they have to look at the small print. What the Leader of the Opposition actually proposed was to cut billions of dollars' worth of investments to municipalities across the country to create more density, to accelerate the construction of homes and to cut bureaucracy and red tape. Indeed, members of the Conservative Party have been advocating to invest in their communities and send money to their mayors, and the Leader of the Opposition wrote a letter in their names saying that none of them want those investments in housing. Shame on him.
Justice December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, spreading hate and encouraging violence are still illegal in Canada. That is why we expect our police forces and courts to be there to protect the public and enforce the law.
The federal government will always be there to protect and defend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of belief and freedom of thought in Canada.
Diversity and Inclusion December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, regardless of the various jurisdictions across the country, which we do respect, the federal government has a responsibility to ensure that all Canadians are protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and that freedom of expression, freedom of thought and freedom of belief are respected across our country.
Obviously, we respect the work that the provinces are doing to run their education systems, but we will always be there to defend these fundamental freedoms for everyone, particularly vulnerable children.
Finance December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, we are starting to get used to the Conservative leader's contempt for government members, but the fact that he is beginning to treat other members of Parliament, other opposition leaders, with contempt shows his real approach, which is not worthy of this chamber or of the responsibility that we all have to defend the interests of Canadians.
He cannot explain why he voted against a tax holiday for Canadians. He cannot explain why he voted against dental care for seniors. Instead, he is choosing to attack and insult. Canadians deserve better.
Finance December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, the question that Quebeckers and all Canadians should be asking instead is why the Conservative Party voted against Kids Help Phone, against funding for affordable housing, against military help for Ukraine, against funding to combat auto theft in Canada, against support for victims of hate crime, against dental care and against the national school food program.
The question is not why parliamentarians supported that, it is why the Conservative leader stands against Canadians.
Finance December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, the challenge faced by the Leader of the Opposition is he spent so long explaining to Canadians that everything is broken that when things start to get better, he refuses to actually help Canadians. He has voted against a tax break for Canadians over the next few months. He has voted against the dental care that has helped already well over a million Canadians. He is stuck in a place where, as Canadians are starting to come through the difficult times the global economy has put them in, he needs to continue to talk down Canadians, talk down our economy and scare people into voting for him. It will not work.
Finance December 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, one has to take a moment to appreciate how difficult it must be to be the Leader of the Opposition at a time when things are getting better for Canadians. He spends all his time, and has for the past—