House of Commons photoLost her last election, in 2019, with 25% of the vote.
Life Means Life Act May 19th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech even though I do not share the values or the opinion he expressed.
I will ask him a question. Considering that the Supreme Court declared several of the Conservative laws he referred to in his speech unconstitutional, why is he introducing such a bill?
Why is he bent on taking that approach when it is clearly not working?
Public Services and Procurement May 19th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, if I told you that a company has not paid its employees in months, you would think that is unacceptable, right?
Well, that is what has been happening to federal government employees since the new pay system was implemented. Many employees have not received a paycheque in several months. There is a Service Canada employee on maternity leave who has not received anything in three months. Three months without pay.
What will the government do to ensure that the people who are affected can feed their families?
Temporary Foreign Workers May 17th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, we are worried about the foreign workers in Fort McMurray, but many other foreign workers in Canada are also dealing with horrible situations. Most recently, we learned of four people from Guatemala who came to work on a farm in Quebec. Because they were afraid that they would be sent back to their own country, they were forced to work up to 22 hours a day and were sometimes paid only $2 an hour.
What does the government intend to do to ensure that temporary foreign workers are not exploited?
Air Canada Public Participation Act May 17th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, we have had a big disappointment today. There have been many over the past few weeks as well.
I went into politics to be the voice of all the people in my riding of Jonquière, of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, and also of all Canadians. Now the government is preventing us from debating a bill that will get rid of the jobs of more than 2,600 families across Canada. We have no guarantees for these jobs, these workers, these families. Earlier we were talking about the future, jobs, and the need to modernize. Modernizing does not mean getting rid of jobs. We do not even know where many of these workers will go.
Will they be able to find new jobs if the maintenance is done in Mexico or, as my colleague said so well earlier, all over the world? It is unacceptable that we no longer have the right to speak, that we cannot be the voice of these families who will no longer have jobs.
What does the minister have to say to these families who will no longer have jobs tomorrow morning?
Why did the Liberals not wait until after July 15?
As my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie said, the Supreme Court was going to get back to work. Why did they not wait?
The Government of Quebec continues to ask the House and implore the federal government to take its time.
What does the minister have to say to these families?
Softwood Lumber May 9th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, a statement is not enough.
We are now midway through the 100 days that the Liberals gave themselves to reach a new softwood lumber agreement, and negotiations are stalled. We are hearing that the United States wants quotas, but Canada has fought for years in the courts to reject this agreement.
The forestry industry directly employs over 60,000 people in Quebec, including more than 6,000 in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean.
Will the Liberals defend Quebec's forestry industry and confirm that all these jobs will be protected in the negotiations?
Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 1 May 5th, 2016
Thank you Mr. Speaker. That is what I wanted to point out in my remarks. When members on either side of the House rise to speak, they should always be thinking about workers. I have been listening to the speeches that have been given since this morning and I am thinking about the workers who get up every day, pack their lunches, and go to work. They need employment insurance when jobs are cut.
Given the reform that my colleague's government implemented and that is still in effect, I would like him to tell us what he thinks about the penalty being imposed on workers in certain regions, the workers who are not eligible for the five additional weeks.
Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 1 May 5th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, it must be nice to be in the House to ask questions and pat oneself on the back. Members on both sides have been saying that they balanced the budget or that they did this or that. In reality—
Budget Implementation Act, 2016, No. 1 May 5th, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her speech.
We have been debating the budget since this morning. There are some good measures, such as the reinstatement of the credits for labour-sponsored funds and the elimination of the tax on feminine hygiene products, which is a big expense for women. The Liberals are also eliminating income splitting.
However, there is nothing in the budget about Canada Post and home mail delivery. With respect to employment insurance, which the seasonal workers in my riding of Jonquière need, 12 regions are supposedly more important than my riding. The workers in my riding are being penalized, because they will not be eligible for the five extra weeks of benefits that workers in other areas will receive.
I would like to hear what my colleague has to say about that.
Criminal Code May 3rd, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his speech.
I will be brief. In his speech, my colleague mentioned that there was not enough time to make a decision and that we do not have enough time to study the bill. I would like to remind him that when they were in power, the Conservatives did nothing for months after the Supreme Court decision was handed down. As a result of their inaction, we did not have time to hold consultations, carry out studies or just simply debate the issue in the House.
I believe that now is the time to do this because there are only so many days left. I keep thinking about the people who are suffering and who do not have the means to alleviate their suffering, and I am also thinking about the families.
Therefore, I believe that it is important to pass this bill at second reading so we can amend it and create a good, well-structured bill, that will protect both the people who are suffering and those who are most vulnerable.
Criminal Code May 3rd, 2016
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
He mentioned that he would have preferred to wait five years, in order to watch and see what happens in Quebec. It is true that in Quebec, we have paved the way on this issue. I am very proud of that, as I myself am part of the Jonquière riding in Quebec City.
Although it is late, perhaps there are people watching us this evening who are suffering and family members who are helping them. Those people cannot wait five years. Those people are suffering.
What are my colleague's thoughts on leaving those people to suffer unbearably, without making any rules with a bill like the one before us here this evening?