House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2025, with 33% of the vote.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague from Winnipeg North that his mother always told him to try to bring something positive to a conversation. I remember that.
On a more serious note, I would like my colleague to explain what ArriveCAN is. I came back from a mission a few weeks ago and was met with what, in my opinion, was totally useless bureaucracy. Therefore, I would like him to explain to me what the purpose of ArriveCAN is.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Madam Speaker, last week, the Conservatives and the Liberals criticized the Bloc Québécois on its opposition day, when it discussed dropping the prayer in the House of Commons. If I were a bad sport, I could also criticize this particular opposition day on lifting health measures in airports. Since I am not a bad sport, I will not do so.
I will, however, ask my colleague to tell me whether she honestly thinks this opposition day is really about politics or whether it is not rather about public health measures we should be staying away from.
Business of Supply May 19th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech.
The motion states that “current restrictions have been cited...as ineffective”. The science, however, says something completely different.
This morning, the papers were reporting that Canada's third-dose vaccination rate ranks second last among G7 countries. Our vaccination rate is apparently 54.3%.
What is my colleague's response to that?
Pierre de Bellefeuille May 18th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I will have the honour of attending a book launch in my riding. It is a biography about Pierre de Bellefeuille, a former Parti Québécois MNA. In his book, entitled Pierre de Bellefeuille Parcours d'un libre penseur, author Denis Monière recounts the extraordinary life of a man who was a journalist at Le Droit, an executive at the National Film Board of Canada, editor of Maclean's magazine and director of exhibitors at Expo 67.
On November 15, 1976, when the people of Quebec chose René Lévesque to be their premier, Pierre de Bellefeuille was the first Parti Québécois MNA to be sworn in to represent the riding of Deux-Montagnes. Also, Pierre de Bellefeuille lived in the Chénier-Sauvé house in old Saint-Eustache, where both Jean-Olivier Chénier, our most famous patriot, and Paul Sauvé, former premier of Quebec, had themselves resided.
I thank Denis Monière for introducing us to the brilliant intellectual and patriot who was Pierre de Bellefeuille.
Business of Supply May 17th, 2022
Madam Speaker, I would not want to be in any Liberal members' shoes right now, because they are stuck having to defend the indefensible. Trans Mountain was supposed to cost $4 billion, but now it is up to $20 billion. Then we have the Bay du Nord deal, along with everything else.
Canada is the fourth largest oil producer in the world, with 5.23 million barrels per day. Canada gives 14 times more financial resources to the fossil fuel sector than to the renewable energy sector. How can my colleague explain that?
Online Streaming Act May 5th, 2022
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent for his speech. I have a lot of respect for him.
The Bloc Québécois will be happy to support this bill. The amendments we put forward for Bill C‑10 are included in Bill C‑11, which has to do with the Broadcasting Act.
My colleague has experience as a journalist, and an excellent one, I would add, so I would like to hear what is holding him back from supporting Bill C‑11.
Mental Health Week May 3rd, 2022
Mr. Speaker, we are right in the middle of Mental Health Week, and this year the focus is on the great strength that lies in empathy, because, before we weigh in, we need to tune in. That is what it means to get real about how to help, as the Canadian Mental Health Association is calling for us to do this week.
I would like to take this opportunity to draw special attention to veterans. Veterans are more likely to be dealing with mental health problems, compared not only to members of the military, but also to the general public. They are more likely to experience homelessness and to consider suicide. Behind all of these problems is the toll that military service takes on mental health. Even Quebec’s greatest war hero, Léo Major, suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder at the end of his military career.
This Mental Health Week, I encourage all Quebeckers to get real about how to help and to talk with a veteran. Empathy and listening can go a long way.
Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021 May 3rd, 2022
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his presentation.
We know that the government has put off its plan to address tax havens. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on that, because this is about money, this is about the budget, and this would also be a way to bring down major deficits.
How does my colleague approach the issue of tax havens in connection with this budget?
Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021 May 3rd, 2022
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very sensitive speech. I came to really enjoy his company after spending 12 days with him on a recent mission in Italy.
I would like to know what he thinks about housing affordability. The real estate market is obviously overheated, given that the vacancy rate is under 3%, prices have gone up 18.6% over the past five years and it is considered normal to pay $2,225 a month in rent in Montreal, judging from what the government is saying.
What does my colleague think about that? Does he have any solutions to propose?
Veterans Affairs April 1st, 2022
Mr. Speaker, services for francophone veterans are deteriorating. An expert confirmed this at committee. She has helped more than 1,200 veterans with their valiant struggle to access services.
She confirmed that officials are recommending that francophone veterans apply in English. They are told that things will move more quickly if they apply in English. In other words, if they have issues getting service in French in Canada, they have to speak English.
Is that how we should be thanking francophones who have served Canada?