Mélanie Joly

[Foreign Affairs, December 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as the world is getting tougher, we need to get tougher. This Arctic foreign policy builds on the biggest investments in our defence in generations, more than the Conservatives ever did. It puts people in the north first, allowing indigenous peoples, particularly Inuit and northerners, to be at the centre of international relations affecting them. Russia and China are working together against our interests in the Arctic. This is something we take seriously, contrary to the Leader of the Opposition, who is not serious about defending our north and is trivializing northerners.

[Taxation, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, people on this side of the House and across Quebec still cannot understand why the Bloc Québécois and the Conservatives voted against reducing the GST. This measure is so necessary to families and to Quebeckers. It comes on top of all the other programs that we have put in place, like dental insurance, which the Bloc Québécois also opposed. We are here for families, and we are here for the most vulnerable Quebeckers. We will always stand up for them.

[The Economy, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, we see that, once again, my colleague is repeating the speaking points that his leader gave him.

Basically, the question we should be asking is how we can help Canadians who currently need financial assistance. That is exactly what we are doing. We are cutting taxes. Why, then, is my Conservative colleague from Quebec so opposed to us cutting taxes? Why did he vote against this measure? Why did all of his other Quebec colleagues vote against it?

Quebeckers know that the federal government is there to support them, and that is exactly what we are doing during this holiday season.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we know very well that we need to protect the border. That is why we signed a safe third country agreement with the Biden administration. That is why we will, of course, come to an understanding with the incoming U.S. administration. It is in Canadians' best interest. I might also point out that our government is the one that has experience dealing with the Trump administration.

Instead of playing politics on the backs of Canadians, we need to work together. Together, we will be able to turn this situation to our advantage.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there is no relationship in the world more important than the one between Canada and the United States. The reason we want to keep investing in this relationship is that we know Canadians want us to protect their interests. That is why the border is so important to us, and that is why border security is so important to us, as it is to the Americans.

In the past few days, I have been very involved. I have spoken with a number of my U.S. counterparts and U.S. senators. Naturally, we are going to have a very good plan, because it serves the interests of Canadians.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, November 28th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians know and we know that borders are important. It is in America's interest to protect them. It is in Canadians' interest to protect them. That is why we are working together on this issue.

I have had conversations with Premier Legault, and just this morning, I spoke with Minister Biron, Quebec's international relations minister. I have also had the opportunity to speak with several influential senators, both Republican and Democrat, who are all allies for ensuring that we can work together on protecting our two countries.

[Foreign Affairs, November 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question is very important. Of course, we are very aware of Mr. Lavery's case. I cannot give more information due to confidentiality issues, but what I would like to suggest to the member that I work with him to make sure that Mr. Lavery comes home. We will take every measure to bring him home.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of time for the member opposite because she used to be the consul in Dallas, and she knows how important it is to be investing in her diplomatic network in the U.S. Of course, we will continue to invest across our continents and across the U.S. because, if there is one country in the world that knows about the Americans and the U.S., it is Canada.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, apparently Mr. Clark was good enough for the Conservatives when he was moderating their leadership race, but that is another issue.

What I want to say today is, as Canadians are looking down south to see what is going on and to take note of the will of the American people, we will be investing in the relationship between Canada and the U.S., contrary to what the Conservatives want to do. Of course, we will not take their recommendation of having an official residence outside of Manhattan. Why is that? It is because only two countries in the world do so: Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

[Foreign Affairs, November 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I just went to the OGGO committee, and I answered all the members' questions for an hour. We have been talking about this issue.

First and foremost, we have had good value for money in this transaction as $7 million will be refunded. Second, all the processes were, of course, followed. Finally, we will not fall into the character assassination he is doing about an important consul. Not only that, but at the time of the U.S. election today, when all Canadians are looking south to see what is going to happen, we need to invest in the American-Canadian relationship, and that is exactly what we are doing.