Pablo Rodriguez

[Canadian Heritage, February 4th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for the wonderful question he just asked. He clearly cares about our artists and artisans, and I congratulate him for that.

This bill would require that streaming platforms contribute to our culture. This will promote the creation of more Canadian films, series and music. It is what we need to help build the next generation of Canadian artists and to support the next Denis Villeneuve, The Weeknds and Cœur de Pirates.

In practical terms, our bill will enable young Canadians to celebrate and participate in culture, our culture, today and in the future.

[Canadian Heritage, February 4th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, it would be a pleasure to sit down with my friend and colleague to talk about the bill and maybe explain some of the sections in it, because the bill is very simple. It is about the platforms contributing to Canadian culture. That is extremely important. That is how we tell our stories. Our culture is our past. It is our present. It is our future. It is our story. It is our Canadian stories, our music and everything. This bill is very simple. Platforms are in and users are out.

[Canadian Heritage, February 4th, 2022]

Mr. Speaker, this is a very important bill for Canadians, for artists and for our creators. Its objectives are very important. It is about streamers contributing to our culture. We heard that there were concerns about social media. We heard, we listened and we fixed them.

Now, the question is this. What are the Conservatives going to do this time? Are they going to support our artists and creators, or abandon them once again?

[Health, December 16th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I think the Bloc could take a minute and reflect on just how much Canada has done for Quebec. However, getting them to acknowledge that Canada, Quebec and the provinces are able to work together is a bit like pulling teeth.

Canada covered $8 out of every $10 of pandemic spending. Our government has always been there when it comes to vaccines, rapid tests and the necessary equipment.

We worked with Quebec and will continue to work with Quebec. The Bloc has such a hard time acknowledging that because what they really want is to pick a fight.

[Canada-U.S. Relations, December 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, things cannot be good for the Bloc Québécois. They are looking for other talking points.

First it was the Internet, and we fixed that. Then it was social housing, and we fixed that. Then it was day care, and we fixed that too.

The Bloc Québécois spends its days looking for a fight and showing a lack of respect for the people of Ottawa. Ottawa has an “O”, not a zero.

The Bloc should show some respect for the people of Ottawa and recognize that the Liberal Party, the Liberal government, is there for Quebec.

[Seniors, December 13th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, we know things have not been easy for seniors throughout the pandemic, but we have been there for them. We have delivered up to $1,500 directly to the most vulnerable seniors. We increased old age security, and we will increase the guaranteed income supplement by $500 per year. The government acted rapidly for people with emergency benefits like the Canada emergency response benefit.

We know some of our more vulnerable seniors have been affected, and we are working on solutions. We have always been there for our seniors, and we will always be there for them.

[Canadian Heritage, December 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, as we said, we will be sharing the rest of our plans in due time. Of course, we recognize the hard work of all Canadians and all the efforts of Canadians during the pandemic. One of the things we can do to respect the work and efforts of all Canadians is get vaccinated. Maybe that is a thing the Conservatives may want to consider.

[Canadian Heritage, December 10th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, as members know, 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of the Queen's reign, and we are going to provide funding to communities across the country to celebrate the jubilee and all the things we have accomplished together, as many countries in the Commonwealth are still considering options. We will be sharing the rest of our plans for this celebration in due time.

[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, December 3rd, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. He knows full well that the CBC is an independent corporation and makes its own decisions. At the same time, we know how badly the Conservatives want to make cuts to the CBC. They have said so many times in the past, which is a concern for our national broadcaster.

I wonder if they still intend to make such draconian cuts to our national broadcaster or if they plan on supporting the CBC in future.

[Order Respecting the Business of the House and its Committees, November 24th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I will begin by congratulating you on your re-election and by thanking my constituents in Honoré-Mercier for placing their trust in me a sixth time.

I would also like to thank my colleague from Winnipeg North for his passionate speech, and I must say that it was an honour and a privilege to have had him as my parliamentary secretary throughout the previous Parliament. If there is anyone who cares about and stands up for our democracy, it is him, especially when it comes to the role of parliamentarians.

Our concern here is that a parliamentarian could catch COVID-19 or have been in contact with someone and not be able to appear in the House to carry out their role, debate, discuss, or vote. Is it not true that the hybrid format would allow that member to continue to carry out their role despite not being able to be in the House?