Pablo Rodriguez

[Business of the House, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, that question was really well put, probably the best question today.

This afternoon, we will continue debate at second reading of Bill C-12 on net-zero emissions. This evening, the committee of the whole will study the votes under Department of Health. Tomorrow and Monday, we will be debating Bill C-7 on medical assistance in dying.

We hope to complete third reading of Bill C-7 on Monday to give the Senate enough time to pass the bill before the court-imposed deadline of December 18.

On Monday afternoon, at 4 p.m., the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance will deliver the fall economic statement in the House of Commons.

Tuesday and Thursday shall be allotted days.

On Wednesday, we will resume debate on Bill C-12, the net-zero legislation.

Lastly, next Friday we will resume debate on Bill C-10, concerning the Broadcasting Act, and Bill C-11, concerning personal information protection.

[Points of Order, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the House Leader of the Official Opposition is aware of it. We have discussed it.

If there is some other way to proceed or some other technology, I would like to see it, but for now, it is important to the opposition and to democracy to ensure that all ministers, whether they are here or elsewhere, be able to answer all the questions. That means we need some way to ask them to answer, and that is the only one we have at the moment.

[Points of Order, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the parties were told that it is the only way we can notify people at home that it is their turn to reply.

If the opposition would prefer that ministers who are not here not be allowed to answer questions, it can make that suggestion.

[Health, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc may not like this, but there is good co-operation between Ottawa and Quebec. It might instead prefer us to be at odds with each other, but that is not the case. We are working to procure the requisite refrigerators as well as syringes. We are working to procure and distribute the vaccines, because it is the responsible thing to do.

When the vaccines will be ready, so will Canada.

[Health, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the only “F” our government deserves for its pandemic response is an “F” for “fantastic”.

Members must understand that we are talking and negotiating with the Government of Quebec on a regular basis. The Prime Minister will be speaking with the Premier of Quebec this evening. Moreover, as we mentioned earlier, we have agreements with the seven vaccine manufacturers. They are being reviewed by Health Canada. When the vaccines are ready, Canada will be ready.

[Health, November 26th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition is fishing, and quite clumsily at that. He is misleading Canadians, and I think he is going about it rather awkwardly.

Members know full well that Canada has agreements with seven of the companies that are producing the vaccine. We have the best portfolio in the world and the largest number of vaccine doses.

We will be there. When the vaccine is ready, Canada will be ready.

[Status of the French Language in Montreal, November 25th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I would like to remind the leader of the Bloc Québécois that he has made it a habit, almost a reflex, to confuse the Bloc Québécois with the whole population of Quebec. The Bloc Québécois is only a political party. It is no better or worse than any other party. Its members speak on their own behalf, not on behalf of all Quebeckers.

I would like to know if the leader of the Bloc Québécois is capable of understanding that a member can belong to the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Bloc Québécois or the New Democratic Party and still feel a deep affection for Quebec, just as they can love French and defend it. The Bloc Québécois does not have a monopoly on loving Quebec and the French language.

[Status of the French Language in Montreal, November 25th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I would like to tell my Bloc Québécois colleague that Quebec is already standing up.

I will now give him another opportunity to withdraw the words he said when he attacked the Minister of Economic Development, calling her an enemy. I can understand that we may disagree on certain issues and have different points of view, but there are no enemies in this House. My opinions may differ from those of the Bloc Québécois, but I would never see the Bloc or any of its members as enemies. My colleague has an opportunity to withdraw his words.

[Status of the French Language in Montreal, November 25th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I listened to that with great interest from both here and outside.

I would like to know how the official opposition leader can reconcile what he said with the actions taken when the Conservative Party was in government. I am thinking, for example, of the major cuts to our culture. There were cuts to CBC/Radio-Canada and to official languages. There is also the fact that the Conservative Party refuses to appoint bilingual judges to the Supreme Court.

How can the member reconcile what he is saying right now with the past actions taken by the Conservative Party, which remains part of its legacy?

[Status of the French Language in Montreal, November 25th, 2020]

Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for that very important question.

Our culture is who we are. It is our identity, our past, our present and our future. Our artists, whether in the field of music, television or film, are going through a difficult and complex time because there has been a major shift from traditional media to digital media. We went from cassettes, records and CDs to listening online. That is why we need to overhaul the Broadcasting Act. That is precisely what my colleague the Minister of Canadian Heritage did to protect French content on all platforms.