Pablo Rodriguez

[Business of the House, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, once again, if the Conservatives stop filibustering and allow a stand-up vote on Bill C-7, then next week the government expects to call the following bills: Bill C-8 on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action number 94; Bill C-10, an act to amend the Broadcasting Act; Bill C-12, the net-zero legislation; and Bill C-13 on single-event sport betting.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you because December 5, two days from now, marks one year since the House elected you and placed its trust in you. You oversee House proceedings fairly, impartially and with dignity. Thank you on behalf of all members.

[Business of the House, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, may I finish talking? We can debate afterward. I have the floor right now.

[Business of the House, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question.

Monday will be the last supply day for the financial cycle ending on December 10. At the end of that opposition day, we will proceed with the consideration of and votes on the main estimates and the supplementary estimates (B).

I would also like to mention that, on Monday, the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development will give a ministerial statement to mark the 50th anniversary of the report of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women.

With regard to legislation, tomorrow we will resume debate on Bill C-7 on medical assistance in dying. We are in this position because our Conservative friends continue to filibuster the passage of this important bill. I get the impression that they do not really care about the deadline imposed by the Quebec Superior Court, which I think is unfortunate.

If the Conservatives stop filibustering and allow a stand-up vote on Bill C-7—

[Health, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague on one thing, and that is that the Bloc asks questions. Does it ever ask questions. It is the only party that campaigns on a promise to ask questions. That is the key plank in its platform.

In the meantime, we are signing agreements with vaccine companies. We are signing agreements with a bunch of them, and we are working with the provinces so we will be able to distribute these vaccines to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. When a vaccine is ready, we will be ready.

[Official Languages, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Conservatives for their late-breaking interest in the French language. For the first time in history, we talked about the importance of supporting French in Quebec. This is historic. All members of the Liberal Party of Canada, not just those from Quebec, agree that we need to strengthen French in Quebec through our institutions and through all the work that we are going to do with the Minister of Official Languages to make French stronger in Quebec today, tomorrow and always.

[Health, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, as we have said several times in the past, our seniors are not a jurisdictional matter, or a comma, paragraph or line in our Constitution.

They are human beings made of flesh and blood who have suffered more than anyone else from the outset of this pandemic. Instead of coming here to pick a fight, as the Bloc is currently doing, why not figure out how all of us, including our friends in the Bloc Québécois, can work together to do better for our seniors across the country?

[Health, December 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows full well that we are working very closely with all the provinces, including Quebec.

We were collaborating with Quebec on several plans well before the pandemic, we have done so during the pandemic and will continue to do so after the pandemic. Soon, on December 10, there will be a meeting where we will address several topics, including this one.

[Health, December 1st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives are trying to play politics on the issue of the vaccines. They are trying to scare Canadians. That is completely unacceptable.

They do not like to hear it, but we have been working with the provinces for months to prepare for the distribution process. Former NATO commander Dany Fortin has just been appointed to lead the Canadian operation. The provinces are setting up their task forces.

We are working together. The Conservatives do not like to admit it. We will get the job done for Canadians.

[Business of Supply, December 1st, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I do agree with my hon. colleague that we have to be there for the health of all Canadians, and we have to be there to collaborate with all the provinces. This is exactly what we have been doing. If he is asking me to defend the system put in place by the Conservatives, I will not do that. I will let the Conservatives defend their own system.

What I can say is that since the beginning of this pandemic we have been there for Canadians across the country with all kinds of measures and supports. Our intention is to keep working with provinces to help them go through this pandemic and work on the long term. Actually, the Prime Minister is meeting with his counterparts on December 10. They will be discussing this and other topics.

[Business of Supply, December 1st, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his comments about my tone of voice.

From the beginning, we have been working on this file with the Government of Quebec and all the provincial governments. There have been clear and straightforward transfers.

With regard to seniors, we provided direct support to those living in Quebec's long-term care facilities through the Canadian Armed Forces, the Red Cross and direct funding. We helped several times with PPE and testing. We have worked with the Government of Quebec in tangible ways.

It is not about jurisdictions or fights right now. We are all serving the same people. The people that I represent are also represented by the Quebec National Assembly at the provincial level in Quebec. We have the same objective and that is to get through this crisis as quickly as possible while saving as many lives as possible, keeping people as healthy as possible and keeping the economy as strong as possible.