Pierre Breton

[Petitions, June 10th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, on May 17, I met with representatives of the organization Development and Peace in my riding office.

This organization's mandate is to defend refugees and victims of forced migration. The organization has sponsored a petition that I was eager to present to the House.

The signatories are calling on the House of Commons to support grassroots organizations working for peace, democracy and human rights and to invest more in diplomatic and peaceful solutions to armed conflicts.

I would like to thank all those who signed the petition as well as the board of directors for their important work on this very crucial issue.

[Waterloo Knights of Columbus, June 4th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise to pay tribute to the Waterloo Knights of Columbus, who are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.

The tremendous work they do for the less fortunate and the support they give to charities and young people are invaluable. For 100 years, these good people have been making charity a part of their daily lives. Considering the many activities they organize in Waterloo, I can confidently say that they are a solid and indispensable pillar of our community.

The members of the Waterloo Knights of Columbus have made a lasting mark on our community. They have improved the lives of thousands of people and helped to make our society better. On behalf of the people of Shefford, I would like to tell them how proud and grateful we are for their commitment and devotion.

Congratulations and happy 100th anniversary.

[Social Development, May 29th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Accessibility Week, and I am proud of the investments our government has made and the work we have accomplished on accessibility in my riding of Shefford and across Canada since 2015. We are celebrating the accomplishments of Canadians with disabilities and the work being done across the country to give all Canadians the same opportunities to succeed.

Could the Prime Minister please tell the House what our government is doing to create meaningful change and to help eliminate barriers to inclusion?

[Haute-Yamaska Suicide Prevention Centre, May 14th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, suicide is a sad reality in our society. Fortunately there are people who work hard to prevent suicide and to help these people and their loved ones.

I want to commend the members of the team at the Centre de prévention du suicide de la Haute-Yamaska for their dedication. This caring centre is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. It does everything possible to provide prevention and intervention services, in addition to follow-up care. The centre helps more than 800 people in distress and makes more than 5,000 interventions every year. With the organization's help, as well as that of the networks of public and community organizations, the number of suicides in our region has dropped since 2015.

Thank you and congratulations to the Centre de prévention du suicide de la Haute-Yamaska. Your involvement and support play a vital role in restoring hope to people going through difficult times.

[Verbe Divin Secondary School in Grandby, April 10th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, today we are pleased to welcome students from Granby’s Verbe Divin Secondary School to Parliament Hill. They are on a school trip to the nation’s capital to learn more about Canada’s system of governance

I am proud of these young people from the riding of Shefford for their curiosity and desire to learn more about our democratic institutions. We must foster the attitudes and skills needed for civic engagement because today's students will be tomorrow's leaders.

I would like to acknowledge the excellent work of their teacher, Louise Cherrier, who organized this visit to Parliament. I thank Madame Cherrier for encouraging our young people to take an interest in politics.

In closing, I wish the students of Verbe Divin Secondary School in Granby a very pleasant stay in Ottawa full of wonderful new experiences.

[Jean Patenaude, March 19th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, volunteers play an important role in our communities, and that is very true in the riding of Shefford.

I would like to pay tribute to Jean Patenaude, an exceptional man who made an enormous contribution to the development of many young hockey and baseball players in the Granby region over the past 60 years. An impressive number of people from Granby can attest to the positive impact this man made on their young lives.

That is why the City of Granby decided to name the main rink at the Centre sportif Léonard-Grondin in his honour. This well-deserved recognition was celebrated at a ceremony organized by the Patenaude family. Through his extensive involvement, Jean Patenaude has had a major, positive impact on the lives of many members of our community.

My dear Jean, the young boy in me who trained every Saturday morning at the rink wholeheartedly thanks you.

[Valcourt Ski-doo Grand Prix, February 5th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the riding of Shefford is very proud to be hosting the biggest winter race event in the world. The 37th Ski-doo grand prix will be held in Valcourt, birthplace of the snowmobile, from February 8 to 10.

This winter event brings together hundreds of athletes from around the world and tens of thousands of snowmobile fans in search of speed and adrenaline.

This unique and inclusive tourist event is literally a winter festival full of activities for the whole family. It is also a major economic driver for the region, generating over $6.5 million in revenue.

The event is made possible thanks to the hard work of the Valcourt Ski-doo grand prix team, the dedication of 300 volunteers, and the support of many sponsors. I wish everyone an excellent 37th grand prix, and I would remind my esteemed colleagues that Ski-doo is how we roll.

[Élites Football Team from Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur in Granby, December 11th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the Élites youth football team from Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur in Granby crowned an exceptional season by winning the Eastern Townships league finals for the first time in its short history.

I would like to congratulate these young athletes, who demonstrated intensity, discipline and great execution in this game. Their teamwork was incredible. The final game was really spectacular, and the close score throughout the game had fans on the edge of their seats.

I want to highlight the support of all the college staff involved in the football program, including executive director Claude Lacroix, program founder Benoit Penelle, current team manager Réal Brunelle, and head coach Claude Lessard.

I would like to thank the parents for their support. Once again, congratulations to the champions of the Eastern Townships football league, the Élites from Granby's Collège Mont-Sacré-Coeur.

[Mathieu Ostiguy, November 27th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, in the riding of Shefford, we have passionate young athletes who put a lot of effort into taking their performance to the next level.

That is certainly true of Mathieu Ostiguy from Saint-Angèle-de-Monnoir. Mathieu started participating in figure skating competitions at an early age. His focus and hard work have set him on a rewarding path.

Mathieu Ostiguy and his partner Chloe Choinard, from Ontario, were recently crowned junior pairs champions at the Quebec division figure skating championship held in Gatineau. That performance qualified them for the upcoming Skate Canada Challenge in Edmonton. We wish them the best of luck.

We are very proud to have such a talented skater in our riding. Thank you, Mathieu, for putting our region on the map with your spectacular performances.

[Agriculture and Agri-food, November 20th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the agricultural sector is passionate, dynamic and full of potential, but it still faces some challenges.

The Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food is currently studying the mental health challenges that Canadian farmers, ranchers and producers face. Our commitment to our agricultural community goes far beyond the best possible economic framework to help them grow their businesses.

Can the minister tell us what the government is doing to support the mental health of Canadians working in the agricultural sector?