René Villemure

[Democratic Institutions, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, in the committee on Chinese interference, David Johnston confirmed that he based his report on incomplete information. He did not even take the time to talk to the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada or the Commissioner of Canada Elections.

He did not do the necessary work, yet he concluded that there is no need for a public inquiry.

Mr. Johnston himself demonstrated that his report lacks rigour and that his conclusions on the public inquiry must be called into question. He himself discredited his report and disqualified himself from any involvement as a result of that work.

Will the Prime Minister finally thank him and ask him to step aside?

[Democratic Institutions, June 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, what does Mr. Johnston recommend in lieu of the independent public inquiry that everyone is calling for? Mr. Johnston recommends himself. That is what he is offering us. Mr. Johnston is substituting himself for an inquiry, despite the fact that the House is asking him to step aside. He wants to hold his own hearings that will in no way be independent. David Johnston is the man who dismissed the idea of a public inquiry on the basis of information that he refuses to disclose. David Johnston wants to control what might be discussed in public at his own hearings. It may be less expensive, it may take less time, but it will be less clear.

Is there anyone who would claim that this is not smoke and mirrors?

[Democratic Institutions, June 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, during this morning's committee meeting investigating Chinese interference, David Johnston explained why he believes a public inquiry had to be avoided. His reason? In his opinion, an inquiry would be expensive and time-consuming.

Does anyone know what else is expensive and time-consuming? That would be the three months of work in progress since February that we have spent calling for an independent public inquiry, which is supported by everyone except the Liberals and their special rapporteur. The Liberals' resistance to shedding light on this matter is the expensive waste of time. It is damaging public confidence. When can we expect an independent public inquiry?

[Democratic Institutions, June 5th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, that did not answer my question, but anyway. The Liberal solution is full of holes. We have a Prime Minister who hides the truth from citizens and who wants to force the opposition leaders to join him in his secretive practices. He wants to let them in on the secret, while keeping Quebeckers and Canadians in the dark.

The Liberals are looking at this problem from the wrong angle. The problem is not that the public knows that China is interfering in democracy. On the contrary, the problem is that China is able to continue interfering behind the scenes. The problem is the darkness, not the light.

When will the government launch an independent public inquiry?

[Democratic Institutions, June 5th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is impossible to get answers about Chinese interference. When the Bloc Québécois asks how many elected officials in total have been the target of threats or disinformation campaigns, the government refuses to answer. When the Conservatives ask how many Chinese police stations remain open, it refuses to answer. When the NDP asks about the relationship between the special rapporteur's staff and the Liberal Party, it refuses to answer. Then, when all three parties call for a public inquiry, the government still refuses. This is an affront to democracy.

Where will we find the answers if the government refuses to provide them and refuses to hold a public inquiry?

[Democratic Institutions, June 2nd, 2023]

Madam Speaker, let us get back to the basics when it comes to Chinese interference. The problem is China's actions and the fact that the Johnston report prevents us from dealing with them because, as a result of that report, there will be no inquiry into the Chinese police stations, the election candidates supported by China, the intimidation of the Chinese diaspora or the threats against elected officials. In the years I spent working as an ethicist, I lived by this adage: “Any action that needs darkness to succeed is probably more unethical than an action that can stand the light.” In this case, there is a lot of darkness. Let us shine a light on what is happening by holding an independent public inquiry.

[Democratic Institutions, June 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, my democracy is suffering, and I hope that I will not get an answer that I have already heard.

I want to come back to what we learned the day before yesterday about the member for Durham. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service informed him that he was the target of a disinformation campaign by Chinese authorities during the 2021 election. That is important. We are talking about the leader of the opposition at the time, someone who could have legitimately expected to become prime minister, someone who was the leader of the party that got the most votes in 2021. We are not talking about just anyone.

The interference is not targeting the government. It is targeting our democracy as a whole. We are all concerned, and we are all calling for a public inquiry.

What will the government do?

[Democratic Institutions, June 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition parties have been calling for a public inquiry into Chinese interference since February. The Prime Minister refused and instead appointed a special rapporteur, despite all opposition.

Three months later, we are at the same impasse. David Johnston finally tabled his report, in which he blamed the media, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the opposition, everyone except China or the government. That is why, yesterday, the House again called for a public inquiry because the will of the people has not been respected and because we are still stuck at the same impasse.

When will the government finally launch an independent public inquiry?

[11th Gala Edis, May 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Jeune Chambre de la Mauricie held the 11th edition of its Gala Edis on May 5 at the Complexe Laviolette in Trois-Rivières.

The gala recognizes young entrepreneurs in the region who have excelled over the past year. Muraluxe, a company in Trois-Rivières, won the ultimate award of business of the year, in addition to an award for innovative business practices.

Marilyne Desaulniers, a media solutions adviser with the company icimédias Mauricie, received the community involvement award in the business people category and was also named volunteer of the year.

I would like to personally thank the Jeune Chambre's executive director, Catherine Lessard, and its president, Célia de Montigny, for their warm welcome and their outstanding work.

Finally, I would like to congratulate all the businesses that were nominated and express my support for the next generation of entrepreneurs in Trois-Rivières.

[Democratic Institutions, May 30th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' answer to getting to the bottom of foreign interference is to ask the leaders of the opposition parties to read confidential information that they will never be able to discuss publicly. We already had a Prime Minister who refused to keep the public informed. Now, on top of that, we have opposition party leaders who would not be allowed to do so.

We need more transparency, not less. We need more transparency and less secrecy. What we need is an independent public commission of inquiry that guarantees greater transparency than a rapporteur who is neither public nor independent.

Seriously, what are they waiting for?