Steven MacKinnon

[Points of Order, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wish to bring to your attention a possible incident of coercion of a member of Parliament during the vote previous to this one. The member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke was captured on the screen speaking into her microphone and asking if she had voted slowly enough. We wish to know who was coaching, who was pulling the puppet strings on this member, what kind of coercion was being exerted upon her and whether this is something that the Speaker should investigate.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1, June 7th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure it has not been lost on the Chair that this sudden technological difficulty outbreak has been limited to one party in this House. I would just ask, as we are voting on the budget, that we show a bit of respect for this place.

Manifestly, these people are outside in the lobby—

[Michel Denault, May 31st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I rise today before you and the entire House to pay tribute to a good, kind and gentle man from Gatineau, Quebec, who has dedicated 38 years of his life to serving his country. He spent 10 of those years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, while the last 28 years were spent protecting us, the MPs, and all those who come to the House.

I am talking about the man who is sitting in the Sergeant-at-Arms' chair today, Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Michel Denault.

We all know this man, but what many may not know is that on that terrible day in October 2014, he faced the danger unarmed, ready to give his life to back up his colleague and keep us safe. He disobeyed a direct order to stay back, because that is just who he is. He put our well-being above his own, not just on that day, but every time he entered this place.

Michel Denault's dedication and altruism are not often mentioned, but today I want to recognize just how hard he has worked during his career in the House of Commons. More importantly, I want to thank him.

On behalf of all parliamentarians, I sincerely thank Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms Michel Denault. We wish him a happy retirement. I want him to know that he will be sorely missed.

[Le Centre d'action bénévole de Gatineau, May 29th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to have the opportunity to acknowledge the 35th anniversary of the Centre d'action bénévole de Gatineau this past May 25.

For more than three decades, the centre's team has delivered a host of services directly to the Gatineau community, services such as meals on wheels, transportation support, friendly visits and more.

I applaud the team's energy; they have made volunteerism and community involvement their priority for the past 35 years. These volunteers have given the Gatineau community something very special. Without their dedication, our community life and the help provided to the more vulnerable would not be what they are today. We owe the centre a debt of gratitude.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank the entire team, the centre's board members and its many volunteers.

I thank them and wish them a happy 35th anniversary.

[Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, May 16th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent to apply the results of the previous vote to this vote, with Liberal members voting in favour.

[Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, May 16th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find agreement to apply the results from the previous vote to this vote, adding the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, with Liberal members voting against.

[Strengthening Environmental Protection for a Healthier Canada Act, May 16th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I believe if you seek it, you will find agreement to apply the results of the previous vote to this vote, adding the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, with Liberal members voting against.

[Business of Supply, May 11th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I thank my dear friend and colleague for his eloquent speech.

We agree that Quebec is the master of its own destiny when it comes to selecting immigrants. They could all be francophones, for example. Quebec can exercise its right to welcome up to one-quarter of all the immigrants who come to Canada. There are agreements between Canada and Quebec to protect the demographic weight of francophones in Canada.

Can the hon. member tell us more about that?

[World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on this day, May 3, various countries around the world are celebrating the 30th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day. This is a special opportunity to celebrate the principles of press freedom and to pay tribute to the journalists who have been killed or imprisoned for doing their job.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of the press. Unfortunately, even in Canada, the safety of freedom of the press is increasingly under threat. Many members of the press are regularly subjected to hate and racist, sexist and otherwise abusive messages. This is unacceptable.

According to Reporters Without Borders, in 2022, 533 journalists were detained, making a new world record. Our thoughts are, of course, with American reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been imprisoned in Russia since late March for carrying out his work. That is unacceptable; journalism is not a crime.

I thank Canadian journalists for their hard work, transparency, accountability and dedication to the truth.