Xavier Barsalou-Duval

[Workforce Development, March 23rd, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, ever since Quebec managed to pry labour matters from the hands of the Canadian government, we have created the best labour market training system in North America.

However, once again, Ottawa is going back on its word. The government cannot be counted on. After the Harper government, which tried to make us fit into the Canadian mould, now it is the Liberals who are reneging on the labour market agreement, which was so hard to reach.

Why is it that whenever something is working well, Ottawa has to stick its nose in and tear everything down?

[Incident at U.K. Parliament, March 23rd, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, terror has struck once again.

There are no words to express how disgusted and sickened we all feel every time terrorists strike. There are no words to express how angry we feel following these life-destroying acts of barbarism and cruelty. There are no words to express the profound sadness and sorrow we feel in the wake of such tragedies. We are so fed up, disgusted, and outraged, but also incredibly saddened. Terror will not win. Terror cannot win.

Our thoughts are with the people of Great Britain, who today are still reeling from this terrible tragedy.

The Bloc Québécois offers its sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the attack in London.

[Justice, March 20th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, as far as I know, the current government is not bound by the commitments of the former government.

Quebeckers from all walks of life, not just separatists, have denounced Ottawa's involvement in this case. The National Assembly even passed a unanimous motion, but it seems the Liberals do not give a damn about that, just as Stephen Harper did not give a damn. They are supporting those who question Quebec's right to independence, but they still expect us to believe that Ottawa is not trying to imprison Quebec in Canada.

Will the federal government withdraw from the legal challenge of Bill 99, yes or no?

[Justice, March 20th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, today in the Superior Court of Quebec begins the court challenge of Bill 99, the law that recognizes the right of the people of Quebec to independence.

Forcing Quebec to defend a basic principle of democracy is where Ottawa's federalism has taken us. The federal government, under Stephen Harper, decided to involve itself in the case.

Will the government withdraw from these proceedings and finally recognize Quebec's right to self-determination?

[Martine Ouellet, March 20th, 2017]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, the Bloc Québécois elected its first female leader. She is here on the Hill as we speak. Martine Ouellet became the leader of the Bloc Québécois by acclamation.

I can say that she was acclaimed to thunderous applause. Allow me to quote our new leader:

I truly believe this is the dawn of something great, legitimate, and important. [We are both building on the work of those who came before us, and creating something new, something different.] We are breaking the mould in order to better reinvent ourselves...with all the environmental, social, economic, and political challenges around the world, Quebec needs to be independent.

Our adversaries describe us as closed-minded, but it is quite the opposite. [We are open and we have so much to bring to the world stage.]

With Martine Ouellet, the Bloc Québécois is making a strong comeback. That is bad news for federalists, believe me. Welcome to the Bloc, Martine.

[Business of Supply, March 7th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, I am very concerned about the way the Liberal government is managing things at this time.

From feature television reports, we are learning that some big fish are taking their money and putting it in tax havens with impunity, and afterward, arrangements are made with them so that they do not pay any penalties, or if they do, only if they are caught. What is more, when they are caught, they are told that they are not obligated to pay any penalties if they make a voluntary disclosure.

Then, the numbers get fudged a little. Why does this happen? This remains a mystery to me, because while these tax havens are exploding, swimming in the money that is going down there, the Canadian middle class finds itself taxed more and more, and corporations less and less.

Why is the government closing its eyes to what is going on? Is it being told by the Bay Street financiers to do nothing?

[Business of Supply, March 7th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, it seems like the government is in a tight spot without even realizing it.

On the one hand, it brags and asks us to trust it because it is investing $444 million in fighting tax evasion and plans to recover some money. On the other hand, it hosts $1,500 cocktail parties with people with deep pockets, those with piles of money who are granted amnesty when they are caught for tax evasion. Then, the government opposes bills that could put an end to tax evasion in tax havens.

How can we trust the government when it acts this way? It says one thing, then does something completely different.

[Business of Supply, March 7th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, I am particularly happy to see one of my NDP colleagues seize upon this issue, because we in the Bloc Québécois have sometimes felt a little alone when debating this matter in the past.

Earlier, I asked a question a number of times to her colleagues. In Quebec, we have ways of fighting tax evasion. When KPMG is offered an amnesty, for example, the message that is sent to fraudsters and tax avoiders is that they can try their luck, and if they are caught they will have no fine to pay, they will just have to repay what they owe. They can try their luck, and if they aren’t caught, they can keep the money. That is the vision being defended by the federal government.

We are proposing a new method: as soon as an investigation is opened, the information is sent directly to Revenu Québec so it can initiate proceedings and retrieve its money if Canada does not. Earlier I asked my NDP colleagues this question twice and received no response.

I don’t know if it is the word “Quebec” that is scaring my colleagues, but I would like to know their thoughts.

[Business of Supply, March 7th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, I am very happy to see my NDP colleagues seize upon this issue, because it is important to fight tax evasion. It is important to fight the fraudsters who think they have all the rights and can do what they want.

At the same time, on the other side we have a government that is laughing at the population and the people. Solutions are proposed, such as the bill tabled by the Bloc Québécois designed to combat tax evasion, but no one is interested in them. After that, we hear that, in the KPMG case, preferential treatment and amnesties are being handed out. Basically, they are continuing to encourage people who do not need to pay for their crimes, because it is indeed a crime to circumvent the law in this way.

However, the Canada Revenue Agency does not seem to be doing its job, and the federal government seems to be standing in our way. This morning, we in the Bloc Québécois asked for something. We asked to have the information forwarded to Revenu Québec as soon as a case is opened and even before it wraps up. That way, should the federal agency be found to be complacent, Revenu Québec can do its job and and collect the money if Canada does not.

Would my colleague like to support us on this?

[Business of Supply, March 7th, 2017]

Madam Speaker, in his speech, my colleague talked about fairness. In French, we might use the words justice or équité or traitement équitable.

I wonder whether my colleague thinks it is fair to vote against a bill that puts an end to tax avoidance and tax evasion using tax havens like Barbados. The Canada Revenue Agency is also granting amnesty to fraudsters who come up with shell games to avoid having to pay income tax.

In his speech, my colleague talked about reducing income tax. Not too long ago, Alain Deneault wrote a book in which he asked whether Canada was becoming a tax haven.

Transforming Canada into a tax haven, letting poor people and ordinary people suffocate and not making the rich pay taxes: is that the Liberal strategy for combatting tax evasion?