Act Respecting Certain Measures Related to COVID-19  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his inspiring speech. We are debating a bill. However, contrary to what my colleague from Longueuil—Charles-LeMoyne was saying, just because we are debating a bill does not mean that we cannot consider items that are not covered by the bill but that are very important to us.

Act Respecting Certain Measures Related to COVID-19  Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking my colleague from Winnipeg North for his speech. I always find him very entertaining. I would like to ask him a question. To hear him speak, one would think that PCR tests are the greatest thing since sliced bread. He kept going on about how important it is to take action now.

Seniors  Madam Speaker, the federal government has finally realized that it is inhumane to reduce the GIS for the poorest seniors because of CERB. It has introduced Bill C‑12, which will stop the reductions, but not until the July payment, even though seniors have been making sacrifices at the grocery store and even the pharmacy for the past year.

Seniors  Madam Speaker, the federal government should be better than that. Six months will have passed between the point at which the government publicly admitted it had made a huge mistake in reducing the GIS for the poorest seniors in December and the point at which it will actually stop the reductions, in the payment to be sent out at the end of June.

Business of Supply  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Lethbridge for her speech. I have a few questions for her. I find that there certainly is a muddying of the waters when we talk about all the provincial jurisdictions. However, she used two words that I appreciated, and they are “courage” and “solution”, words that should be top of mind for everyone.

Agreement between the Cree Nation and Quebec  Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, Grand Chief Ted Moses and Premier Bernard Landry signed the Paix des braves, an historic agreement between the Cree Nation and the Government of Quebec. Twenty years ago, the Cree Nation and Quebec entered into a crucial economic partnership that helped both of our nations.

Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021  Mr. Speaker, in fact, I will support it a bit because I cannot support it more than that, if that makes sense. In other words, there is room for improvement. Of course, we supported Bill C‑2. We want help to be provided, but that help has to be flexible and based on needs. We have had to pass some bills hastily, even urgently, because businesses were closing.

Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021  Mr. Speaker, earlier we spoke about the Canada emergency business account. With regard to help for businesses, I did mention the issue of accountants and tax experts, which could be a solution and would keep them working as well. Maybe we should help businesses with that. There is also the whole issue of paperwork, which can always be reduced.

Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021  Mr. Speaker, of course I will talk about employment insurance, after all, it is mentioned in the economic update. In fact I hope to see a reform. I thank my colleague because I love talking about this issue. Back home, employment insurance is not just assistance, it is practically a development tool.

Economic and Fiscal Update Implementation Act, 2021  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise this evening to speak to the economic update. I have a lot to say, but I will have to narrow it down. Let me start with health transfers. This is important to me as a member for the Bloc Québécois, and it is important to Quebec as a whole, to my riding, Manicouagan, and to Canada as a whole.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. The interpretation service has indicated that the sound quality is not good enough for interpreters to work because the member was not using a headset, so his remarks were not interpreted.

Ghislain Picard  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to congratulate Ghislain Picard for being elected for an eleventh term as the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador. Ghislain Picard is an Innu man from the community of Pessamit. He is a wonderful example of the dedication, perseverance and hope that drive efforts to increase the recognition of first nations' interests and promote their development and self-determination.

Alexa McDonough  Mr. Speaker, the passing of Alexa McDonough at the age of 77 on January 15 is a great loss for Nova Scotia and Canada. It is an especially great loss for all women who go into politics to improve the conditions of the most vulnerable in our communities. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like to offer my condolences to Alexa McDonough’s family, friends and community.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, I will answer my colleague's question, which she did not get to finish, but yes, it is due to a lack of funding, a lack of foresight, and a failure to listen to first nations, who have been talking about it for the past 20 years. Quebec alone is short more than 10,000 homes.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Mr. Speaker, at the risk of repeating myself, the National Assembly unanimously supports health transfers. Granted, it is somewhat of a shared jurisdiction, but Quebec is the one with all the expertise. I believe the member talked about playing a role in the health care system, which I always find interesting.