Citizenship Act  Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.

Citizenship Act  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise once again to conclude the debate at second reading of the bill that I introduced. I had the opportunity to hear from members of the different parties and I am disappointed that the Liberal Party and the NDP do not seem to want to give this bill a chance to be examined in committee.

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act  Mr. Speaker, experience has shown us that failure to obtain consent for development projects often leads to crises involving indigenous peoples. That is what happened with the Oka crisis and with the Wet'suwet'en this winter. Can the member tell us what the problem is with making sure natural resource development projects are carried out properly in accordance with the FPIC standard?

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I do not agree with the principles put forward by my colleague. Medical assistance in dying seeks to help those people. They are vulnerable, but they still have all their faculties and can make decisions. The member spoke about discrimination against people with disabilities.

Questions on the Order Paper  With regard to calls to action 81 and 82 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which called for commemorative monuments to be installed in Ottawa and other capitals to honour residential school survivors, and all the children who were lost to their families and communities: (a) has the government taken steps to respond to these two calls to action; and (b) if so, what are the details of the steps it has taken, including (i) providing subsidies to build a monument in the federal capital, (ii) steps to purchase or designate a site for installing said monument, (iii) how many public servants are currently working to respond to these calls to action, (iv) the status of the consultation process with survivors and organizations, (v) the status of discussions with the provinces and territories regarding the full realization of these calls to action?

Fred Sasakamoose  Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday we learned that Fred Sasakamoose, the first indigenous hockey player to play in the National Hockey League, had died of COVID-19 at the age of 86. During his hockey career, Fred Sasakamoose, a member of the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, played 11 games with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1953-54 season.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. That is a matter that falls under Quebec's jurisdiction. The member can ask the Quebec minister of education about what is happening in Quebec. However, today, I am talking about Bill C-223, which the House should support because it seeks to give newcomers to Quebec an opportunity to speak French.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, that is a good question, and I thank my colleague. Young people are indeed the future. In Quebec, young people are also the future of the French language. The current government must support this bill because it is very important for the French language. For days now, the Liberals and Conservatives have been saying how important French in Quebec is.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, that is a good question. Indeed, we are here today to defend Bill C-223, which is about making knowledge of French a requirement for newcomers to Quebec. We need the support of all MPs to pass this bill. Otherwise, we will have to take other measures to finally achieve Quebec independence.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Bill C-223 is for the province of Quebec. If we look back on our history and remember what happened, we are all immigrants from New England or France. Now, 400 years later, we are still debating the French language, even though Quebec is francophone.

Citizenship Act  moved that Bill C-223, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (adequate knowledge of French in Quebec), be read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise to speak to the first bill that I have introduced in the House.

Senneterre  Mr. Speaker, this week, the Corporation des Fleurons du Québec released its 15th municipal horticultural rankings, a wonderful way to recognize communities' efforts to beautify their surroundings and enhance their residents' lives in a lasting way. I am very proud to announce that Senneterre, one of the most beautiful towns in Abitibi, was awarded four “fleurons”, a sign that all the hard work that has been done to invest in and beautify the community is once again bearing fruit.

Louis Riel  Mr. Speaker, yesterday was the 135th anniversary of the hanging of Louis Riel, who was executed at the insistence of the federal government for standing up for the Métis nation when Ottawa wanted to seize their land. The Bloc Québécois moved a motion in the House calling on the government to exonerate Louis Riel as soon as possible, but the motion was defeated.

Health  Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and if you seek it, I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the House of Commons join the Quebec National Assembly in commemorating the hanging of Louis Riel, which took place 135 years ago on November 16, 1885; and that this House ask the government to exonerate Louis Riel as soon as possible.

Citizenship Act  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for the question. Communities in my riding and elsewhere have been waiting for this legislation. I often have conversations with community leaders, and they truly anticipate major progress that will meet their needs. These women need us.