Government Business No. 4—An Act to Provide Further Support in Response to COVID-19  Madam Speaker, I find it fascinating that the Liberal government is in such denial about seniors living in financial insecurity and that it prefers to send out one-off cheques when what seniors really need is ongoing help. If the Bloc Québécois had not been there back in April to remind the government that everyone was getting assistance during the pandemic except for seniors, they would not have even gotten the one cheque.

Government Business No. 4—An Act to Provide Further Support in Response to COVID-19  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague. It is an honour to serve with her at the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. Seniors and the status of women are two causes that matter very much to us both. I agree with what she said about the Liberals not being mindful of what is going on with seniors.

Government Business No. 4—An Act to Provide Further Support in Response to COVID-19  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my excellent colleague from Joliette, who is also the finance critic. He is doing a fabulous job of handling this file, and I would like to congratulate him for his work. I rise to speak during this second reading of Bill C-2 in a collaborative spirit.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his speech. I would like to take the discussion in a different direction. Despite the rhetoric from the Conservatives, there are examples of what works elsewhere in the world. Portugal, for example, has chosen the path of decriminalization, and it works.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I would like to hear from my Conservative colleague on something he did not touch on in his speech. The Conservatives love to keep public spending under control. Of course, the more mandatory minimum sentences there are, the more people there will be in prison; the more people we keep in prison, the more it will cost the government.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, we could talk and we are talking about minimum sentences. We are talking about firearms, but we cannot—

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, thank you for reiterating the importance of showing respect in the House. I would like my colleague to quickly say a few words about two things. The message this bill is sending by eliminating mandatory minimum sentences for gun-related crimes is that the government will not intervene and form a joint task force to better control firearms at the borders, as per the key request of the mayor of Montreal and the Premier of Quebec and the suggestion of the Bloc Québécois.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her speech. Earlier this week, I too had the opportunity to give a speech on Bill C-5. As I studied the bill, several things came to mind and jumped out at me. Unfortunately, this feels a bit like a kitchen sink bill. The government is combining two very different subjects, when diversion and decriminalization are two very sensitive issues.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, the interpreter cannot hear the member properly.

Economic and Fiscal Update 2021  Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Joliette. It is always a pleasure working with him. My colleague stated that Ottawa has declared war on the provinces with respect to health. Ottawa has also declared open war on seniors' groups, which are fiercely standing up for seniors in financial straits.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, as my party's status of women critic, I started my speech by making a specific reference to femicide. The member asked about victims, and last week we commemorated the École Polytechnique massacre, but the problem is that there is no evidence that mandatory minimum penalties actually work.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Montarville for his question, which gives me a chance to remind the House that mandatory minimum sentences are not without cost. There is indeed a cost to all this, and it has to be paid. He put it well when he said that a prison has a cost.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie for giving me the chance to elaborate on the subject and to reiterate that firearms and drugs are not just a justice system issue, but they are also becoming a public health issue. This issue often involves people who have mental health problems or who are in need of a program or a different type of support.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, which gives me the opportunity to address another aspect of the issue that I was unable to mention in my speech, and that is jurisdictional flexibility. Quebec is already looking at several measures. We do need to keep in mind how important it is to have judges who are able to render decisions, but communities must also have some leeway.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague, the always-on-point member for Trois-Rivières. I feel a sense of bewilderment today as I rise to speak to Bill C-5, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. I have many questions and concerns.