Marie-Hélène Gaudreau
Laurentides—Labelle, Quebec · Bloc Québécois · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the Laurentians were developed thanks to the P'tit Train du Nord, the cherished dream of Father Labelle. It was a railway line that made it possible to open up the territory and build our communities. For the past 30 years, this iconic route has sustained another mode of transportation.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Department of Natural Resources warned on Thursday that wildfire activity will increase throughout the summer. With hot temperatures expected, 300 mayors are calling on the federal government to abandon its plans for new pipelines, stating in their declaration that more communities are likely to burn to the ground this su…”
“Mr. Speaker, my question is very simple. I would like to know if my colleague opposite, the government leader, has seen or read the remarks by the National Assembly's cybersecurity lead, Stéphane Le Bouyonnec, and if he noticed any red flags. In committee, Mr.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we are all starting to feel a little worse for wear—sitting here until midnight, constantly voting and dealing with closure motions. In short, we are all in the same boat, and we are all telling ourselves that we need to be strong, that we will get through this. I am going to ask my colleague a very simple question.”
“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague. I served on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for over two years. Yes, we had begun considering this issue before any foreign interference occurred. It took up some 70 meetings; I remember it like it was yesterday. My question is very simple.”
“Mr. Speaker, it has been a long time since we sat on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs for a number of meetings. We were just starting the study, and I am pleased to have an outcome like this. My question for my colleague is quite simple.”
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“Mr. Speaker, the postal crisis was brought on by the federal government. The best example is passports. People waiting for passports that will not arrive on time have to go to a Service Canada office to get one and pay hundreds of dollars. As it turns out, Service Canada reports to the same minister. It is clear that the minister did not even think to look for solutions for people before kicking off a firestorm at Canada Post. Why is it that Quebeckers once again have to pay the price for the Liberals' incompetence?”
“Mr. Speaker, this government is to blame for the postal crisis. It announced that it was overhauling Canada Post but did not even consult the workers. They found out about it in the news. Now, no one is getting their mail. Some people are not getting their cheques or have to travel to pick them up. Businesses are having to improvise to get their parcels delivered. Quebec is afraid that no one will receive their ballot to vote in the municipal elections. All of this is because the minister is improvising without consulting anyone. Seriously, what else did he expect?”
“Mr. Speaker, modernizing Canada Post should not mean abandoning people with reduced mobility or Quebeckers in the regions. The minister did not adequately consult Quebeckers. He comes here today with what looks like a one-size-fits-all federal reform that does not take into account the specific needs on the ground. He must ensure that people with reduced mobility continue to receive their mail at home just as quickly. He must guarantee that there is no reduction in service in the regions. Will he commit to doing so?”
“Mr. Speaker, I feel like I have stepped decades back in time. It hardly even seems like 2025 anymore. Nowadays, the topic of our discussion is outdated. The 21st century is supposed to be a time for a big energy transition. Here we are, however, still talking about pipelines, oil and relaxed regulations. Do members talk to their constituents on the weekend? The public is against those things. Why is the Bloc Québécois the one saying that we are moving backwards and that we need to act now?”
“Mr. Speaker, I wonder if my colleague thinks it is time to put a cost on climate change. Everyone is trying to say that it is a need, that we need oil. Where are my 77 colleagues from Quebec when we know full well that it is in Quebec that we are going to succeed in maintaining, if not reducing, our greenhouse gas emissions? We have already proven it. Does my colleague agree that we are going to have to provide numbers to try to get around this lobby campaign to protect their own local economy?”
“Mr. Speaker, how can Canada possibly meet its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets? That would require 40 megatonnes a year in reductions by 2030, starting now. Canada has committed to reducing them by 40% to 45%. I will now quote our analyst at the Canadian Climate Institute, Ross Linden-Fraser, who said, “We saw zero megatonnes of reductions in 2024, and we are seeing fewer climate policies on the table today”. Could my colleague explain what we are going through in 2025?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to get back to the subject at hand. Those who are watching us are wondering what is going on. First, the government is buying pipelines; then, the opposition wants to repeal anything and everything related to the oil sector's emissions cap. I do not understand. Should we believe the Auditor General and the environment commissioner or not? Our emissions reduction targets are not being met, and we are in a climate emergency. Can my colleague explain why we are talking about this on an opposition day when the planet is burning?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Michel Bolduc in the House today because he has been an important pillar of Mont‑Laurier's social fabric for over 30 years. As a social worker with certification in the areas of mental health and addictions, Michel Bolduc has been an authority on homelessness in Quebec. I had the privilege of working with him for many years, and I have seen how he never gives up. When he meets someone who is experiencing homelessness, he does not look on them with contempt and pass them by. He treats them with kindness and compassion. For 30 years, Maison Lyse-Beauchamp has been helping with six buildings, 38,000 meals served, 16,000 overnight stays and no fewer than 66 employees. Congratulations to Michel for everything he has done for these people.”
“Madam Speaker, when we talk about Bill C‑5, we are talking about human beings, about families. Let me be clear: The Bloc Québécois will be supporting the bill. Just because we are members of the Bloc Québécois does not mean we think only about the people of Quebec. Among other things, there are real people behind this inequity, which has been described as unconstitutional. Despite the opposition and the fact that comprehensive reform is needed, I dare hope that we can move on to other, equally important issues, and finish with this one.”
“Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to be back in the House. It feels like the start of a new school year. That being said, today, we are dealing with a subject that merits reflection, but that I think we need to move forward on. I say this as a member of the Bloc Québécois. Bill C-3 is a step in the right direction. I say that because of something that I witnessed recently. I want to give a shout-out to a citizen from Lac‑des‑Écorces, who was a victim of this. One of her brothers was able to get citizenship, but the two little twins were not. We do need to take a step in the right direction, but I would like to ask my colleague a question. We are obviously not talking about the need to learn French to obtain citizenship, but does he agree with me that we need to completely overhaul the process for obtaining Canadian citizenship?”
“Mr. Speaker, they are joining the ranks of culinary greats such as Paul Bocuse, Anne-Sophie Pic and Alain Ducasse. I am talking about our Quebec chefs who were recently honoured by the prestigious Michelin Guide . On May 15, nine restaurants in Quebec were awarded stars. Tanière 3 , a true Quebec City institution, made a big splash by getting two stars on its first try, while ARVI, Kebec Club Privé, Laurie Raphaël, Légende, Jérôme Ferrer—Europea, Mastard, Sabayon and Narval were each awarded one star. These coveted red plaques are more than just a decoration; they are proof of our culinary talent. Our culinary creativity and identity are on par with that of Paris, Tokyo and New York. Quebec's restaurant industry is an economic gem, a driver of tourism and an ambassador for our culture.”
“Mr. Speaker, I just realized the scope of the message. Members might have noticed that my colleague used the words of my predecessor last Friday. The only thing, if I understand correctly, is that he voted for it. What about the next steps? What does my colleague intend to do so that democracy can do its job and that this bill is not pushed through with closure?”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague's speech and I wonder what guarantees we have. We have already talked about carte blanche. What I am talking about is not only the 13 acts and seven regulations that the government would be free to ignore, but also what we need to discuss before proceeding. I would like to ask my colleague a question. The Liberals are telling us that we must seize this opportunity at all costs. Do they mean an opportunity to govern as they see fit, without consulting anyone? What guarantees do we have?”
“Mr. Speaker, as we said, this is a minority government. Out of respect for the democratic process, I want to point out that people are watching us. A minority government requires consultations. That means going through all the democratic steps. We should keep sitting until July 15. We need to have a discussion. We suggested splitting up Bill C-5 , since there are a lot of things in it that we agree with. However, we do not intend to give the government carte blanche.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this question because people need to have this information. Some of those who are watching at home will be looking for a few dollars, either for summer jobs or through the New Horizons for Seniors program. If there is one sentence missing from their financial report or if their budget is not balanced, then they will not get their $1,000 in support. I just took a conflict of interest and ethics course. Any time that I am unsure of whether I have been offered a gift and what I should do, I pass the information on to the Ethics Commissioner. I agree with my colleague: How is it that the government is not even capable of doing what is required of us, as members of Parliament and citizens?”
“Mr. Speaker, WE Charity was my initiation. As new members, we spent the entire summer probing a contract that had been awarded. It is normal to move quickly. It is normal to take action when there is an emergency. However, there are two ways of going about it. We can try to put out a forest fire with a small pail or, on the contrary, we can look at what is happening and make sure we have the right equipment to get the situation under control. We saw the scope of the machinery of government. The pandemic was not the reason for the swift reaction. This is systemic. The government is proving that the system is dysfunctional. Right now I am thinking of the taxpayers' money and I am calling for change on their behalf.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do hope things turn around. I hope that when we come back in September, the clerk will have had time to get to the bottom of this and recover the stolen money. It would be nice if we could put some measures in place to ensure that there are calls for tender rather than endless subcontracts. It would also be nice to be able to restore the reputation of public servants and recognize the excellent work they do by reviewing their processes. They are our brain power. These individuals have a great deal of expertise, and we have been neglecting them for decades.”
“I am the one who negotiates with contractors and suppliers, and I do so using my own money. What happened in this case is that private sector strategies were used to award contracts paid for with taxpayers' money. That is completely unacceptable. With every action the government takes, with every measure it implements, it has to bear in mind that 40 million Canadians have contributed to the pot.”
“Then we can put measures in place to ensure proper oversight. Honestly, when I see the official opposition always looking to tear down and destroy what the government is trying to build and when I see the government doing everything it can to deny, hide and withhold information that Quebeckers and Canadians need to know, I can say that, every time, the Bloc Québécois is the one that manages to get to the bottom of what is happening here, to get to the bottom of the government's corruption and collusion. I am a businesswoman. I have worked in the community sector, and I have also been a public servant. Networking, referrals, mutual support and awarding contracts among friends are all standard practice, but let us look at the context. When I am doing business, it is my money we are talking about.”
“These people are telling me that the government is neglecting them, that it does not recognize their value and that it is always sending them subcontractors who get paid double what they do, when they are perfectly capable of doing the work. They are saying that the government may even be taking them for fools. People have lost confidence in the quality of services. We have people calling us every week. Yesterday, I spoke to a woman who received a letter regarding her guaranteed income supplement. She did not get that money. Six months later, she was told that it was not the right amount. I know that, for individuals, we are talking about maybe a few hundred dollars, but in the case before us today, we are talking about millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Let us start by cleaning house.”
“Sabia hears this message, because we will be meeting with him at the Standing Committee on Government Operations, where we will have the opportunity to tell him about all the measures that should be put in place. When I hear the new government members saying that they do not want this to happen again, I feel like saying, “Let us talk about this again in a decade.” However, I am a positive person who wants to make a difference. Mr. Sabia has a good track record as an agent of change. The Prime Minister wants to make changes in Canada to make it a country worthy of its name, worthy of the wealth of a G7 country. We need to begin by closing the loopholes, implementing meaningful accountability measures and recognizing our 350,000 public servants. They are the ones I am talking to. I know many of them.”
“In life, when something as major as that happens, people do what it takes to come up with an effective plan. I am tired of hearing that word. I want to hear about remediation instead. Today, I want to raise two points. First, we have a new government with powerful aspirations. Whether they materialize is a matter of seeing is believing. That said, we have just been informed that we have an incoming clerk of the Privy Council. I sincerely hope he will listen to all Bloc Québécois members. If there is one party in this House that truly works to ensure accountability and the sound management of public funds, it is the Bloc Québécois. I know what I am talking about. I have filled out my share of grant applications and I have helped people fill out endless reports just to get a few thousands of dollars. (1105) I hope that Mr.”
“We obviously support the Conservatives' motion, but I would like to get to the bottom of things. In the last Parliament, it was quite shocking to see one of the co-owners at the bar trying to defend himself. Ultimately, and I say this to new members, we were a laughingstock. We were a laughingstock because we were shown how easy it is to get around our safety nets, to thwart our efforts to be diligent and to properly manage taxpayers' money. The door is wide open. The oversight is not there. As the Auditor General reiterated, she did not say that nothing happened. She said that there were so many problems she could not count or corroborate them all, that she had not been able to review the contracts to see what work should have been done. Furthermore, the pandemic was a catch-all excuse.”
“To begin with, of course, there are two parts to the Conservative motion. The first is to get back the money that was stolen, money that was paid for work that was not done. It should come as no surprise to anyone that the Bloc Québécois is very much in favour of that. The second is to impose a lifetime contracting ban on GC Strategies so that none of its subsidiaries can ever do anything again. That makes perfect sense because they defrauded taxpayers. I have one small point to make before I get into more detail on the 100 days to get the money back. Is 100 days realistic? When we make goals in life, we have to think about whether they are necessary and realistic. One hundred days is unprecedented. It would be quite the feat for the government to be able to that. That being said, it is essential that we recover that money.”
“Mr. Speaker, for those who missed the last few seconds, there is a major accountability issue. Honestly, I really wish we had a full hour to discuss this scandal, which is going from bad to worse. I have two amazing colleagues who are no longer here in the House. One of them was my colleague from Beauport—Limoilou, who sat on the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, and the other was the member for Terrebonne, who sat on the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. I salute them for the tremendous amount of work they did. I am going to pick up where they left off as a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. I have nine minutes left, and I would like to say that I will be sharing my time with my esteemed colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue . I will sum things up.”
“Mr. Speaker, my question is fairly simple. Speaking of common sense, on Friday, Ottawa was the most polluted city in the world because of the forest fires that are unfortunately out of control. Now Europe is being affected. Does my colleague agree that climate change is caused by the fossil fuel industry?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my new Liberal colleague. Speaking of homework, we could make a list of important things for the government to do. Does my colleague agree with me that, if we are to agree on measures, then the first thing on the government's homework list should be to table a budget?”
“Mr. Speaker, if the government cannot prove that it has everything it needs to balance the budget or at least keep the deficit as low as possible, it is because it gives us the impression that it is the world's leading expert on the economy. Unfortunately, that does not hold water. People are worried, and we are wondering what will happen in the coming months with regard to our finances and the fiscal imbalance.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague because I forgot to mention that. That is another concrete example. Just ask an actuary. When they plug in the numbers, they can see that it costs a lot more for people to insure their property these days. Not only does the government need to table a budget, but it also needs to recognize that climate change is costing us a lot of money. That is what the Bloc Québécois is going to do. It will show how costly that is for all Quebeckers and Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I always appreciate genuine collaboration. I spoke of goodies because, when money is given away, what people do with it is beyond the government's control. I would like to see some concrete figures showing that any additional money given is used for survival purposes. The day I have those figures, I will discuss the matter again. I would like to take this opportunity to talk about climate change. On Friday morning, Ottawa was the second-most polluted city in the world. That is a proven fact. I saw a photo and it looked apocalyptic. Nothing like it had been seen before. I would therefore like to ask colleagues this: When was the last time that people had to wear N95 masks because of uncontrolled wildfires? Even Europe is affected.”
“If the supply is lacking, obviously things will cost more. The Conservatives care a lot about public safety, but I would suggest that food security is part of that as well, so let us tackle the root of the problem. We know that abolishing the carbon tax has done nothing to bring down the cost of groceries.”
“I want to conclude by saying that Bloc Québécois members are really here to work for our people. We are not here to poll higher, get re-elected and keep our voters in line as of day one in office. We have already taken action. My colleague talked about this earlier. The Institut de recherche en économie contemporaine, or IREC, conducted a study. Everyone says that groceries are expensive, but we all know why. It is because of climate change. Here is an example. I did some gardening this weekend. I can make plans based on the weather. If there is torrential rain, I will protect the garden. If there is a chance of frost in July, I will protect it. If the weather is too dry, I will water it. How well equipped are our producers to adapt to climate change? Basically, life is about supply and demand.”
“Government spending on equipment purchases is rising from $3.7 billion to $10.8 billion, an increase of 190%. I find that very disconcerting. Governing with billions of dollars is nothing new. I therefore agree with my Conservative colleagues that a budget needs be presented, and quickly. That is the first thing I wanted to say. Furthermore, it has been six months since the House last sat. As I said, as of March 14, we expected to have something tangible to work on when we returned to the House. Instead, we are being presented with a bill called Bill C‑4 , which contains tax measures. However, we do not know how we can work on spending and approve it. The government is putting the screws on us, saying that surely we cannot oppose these measures, since they are intended to help people. To me, that is unacceptable.”
“When I talk to colleagues who are economists and accountants and to business people, they tell me that they do not understand why a self-respecting government is not even able to do the basics. I would have expected us to come back a month later than we did and sit until the end of July so that we would be ready to start again. As my colleague said earlier, the committees are not even sitting and cannot conduct any studies. I am lost for words. I just do not get it. Speaking of committees, I will be taking on new responsibilities in that area. I will be working on tourism and veterans' affairs. I will also be working on government operations as a member of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. This committee is responsible for analyzing costs. It is fortuitous that we have not started yet.”
“There are 343 members in this minority House, and the government is accountable to them. The government is trying to make itself look good. It is talking to the media and announcing goodies like tax cuts, help for first-time homebuyers and all sorts of other things. Parliamentarians agree that anyone who has to put a budget together should have a full breakdown of their cash flow, so that they know exactly how much money is coming in and how much is going out. (1220) What we have here is the other extreme. I say this to everyone in Laurentides—Labelle. When I tell them that we are talking about tax measures and that we will agree with this motion because there is indeed an inflationary crisis, constituents ask me what we are working with. I tell them that we are working with nothing.”
“That part caught my attention, and I wondered whether no budget was being presented because there was not enough time or because this new role came as a surprise. However, the Prime Minister is supposedly a world-renowned expert. Parliamentarians thought they were coming back to the House quickly so that the government could present an economic statement or a budget for them to vote on, but that is not the case. The government was trying to make itself look good. Parliamentarians returned quickly. However, the government was not ready. What should be done in such a situation? We should take our time. This might take a week or two. In any case, as of March 14, the first day the finance minister took office, he knew that he needed to immediately start thinking about what he would propose.”
“I think that all parliamentarians have noticed the increase in the price of groceries. In addition, there has been a marked increase in demand at all food banks. I want to bring my colleagues' attention to a particular point in the motion, the one that states that the House should call on the government to present a budget before the summer. Summer starts on June 21, although it could also happen after that date. This budget is supposed to reverse Liberal inflationary policies so Canadians can afford to put food on the table. I have reread the motion several times. The first part is essential. It calls on the government to present a budget. I worked in community organizations for over two decades, and I am also an entrepreneur. Spending money without first identifying our revenue sources is simply not an option. Come on.”
“I want to thank all these volunteers. All of this already makes me feel very constructive. I am pleased to rise today to speak to the motion put forward by the Conservatives on their opposition day. I am going to break down the motion. I will begin by quickly explaining the essence of this motion. Then I will outline why the Bloc Québécois supports it. Obviously, this motion raises important questions about accountability and governance. I will also provide details. My colleague from Berthier—Maskinongé has already set the stage, so I will try not to be too repetitive. First of all, it is true that families will pay more for their food. In fact, this has already been the case for some time. It is perfectly reasonable to be concerned about this issue, given that families' grocery bills are expected to increase by $800 a year.”
“Mr. Speaker, since this is the first time I am speaking in this new Parliament, I will take the opportunity to say a few thank yous. I have had the privilege and honour of representing the people of Laurentides—Labelle since 2019. This is my third term. First, I want to thank the 23,615 people who chose the Bloc Québécois. To all the others, as I said during the election campaign, I want them to know that I am there for and with them. I also want to thank my campaign team. I will take the time to mention them by name because their contribution was so valuable. They gave a great deal of their time. I want to thank Maryse, Samuel, Annie‑Claude, Annie, François, Michel and Lévis. I seriously would not be here without them. I covered 11,000 kilometres in 39 municipalities. Laurentides—Labelle is a very large but very beautiful riding.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are speaking out against this inconsistent approach, because the Bloc Québécois is concerned with more than just preparing for the next election. Lobbyists are exerting pressure and the economy needs to stay afloat. In the meantime, however, the planet is burning. My colleague just mentioned that climate change is being brushed aside. I would like to ask him a question: Is it not time we asked ourselves how much climate change is costing us, rather than continuing to subsidize certain industries in the name of the economy?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Speech from the Throne announced that the time frames for launching major federal projects would be shortened. I am very worried about the environment. I am especially worried about one thing in particular. Will the government commit to respecting the findings of the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement regarding oil projects and other such things?”
“Mr. Speaker, I listened closely to my colleague's speech. It is no secret that there is a lot missing. Members may already know this, but I am extremely disappointed. We were told that we need to work quickly to reassure people. Here we are with a Speech from the Throne that is missing so much. I will give an example. We are well aware that people 65 to 74, seniors, are victims of discrimination. In the last Parliament, all the bill needed was royal assent. Not a single day went by in the election campaign without this being brought up to me. I would like my colleague to tell me where things stand with reducing and increasing what people 65 to 74 need to live.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me begin by congratulating you on your appointment. This is my first speech in this Parliament and I am very proud to be here for a third term. The question I want to ask my colleague is quite simple. In Laurentides—Labelle, the processing industry and our farmers are facing extremely serious challenges. We know what we need when it comes to supply management. I would therefore like to know how my colleague intends to use her influence within her government to secure supply management as quickly as possible.”