Caroline Desrochers
Trois-Rivières, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know where my colleague is getting his information, but I would encourage him to refresh his search skills, because then he would see that we added 88,000 new jobs to the economy, that the cost of rent is starting to drop and that wages are on the rise.”
“Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 250th anniversary of the battle of Trois‑Rivières, a historic milestone that occurred on June 8, 1776, in my beautiful riding. At the time, the American colonies were trying to make Canada and Quebec their fourteenth colony. However, they suffered a crushing defeat at Trois‑Rivières and retreated.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am curious about something. If the Conservatives are so constructive, I would like the member to tell me, of the hundreds of hours the Conservatives spent speaking on this bill in committee, how many minutes, because, yes, we are talking in terms of minutes, were spent discussing the actual subject at hand.”
“[ Translation ] Two hundred and fifty years later, we are commemorating not only this historic event but also the rich heritage of Trois‑Rivières and the work of those who preserve our collective memory. I therefore invite everyone to come visit our region this summer and discover this important chapter in our history.”
“In Ontario, we partnered with the City of Ottawa to build up to 3,000 affordable homes for mixed-income households. To sum up, the number of agreements and projects that are shovel ready far exceeds the time I have to speak.”
“Bill C‑26 includes other measures, among them targeted tax relief, such as the elimination of the 5% GST on new rental housing. Here again, the goal is to reduce upfront costs and move projects forward.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this opportunity to take part in today's debate and to provide a few facts that are grounded in reality. This debate is taking place at a time of unprecedented upheaval and readjustment in the global trading system, and it is irresponsible for an opposition political party to try to ignore this and bury its head in the sand. We know that the world is changing. Accordingly, Canadians expect their government to react appropriately. The debate we are having today goes beyond the walls of this Parliament. It is happening all over Quebec and Canada, including in my riding, Trois-Rivières, in kitchens, living rooms, at Tim Hortons, in meeting rooms and at workplaces from coast to coast. Canadians and Quebeckers know exactly what is at stake here. Our government knows it too.”
“I would like to remind the member that we have increased the salaries of our armed forces, cut taxes for Canadians and launched the Major Projects Office and Build Canada Homes. Will she support us?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is sad that the opposition is continuing to spread a divisive message at a time when pride and grit should really unite all Canadians around the challenges we are facing. She said, “These are not stats”, and she is right. These are slogans. The real stats are the following: We have the strongest credit rating in the world, AAA. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We have had one of the highest rates of growth in the G7 since 2020. The IMF and the OECD project that Canada will have the strongest economic growth in the G7 this year. These are stats. These are real. The other thing she said is that the Prime Minister forgot what he said on the campaign trail.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will again tell my colleague that the opposition MP's motion is too narrow. It completely ignores the fact that this issue requires a much broader approach. We know that prevention is paramount, and that is why we are putting forward a plan that addresses prevention. It is important, and that is why our plan is more comprehensive.”
“Mr. Speaker, prevention is a very important aspect in the fight against crime. We know that high crime rates and recidivism are linked to other problems. We know that crime is not just a matter of being released and being given bail, and that is why we are proposing a comprehensive plan. We really need to address all the factors that contribute to a person's situation and the reasons why they commit serious offences.”
“Mr. Speaker, those are discussions that we are prepared to have in the context of Bill C-2 . Today we are talking about the motion to adopt Bill C-242 , which was introduced by our opposition colleagues. Crime is a problem. We know that and we acknowledge it. We want to get to work and that is why we are holding consultations with police forces, municipalities and provincial and territorial premiers. We want to ensure that we present a comprehensive plan.”
“Mr. Speaker, what I will say is that we committed to that in 2023 and we have already imposed stricter bail conditions. Right now, we are engaged in exhaustive consultations. My colleagues are welcome to share their points of view and present their opinions to us. We are conducting exhaustive consultations with the people on the front lines who implement the laws that we pass. These are not slogans; they are concrete actions.”
“[ Translation ] The motion before us today is not a genuine plan for public safety; it is a political tactic, a mere slogan. It is an attempt to persuade Canadians that all of the problems would solved, if only this bill were to pass. Canadians know better than that. They know that public safety is a complex issue that requires a comprehensive approach. They know that only the Liberal government will implement a comprehensive approach like this. We must recognize the Canadians' concerns and accept the reality that crime is a problem. However, we must not give in to the politics of fear or political slogans. We have to do the heavy lifting involved in building a fair, firm and effective justice system, something that our government is committed to achieving.”
“Now suddenly, Conservatives have discovered slogans about jail, not bail, but Canadians are not looking for slogans. They are looking for solutions. Let me remind the House what those solutions look like under a Liberal government. They look like targeted bail reform, which was passed in 2023, with more reforms coming in the current session. They look like investment in prosecutors and judges so the justice system works the way it should. They look like prevention programs for youth, addiction treatment programs and mental health supports that reduce crime before it happens. They look like stronger victim services, because safety also means standing with the people who have already been harmed. That is the Liberal plan. It is what we campaigned on, it is what Canadians voted and it is what we are delivering.”
“We agree that Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities, and we are acting on that commitment. In fact, legislation to strengthen bail further will be coming forward in the current session. We have been very clear that this is the responsible path forward, and we have committed to protecting Canadians. However, we will not reduce the issue to a bumper sticker. We will not pretend that public safety can be restored by slogans, because Canadians have heard slogans before, and they voted to not be governed by slogans. They heard them during the decade the Conservatives were in power. The Conservatives had 10 years to act. They had 10 years in which they could have strengthened bail, resourced prosecutors and invested in prevention. They did not; they failed.”
“We are committed to the building safer communities fund and to indigenous justice initiatives because we know that reconciliation and equity promote safety. [ English ] The motion before us ignores prevention completely. It ignores prosecution completely. It says the solution is one bill and longer sitting hours, but Canadians know that one bill would not make their neighbourhoods safer overnight. They know it takes a comprehensive plan, one that is done hand in hand with the people at the front line of implementing the laws we vote on in here. Conservatives call it “catch and release”. We call it listening to Canadians and delivering real solutions, not slogans. Let me be clear: The government agrees that repeat violent offenders must be dealt with firmly.”
“Judges need the ability to impose strict release conditions when they believe someone poses a risk to public safety. They need the time and the capacity to make those decisions thoughtfully, and we are giving them those tools. (1230) [ Translation ] Let us now turn to prevention. If we want to permanently reduce crime, we cannot focus solely on punishment; we also have to focus on prevention. Our platform was clear on this. We are committed to expanding programs to help youth build better lives and steer them away from gangs and crime. We are committed to strengthening mental health and addiction services because we know that untreated mental health and untreated addictions cause many people to reoffend.”
“The Conservatives would like Canadians to believe that bail is the entire story, but public safety is not just about what happens at a bail hearing. Public safety is about prevention, prosecution and protection, and our government is acting on all these fronts. Let me take a moment to talk about prosecution. One of the real challenges we face is that Crown prosecutors in courts are overburdened. Cases take too long, and dangerous offenders sometimes slip through the cracks, not because of soft laws but because of an under-resourced system. That is why our platform committed to increasing resources for Crown attorneys so they can prepare cases more effectively, so they can oppose bail where necessary and so they can ensure that trials move forward without unnecessary delay. That is also why we are expanding resources for judges.”
“These reforms tightened the rules to make it more difficult for individuals charged with serious violent crimes to get bail. This was not just a slogan; it was action. [ English ] I am standing here to suggest that the work is not finished; it is far from it. In fact during the most recent election, Canadians gave the new Liberal government a fresh mandate to go further. Our platform was clear. We committed to strengthening bail again where it is failing, we committed to ensuring that prosecutors and judges have the resources they need, and we committed to making new investments in victim services and community safety programs. That is the plan Canadians voted for. That is the plan we are implementing in the current session of Parliament.”
“[ English ] The motion before us today tries to frame the issue in very simple terms. It says crime is up 55%, repeat offenders are on the streets and the solution is to pass one bill, Bill C-242 , the so-called jail not bail act. While it may be politically convenient for the Conservatives to package such a complex issue into a single slogan, Canadians know that public safety is much more complicated than that. [ Translation ] I would like to remind the House of what has already been accomplished. In 2023, under a Liberal government, Parliament passed significant bail reforms. These reforms specifically targeted violent repeat offenders, including those charged with serious offences involving firearms. We heard the concerns of provincial and territorial premiers and police associations, and we took action.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are worried about crime in their communities, and let me be clear at the outset: The concerns are valid. When Canadians see stories of violent incidents in their neighbourhoods and when they hear about repeat offenders cycling in and out of the system, it shakes their confidence. It makes families wonder whether their kids are safe walking home from school, whether seniors are safe going to the grocery store and whether their communities are as secure as they once were. [ Translation ] We must never brush these concerns aside or suggest to Canadians that it is all in their heads or that they should not be concerned. The truth is that violent crime is a problem. Recidivism is a problem. Canadians expect us, as legislators, to seriously and urgently respond to this problem with solutions, not slogans.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is clear that Canadians deserve to feel safe in their communities. That is why we are introducing a bill that will make bail and sentencing rules stricter and make the courts more efficient. I would like my colleague to speak to the importance of dialogue and of consulting with those who are on the front lines of implementing the laws we vote on here in the House.”
“These actions, along with measures like the affordable housing fund and the apartment construction loan program, will help restore affordability for Canadians. Given the urgency of the housing crisis for Canadians, we are taking immediate action. We are doing it in a way that will support our workers and our industries and make life more affordable for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, our government is using every tool at our disposal and taking coordinated action to help increase supply and ensure it is adapted to the needs and budget of Canadian families, change the way Canada builds housing and make housing more affordable for Canadians. We all know that right now a lot of affordable housing is not really affordable, including all of the condo market that the member is talking about. “Build Canada homes” will offer a bold new approach combining financing, land access and development expertise under one roof to get big projects off the ground and tackle exactly the barriers the member is talking about. Unlike the Conservatives, who advocate a do-nothing approach, we are full steam ahead.”
“We are also making the process of buying a home fairer, simpler and more transparent through actions such as the creation of the blueprint for a homebuyers' bill of rights, which sets out principles for a fair and transparent rental system. We are calling on provinces and territories to take actions that support the blueprint's principles, improve the rental system and ensure rental markets work for Canadians. Working together with our partners, we will help deliver affordable housing options that meet the needs and the budget of families, the kinds of homes that families need. We will continue our work to ensure that all Canadians have a place to call home, because housing is a basic need. We hope our colleagues across the aisle can support us on this as we move forward with measures to support the industry.”
““Build Canada homes” is one of the ways our government is addressing barriers, reducing risk and helping to navigate the process of building non-market housing. We will work closely with builders, investors, indigenous partners and all levels of government to continue to implement innovative solutions to complex problems. The government is also taking targeted financial measures to make home buying more affordable for Canadians. As my colleague noted, by eliminating the GST for first-time home purchases at or under $1 million and lowering the GST on homes between $1 million and $1.5 million, our government is making it easier for Canadians to enter the housing market.”
“At the core of its mission, “build Canada homes” will finance and build affordable housing at scale across Canada, including in rural areas. It will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital, facilitate large portfolio projects and support manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need. “Build Canada homes” will partner with builders and housing providers that are focused on long-term affordability. It will focus on using Canadian-made materials and modern construction methods, such as factory-built housing, to catalyze an entirely new Canadian housing industry, one that builds faster and more sustainably. When we talk about that, we are talking about really increasing the productivity of the construction industry through digitization and automation where it makes sense.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree on this. Everyone in this country should have access to an affordable, safe and healthy place to live. Let me assure members that this government is focused on making housing more affordable and attainable. This is why we are taking action on affordable housing across the range of the affordability continuum. We are talking about co-ops, social housing and deeply affordable homes, exactly the kinds of homes for the missing middle the member is talking about. Our government is taking action with the recent launch of “build Canada homes”, with $13 billion in investments, including funding for supportive and transitional housing and for the Canada rental protection fund to preserve the affordability of units.”
“We are supporting first-time homebuyers, like I said earlier, with the GST rebate. We are launching “build Canada homes” to accelerate the pace of homebuilding and build affordable housing at scale. We are here for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians are facing a housing crisis that touches every corner of this country. That is why our government has launched a comprehensive housing plan, which is the most ambitious in our history, the most ambitious since the Second World War. We are working in partnership with provinces, territories, municipalities, indigenous communities and the private sector. We spent all summer talking to industry; actually, we have been talking to industry since last year, to better understand how we can do this more quickly. We spent all summer engaging with stakeholders to make sure that what we are putting forward in “build Canada homes” is flexible and can address the crisis that we are facing. We are reducing barriers to construction and investing in new housing programs.”
“The federal government is using every tool at our disposal to lead transformative change in Canada's housing system and to make sure that every Canadian can find a home that meets their needs and their budget. We are taking action. We are there for Canadians. We hope the opposition can support us.”
“We are going to do that with Canadian innovation, Canadian material and Canadian workers, and we are going to continue building on the success of programs like the $4.4-billion housing accelerator fund. Through this program, we have signed more than 240 agreements with municipalities to cut red tape and increase housing density. That is what partnership is about. These actions are expected to support the construction of more than 750,000 new homes over the next decade. Finally, our government is taking action to grow and protect the supply of rental housing. We have removed the GST on new purpose-built rental buildings and have committed more than $24 billion in loans to build almost 65,000 units through the apartment construction loan program.”
“It is why we are helping young families buy their first home, by eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers. We need to build at scale quickly and bring down the cost for home builders. That is why we are working with municipalities to cut development charges in half for all multi-unit housing projects. Yesterday the Prime Minister launched “build Canada homes”, which will be responsible for building and financing affordable housing at scale. With an initial capital investment of $13 billion, it will catalyze a more productive homebuilding industry and support more affordable housing options for low- and middle-income households. We have also clarified the definition of affordable housing, making it based on income rather than on median rent in the area.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is facing a housing crisis that demands bold action. That is why the Government of Canada has introduced the most ambitious housing plan in our country's history. This is a team Canada moment, when we must all come together and focus on what matters most for Canadians: housing, affordability and a resilient economy. We are working closely with all levels of government, indigenous partners and the private sector to get the job done for Canadians. People across the country are struggling to pay their mortgage and their rent and to keep up with the high cost of living. That is why our new government has moved forward with a middle-class tax reduction, like my colleague mentioned, that will provide tax relief for nearly 22 million Canadians, saving families up to $840 a year.”
“Mr. Speaker, my ancestors came to Canada in the 17th century, and my children were born abroad when I was outside the country serving my country. The United States is where my children were born. We have since returned from the United States and we live here. My children go to school here. They are going to university next year. They will graduate. They plan on spending their lives here. In the eventuality that one of my children decides to follow in my footsteps and spends some time abroad, can the member please tell me if he believes that my grandchildren should not be Canadian because they would be a threat to the national security of Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, as my colleague noted earlier, we have a national housing strategy that is second to none. We will double the construction of new homes. We concluded an historic agreement with Quebec on the housing accelerator fund. We have invested $900 million. Quebec has also invested $900 million. Real housing units are being built. People are actually living in them now. We are getting things going, we have already started and we will keep going. As I said, we are using Canadian innovation, Canadian lumber and Canadian workers. We have a plan.”
“Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleague to read the Liberal platform. We have made major commitments with respect to transforming government operations. We got to work as soon as we returned. The “build Canada homes” initiative will help make it easier to get housing built faster. That is what Canadians need now.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think we all agree that there is a housing crisis. This is why the government is getting back into the business of building. This is why we will power innovation with modular and prefabricated homes. We will do it by reducing red tape, increasing efficiency and streamlining operations. We will do it at a very fast speed. This is what we promised Canadians and this is what we will deliver.”
“Mr. Speaker, contrary to everything we hear from the other side of the House, we are doing our jobs. There is an action plan, and affordability is central to the mandate of “build Canada homes”. We will build more affordable and social housing to support low- and middle-income families. We have the most ambitious plan in decades. We are committed to building twice as many homes. We will do so using Canadian innovation, Canadian labour and Canadian lumber, steel and aluminum. That is how to build the Canada of tomorrow.”
“I invite everyone to Trois‑Rivières this summer to cheer on these talented young athletes, share their energy and make these games something our community will never forget.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous pride, and thanks to the initiative and vision of mayor Jean Lamarche, that Trois‑Rivières will be hosting the 59th Quebec Games this summer, from July 25 to August 2. This event will bring together more than 3,500 young athletes, aged 12 to 17, from 19 regions of Quebec. It will feature 18 sports and celebrate excellence, passion and commitment. The success of these games can be primarily attributed to the incredible dedication of the volunteers. I would like to mention the chair, Martin Leblanc, Bernard Milette, and David Labecque and his team, who are working tirelessly to provide the athletes with the best possible environment to achieve excellence and personal growth.”
“Mr. Speaker, as usual, my colleagues keep focusing on just a few parts of the Auditor General's report to cause a media stir. The Government of Canada has committed to doubling the pace of housing construction over the next decade to 500,000 housing units a year. I invite my colleagues to reread the Auditor General's report properly, in its entirety. To meet the needs of a growing Canada, we must increase the housing supply in every category, namely market housing, social housing and affordable housing. We have to build quickly, at scale, and reduce costs for builders. We are working with the municipalities to cut development charges in half for all multi-unit housing projects. What is more, we are encouraging municipalities to remove barriers to development through the housing accelerator fund.”
“It is unconscionable that anyone in Canada does not have access to safe, affordable and inclusive housing. That is why the federal government is committed to solving the housing crisis and showing leadership when it comes to housing. Team Canada, our team, is fully committed. We are working with home builders, the private sector, all levels of government and indigenous leaders to use every tool and every resource at our disposal. We are focused on creating a housing market that works for everyone and building Canada strong. That is what we were elected to do, and that is what we are going to do.”
“We have committed more than $23 billion in loans to support the construction of more than 59,000 homes through the apartment construction loan program. We are in the process of creating “build Canada homes”. This new agency will bring together the appropriate financing and public-private partnerships to leverage public land, remove financial barriers and increase our supply of truly affordable housing for low- and middle-income Canadians. We are taking action where it is needed most. We will also help develop the modular and prefab housing industry and create new careers and well-paying jobs in the skilled trades. As I said earlier, we will build a resilient housing industry using Canadian innovation, Canadian labour and Canadian softwood lumber.”
“We also launched the housing design catalogue, which includes 50 standardized housing designs to help builders reduce construction costs and simplify the process. We are taking concrete action. We know that increasing supply will lower the cost of housing. That is why we continue to incentivize municipalities to remove barriers to construction with programs like the housing accelerator fund. To date, we have signed agreements with more than 200 communities across the country that have committed to reducing red tape and simplifying the development process. In my riding of Trois-Rivières, dozens of units have been built in the past 18 months, giving real families real homes, so the plan is working. We are also committed to taking action to protect the supply of rental housing. We have eliminated the GST on new rental construction.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and his speech. As I said earlier, we agree that Canada is experiencing a housing crisis. That is why the Government of Canada has developed the most ambitious housing plan ever. We pledged to double the rate of home construction to nearly 500,000 homes per year. We are taking decisive action to cut red tape, stimulate private investment and lower the cost of homebuilding. We are building on successes and making historic investments in new housing construction. Through the national housing strategy, we have reduced or eliminated housing needs for more than 660,000 households, and we will support the creation of more than 166,000 new homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, young Canadians can wait no longer to get the same home ownership opportunities that previous generations have had. Making Canada affordable for first-time homebuyers is one of our top priorities. We have been saying this since Parliament resumed. We said it during the election campaign. We released plans during the election campaign. We are committed to making this happen and we are putting the tools in place to do so. As we have said, we are committed to nearly doubling the rate of housing construction while creating a new housing industry built on Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and Canadian softwood lumber. I have photos here of all sorts of modular homes. My colleague is welcome to come look at them later. The government—”
“We are not stopping there. We are working with provinces, territories and municipalities to cut development charges in half for all multi-unit buildings. In addition, the housing accelerator fund is helping us remove barriers to development, build tens of thousands of homes across the country and increase our housing supply. We are building a unified Canadian economy, and we are committed to making housing more affordable and more accessible for all Canadians. That is the promise we made, and we have a plan to deliver on that promise and build Canada strong.”
“Over the past few weeks, people have been referring to shipping containers. (1835) [ English ] Our colleagues across the aisle are referring to modular homes as shipping containers. Maybe that was 50 years ago. This is not the reality anymore. [ Translation ] The “build Canada homes” initiative is a pillar of our plan. It will transform the way homes are built in our country. It will accelerate the construction of affordable homes by streamlining construction timelines, leveraging public land and reducing financial barriers. This initiative will help nearly double the rate of housing construction, but it will also support investments in modular and prefabricated construction to develop a modern, sustainable housing industry built on Canadian innovation, Canadian businesses, Canadian workers and Canadian materials.”
“We have eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers on homes up to $1 million and reduced the GST on homes up to $1.5 million. I thank my opposition colleagues for voting with us on that matter. We are also cutting taxes for the middle class, saving two-income families up to $840 a year. This will help those looking to save up for their first home. Once again, I thank my colleagues for voting with us on that. We are not just talking about change; we are delivering it. We are using every tool at our disposal to build homes at a scale and speed not seen in decades, and we are doing so by working in partnership with provinces, territories, indigenous communities, municipalities, and the private and non-profit sectors. Earlier today, I met with an organization that is working on building modular homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, there is a housing crisis in Canada. We agree on that. Too many Canadians are seeing their dream of owning their own home drift further and further out of reach. Families are struggling with the rising cost, and young people are being priced out of the housing market. Communities across the country are being squeezed by a housing system that is simply not working as it should. I thank my colleague for that long list of current market prices. However, as we promised during the election campaign, and as the measures put forward so far by our new government show, we are going to tackle the housing crisis head-on with focus, determination and innovation. We are taking action to make housing more affordable for all Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, earlier I shared the story of one of my constituents whose child was born prematurely while he was travelling. Now the child is three months old and needs medical care. Unfortunately, he cannot get his Canadian citizenship because his parents were born abroad. This means he cannot receive medical care because the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec, or RAMQ, refuses to issue him a health insurance card because he is not a Canadian citizen. This issue is causing real problems for some children.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am a little confused, because I heard my colleague speaking earlier and it sounded like he agrees with the bill that was introduced. I would say that we are continuing our efforts in that direction. As a newly elected member, I am looking ahead to the future with our new government.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have been trying for a long time to get this through so we can right the wrongs of the past and fix what was put in place. I think it is important that we do this as quickly as possible.”
“Mr. Speaker, yes, I believe the Conservatives are continuing a tradition of relying on divisive slogans and rhetoric. As my colleagues and the minister herself pointed out this morning, we are open to amendments, as long as they are constructive and in the spirit of what we are trying to do, which is to fix the legislation that was passed in 2009.”