Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault
Madawaska—Restigouche, New Brunswick · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to hear what my colleague has to say about the fact that, through the economic update, we are continuing to implement our action plan for official languages, with $4.1 billion to support the vitality of francophone communities everywhere outside Quebec.”
“Mr. Speaker, after the economic update was released, several unions praised our initiative to develop the team Canada strong initiative to recruit up to 100,000 new skilled workers. We implemented a series of measures to help these people, particularly apprentices, on their journey to certification.”
“Madam Speaker, the Conservative Party used to call itself the party of law and order. Unfortunately, today, the Conservatives no longer have any credibility on this issue. When the time comes to better protect victims, what do the Conservatives do? They vote against it.”
“Today, we are focusing specifically on the proposed Senate amendment to add the noose to the list of symbols of hate. The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights has heard from numerous witnesses and organizations who have stated that the noose is a recognized symbol of terror and intimidation against Black people and that it should be…”
“This is how we strengthen our shared way of life and the truly Canadian values of respect, equality and dignity. I will use the last few minutes of my time to say that I am disappointed by the excessive partisanship we have seen in the debate on Bill C‑9 .”
“I do not believe this is commensurate with the issues before us, and I find it deplorable. Lastly, beyond the issue of hate symbols, Bill C‑9 is an important step forward in a number of ways.”
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“Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this bill. It will implement strict measures to strengthen security at our borders while making our communities safer. To be clear, these amendments have been carefully crafted to strike a balance between privacy concerns and the tools that law enforcement needs to carry out its mandate. The bill strengthens law enforcement's ability to detect and investigate serious crimes, while upholding the rule of law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. We can strengthen our border security and fight crime while respecting the fundamental rights of our citizens. As a government, we are committed to building a safer and more secure Canada. That is what we are doing.”
“By implementing these rigorous measures, the Government of Canada will strengthen security at our borders while increasing safety in our communities. These measures will also show our international partners that Canada takes seriously our shared responsibility to combat fentanyl, car theft, human trafficking and transnational organized crime. In conclusion, protecting our borders and fighting crime and illicit financing are issues that transcend party lines. Canadians have high expectations of us. They expect us to work together with the seriousness that the issues we are addressing demand. Like all my colleagues on the government side, I will support this important bill. I hope that all other members of the House will work with us constructively to pass this bill, which is essential to making Canada stronger, safer and more secure.”
“We will therefore impose tougher penalties for financial crimes. We will also facilitate the exchange of information between Canada's largest banks and law enforcement agencies responsible for combatting money laundering, so that banks can receive and use the information sent to them by the RCMP. As such, Bill C-2 is an important step forward in implementing our plan to build a safer Canada. This bill strengthens law enforcement's ability to detect and investigate serious crimes, while respecting the rights guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the rule of law. It is important to stress that the amendments we are proposing have been carefully crafted to balance privacy interests with the tools law enforcement needs to fulfill their mandate.”
“We will also allow the police to search for, intercept and seize drugs and other prohibited items that are being shipped through the postal system. To that end, we will amend the Canada Post Corporation Act. (1345) This bill will also strengthen our ability to prosecute transnational child sex offenders. To do this, we are amending the Sex Offender Information Registration Act to improve the RCMP's ability to share information with its national and international partners. The third pillar of our bill is to stop illicit financing by strengthening our ability to fight money laundering and stop the flow of financial proceeds from organized crime to deprive it of its illegal profits. Our government was elected on a platform of protecting and defending Canadians from foreign threats, which includes protecting our financial system.”
“That is why we are taking steps to prevent crime, give police the tools they need to fight it, and hold criminals accountable for their actions. Opioids are wreaking havoc across the country. Thousands of lives are being lost; not a day goes by without hearing heartbreaking stories of lives cut short. We cannot remain indifferent to this situation, and we must act. That is why we will continue our efforts to stop the flow of fentanyl. In particular, we will further empower law enforcement agencies in the fight against the production and trafficking of illicit drugs. We will allow law enforcement agencies to search goods crossing the border. We will facilitate the listing of precursor chemicals in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to prevent their importation and illegal use.”
“We are also taking important steps to preserve the integrity of our immigration system while honouring our humanitarian commitments. Canadians expect us to maintain a strong, effective immigration system well suited to present conditions. That is why we made changes to create two ineligibility measures in the asylum system. The goal is to reduce pressure on the system and deter those who may seek to abuse it. Let me reiterate, however, that we will do this while upholding our humanitarian traditions and ensuring that refugees who genuinely need protection can get it. The second objective of Bill C‑2 is to combat transnational organized crime and fentanyl. We understand that a strong Canada requires strong crime prevention measures.”
“During the election campaign, I heard many stories about stolen vehicles, like that of a young entrepreneurial couple from my riding, who work hard to earn a living and who, upon returning from vacation, found that their truck had disappeared from their hotel's long-term parking lot. We need to increase the responsible authorities' capacity to fight this type of crime. It is also important to understand that the strong borders act complements our other measures to strengthen our borders. Once passed, this legislation will strengthen Canada's border plan, which involves funding of $1.3 billion, the largest investment in border security in Canadian history. When we talk about strengthening our country's security, it is not just talk. We are taking real action.”
“During the election campaign, I had the opportunity to meet many of these border services officers at various community activities in my riding and discuss their important work with them. Through Bill C‑2 , we will make our borders even stronger. We will do that by making it easier for border officers to examine goods destined for export that are crossing the border and to intercept more drugs, guns and stolen vehicles as they leave Canada. For example, border officers will have more power to inspect containers destined for export and prevent car theft rings from smuggling stolen vehicles out of the country.”
“Over the next few minutes, I will explain why I support this essential bill, which will enable us to advance our government's priorities of keeping Canadians safe by strengthening Canada's border, fighting transnational organized crime and improving the integrity of Canada's immigration system. The first objective of this bill is to make our border more secure. This is an especially important issue for me as the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, a riding with five border crossings. I want to point out that Canada's borders are already strong and secure and that CBSA staff do remarkable work. I want to commend them for the work they do every day to protect our borders.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the Secretary of State for Combatting Crime . During the election campaign, Canadians across the country asked us to take concrete measures to build a safer Canada. We have heard them, and we take the issues of protecting our borders and cracking down on crime very seriously. That is why, at the beginning of this new Parliament, we introduced Bill C‑2 , the strong borders act. I would like to congratulate my colleague, the Minister of Public Safety , who sponsored this bill, as well as all my other ministerial colleagues who contributed to it, for the quality of their work on this important issue for Canadians.”
“Madam Speaker, Bill C‑2 includes a number of measures to combat auto theft. I know that is an important issue for the Bloc Québécois. In fact, I believe that, during the last Parliament, it was the Bloc Québécois's public safety critic who got a motion adopted to have that issue taken up by the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. Can my colleague talk about the positive impact Bill C‑2 will have on the auto theft problem we are facing across the country?”
“Madam Speaker, last month, more than 8.5 million Canadians voted for our ambitious plan to strengthen and unify our economy. That is the most votes a party has ever received in a Canadian federal election. The Speech from the Throne accurately reflects the commitments we made during the election campaign. The throne speech reflects the will of the more than 8.5 million Canadians who gave us such a strong endorsement in the last election. Will my colleague vote in favour of our throne speech this evening?”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with and learn from my colleague from Hull—Aylmer. He is always eloquent and thoughtful. I am therefore very pleased to be part of the same team as he is and to work alongside him. I would like him to share his perspective on our ambitious plan to make life more affordable. What impact is that having on his riding?”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague talked about the cost of living. I have great news. Last month, eligibility for the Canadian dental care plan was expanded to all age groups. That means more than eight million Canadians now have access to the affordable dental care they need. Here is my question: Is my colleague from Niagara West as excited as I am about this great news about expanding access to the Canadian dental care plan?”
“Mr. Speaker, francophone immigration plays an essential role in strengthening and enhancing the vitality of francophone minority communities across the country and in growing our economy. That is why I am very proud to say that we have set ambitious targets for the next few years: 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027. Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship update the House on our government's efforts on francophone immigration?”
“Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague that Canada is the greatest country in the world. These turbulent times have shown that Canadians have what it takes to unite around a plan to strengthen and unify our economy. However, if my colleague believes, as I do, that Canada is the greatest country in the world, I have a hard time understanding how he can stand behind a leader who has been badmouthing our country for years and telling everybody, quite wrongly, that Canada is broken.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians sent a clear message last month. They want us to build an economy that works for everyone. We have an ambitious plan to reduce the cost of living and build a strong economy, the most competitive in the G7. The message sent by voters, particularly in the riding of Carleton, was a call for real change, and we are committed to delivering on that call. Will my Conservative colleagues respect Canadians' choice and support our efforts to strengthen and unify the Canadian economy, or will they continue to obstruct, as they did during the previous Parliament?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague on his election. His riding neighbours mine, actually. Let me reassure my colleague. The Speech from the Throne underscores our commitment to protecting the people who provide us with fresh, healthy food, like our farmers. We have an ambitious plan to protect Canadian agri-food workers. We are also committed to protecting our supply management system. I understand how important the supply management system is. It is extremely important to my riding's economy as well. I wanted to use my time to reassure my colleague. We have a plan, and I can assure everyone that we will work to ensure food security.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague on his election. He talked about his family. We on this side of the House are taking concrete action to make life more affordable for our families. This includes our tax cut. We also want to maintain programs such as pharmacare, the Canadian dental care plan and affordable child care spaces. The Conservatives voted against these programs. Will my colleague—”
“Mr. Speaker, my predecessor helped several municipalities in my riding apply for funding to build housing. In contrast, the Conservative leader, Mr. Poilievre, did not let his MPs help their own communities access these funds. Will the Conservative leader continue to obstruct the efforts of municipalities represented by his MPs to build housing?”
“This is a major milestone in their lives, and I hope that many of them will choose to stay in our region. Madawaska—Restigouche has an abundance of talented people, and it is a tremendous privilege to represent this wonderful riding here in Ottawa.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Ordre du mérite Bleu et Or is a distinguished honour awarded by the Université de Moncton to graduates with outstanding academic performance, community engagement and participation in student life. I would like to congratulate two young people from my riding, Jennifer Lepage‑Robidoux of Balmoral, who earned a Bachelor of Education degree, and Simon Thériault of Drummond, who earned a Bachelor of Social Science degree, on being awarded this high honour in recognition of their commitment to excellence throughout their university studies. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the 322 people who received degrees and certificates during the Université de Moncton's 73rd convocation at the Edmundston campus.”
“Mr. Speaker, in her speech, my colleague attacked the media and questioned its credibility. This is not surprising, coming from a party that wants to slash funding to the CBC without any consideration for the impact that could have on the quality of information available in the regions and available in francophone communities outside Quebec. We are living in an era when so much disinformation is being shared online, and this can erode trust in our institutions. Instead, we should be making greater efforts to support a strong, independent press in order to ensure access to quality information. I would like to know why our colleague wants to go after the CBC. Why does she want to go after a strong and independent press, when we should be doing just the opposite?”
“Mr. Speaker, I completely agree with my colleague about the importance of tackling the housing shortage head-on. I, too, represent a rural riding with significant housing needs. However, I would like to point out that, during the last Parliament, Pierre Poilievre unilaterally demanded that his members stop supporting the cities in their region that wanted their share of the housing accelerator fund. While my colleagues were working with their communities to help them get housing built faster, the opposition leader was preventing his members from supporting their communities. Can my colleague tell us whether, this time, the Conservatives will really work together to speed up housing construction, including in rural areas?”
“Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, Canada is a country that celebrates both its official languages and its indigenous languages. I am proud to have the opportunity to represent two indigenous communities in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. They are the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation and the Eel River Bar First Nation, two communities I have a great relationship with. They gave me their support, and I want to thank them once again for backing me during the election campaign. I hope to be an ally in the development of their projects.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her excellent question. The Liberals have always been clear: We are committed to CBC/Radio-Canada. We understand how important Radio-Canada is for francophone culture and francophone communities outside Quebec. Along with French-language community media, Radio-Canada is a major source of quality local news. At a time when we are seeing a lot of disinformation, it is essential to have access to quality news in French across the country. I want to acknowledge the work of all French-language community media outlets across Canada, as well as the work of Radio-Canada. That is why, for the Liberals, there is no question: We support CBC/Radio-Canada's mandate and want to strengthen it.”
“Our new government is planning concrete measures for francophones. For example, during the election campaign, we committed to increasing the francophone immigration target to 12% by 2029. This is a concrete measure that will contribute to the vitality of French. As we know, French has been in decline in Canada outside Quebec since 1969. Under the Official Languages Act, we are required to restore the demographic weight. With a 12% target, we are putting the demographic weight of francophone communities outside Quebec back on track to grow.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent question. The Liberal Party was the party of choice for me as a francophone and as an Acadian. The Liberal Party was in power when the first Official Languages Act was passed in 1969, and it was the party that made French one of our country's two official languages. It is also the party behind the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, section 23 of which guarantees the right to education in French throughout the country. It was also the Liberals who undertook an ambitious modernization of the Official Languages Act. I would like to acknowledge the work of my colleague from Moncton—Dieppe ; my predecessor, Mr. Arseneault; several other francophone members from across the country; and my colleague across the floor as well. They did excellent work on this file.”
“During the election campaign, entrepreneurs in Bois-Joli, Baie-des-Hérons, Vallée-des-Rivières and many other municipalities in my riding told me about innovative projects that hold a lot of potential for our region's economic development. I have no doubt that Madawaska—Restigouche will definitely contribute to transforming and strengthening the Canadian economy. In closing, I would like to mention that, as the representative of a rural riding with a francophone majority, I feel very much at home in our Liberal caucus, which has more Acadian and francophone members from Ontario, western and northern Canada as well as Quebec than any other party in the House of Commons. This is in addition to my many colleagues who have worked hard to learn French as their second official language.”
“I am especially pleased with our government's commitment to doubling the funding for the indigenous loan currency program, from $5 billion to $10 billion, so more indigenous communities can become owners of major projects. [ Translation ] The cornerstone of our plan is to transform, strengthen and unify the Canadian economy. Our new government's goal is to build the strongest economy in the G7. To do so, we will remove barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, as well as the duplication that delays the completion of projects. We will take a “one project, one assessment” approach, working closely with provinces and territories. We will also take targeted action to catalyze private investment and boost productivity. The transformation of our economy will have a significant impact on workers and businesses across the country.”
“The supply management system is especially important to my riding where, for example, poultry farms are at the heart of the Upper Madawaska economy. There is a reason Saint-François-de-Madawaska is known as the chicken capital. (1345) [ English ] Our government is committed to being a reliable partner for indigenous peoples and upholding its core commitment to advancing reconciliation. I am honoured to represent, here in Ottawa, two indigenous communities from my riding: The Eel River Bar First Nation and the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation. I want to sincerely thank the members of both communities for their strong support in the last election. I am committed to continuing to strengthen the collaborative relationships we have built over the past few months, and I want to be a true ally in support of their various projects.”
“The Liberal plan to protect and strengthen the Canadian agri-food sector is especially important for regions with many farms and agri-food businesses, such as Grand Falls, Drummond, and Saint-André, in New Brunswick. I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that I got a visit this morning from Mr. Beaulieu, the mayor of Grand Falls Regional Municipality. We are also determined to keep Canada's commitment to supply management and the sectors governed by it, including dairy products, poultry and eggs. This system helps protect Canadian jobs and ensures the stability of our food supply as production costs fluctuate, while guaranteeing that farmers get a minimum price for their products.”
“With our new government's ambitious housing plan, we will see an acceleration of housing starts across the country. We will have to make sure that all regions of Canada benefit from this plan, because there is a pressing need, both in urban areas and in rural areas like mine. (1340) We will also thoroughly revitalize the residential construction sector by leveraging Canadian technology, our skilled workers, and Canadian lumber. Promoting the use of our lumber will certainly have economic benefits in regions such as mine, where the forestry industry plays an important role in the local economy. The Speech from the Throne also highlights our government's commitment to protecting those who give us access to fresh, healthy, and high-quality food, namely our agricultural producers.”
“This example reminds us that the measures we vote on here can be life-changing for the people we represent. During the election campaign, citizens and municipal officials from across my riding also told me about the housing shortage in their communities. That message has been heard. Our government will introduce a series of measures to help double housing construction and create affordable housing. In my riding, a number of housing units have already been built or are being built thanks to federal funding, including in Edmundston, Campbellton, Saint-Quentin and Eel River Bar. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence in the gallery of Edmundston's mayor, Mr. Marquis, city councillors and members of the city administration. I am pleased to welcome them to Parliament today.”
“Our new government is taking concrete action to make life more affordable for the middle class. We are going to provide a middle-class tax cut that will save families up to $840 a year. We are also going to eliminate the goods and services tax on the purchase of a first home. As we speak, we are expanding eligibility for the Canadian dental care plan. We are also going to ensure the sustainability of existing programs like affordable child care and pharmacare. During the election campaign, a resident of Tide Head in Restigouche told me how important the Canadian dental care plan is to him. Our announcement to expand the program's eligibility for the first time in over a decade means that he will have access to urgent dental care when he needs it.”
“We must preserve our fundamental conviction that we are stronger together. Our official languages represent this unity. As a powerful symbol of our shared history, they foster cohesion and cultural vitality while enhancing our country's international image. Key to our identity and culture, French is also a language of knowledge, diversity, creation, business and education. As our government presents an ambitious and bold plan to transform our economy, it is important to point out that one of Canada's greatest strengths is our ability to research, innovate and excel in many fields in French. Last month, people in my riding and across the country called for a lower cost of living. We heard them, and we are acting on our firm belief that the economy can only thrive if it works for everyone.”
“Finally, I would like to thank my predecessor, René Arsenault, for all the work he accomplished for Madawaska—Restigouche over the past 10 years. Madawaska—Restigouche has one of the highest proportions of francophones in Canada outside Quebec, at nearly 80%. It is home to dynamic communities of Acadians and Brayons. I myself am from Kedgwick, a rural community where we proudly celebrate our Acadian identity. It is therefore important to me to remind the House that our official languages and the francophonie are distinctive Canadian features and a powerful symbol of our Canadian identity. Canada is a country where we respect and celebrate our official languages and our indigenous languages. As the Speech from the Throne rightly points out, during this time of great change, Canadians are uniting behind what makes Canada unique.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Victoria . It is a true privilege to address the House for the first time as the member for Madawaska—Restigouche. In carrying out my duties, I will strive to always honour the trust that the people of my riding have placed in me. I will make sure that they are effectively represented in this place. I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who generously donated their time to support me during my campaign. They helped put me in the seat I hold today. I also want to acknowledge the important support I received from my family. I want to say how much my wife Stéphanie, who unfortunately is no longer with us, was a constant source of inspiration to me since this new chapter of my life started.”