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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“Mr. Speaker, as recently as yesterday or this week, the minister announced another $500 million to help the softwood lumber industry. We understand that the industry is going through a tough time and we are there to support it. Last summer, we announced a relief plan that we are currently implementing. We announced additional measures and we will continue to be there as the situation evolves. My colleague mentioned that I was not being specific enough. I will give him a specific, down-to-earth example. The Bloc campaigned for months to extend the runway in the Magdalen Islands, an initiative for which his colleague from Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj even formed a citizens' committee. Then, when we finally agreed, they turned around and voted against it in the House. I do not understand that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to my colleague that Canada has one of the best net debt-to-GDP ratios in the G7. We have fiscal capacity, and we must use it to meet today's challenges. We are facing a tariff war that we did not ask for. We need to support the Canadian economy, and we must be there for Canadian businesses that are going through tough economic times. Businesses need us to be there to support our economy. When people need help and various social measures, we are there, and we want to use our fiscal capacity to meet the needs not only of businesses, but also of Canadians. In fact, for several years now, my colleague and all of his official opposition colleagues have been here in Ottawa opposing us every time that we put measures in place to help Canadians.”
“I still have a lot more to say about the budget, but I think my speaking time has come to an end, so I eagerly look forward to my colleagues' questions.”
“Once again, I know that several cultural societies in my riding benefit from this fund, which gives people in my riding opportunities to experience high-quality performances and make arts and culture part of their lives. I am also thinking of the many investments that we are making in the Canada Music Fund, Telefilm Canada and the Canada Media Fund to support audiovisual content creators, and the list goes on. I am very proud that our government is supporting the arts and culture sector because of its importance to Canada's economy. Artists not only make a significant contribution to our economy, they also help strengthen our Canadian identity. Their socio-economic contribution is vital. I am proud that my government is supporting this sector.”
“The building communities through arts and heritage program will receive $21 million. This program supports local festivals, community anniversaries and capital projects initiated by communities. My riding actually hosts many, many festivals, and dedicated volunteers contribute to the community by organizing all kinds of activities. Just two weeks ago, I announced federal funding through the program I just mentioned for the Campbellton Sno-Fest. I know that a number of similar announcements will be made in the coming year for various festivals in the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche and across the country. We have also earmarked $46.5 million for the Canada arts presentation fund to support professional arts festivals and performance series.”
“Work is progressing well, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the Centre Maillet's facelift. Through the action plan for official languages 2023-2028, we are also investing in a wide range of other areas, such as early childhood education, justice, arts and culture as well as research, to name a few. These are investments we are making here that have a real impact on the vitality of francophone communities across the country, including in Madawaska—Restigouche. I am very proud to be part of a government that is making the largest investment in official languages in Canadian history. Budget 2025 also includes funding to support arts and culture. Money is earmarked to develop Canada's creative industries and help Canadian talent succeed in an increasingly digital and global marketplace. I will list some of the measures.”
“So, the investments we are making here in Ottawa in official languages are helping to train people in the health sector back home in Edmundston. I am also thinking of the welcoming francophone communities initiative, which aims to help our francophone communities settle newcomers. There are 24 projects across the country, and I am very pleased that two of them are in my riding: the welcoming francophone community of Haut-Saint-Jean and the welcoming francophone community of Kedgwick and Saint-Quentin. The action plan also includes the community spaces fund, because vibrant and dynamic francophone communities need places to gather. I would like to talk about a project that was funded in my constituency last year through this fund. The Centre Maillet in the Saint-Basile area of Edmundston received $2 million.”
“For example, last year, Canada and New Brunswick signed an agreement for French language instruction that includes $133 million for instruction in both our French-language schools and our immersion schools. In other words, that money is going to schools in my region so that our children in New Brunswick can learn French. I am also thinking of the $78-million investment announced last summer by the Minister of Health to improve access to French-language health services for francophone communities. Of this $78 million, $14 million is earmarked for the Université de Moncton for training more health professionals in medicine and nursing. In my riding, the Edmundston campus of the Université de Moncton offers a bachelor's degree in nursing.”
“As the member for Madawaska—Restigouche and an Acadian MP, I consider official languages to be a very important issue. In budget 2025, we are doubling funding for National Acadian Day and making that funding permanent. In addition, we are continuing to implement the action plan for official languages 2023-2028. I would like to remind the House that this plan provides $4.1 billion over five years, which is the largest investment in official languages in Canada's history, even taking inflation into account. No other government has invested as much in supporting official languages in this country. It is a big deal. This historic investment is having a real impact in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.”
“Maple syrup production is also a skill that is passed down from generation to generation. In fact, of the three sugar bushes I visited last week, one was recently handed down to the next generation, and another is run by a father and son. This is a sector that is well established, both economically and culturally, and that is part of the history of the Madawaska—Restigouche riding. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all producers and workers in the industry a successful maple syrup season. We know that preparations are coming to an end. The tapping is almost done, and sugaring season is just around the corner. (1320) I am the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, a riding that is more than 80% francophone. In fact, my riding has the second-highest percentage of francophones outside Quebec.”
“The funding announced last week will primarily go toward modernizing these maple syrup producers' infrastructure to make it more productive, notably through the purchase of new reverse osmosis systems and automated systems to help detect leaks in the forest. This announcement was particularly important to me because the maple syrup industry is integral to my riding's economy. New Brunswick is the world's second-largest producer of maple syrup, and 80% of the syrup produced in my province comes from Madawaska—Restigouche. This is a direct investment in a key sector of the economy of the rural communities that I represent here in Ottawa. In addition to the economic benefits, maple syrup is culturally important in my region, as we are very proud of the syrup produced in the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.”
“Internationally, strengthening the Canadian economy also involves diversifying our markets. The budget contains various incentives and measures to support Canadian companies looking to break into new markets around the world. The government is working hard to attract foreign investment and sign new trade agreements with countries around the world. In fact, Canada is the only G7 country to have a free trade agreement with every other G7 country. This is just the beginning. When we talk about supporting innovation to increase productivity, that translates into investments in our regions, including the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. Last week, I had the immense pleasure of announcing up to $1 million in federal government support for three maple syrup producers in my riding through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.”
“Also, in the budget, we see consistency across the various investments that we are making to meet our priorities, because we are working to link this to our mandate of strengthening the Canadian economy. I will give a few examples. We are launching Build Canada Homes, an investment of more than $13 billion for the construction of housing here at home. With Build Canada Homes, we will promote the use of Canadian materials, such as softwood lumber. This will help us meet the need for housing while boosting our economy and supporting businesses here at home. It is somewhat the same with the defence industrial strategy. We have committed to significantly increasing defence spending, given the current context. We will do so in a way that supports businesses.”
“We have also enhanced certain incentives, such as the business research and development program. I have visited a number of businesses in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche that are benefiting from this program. It is amazing to see the opportunities, especially when it comes to developing new products and penetrating new markets. Businesses might have a product that meets 90% of a potential customer's needs. Work-integrated research opens up new possibilities. However, we have heard that the program can be problematic in terms of red tape. In budget 2025, we are addressing these issues. We will improve the program to make it easier for businesses to use, because we want to see businesses spending more time innovating and less time dealing with red tape.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley . Our objective with budget 2025 is clear: We want to make Canada's economy stronger and more resilient. The first step is to work on our own economy, here in Canada. After taking office, we started by removing interprovincial trade barriers at the federal level. We introduced a buy Canadian policy in our budget because we know that we have to be our own best customer. The Government of Canada has tremendous purchasing power, and we have to use it to stimulate our economy and support Canadian companies. In budget 2025, we are also introducing a set of tax incentives to boost productivity. We want to encourage Canadian businesses to invest in new equipment right away. The message we are sending is that now is the time to invest in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, in his speech, my colleague talked about the importance of consistency, but I am having a hard time understanding. If consistency is really that important, why do people say it is important to invest in infrastructure in Quebec, such as the Magdalen Islands airport runway, the Forillon shipyard in Gaspé and the Exploramer shark pavilion in Saint‑Anne‑des‑Monts? These projects are important to Quebeckers. There are also housing needs. The federal government and the Government of Quebec have just agreed on a framework for the construction of affordable housing in Quebec. These are priorities for the people my colleague says he wants to represent in the House. However, he is voting against those projects. I would like to know why he is opposed to them.”
“Mr. Speaker, if our colleague is truly motivated by a sincere desire to improve public health issues, why not table a motion specifically addressing that issue today? This is similar to other Conservative motions we have seen recently that have linked crime to immigration. Today, we are unfortunately seeing renewed attempts to establish connections between health care, immigration, and crime. I find it especially unfortunate to see opposition members attempting to make such connections. I would like to ask my colleague what evidence she is using to justify the connections made in today's motion and how this approach actually contributes to improving public health. I believe it is more about polarizing the debate. I would like to hear her comments on that.”
“Mr. Speaker, a functioning health care system relies on modern data infrastructure. However, at a time when data is travelling at lightning speed, too many doctors and nurses are still forced to use outdated technologies, like fax machines, to share information about their patients. Can the Minister of Health tell us what measures our government is taking to eliminate these barriers, improve security for patients and, in doing so, save lives?”
“Madam Speaker, listening to my colleague, one would think that the positions of the various independent officers and commissioners of Parliament were useless. The fact is, they provide important oversight that strengthens accountability and promotes transparency. There are several commissioners, including the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, the Privacy Commissioner, the Commissioner of Official Languages and so on. Does she consider all these commissioners and their roles to be useless and purely bureaucratic? I would like her to elaborate on that because I see them as important offices that help us carry out our functions as members of Parliament and help ensure government accountability.”
“Why would my colleague deny the modern treaty partners, who worked with the government on the development of this bill, the opportunity to have a permanent oversight mechanism that will be accountable to Parliament?”
“Madam Speaker, a commissioner is an independent officer of Parliament. We already have a number of different commissioners, such as the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner and the Commissioner of Official Languages. This bill would establish a commissioner for modern treaty implementation. This would be a permanent oversight and accountability mechanism specifically designed to hold the Government of Canada accountable to Parliament. A commissioner does not answer to ministers or to the government. A commissioner answers to Parliament. This mechanism would provide greater transparency and accountability to Parliament. Essentially, if there is a problem, people who feel that their rights have been violated can turn to the commissioner.”
“Madam Speaker, I think that everyone who cares deeply about Canadians should work to pass this budget, which will tackle infrastructure needs, help with the cost of living and address the housing shortage. We are at a critical moment in Canadian history. We want to transform the Canadian economy to make it stronger and more resilient in order to increase our purchasing power. We are facing a tariff dispute we did not ask for, but we answered it with budget 2025. This budget includes essential measures for the well-being of Canadians. I believe that, as parliamentarians, instead of filibustering, we should focus on passing the budget implementation bill as quickly as possible for the benefit of Canadians.”
“I would invite my opposition colleagues to visit schools and see how this program is really making a difference. More than 400,000 children now have access to healthy meals in the morning. The Conservatives opposed the Canadian dental care plan and the affordable child care program. Speaking of the affordable child care program, one of the first speeches given by the Leader of the Opposition in 2005 was to oppose public funding for child care. When it comes to structural problems, I would say that the bigger problem is our Conservative colleagues' unwillingness to help Canadians in need.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to remind the member that his party supports Bill C-19 , from what I understand, and I think it is a welcome measure that will receive unanimous support in the House. My colleague talks about structural problems. In fact, I would say that a bigger structural problem is our Conservative colleagues' unwillingness to help Canadians in need. Every time we propose measures to help Canadians cope with the cost of living, our official opposition colleagues vote them down. We want to make the school food program permanent, but they oppose it. That in itself is not surprising, because their leader has been opposing it for years and has been saying that the school food program will serve to feed the bureaucracy rather than the children.”
“Budget 2025 includes several measures to transform and strengthen the Canadian economy and enhance purchasing power in the long term. In the meantime, we wanted to make sure that Canadians got help right now. This is yet another measure that will put money back in the pockets of Canadians right away.”
“Madam Speaker, the cost of living and affordability are top concerns for Canadians. We want to listen to Canadians and meet their needs on an ongoing basis. In budget 2025, we implemented a number of measures that directly address the issue of the cost of living. I am thinking of the middle-class tax cut, the school food program becoming permanent, and the investments we will be making in infrastructure, including affordable housing. Budget 2025 already includes a whole suite of measures to directly address the cost of living. I hope we will see it back in the House very soon so we can pass it at third reading. With respect to the measure we are currently studying, we brought it forward because we realized that people needed help right now.”
“This measure is really targeted to help people who are not currently filing a tax return and therefore losing access to essential benefits that can help meet their needs. Lastly, I want to mention that the benefit that will be implemented by Bill C‑19 is part of a whole suite of measures to help Canadians deal with the cost of living. I am thinking in particular of the middle-class tax cut that we announced at the beginning of our mandate last spring. I am also thinking of the national school food program, which we are making permanent in budget 2025, the Canada child benefit, the affordable child care program, the Canadian dental care plan and all the other social measures we have put in place over the past few years.”
“I am thinking here of the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit in particular, but also of the Canada child benefit, the Canada workers' benefit and all of the other income-related federal benefits. The solution we came up with was to introduce automatic federal benefits starting in the 2026 tax year. This program will be phased in and fully implemented by 2028. This will help an estimated 5.5 million Canadians. We are talking about people who often have very low incomes; these benefits will significantly improve their lives. The people affected will first have the opportunity to review a pre-filled income tax return and confirm whether the information is correct. Then, the Canada Revenue Agency will be able to automatically submit a tax return on their behalf. Of course, if they want to file their own tax return, they can do so.”
“All the work we are doing to transform and strengthen the Canadian economy is for the benefit of all Canadians so that, in the medium and long term, everyone can increase their purchasing power. Today, we are discussing the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which is a measure based on income. I would like to mention an initiative that we put in place in budget 2025 that will help ensure that the money we are offering truly makes it into the pockets of Canadians who need it most. We have a problem right now, which is that millions of low-income Canadians do not file an income tax return, often because of a lack of resources or support or out of the mistaken belief that they do not need to file if they have a low income. As a result, millions of Canadians are missing out on essential federal benefits that they are entitled to.”
“Softwood lumber is an important industry in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche because it is at the heart of our local economy. As a government, we feel it is important to be there for the industry when it is struggling. That is why we implemented a strategic response fund to help softwood lumber companies deal with the current tariff crisis. Why am I talking today about the need to strengthen the Canadian economy and build a stronger economy? The idea is that a stronger economy benefits everyone. With a stronger economy, all Canadians will have a shot at better career and employment opportunities, higher wages and therefore increased purchasing power.”
“We also included various measures in budget 2025 to encourage innovation, such as the enhancement of the scientific research and experimental development tax incentive program. These are practical measures that increase our Canadian businesses' productivity and thus strengthen our economy. We also announced our buy Canadian policy because we believe that the federal government must be its own best customer. We have a lot of purchasing power, and we want to use that power to benefit Canadian businesses. In practical terms, that means government investments in infrastructure. We announced a whole series of historic investments in infrastructure and housing in budget 2025, and we want to prioritize Canadian materials, such as our softwood lumber and steel.”
“This is a top priority for Canadians, and it is also a priority for our government to respond to the challenges caused by soaring prices. If we want to strengthen Canadians' purchasing power in the long term, it is important to strengthen the Canadian economy. Last spring, we were elected with a mandate to make the Canadian economy stronger, more resilient and unified. (1755) From day one, we got down to work. We eliminated the federal barriers to interprovincial trade. Our Prime Minister travelled around the world to forge new trade partnerships with different countries and to attract foreign investment to Canada. We also included tax incentives in budget 2025 to encourage investment. For example, entrepreneurs who want to buy equipment to boost their productivity will be able to deduct more pieces of equipment on their tax returns.”
“It is because fair competition ultimately benefits consumers by creating downward pressure on prices. We will also introduce tax incentives to encourage the construction of more greenhouses in Canada. As I mentioned earlier, we face a challenge here in Canada in that, with the winter, we cannot produce as many fruits and vegetables as we would like throughout the year. We want more greenhouses so that we can produce food all 12 months of the year here at home. More specifically, we will be rolling out immediate expensing for greenhouses acquired on or after November 4, 2025, and that become available for use before 2030. This is a whole suite of measures. More measures are coming that will ensure that Canada has a proper food security strategy to address rising food costs.”
“Given the tariff war, we have earmarked $500 million in the strategic response fund to help food sector businesses cope with tariff shocks. The aim is to help these businesses avoid passing on the financial impact of tariffs to consumers at grocery store checkouts. Similarly, we have earmarked $150 million in the regional tariff response initiative to support the food sector. As we develop our strategy, we will also review the rules surrounding unit product labelling in grocery stores. Our goal is to help Canadians make informed grocery choices and give them a good idea of the price they will pay at the checkout. We will also review competition rules. In particular, we will ensure that the Competition Bureau has more oversight over the activities of food sector businesses. Why are we doing this?”
“When we look at the causes of food inflation, we see that there are a number of factors that go beyond Canada's borders. I am thinking in particular of disruptions to supply chains around the world that may be caused by the post-pandemic context, but also by global conflicts happening around the world. I am also thinking of the tariff disputes that are affecting supply chains and the cost of food. Also, when we import a lot of our food, like most of our produce, which comes from abroad in the winter because of our climate, fluctuations in exchange rates will have a significant impact on the price of groceries. In short, if we really want to address the root causes of rising grocery prices, we need to improve food security and help Canadian businesses increase their production.”
“It is part of another package of measures we have put in place, in the 2025 budget and over the past few years, to help Canadians cope with the rising cost of living. If we really want to have a long-term impact, we need to address the root causes that are making groceries more expensive today. I am very pleased that our government has announced it intends to develop a food security strategy. The goal is to increase domestic food production and ensure that more of the food on our plates comes from Canada. I would love to see more chicken from Upper Madawaska, more potatoes from Grand Falls and more vegetables from growers like Légumier du Madawaska or Jardins de Georges in Saint‑Quentin on my plate. To do that, we need to create incentives to help our food businesses. Why is it important to reduce our dependence on international imports?”
“Madam Speaker, today we are discussing an important bill that will roll out the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This benefit is based on the existing GST credit. It will put more money in the pockets of Canadians who need it most. People with low or modest incomes will see an increase in the amount of money they receive. We are doing this because we recognize that there is a real need to help people. When I travel around my constituency, people talk to me about the cost of living. It is a top issue for Canadians. As a government, we have a duty to listen and take action to meet people's needs. That is why the objective of this measure is to provide immediate assistance to those who need it most.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague how today's announcement regarding Bill C-19 fits into a broader strategy to address the cost of living in Canada. In other words, how will it help Canadians deal with the rising cost of living and how will it strengthen food security? This is not a stand-alone measure. It is part of a plethora of other measures that really help Canadians. I would like to hear my colleague's thoughts on that.”
“What happened between 2024 and 2025 to make improving flood and drought prevention in this country problematic somehow? We know that it can have an impact, particularly on the cost of food.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear my colleague talk about how important the long term is. I am also pleased to hear that the Bloc will support us in the short term to help people who need it right now. As for the long term, we know that climate change has an impact on food prices. However, on December 3, when we voted on whether to implement a national strategy for flood and drought forecasting, the member voted against it, as did his Bloc Québécois colleagues. I asked his colleagues questions about it yesterday, and they raised the issue of a supposed infringement on provincial jurisdiction. However, on June 5, 2024, the same member, who was present in the House, voted in favour of the same bill, as did all Bloc members. I looked it up. I have one question.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know that the country's rural regions are important to my colleague and friend. I had the opportunity to discuss the priorities of rural Canada with him several times over the past year. I would like him to tell us how the different economic and social policies that the government is putting in place will have a positive impact on the rural communities across the country.”
“I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the exemplary work of food bank volunteers and employees, who provide an essential service to people in our communities. I thank them for their efforts.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her wonderful question. I think increasing funding by $20 million is an excellent decision. This will help food banks across the country. The federal government already supports food banks through funding that is sent to regional and provincial organizations, which in turn share the funding equitably with food banks in the communities we represent here in Ottawa. We are aware that the rising cost of living is putting pressure on food banks. This additional $20 million in funding is certainly welcome. We are implementing long-term measures to address the causes of food insecurity, but in the immediate term, Canadians need help. I believe this is a measure that will be appreciated on the ground.”
“We are being told that preventing floods and droughts is important, yet when members on this side of the House introduce concrete measures, such as a bill to establish a national strategy for better flood and drought prevention, Bloc Québécois members vote against it. Is this or is this not an important issue to them? I am having a little trouble figuring that out.”
“Mr. Speaker, there are several parts to my colleague's question. He mentioned the potential impact of floods and droughts on the cost of food. I could not agree with him more. That is why we need to improve Canada's ability to prevent floods and droughts. Incidentally, my colleague from Terrebonne introduced a private member's bill calling on Canada to adopt a national strategy in this regard. We voted on the bill at second reading last December 3, and I was very surprised to see my Bloc Québécois colleagues oppose it. In 2024, however, Bloc Québécois members voted in favour of the same version of the bill, which died on the Order Paper when the 2025 election was called. I have a hard time understanding that.”
“They vote against supporting the school food program, against helping people with modest and low incomes, and against measures to strengthen the Canadian economy. Members on this side of the House mean business; we translate talk into real action. We do not deliver meaningless speeches and vote against every measure to help people.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me just say that we are putting long-term measures in place. These include the national food security strategy, which I just discussed, measures in budget 2025 that will stimulate investment and attract foreign investment and our efforts to diversify our international trading partnerships. All of these measures have the potential to transform the Canadian economy, strengthen it and make it more resilient, which will lead to higher wages and new job opportunities for Canadians. In contrast, members on the other side of the House always resort to rhetoric and repeat the same arguments. When it is time to be there for Canadians, those members are nowhere to be found.”
“When we implemented the Canadian dental care plan, which helps people access essential services, the Conservatives opposed it. When we introduced various tax incentives for innovation and investment in the 2025 budget, which have the potential to transform the Canadian economy in the long term, my colleagues in the opposition voted against those as well. I am kind of disappointed that today's motion just rehashes old ideas. We will vote against it. It would be nice to find ways to work together to strengthen the Canadian economy for the benefit of all Canadians, rather than bringing up the same old ideas every single opposition day.”
“On this side of the House, we believe that words must be followed by concrete action. We talk about helping families cope with the cost of living, and then we put social measures in place to help them. We talk about strengthening the Canadian economy to create better jobs, increase wages and help people cope with the cost of living in the long term, and then we implement the various policies in the 2025 budget. Unfortunately, the opposition is voting against these measures. When it came time to make Canada's national school food program permanent, the Conservatives opposed it even though it benefits hundreds of thousands of children. When it came time to implement an affordable child care program, which helps families make ends meet, the Conservatives opposed it.”
“It will have a tangible impact on the lives of seniors, post-secondary students, workers and people with reduced mobility. In fact, this will have an impact on everyone in Madawaska—Restigouche. They will be able to benefit from transportation tailored to their needs at a very low cost. Someone who wants to travel from Grand Falls to Saint-Léonard or from Kedgwick to Saint-Quentin for work or a medical appointment will be able to do so for only $5. I would like to acknowledge the exemplary work that the FlexGo team did on developing the project. I am very pleased that the federal government partnered with them and that we have funded nearly 80% of the capital costs. This is a meaningful investment that will benefit the people in my riding. I would like to talk about the motion we are considering today, which is somewhat surprising to me.”