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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“The announcement that funding for this celebration will be permanent not only corrects an injustice that has persisted for far too long, but it is also a wonderful way for our Prime Minister to recognize the Acadian people. The people of Madawaska—Restigouche celebrate their Acadian roots with pride and in grand style. Just think of the huge show that took place last summer on Charlo Beach, the tintamarre in Campbellton or Grand Falls, the celebrations of our Acadian stars in Upper Madawaska, or the festivals organized in Edmundston, Saint‑Quentin and Kedgwick. There is also the traditional August 15 dinner in Saint‑Anne‑de‑Madawaska, where diners can enjoy a delicious stew known as fricot or a flatbread we call ployes brayonnes . Next summer, Madawaska—Restigouche will once again celebrate Acadia in style.”
“I would like to remind everyone that the deadline for submitting applications for the summer of 2026 is December 11, and I am already looking forward to being home next summer to visit even more young people in the workplace. Budget 2025 contains some excellent news: Not only has the government doubled the funding for National Acadian Day celebrations, but it has also made that funding permanent. This was a long-standing request from Acadian civil society, and the response came directly from our Prime Minister . We Acadians have been present in North America for over 400 years. We have had our share of challenges throughout history, but we are a strong, resilient, proud and forward-looking people. We have a strong attachment to our symbols, whether it be our national anthem, our flag or our national day on August 15.”
“I am pleased to see that budget 2025 not only maintained but also enhanced funding for this program. Last summer, I visited over 200 workplaces where young people had benefited from Canada summer jobs funding. I got to see the real-life impact that this program was having in Madawaska—Restigouche. I spoke with young people who were getting their first work experience or their first opportunity to gain experience in their field of study through this program. The program also plays an important role in covering summer labour costs for our small businesses, festivals, municipalities, summer camps and community organizations, to name just a few examples.”
“I am pleased to report that this sector has not been overlooked in the 2025 budget. (1555) We have announced a $700‑million loan guarantee program, which will give affected businesses quick access to the liquidity they need. This comes on top of an additional half-billion-dollar investment in various forestry programs to help the sector diversify and develop new markets. As well, various other programs and measures were announced in the budget to help both businesses and workers in sectors affected by the tariff war. Our government is determined to defend the interests of the softwood lumber sector during this period of economic turmoil. As the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, so am I. The Canada summer jobs program is very important to our young people and our communities.”
“This kind of investment truly improves the lives of our families, seniors, people with reduced mobility, workers and post-secondary students. As a member of Parliament, I am so happy to announce this type of investment, because I know it will make a real difference in the quality of life of the people I represent here in Ottawa. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the FlexGo team for their exemplary work on this file. Forestry is a very important sector for the Canadian economy, and it is central to the economy in my riding. Everyone knows that the tariff war with the United States has had a significant impact on the softwood lumber industry. This issue is a priority for me. As the member for Madawaska—Restigouche, I am actively involved in discussions on this issue with my colleagues here in Ottawa.”
“This follows an initial tranche of federal funding that supported the launch of this service in Edmundston and Upper Madawaska at the beginning of this year. It has been a great success, because FlexGo provides reliable, quality, flexible service that is truly tailored to the needs of rural communities. This means that residents of Kedgwick and Saint‑Quentin who do not have personal vehicles can now travel very affordably between the two communities to visit family. People who live in Edmundston and work in Saint‑Léonard, Clair or Saint‑François‑de‑Madawaska in Upper Madawaska can commute from their home to their workplace. Residents of Drummond and Saint‑André who have an appointment at the hospital in Grand Falls will have a dependable means of transportation to get there.”
“It is important to understand that in infrastructure and construction projects, quite often, local businesses are involved in the contract. That creates good jobs in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. On this side of the House, we understand that we need strong communities for a strong Canada. I would like to give a concrete example of the impact the investments we are making in infrastructure can have on our communities. Last week, I had the honour of making an announcement on rural public transit on behalf of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure . I got to announce $700,000 in funding to expand public transit in towns and municipalities in Grand Falls, Vallée‑des‑Rivières, Saint‑Quentin and Kedgwick. The service will be offered by FlexGo under New Brunswick's Northwest Regional Services Commission.”
“In addition to our historic investments in infrastructure, we are also making unprecedented investments in housing through Build Canada Homes. The $13 billion we will invest through Build Canada Homes over the next five years will help accelerate housing construction across the country. That includes affordable housing. Already in my riding, when we walk through the streets of Campbellton or Edmundston, we see apartment buildings being constructed with federal funding. This is transforming the face of our cities for the better. Having discussed this with several mayors in my riding, I know that some excellent local housing projects will be proposed. Our investments in infrastructure and housing will strengthen local communities and fuel our economy.”
“It means money for community infrastructure in Saint‑Quentin or Grand Falls. In addition, a provincial and territorial cost-sharing stream will contribute more than $17 billion in new funding for infrastructure that will facilitate housing construction. Sometimes, for example, building an apartment building requires upgrading the capacity of a water system or building an extra stretch of roadway. The federal government will be there to support that type of project. We are also establishing a new health infrastructure fund. This is important. It means money for our hospitals, emergency rooms and other health facilities that are important to our communities. In addition, there is $6 billion for regionally significant infrastructure.”
“Madam Speaker, I wish to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the member for Trois-Rivières . The ambitious budget that we presented to the House on November 4 contains a lot of good news for my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. With the build communities strong fund, we are going to make significant investments in infrastructure. More specifically, the community stream, the former gas tax program, will give municipalities more predictability in planning their infrastructure investments. As a former municipal councillor in the rural community of Kedgwick, I am well aware of the importance of this program, which allows for direct transfers to municipalities. It means money for paving the streets of Bois‑Joli or Vallée‑des‑Rivières. It means funding for the water and sewer system in Upper Madawaska or Heron Bay.”
“Sometimes I get the impression that my colleagues across the floor see politics as theatre. They propose ideological measures such as Bill C‑242 , which would probably not even pass constitutional muster. On this side, we know that community safety is not about theatrics, it is not a matter of political gamesmanship. It is a serious issue that deserves concrete and constitutional measures such as Bill C‑14. (1500) I think this is an excellent bill, particularly because we listened to the public, the provinces and the territories. I invite all of my colleagues to work collaboratively on adopting the Liberals' Bill C‑14 instead of continuing to promote a bill like Bill C‑242 .”
“Our approach also includes Bill C‑12 , which will strengthen security at our borders, and Bill C‑9 , which will strengthen the fight against hate crimes. In addition, we have made commitments that will very soon result in legislative changes to better protect victims of intimate partner violence. There is our anti-fraud strategy, which aims to better protect our seniors from financial crimes. There are also the investments announced in the budget, plus those dedicated to crime prevention. We want to crack down on serious crimes, but we also want to prevent them. That is why we are investing in housing, mental health and youth support to strengthen crime prevention. Bill C‑14 and all the other measures we are putting in place show that our new Liberal government takes the fight against crime very seriously.”
“Last summer, in Restigouche, in my riding, someone stole copper, which caused several cell towers to stop working. A large area was left with no cell coverage. Had there been an emergency, the public could have been in danger. That is why we need to crack down on this type of crime. We will also increase penalties for certain crimes. For example, house arrest will no longer be an option for those who are found guilty of aggravated sexual assault or child sexual abuse. These individuals will have to serve a prison sentence. I think that Canadians expect such crimes to be severely punished. This is a measure that I unequivocally support, and it is included in Bill C‑14. Bill C‑14 is part of a comprehensive approach to fighting crime put forward by our government.”
“Organized retail theft in businesses and stores is now recognized as an aggravating factor. Small business owners and their staff get up every morning and work hard to earn a living. These people deserve to be protected. They do not deserve to be robbed. By better protecting them, we are sending them a message that we recognize how important they are to our country and our economy. If people commit crimes in their businesses, whether it is shoplifting or offences related to organized crime, they will be punished more severely. It is the same thing for offences the interfere with essential infrastructure, especially copper theft. When a person steals copper from transmission lines or towers, it interferes with essential infrastructure. Let me give an example.”
“Earlier this week, I attended a cocktail party hosted by the International Association of Fire Fighters, and I had the opportunity to speak with a number of firefighters from across the country. Many of them told me they were very pleased to see this measure included in Bill C‑14 . They said that it was a step in the right direction and that it made them feel included in our deliberations. It is very important to ensure that our first responders are protected. If the accused is a repeat violent offender who has previously been convicted of a violent offence in the last five years, this will also be an aggravating factor. If someone is serving a sentence, gets out of prison and commits another violent crime, they will have to go back behind bars. It just makes sense.”
“We need to ensure that the sentences imposed are proportional to the severity of violent offences committed by repeat offenders. During the election campaign, people asked us to review these sentences, and that is what we are doing through Bill C‑14, because stronger deterrence through sentences that fit the crime is important. New aggravating factors are going to be added, which ultimately means harsher sentences. This includes offences against first responders in the performance of their duties. Examples include police officers or firefighters, who put their safety at risk every day to protect us. These people deserve protection. If crimes like assault are committed against our first responders, the perpetrator will face harsher prison sentences.”
“Second, the protection of the public must be ensured. If the person is released, does this pose a risk to public safety? Finally, public confidence in the administration of justice must be maintained. This last reason is very important. That is why, with Bill C‑14, we are introducing an amendment to require courts to take into account the number and seriousness of pending charges. (1455) This means that if a person appears in court for a crime and has several other pending charges, those charges could play a role in the decision to take the person into custody or not, in order to maintain public trust in the administration of justice. Bill C‑14 also provides stiffer sentences for different serious and violent crimes.”
“That will be an aggravating factor that must be considered when determining whether the person should be kept in custody while awaiting trial. It is the same thing if the accused has a history of intimate partner or other violence. We will also change the conditions of release. For people charged with offences related to auto theft, burglary, extortion, and organized crime, courts will have to consider imposing stricter conditions, such as curfews, geographic restrictions, and no-contact orders. For those charged with extortion or organized crime, the same will apply, and there will be prohibitions on possessing a weapon. When a court assesses the grounds for keeping a person in custody pending trial, there are three main factors to consider. First, it is essential to make sure the person will appear in court. Is the person a flight risk?”
“We are going to crack down on home invasions. People should feel safe in their own homes. It will be more difficult for those who attack people in their own homes to get bail. The same is true for people who engage in human trafficking and smuggling. People who exploit vulnerable individuals should have a harder time getting bail, and that is what we are doing with Bill C‑14. This bill also addresses crimes such as violent assault, sexual assault and extortion involving violence. It will be more difficult for those who commit such crimes to get bail in Canada. I believe that this is what Canadians expect of us. We are also going to ask the courts to take into account allegations of random or unprovoked violence. Let us say that someone attacks me when all I was doing was walking down the street, minding my own business.”
“It includes amendments to the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act. With regard to strengthening the bail system, Bill C‑14 will create new reverse onus provisions for serious and violent crimes. This means that bail will no longer be the norm for these types of crime. The accused would be detained by default, and would then have to prove why they should be released on bail. This applies to crimes that are plaguing our society. I am thinking in particular of organized auto theft. In recent years, people going on vacation are finding that their vehicles have been stolen from the airport. People should not have to worry about whether or not they will find their vehicle when they return home. We are therefore going to make bail harder for people who engage in organized auto theft.”
“Looking at Bill C‑242 , one really has to wonder whether our colleagues in the official opposition have really taken the time to analyze it from a constitutional perspective. If my colleagues' goal is truly to make communities safer, I wonder why they are promoting a redundant bill that creates confusion and poses constitutional risks, rather than working to implement Bill C‑14. I will take the next few minutes to explain why Bill C‑14 is a step in the right direction to make our communities safer, as we committed to do during the election campaign. Bill C‑14 proposes a comprehensive reform of Canada's bail and sentencing systems, with more than 80 targeted amendments. This is a major undertaking that will meet the public's expectations.”
“Mr. Speaker, improving safety in our communities is a mainstay of our Liberal platform. Six months into the new government's mandate, we have clearly backed up our commitments with a series of concrete actions, as the budget tabled earlier this week shows. During the election campaign, we promised Canadians that this new government would make bail reform and tougher sentences a priority. That is exactly what we are doing with Bill C‑14 , for example. On this side of the House, our approach is responsible and constructive. We ensure that proposed amendments to the Criminal Code are constitutional. Otherwise, if the bill passes, the courts would strike it down. This wastes time and resources, and leaves Canadians disheartened. That is not something we want.”
“Mr. Speaker, when people propose amendments to the Criminal Code, they must approach the matter seriously and check that each of the proposed amendments is constitutionally sound. If a bill containing unconstitutional measures passes, it will be struck down in court. This wastes time and resources, and it disheartens Canadians. On this side of the House, we have introduced Bill C‑14 , which addresses public safety expectations and complies with the Constitution. If my Conservative colleague's objective is really to improve safety in our communities, why is he trying to promote a redundant and constitutionally questionable bill, rather than help us move Bill C‑14 forward?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, whom I hold in high regard, for his excellent speech. Before entering federal politics, the member for Beauport—Limoilou was the president and CEO of the Quebec City chamber of commerce and industry, so he has serious credibility when it comes to assessing the positive effects that our budget will have on entrepreneurs and our businesses. I would like him to share his insights with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, just last week, the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles‑de‑la‑Madeleine—Listuguj created a working group to extend the Magdalen Islands airport runway. In an interview with Radio-Canada, he said that the runway's current condition is hindering economic development. There is some good news in the budget this week. We will fund the extension of the requested runway. Another piece of good news for local residents is that we are also confirming that we are going to reduce the cost of fares on ferries to the Magdalen Islands by 50%. Is the Bloc Québécois really going to vote against a budget that proposes meaningful measures for the Magdalen Islands?”
“Mr. Speaker, the budget contains a lot of good news for Quebeckers, especially those in the riding of our colleague from Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj , with the extension of the Magdalen Islands airport runway. The Bloc Québécois has championed this project a number of times. There are also investments for the Forillon shipyards in Gaspé. Montreal's Biosphere is going to receive $9 million over three years. Other investments are on the way for a sports centre in Montreal North. These infrastructure investments are priorities for Quebeckers. I would like to know whether my colleague is going to vote in favour of the budget and support these important investments, some of which the Bloc Québécois has been calling for for quite some time.”
“Mr. Speaker, as a proud Acadian who represents the riding of Madawaska—Restigouche in the House, I care about the development of our francophone communities. Since 2022, we have seen a major increase in francophone immigration outside Quebec. It is crucial that we maintain that trend to support the vitality of our communities. Since we are celebrating National Francophone Immigration Week, I would like to ask the minister to tell us how our new immigration levels plan will help ensure the demographic growth of francophone communities across Canada.”
“On this side of the House, we have made generational investments while protecting important social programs. Would my colleague who is criticizing the budget have wanted to see some of these programs disappear?”
“Mr. Speaker, I hear my colleague across the way criticizing the budget. However, in this budget, we are making generational investments to strengthen our economy while protecting our social programs. I would like to ask my colleague the following question. If the budget had been tabled by a Conservative government, which social program would my colleague have wanted to eliminate? Would it have been the Canada child benefit, which helps over six million parents across the country? Would it have been the national school food program, which we made permanent and which feeds over 400,000 children? Would he have wanted to cut our affordable child care program, which benefits over 900,000 children? Would he have wanted to put an end to the Canadian dental care plan for which over five million Canadians have registered?”
“Mr. Speaker, coastal communities across Canada see the impact of pollution and the dangers of wrecked and abandoned vessels all too often. The legislation would have a positive impact from my coast in Atlantic Canada to his on the west coast. I would like to know how coastal communities, especially in his province of British Columbia, have responded to the measures proposed in the bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, I believe that my colleague was a municipal councillor before becoming a federal MP, so he understands the importance of infrastructure funding. The budget renews the Canada community-building fund with $27.8 billion over 10 years. There are investments of over $22 billion, including $6 billion for regionally significant projects and $17 billion for a provincial and territorial stream for housing-enabling infrastructure such as water, sewers and roads. I believe that my colleague also has experience in the health care sector. We are also making a $5-billion investment in health care infrastructure. As a former municipal councillor and as someone who has professional experience in the health care sector, is my colleague as enthusiastic as I am about these infrastructure announcements?”
“Why is it important to her, as it is to me, to be part of a government that cares about our francophone communities and that is putting concrete measures in place to support their vitality and population growth?”
“Mr. Speaker, like me, my colleague represents one of the ridings with the highest proportion of francophones outside Quebec. As she mentioned, our budget includes a number of interesting measures, including ambitious immigration targets that could put the demographic weight of francophone communities back on a path to growth. It also includes support for arts and culture and increased funding for CBC/Radio-Canada. This is in addition to the historic investments the government made in official languages in 2023. These were the largest investments to support our official languages in the history of Canada. I would like to ask my colleague the following question.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from New Brunswick for his speech. I am sure he cares as much as I do about economic development in our beautiful province. New Brunswick has 21 of the 34 minerals that Canada has identified as critical. Budget 2025 provides for a $2-billion investment over five years to set up the critical minerals infrastructure fund, which will make it possible to invest in businesses' projects related to those critical minerals. Does my colleague share my opinion that this is excellent news with a lot of potential for our province?”
“Mr. Speaker, a strong Canada means strong protections to keep our communities safe. Our new Liberal government is taking a rigorous approach to fighting crime, as evidenced by our many bills, our investments to support law enforcement and our Bill C-14 . That legislation proposes more than 80 amendments to the Criminal Code to bring in tougher sentences and stricter bail conditions for repeat and violent offenders. The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has urged all parties to pass this bill swiftly to enhance public safety and restore confidence in our justice system. Does my colleague agree with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police that we need to pass Bill C-14 swiftly?”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to congratulate my colleague for his excellent speech and most of all for the important project he is proposing to this House. Housing is a key issue for our government. It is an important issue for my own riding, Madawaska—Restigouche, as it is for many other ridings across the country. I would like to hear his view on how this bill would ensure that young Canadians benefit fully from the historic investments we are making in housing through Build Canada Homes.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, the member for Terrebonne, for her excellent speech and her excellent bill, which I am pleased to endorse. This is a critical step in our efforts to protect Canadians from the risks posed by climate change. It is a major issue for my riding, Madawaska—Restigouche, which has been affected by rising water levels in recent years, and it is a major issue for many other regions across the country. I would therefore like to ask my colleague if she could explain why it is so important, at this time, to have the tools to forecast floods.”
“This Women's History Month, let us celebrate all those who, like Nicole and Josée, contribute every day to the vitality of our communities, the growth of our economy and the prosperity of our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, last week, Réfam, a network of women entrepreneurs, managers and professionals in the Madawaska region, presented the prestigious 2025 women entrepreneur award to an inspiring mother-daughter duo: Nicole Deschênes and Josée Levesque, co-owners of Buffet Nicole et Josée. They founded their company in 2004 in Saint‑Joseph‑de‑Madawaska, and it quickly grew into a well-known catering service in the region. Their adaptability and constant focus on innovation set them apart in a highly competitive sector. Today, more than 20 years after first starting out, they continue to run a thriving business that is based on trust, quality and teamwork.”
“Mr. Speaker, since day one, our new government has been laser-focused on defending and diversifying Canadian trade. We have signed new agreements with countries like Ecuador and Indonesia. We have an ongoing dialogue with many of our international partners. I would like to ask my colleague why this work is important for strengthening the Canadian economy. I would like him to tell me how this will benefit Canadian businesses, including those in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche and those in Winnipeg North, the riding he represents.”
“I urge everyone to take seriously the various bills currently before the House of Commons, to be mindful of the time we have available, and to use it wisely.”
“Madam Speaker, I wonder. In the House of Commons, there are standing committees that cover diverse topics ranging from defence to official languages and natural resources. In each of these committees, members discuss important matters. There may be discussions on reports. Why was this debate reopened in the House of Commons today when we should be discussing Bill C‑3 ? What is more, the opposition has what we call opposition days. If this issue was truly so important to my opposition colleagues, why did they not use a formal opposition day to debate it and hold a vote on it? I question the process. At the end of his speech, my colleague mentioned that we need to try to avoid political games.”
“Madam Speaker, we have a number of important bills before the House. As my colleague mentioned, this afternoon, we were supposed to be debating Bill C-3 , which seeks to correct a historic injustice regarding access to citizenship. We also have a bill on ambitious bail reform, as well as a bill on border security. Can my colleague tell me why the opposition insists on using debate time in the House to discuss a committee report rather than focusing on legislation that is central to the mandate entrusted to us by Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out that naturalization is the result of an immigration process in Canada, while citizenship by descent applies when a person is the child of a Canadian citizen and that parent has maintained a substantial connection with Canada. Citizenship by descent is not an immigration program. It is completely false to claim otherwise. I would like to know why my colleague insists on repeating this false information in the House during our debates.”
“Mr. Speaker, acquiring citizenship by descent and acquiring citizenship by naturalization are two completely different things. People are given access to citizenship by naturalization at the end of an immigration process that includes various requirements, including knowledge of the official languages. Those requirements are justified by the fact that it is an immigration process. Once the requirements are met, citizenship is obtained through naturalization. Acquiring citizenship by descent is not an immigration program. It is a right acquired at birth because one parent is a Canadian citizen or has maintained a substantial connection with the country. We are talking about two different things: citizenship by descent and citizenship by naturalization. Immigration requirements are a completely different subject.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question puzzles me a little. A lot of information seems to be mixed up. We are not discussing an immigration program here. We are discussing access to citizenship by descent, meaning by birthright, when a parent is a Canadian citizen or has maintained substantial ties to Canada. The two are not the same by any stretch. When we mix everything together, we end up misleading the public. It is important that we exercise great diligence in debates such as these. The fact is that insinuating that citizenship by descent is an immigration stream falls short of the diligence that Canadians expect from us.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. In fact, Bill C-3 seeks to correct a historic injustice. People with genuine ties to Canada have been stripped of their Canadian citizenship. Bill C-3 responds to those injustices. The amendments our Conservative colleagues brought forward in committee would create new injustices and could create new generations of lost Canadians. There are people with substantial connections to Canada who have worked abroad in various diplomatic missions or who have spent time abroad studying. The Conservatives want to deprive these people of the opportunity to obtain their citizenship while abroad. I oppose the amendments proposed by our colleagues so as not to create a new injustice.”
“In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that, behind the legal and administrative considerations we are discussing today, there are real people with personal stories, life experiences and sincere ties to Canada. We must remember that the decisions we make in this House can shape the destinies of individuals and entire families. Bill C‑3 is based on our government's reasoned, balanced approach that allows us to meet our constitutional obligations while maintaining the integrity of our citizenship.”
“It corrects a past injustice to Canadians who were stripped of their citizenship, while ensuring that the future of citizenship by descent is based on genuine ties to our country. However, amendments proposed by Conservative colleagues have introduced unacceptable and unnecessary requirements that have never been applied to other citizens, making it difficult to meet the substantial connection requirement for individuals seeking to pass on their citizenship, and potentially creating new categories of lost Canadians. I think we should ensure that these amendments are not included in the final version of the bill that will be passed in the House.”
“These amendments require Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, to report data that the government does not currently collect. That would place an additional burden on the government and taxpayers by requiring the creation of a new mechanism for Canadians to register the birth of their children abroad. Our approach is to govern effectively, decisively and with respect for Canadian taxpayers' money, not to introduce new red tape. In closing, I would like to emphasize that Canadian citizenship gives us all a deep sense of belonging to this diverse, democratic, and inclusive country that we are proud to call our own. Our government will continue to protect the value of Canadian citizenship by ensuring that the process remains fair, transparent and based on sound principles. Bill C-3 strikes a necessary balance.”