Tim Watchorn
Les Pays-d'en-Haut, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the heart and soul of music and theatre in Morin-Heights, and that heart is named Penny Rose. Penny came to us in the sixties and opened Rose's Cantina, one of the first live music venues in our community, where people would come from near and far to be entertained.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have been in the House for about one year, and all I hear from the other side is doom and gloom. I would like to talk about some positive stuff that is happening in our area. I too have a forestry sector in my riding. Forestry is a challenge.”
“It analyzes and identifies projects that will give fast results, supports them and makes it possible to start construction because the longer we wait on a project, the more expensive it becomes. I am pleased to announce that construction on the Au cœur des collines project in Saint‑Calixte will begin this summer.”
“(1005) To illustrate the importance of this legislation, I will give two clear examples of housing projects in my riding, Les Pays-d'en-Haut. The first was built under the old programs, and the second was built using the new tools provided by Build Canada Homes. The first project is called Habitat Morin-Heights.”
“Madam Speaker, I rise this morning to support the bill respecting the establishment of Build Canada Homes. This decisive law will make Build Canada Homes a Crown corporation tasked with building and expanding affordable housing for Canadians. As we all know, Canada is going through a housing crisis.”
“It will also work with non-profit organizations and other key stakeholders in the housing sector to stimulate the construction of affordable housing across Canada. This includes private developers and community organizations. However, Build Canada Homes cannot act alone. The success of its initiatives depends on partnerships.”
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“On behalf of my children and all young people across the country, I thank the member for Sackville—Bedford—Preston for his work on this issue.”
“In my riding of Les Pays-d'en-Haut, the average price of a single-family home is $540,000. The average price of a condo is $385,000. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment ranges from $1,200 to $1,500 a month. Most young people in my riding work in recreation and tourism, whether in restaurants, hotels, shops or ski resorts. They tell me that it is extremely difficult to afford housing on the wages they earn. Many young people are leaving Les Pays-d'en-Haut for other regions where housing is less expensive. That is unacceptable. Bill C-227 allows us to take another step in the right direction. I can say that we are here for young people. I hope that my colleagues across the aisle will prioritize the demands of our young people and vote in favour of this bill.”
“As the former mayor of a small municipality and an engineer by trade, I am well aware that all of these new housing units will have to be serviced by roads, water systems and sewers. Recognizing that accelerating housing construction requires major infrastructure investments, the Government of Quebec and the federal government have also announced the signing of a Canada housing infrastructure fund agreement. We will invest close to $1 billion, which Quebec can use in accordance with its policies and local needs to upgrade and develop critical infrastructure, including the drinking water, waste water and storm water infrastructure essential to new housing developments. These measures and investments and Bill C-227 will provide young people with more housing opportunities.”
“As of today, 4,000 homes will be built on federal land, with a significant portion of that being affordable housing. In Quebec, things are also moving forward. We have a shared commitment to take action to increase the province's housing supply. The governments of Canada and Quebec are stepping up their collaboration to accelerate housing construction and support community development. Through a joint collaboration table, the two governments will work together to fund housing projects aligned with their shared priorities, to simplify and accelerate approval processes and to ensure better coordination between municipal and community partners. That is exactly the spirit behind Bill C-227 .”
“Child care and dental care programs and school breakfasts will also help ease the financial burden on families. In addition to proposing all these measures to make life more affordable for Canadians, we have also been working on building homes. (1725) We have created Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency that will finance and build affordable housing on a large scale. It will also act as a catalyst for a more productive residential construction industry. This is a bold approach that will have positive spin-offs for young people across Canada. One of our government's key commitments is to double the pace of housing construction in Canada to 500,000 units in 10 years. By combining access to federal land, development expertise and financing under one roof, Build Canada Homes will enable us to build new housing more quickly and easily.”
“We also know that the FHSA, the tax-free first home savings account, is an extraordinary program. My children contribute to it, as do many young Canadians. It represents tax-sheltered savings of nearly $40,000 toward our young people's first home. Canadians work hard to afford housing, but high mortgage payments are a barrier to first-time home ownership, especially for young people. That is why we have relaxed certain mortgage criteria to allow more young people to qualify for a loan. More recently, we announced the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit to protect Canadians' purchasing power. We will put more money directly into the pockets of millions of families. This allowance will benefit more than 12 million Canadians.”
“In the past nine months, our government has done exactly that, and I would like to outline the measures we have put in place to promote affordability for all Canadians and to enable young people to pay their mortgage or rent. As soon as we were elected, we eliminated the carbon tax for individuals. We have made generational progress for Quebeckers, notably by granting a tax reduction for the middle class, which allows Quebeckers to keep more money in their pockets. We are talking about savings of approximately $800 per family. To reduce the upfront cost of buying a new home for young people and stimulate new home construction across the country, we eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers. That represents savings of up to $50,000. That is very encouraging.”
“Speaking more specifically about young people, young Canadians today are faced with a housing market that is unlike anything we have seen before. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a home, even a rental. The result is a generation that is struggling to put down roots. This challenge is being felt across Quebec and Canada. Without affordable housing options, young Canadians are faced with difficult decisions, such as turning down a job that is too far away, delaying starting a family or feeling disadvantaged compared to previous generations. This undermines Canada's long-term productivity and economic growth. To address these issues, two things need to be done: more money must be put in the pockets of young Canadians, and housing must be built.”
“During my time as mayor of a small municipality, I worked with the provincial and federal governments on a project to build 30 housing units for seniors, and I can confidently say that the complexity of the programs and the time it takes for files to be processed discourage those who want to create housing, whether they are municipalities or non-profit organizations. In our case, five years passed between the initial announcement and the completion of the project. We need to do better. Bill C-227 aims to develop a coordinated national strategy to examine these unique barriers and identify targeted solutions in collaboration with provinces, territories and municipalities. That is what is needed now.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to rise today for the second time in 2026 on behalf of the people of Les Pays-d'en-Haut. We are studying Bill C-227 , an act to establish a national strategy on housing for young Canadians. The bill speaks to me personally. I have two children, aged 20 and 23, who are in university. They have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for housing in Montreal. In the coming years, they will have to find another place to live or buy their first home. Bill C‑227 would require the minister to consult with other levels of government as well as stakeholders to develop a national strategy on housing for young people and ensure greater access to affordable and secure housing. We all know that coordination between levels of government is crucial to get results.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his speech. I enjoy working with him on the Standing Committee on National Defence. We have a great relationship. I would just like to toss the ball back to him and quickly point out that the French term for “fast track” is voie rapide . I am very pleased that the Bloc Québécois supports high-speed rail. I would like to know whether my colleague thinks that four years—for consultations, engineering work and everything else— is too fast to implement a project of this scale.”
“Mr. Speaker, the width of the corridor initially proposed is intended to prevent land speculation. It was not possible to set a minimum width, because the public has to be consulted. We are going to consult the public to make sure we put the rail line in a location that is completely acceptable to everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I am going to talk about high-speed rail. I will leave pipelines to the experts in that domain. I would just say that everything that has evolved in the last 60 years has brought us to where we are today. Too many people have talked about making a high-speed rail line. We are going ahead with a high-speed rail line, and we are going to do it in record speed. I hope our colleagues from across the way will pass Bill C-15 and get on the train with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, in Les Pays-d'en-Haut, everyone I talk to about the high-speed rail project is very much in favour of it. We have been talking about it for far too long. The current government has decided to move forward. I think this is a big step forward in getting cars off the roads. It is a big step forward in creating jobs. It is a big step forward for public transportation.”
“Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that what happened 57 years ago in Mirabel is unacceptable. Today is my birthday, and I am 56 years old. That means that what happened in Mirabel happened before I was born, but it is still unacceptable. It must be said that we have evolved over the past 60 years. Laws have changed. Protections are in place, and the government will respect them.”
“High-speed rail will create tens of thousands of jobs, strengthen productivity, improve regional connectivity and deliver lasting economic benefits for Quebec, Ontario and Canada as a whole. Every year of delay carries real costs for workers, businesses, taxpayers and communities. [ Translation ] I support the construction of high-speed rail and Bill C-15 . I am asking my Bloc Québécois colleagues to stop blocking the project and get on board.”
“(1520) [ English ] We must also be honest with Canadians about what it takes to deliver projects of this magnitude. High-speed rail is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in our history, a true nation-building initiative. Projects of this scale cannot be delivered without using adaptive tools. This project cannot advance responsibly without these land acquisition measures. Inaction would not preserve the status quo. It would mean delays and higher costs. Importantly, these measures are not unheard of. They are aligned with similar provincial regimes, including Quebec's act respecting expropriation and Ontario's Building Transit Faster Act. The economic stakes are significant.”
“The right of first refusal is a management tool that informs Alto when an owner is ready to sell. Owners remain completely free to put their property on the market. This tool simply allows Alto to acquire the property on a priority basis at a price previously agreed to by the owner. The Government of Quebec has even given this power to the municipalities in recent years. It is called the right of first refusal. It allows cities to protect strategic or sensitive land without affecting the owner's property value. In my riding of Morin‑Heights, municipal council used this tool to acquire and protect one of the most beautiful pieces of land in the municipality. It is called Castel-Marie, and it is one of the municipality's most stunning parks. The tool works well for buyers and transferors. I can vouch for that.”
“First, contrary to what has been said, expropriation does not take place over email. The intention is to allow communication by email only when the owner has indicated that this is their preferred method of communication and has provided their email address. This is an additional method of communication that supplements, rather than replaces, those provided for in the law. Second, a prohibition on work does not mean that owners lose the use of their land. They will be able to continue their existing agricultural or commercial activities. Owners will also be able to carry out normal maintenance, repairs or work needed to keep their land from deteriorating. Third, Bill C-15 does not prevent landlords from putting their buildings up for sale or allow the federal government to set land values.”
“Because of the time, cost and complexity involved, land acquisition represents one of the most significant risks to the project, particularly if we are to begin construction in 2029, as announced. The current federal Expropriation Act is a statute of general application. It was not designed for a project of this scale or this complexity. Without a framework adapted to this reality, delays multiply and costs escalate, precisely what communities and taxpayers want to avoid. [ Translation ] The land acquisition measures in Bill C-15 are not intended to increase uncertainty. They provide tools to help the government coordinate more effectively and get shovels in the ground faster while maintaining fundamental protections for property owners. Some of these measures have raised concerns, and I want to address them directly.”
“[ English ] Before turning to Bill C-15 , I want to acknowledge what we have heard in recent weeks. Since public consultations began, residents of the Mirabel region have raised concerns about land acquisition, expropriation and the need for direct, respectful engagement. We have heard those concerns clearly, and I can confirm today that Alto will be holding an in-person public session in the Mirabel area later this month, to ensure transparency, dialogue and accountability. I want to explain why Bill C-15 is necessary for this linear project and how it is maintaining appropriate protections for landowners. Bill C-15 is necessary because the high-speed rail initiative is unprecedented in Canada. It involves a corridor of nearly 1,000 kilometres, crossing hundreds of communities and requiring the acquisition of hundreds of pieces of land.”
“Mr. Speaker, our Bloc Québécois colleagues want Canadians to believe that building a high-speed rail line will harm their communities, that it will be done without consultation and without the measures we have put in place over the past 60 years. They are trying to justify their opposition to high-speed rail and their goal is to kill the project before the legislation is even passed. They have joined Conservatives in the past to try to cut the initial funding required, and they are trying to do it again today by blocking Bill C‑15 . Indeed, their actions are quite fitting, given their name I want to be clear. Expropriation remains a measure of last resort. Negotiating with landowners will always be the preferred approach. That principle will not change.”
“During all this work, I had the pleasure of meeting the people of that beautiful city and working with their employees, specifically those working in technical services. I met the new mayor, who truly has the best interests of her constituents at heart. Whether it is Saint‑Janvier, Saint‑Benoît, Saint‑Hermas, Sainte‑Scholastique, Saint‑Augustin, Sainte‑Monique or Saint‑Canut, each sector of Mirabel is unique, but together they form a city and an RCM, because it is a city-RCM, which is a real force for our region. We are proud to work with the people of Mirabel on a wide range of issues. We can build major projects in Canada without repeating the mistakes of the past. The Bloc Québécois wants Canadians to believe that building high-speed rail will harm their communities. I will have more to say after oral question period.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Trois-Rivières . I am pleased to rise in the House for the first time in 2026 on behalf of my constituents in Les Pays-d'en-Haut. Before we talk about the future, we need to acknowledge the past. The Government of Canada recognizes that the expropriations carried out for the construction of the Mirabel airport in the late 1960s left deep scars on the people of Mirabel. Families and communities were profoundly affected. The difficult memories associated with these events have never completely faded for many Quebeckers. Apart from the member for Mirabel himself, I am surely the person in the House who has travelled the most through the Mirabel area. As an engineer in Mirabel, I built roads, replaced culverts and worked on water mains, sewers, bike paths and parks.”
“Madam Speaker, in addition to being an exceptional colleague, the hon. member for Bourassa is an expert in AI. I would like him to explain a little more about how developing AI here in Canada will enable us to have a more sovereign country and what impact it will have on our national defence.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada has a world-class aerospace industry, particularly in Quebec. Our aerospace sector will play an invaluable role in our efforts to build the strongest economy in the G7. It generates $15 billion in GDP and provides more than 40,000 jobs in Quebec. The budget implementation act contains important measures to protect and strengthen our aerospace sector. Quebeckers want these measures to become reality. Could the Minister of Finance remind those who are blocking and delaying the passage of the budget implementation act how they are harming Quebec's aerospace sector?”
“Madam Speaker, if I may switch gears, we created the Major Projects Office this year. We have announced three major projects in Quebec. The first is the container terminal in Contrecoeur, which will generate economic spinoffs worth $140 million a year. The second is the Alto high-speed train, which is expected to inject $35 billion into the GDP and create 51,000 jobs between Quebec City and Windsor. The third is the eastern energy partnership, which will see Quebec invest in Churchill Falls and Gull Island to bring clean energy to Quebec. I would like to hear my esteemed colleague's thoughts on these three projects.”
“Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to say that the Groupe Crête lumber mill is in my riding, in Chertsey. When we met with the representatives of Groupe Crête, they explained that they were having a lot of problems with forest access. The Quebec forestry regime was introduced some years ago. It was denounced by the industry as unworkable, and then abandoned. I would like to hear what my hon. colleague has to say about that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have just returned from a high-level defence gathering at the Halifax International Security Forum. In the budget, the government announced $81 billion in defence spending over the next five years. The member and I know that many businesses in Mirabel will benefit from this spending. I would like to know whether he will stand up for the interests of his constituents and their businesses and vote with us to support the budget so that the riding of Mirabel gets its piece of the defence investment pie.”
“He brought together nine municipalities around a $45-million collective project, which will be his legacy for future generations. After 35 years of service, his last day as an elected official was November 2. I would like to wish my friend André, on my own behalf and on behalf of the members of the House, a happy retirement.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour André Genest's 35 years of community service. Born in Wentworth‑Nord in Les Pays‑d'en‑Haut, André spent his life serving everyone in his community. In addition to his career in municipal government, he worked as an educator in a youth centre and even welcomed into his home children who were homeless and lacked hope. He was elected as a municipal councillor in 1990 and served six terms as mayor of Wentworth‑Nord and two terms as reeve of Les Pays‑d'en‑Haut RCM, directly elected by the people, from 2017 to 2025. He also represented the 1,050 municipalities of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités on the board of directors. Although André successfully managed a number of major projects during his career, I am confident that the sports complex is the one he is most proud of.”
“Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his speech, which was as passionate as ever. Bloc Québécois members are still discussing a hypothetical project, whereas we are engaged in hands-on work. Let me give one example of a no-nonsense report we recently received. According to a report by Investissement Québec, Quebec companies have made significant progress in the export field, and have signed agreements amounting to $4.3 billion in exports. Additionally, foreign companies have generated $6.5 billion in investments in Quebec. The more we diversify our economy, the better it is for Canadians and Quebeckers. I would like to ask my colleague across the way if he is going to join us in the push to diversify Canada's economy.”
“I would like to highlight the work of the teachers and school administration of the Val‑des‑Monts school, the staff at the Centre de services scolaires de la Rivière‑du‑Nord, and Mayor Paul Germain and his team who organized a fundraiser that raised $140,000 to replace students' school supplies. I would also like to thank Sonia Bélanger, the MNA for Prévost, and Sonia Lebel, the education minister. When a community works together for the well-being of children, anything is possible.”
“Mr. Speaker, on September 12, a major fire destroyed the Val‑des‑Monts elementary school in Prévost, which was quite a shock for the children, their families and the community. Despite the fire department's quick response, the school was a total loss. However, Prévost is a tight-knit community and quickly sprang into action. The children were relocated to four other schools in the area and they were able to go back to class on September 18. The 400 children only missed three days of school. This remarkable outcome was the result of outstanding efforts.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am not saying it is unconstitutional. I am saying that any law brought forth has to be 100% non-challengeable at the Supreme Court level so as to not waste the time of the courts and make victims more vulnerable.”
“Mr. Speaker, when laws are poorly drafted, delays in the justice system increase considerably, and victims are forced to relive the crime over and over again, often in court, and that is unacceptable. It is essential that every bill be drafted in such a way that it will be accepted by the Supreme Court. That way, victims will be better served in the future.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from the east for his question. He is my riding neighbour. I find these proposals rather interesting. However, I think they should be debated in committee. I suggest that my colleague across the way bring up these ideas in committee. They will be given serious consideration.”
“Mr. Speaker, we all agree that criminality is on the rise and needs to be addressed. We all agree that bail reform is a necessary process that has to be done properly. It has to respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and it has to be done so that once the legislation is passed it is not overturned by the Supreme Court. That is what our government will do with the legislation that will be presented in the fall.”
“We are introducing legislation to ensure that violent repeat offenders face appropriate consequences, that the courts have the tools they need to protect public safety and that the justice system works effectively and fairly for all Canadians. [ English ] In conclusion, Canadians expect a government that acts responsibly, listens to experts and delivers results. That is what we are doing with our criminal justice reform agenda. We have introduced Bill C-9 to fight hate crime. We strengthened the bail system through former Bill C-48 , and we are now preparing additional measures this fall to further address repeat and violent offending. This is not about political games or empty slogans. It is about real action, public safety and justice. That is exactly the approach Canadians elected this government to take.”
“It is not achieved with slogans and partisanship. It is built when governments work together to address the root causes of crime, including poverty, trauma, mental health issues and housing insecurity, and when individuals get the support they need to rebuild their lives. Canadians deserve a bail system that protects communities while respecting the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as a sentencing regime that holds offenders accountable while promoting reintegration. Our government is delivering on that promise. We are not acting hastily or out of political expediency. We are consulting experts, collaborating with our provincial counterparts and developing laws that work in practice.”
“Strengthening the law at the federal level must therefore be complemented by effective enforcement, resources and oversight at the provincial level. Without this coordination, even the best legislation would not achieve meaningful change. Data and evidence also play a crucial role. Provinces and territories collect the data necessary to evaluate how bail laws are functioning, identify gaps and implement improvements. Better data allows government to track outcomes, assess risks and ensure that measures designed to protect public safety are actually working. This is why our government continues to work closely with partners across the nation to improve data collection, transparency and reporting in the criminal justice system. [ Translation ] Public safety is built through thoughtful policy, strong partnerships and sustained action.”
“Other commitments included broadening the possibility of consecutive sentencing for car theft with violence or car theft involving a criminal organization. [ English ] These are concrete measures aimed at addressing repeat and violent offending throughout the criminal justice process. They represent an approach that is strategic, evidence-driven and focused on protecting public safety without sacrificing the rights and fairness that are foundational to the justice system. We also know that reform cannot happen in isolation. The operation of the bail system is a shared responsibility between federal and provincial and territorial governments. While the federal government sets the legal framework, the provinces and territories manage day-to-day operations, including court and jail administration.”
“That is why, as set out in the government's 2025 electoral platform and reaffirmed at the first ministers' meeting in June, the government will introduce legislation this fall to further strengthen both bail and sentencing provisions in the Criminal Code. (1705) [ Translation ] Our federal government committed to establishing a reverse onus for a range of serious crimes, in particular violent car theft, car theft for a criminal organization, home invasion, and human trafficking and smuggling, in order to make it much harder to get bail in these circumstances. Our government also committed to amending the Criminal Code to direct courts to primarily consider denunciation and deterrence when sentencing repeat car thieves or home invasion offenders.”
“For example, it created a reverse onus to target serious repeat violent offences involving weapons. It expanded the list of firearms that trigger a reverse onus at bail. It also broadened the reverse onus, targeting repeat offenders in cases of intimate partner violence. These changes made it more difficult for accused persons to obtain bail when they are charged with serious repeat violent offending. These changes were not the result of partisan initiatives. They reflected a broad collaboration with provinces, territories, law enforcement and legal experts. Every step was guided by data, evidence and consultation with those working on the front lines of criminal justice. Despite these reforms, we understand that Canadians remain concerned about repeat and violent offending.”
“Instead of focusing on measures capable of truly improving public safety, he keeps proposing reckless initiatives based on political calculation, putting optics before real solutions to protect Canadians. [ English ] Canadians deserve more than slogans and political theatre. They deserve a government that listens, engages experts and acts decisively to make communities safer. That is exactly what the government is doing through legislation that addresses urgent issues while respecting the principles of justice and fairness. That is why the federal government has taken important steps to reform the bail system in recent years. In 2023, former Bill C-48 made meaningful changes to strengthen the bail system in response to concerns about efficiency and repeat offending.”
“He held consultations with his provincial and territorial counterparts as well as police forces, chiefs of police and their associations to ensure that any reform introduced is practical, evidence-based and truly tailored to the needs of Canadians. That is how responsible reform happens: through meticulous study, collaboration and expert advice. Meanwhile, the Conservative leader was far more preoccupied with his political future than any real public policy work. He spent his summer chasing after a second chance as a candidate parachuted into an Alberta by-election following his resounding defeat at the polls by voters from across the country in the last election, including voters from his former riding of Carleton. Still, he shows no signs of having learned from that experience.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the citizens of Les Pays-d'en-Haut. It is a pleasure to rise to debate the opposition motion before us, and I will talk particularly about the narrative it tries to present. The motion suggests that the Liberal government proposed criminal justice reform in the last six months and has failed to act. However, the reality tells a very different story. Just last month, we introduced Bill C-9, the combatting hate act, which includes targeted amendments to the Criminal Code to address hate-motivated offences. The legislation successfully passed second reading yesterday and is now moving to committee for detailed study and consideration. [ Translation ] The Minister of Justice worked tirelessly over the summer to find ways to strengthen and modernize our criminal justice system.”
“Mr. Speaker, at the Standing Committee on National Defence, I heard about the remarkable work done by the Canadian Armed Forces across Canada and in Europe. I had the opportunity to witness this in person in Petawawa yesterday. At a time when Canada is making a generational investment in national defence, can the minister tell us about how we will enhance our military presence in Canada and around the world?”
“Mr. Speaker, I will not answer hypothetical questions. I think today's debate is about the use of the notwithstanding clause and how it will be interpreted by the Supreme Court. I think that our Attorney General did a good job and that he will do the same before the Supreme Court.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think the Bloc Québécois members are trying to stir up controversy when there is none. Today's debate is about the notwithstanding clause. I do not think Bill 21 is at issue. I believe that they should focus on the subject of the motion before us.”