Gabriel Hardy
Montmorency—Charlevoix, Quebec · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said here in the House that the cost of living is the best it has been in a decade, but that has not been Canadians' experience. According to a CBC article, some people have even resorted to starting GoFundMe campaigns to pay for basic necessities.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals rise here to talk to us about programs when we are asking them to stop doing what is not working and to make decisions so that Canadians can finally make ends meet. Let us look at one of their programs.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate and unpleasant, but we are in a recession, and people are feeling the pinch. Some families have to spend more than 120% of their income just on housing and food. It has reached the point where people are having to borrow money just to put food on the table.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the programs. In Quebec, the average salary is $67,000. However, I received a photo of a Canada groceries and essentials benefit payment from a worker who earns exactly $67,000. He received $11.98 to help pay for groceries. Families can no longer afford groceries, rent and gas.”
“Mr. Speaker, we all know the Liberals' economic plan. It involves $141 billion in new spending, a $67-billion deficit in just one year and a budget that repeats the word “investment” 786 times but spends like there is no tomorrow. Canada is the only G20 country in a recession because of those decisions.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is easy to point the finger at others, but when we see a prime minister spending $159,000 on inflight meals for a single trip, we understand why his decisions have led us straight into a recession.”
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“Mr. Speaker, the people of Montmorency—Charlevoix are once again calling on the Liberal government to work with our fishers in preparation for the upcoming fishing season in the St. Lawrence River. The river's striped bass population is out of control. This species is a highly efficient predator that is placing significant stress on other species, many of which are already fragile and very important to our region's economy. What the fishers are asking for is simple. They want their needs to to be taken into account and they want to be consulted during the process. They are also calling for federal authorities to come to the area to see the extent of the damage for themselves and for the government to reopen recreational fishing in a strictly controlled manner using quotas, as is already permitted at the mouth of the St. Lawrence.”
“Mr. Speaker, Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Unfortunately, there is very little love for the Liberals right now. Just ask the 86,000 pensioners who are definitely not in love with the new Cúram software, a faulty system that is depriving them of their money every month. We could also ask the public servants who are saying that this is the worst system ever designed. Worst of all, Quebeckers and Canadians are realizing that the Liberals are once again spending their money irresponsibly. We are talking about a cost overrun of $5 billion. That is appalling. Why do the Liberals always spend taxpayers' money recklessly, without accountability and without respect?”
“Madam Speaker, the Liberals are pretty proud of the work they have done, but 52,000 private sector jobs have been lost in the past year. After years of anti-development legislation, closed markets and investment bolting to the United States, Canada is not in a good position. Every week, real workers are losing their jobs, and it is mainly our young people who are being told to wait and make sacrifices, yet again. The Conservatives have proposed a clear path forward: Build here, protect our jobs and free up our resources. Will the Prime Minister work with the Conservatives to create real jobs here for our young people and defend Canada's economic sovereignty?”
“Madam Speaker, young people from Quebec and Canada are not asking for much right now. What they want is a real job so that they can get a start in life, but what are they seeing? In January, Canada lost 28,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector. Investments are leaving the country. Meanwhile, the only job growth is coming from more bureaucracy, not from real jobs in the real economy. Young people are stuck with precarious jobs, or no job at all, while plants are closing in Baie-Comeau and across Canada. Does the Prime Minister realize that the current economy is not creating the jobs that young people need to get a start in life?”
“Mr. Speaker, despite an unprecedented home ownership crisis, with young families struggling to become homeowners, only five out of every 10 new homes built are intended for purchase. The rest are intended to be rentals. On top of that, 38% of builders are saying they have been forced to lay off workers this year, and 86% of them are concerned about the future of their businesses. Basically, the government is promising construction, but delivering hot air. Even the Bank of Canada has acknowledged that real estate activity is moderate and often even declining. When will the Liberal government finally take real action, remove bureaucratic barriers and give young Canadians real access to home ownership?”
“Mr. Speaker, for several years now, young Canadians have been finding it increasingly difficult to purchase their first home. Over the past decade under the Liberal government, home ownership among 30- to 34-year-olds has fallen by nearly 10%, and eight out of 10 Canadians say that buying a home is something only rich people can dream of. Not to mention that 90% of gen Z and millennials say they are really concerned about the housing crisis. How can the Prime Minister claim that his plan is working when young Quebeckers are realizing that, despite their efforts and hard work, they will never be able to afford a home?”
“I hope that the spirit of the Olympic Games inspires us and reassures us so we can build a united, confident and proud Canada together.”
“No story of a person who has changed lives has ever been written based on somebody who has had everything handed to them. A life without hardships is hardly inspiring. People like Marchessault, Yanni Gourde, Mathieu Olivier, Georges St‑Pierre, Ann‑Renée Desbiens and Joannie Rochette all faced adversity in their lives. Today, they inspire the next generation of athletes with their stories. The same applies to a country. It is a mistake to erase or forget stories. Being welcoming does not mean we need to disappear or step aside. Being open does not require us to erase ourselves. It is in knowing who we are, taking charge of our history and respecting our ability to welcome others while safeguarding our values that we can transmit our values and welcome newcomers with dignity.”
“However, division weakens, fragments policies, pits identities against one another and reiterates differences. Canada does not need more division. It needs consistency, continuity and unity. We need to be more united than ever because there is strength in unity. I want to conclude with a universal and very current metaphor: the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games celebrate perseverance, work, failures that lead to victory, collective support and the idea of never giving up. Athletes do often fall, doubt themselves and fail, but they stay focused. They get up again and use their struggles to motivate themselves, to learn, to grow and to become better athletes. No uplifting film has ever been made based on a character who has had an easy life.”
“They know that identity is not kept alive by chance. They know that culture must be passed on or it disappears. They know that adversity builds character. French Canadians fought to exist. They know their history. They know their culture. They know who they are and who they want to continue to be. That is exactly why they have what it takes to inspire Canada, which has lost its identity under the postnational Liberal regime. Quebec can play an influential role, not to divide but to remind Canada that unity starts with clarity, pride and recognition of the past. To move forward, we must stop always trying to relive the past, reopen old wounds and bring up mistakes of the past. We need to learn, grow and inspire. In tough times, division sometimes seems like the easy answer, whether because of hopelessness or sheer weariness.”
“Contrary to what some alarmist rhetoric might suggest, immigrants largely support the foundations of our Canadian institutions, including things like respect for the law, gender equality, democracy, human dignity, hard work and responsibility. Indeed, newcomers are not afraid of hard work. Immigrants are not asking for a society without rules. They are asking for a coherent society and, more importantly, they want to understand what they are joining. If we cannot provide them with benchmarks, they will find their own. This is not because of a lack of respect, but rather a lack of leadership. Integration does not begin by erasing the person being welcomed, but rather by clarifying the values of the community that individual is joining. Quebeckers know something fundamental about identity.”
“Canada has been described as a postnational country, a country without a core identity, a country where pride is becoming suspect. The Canadian government has chosen incessant apologies over pride, erasure over explanations. There is a time and place for everything. There are customs for every period. Of course, the past can be difficult. It has left us divided. The English and the French did not greet one another with hugs and high fives. History is written by the victors. There used to be a clear divide between French Canadians and English Canadians, but those days are behind us. Adversity has given rise to a proud people, an inspiring people, rooted in their history and strengthened by their culture. (1135) I also did some research on the common values shared by Canadians and newcomers.”
“It does not erase multiculturalism; rather, it gives it a foundation. The two are not mutually exclusive. The one allows the other to thrive. La Malbaie in Montmorency—Charlevoix is a great example of a place that knows how to welcome and integrate newcomers. From its origins as a French colony, the region experienced substantial development under British governance and opened up to the world, attracting notable figures from American society. La Malbaie is now a global example of integration, history and culture and a source of immense pride for the francophonie. It is known around the world. This kind of success story and high-profile example could have served as an inspiration, but instead, a radical change has taken place over the past 10 years.”
“In a nutshell, this is a country that says that living within its borders is all it takes to be Canadian. I want to be clear: We cannot welcome people if our intake capacity is not respected and if the product we are providing does not deliver in terms of housing, services, integration and social cohesion. Ignoring these realities is neither generous nor welcoming. It is irresponsible. Everything was working very well under Prime Minister Harper. Why? It is because Canadian identity was part of daily life. It is because national pride was not something to be ashamed about. Citizenship had meaning and a purpose, and it had its limits. Integration was a given. It was also under Stephen Harper that Quebec was recognized as a nation within a united Canada in 2006. This recognition as a nation is fundamental.”
“The customers are not to blame for buying the product. The one to blame is the one who sold the product. That is exactly what has been happening over the past 10 years since the Liberal government came to power. It has been selling Canada as a welcoming, fair and inclusive society capable of integrating newcomers, a society full of promise with a reputation for making the people who live here happy. However, what has this government actually delivered? It has delivered a country that is unsure about its identity, a country that is ashamed of its past, and a citizenship that has been stripped of all meaning and reduced to a mere administrative formality, if that, because it can be completed online. Canada's intake capacity is overloaded.”
“However, there is a key difference between evolving and relinquishing one's own identity. A mature society does not destroy its history. Instead, it builds upon the history, rectifies its shortcomings, and fortifies it. It articulates its history, understands it in its context, and learns from it. Erasing history does not create a more just society. It makes it weaker because a society that does not know where it came from can also not know what it has to share, and quite often, it lacks a clear path forward. I have a simple analogy. If a business advertises a product as solid, reliable, accessible and affordable, but it delivers a product that is broken, expensive and ineffective, customers will inevitably be disappointed. However, the customers can hardly be blamed for believing in the product and buying it.”
“However, this equality was based on something that was very fundamental, and which continues to be so: a nation that was confident, a nation of two founding peoples and two official languages. Brian Mulroney embodied Canada. He respected Quebec, its autonomy, its identity, and its culture. He was a Quebecker and a Canadian, and there was no contradiction there. He was open to the world, but also deeply rooted. His vision was not one of erasure but of integration. Newcomers were told they could become Canadian, regardless of where they came from. However, they were also told, albeit implicitly, that they were integrating an existing society with its own set of values and that they were taking part in a grand project. I believe this makes all the difference. Yes, societies evolve. They change over time. They acquire new understanding.”
“That country was firmly rooted in its institutions, confident in its values, and proud of its history, despite its imperfections. There was a turning point in 1988 when multiculturalism was enacted into law. Multiculturalism was codified in law under the leadership of a great Quebecker, who was proud of his Irish roots and profoundly grateful for the welcome the Quebec nation had extended his family. Brian Mulroney did not regard support for immigration as a repudiation of Canada, its history, or its values. He saw multiculturalism as an affirmation of what Canada was all about. To Brian Mulroney, Canada held a promise that Canadians from all walks of life would have equal rights and equal opportunities.”
“Mr. Speaker, before we talk about multiculturalism, before we even start to talk about immigration, and before we talk about policy, I think we need to talk about one basic point: What is a society that stands up for itself? A society is not just administrative areas. A society is more than an economy and monetary relations. It is also more than just a merging of individuals. A society is a shared history, culture, references and common standards, as well as a collective memory that brings generations together. Without all those things, there are just borders and territories within which people happen to live. Multiculturalism in Canada did not emerge in a vacuum. It took shape within a country that, at the time, had a clear sense of its own identity.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is quite something. In 2023, Justin Trudeau announced a plan for groceries. In 2026, the problems are the same and the Liberals are recycling the same measures but changing the name. When a plan creates more hardship, more debt, less wealth and less hope, we do not need a rebranding. What we need is a change in direction. After 10 years of Liberal rule, the results are clear. Young people in Quebec and Canada have less money in their pockets at the end of the month after paying rent and buying groceries. When will the Liberals finally admit that they have failed and stop going in the wrong direction?”
“Mr. Speaker, here are some comments from citizens about Liberal policies: “Even earning $40 an hour, I can't set aside any savings anymore,” said Sébastien. “I earn $36 an hour, but as a single parent with three teens, I can forget about putting money aside. Every penny goes towards groceries,” said Patricia. “We don't need your handouts. We need money in our pockets,” said Carl. Some 93% of young Canadians are concerned about the housing crisis. Many no longer even consider the possibility of one day owning a home. Instead of constantly demanding more from our young people, when will the Prime Minister finally stop taxing them and suffocating them with all this Liberal bureaucracy?”
“Mr. Speaker, in 2026, a family of four will have to pay up to $17,500 for food for the year, which is $1,000 more than last year. That affects everyone. After causing this inflation through their own policies, now the Liberals are feeling bad, so yesterday they announced apology cheques for some families to put a little money back in their pockets to help pay for their overpriced groceries. When will the Liberal government acknowledge that its inflationary policies have failed and finally work with the Conservatives to lower the cost of living? It is high time we gave Quebeckers and Canadians some breathing room.”
“Mr. Speaker, the latest data show that one in five Quebec renters has a hard time paying rent. This is a particularly harsh reality for couples in their working and child-rearing years. In the regions, municipalities are trying to do their part. Baie-Saint-Paul cut certain municipal taxes to help keep rent increases low. La Malbaie cut municipal spending to protect people's ability to pay. Will the Liberal government finally acknowledge that its policies over the past 10 years have hurt purchasing power and fuelled inflation? Will the government choose wisely and work with the Conservatives to implement a real plan to make life more affordable?”
“I am immensely proud to be saying his name here in Ottawa's Parliament, where I now sit, to highlight his contribution to the political life of our Quebec nation. I thank André “Pépé” Voyer for his example, his influence and his love of Quebec. The Parliament in Ottawa wishes him a wonderful 101st birthday.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to pay tribute to André “Pépé” Voyer and thank him for the exceptional legacy he is leaving our family and the history of Quebec. From his early years in Abitibi to the present day, he has always been driven by a contagious energy for politics, notably by getting involved and supporting people like Guy Dallaire, Réal Caouette and even René Lévesque. He has remained a proud member of the Parti Québécois, attending party meetings until the remarkable age of 97. His commitment has never wavered, and he always defends our defining points: our French language, our unique culture and Quebec's essential place as the cornerstone of Canada. At 101, his passion and memory continue to inspire me.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition signed by concerned citizens in Montmorency—Charlevoix and throughout Quebec. They are concerned because there is an ecological imbalance in the St. Lawrence River. For nearly 14 years now, the striped bass has been considered a protected species, but now these fish are too plentiful and are threatening other species and the river's entire ecological balance. Our fishers see this every day. The petition is not asking for much. It is just asking the government to have experts survey the damage and work with our fishers. The petitioners would also like the government to allow recreational fishing of this species to help get its population under control. Let us work together to protect aquatic fauna and the fishers whose livelihoods depend on this resource.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada's Conflict of Interest Act states that a “public office holder” such as a “member of ministerial staff” has no right to “accept any gift or other advantage”. This morning, the Journal de Montréal's investigative desk reported that 10 people with ties to the Liberal Party of Canada had each received $1,000 for services rendered during the last leadership race to select the current leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec. Can the Prime Minister explain to Quebeckers what all this Liberal funny business is about?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is pretty obvious that Scrooge is in charge. Since he came to power, production and transportation costs have skyrocketed. The cost of energy, fertilizer and farm fuel has gone up. Farmers have seen their debt load jump by 14% in one year. That is the sharpest increase since 1981. Nearly a quarter of Canadians would eat healthier food if they could afford it. Across-the-board increases are hitting everything in the grocery store, and this Mickey Mouse government is patting itself on the back for its work. When will the Liberals realize that their policies are costing Canadians dearly?”
“Mr. Speaker, the holidays are fast approaching, but for many families, there will be no festivities on the menu. Today, nearly 85% of Canadians say that the cost of food is their main financial concern. A record 2.2 million visits to food banks were recorded in a single month. Many of those lining up for food are children. Families are reducing portion sizes, skipping meals and turning to less nutritious food options to make ends meet. How can the Liberals claim that they are helping families when their policies are literally pushing families to hunger?”
“Mr. Speaker, the latest report on food prices for 2026 reveals that, while 2025 was tough, 2026 is going to be even worse. According to the report, families will spend 112% more on food than they did 10 years ago, 86% of people are eating less meat because it has become too expensive and, next year, families will have to pay $1,000 more for groceries, the largest increase ever recorded in Canada. Meanwhile, food inflation is rising 48% faster in Canada than in the United States. Why does the Prime Minister refuse to get rid of his taxes on food so Canadians can eat healthy food at an affordable price?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister asked to be judged by the price of groceries. Once again, not only is he not keeping his promises, he is failing miserably at it. His policies are making Canadians poorer, while making him and his friends richer. When the Liberals came to power 10 years ago, groceries cost $159 per family per week; 10 years later, it is $338 per week, or $17,600 per year. When will the Liberals stop their inflationary spending so that Canadians can feed themselves and live comfortably?”
“Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question, and I like comparisons. In the private sector, companies may sometimes run deficits because they are investing in the future and engaging in development activities. However, nobody in the private sector loses money every year for 10, 11, 12 or 15 years and pats themselves on the back for it. Never getting back to balance and accountability is a major mistake. This is people's money the government is spending. That money belongs to hard-working people. As I mentioned earlier, 98% of Canadian businesses are SMEs. In Quebec, it is 99%. These people work hard every day, pay their taxes and struggle to make ends meet while the Liberals spend their money recklessly. It is disrespectful, and it is certainly not the way the public expects the government to manage things.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is always interesting to see my Bloc friends say such things. In fact, they voted against the budget, saying it was a spendthrift budget, and the next day in the House, they asked the government to invest money in a private company in Quebec. One day, they say that it is terrible to spend so much. The next day, they say that the government is not spending enough on their colleagues at TVA, whom they love so much, and that the government should give them money. That is exactly the problem with the Bloc Québécois. There is always a double standard, and that is what we keep seeing time and time again.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is quite funny to hear my colleague say that he wants to spend more time here. I think he has spent more time here than anyone else in the history of humanity. This budget is unacceptable. I was emphasizing that we need to invest more in Canadians' health, invest more in prevention. I am not using the term “invest” in the sense of spending. I am saying that we need to invest more attention in these areas. When I look at the expenditures made by my colleague and his government, I see $19.2 million for inclusive agri-food systems in Nigeria, $29 million invested in South Korea, $123 million invested in China, $10 million invested in inclusive and sensitive climate change adaptation in Ghana. Is that their idea of investing properly in Canadians? To me, that is nothing but throwing money out the window.”
“That would be a generational investment, but there is nothing about that in the budget. As a result, our population is becoming poorer in terms of health, and we will all be forced to pay the price. The Liberal government has divided its budget into two categories: investments and spending. I wish it would do the same for the health of Canadians by investing in prevention and focusing on healing, because it needs to invest more money in that area.”
“The prevention of illness should be a major focus for governments at the municipal, provincial and federal level. To improve health, we have to acknowledge that the solution is not to wait until illness strikes before we take action. Reactionary budgets are always deficit budgets. My colleague asked a question last week about the government's $500-million investment in the European Space Agency site. The answer really caught my attention. We were told that every dollar invested generates $3 in Canada. I like that kind of answer, because when you invest in physical activity, every dollar invested generates a return of somewhere between $3 and $20, with a recognized average of $13. It is the best return on investment when it comes to physical health, mental health and community health.”
“Something in the budget that really stood out to me is the total lack of investment in prevention, and the total lack of investment in sports and physical activity. Let us take a look at the leading causes of mortality in Canada, and hear what the associations dealing with these conditions have to say. The cancer association says that the cornerstone of cancer prevention is to promote physical activity, reduce the amount of time spent sitting, and educate people about the benefits of physical activity. Heart disease is the second-leading cause of death in Canada. Regular physical activity significantly reduces the risk of stroke. In addition, 90% of cases of type 2 diabetes can be eliminated with physical activity. Physical activity also reduces degeneration and lowers the risk of Alzheimer's disease.”
“I have been speaking with food bank representatives, and they told me recently that the face of poverty is changing. In the past, it was people who were unemployed, perhaps even newly arrived immigrants. Today, it is Canadian and Quebec families. Parents who are both employed have to choose between eating, having a roof over their heads, and having a car to get to work. That is the reality, but the government pats itself on the back for doing a good job and creating more and more programs year after year. That is the problem. Einstein said that doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. I will leave it to my colleagues to decide for themselves whether that accurately describes the situation. I mentioned health transfers earlier.”
“That is huge. We are getting so deep into debt that we are paying more in interest than we are investing in something as crucial as health care. The Liberals are patting themselves on the back for creating more social programs and telling themselves that they are responding to demand and that Canadians need those programs. The problem is precisely that: Demand is growing, and the Liberals are congratulating themselves because it is growing. There are needs in our communities, and there are children who are going hungry. Everyone would agree that children should be able to eat their fill. No one is against that. However, there is nothing to be proud of when this trend is on the rise, there are more and more children going to food banks, and more and more families struggling to make ends meet.”
“Canadians are starting to question this much-talked-about budget that spends their money in sectors that seem to greatly benefit our Prime Minister. When we cry scandal here, we are told that we are conspiracy theorists, so I will look at other facts. The Liberals promised to keep the deficit at $62 billion, which is already far too high, but now the budget is projecting a deficit of $78 billion. They said that they would reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio, but that ratio has increased. They promised to lower inflation, but it has gone up. They promised to reduce spending, but it has increased by $90 billion. They promised to help municipalities by cutting their taxes on new housing construction in half, but that is another broken promise. The budget asks Canadians to spend more on interest on the debt than on health transfers to the provinces.”
“He was asked whether he would fix this problem if he became prime minister. He replied that he would ensure that businesses pay their taxes in Canada. So far, he has done nothing. When he became Prime Minister, he was asked to cut ties with Brookfield. Well, last week, Brookfield's chief operating officer came and told us that he had no problem coming to Canada for coffee with the Prime Minister and spending half a day in his office. When he announces Canadian investments abroad, Brookfield is always there a day early or a day later in the same sectors. (1710) Last week, our Prime Minister was in Alberta where he announced plans for pipelines, carbon capture, nuclear energy, data centres and power lines. Just a little bit of research shows that Brookfield is heavily involved in all these sectors. That is the reality now.”
“I think we all know the answer, and that answer is no. When a government relies on an ideology that assumes that it can spend endlessly and live in a world that is out of touch with the reality of taxpayers, it puts itself in a position where, when times are tough, it has no financial cushion and the situation is precarious. As I said earlier, history gets written just once. I would like us to look at our Prime Minister 's past. Before he became Prime Minister, he was the head of Brookfield, a Canadian company. When things started getting tense with the United States, he moved the company's head office to New York for his own benefit. During the election campaign, the prospective prime minister was asked a question. He was told that Brookfield was Canada's biggest corporate tax evader, owing $6.5 billion in unpaid taxes in Canada.”
“The answer we got was that the situation we were in was the fault of the United States and Donald Trump. When a government is not properly prepared, when it runs up debt year after year, when it spends recklessly and ends up in a bad situation and a bad position, can it really blame that on someone else? Should the government not look in the mirror and admit that it should have done more to prevent this situation? The reality is that there is no world where there will never be tough times. However, the Liberals do not seem to see that. They want to live in a fantasyland. Would a smoker really be surprised to learn they have lung cancer? I doubt it. Would someone who gets no physical activity and overeats regularly say that there was no way to see it coming when they have a heart attack?”
“In fact, recently, in the context of the budget, the Liberals did not negotiate with us. They did not sit down with us, even though they are a minority government. They completely ignored the requests and proposals of the opposition parties. They were willing to spend over $600 million to trigger an election to win a few seats and get a majority. That is the Liberal way: spending money to promote their ideas and points of view and disregarding the public. Of course, they would have blamed the Conservatives. They would have said that it was the Conservatives who wanted to trigger an election before Christmas. All we were asking for was an affordable budget so that Canadians could have access to a promising future, not a future with debt for generations to come.”
“There is nothing in there for them. It has been 10 years of broken promises. During my election campaign, I said that history gets written just once. Well, I want us all to take a look at the current situation after 10 years of Liberal governance, because that will give us some idea of what the future holds. When we look at what has happened, when we look at our history, we can predict where we are headed. Year after year, the Liberals have run deficits. They prioritize ideology over facts, and there is a very worrying tendency to always try to please everyone, as though the bank account is bottomless. The sole aim is to make people happy today in order to get their vote in the future. I believe this seriously undermines Canada's economy and our future.”
“Mr. Speaker, today we are analyzing the 10th Liberal budget, the most expensive budget in Canadian history, costing $16 billion more than the Prime Minister promised on the campaign trail. I will begin by saying that there is nothing in this budget to address the problems facing families who are already struggling to make ends meet, nothing for young people who are contemplating their future with utter despair, convinced that they will never be able to afford a home. In fact, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said today that the Liberals will not be able to fulfill their promise of building 250,000 homes in five years. In reality, it will be 26,000 homes, or 10 times less. There is nothing for small and medium-sized businesses. I would like to remind members that 99% of businesses in Canada are small and medium-sized businesses.”
“Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Regroupement des offices d'habitation du Québec and the Alliance des corporations d'habitations abordables du territoire du Québec shared their deep concerns: The demand for social and affordable housing is skyrocketing and yet the Liberal response is more bureaucracy. The Parliamentary Budget Officer also confirms that the Liberals' big promise of 250,000 homes will actually produce only 26,000 homes, that is, 10 times fewer homes. In Montmorency—Charlevoix, the average price of a home has grown from $205,000 to $400,000 under this Liberal government. The Prime Minister said that young Canadians would have to make sacrifices. In fact, was he actually asking them to sacrifice their dream of one day owning a home?”
“Faced with this lack of response, locals are now taking action with this petition. Their demands are clear: act quickly, work with local fishers to find concrete solutions and allow striped bass sport fishing in order to get the situation back under control. The government must take action, help our fishers, help our local economy and regain control of a good idea that has gone awry, as is too often the case under the Liberals.”
“Mr. Speaker, the fishers of Montmorency—Charlevoix, and particularly those from Isle-aux-Coudres who are the subject of today's petition, are facing a situation that makes no sense. The number of striped bass, which is a protected but unregulated species, has increased so much that it is now destroying the entire ecosystem of the St. Lawrence River. Striped bass are out of control, and they are very efficient predators. They attack herring, smelt, even crabs, lobsters and now salmon. They are so plentiful that fishers are unable to fish their quota despite having paid for a licence. The entire local economy and the balance of the river are at risk. I have tried several times to discuss the issue with the Minister of Fisheries . My requests have been completely ignored. I received no response to the official letter I sent her.”
“Madam Speaker, once again, I will give a very quick answer to the question. The Ethics Commissioner is having a hard time ensuring that our Prime Minister is not breaking his own ethics rules. I do not think that a new commissioner is going to solve anything for first nations. That is not going to help us move forward. If we want to move forward, we need to work together, keep our word and make ministers responsible for their decisions.”