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.”
The complete record
Every one of 391 lines we hold for Gabriel Hardy, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 8.
“It is clear proof of the government's total contempt for Canadians and Canadian families, who were struggling then and are still struggling today with inflated prices thanks to the inflationary policies of the past 10 years. We are still hearing excuses today in the House. The Liberals say that they put a stop to all that, and so on. However, this reminds me of an arsonist firefighter who lights fires, puts them out and then pats themselves on the back. Contracts are not awarded by just anyone. They are awarded by the government. It must have known exactly what it was doing. This is reminiscent of other Liberal scandals. Take, for example, the Aga Khan affair, involving the Christmas vacation of our former prime minister, who was ultimately the first Prime Minister to breach federal ethics rules.”
“Here again, a lot of these pieces were missing. Then, the government awards the contract to the company that offers the greatest benefit for Canadians, not for its cronies. Lastly, the government ensures delivery. It monitors the execution of the contract and pays when the product is delivered. There is no prepayment for something that has not been delivered. We are not talking about a mistake here. We are talking about a choice to govern with no rigour, respect, technical skills or transparency. They gave $60 million to a two-person company that did not have the required knowledge, reputation or respect of its peers in its field.”
“Here are a few of those: Cohere, a Toronto company with 300 employees; Appnovation, a Vancouver company with 402 employees; and Nexapp, a Quebec company with nearly 100 employees. However, the government chose that particularly intense and historic moment to do business with a two-person company, a shell company, despite the fact that Canada's contracting policies are extremely clear. There are six easy steps. First, assess needs. What is the goal? Analyze the risks, the options and the budget, which is still a problem, apparently. Next, issue a call for tenders to evaluate the most suitable companies. Once again, there are technical requirements, deadlines and a budget. Officials receive and assess costing, relevance, the company's experience—sorely lacking in this case—capacity for execution and conflicts of interest.”
“I will say one thing: If someone's house is on fire and their first instinct is to call their brother-in-law who is a plumber or painter, that means that their instincts are bad and their priorities are out of whack. That is what happened. At a critical time, the government awarded contracts to a two-person company that did not even have the skills to do what was required. However, Canada has plenty of good, reliable and reputable companies. To name just a few, there is CGI, a great Montreal company with 95,000 employees; OpenText, a Waterloo company with 23,000 employees; and Constellation Software, a Toronto company with 56,000 employees. Perhaps the government wanted to support small businesses. Perhaps that was the objective.”
“The app was supposed to collect personal information, such as contact information, health status, proof of vaccination and even quarantine plans. The app was also supposed to track mandatory quarantines. It was a system of exchange between the government and our citizens. The app was supposed to speed up customs processes and security at our borders, enforce public health policies, limit the transmission of the virus and make it easier for our border officers to do their job. That is a lot. It was also meant to serve as a temporary vaccine passport. Some will say that there was a crisis, that it was a crucial time, that it was a matter of national security, and that the government should be given a free pass.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of all the Canadians who are feeling increasingly skeptical, disappointed and disillusioned with politics across the country. Scandals like the one raised by the Auditor General of Canada are good examples that fuel this feeling of discouragement. ArriveCAN, or “arrive scam”, as many call it, is a government program that was mismanaged. It is a perfect example of wasted public funds, favouritism and profound disrespect for people who work hard to earn a living, pay their mortgage, pay for groceries and transportation, and who pay their taxes respectfully and in good faith so that Canada can prosper. What do we really owe them? Let us keep in mind that the purpose of the app was to safeguard national security at a critical time in our recent history.”
“Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the government announced that it would create 4,000 affordable housing units by converting federal lands and buildings. To date, 309 units have been created, which is less than 50 per year. In my riding, the Coopérative de développement immobilier de Charlevoix is launching a project to build affordable housing to help businesses attract and house workers. This initiative will create 24 units in one year in Charlevoix; meanwhile, the government is creating 50 per year across Canada. Is the government better at building bureaucracy than it is at building housing?”
“Madam Speaker, those are still just words, and there is still no budget in sight for us. Our young people just want to participate in the economy and make sure they are working to build their future. Now we have learned that youth unemployment is three times higher than the rest of the population. Worse still, a new Statistics Canada report tells us that 1.6 million people are unemployed, which is a 13.8% increase over last year. When will the government stop abandoning our young people, who just want to work to build a future?”
“Madam Speaker, the youth unemployment rate in Quebec is three times higher than it is for the rest of the population. Specifically, it is 17%, compared to 5%. Summer job postings have fallen by 22% compared to last year. With house prices skyrocketing by hundreds of thousands of dollars, our young people just want to start working so they can begin saving up. When will the government finally present a budget so that our young people can budget for their future?”
“I want them to know that they have a strong ally in Ottawa because I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that it is more important than ever. We need to get moving in Charlevoix.”
“Madam Speaker, last week, the Charlevoix region hosted the very first citizens' symposium on better health, a first in Quebec and Canada. This shows that today, more than ever, health is everyone's business. The symposium brought together elected officials, professionals, citizens, researchers and doctors to discuss the topic of health. The event, which was organized by Dr. Jean‑Luc Dupuis and his team, provided an opportunity to identify meaningful solutions to today's health problems, from access to health care to the prevention of chronic diseases. The workshops focused on four main areas: mental health, physical health, nutritional health and environmental health. I want to thank the organizers and all those who participated.”
“Madam Chair, does he not know how much it is going to cost? It was estimated at $647 million. That is the Liberal number, but Canada has 2.3 million firearms owners, who own five firearms on average. If we do the simple math and buy back just one for around $800 to $1,000, we are talking about several billion dollars. Does the minister think that investing several billion dollars could do more to help the police than hurt farmers and hunters?”
“Madam Chair, I will quote the National Police Federation, which said that Bill C‑21 diverts extremely important personnel, resources, and funding away from addressing the more immediate and growing threat of criminal use of firearms. Does the minister agree with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's statement?”
“Madam Chair, without knowing how shooting ranges work, the Liberals are prepared to take action and take this option away from sport shooters who use firearms legally, in a structured and effective manner. Will the legislation resulting from Bill C‑21 affect these people?”
“Madam Chair, many military personnel continue to train as they were trained in the army to use firearms safely and effectively and to go to shooting ranges. I have three ranges in my riding. Has the minister ever visited a shooting range in Canada?”
“Madam Chair, the Montmorency—Charlevoix region is rich in sport shooting, and hunting and fishing. This generates strong economic spinoffs, with more than 68,000 people employed in this industry. Does the legislation resulting from Bill C‑21 seek to impose limits on law-abiding sport hunters who train to properly use their weapons and practise their sport, even to hunt their own food?”
“Madam Chair, that means that, at some point, honest farmers who own firearms, store them legally and register them will no longer be able to use those firearms to defend their own homes and their livestock. Is that it?”
“Madam Chair, throughout my election campaign, I had the privilege of meeting people from all over Montmorency—Charlevoix who talked to me about the legislation stemming from Bill C‑21 . Farmers, hunters, sport shooters and even athletes told me how worried they were. Can the minister tell us whether he agrees that the legislation stemming from Bill C‑21 is unfair?”
“Mr. Speaker, housing prices are skyrocketing across Canada. In the Toronto area, the market dropped by 89% in recent months compared to the past 10 years, with seven consecutive months of crisis. In Montmorency—Charlevoix, housing has become so inaccessible that businesses can no longer attract people to come and work there, and this is having a significant economic impact. Can we finally put common sense back at the heart of our policies and do what the Conservative Party is proposing, which is to lower taxes, build more housing, and make the dream of home ownership accessible again so that families can finally settle in the beautiful Montmorency—Charlevoix region?”
“Mr. Speaker, a recent survey by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or CMHC, shows that 63% of new homebuyers are worried about not being able to make their next mortgage payments. The main reasons for that are the higher cost of living, increases in mortgage rates and potential job losses in the current economic situation. The reality is that people in Montmorency—Charlevoix and across Canada are using credit to pay off credit. Will we see a budget so that Canadians can plan and budget for their future?”
“Mr. Speaker, throughout the election campaign, the Prime Minister said he had a plan to build new energy projects. What better time than today to present his plan to all of Canada's premiers and explain how he will produce that energy? The citizens of Montmorency—Charlevoix and people across Quebec and Canada are tired of paying more for less. Will the Liberal government think about the regions and repeal the anti-energy legislation, Bill C-69 ?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is in Saskatchewan today meeting with all the premiers. We have been hearing what I think is a clear consensus for some time now. More and more calls to build pipelines and energy infrastructure are being heard. Quebeckers want a pipeline. The only problem is the federal government. Building energy projects strengthens our economy, reduces our dependence on the United States and provides a powerful pay cheque for our workers. Will the Liberal government approve the building of pipelines in Canada today?”
“It has even become a problem for companies trying to attract talent, because the new hires end up struggling to find affordable housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my mentor, the member for Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, for that excellent question. This is a very striking reality that I am hearing about at every door I knock on. Young families are telling me how difficult it is to get into the housing market and how saving up for a down payment, which has doubled in recent years, is a major obstacle to buying their first home. They talk to me about access to housing. They also talk to me about how house prices are skyrocketing, particularly in Baie‑Saint‑Paul and La Malbaie. This is because people are starting to go to those places to buy second homes, which tend to be fairly luxurious cottages. This is driving up property prices in the region. Ultimately, locals are unable to buy property in their region or to settle there because houses are too expensive.”
“Mr. Speaker, indeed, there is a wonderful hotel on Isle‑aux‑Coudres. I will get there one day. I hope I get a warm welcome. French certainly is extremely important. We must defend and promote it. That being said, at no time during my election campaign did anyone tell me that they think judges should be bilingual. What people told me is that they want us to promote French across Canada and, above all, to speak French here in Parliament in Ottawa, to ask questions in French, to answer questions in French and to perfectly represent our beautiful language. That is what I pledge to do for the next few years.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Winnipeg North asked a very good question. The Conservative Party has been very clear since the beginning of this 45th Parliament that we will support common-sense, logical ideas. We want to see facts and plans. We are not just going to give the nod to ideas and empty words. We will support concrete action. If concrete actions are on the table, the Conservative Party of Canada and I will support them. All we have heard so far is ideas and slogans. There is still no clear plan, because there is still no budget, and there is not going to be one until September or October.”
“If they want to explore local products, Île d'Orléans is the place to go. Ste-Brigitte-de-Laval has the youngest population in Quebec. (1800) I invite everyone to come experience history, and I want all of my colleagues to join me in being part of it.”
“However, I think I will end my speech by inviting everyone to come and experience Montmorency—Charlevoix, to come and experience it and, most importantly, to come and see our region's bounty and the great potential it holds. I will end my speech today by inviting Canadians to come visit me and share in the rich experiences that tourism has to offer, including cultural tourism, sport tourism and our incredible festivals. I invite my colleagues to come and enjoy the legendary festival Le Festif!, an international music festival, and stay at Club Med or Manoir Richelieu. I invite them to come enjoy the beautiful colours of our region. I promise they will want to pick up a paintbrush. For an outstanding rodeo experience, they can check out the Rodéo Mont-Sainte-Anne, or the Rallye de Charlevoix, the world's only green, zero-emission rally.”
“In a world where sedentary lifestyles are increasingly common and our hospitals are buckling under the strain, I would have expected the throne speech to include at least a brief mention of this issue. It is not complicated: Things are getting worse. Sports are consistently underfunded, and this year the department was scrapped. Sports are now represented by a secretary of state. If we want to help the provinces support their hospitals, giving them money is fine. However, I think it is high time we take the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” to heart and find other ways to promote healthy lifestyles. I could spend all day talking about Montmorency—Charlevoix and my intentions and interests, especially those that affect my constituents and are important to them.”
“Studies also show that we could reduce that number by nearly half. However, no action is being taken to promote sport and physical activity in our beautiful country. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada. Once again, all the foundations tell us that physical activity is the best way to prevent this type of disease, which, in recent years, has been the second leading cause of death among Canadians. When we look at the top 10 causes of death in this country, it is pretty straightforward. When we consult medical associations and associations that deal with diseases, they always say that physical activity is the first or second solution to solve most problems. However, muscle strength exercises, VO2 training and healthy lifestyle habits are rarely promoted.”
“We need to make sure that people understand that they can take charge of their health and take action to prevent illness. We are experiencing the biggest crisis of inactivity in human history. It seems to me that today very little importance is given to this truly crucial issue. There is growing scientific evidence demonstrating the importance of physical activity. I do not understand why no concrete action has been taken and why massive investments are not being made to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases. I do not understand why the government does not invest in prevention instead of always waiting for disease to strike, which ultimately costs more. Recent studies show that 50% of cancer cases are directly linked to obesity. As we know, one in three Canadians will be obese by 2030. It is the leading cause of death in this country.”
“I think it is extremely important that we go beyond simply recognizing that the French language needs to be protected. It also needs to be promoted. Château-Richer, in my riding, is where the first French colony was founded. That led to the development of Quebec and Canada as we know them today. Our French language is the founding language of Canada. It is important that we not only protect it, but that we promote it so that it can thrive and be spoken across the country. Health is another issue that I believe was the elephant in the room when the Speech from the Throne was read. Physical health, mental health, and the health of a society require concrete action. That means working to improve the health of Canadians, promoting physical activity and taking action to promote health.”
“(1755) There is another glaring problem, especially at the tip of Montmorency and throughout Charlevoix, and that is cell coverage. It is unacceptable that, in 2025, people are unable to have a conversation with someone without constantly being cut off for lack of cell coverage. Let us be clear: Cell coverage helps local economies grow and helps businesses. However, it is also a matter of public safety. I am therefore committed to working actively on this file and supporting the development of the cell network in Montmorency—Charlevoix. I will represent that interest, because it is an extremely important one. Yesterday, I asked the Prime Minister a question about the French language, because in the throne speech, there is a vague mention, a brief and rather hollow sentence.”
“However, we know that we can no longer take in everyone. We need to set priorities and hold on to the foreign workers who come to support our economy. In Charlevoix—Montmorency, this is vital. The Conservatives were clear throughout the campaign: In many regions, foreign workers are essential. For many businesses, their survival depends on it. The Conservatives will always stand up in the House to protect foreign workers and ensure that their businesses receive the support they need for solid economic development. Supply management was also briefly mentioned. I look forward to seeing whether the government will walk the talk in the years ahead. It has to move beyond words and on to action. For the Conservatives and for me, supply management is non-negotiable.”
“The Coopérative de développement immobilier de Charlevoix was created to build affordable rental housing to help employers attract workers. We see the same thing in Côte-de-Beaupré, which has a special development program to build affordable housing in partnership with the Côte-de-Beaupré municipal housing and development offices. This kind of innovation helps attract workers and supports our businesses. The topic of worker housing brings me to another debate, the debate around immigration. Canada is a welcoming, inspiring country and it is definitely respected around the world. It is a great place to live. We have a great quality of life and we are happy to be here. We are an inspiration, the envy of the world. This reality attracts people from all over the world for different reasons.”
“Here is another situation that is very common in my riding. Companies find that they have to buy houses or housing units to house the workers who come to help them operate their businesses. This measure will be of no use to such businesses in Île d'Orléans, Baie-Saint-Paul or La Malbaie, which are trying to attract workers and families. Unfortunately, these families cannot find a place to live at a reasonable price. Today, I would like to talk about organizations like Maison Mère Baie-Saint-Paul, which turned a former religious convent into a public space and a place for local businesses to set up shop. The organization also turned a significant portion of the convent into housing to attract foreign workers to support local businesses.”
“I am committed to being a voice for the workers in my region. I am also committed to working hard to represent them to the best of my abilities. One of the primary issues I raised is access to home ownership, which we have talked about today. I think being able to buy a first home is a major issue, especially for young people. The prices keep going up. For last year alone, in Quebec, the purchase price of homes increased by 10%, 9.2% to be exact. The Speech from the Throne, which is ultimately the Liberal plan for the next few years, proposes eliminating taxes on the purchase of a first home. Although the Conservatives fully agree with cutting taxes, this is still not enough in my opinion. If a young couple that bought a first condo now wants to buy a first home, that tax credit will not help them very much.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the people of Montmorency—Charlevoix. I did so yesterday in my first question in the House, but I want to take the time to do it again today. They elected a Conservative Party that has their interests at heart, and I will represent their interests with great honour and respect. I want them to know that I care a lot about this work. I am proud to rise in the House to speak to the Speech from the Throne in this 45th Parliament and to defend the interests of Montmorency—Charlevoix here in Ottawa. My riding is one of the founding ridings of Quebec and Canada. It is made up of 29 municipalities and certain parts of the greater Quebec City area, including the Beauport and Charlesbourg regions. There is much at stake. Every region has its own realities, as important and as different as they may be.”
“Mr. Speaker, on the campaign trail, I met hundreds of young people from Montmorency—Charlevoix who are completely discouraged by housing prices. After more than a decade of this Liberal government, the costs of mortgage payments and a down payment on a home have doubled. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, housing prices in Quebec increased by 10% last year alone. However, on his first day in office, the Minister of Housing said that housing prices were fine. That statement is completely out of touch with reality. How can the minister look our young people in the eye and tell them that housing prices are fine the way they are?”
“Despite this brief mention in the Speech from the Throne, there are no concrete measures to ensure that French will be protected in Canada. The town of Château-Richer, in my riding, was home to the first French colony. It led to the creation of the Canada we know today. Let me be clear: The Conservatives believe in the French language. We have advocated for it for a long time. We want to promote it, and we want to protect it. When the Prime Minister met with Donald Trump in the Oval Office, what guarantees did he get that our French language will never be on the table, not now and not ever? Did he merely talk about it?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the citizens of Montmorency—Charlevoix for placing their trust in the Conservative Party and in me for this 45th Parliament. I will meet this challenge with respect, as well as with profound dedication. The government's Speech from the Throne is a nearly 30-page document that is supposed to define the priorities of the Canadian government, yet it contains but one mention of the French language and Quebec culture. There is only one reference, nothing more. There were no major commitments whatsoever. Meanwhile, the decline of French throughout the province of Quebec and across the country is very real. It is picking up speed in the workplace. It is disappearing from government offices. Francophone civil servants are telling us how difficult it is for them to express themselves in French.”