Claude DeBellefeuille
Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, Quebec · Bloc Québécois · Canada
“We are also told that it would have been easier to stop an organized network of pedophiles operating on the Internet. I asked if that means that such criminals cannot be arrested today, because we do not have a law on lawful access on the books. The answer is no.”
“We then asked the government if the commissioner could come back. What was happening was that department officials were completely dismantling all of the amendments proposed by the Privacy Commissioner. It is easy to understand why I was a little skeptical. I wondered if the commissioner and his team had really been that wrong.”
“Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her kind words. I think she is brave, because she came during the clause-by-clause study, like my NDP colleague did. They did not have the right to speak, but they were there, hard-working and rigorous, and they proposed amendments. I have a lot of respect for these two members.”
“All the amendments I proposed came either from the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, the Quebec Bar Association, or the chair of the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency. I did not propose far-fetched amendments. They were based on expert testimony that sought to help us strike a balance.”
“He is telling us that Canada is lagging behind. What exactly are we comparing ourselves to? The United Kingdom does not have a charter protecting people's rights, and neither does the United States. They have street cameras in the U.K. that film people.”
“However, it is still a parliamentary tool that can be used as a last resort when one feels that, no matter what people say, the government's primary goal is to run out the clock, hold a few hours of debate, and then, after about 20 hours, bring in closure and claim that the opposition parties are wasting their time.”
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“With respect to giving border officers more powers, the government could pass regulations allowing border officers to patrol beyond their crossing point. This is not currently allowed. This is something the Bloc Québécois proposed as a way to improve co-operation, in particular between RCMP officers and border officers, in order to make the border more secure. As the member for a border riding, I can say that this would be extremely appreciated and very important. That way, patrolling officers who see a migrant or someone trying to cross the border illegally 50 metres off could intervene. They could intercept the person and contact the RCMP. As I was saying earlier, this would not require any legislative amendments. It could be done through regulations easily enough.”
“Railway companies, for example, might resist establishing the infrastructure needed for inspection in the classification yards. If that were to happen, how would we send officers to inspect the yards? These are some of the many questions that we have and that we will have an opportunity to discuss in committee. We are also wondering whether the government assessed the amount of work that will be required of railway companies. Were discussions held with them? I represent a riding that is crisscrossed by railway tracks and that is home to several railway companies. I can tell you that the railway lobby is very strong in Canada. How will companies react to this new requirement? There are many questions to be answered. That is why it is important that we conduct an exhaustive study of this bill in committee.”
“I am not great at math, but it is easy enough to see that, if we train 600 border officers a year, we will not have the resources we need to inspect everything that we are supposed to inspect under Bill C-2 . There is also the fact that the promise to hire 1,000 additional border officers was not included in the throne speech. The throne speech does not mention that. We hope that we will have the opportunity to discuss that when we look at the business of supply this evening. Given the number of border services officers, granting them additional powers will be a colossal challenge. We assume that border officers will be assigned to priority sectors. What are the priorities, and which sectors will have fewer resources to carry out their duties?”
“Anyone who has ever visited a classification yard knows that the railway companies will have to make major changes. How long will they be given to comply? How will the CBSA carry out its inspections in the classification yards? Will they have mobile scanners? Will the CBSA have the funds it needs to procure the tools and advanced technologies needed to carry out its inspections? (1215) What instructions will the CBSA give its officers? It is estimated that the CBSA already has a shortage of between 2,000 and 3,000 border services officers for current duties. If they are given new responsibilities, however necessary, there will be an even greater shortage of border officers. We know that we can train approximately 600 border officers per year.”
“As I was saying, several acts will be amended, including the Customs Act. Essentially, Bill C-2 proposes forcing carriers and warehouse operators to provide access to their facilities to allow Canada Border Services Agency, or CBSA, officers to inspect goods destined for export. Currently, the act does not allow officers to inspect U.S.-bound rail cars in classification yards, for example. It is surprising that operators are not currently required to allow CBSA officers to inspect rail cars in their own classification yards. However, the bill proposes that operators now be obliged to establish infrastructure to receive border services officers. This raises a number of questions, however. How will railway companies manage to set up such infrastructure to receive border services officers and allow them to conduct inspections?”
“It also allows various authorities to exchange personal and confidential information. As legislators, we will need to hear from a large number of witnesses given the many laws that will be amended. We hope that parliamentarians will work together to better understand the bill and, especially, to enhance it based on the testimony of the experts we will hear from at meetings of the public safety and national security committee. As our reputation would suggest, the Bloc Québécois is committed to studying Bill C-2 in depth and collaborating with all parliamentarians to make it better. In fact, that is, in a sense, our trademark. Our members take their work as legislators seriously. This bill is important, and it is complex. Let us take all the time we need to study it in depth.”
“The bill is divided into 16 parts It is no secret that the Bloc Québécois has long been demanding stricter border controls, including stronger measures against the exportation of stolen vehicles, a reduction in the number of asylum seekers in Quebec and a crackdown on fentanyl and money laundering. It therefore comes as no surprise that the Bloc Québécois agrees in principle to allow the bill to go to committee for a more in-depth study. I cannot find a better word than "in-depth", which implies thoroughness and, especially, the time needed to hear from all the experts in the matter. This is not the type of bill that can be studied at breakneck speed. It will have to be studied in depth because it grants ministers, the police, the Canadian Coast Guard and Canada Post more powers.”
“Madam Speaker, as the official Bloc Québécois public safety and emergency preparedness critic, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Bill C-2 . I would remind the House that, today, we are beginning the speeches and debate on a bill and related measures aimed at securing the border between Canada and the United States. As my Conservative colleague mentioned, this 130-page bill amends some 10 laws. The session has just begun, and, as the new critic in this area, I find the study of this bill very challenging. This is a massive and complex bill with three main objectives: securing the border, fighting transnational organized crime and fentanyl, and cracking down on illicit financing.”
“Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, with whom I will have the honour of serving on the public safety committee, which will hopefully be convened soon. He talked a lot about privacy. I agree with him. There will be a lot of discussion in committee on this issue, because there is a thin line between protecting security and protecting personal and confidential information. I would like to take him in another direction. The bill would give additional powers to border services officers to inspect rail cars in marshalling yards, for example. Rail cars are currently inspected at the time of import, but not at the time of export. Does he agree with the part of the bill that calls for rail cars to be inspected by border services officers? As a result, is he not concerned that there are not enough officers right now to meet the demand?”
“Madam Speaker, like my colleague, we stand in solidarity with the evacuees and everyone affected by the disaster. We have offered our condolences to the families who have lost loved ones in these tragic circumstances. My question is this. What more could my colleague's government be doing to fight climate change? What measures can it put in place to limit climate change? Could it be doing more?”
“Madam Speaker, I agree with my colleague that there is nothing better than collaboration among all levels of government to find solutions to what indigenous communities may be experiencing. I know the current situation in Manitoba is hitting them the hardest. They are literally surrounded by flames. I know some indigenous leaders have complained that they do not have everything they need to stop the forest fires. I strongly encourage the provincial and federal governments to sit down with indigenous leaders to find solutions to better intervene and protect indigenous communities.”
“Madam Speaker, I am not a forestry expert. I do know that forest management is a provincial responsibility, which puts it within the jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces, and that each province manages its own forestry sector. I am not all that familiar with my colleague's claims that improper forest management could be the cause of some fires. I am therefore unable to answer my colleague's question. I think that everyone needs to remember that forests are a renewable natural resource that must be looked after. We are currently living with climate change. The Bloc Québécois believes that it is important to consider rapid and preventive action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Several specific things can be done, and all kinds of solutions have been proposed. My colleague from Repentigny will no doubt have some suggestions.”
“Madam Speaker, we are seeing more and more of these disasters. Quebec went through something similar in 2023. We must think about what public policy makers can do to put preventive measures in place. It is clear that we will have to adapt to climate change. It is not enough to fix the damage; preventive action needs to be taken. It appears that the government still has a lot of work to do to put preventive measures in place in an effort to prevent or mitigate the impact on our communities.”
“In closing, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I once again offer our warmest thoughts and our complete solidarity with the affected communities, victims and first nations. I would remind my colleagues that the important thing is to develop the autonomy we need to independently deal with the many challenges that come with major emergencies like forest fires and floods. It has become inevitable.”
“In the context of the current emergency, the Bloc members are available. We stand with the affected communities and victims in the western provinces. We know that this sentiment was shared by our colleagues during the devastating fires that raged in Quebec, mainly in Abitibi and on the north shore, in the spring and summer of 2023. We have no doubt that the members from the affected provinces are aware of the causes and consequences of these mounting disasters, which have direct repercussions on the lives of their constituents. These mounting natural disasters should lead us, as public decision-makers, to take preventive action. We must ask ourselves what action must be prioritized to reduce the impact these disasters have on the public, the communities and the land.”
“The fires need to be extinguished and the victims rehoused in the best possible conditions. However, the emergency needs to be under control before we can assess how the crisis was managed and determine what could be done differently. We do not know whether tonight's emergency debate will really help those on the ground. Unfortunately, major forest fires have become the norm, as have emergency debates. We keep reiterating the importance of prevention, environmental and public health protection, and climate change adaptation. Parliamentarians and the government have a duty to seriously consider the rising costs associated with the impacts of climate change. We must understand that, in order to reduce these costs, we need to invest in measures to adapt to the effects of climate change.”
“In addition, most Canadian provinces already have boots on the ground to ease the load on forest firefighters. The fires are so big that authorities are already in contact with Mexico, Australia, Costa Rica and other countries to ask for additional firefighters. Tonight's debate highlights the fact that the priority is on fighting the fires, helping residents and protecting public health. The current situation and others from recent years show that natural disasters are increasing in scope and frequency. They are no longer the exception. Emergencies are now the norm, and their human, economic and environmental costs are rising. It goes without saying that, in the short term, the priority is collaboration between the various departments and authorities concerned.”
“In these types of situations, coordination between all stakeholders and all levels of decision-makers must be as efficient as possible and must be carried out quickly and urgently. We know that the Quebec government is currently providing assistance to Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta. Eleven major wildfire management specialists from Quebec are expected to arrive in Alberta shortly. Some 60 firefighters and several SOPFEU representatives are scheduled to leave for Manitoba today, June 3. Despite the tensions between the United States and Canada, a lot of help is flowing from the United States to Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British Columbia. More than 125 American firefighters have come to lend their Quebec and Canadian colleagues a hand.”
“(2005) On May 28, for example, the Canadian Armed Forces lent a hand by deploying an aircraft to support evacuation efforts for members of both the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation and the Pimicikamak Cree Nation in Manitoba. They also offered logistical support. The Public Health Agency of Canada was also approached and provided assistance through the national emergency strategic stockpile. Provinces and territories may request these assets during public health emergencies or events when their own resources are depleted or not immediately available. These assets include personal protective equipment, therapeutics, beds and blankets. In this disaster of exceptional magnitude, the provinces are showing up for one another in tangible and meaningful ways.”
“Our thoughts are also with the armed forces personnel who have been called in to assist. Our thoughts are with municipal authorities and their staff, as well as members of the first nations communities affected by these wildfires. We were saddened to learn from Radio‑Canada that indigenous leaders in Manitoba are calling for federal government action, citing a lack of coordination and equipment in their communities to fight forest fires. As we know, in Canada, emergencies are first managed at the municipal level, mainly by hospitals, police services and fire services. Municipalities can reach out to their province or territory for assistance. However, if the emergency gets worse and exceeds their capacity, the provinces and territories can request assistance from the federal government.”
“We recently learned in a press release from the Red Cross that the governments of Canada and Manitoba have pledged to match all donations made between May 28 and June 27, 2025, to the 2025 Manitoba wildfires appeal. I will quote the Red Cross in the hope that my colleagues will be inspired to make a donation: “Donations to the Canadian Red Cross will be used to assist those impacted in Manitoba with immediate and ongoing relief including financial assistance, support to evacuees and the communities hosting them”. In addition, for those who are suffering and in need of support and recovery, the Red Cross will be able to help with “recovery and resilience efforts in response to the wildfires, [and the funds raised will support] community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events within Manitoba”.”
“We know that individuals with existing health issues, such as lung problems, have an even harder time coping with the smoke and poor air quality still present in their environment. The Bloc Québécois would like to recognize all those who have been working tirelessly since the beginning to control the fires, as well as those who are supporting all the affected communities, municipalities and territories. These include the forest firefighters, police officers and first responders who are putting their lives and their health at risk to do all they can to bring these fires under control. We are also thinking of volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross and all Quebeckers and Canadians who are volunteering their time to help the affected communities.”
“Over 17,000 people primarily located in northern Manitoba communities are facing evacuation, including the 5,000 residents of Flin Flon. People are also seeking help in Brandon, Le Pas and the provincial capital. According to TVA, as of today, June 3, some 97 blazes are out of control in the western provinces, including 12 in Manitoba, 20 in Saskatchewan, 28 in Alberta and 37 in British Columbia. According to Radio-Canada, the largest burned areas are in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, both of which are in a state of emergency. Evacuations are ongoing, especially in remote indigenous communities surrounded by fire. We know that direct personal experience with a natural disaster or a tragedy causes significant psychological and physical impacts. It can also leave behind scars related to traumas such as loss, grief and fear.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by saying that I will be sharing my time with the member for Repentigny . Although it is a sad occasion, I feel privileged to speak this evening in this emergency debate as the Bloc Québécois critic for public safety and emergency preparedness. I want to begin by saying that the Bloc Québécois stands in solidarity with the people currently grappling with the consequences of the wildfires, the disaster victims and all those affected, directly or indirectly. The Bloc Québécois also offers its condolences to the families and loved ones of the two people who were tragically killed when they were trapped by the wildfires. We know that Manitoba has declared a state of emergency because of the extent of the wildfires that have been raging in the province for several days.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for very moving speech, since he hails from the province that has declared a state of emergency. He said that the provinces and Canada may not have enough equipment to deal with the increasing number of natural disasters. He said that Manitoba will even need international aid. There is talk of getting reinforcements from Mexico, Australia and even Costa Rica to help our forest firefighters. Does he think it is time for the provinces and Canada to get everything they need and for us to build all the aircraft we need right here so we can deal with current and future natural disasters?”
“Mr. Speaker, during the previous Parliament, parliamentarians passed Bill C-21 , legislation aimed at increasing gun control. However, since the bill passed, we have been waiting for the regulations that the government was supposed to introduce. Does my colleague, who is concerned about safety, find it unusual that the regulations for such an important bill have not yet been introduced?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a reminder for the Liberals. Quebeckers elected a minority government, and so they expect the parties to co-operate. They expect transparency. Most of all, they expect restraint. Tabling over $200 billion in new spending without a budget explaining where the funds are coming from is a blatant violation of the Liberals' mandate in every sense. We asked the government to co-operate, to show transparency and restraint. Are the Liberals going to live up to Quebeckers' expectations and present a budget plan?”
“Mr. Speaker, as a member of Parliament representing a riding that borders the United States, I have an interest in border security. The throne speech mentions the hiring of additional RCMP officers, but there is not a word about the government's intention to add human resources to the Canada Border Services Agency. Does my colleague not find it odd, even abnormal, that the previous government's commitment to hire 1,000 border services officers was not included in the throne speech?”
“Mr. Speaker, yes, seniors in Quebec and other Canadian provinces are increasingly falling victim to financial scams, as well as romance scams. It should be noted that there seems to be a bit of a vacuum, in that no one feels responsible for going after those who are scamming seniors. Like my colleague, I believe that we need to talk about this and do more to address it. I think the government has a great opportunity to do something about this.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a good question. Personally, I truly believe in co-operation, but who we are must be respected. Co-operation does not mean saying that I have a good idea and that anyone who disagrees is not co-operating. Co-operation is about discussion, negotiation and respect. When I look at the throne speech, I do not get the impression or the sense that a wave of co-operation is on the horizon. Rather, I get the feeling that the government is trying to impose things on me that do not reflect who I am.”
“Mr. Speaker, I just want to remind my colleague that this is my fifth term. I think there is a lesson to be learned from that about being careful when asking questions. Arrogance is never welcome. That said, I am in touch with the people of my riding. Seniors aged 65 to 74 did not get an increase. True, they might have access to dental care now, but that does not pay the rent or buy groceries. In my riding, where 20% of constituents are 65 or older, I get stopped on the street every day by people asking me how they are supposed to live on nothing but old age security and the Quebec pension plan. They might be able to get their teeth cleaned or a cavity filled, but who is going to pay their rent or buy their medications? They needed this increase, but it did not come, so they feel discriminated against as seniors.”
“In closing, I want to say that a Speech from the Throne sets out broad principles and broad ideas, but the devil is in the details. We really look forward to seeing those details.”
“As the critic for public safety and emergency preparedness, I want to say that I was deeply disappointed when I read that there was no money promised for hiring border services officers. We know that border security is important. The former government promised that it would allocate enough money to hire 1,000 border services officers, though it knew we needed 3,000. Now the promise has suddenly evaporated. If resources are limited, if we do not hire enough border services officers, can we at least give them the power to intercept migrants crossing the border illegally, to arrest them and to call the RCMP? That is currently not possible. The Bloc Québécois wants to make it possible, given the limited resources and the importance of border security.”
“The last thing we want is for the government to start acting like a developer and encroaching on jurisdictions that rightly belong to Quebec and the municipalities by insinuating itself into areas like land-use planning or urban development. We think that the federal government's job is to figure out a way to transfer the necessary funds to Quebec so that Quebec can administer programs that meet its needs and the needs of Quebeckers. We do not think the “build Canada homes” organization mentioned in the throne speech is a good idea. We believe the time has come to improve and optimize existing programs, drop the bureaucracy and trust the provinces and municipalities to develop housing stock that meets their needs. Obviously, there is a lot more to say.”
“In my riding, for example, every regional county municipality, or RCM, has set up a non-profit organization to create affordable housing, either by purchasing apartment buildings, which takes them off the speculative market, or by building affordable housing. Simply put, it works. I want to congratulate Toit d'Abord Habitations abordable Vaudreuil-Soulanges, a recently created organization that is going to develop housing for 12 families. This is a new construction project containing nine two-bedroom units, which are intended for low-income families that are spending over 30% of their income on housing. I mention these details because the throne speech seems to suggest that the government is unaware that Quebec has its own model. We have our own approach. We have solutions, and we are already taking action to make housing more affordable.”
“It is a Crown corporation whose mission is to help pay the rent and support the renovation and adaptation of homes. It creates programs to help people access home ownership. The SHQ partners with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the CMHC. The CMHC and the SHQ have a financial agreement that enables the SHQ to enhance its programs and partner with municipalities to develop a housing supply that suits Quebec's reality. For example, Quebec has a particular housing model called co-op housing. We have non-profit organizations that buy buildings, often to house clients with special needs. We have low-income housing, which includes social housing and affordable housing.”
“They do not have RRSPs or savings, but they still have to pay their rent and buy groceries. These older workers who have worked their entire lives feel abandoned. The throne speech clearly shows that the Liberal government has no intention of improving EI by implementing specific measures to help workers who are struggling or who could be adversely affected by the hostile economic policy of the United States. There is not a word about the workers whose lives will be affected by the tariff crisis we are experiencing with the United States. They were overlooked. (1735) There is also very little about housing. I will share some information that is specific to Quebec. Quebec has the Société d'habitation du Québec, the SHQ. The SHQ is responsible for delivering housing programs and services to the public. The SHQ has developed expertise.”
“Women on maternity leave who lose their jobs during or after their maternity leave are not entitled to EI benefits because they have not accumulated enough hours of work. This baffling discrimination is well known and well documented, but there is nothing about it in the throne speech. There is also nothing for sick workers. Workers with colorectal cancer, for example, know that it will take about 37 weeks to be treated for cancer and recover. There is nothing for them, since EI sickness benefits are being maintained at only 26 weeks. How many workers who have worked their entire lives and never cashed a single EI cheque, but who, unfortunately, have a serious illness and have to take time off to take care of themselves, will have to go into debt for the rest of their leave?”
“There is nothing at all for our seniors, not even for the most vulnerable seniors who did not have the privilege of contributing to a private pension plan, who did not have the opportunity to save, but who worked hard all their lives, until the age of 65. Today, they are struggling to make ends meet. As we speak, with the rising cost of groceries and housing, there are seniors living in very precarious situations. However, the throne speech makes no mention of seniors. There is nothing about them. There is also no mention of employment insurance. Since 2015, the Liberals have been promising a major reform to EI, which is an outdated program that needs to be modernized because it does not fit the new realities of the labour market. The program discriminates against pregnant women.”
“The Speech from the Throne covers many topics in a rather vague and non-specific way, but I would like to talk about what is not in it. My background as a social worker may be evident as I discuss the people who were overlooked in the Speech from the Throne. At the top of my list are seniors. The throne speech makes no mention of seniors and their purchasing power, which is getting worse and worse. There is no mention whatsoever of tax incentives to enable them to work and improve their living conditions. There is no mention of the discrimination against seniors aged 65 to 74 with regard to old age security. There is no mention of ending the discrimination and the two-tier system of seniors created by the previous government.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the wonderful member for Shefford . Before I begin my reply to the Speech from the Throne, I would like to warmly and sincerely thank the voters of Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon for their renewed trust. I am beginning my fifth term with the same enthusiasm, the same desire to serve my constituents and, I would say, the same strength to defend the interests of my riding, but also those of Quebec. I cannot conclude my acknowledgments without mentioning that, during an election, there is a big team of volunteers beavering away. I would therefore like to thank all of my volunteers, whose unwavering commitment made April 28 a victory for the Bloc Québécois. I myself received a fifth mandate, and I would like to thank my volunteers from the bottom of my heart.”
“Mr. Speaker, in her speech, the member talked a lot about hope. Apparently one constituent voted for her in the hope that things would change. I am the mother of three young women who have young children, babies. They need hope too. They wonder what kind of world their children are going to live in. They wonder what kind of planet we are going to leave them. I gather from the member's speech that she is in favour of building pipelines, which promote a fossil fuel industry that has lasting impacts on our environment. What would she tell my three children, who say they need a better world, a healthier planet and climate change adaptation measures? I imagine she would not go so far as to deny that we are experiencing climate change.”
“Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new position. I listened carefully to my colleague's speech, in which he emphasized the importance of public safety and border security. The throne speech makes no mention of the promised hiring of 1,000 additional border officers to ensure border security. I would remind my colleague that the real number of officers needed is closer to 3,000, as documented. However, there is not a word about hiring more border officers. Can my colleague explain this backpedalling on the part of his government, which advocates border security but refuses to actually hire the personnel needed to ensure proper security?”