Pierre Paul-Hus
Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, Quebec · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister of Finance is out of touch with reality. What we see on the ground, what we have observed, is that this is not working at all. What is more, a poll shows that 60% of Canadians are anxious because they do not have enough money and do not know how things will turn out.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister claimed that the cost of living is the best it has been in decades, but I have some news for him: We are in a recession. Along with my Conservative colleagues, I travelled across Quebec last week to hear from entrepreneurs. In Beauce, Bellechasse, the Lower St.”
“Mr. Speaker, Lac Saint-Charles provides drinking water to nearly 300,000 residents of the Quebec City region. Between 2019 and 2021, I proposed a $200-million federal investment to protect this resource, and that proposal was supported by the former minister, the current member for Québec Centre . Seven years on, nothing has been done.”
“Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister left his job as the chair of Brookfield in New York to come to Canada, he forgot that he was no longer working for a private company but for Canadian taxpayers. Right now, Canadians are going through a recession. They are paying more for everything, and millions are struggling to make ends meet.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think the tone I used was appropriate, considering how wasteful the party across the way has been all these years. I know that it must be hard for the Prime Minister to get used to life in the public service after having enjoyed the perks of working for a private company like Brookfield.”
“Mr. Speaker, a United Way report released today reveals that Canadians are increasingly concerned about their financial situations. According to the report, 60% of Canadians are anxious about their finances, and 38% of Canadians are experiencing food insecurity.”
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“Mr. Speaker, at my request here in the House, the public safety committee established a special subcommittee in 2017 to study the case of Eustachio Gallese, who killed Marylène Levesque in Quebec City after being released without proper supervision. Now, years later, we have the same issue, specifically that an individual who should not be out on the street, someone who should not be walking around freely, killed a man in his own convenience store in Montreal. Apart from saying that it will continue working on this issue, why has the government done nothing in the past seven or eight years?”
“Mr. Speaker, on March 12, in Montreal, 55-year-old Chong Woo Kim was stabbed to death in his own convenience store in broad daylight by Xavier Gellatly, an individual with a years-long record of violent behaviour and serious mental health issues. As far back as 2016, authorities began issuing warnings that he might kill someone if he were released. Despite that, he was released without adequate supervision after serving his sentence. In the Eustachio Gallese case from a few years ago, the risk assessment conducted by the Parole Board of Canada was called into question. Warnings were issued in both cases. Why were they ignored?”
“Mr. Speaker, what the Minister of Public Safety shared today is very little compared to what needs to be done. Today, we submitted specific points to the government. Allow me to repeat what we are asking the government to do. We are asking it to urgently enforce deportation orders for Iranian regime officials, to evaluate Canada's terrorism threat level, which has remained unchanged since 2014, and to stop approving any refugee claims without an in-person interview. The government has one week to come up with a plan. The government has seven days to show its plan to the Conservatives. Will it?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have known for years that senior members of the Iranian regime were living in Canada. This week, however, we learned that they expelled only one of them, even though 239 visas had been revoked. Liberal government officials also stated in committee that they could not expel members of the Iranian regime because they were eligible to claim asylum and their privacy had to be protected. Imagine that. Where is the plan to expel these scoundrels from our country?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Iranian Canadian community is talking to us, in fact. Iranian Canadians are telling us that the presence of IRGC members on Canadian soil is a huge problem for their community. We are not talking about one, two or three people. We are talking about hundreds of people linked to this terrorist group. They have been banned for years now. Can the minister confirm that there are still 700 of them on Canadian soil and that he will do whatever it takes to remove them immediately and rid the country of these terrorists?”
“Mr. Speaker, in 2018, we moved a motion calling on the Liberal government to immediately designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, as a listed terrorist entity. It took the Liberals six long years to wake up and do it. Right now, an estimated 700 members of the IRGC are living the good life here in Canada. I am reluctant to ask the following question. If it took them six years to accomplish a simple task, how much longer will it take them to remove those terrorists from Canada? Can the Prime Minister tell us whether he is going to take action immediately?”
“Mr. Speaker, this is not personal. It is professional. Clearly, this minister does not understand her file. Ten of her colleagues told the French CBC that the minister was not familiar with her files and that she was incompetent. We need a minister who can grasp what is going on in Canada to manage immigration. Will the Prime Minister show some backbone and fire her?”
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Prime Minister said that the immigration system was under control. However, the Liberals have broken our immigration system. Here are the facts: 86,000 bogus refugee claimants are still in Canada. More than 33,000 are still wanted by the Canada Border Services Agency. Worse still, 25,000 asylum seekers were accepted without any security checks. In addition, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is not even capable of understanding her files. Meanwhile, there are nearly 200,000 asylum seekers in Quebec putting pressure on our health care system and our schools. Will the Prime Minister take responsibility and fire the minister?”
“Given these concerning figures, I felt it was essential to provide people with clear, solid and local facts, along with some simple tips on how to better protect themselves, particularly when using credit and debit cards and dealing with online fraud. The response from my constituents has been very positive. Many of them told me that the information was useful and relevant and that it helped them to better understand the risks and take preventive action. Seniors and families in particular told me that they felt better informed and more confident. This initiative shows that accessible information supported by local data can really make a difference on the ground.”
“Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to draw the House's attention to an initiative that I undertook in my riding to help people learn more about fraud and cybercrime, a reality that directly affects many families. According to data from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, between 2020 and 2024, more than 2,100 incidents of fraud were reported in Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles. The most common forms of fraud were identity fraud, extortion, theft of personal information and phishing. Financial losses have risen significantly, reaching nearly $3.5 million in 2024, which shows the severity of the problem.”
“It is unacceptable that taxpayers should have to pay five times the cost because the care is being given to a failed asylum claimant. The system is being abused by companies that also have to answer these questions.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, we have been very clear. If people need emergency care, then of course we are committed to providing such care. However, the report that was tabled and that was discussed at the Standing Committee on Health clearly indicates that the system is being abused. As we speak, there are people in Canada whose asylum claims have been denied and who are receiving extended health care, while there are six million people who do not even have access to a doctor in Canada. That is just wrong, and this situation needs to be fixed. This goes beyond the immigrants themselves. This is about how the program is managed. Health care companies are charging five times the normal cost to treat asylum seekers.”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, it is important to understand that Bill C‑12 was introduced because objections were raised with regard to the problems with Bill C‑2 . A solution was found with Bill C‑12. Now, is discrediting the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who conducts assessments, a normal way of doing things for the Liberals? The Liberals have disagreed with the Parliamentary Budget Officer's numbers on several occasions. He is an independent official who provides information. No one on that side of the House will ever tell the truth. At least someone has access to the figures and can give us forecasts. If the forecast changes and things cost less, then so much the better for everyone. However, this is the data currently available, and I trust the Parliamentary Budget Officer.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for that very good question. If there are asylum seekers whose claims have been denied, who are criminals and who must serve a sentence, I think that they should serve it in Canada, unless there are explicit agreements with countries that can confirm that the person will serve their prison sentence in the country in question. However, if there is any doubt at all, then the person should serve their sentence in a Canadian prison in order to bring justice to the victims.”
“We must restore the integrity of our asylum system. Fairness is not an abstract concept; it is the cornerstone of public trust. When Canadians feel that the system is stacked in favour of those who bend the rules instead of those who follow them, trust is eroded. We can be a welcoming yet responsible country. We can be compassionate yet careful. We can stand up for Canada's humanitarian values while protecting taxpayers' legitimate interests. The Conservatives are committed to restoring fairness to Canada's asylum system, which is unfortunately broken. At the end of the day, a government must have one clear priority: ensuring fairness, accountability and sustainability for our public finances so that our health care system stays available for all future generations.”
“Second, we propose strictly aligning the IFHP rates with the provincial rates to prevent overbilling. Third, we suggest fast-tracking asylum claim processing and expediting the removal of rejected claimants. Fourth, we suggest adjusting immigration levels to match Canada's actual capacity. We need to ensure there are enough jobs, housing and health capacity before we take in more immigrants. (1205) The Parliamentary Budget Officer's report shows that expenditures related to seniors are increasing rapidly due to population aging. This means that pressure on public finances will continue to increase over the coming years. We must therefore make responsible choices. We must prioritize Canadians who have paid into the system their whole lives. We must protect the viability of our health care system.”
“Given that public debt already costs $49.1 billion a year in interest and the Parliamentary Budget Officer projects that these charges could reach almost $70 billion in the next few years, it is irresponsible for the government to tolerate overbilling or unjustified benefits. Let us be clear: Canada must provide emergency health care to every person within its borders. That is a fundamental humanitarian principle. However, it is unconscionable for ineligible asylum claimants to continue to benefit from expanded federal benefits while Canadian citizens are waiting for care. We on this side of the House are bringing forward meaningful solutions. First, we propose restricting federal benefits received by ineligible claimants to emergency health care only.”
“Our immigration system used to be known for striking a balance between compassion and rigour. Now, it is completely overwhelmed. Delays are mounting. Removals are delayed. Costs are soaring. When the asylum system is out of control, that affects all public services, including housing, schools and hospitals. The Parliamentary Budget Officer's report notes that transfers account for 60.5% of federal expenditures. This means that the majority of federal spending is going to payments to provinces, individuals and other organizations. We therefore have a duty to ensure that each transfer program is administered with the utmost care.”
“This represents about $1 out of every $6 spent by the federal government. Debt-servicing costs will reach $49.1 billion, which is roughly equivalent to the entire Canada health transfer. These figures show one thing: Every dollar counts. When program costs balloon and nobody reins them in, that reduces the government's ability to pay for Canadians' basic priorities: seniors' care, health transfers, infrastructure and economic security. Skyrocketing costs associated with the interim federal health program are symptomatic of a bigger problem: The Liberal government has lost control of Canada's immigration system. The cost of the program has more than quadrupled in the last four years from $211 million to $896 million. In addition, the cost of the IFHP is projected to rise to $1.5 billion by 2029-30.”
“Some health care providers charge up to five times the provincial rates for services provided under the interim federal health program. Yes, I said five times. Meanwhile, the federal government claims it has no financial leeway. However, the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report on the 2025-26 expenditure plan gives us a clear picture of the country's financial situation. The total planned budgetary expenditures for 2025-26 are $486.9 billion. Of this amount, $222.9 billion must be approved by Parliament. The Canada health transfer will increase to $54.7 billion this year, up $2.6 billion, or 5%. It is the largest direct federal contribution to the provinces for health care funding. At the same time, elderly benefits, including OAS, will total $85.5 billion for fiscal year 2025-26.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is a generous country. We are proud of our universal health care system, and we are proud of our tradition of welcoming newcomers. However, generosity must never come at the expense of fairness. Today, Canadians can see that their health care system is under pressure like never before. Six million Canadians do not have access to a family doctor, and waiting lists are growing. Emergency rooms are overflowing, and provinces are calling for more resources to maintain basic services. In this context, a fundamental question arises: Is it fair that failed asylum seekers can receive taxpayer-funded health benefits that are sometimes more advantageous than those offered to Canadians who have contributed to the system all their lives? At the Standing Committee on Health, the Conservatives highlighted a troubling reality.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report is scathing. The soaring costs of the interim federal health program prove that the Liberals have lost control. The system is broken. We will have no choice but to cut federal benefits for ineligible asylum seekers, except in cases of emergency. Furthermore, we must ensure that Canada has the housing and health care capacity to welcome newcomers before they arrive. Will you finally guarantee that non-residents will not receive better health care than our own citizens?”
“Mr. Speaker, after 10 years of this Liberal government, our once exemplary immigration system is now in shambles. At the Standing Committee on Health, we found out that health care providers are charging taxpayers up to five times the provincial rates for illegal asylum seekers. Meanwhile, six million Canadians do not have a family doctor. It is an insult to Canadians who have paid taxes their whole lives. A bogus asylum claimant receives better health benefits than a Canadian citizen. Will the government finally support our motion to restore fairness and put Canadians' health first?”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not think she understood the question. I urge her to read the piece by Étienne-Alexandre Beauregard, a young Quebec intellectual who warned that the war on cars, radical environmentalism and excessively high immigration levels are changing the unique nature of Quebec City. Our young people can no longer afford to buy a home. Liberal elected officials from Quebec City, like the mayor, refuse to face the facts. The excessively high immigration levels that have been set over the past decade have caused house prices in Quebec City to skyrocket. Will the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship finally admit that, by exceeding Quebec's capacity to welcome and integrate newcomers, the Liberal government has caused house prices to skyrocket, preventing our young people from owning a home?”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister said that the global market is doing well, but the Canadian market is completely collapsing. It is no secret that Quebec City has always been a close-knit community, a place where it is possible to buy a home and safely raise a family. Now, however, the Liberals have increased immigration levels to the point where it has become impossible for young people to buy their first home, even in Quebec City. One thing is certain: None of this seems to bother the mayor of Quebec City, who gloated about this sad situation in the pages of The Globe and Mail. Will the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship finally admit that the excessive immigration thresholds being forced on Quebec are preventing young Quebeckers from buying a home and starting a family?”
“Mr. Speaker, the number of cars manufactured in Canada dropped by half compared to 2016, and over 5,000 jobs have been lost. To add insult to injury, the Prime Minister implemented an auto strategy that subsidizes electric vehicles manufactured abroad. On this side of the House, we have a better idea. Why not ease the burden on Canadian workers and citizens by eliminating these subsidies for foreign-made vehicles? Is that a good idea, yes or no?”
“Mr. Speaker, $1.4 billion was promised nine years ago. That is the first part. Now we have gone far beyond that, and the member for Beauport—Limoilou says that the project cost now sits at $13 billion. The federal government promised to pay 40%. At $13 billion, will the Liberals be able to follow through? Nothing in the current budget is provided for Quebec as a whole. There is no budget for public transit. Does that amount to zero for Quebec City, or can the Liberals tell us otherwise today?”
“Mr. Speaker, last week, the member for Beauport—Limoilou told us in the House that the cost of the Quebec City tramway had reached $13 billion. That is $5 billion more than what is set out in the agreement between Quebec City and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. Can the Minister of Finance confirm whether the cost of the Quebec City tramway is $7.6 billion or $13 billion, as the member for Beauport—Limoilou said?”
“Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague across the way has not read the news because this morning, Le Journal de Montréal reported that a single mother is the victim of a heartless landlord, who is trying to evict her from her home, and his wife, who refuses to communicate with her in French. Is the member for Pierrefonds—Dollard aware of his lack of empathy and moral compass?”
“Mr. Speaker, as we know, since the Liberals came to power, the cost of living has gone up, grocery prices have gone up and rents have gone up. For single mothers and ordinary people, things are tough, and it is getting harder and harder to pay the rent at the end of the month. Can the Prime Minister confirm that all members of his cabinet and his MPs agree with the idea of personally helping vulnerable people access affordable housing?”
“Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to hear my colleague from Beauport-Limoilou talk about the Quebec City tramway. During the last election, the member was elected on the promise that his government would support the Quebec City tramway, while we, on our side, said that we would not invest a penny in a project that was unpopular in the region. Now my colleague is saying that the cost has risen to $13 billion. His government has not allocated any funds for this in the budget, and we have been told that there is not even any money for public transportation in Quebec. Can the member, who is doing a lot of work on the tramway, give us more information on that?”
“Mr. Speaker, we have already said that we will not oppose giving Canadians $10 a week in discount coupons. However, the same minister who was responsible for industry two and a half years ago said that the office of consumer affairs would monitor grocery prices. What we are seeing right now is that grocery prices have doubled. What does the minister have to say about that?”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada is now leading the G7 in food inflation. Back in 2023, however, the then industry minister declared that the Liberal government had obtained a commitment from Canada's major grocery store chains to stabilize and lower prices. Then, in September 2023, the same minister threatened to use every means at the government's disposal to force these chains to drop grocery prices. In October of the same year, the minister claimed victory when he said that Canadians could expect to see discounts, price-freezing and price-matching programs. Today, with food inflation in Canada twice as high as it is in the U.S, what happened to his promise?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has already said that we are letting that pass. Now, we need to continue and go further. It is time to reward businesses and workers who build and invest in Canada, and we need to protect Canadian innovation. On this side of the House, we are proposing the creation of a tax credit for reinvestment in Canada in order to stimulate domestic industrial activity and protect Canadian innovation by requiring the Minister of Industry to table a plan to prevent Canadian patents, discoveries and innovations from being sold off to other countries. Will the Liberals support our motion and introduce a bill on Canadian sovereignty?”
“Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister seems open to our idea of moving more quickly for Canadians. That is fantastic. He also promised to make groceries more affordable for Canadians. On this side of the House, we look forward to quickly passing measures to reverse food inflation, such as those that stimulate competition among grocery chains. Tomorrow, we will move a motion that calls for the passage of a bill on Canadian sovereignty. Will the government introduce a bill to reduce the cost of groceries?”
“Mr. Speaker, I will ask another question. The fact remains that the whole affair is currently being covered by the media. It is being discussed everywhere. We saw the member for Laval—Les Îles make a statement on TVA saying that he would be issuing a statement to explain his involvement in this scandal, which is currently under investigation by Quebec's anti-corruption squad. My question now is on the Prime Minister 's decision to choose Mark Wiseman as the next Canadian ambassador to the United States, knowing full well that he claims to be the co-founder of the Century Initiative, which advocates increasing Canada's population to 100 million by 2100, and that he has said that he does not care what Quebeckers think about it. What is more, Mr. Wiseman is against supply management.”
“Mr. Speaker, listen to this question carefully. Here in the House, all members are subject to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. Well, the Conflict of Interest Act states that “no public office holder shall personally solicit funds” if it places them “in a conflict of interest”. However, Quebec's anti-corruption squad is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the Liberal flim-flammery in Ottawa. Two weeks ago—”
“Mr. Speaker, here in the House, all members are subject to the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons. The Conflict of Interest Act states that “no public office holder shall personally solicit funds” if it places them “in a conflict of interest”. However, Quebec's anti-corruption squad is currently conducting a criminal investigation into the Liberal flim-flammery in Ottawa. The Liberal member for Laval—Les Îles appeared on TVA two weeks ago and promised that he would make a statement explaining his possible ties to this matter. Does the member for Laval—Les Îles have the courage to stand up and explain to Quebeckers what his possible involvement was in this affair?”
“Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: The Leader of the Opposition would never have appointed a unilingual anglophone Governor General. We are fed up on this side of the House. We are fed up with Justin Trudeau's former ministers. We are fed up with ministers who broke Canada's immigration system, fed up with a minister who refuses to acknowledge the decline of French and fed up with a minister who does not care about Quebec culture. When will the Prime Minister be fed up with this minister too?”
“Mr. Speaker, the new Minister responsible for Official Languages was only in his position one day—not 10 days, five days or even two days—before he said that he was fed up with hearing about the decline of French in Quebec. As Mathieu Bock-Côté so aptly put it, “it's the federal Liberals' usual denial, disdain and contempt toward the future of French in Quebec.” Does the Prime Minister realize that he made a huge mistake by appointing his most incompetent MP to handle the sensitive issue of French in Canada, and in Quebec in particular?”
“Mr. Speaker, let me get back to the functions of the Government of Canada. My question is about conflicts of interest. We know that the federal Liberal member for Laval—Les Îles is currently under investigation by Quebec's chief electoral officer. That is a fact. Now, the question is a simple one. Can the Prime Minister confirm that no members of his cabinet or of the federal Liberal caucus are involved in this scandal?”
“Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the rules pertaining to a public office holder, the Government of Canada's Conflict of Interest Act clearly states that “No public office holder shall...give preferential treatment to any person or organization based on the identity of the person or organization that represents the first-mentioned person or organization”. The federal Liberal member for Laval—Les Îles is currently under investigation by Quebec's chief electoral officer for having participated in financial funny business in Ottawa. Can the Prime Minister confirm that no minister, member of cabinet or member of his caucus is involved in this so-called funny business?”
“Mr. Speaker, we are here to talk about compliance with federal laws and, on that point, it is important to recall the facts. The former parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec, Marwah Rizqy, told Pablo Rodriguez that there was some Liberal “funny business” going on in Ottawa.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is pretty clear that this question pertains to a member of Parliament who is sitting across from me. I think it is relevant. Now, the question is clear: Can the Prime Minister guarantee that no member of the Liberal caucus broke federal or provincial laws?”
“Mr. Speaker, this morning, we learned from La Presse that the Liberal member for Laval—Les Îles denies being involved in the Quebec Liberal Party leadership campaign even though he was in possession of a certificate authorizing him to solicit—”
“Mr. Speaker, I hope that the minister will read her own bill so that she understands what she is doing. That said, at the G20 summit last weekend, when the Prime Minister was asked whether he intended to speak with the U.S. President, he replied, “Who cares?” We also learned from Brookfield's chief operating officer, who testified before a parliamentary committee, that 95% of the companies owned by Brookfield are not subject to the Prime Minister's ethics review. This means that the Prime Minister will personally benefit from at least 1,900 profitable companies. We now understand why he could not care less about the 38,000 employees in Quebec's aluminum sector. Is—”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals want to arbitrarily grant citizenship to whoever they want, just like they did 30 years ago. That is right. In Bill C‑12 the Liberals want to give themselves the power to change temporary residents' visas to give them permanent residency. The Liberals will be able to “cancel or vary documents, including permanent resident visas, permanent resident cards, temporary resident visas, electronic travel authorizations, temporary resident permits, work permits or study permits”. The Liberals want to speed up access to citizenship. Are they doing that in the interest of Canada or in the interest of the Liberal Party?”
“Mr. Speaker, former minister Diane Lebouthillier spent a decade making cuts. She cut CRA services. Cuts are still happening. People come to our constituency offices every day to complain about problems. Women cry in our staffers' arms. I myself have had a hard time using the services. It took me four attempts to resolve a tax issue I had. There is a problem. Nothing has been fixed. Can the government treat this like an emergency and fix the problem? This is urgent.”
“Mr. Speaker, they were elected under false pretenses. They were supposed to find a solution to the problems with Donald Trump, but they have failed miserably. Meanwhile, the country has other major problems, including problems at the Canada Revenue Agency. The cost of government bureaucracy has risen by 80% since the Liberals took office, and now, nearly one million people cannot even access the Canada Revenue Agency's website. Some agents are providing incorrect information and some people are erroneously being told that they owe money. It is a total mess. The minister said that he would fix all that. Where do things stand now?”
“Mr. Speaker, since taking office, the Prime Minister has made more than 20 trips abroad under the pretext of wanting to create a richer Canada. However, the results have been the complete opposite. During the Prime Minister's travels around the world, Donald Trump's tariffs have doubled. Tariffs on aluminum are now sitting at 50%, lumber tariffs have tripled and thousands of Canadian jobs have been lost. With every trip he takes, new tariffs are imposed on Canadians. Can the Prime Minister put away his passport, stay in Canada and take care of his country?”