Jean-Yves Duclos
Québec Centre, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to virtually present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, entitled “Canada-United States Border Management”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the 250,000 residents of the greater Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches region who are now covered by the new Canadian dental care plan, helping them to save an average of $900 a year on the cost of dental care.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have heard my colleague's views. He emphasized the importance of investing in Canada and Quebec to grow our economy and create more and better jobs. He really emphasized investment and the importance of investment.”
“Mr. Speaker, on April 2, we announced that the first Build Canada Homes project in Quebec will be built on the iconic Îlot Saint-Vincent-de-Paul site at the top of Côte d'Abraham, right in the heart of Quebec City.”
“I would like to congratulate the members of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste citizens' committee, the Old Quebec citizens' committee, and the many partners involved in this project, including Action-Habitation, La Bouée, and the Patrotôt solidarity co-op for their collaboration on this initiative, which is a source of pride for our city and will c…”
“Mr. Speaker, filing a tax return is essential for receiving benefits such as the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which can provide up to $900 for a single individual and up to $2,000 for a family of four this year.”
The complete record
Every one of 98 lines we hold for Jean-Yves Duclos, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 2.
“That is in addition to more than $40 million per year for the national crime prevention strategy, which supports community efforts to prevent youth involvement in crime and tackle known risk factors. In June 2022, the Government of Canada also tabled the federal framework to reduce recidivism, which aims to break the cycle of reoffending, support rehabilitation and make our communities safer for everyone. Over the past few years, the Government of Canada has also introduced reforms to simplify unnecessarily complex or redundant bail rules that caused unfortunate and detrimental delays in the criminal justice system without necessarily improving public safety. Canadian bail laws are very clear.”
“This money supports initiatives that tackle the root causes of gun crime by supporting community-led projects that address violence among youth involved in or at risk of joining gangs. The fund uses data, including demographic data and crime statistics, to direct investments where they will have the greatest impact. This targeted approach ensures that the most at-risk communities receive timely support that they can invest in protecting the safety of their residents. (1625) To support communities, $391 million will go directly to the provinces and territories as part of the gun and gang violence action fund, and $10 million will be allocated to the youth gang prevention fund.”
“Grassroots efforts, meaning community-led initiatives, can help address the social conditions that lead to criminal behaviour. Getting tough on crime is not enough; we also have to be smart and strategic about our approach. We need to get to the root cause of the problem. In the community, this is done by addressing the social determinants of crime. These are conditions that may lead individuals to engage in violent and criminal behaviour. Our government firmly believes that any solution to gun and gang violence must combine prevention and intervention efforts. In 2022, for example, the Department of Public Safety launched the building safer communities fund, which provided $250 million directly to municipalities and indigenous communities to strengthen gang prevention programs and address the social conditions that give rise to crime.”
“This includes funding for the RCMP to increase its capacity to trace crime guns and enhance anti-smuggling activities, as well as funding to the CBSA to strengthen border controls in order to prevent the smuggling of firearms into the country. We will also continue to strengthen co-operation with key U.S. partners, including through the cross-border firearms task force. We know that gun violence is a tragic reality across the country and that it is often linked to street gangs. For too long, the roots of this violence have been neglected. The Canadian government has made considerable efforts to change this situation, because everyone deserves to feel safe in their communities, and that sense of safety is shattered every time a violent crime occurs. Our efforts must start there, in the community.”
“New firearms licensing requirements have come into force, maximum penalties for firearms trafficking and smuggling have been increased, and many new harm reduction tools have been put in place. We will keep working to ensure that Canada's firearms regime is responsible and effective, supports the safe use of firearms by law-abiding owners and protects our Canadian communities from the devastating effects of gun violence. Effective enforcement and operational co-operation are also essential in the fight against gun violence. Investments have also been made to improve law enforcement and border security services.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me start by saying that I will be sharing my speaking time with my distinguished colleague from Bourassa . I am very pleased to have this opportunity to explain what the government is currently doing to build safe communities and to prevent crime, as well as our plans for the future. Canadians expect the government to be smart about fighting crime. I want to thank and commend the many mayors, provincial partners, and provincial and municipal police forces for their ongoing collaborative efforts to reduce gun and gang crime. We are all responsible for making things better, and we all want to make things better. That is why, in recent years, the Canadian government has made significant improvements to Canada's firearms laws.”
“Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleague's enthusiasm and passion. I have a quote for him, and I would like to hear his thoughts on it. The great Alexis de Tocqueville said that nothing is more dangerous than citizens' apathy toward the oppression of minorities. What are my colleague's thoughts on that?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have two quick things to say. First, maybe it has taken too long. Maybe 43 years was too long to wait for the Supreme Court to rule on this important issue. Second, it was not the Government of Canada that brought this case to the Supreme Court; it was Quebeckers and Quebec organizations. It was not the Government of Canada that created this case. It was Quebeckers who, rightly or wrongly, believe this issue must be addressed. The Supreme Court will be able to decide if the laws we are talking about, be they in Quebec or elsewhere, are laws that can invoke the notwithstanding clause on a regular basis. In closing, I would have liked to add one relatively minor comment to the Attorney General's factum, but I see the Speaker is signalling to me, so maybe I will get to it some other time.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague just raised an important point. Both inside and outside the House, people sometimes tend to lump together the views of Quebeckers as if one political party speaks for them all. Quebeckers are entitled to a wide range of opinions, identities and interests. It is a bit much to claim that one party, perhaps because of its name, speaks for all Quebeckers. No party here represents the Government of Quebec. Certain members represent Quebeckers, and the Quebec members have the right and the duty—certainly Liberal members have the duty—to promote the diverse opinions that they hear in their ridings.”
“Mr. Speaker, that one question contains many questions. I will leave it to my esteemed colleague from Bourassa to give the answer that my colleague obviously deserves. To answer the second question, I would say that it is a matter of striking the right balance between individual rights and freedoms and the collective, social, economic and other objectives that we are able to set ourselves as a government. The charter is there to help an independent judiciary help us, as parliamentarians, achieve the right balance between those individual rights and freedoms and the social and economic objectives that governments are able to set for themselves.”
“This approach to governing can only enrich our democracy, which is why successive federal governments have succeeded in governing without exempting their laws from the application of the charter. This is a record of which Canadians can be proud.”
“It would be excessive, for example, to imprison Canadians for minor offences. On the other hand, imprisonment for more serious crimes is entirely justified. It is this proportionate balance between individual rights and public interest objectives that courts seek to achieve when applying section 7 of the charter. This section constrains government action, but not excessively so. This demonstrates that the charter is not an absolute obstacle to government action, but rather a safeguard against government action that could be considered arbitrary and discriminatory. It exists to prevent abuse and excess by forcing the government and Parliament to ensure that the laws to which Canadians are subject will not infringe on their rights beyond what is truly necessary to achieve important public policy objectives.”
“In addition to section 1 of the charter, other provisions of the charter allow for restrictions on rights and freedoms as long as the state acts reasonably. Rights and freedoms are not absolute and must sometimes be weighed against social and economic imperatives. Consider, for example, section 7 of the charter. It states that everyone has the “right to life, liberty and security of the person” and that the state can only infringe upon those rights in a manner consistent with the “principles of fundamental justice”. This means that the rights to life, liberty and security of the person are not absolute. Limits are permitted as long as they respect certain fundamental principles of a free and democratic society. In particular, the government cannot act in an arbitrary, excessive or procedurally unfair manner.”
“The courts have certainly interpreted the rights and freedoms guaranteed under sections 2 and 7 to 15 of the charter generously, as they do for the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. (1650) However, they have also, under section 1 of the charter, maintained reasonable limits on those rights where a government has been able to demonstrate that the public interest justified them. This brings me to a brief discussion of the architecture of the charter. The purpose of the charter is not to unduly obstruct government action. The government and Parliament have successfully advanced several major public policies that benefit Canadians in areas as diverse as health, the environment, immigration and public safety, while respecting the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the charter.”
“It was not designed to systematically thwart the very purpose of the charter, which is to respect fundamental rights and freedoms, much less to circumvent the courts before they have had a chance to rule on the constitutionality of the legislation in question. Of course, section 33 of the charter preserves a form of parliamentary supremacy. At the same time, the notwithstanding clause should not be viewed in isolation. It should be assessed in light of the entire Constitution, of which it is an integral part. In any event, it has now been 43 years since the charter was adopted. The concerns that some of those involved in repatriating the Constitution and introducing the charter may have had, rightly or wrongly, have largely dissipated with time.”
“For example, Roy McMurtry, Ontario's attorney general at the time, saw the notwithstanding clause as an exceptional tool that might be necessary in the “event of a decision of the courts that is clearly contrary to the public interest”. Furthermore, Allan Blakeney, the then premier of Saskatchewan, explained in an article published in 2010 that he believed that the notwithstanding clause might be necessary in the event that a court rendered a decision that would have a negative impact on rights not protected in the charter, particularly social and economic rights. Many political leaders at the time saw the notwithstanding clause as an exceptional tool of last resort that should be invoked with caution.”
“I would also like to use my brief time to point out that the charter is structured so as to allow the government and Parliament to introduce important public policies, provided that achieving these objectives does not disproportionately restrict Canadians' rights and freedoms. This appropriate balance between individual rights and collective interests also strengthens our democracy, helps society thrive and supports the well-being of all Canadians. When a legislature invokes section 33, the courts cannot strike down the law, even if the law places unjustifiable limitations on charter sections 2 and 7 to 15. This is an extraordinary power. Nevertheless, it is clear that the relatively recent uses of the notwithstanding clause appear to depart from some of the original views on section 33.”
“With that in mind, I consider it perfectly legitimate, reasonable and responsible for the Attorney General of Canada to provide an opinion in the context of a judicial exercise of tremendous importance to the evolution of Canadian constitutional jurisprudence. First, I think we should take a brief look back in time and revisit comments made by certain political leaders who were intimately involved in negotiations surrounding the Canadian charter. As we will see, many of them saw the notwithstanding clause as a tool of last resort, to be used only in exceptional circumstances.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to share my time with the member for Bourassa . I rise today to discuss the Bloc Québécois opposition day motion. First, I would like to congratulate and thank my colleagues in the House for offering many complementary perspectives on this issue. The use of section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, commonly known as the notwithstanding clause, is indeed an important issue that affects all Canadians, including Quebeckers. As Ban Ki-moon, former secretary-general of the United Nations, used to say, protecting minority rights protects the dignity of all people. Quebeckers and other Canadians expect their governments to protect their rights and freedoms.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, entitled “Fighting the Phenomenon of Vehicle Thefts in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.”
“Mr. Speaker, our colleague spoke truly about the six affordable homes that Pierre Poilievre built during his entire mandate. However, he did not mention the fact that Pierre Poilievre is against social housing because he says it promotes Soviet-style living. What does the hon. member think about that?”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague that the budget has to be fiscally responsible as well as socially and economically responsible. There will be a budget in the fall of 2025. Between now and then, we have important questions to settle. One of them is whether the member will support the important investments in the armed forces that we announced just this morning. This is an issue that I look forward to hearing about from the member.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague is correct. We have to protect the living standards, the well-being, of Canadians, and in particular those Canadians who rely on the benefits and services of the Government of Canada. That is why we have been clear, the Prime Minister has been very clear, that there will not be cuts to transfers to essential programs like child care, pharmacare and dental care, all these programs being essential to the ability of families to make ends meet.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is always such a pleasure to hear my colleague from Acadia speak. Whenever she and I talk, I can sense the enthusiasm and dedication that she demonstrated in a few words just now. Yes, the Canadian dental care plan is making people's lives a lot better. I believe some 15,000 seniors and children in my colleague's riding have already benefited from it, and another 15,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 64 will soon qualify for this life-changing plan. It puts more money in their pockets and, above all, it gives them the tools they need to take care of their oral health, which is extremely important, because then they can focus on the other aspects of their health.”
“Mr. Speaker, no, I would not agree with that. What I would instead add is that it is surprising for his leader, Pierre Poilievre, though I do not believe it would be the member's opinion, to unfortunately declare things such as that the Canadian dental care plan is a communist plan and to describe the school food program as a bureaucratic program, while it is a program that is going to help 400,000 school children in the years to come. I suppose, or hope at least, that this is not the view of the member, but it is certainly the view of Pierre Poilievre, and I would invite the member to have a conversation with his leader.”
“We are providing meals to children who go without, through the national school food program, which, for Quebec alone, will help close to 100,000 children. In addition, roughly nine million Canadians who are now eligible will save close to $800 on average through the Canadian dental care plan. These are all things that put more money in people's pockets and help create healthier, stronger, more resilient and more unified communities.”
“Just last month we implemented a tax cut for the middle class, a major investment that will support 22 million Canadians across the country. We are also getting rid of the goods and services tax, or the GST, for first-time homebuyers on homes valued at up to $1 million, which will allow them to save up to $50,000. We are also reducing the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes valued at $1 million to $1.5 million. (1520) The government continues to work with its provincial, territorial and indigenous partners to implement a major $10-dollar a day, Canada-wide early learning and child care system. We are giving more money to families through the Canada child benefit, which is lifting 1.5 million children out of poverty every month.”
“I would also like to touch briefly on how Canada's defence spending plays a very important role in the timing of budget 2025. Our government is working very hard to review this defence spending ahead of the upcoming NATO leaders summit later this month, where new defence spending targets will be discussed, as well as to better prepare us for future global conflicts and the rapidly changing geopolitical environment. In short, by tabling the budget in the fall, we will have a better idea of our macroeconomic picture and will be in a much better position to share our overall investment plan with Canadians. In the meantime, our Canadian government will continue to deliver on its mandate to build a stronger economy, reduce the cost of living and keep our communities safe.”
“To these people, we make and repeat this promise: Our government will never back down. It will keep working tirelessly to protect our businesses, our workers and our country's sovereignty. By focusing our attention on this important issue at this decisive time, we will ensure Canada's success in a radically different world, and build a new, stronger Canadian economy for everyone. In addition, the government will undertake a review of its daily spending based on its core mandate of spending less to invest more. That is why we are taking action to keep the Government of Canada's operating budget increase below 2% by capping the size of the public service, eliminating duplication and using technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve the productivity and quality of public sector services.”
“As we all know, the Government of Canada is restructuring its relationship with the United States, our oldest and, historically, largest trading partner. It is crucial that this be done in a spirit of co-operation and mutual understanding, with a view to ensuring a better future for citizens on both sides of the border. As the Prime Minister aptly said not long ago, the road there will be long. There is no quick fix. That is precisely why our ongoing discussions with the United States are so important. That is why it is essential that we develop an updated picture of this important economic relationship before we rush into drafting a budget. Of course, we know that a lot of Canadians are understandably anxious and concerned about the impact that U.S. tariffs are still having on their lives and pocketbooks.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in today's debate on the timing of budget 2025, a subject that the Canadian government obviously takes very seriously. With that in mind, I am pleased to inform the House that I will be sharing my time with my esteemed colleague from Whitby . We believe it would be both ill-advised and confusing to draft such a major financial planning document in the few weeks we have left before the House rises for the summer. Instead, the government will present a comprehensive, carefully planned and detailed budget in the fall, a budget that will reflect Canada's major national and international priorities, one that will provide a much more accurate picture of our macroeconomic outlook than what is currently available.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague across the way. My colleague said a lot of things, and I will come back to that in a few moments, but he left some things out. I did not hear him talk much about the tax cut, nor did he talk about the expansion of the Canadian dental care plan to cover adults aged 18 to 64, or the school food program, which will benefit 100,000 children in Quebec alone. However, we did hear him say some things that make sense to me, such as the importance of doing things seriously and taking the time to write documents properly and rigorously. Why does my colleague think that taking the time to draft a credible and rigorous budget over the next few weeks is a bad thing?”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague from Davenport on her re-election. I had the good fortune, just a short while ago, to see her at work in her community, in her constituency, where she was present and powerful. I am not at all surprised that she has been re-elected. As I recall, we visited a dental clinic together. We talked about the importance of dental care for the people in her riding. What does the member think about the Canadian dental care plan expanding to cover adults aged 18 to 64?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is such a pleasure and honour to greet my colleague, and now my neighbour, the member for Beauport—Limoilou, for the first time. He touched on the importance of building social and affordable housing in his riding. How does he see the future in his riding? He mentioned 369 social housing units. Is he happy with the Government of Canada's contribution to the construction of these units?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would need a greater amount of time to speak about the absolutely fundamental need to work on reconciliation and the affirmation of indigenous rights and freedoms. On seniors, as the hon. member knows, it is because of NDP support that we were able to—”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from London West whom I hold in high regard. She saw that the people of my riding were happy to welcome her. She also showed the people of my riding, Québec Centre, that there are proud francophones living outside Quebec who are proud of their community, who defend and promote it. The Canadian dental care plan is an extraordinary success story. The reason people are hardly talking about it is that it is running very smoothly in my riding. Some 98% of dentists and hygienists are participating in the program and applauding the Canadian government every day. There are 15,000 seniors benefiting from it as well. As the member said, there are now thousands of other Canadians aged 18 to 64 who are still not aware that the program exists.”
“Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows perfectly well, the Canadian government has no intention of maintaining ownership of the Trans Mountain pipeline. It is built, it is operational and it will eventually be passed on to other owners, at the appropriate time. On the issue of trade corridors, my colleague, whom I hold in high regard, also knows that we need more trade corridors between the different regions of Canada, and between Canada and other regions outside our borders, if we want to get stronger and be more resilient in the very troubling circumstances that we have been experiencing for several months now.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to hear my colleague, with whom I had the opportunity to work in various ways over previous years. I agree, as he says, that we will have a budget at the appropriate time. That budget will contain all the updated information of which the hon. member is legitimately in need. He will be seeing these numbers and this budget at the appropriate time with the appropriate rigour invested in it.”
“I will close by talking about the Canadian dental care plan, which our colleague mentioned just a few minutes ago. The plan is already helping 15,000 seniors in my riding and 1.3 million across Quebec. Now, millions more, some four million, are eligible as of last month. We are each fortunate that it is our responsibility to let people know about this over the coming weeks. In closing, it is obviously a tremendous privilege to be the member for Québec Centre. Being a member of Parliament is an opportunity that I share with many people here in the House. Regardless of our political stripes, we have an opportunity to work together on the Canadian government's key priorities.”
“We need this project, because it will create tens of thousands of jobs, speed up and even enable the construction of up to 15,000 housing units along the route, and bring in public and private investments to the tune of around $50,000 per family in Quebec City. There is also the high-frequency train between Toronto and Quebec City and additional investments in the Davie shipyard, the largest shipyard in the country. For the last two years, Davie has been included in the new national shipbuilding strategy after being excluded by the previous government. There is the Quebec Bridge, which is certainly an engineering marvel. It has been a majestic symbol of Canada's heritage since 1919. It has also been a thorn in the side of my constituents for decades, so we will rehabilitate it, protect it and upgrade its functionality.”
“It is in fact the largest investment in social housing that the Quebec government has ever made, with support from the Canadian government. This clearly demonstrates that when governments work together, all Quebeckers, including the people of Québec Centre, can benefit enormously. In the Speech from the Throne, the Canadian government also promised to invest in major projects. In my riding of Québec Centre and in greater Quebec City, there are a number of these projects, which will connect Canada, deepen its ties with the world and create high-paying jobs for generations. I will start with Quebec City's strategic transit project, the tramway system that will ensure that Quebec City is no longer the only city of its size in Canada without a modern public transit system. Quebec City is also the capital of the nation of Quebec.”
“Social and affordable housing need to be built more quickly. We must support co-operatives, public housing and non-profit housing organizations, and we must ensure that every Quebecker and Canadian, regardless of income or circumstances, can live, grow and be housed with dignity. The plan we are putting forward aims not only to build more housing, but to also build better, faster and at lower cost. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the historic agreement we signed nearly two years ago with the Quebec government. Thanks to this agreement, nearly 10,000 social and affordable housing units are currently being built. This is the largest housing agreement with Quebec in the history of the country.”
“Of course, we also want to promote reconciliation with indigenous peoples in Quebec and across Canada, along with respect for and affirmation of their rights. In my riding of Québec Centre, these priorities are more than mere words. They have real meaning. They are talked about in shops in Saint‑Roch, in schools in Saint‑Sacrement, and in seniors' residences in Montcalm. They are discussed by small businesses in Old Quebec, by families in Vanier and Duberger‑Les Saules, by community organizations in Saint‑Sauveur and by the proud residents of Cap‑Blanc and the engaged residents of Saint‑Jean‑Baptiste. Their voices, our voices, our needs and our aspirations are what I bring with me here to the House. I am particularly encouraged by the Canadian government's clear commitments on housing.”
“In response, the Speech from the Throne charts a course to a fairer, more sustainable and more prosperous future. The speech reflects this new government's desire to build a stronger Canada where no one is left behind. The plan is clear. We must support families, young people and seniors in a demanding economic context, build more homes faster and at lower cost, and defend our interests and values in a context of trade and security tensions. (1525) Our goal is to make Canada's economy the strongest in the G7 and to invest in a greener economy with more respect for healthy environments and healthy people. We want to create a more innovative, diversified and resilient economy that creates high-quality, high-paying jobs.”
“I thank them for their commitment and their sincere dedication to the people of Québec Centre. Finally, I also want to thank the team at my Québec Centre office. Every day, Maya, Corinne, Fatima, Anie‑Ève, Steve and Nelson practise what we refer to back home as “positive people-centred politics”. That is what they are recognized and known for. Over the next few years, I will continue to work with them to advocate for a constituent-centred, positive, united and resilient approach to politics. Speaking of unity and resilience, the past few years have put us to the test, what with the pandemic, the effects of the climate crisis, wars around the world, the increased cost of living and the recent global economic tensions and geopolitical tensions.”
“I am also thinking of my parents, to whom I owe everything. Their closeness and presence help me to this day. I am thinking of the volunteers in the Québec Centre riding, who ran a truly positive election campaign. They were connected to the people and present in our community. These are people who, for several weeks, would get up early to go door-knocking, make calls or put up signs. I remember the first night. It was windy and raining, but they came out anyway to keep our democracy alive. I am also thinking of the other candidates in Québec Centre, namely Simon Bérubé, Tommy Bureau, Patrick Kerr and Daniel Brisson. These individuals, and their volunteers, put their hearts and souls into keeping our democracy alive with passionate, informed debates and exchanges that were always respectful and cordial.”
“I know other members say the same about their ridings, so let me just say that it is either the most or the second-most beautiful riding in Canada, and I will leave the final say to my own constituents. The people of my riding are proud and united. My riding is also diverse, and its people appreciate and are proud of how diverse Quebec City and the rest of Canada are. I obviously want to thank my family for their unwavering support over the past several years. It means so much to me. Everyone in the House knows how essential the support of our families is to our work. Of course I am thinking of Marie-Chantal, Étienne, Clémence, Antoine and Jade, my daughter-in-law, and her two children, my two grandchildren. Their quiet strength gives me the energy and vision I need to do this work with integrity.”
“Mr. Speaker, my voice is a little weak today, but any time is a good time to speak on behalf of my constituents. I will be sharing my time with my esteemed colleague, the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles . I would like to begin by telling the voters of Québec Centre how proud and grateful I am that, on April 28, they voted for me for the fourth consecutive time. They have given me the opportunity to work with them in a positive, constructive and unifying manner, and I want to thank them for putting their trust in me. I look forward to representing them well here in Ottawa and in Quebec City. The riding of Québec Centre is obviously the most beautiful riding in the country.”