Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have 39% of the votes, 55% of the seats, and 100% of the power.The Liberals are in a conflict of interest on the electoral reform file. Since the election, they have been telling us that they do not have a preferred voting system to replace the current one. The Prime Minister admitted in the House that he was leaning toward the so-called preferential ballot. That is a preferential system for the Liberals. When they realized that there was no consensus for the system that favoured them, then they simply decided to break their promise.Do the Liberals take Canadians for fools?

Mr. Speaker, the Old Port of Montreal's 300 employees have been on strike since Friday, and it is easy to understand why. They are the most poorly paid of all federal employees. Their pay scale starts at $10.67 per hour. That is ridiculous; it is below the poverty line.Under the NDP's proposal, those employees would earn a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour.How can this government, which says it wants to help people gain entry into the middle class, justify paying federal employees so poorly?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's excuses for not signing the nuclear ban treaty are ridiculous, and they know it. Canada's absence from the nuclear ban negotiations was shameful. This is a crucial moment. At what point will the government stop taking its instructions from nuclear powers like the United States and start recognizing what the Nobel committee and most of the world already know, that nuclear weapons are illegal. When will Canada grow a spine and sign the treaty?

Mr. Speaker, having14 people squeeze into a two-bedroom home with walls that are black with mould is the reality faced by too many indigenous Canadians living on reserves. If they choose to leave, they end up much more vulnerable to marginalization, discrimination, and homelessness.We have had two years of talk from the Prime Minister. Now it is time for action.Will the minister work in partnership with indigenous peoples to implement a focused strategy that comes with immediate funding to tackle the growing indigenous housing crisis?

Mr. Speaker, back in September, the Prime Minister told the entire world that fighting AIDS was a priority. At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Canada was cutting funding to Dopamine, an organization that fights HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among drug users in Hochelaga. With criteria that remain unspecified, documents that are mistranslated or not translated at all, and botched decisions, the process surrounding the community initiatives fund is a complete boondoggle.Will the minister sit down with community groups in Quebec to find a solution to this disaster?

Mr. Speaker, thousands of public sector employees are still dealing with the consequences of the Phoenix fiasco and the Liberals' inaction. The Parliamentary Budget Officer indicated yesterday that it would be cheaper to replace the pay system than to fix it. The Liberal government's mismanagement of this file is insulting to our public service employees.Why this stubbornness? When will the government put an end to the Phoenix scandal?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to hand out criminal records to Canadians, particularly young people and minority groups, for possession of marijuana. Every time we propose the decriminalization of marijuana as an interim measure, the Liberals say that we are against legalization, which is not true. We are against the fact that thousands of Canadians are being prosecuted in the meantime, since that affects the rest of their lives. Can the Prime Minister tell us how many people have been handed a criminal record since the last election?

Mr. Speaker, the government did things backwards yet again with this new dog and pony show. The Government of Quebec is not too happy about it either.When you cannot come to an agreement with partners as important as the provinces when you only shell out a quarter of the money that was announced, you do not go around bragging about how you invested $40 billion in housing. What a load of hooey.Will the government listen and respect the concept of asymmetry, or will it just impose its own decision yet again?

Mr. Speaker, Senate Liberal leader James Cowan has now joined the growing number of Canadians saying that Bill C-14 is likely unconstitutional. Cowan said that this government legislation is so flawed that Canadians would be better off with no legislation at all. This bill does not respect the Supreme Court's decision, and it will be tied up in courts for years. Instead of ramming through Bill C-14, will the government listen to James Cowan and work on getting the bill right the first time?

Mr. Speaker, there is some very disturbing news coming out of Azerbaijan, where members of the LGBT community are being arrested, detained, brutally beaten, and forced to undergo medical exams. Obviously, this kind of persecution must be condemned, but the federal government has approved an agreement with Azerbaijan on armoured personnel carriers. In light of this disturbing report, will the Liberals reexamine and end all arms exports to Azerbaijan, or will they continue to approve the sale of armoured personnel carriers to this oppressive regime?

Mr. Speaker, in a video that went viral, five-year-old Brooke Blair gets angry with the British Prime Minister because she does not understand why people are living on the street and no one is doing anything about it.In her heartfelt appeal, she says:They “should be out there”. They should be “building houses”.Even a five-year-old knows that if we build more houses there will be fewer people on the street. The best investment is social housing.When will the minister announce long-term funding for social housing?

Mr. Speaker, people are dying every day and that is a serious matter. The Liberals should honour their commitments now.While the minister does not have a problem paying a fortune to move his staff, who are his friends, the Liberals are unable to pay the public servants who work tirelessly for Canadians. A report commissioned by the government recommended that the deployment of Phoenix be slowed down. However, the minister did not even read it. Fifty-five thousand public servants are waiting to be paid what they are owed.Why did the minister not do her homework before the Phoenix system was rolled out in its entirety?

Mr. Speaker, since 2012, Habitations Nicolet, a seniors' building in Hochelaga, has been undergoing major renovations that have forced the tenants out of their homes. That is six years of construction, all because funding for low-income housing renovations comes in dribs and drabs every year. Worse still, there are thousands of social housing units in Montreal that are currently boarded up. It is the most vulnerable who are paying for this lack of long-term vision.When will the Liberals stop with the lofty rhetoric and do something to put an end to these unacceptable delays?

Mr. Speaker, according to the 2016 census, the first nations population in Canada has increased by 43% since 2006. That is four times more than the non-indigenous population.Last year, one in five indigenous people lived in crowded homes and homes in need of major repair. That is shameful, and it is a federal responsibility.Will the minister immediately commit to implementing a targeted housing strategy for indigenous people living on and off reserve?

Mr. Speaker, one thing is perfectly clear: our bankruptcy laws do nothing to protect our workers, and this government is doing nothing to fix that. Sears Canada workers are getting laid off without any severance pay. Retired workers could have their pensions reduced. Meanwhile, are the executives going to get bonuses?Who else benefits from this agreement? None other than the Minister of Finance.How can the Liberals accept that their minister is making money on the backs of the unfortunate employees and retired workers of Sears Canada?

Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis in indigenous communities is only getting worse. It would be nice if the government would at least show that it was making an effort, but it does not even seem to be trying.Yesterday, in his economic statement, the Minister of Finance could have announced immediate funding to end this crisis. Instead, he chose to play Santa Claus to rich corporations. When will the government sit down with indigenous peoples to create a targeted strategy and put an end to this crisis?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister proved our point: he does not need to change the rules in order to answer the opposition's questions. That is his job.Yet he is still bound and determined to take full control with no regard for our democracy.Will he stop fooling around and sit down with the opposition for a real conversation so we can get on with formulating unanimous recommendations to improve our parliamentary system?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals want to change the rules of the House under the guise of making Parliament more efficient.That party, which obtained only 39% of the vote in 2015, now wants to change the rules unilaterally. To hell with sunny ways.As a show of good faith, why do the Liberals not drop their plan, like they did for Motion No. 6, and create a committee whose membership is representative of the popular vote to look into the matter?

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago the Prime Minister used his best negotiating tactic to forestall Trump to abolish tariffs on steel and aluminum. He was going to deprive the cameras of his presence at the signing of the USMCA. Great negotiating tactics.However, after all of that, the Prime Minister went ahead and signed the agreement without getting rid of the tariffs on steel and aluminum. The deal should not have been signed with these tariffs still in place. Why are the Liberals going ahead and betraying our steel and aluminum workers?

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to political harassment against charities, the Liberals have picked up right where the Conservatives left off. The Canada Revenue Agency does not intend to abide by the court's decision. With its new rules, the CRA will continue to monitor all charitable organizations. However, the judge made it clear that organizations have the right to freedom of expression.Will the Liberals stop playing Big Brother and stop trying to scare charities?

By using the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Speaker? One thing we know for sure is that the Liberals are smooth talkers. This week's budget includes a nice bunch of announcements, but considering all of the 2015 promises they have broken, can we really trust them? Canada's housing crisis is not letting up. Right now, 1.5 million households are in urgent need of housing. Waiting lists for social housing are longer than ever, and the social housing stock is in terrible shape. Why is there nothing in the budget to help people with inadequate housing right away?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister once said, “Canadians asked for open and honest government; instead they have been saddled with secrecy, cynicism and rampant ethical scandals.” He was talking about the Duffy scandal, but I understand your confusion, Mr. Speaker, because he could have said the exact same thing about his own government.When exactly does the Prime Minister think his sunny ways are going to clean up the government's secrecy, cynicism, and scandals?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that Donald Trump wants to go after our industries yet again. First it was softwood lumber, now it is the aluminum industry that could suffer as a result of the American President's unjustified decisions. Yesterday, he announced that he will impose a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminum products. The aluminum industry is a huge employer in Quebec, and many jobs are in jeopardy as a result of these protectionist actions.Can our industries count on our government to stand up to Trump's protectionist policies?

Mr. Speaker, they gave us the same old story as the former Conservative government, and they even went further.They want to give themselves all the power in the House in order to force us to pass their problem-riddled bill, to force us to accept the loss of 2,400 jobs at Aveos, even though that broke the law, and to force us to accept their solution to medical assistance in dying, even if it goes against the Supreme Court ruling.When exactly did the Liberals decide to move from their sunny ways to bully tactics?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have a nasty habit of imposing their vision on the provinces and municipalities. We saw this with the legalization of cannabis and the health accords. We have every reason to believe that they will do the same thing with the housing strategy. Some 1.7 million Canadian families are having a hard time finding places to live.Will the government create a true partnership with the provinces and municipalities in order to tailor the strategy to local realities?

Mr. Speaker, here is the reality. Here is what has been happening.By its own actions, the government showed a deep disrespect for Parliament this week. There are serious and substantial issues before the House. The Liberals are shutting down debate and stripping the ability of MPs to hold them to account.Whether they voted for a government or an opposition member, Canadians want their voices heard. When exactly did the Liberals decide to turn their back on sunny ways in favour of these strong arm tactics?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to fix the problems in the Conservatives' anti-terrorism bill, which was an unprecedented attack on Canadians' civil rights.The Privacy Commissioner sounded the alarm on the Liberals' Bill C-59 yesterday in committee. The thresholds for sharing information about Canadians among departments are still too low and must be more limited.Will the government finally agree to amend its bill to protect Canadians' civil rights?

Mr. Speaker, far too many first nations peoples are living in atrocious conditions. The current crisis in northern Ontario is just the latest example. This is unacceptable and intolerable. We have a duty to help them and to rectify decades, or even centuries, of injustice.In the next budget, will the government commit to funding first nations health care services to the same standard as services for other Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, people are outraged about the Panama papers. Multinational companies and people with connections are taking advantage of laws that were made for them, in order to shirk their responsibilities. The minister announced new measures, but there is no word on her former executive who jumped ship to go work for KPMG, at the same time that the firm was being investigated by the CRA. What a joke. Why does the minister keep defending the secret agreement for cheats?

Mr. Speaker, the Conseil des Montréalaises recently issued an opinion on homelessness among women. In Montreal and across Canada, homelessness among women is on the rise, but it remains hidden. This is something that affects indigenous and immigrant women more frequently, and homeless women are much more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence.The minister announced the creation of an advisory committee to overhaul the homelessness partnering strategy, or HPS. Will a gender-based analysis be done? Will the government invest the sums needed to prevent and eradicate this scourge?

Mr. Speaker, thousands of jobs in the steel and aluminum sector are in jeopardy, but that is not all. There is also a clause that gives the United States oversight of Canada's dairy sector.This is the third time in three years that the Prime Minister has weakened supply management, this time by signing a document that hands control of our system over to the Americans and puts our sovereignty at risk.Why are the Liberals always using our farmers as a bargaining chip?

Mr. Speaker, the Waskahegen Corporation is a non-profit organization that provides affordable rental housing to urban indigenous Canadians. However, it has emerged that their tenants include some non-indigenous Canadians, even though many first nations members have been waiting for years to secure an apartment. Furthermore, discrimination already makes it harder for people from first nations to find housing.Will the minister ensure that the federal funding earmarked for off-reserve indigenous housing actually reaches its intended target?

Mr. Speaker, it seems that taking $4.5 billion out of Canadians' pockets to buy a pipeline is in the national interest. As Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee of the Anishinabek Nation said, if the government is willing to take out its chequebook for something that will not contribute to a sustainable future, then it should also be prepared to sign a big cheque for women's rights, the health care system, indigenous people's rights, and child welfare.What are the Liberals' real priorities?

Mr. Speaker, forcing a so-called discussion paper on the committee is a monologue, not a dialogue.This Prime Minister promised to put an end to the concentration of power that began with his father's tenure, but instead he is preparing to ram through changes that will benefit the Liberals.Does the Prime Minister understand the difference between making things better for Parliament and making things better for the Liberals?

Mr. Speaker, the correctional investigator released an alarming report today that reveals that the indigenous inmate population grew by 50%. Furthermore, 37% of all women serving a sentence of over two years are indigenous women. The correctional system has a duty to take the indigenous reality into account, but it is failing in that duty. Can the Minister of Public Safety please tell us exactly what he plans to do to correct this situation and fulfill that duty? Does he have a plan? When is he going to share his plan with us?

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Boisvert retired from the CRA in April 2016. On June 15 of that year, she got a paycheque by mistake, and now she is being told to pay back the gross amount even though deductions were taken. She has taken steps to resolve the matter, but the full gross amount is being withheld from her severance pay. My office has been trying to reach someone since February to clean up this Phoenix mess, which comes on top of so many others, but nobody even acknowledges our communications.When will the minister help Ms. Boisvert and admit that her pay system is broken beyond repair?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister loves to tell everyone how proud he is to be a feminist, but according to the Conference Board of Canada, his government is falling far short when it comes to closing the gender wage gap. Canadian citizens have been waiting years for policies that would help eliminate income inequality between men and women.The Prime Minister says all the right things to women in New York City, but when will he take action here at home to end this unfairness?

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were really willing to work with the opposition, they would not be ramming bills through the House and giving themselves false majorities on a committee.How can they claim that they want to end first past the post, and then strike a committee that models itself on first past the post?We are talking about a once-in-a-generation voting reform. Will the minister reconsider her decision to give Liberals the power to unilaterally change our voting system?

Madam Speaker, vague answers about pensions are always worrisome.Yesterday, the Minister of Finance tried to reassure us. The problem is that he finished his answer by saying, “I hope to have something positive to report to this House in the coming days.” No one can retire comfortably on hope.Will the minister commit to end the meeting with the provinces with nothing less than an agreement to enhance the pension plan?

Madam Speaker, I thank the government for that, but it has to be done very quickly.Under the current rules, the Canada Revenue Agency tells domestic abuse survivors that they have to contact their attacker to fill out a form if they want to get the child tax benefit. That is preposterous, not to mention dangerous. This CRA requirement needs to be removed.Will the Minister of National Revenue resolve this matter immediately and apologize to victims of domestic abuse?

Mr. Speaker, the government had the chance to do things differently with Bill C-14, but it decided to ignore experts, not to work with the opposition, and to limit debate.Warnings were coming in from all over. Quebec's health and social services minister called Bill C-14 unenforceable. He thinks that the notion of reasonably foreseeable death is medically unfeasible and he refuses to include it in Quebec's law.Will the government finally realize that Bill C-14 must be amended?

Mr. Speaker, this makes absolutely no sense.The Liberals say they want to make our system more democratic, and yet they give themselves a majority on the committee. They want to include the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois, but they do not give those parties the right to vote.How can Canadians be sure that the process is not rigged from the start? Clearly, this reform is not off to a good start.Will the government admit its mistake and give all parties the right to vote in committee?

Mr. Speaker, we have learned today that child homelessness has jumped 50% in the last decade. One of every seven users of homeless shelters is a child. Those numbers are heartbreaking and demand urgent action now.We must be proactive and invest immediately in social housing and in a national anti-poverty strategy. We cannot let this situation get worse, but the government continues to be vague about its plan.When does this government plan on investing in social housing and preventing child homelessness?

Mr. Speaker, this is yet another example of a government that talks a lot, but is always missing in action when it comes to making important decisions that affect entire indigenous communities.Last week it voted to support the rights of indigenous peoples. This week, it is voting against our motion, which is a concrete way to support these rights.Can the Liberals do more than just talk, and talk, and talk about the rights of indigenous people?

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Liberals promised to renew long-term social housing agreements. If those agreements are not renewed, 365,000 social housing units will be in jeopardy. This year alone, if nothing is done, 24,000 households will lose their housing subsidy. The well-being of thousands of people is left hanging in the balance.When will the minister sign new agreements and reassure these low-income families?

Mr. Speaker, the clouds are looking darker and darker on the other side.The Panama papers gave us a glimpse into the troubling world of tax havens, and new reports raise questions about the Canada Revenue Agency's failure to act.A senior CRA employee crossed the floor to work for KPMG while the company was under investigation for setting up a tax sham. Why does the minister continue to defend the secret sweetheart deal for wealthy KPMG clients? How can Canadians take them seriously?

Mr. Speaker, I guess it is all about him.The opioid crisis is claiming more and more victims every day. The situation is getting worse in Montreal, as it is elsewhere. The Liberals claim to be doing everything in their power to address the crisis, but that is not true. They could be doing much more.Will the Liberals finally declare that this is a national public health emergency, as the NDP has been calling for for two years, and invest additional resources to truly address this issue?

Mr. Speaker, there is a red light flashing in the Minister of Health's office, but she does not seem to see it. The Public Health Agency of Canada just released data showing that over 4,000 deaths occurred from opioids in 2017. That is an increase of 40%. Meanwhile, the Dopalliés project in in Hochelaga is in jeopardy because that same agency still refuses to renew its funding. How many more people must die before the minister intervenes?

Mr. Speaker, we are hearing plenty of rhetoric and talking points, but what farmers want is action.Dairy farmers are losing tens of thousands of dollars a week because the government continues to drag its feet. Our supply management system has helped our farmers prosper, but the many cracks are jeopardizing their future.When the government gives in to free trade agreements, it promises compensation, but no one has seen any cash yet.Why is the government treating our farmers with such contempt?

Madam Speaker, yes, it is on the same subject as my point of order earlier. I am convinced that it is indeed a point of order. I had a conversation with the minister. I know she understands the problem, but I think she needs to apologize out of respect for the women who have been victims of abuse.

Mr. Speaker, thousands of public sector employees are still dealing with the consequences of the Phoenix fiasco and the Liberals' inaction. The Parliamentary Budget Officer indicated yesterday that it would be cheaper to replace the pay system than to fix it. The Liberal government's mismanagement of this file is insulting to our public service employees.Why this stubbornness? When will the government put an end to the Phoenix scandal?

Mr. Speaker, it would seem that the ministers answering our questions do not agree with the Prime Minister.When they were asked about exclusive fundraising activities this week, they replied that the Liberals were continuing to work hard, and I quote, “to bring investors to Canada”.The government cannot talk out of both sides of its mouth. Either it confirms that this does not pertain to government business, or it confirms that it is attracting investment. Which is it?

Mr. Speaker, people are outraged about the Panama papers. Multinational companies and people with connections are taking advantage of laws that were made for them, in order to shirk their responsibilities. The minister announced new measures, but there is no word on her former executive who jumped ship to go work for KPMG, at the same time that the firm was being investigated by the CRA. What a joke. Why does the minister keep defending the secret agreement for cheats?

Mr. Speaker, indigenous peoples in remote communities are living in third-world conditions. The story that my colleague from Churchill—Keewatinook Aski told is shocking. A mother with two children to look after is living in a house with no bathroom and practically no roof. That is unacceptable in 2018. The Liberals must hear just as many stories like this as we do.How can they ignore the housing crisis in indigenous communities? When will they implement a targeted strategy?

Mr. Speaker, people are dying every day and that is a serious matter. The Liberals should honour their commitments now.While the minister does not have a problem paying a fortune to move his staff, who are his friends, the Liberals are unable to pay the public servants who work tirelessly for Canadians. A report commissioned by the government recommended that the deployment of Phoenix be slowed down. However, the minister did not even read it. Fifty-five thousand public servants are waiting to be paid what they are owed.Why did the minister not do her homework before the Phoenix system was rolled out in its entirety?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have a nasty habit of imposing their vision on the provinces and municipalities. We saw this with the legalization of cannabis and the health accords. We have every reason to believe that they will do the same thing with the housing strategy. Some 1.7 million Canadian families are having a hard time finding places to live.Will the government create a true partnership with the provinces and municipalities in order to tailor the strategy to local realities?

Mr. Speaker, one thing is perfectly clear: our bankruptcy laws do nothing to protect our workers, and this government is doing nothing to fix that. Sears Canada workers are getting laid off without any severance pay. Retired workers could have their pensions reduced. Meanwhile, are the executives going to get bonuses?Who else benefits from this agreement? None other than the Minister of Finance.How can the Liberals accept that their minister is making money on the backs of the unfortunate employees and retired workers of Sears Canada?

No, Madam Speaker, the previous one.

Mr. Speaker, there is some very disturbing news coming out of Azerbaijan, where members of the LGBT community are being arrested, detained, brutally beaten, and forced to undergo medical exams. Obviously, this kind of persecution must be condemned, but the federal government has approved an agreement with Azerbaijan on armoured personnel carriers. In light of this disturbing report, will the Liberals reexamine and end all arms exports to Azerbaijan, or will they continue to approve the sale of armoured personnel carriers to this oppressive regime?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that after the Liberals forced their visions for housing and health care on the provinces, they are now planning to change the equalization calculations, without even consulting the provinces. Is that what they call a partnership? The finance ministers are meeting this weekend.Will the government finally start to treat the provinces and municipalities as partners instead of subordinates?

Mr. Speaker, last week, the government seemed quite content to hide behind the Chair to avoid answering the question. Now that you have ruled that the question was admissible, I will ask it again.Given the labour dispute currently affecting the parliamentary protective service and the employer's refusal to negotiate, will the Prime Minister consider reforming the Parliament of Canada Act in order to guarantee the independence of the parliamentary protective service?

Mr. Speaker, we have learned today that child homelessness has jumped 50% in the last decade. One of every seven users of homeless shelters is a child. Those numbers are heartbreaking and demand urgent action now.We must be proactive and invest immediately in social housing and in a national anti-poverty strategy. We cannot let this situation get worse, but the government continues to be vague about its plan.When does this government plan on investing in social housing and preventing child homelessness?

Mr. Speaker, the clouds are looking darker and darker on the other side.The Panama papers gave us a glimpse into the troubling world of tax havens, and new reports raise questions about the Canada Revenue Agency's failure to act.A senior CRA employee crossed the floor to work for KPMG while the company was under investigation for setting up a tax sham. Why does the minister continue to defend the secret sweetheart deal for wealthy KPMG clients? How can Canadians take them seriously?

Mr. Speaker, back in September, the Prime Minister told the entire world that fighting AIDS was a priority. At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Canada was cutting funding to Dopamine, an organization that fights HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among drug users in Hochelaga. With criteria that remain unspecified, documents that are mistranslated or not translated at all, and botched decisions, the process surrounding the community initiatives fund is a complete boondoggle.Will the minister sit down with community groups in Quebec to find a solution to this disaster?

Mr. Speaker, if the Liberals were really willing to work with the opposition, they would not be ramming bills through the House and giving themselves false majorities on a committee.How can they claim that they want to end first past the post, and then strike a committee that models itself on first past the post?We are talking about a once-in-a-generation voting reform. Will the minister reconsider her decision to give Liberals the power to unilaterally change our voting system?

Mr. Speaker, one month ago, the community of Kashechewan declared a state of public health emergency. A month later, nothing has changed.A number of children are grappling with serious skin infections. The photos of these children are unsettling and disturbing. How can we let this happen to our children?It is no secret that there are problems with drinking water, mould, and housing. This is going to take more than a band-aid. What measures will the government take to fix these problems once and for all? These problems should not be happening in a country like ours.

Mr. Speaker, since 2012, Habitations Nicolet, a seniors' building in Hochelaga, has been undergoing major renovations that have forced the tenants out of their homes. That is six years of construction, all because funding for low-income housing renovations comes in dribs and drabs every year. Worse still, there are thousands of social housing units in Montreal that are currently boarded up. It is the most vulnerable who are paying for this lack of long-term vision.When will the Liberals stop with the lofty rhetoric and do something to put an end to these unacceptable delays?

Madam Speaker, I thank the government for that, but it has to be done very quickly.Under the current rules, the Canada Revenue Agency tells domestic abuse survivors that they have to contact their attacker to fill out a form if they want to get the child tax benefit. That is preposterous, not to mention dangerous. This CRA requirement needs to be removed.Will the Minister of National Revenue resolve this matter immediately and apologize to victims of domestic abuse?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's excuses for not signing the nuclear ban treaty are ridiculous, and they know it. Canada's absence from the nuclear ban negotiations was shameful. This is a crucial moment. At what point will the government stop taking its instructions from nuclear powers like the United States and start recognizing what the Nobel committee and most of the world already know, that nuclear weapons are illegal. When will Canada grow a spine and sign the treaty?

Mr. Speaker, the government needs to stop giving incomplete information. There is no rush.The professional associations are prepared. They have directives in place to protect the vulnerable. We need to get this right.The government is insisting on passing a bill that a number of experts have deemed unconstitutional. We are talking about charter rights. The government knows very well that its law will be challenged if it is not amended. When will the government work with the opposition to bring the bill in line with the charter?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals continue to hand out criminal records to Canadians, particularly young people and minority groups, for possession of marijuana. Every time we propose the decriminalization of marijuana as an interim measure, the Liberals say that we are against legalization, which is not true. We are against the fact that thousands of Canadians are being prosecuted in the meantime, since that affects the rest of their lives. Can the Prime Minister tell us how many people have been handed a criminal record since the last election?

Madam Speaker, yes, it is on the same subject as my point of order earlier. I am convinced that it is indeed a point of order. I had a conversation with the minister. I know she understands the problem, but I think she needs to apologize out of respect for the women who have been victims of abuse.

The minister is confused, Mr. Speaker.A secret document dated May 2011 showed that half of Afghan detainees had no connection to Taliban insurgents. Yesterday, an open letter signed by Canadian military police asked, “How and why did this disregard for our Canadian laws and values occur?” The government needs to provide an honest and comprehensive answer to that question so that this sort of thing never happens again.Will the Liberal government finally face up to its responsibilities and hold an independent public inquiry?

Madam Speaker, Canadians are facing a retirement security crisis. The minister has been briefed on the fact that Canada spends significantly less on public pensions than other OECD countries. He has been briefed on the reality that young people today simply are not able to save enough for retirement. When he meets with the provinces, will the minister make it crystal clear that the federal government believes CPP must be expanded so that Canadians can retire in dignity and security?

Mr. Speaker, the opioid abuse problem is so severe that life expectancy in Canada could drop for the first time in decades. Even President Trump has declared the opioid epidemic to be a national crisis in the United States. The longer the Liberals wait to take action, the worse the situation in Canada gets.When is the Prime Minister going to implement a national strategy to address the opioid crisis?

Mr. Speaker, the changes made to the Parliamentary Protective Service are not working.The House of Commons protective service officers have been without a contract since March, and negotiations have stalled. Furthermore, we recently learned that the employer has started threatening employees who are simply exercising their charter rights.Let me be clear. The colour of a baseball cap does not make me and my colleagues feel any less safe.Will the government amend the Parliament of Canada Act to guarantee the independence of the Parliamentary Protective Service?

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order.During question period, I asked a question about women who are victims of domestic violence. The Minister of Status of Women began her response with “Happy Friday”. I was asking a very serious question that required a very serious answer. Women who heard the minister are going to think that she does not take the problem—

Mr. Speaker, Canada is now the second largest exporter of weapons to the Middle East, behind only the United States, but when it comes to arms sales to Saudi Arabia, not only has the Minister of Foreign Affairs contradicted himself repeatedly, but Liberals also rejected a proposal from the NDP's foreign affairs critic to establish parliamentary oversight for all international arms sales. Will Liberals drop the excuses, embrace accountability, and agree to our proposal for better parliamentary oversight of weapons sales?

Mr. Speaker, an organization in my riding, Projet Harmonie, has been receiving funding since 1999 from the community action program for children. The organization offers services to extremely vulnerable young people, including some struggling with problems related to street gangs.As a result of a serious internal crisis and administrative management problems, which it has recognized, the organization's funding was cut. Project Harmonie has gotten back on track and would like to restore its partnership with the Public Health Agency.Will the minister step up and support this important organization?

Mr. Speaker, today's report from the correctional investigator highlights some troubling issues, in particular, the shocking rise in the number of indigenous people in prison. Over the past 10 years, the number of indigenous inmates has skyrocketed by more than 50%. This is another legacy of the federal government's systematic underfunding, from education to social services, to housing, to economic development.What is the government's plan to finally turn around decades of neglect for Canada's first peoples?

Madam Speaker, vague answers about pensions are always worrisome.Yesterday, the Minister of Finance tried to reassure us. The problem is that he finished his answer by saying, “I hope to have something positive to report to this House in the coming days.” No one can retire comfortably on hope.Will the minister commit to end the meeting with the provinces with nothing less than an agreement to enhance the pension plan?

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago the Prime Minister used his best negotiating tactic to forestall Trump to abolish tariffs on steel and aluminum. He was going to deprive the cameras of his presence at the signing of the USMCA. Great negotiating tactics.However, after all of that, the Prime Minister went ahead and signed the agreement without getting rid of the tariffs on steel and aluminum. The deal should not have been signed with these tariffs still in place. Why are the Liberals going ahead and betraying our steel and aluminum workers?

Mr. Speaker, forcing a so-called discussion paper on the committee is a monologue, not a dialogue.This Prime Minister promised to put an end to the concentration of power that began with his father's tenure, but instead he is preparing to ram through changes that will benefit the Liberals.Does the Prime Minister understand the difference between making things better for Parliament and making things better for the Liberals?

Mr. Speaker, in 2017, there were more than 4,000 opioid-related deaths in Canada. It seems that only the government does not understand the extent of the crisis, which is now moving into eastern Canada. In Hochelaga, the Dopalliés project reaches out to drug users to teach them about safe practices. It is working and saving lives, but we still do not know whether the funding will be renewed in April. This is urgent.What is the minister waiting for to renew programs that effectively address the opioid crisis?

Mr. Speaker, the report of the Special Committee on Electoral Reform was very clear. It reached consensus on a proportional voting system.In their testimony, several experts noted that a proportional voting system would result in more stable parliaments and would elect more women. For a Prime Minister who calls himself a feminist, it is odd that he would not want a system that would help elect more women to the House of Commons.Is the government's priority to help elect more women from the Liberal Party only?

Mr. Speaker, the government did things backwards yet again with this new dog and pony show. The Government of Quebec is not too happy about it either.When you cannot come to an agreement with partners as important as the provinces when you only shell out a quarter of the money that was announced, you do not go around bragging about how you invested $40 billion in housing. What a load of hooey.Will the government listen and respect the concept of asymmetry, or will it just impose its own decision yet again?

Mr. Speaker, over the years, countless plant closures have affected the economy in Montreal East. After the Shell refinery and Mabe Canada appliance plant, now the Mr. Christie's factory is closing in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.Within the next year 454 more good jobs will be lost in my riding. I met with the plant managers and we talked about solutions, but they were clear: the decision is final.Does the minister have a plan to ensure the survival and creation of good jobs in Montreal East?

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development announced an increase in the Canada child benefit. This is all well and good, but the government cannot fix poverty by mailing out some cheques. In the finance minister's riding, four out of 10 children live in poverty. A generous benefit helps, yes, but all families also need access to affordable day care.When will we see affordable day care?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister once said, “Canadians asked for open and honest government; instead they have been saddled with secrecy, cynicism and rampant ethical scandals.” He was talking about the Duffy scandal, but I understand your confusion, Mr. Speaker, because he could have said the exact same thing about his own government.When exactly does the Prime Minister think his sunny ways are going to clean up the government's secrecy, cynicism, and scandals?

Mr. Speaker, although it has taken a hard line in its negotiations with PSAC, the government is not even able to meet its own deadline for the Phoenix pay system.Public service employees deserve better than the financial problems they have experienced in the past three years because the government, their employer, has not even paid them. When will this government show some respect for its employees? Is the minister responsible for this fiasco able to tell us exactly when the Phoenix pay problems will be resolved?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals promised to fix the problems in the Conservatives' anti-terrorism bill, which was an unprecedented attack on Canadians' civil rights.The Privacy Commissioner sounded the alarm on the Liberals' Bill C-59 yesterday in committee. The thresholds for sharing information about Canadians among departments are still too low and must be more limited.Will the government finally agree to amend its bill to protect Canadians' civil rights?

Mr. Speaker, according to the 2016 census, the first nations population in Canada has increased by 43% since 2006. That is four times more than the non-indigenous population.Last year, one in five indigenous people lived in crowded homes and homes in need of major repair. That is shameful, and it is a federal responsibility.Will the minister immediately commit to implementing a targeted housing strategy for indigenous people living on and off reserve?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday we learned that Donald Trump wants to go after our industries yet again. First it was softwood lumber, now it is the aluminum industry that could suffer as a result of the American President's unjustified decisions. Yesterday, he announced that he will impose a 10% tariff on Canadian aluminum products. The aluminum industry is a huge employer in Quebec, and many jobs are in jeopardy as a result of these protectionist actions.Can our industries count on our government to stand up to Trump's protectionist policies?

Mr. Speaker, this makes absolutely no sense.The Liberals say they want to make our system more democratic, and yet they give themselves a majority on the committee. They want to include the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois, but they do not give those parties the right to vote.How can Canadians be sure that the process is not rigged from the start? Clearly, this reform is not off to a good start.Will the government admit its mistake and give all parties the right to vote in committee?

Mr. Speaker, the changes made to the Parliamentary Protective Service are not working.Employees of the House of Commons Parliamentary Protective Service have been working without a contract since 2016. Nothing has happened in two years. PPS management is required to initiate negotiations within the next 20 days. What is more, it seems that the employer has threatened employees who are exercising their Charter rights.Will the government amend the Parliament of Canada Act to protect the rights and independence of the Parliamentary Protective Service?

Mr. Speaker, today is National Housing Day. In the summary of the national housing strategy consultations, which was released this morning, the minister mentions the possibility of renewing the operating agreements with current operators that are set to expire. However, he made no mention of the agreements that have already expired. By the time a strategy is introduced in 2017, over 100,000 households will have lost their rent subsidies and may have to pay $200, $300, or $400 more a month for housing.Does the minster also intend to renew the funding for agreements that have already expired?

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals want to change the rules of the House under the guise of making Parliament more efficient.That party, which obtained only 39% of the vote in 2015, now wants to change the rules unilaterally. To hell with sunny ways.As a show of good faith, why do the Liberals not drop their plan, like they did for Motion No. 6, and create a committee whose membership is representative of the popular vote to look into the matter?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister loves to tell everyone how proud he is to be a feminist, but according to the Conference Board of Canada, his government is falling far short when it comes to closing the gender wage gap. Canadian citizens have been waiting years for policies that would help eliminate income inequality between men and women.The Prime Minister says all the right things to women in New York City, but when will he take action here at home to end this unfairness?

Mr. Speaker, there is a red light flashing in the Minister of Health's office, but she does not seem to see it. The Public Health Agency of Canada just released data showing that over 4,000 deaths occurred from opioids in 2017. That is an increase of 40%. Meanwhile, the Dopalliés project in in Hochelaga is in jeopardy because that same agency still refuses to renew its funding. How many more people must die before the minister intervenes?

Mr. Speaker, the last time that dairy farmers came to protest on the Hill, the government told them not to worry, that it would take 30 days to hold discussions and find a solution. It has been more than 30 days, and we still have nothing.Today, the farmers are back, and there are even more of them. For them, it is a matter of survival.Will the government finally listen to their pleas and fix the diafiltered milk problem once and for all?

Mr. Speaker, we are hearing plenty of rhetoric and talking points, but what farmers want is action.Dairy farmers are losing tens of thousands of dollars a week because the government continues to drag its feet. Our supply management system has helped our farmers prosper, but the many cracks are jeopardizing their future.When the government gives in to free trade agreements, it promises compensation, but no one has seen any cash yet.Why is the government treating our farmers with such contempt?

Mr. Speaker, we are facing a crisis situation in affordable housing. Canadians want action, not vague assurances with no clear commitments.Hundreds of thousands of Canadians risk losing their homes if the funding of the long-term agreements is not renewed. People are waiting 10 years for social housing.The Federation of Canadian Municipalities has identified housing as one of the most important issues facing cities of all sizes. Will the government sign new long-term agreements and start the money flowing for affordable housing immediately?

Mr. Speaker, it seems that taking $4.5 billion out of Canadians' pockets to buy a pipeline is in the national interest. As Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee of the Anishinabek Nation said, if the government is willing to take out its chequebook for something that will not contribute to a sustainable future, then it should also be prepared to sign a big cheque for women's rights, the health care system, indigenous people's rights, and child welfare.What are the Liberals' real priorities?

Mr. Speaker, the Waskahegen Corporation is a non-profit organization that provides affordable rental housing to urban indigenous Canadians. However, it has emerged that their tenants include some non-indigenous Canadians, even though many first nations members have been waiting for years to secure an apartment. Furthermore, discrimination already makes it harder for people from first nations to find housing.Will the minister ensure that the federal funding earmarked for off-reserve indigenous housing actually reaches its intended target?

Mr. Speaker, social housing stock in Canada is in rough shape. Over 170,000 people are on waiting lists. Many mayors and social housing leaders are meeting tomorrow in Toronto to sound the alarm. The government needs to do more, not less. Toronto is facing a repair backlog of $2.6 billion. The system is no longer working.Will the minister provide the funding needed to renovate existing social housing units and build new units, and will he resolve the long-term agreement issue once and for all?

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what they tried to make us believe, the Liberals never intended to recognize the right to housing. To no one's surprise, the government has embarked on another series of directed consultations, in which we are told that their so-called rights-based housing strategy is based on many things, except the implementation of the right to housing. If the government truly believes that housing is a right, will it at least have the courage to incorporate it into our human rights legislation?

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to political harassment against charities, the Liberals have picked up right where the Conservatives left off. The Canada Revenue Agency does not intend to abide by the court's decision. With its new rules, the CRA will continue to monitor all charitable organizations. However, the judge made it clear that organizations have the right to freedom of expression.Will the Liberals stop playing Big Brother and stop trying to scare charities?

Mr. Speaker, this weekend, the Prime Minister was proud to say that Quebec's voice is being heard in Ottawa. However, when it comes to assistance for Bombardier, the government has been feeding us the same old lines for months.The Liberals did not present any kind of plan to support the aerospace industry during the election campaign, nor have they done so since taking office. We are talking about an industry that provides direct employment for 76,000 Canadians, and over half of those jobs are in Quebec.Will the Prime Minister finally recognize how important this sector is to our economy and present a clear plan for the aerospace industry?

Mr. Speaker, workers like Neil, who participated in the interview yesterday, want practical measures and a plan. They want to know where we are headed.How is it that the Prime Minister has nothing meaningful to say? The manufacturing industry is a pillar of our economy.Other industries are having a difficult time too. Last week, jobs were lost at Transcontinental and Jean Coutu. It is time for the Prime Minister to listen to workers and do something for them.Where is the government's plan for good jobs?

Mr. Speaker, in an interview that was broadcast yesterday, an unemployed worker asked the Prime Minister what his plan was for the manufacturing sector. The Prime Minister did not provide a clear answer.In the past 10 years, over 400,000 good jobs have been lost in Canada's manufacturing industry. Workers, families, and communities are directly affected by the government's improvisation.Will the Prime Minister tell us whether he has, or does not have, a plan to support the manufacturing industry?

Mr. Speaker, this is yet another example of a government that talks a lot, but is always missing in action when it comes to making important decisions that affect entire indigenous communities.Last week it voted to support the rights of indigenous peoples. This week, it is voting against our motion, which is a concrete way to support these rights.Can the Liberals do more than just talk, and talk, and talk about the rights of indigenous people?

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot about how the government is making historic investments for first nations. With reserves facing a serious housing crisis, this morning, the government announced funding to build just 300 new units this year and next for the whole country despite the fact that, according to its own department, more than 20,000 new units are needed to address the crisis. Can the Prime Minister tell us exactly how funding for just 3% of the units this country needs is historic?

Mr. Speaker, in a video that went viral, five-year-old Brooke Blair gets angry with the British Prime Minister because she does not understand why people are living on the street and no one is doing anything about it.In her heartfelt appeal, she says:They “should be out there”. They should be “building houses”.Even a five-year-old knows that if we build more houses there will be fewer people on the street. The best investment is social housing.When will the minister announce long-term funding for social housing?

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Prime Minister proved our point: he does not need to change the rules in order to answer the opposition's questions. That is his job.Yet he is still bound and determined to take full control with no regard for our democracy.Will he stop fooling around and sit down with the opposition for a real conversation so we can get on with formulating unanimous recommendations to improve our parliamentary system?

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Boisvert retired from the CRA in April 2016. On June 15 of that year, she got a paycheque by mistake, and now she is being told to pay back the gross amount even though deductions were taken. She has taken steps to resolve the matter, but the full gross amount is being withheld from her severance pay. My office has been trying to reach someone since February to clean up this Phoenix mess, which comes on top of so many others, but nobody even acknowledges our communications.When will the minister help Ms. Boisvert and admit that her pay system is broken beyond repair?

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, the Liberal Party promised to invest $2.6 billion in new money for first nations education. That investment took into account funding already earmarked by the previous Conservative government.However, now we are learning that the cupboards are bare, and the $1.25 billion promised by the Conservatives was just virtual money.Will the government commit to reinvesting to make up for this shortfall in order to really help first nations' youth?

Mr. Speaker, today, we are celebrating Persons Day. This day marks the moment when the legal definition of person was finally broadened to include women.Unfortunately, still today, only 26% of the members of the House of Commons are women. For that reason, the NDP introduced a bill that will put measures in place to encourage more women to get involved in politics.Eighty-seven years later, will this government support our bill and finally put these measures in place?

Mr. Speaker, the Conseil des Montréalaises recently issued an opinion on homelessness among women. In Montreal and across Canada, homelessness among women is on the rise, but it remains hidden. This is something that affects indigenous and immigrant women more frequently, and homeless women are much more vulnerable to physical and sexual violence.The minister announced the creation of an advisory committee to overhaul the homelessness partnering strategy, or HPS. Will a gender-based analysis be done? Will the government invest the sums needed to prevent and eradicate this scourge?

Mr. Speaker, we are talking about children and youth in need. We are talking about communities with the highest drop-out rates and communities that need some hope. The Prime Minister himself promised these communities a new era of nation-to-nation relationships.Is this government going to keep repeating the same old story and continue ignoring our first nations?I want to know whether it is actually going to do something. Is the government really going to invest the funds promised?

Mr. Speaker, here is the reality. Here is what has been happening.By its own actions, the government showed a deep disrespect for Parliament this week. There are serious and substantial issues before the House. The Liberals are shutting down debate and stripping the ability of MPs to hold them to account.Whether they voted for a government or an opposition member, Canadians want their voices heard. When exactly did the Liberals decide to turn their back on sunny ways in favour of these strong arm tactics?

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister struts about the international stage bragging about how he is a champion of the environment. Lucky for him not everyone reads Canadian newspapers, because then they would realize that, instead of walking the talk, he took $4.5 billion in taxpayers' money and bought a pipeline.The Liberals promised to be champions of renewable energy. Why are they breaking their promise? Why invest in yesterday's energy sources rather than in the energy sources of the future?

Mr. Speaker, Senate Liberal leader James Cowan has now joined the growing number of Canadians saying that Bill C-14 is likely unconstitutional. Cowan said that this government legislation is so flawed that Canadians would be better off with no legislation at all. This bill does not respect the Supreme Court's decision, and it will be tied up in courts for years. Instead of ramming through Bill C-14, will the government listen to James Cowan and work on getting the bill right the first time?

Mr. Speaker, 65% of federal funding to fight homelessness is allocated to the housing first approach. That leaves only 35% of the funding for the homelessness partnering strategy for other types of intervention, including prevention.Crisis centres are having to close beds for lack of funding. Quebec is pleading for a return to a general homelessness strategy. This week, I introduced two bills; the first is on recognizing the right to housing, and the second aims to establish a national housing strategy.Will the government support these bills so that people no longer end up in the street? Will the government respect Quebec's wishes?

Mr. Speaker, it is hard to believe but, just four years ago, this Prime Minister did not hesitate to criticize the Conservative government for its ethical lapses, particularly in the case of the Senate expense scandal.We know that the Liberals like using the hashtags #realchange and #raisethebar, but we are less certain about whether they really believe in those things.Will the Prime Minister do the right thing and really raise the bar on accountability?

By using the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, Mr. Speaker? One thing we know for sure is that the Liberals are smooth talkers. This week's budget includes a nice bunch of announcements, but considering all of the 2015 promises they have broken, can we really trust them? Canada's housing crisis is not letting up. Right now, 1.5 million households are in urgent need of housing. Waiting lists for social housing are longer than ever, and the social housing stock is in terrible shape. Why is there nothing in the budget to help people with inadequate housing right away?

Mr. Speaker, I guess it is all about him.The opioid crisis is claiming more and more victims every day. The situation is getting worse in Montreal, as it is elsewhere. The Liberals claim to be doing everything in their power to address the crisis, but that is not true. They could be doing much more.Will the Liberals finally declare that this is a national public health emergency, as the NDP has been calling for for two years, and invest additional resources to truly address this issue?

Mr. Speaker, having14 people squeeze into a two-bedroom home with walls that are black with mould is the reality faced by too many indigenous Canadians living on reserves. If they choose to leave, they end up much more vulnerable to marginalization, discrimination, and homelessness.We have had two years of talk from the Prime Minister. Now it is time for action.Will the minister work in partnership with indigenous peoples to implement a focused strategy that comes with immediate funding to tackle the growing indigenous housing crisis?

Mr. Speaker, today, representatives of the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, the CHRA, across Canada were on Parliament Hill to talk to us about housing.They are concerned about rent subsidies disappearing when social and co-operative housing agreements expire. This year alone, over 140,000 households are in danger of losing their subsidies. The minister responsible for housing has a mandate to address this urgent matter, but has done so only with temporary measures. What is the minister's long-term plan?

Mr. Speaker, far too many first nations peoples are living in atrocious conditions. The current crisis in northern Ontario is just the latest example. This is unacceptable and intolerable. We have a duty to help them and to rectify decades, or even centuries, of injustice.In the next budget, will the government commit to funding first nations health care services to the same standard as services for other Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, they gave us the same old story as the former Conservative government, and they even went further.They want to give themselves all the power in the House in order to force us to pass their problem-riddled bill, to force us to accept the loss of 2,400 jobs at Aveos, even though that broke the law, and to force us to accept their solution to medical assistance in dying, even if it goes against the Supreme Court ruling.When exactly did the Liberals decide to move from their sunny ways to bully tactics?

Mr. Speaker, given that the government has begun a new round of consultations on a human rights-based approach to housing, I rise today on a point of order to seek the unanimous consent of the House to table, in both official languages, the brief I submitted for the consultations on a national housing strategy that reflects the will of these groups, calling for just such a human rights-based approach, formally recognizing the right of every person to housing, incorporating that principle into our human rights legislation, and taking the necessary measures to eliminate the obstacles preventing the full implementation of that right.