Discussion · Oral Questions
Yves Perron Bloc Québécois
“This budget does not give Quebec more health care money. It also does not repay Quebec the nearly $700 million it spent to welcome asylum seekers. The government has delayed paying this debt for too long, and I want them to pay Quebeckers back.”
“Mr. Speaker, Quebec had two demands with respect to this budget: health care and the reimbursement of nearly $700 million owed to Quebec for welcoming asylum seekers, because we are the ones looking after them. The federal government has been dragging its feet on this debt to Quebec since 2024, when Quebec was taking in a disproportionate share of asylum seekers, without the federal government providing any assistance or ensuring fair distribution. As the saying goes, a debt paid is a friend kept. On this issue, however, the federal government has not been treating Quebec like a friend. Why do the Liberals have money for everything except repaying their debts to Quebeckers?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, Quebec had two demands with respect to this budget: health care and the reimbursement of nearly $700 million owed to Quebec for welcoming asylum seekers, because we are the ones looking after them. The federal government has been dragging its feet on this debt to Quebec since 2024, when Quebec was taking in a disproportionate share of asylum seekers, without the federal government providing any assistance or ensuring fair distribution. As the saying goes, a debt paid is a friend kept. On this issue, however, the federal government has not been treating Quebec like a friend. Why do the Liberals have money for everything except repaying their debts to Quebeckers?