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Democratic Institutions

In question period on democratic institutions, Bloc Québécois members said the Liberal government is repeatedly cutting off debate on its bills despite having a majority, asking whether it is rushing legislation through and concentrating power in cabinet. The Bloc specifically objected to closure on Bill C-22, which it described as allowing surveillance of citizens, seizure of data without authorization and phone tracking, and said the deadline for amendments favoured government members. Liberals replied that the government has a lot to get done and that Bill C-30 helps families and workers and grows the economy, and on Bill C-22, the Minister said Quebec police forces have asked for tools to fight crimes such as coercion and child pornography, which the Bloc opposes.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“The government keeps cutting off debate on its bills, even though it already has the votes to pass them. I want to know if the Liberals are rushing these bills to hide how they are abusing their power.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are confusing their parliamentary majority with the right to do what they want, when they want. The time allocations never seem to stop, which is especially odd considering that their bills are certain to pass. Yesterday, it was Bill C‑30, which authorizes the government to approve the use of previously banned pesticides. Today, it is Bill C‑22, which authorizes the invasive surveillance of Canadians. That comes on top of lots of other legislation, like the legislation arising from Bill C‑5, under which the Prime Minister is giving himself the power to circumvent laws. Are the Liberals so quick to resort to time allocations because they want to keep the public in the dark about the scope of their abuse of power?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“I want the House to pass this budget bill. It helps families and workers, and it will grow the economy in Quebec and across Canada.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Quebeckers and Canadians see is that we have a lot to get done. I am pleased to speak to Bill C‑30, a bill that is going to help families and workers, and that contains important measures for advancing Canada’s economy. I am sure that our Bloc Québécois colleagues want to contribute to building a more prosperous Quebec. On this side of the House, we will always stand up, we will always be ready to work, and together, we are going to drive the economy of this country and the economy of Quebec forward.

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Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The Prime Minister ignores Parliament and forces harsh laws through without debate. He takes too much power for his cabinet and helps American companies instead of standing up to Donald Trump. He broke his promises to Quebec.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our Prime Minister has nothing but contempt for the work of Parliament. He is ramming through draconian laws using closure. He is concentrating all powers in hands of cabinet. He is using those powers to deregulate industry for the benefit of primarily American companies or to suspend certain laws. On the international stage, he says that he wants to form an alliance of middle powers against Donald Trump, but in real life, he is making concession after concession to the U.S. President. The Liberals promised Quebeckers a green banker. They promised a strongman who would stand up to Washington. How have we ended up with neither?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Quebec voters chose Liberal members of Parliament because we build the economy and protect the environment. We connect Quebec to the rest of Canada, while the Bloc Québécois would hold us back.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when we listen to the Bloc Québécois, we have no trouble understanding why Quebeckers made the wise choice to send 44 Quebec members to this side of the House. Our members are firmly focused on building our economy while protecting our environment. They are idealists and pragmatists who know how to build one Canadian economy, as we are doing in Contrecoeur, at the port of Quebec and with the high-speed rail project between Quebec City and Toronto. We know the members of the Bloc Québécois and their political masters in Quebec City would set us back 30 years. They think an independent Quebec would not need to be connected to its main economic partner, Ontario. In the words of one PQ intellectual, it is disheartening to—

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Claude DeBellefeuille

Bloc Québécois
“The government is shutting down debate on this bill. We need more time to study it because it lets the government spy on people, take data without permission, and track phones. The government also unfairly set the deadline for changes so only their own members could make them. I want them to stop this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, this government is subverting democracy by shutting down the debate on Bill C-22. Even though it has a majority, integrity demands proper scrutiny before we pass a bill that allows the surveillance of all citizens, the seizure of data without authorization and the tracking of phones. To add insult to injury, the closure motion also imposes a retroactive deadline for the submission of amendments. What a coincidence: The deadline was precisely when the Liberal members proposed their amendments. This is an utterly reprehensible case of parliamentary insider trading. Will they stop this shift toward authoritarianism?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Police in Quebec have asked for tools to stop crime, including child abuse and coercion. The Bloc Québécois opposes these tools, but our government will give police what they need to fight crime.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois should know that Quebeckers are just as concerned about crime, especially crimes involving coercion and child pornography. For a long time now, law enforcement agencies, police officers and municipal police forces in Quebec have been asking us to provide them with the tools they need to apprehend criminals and prevent this type of crime. The Bloc Québécois opposes these measures, but the government is determined. We will fight crime both in Quebec and everywhere else.

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More from sitting 138

All 39 items ·
  1. Oral Questions The Economy 12 statements
  2. Oral Questions Democratic Institutions 6 statements
  3. Oral Questions Small Business 14 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 10 statements
  5. Oral Questions Agriculture and Agri-Food 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  7. Oral Questions Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship 2 statements
  8. Oral Questions Health 7 statements
  9. Oral Questions Employment 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Public Safety 6 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  12. Oral Questions Public Safety 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  15. Oral Questions Transportation 4 statements
  16. Private Members' Business Private Members' Business 3 statements
  17. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 18 statements
  18. Private Members' Business Spectrum Policy Framework for Canada Act 8 statements
  19. Government Orders Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22 82 statements
  20. Government Orders Government Orders 3 statements
  21. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 5 statements