Alexis Deschênes

“Seasonal workers in my riding are struggling with debt and gaps in their employment insurance. The government must fix employment insurance so these workers do not run out of money in the spring.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my riding neighbour for his speech. He and I represent ridings where seasonal work is a reality. According to the IMF, Canada’s household debt is one of the highest in the world right now. Those most often affected are low-income earners, our seasonal workers, the very people who are indispensable in economic sectors that serve as pillars of our regions, such as the fishing industry. I recently met Lise Lapierre of E. Gagnon & Fils, in Sainte-Thérèse-de-Gaspé. She spends long hours pushing carts full of crabs and lobsters. In spite of everything, she is dealing with the EI spring gap. This year, it lasted from March through mid-April. Does my colleague not think that, to address the economic situation, this government needs to wake up and quickly reform employment insurance to put an end to the spring gap for seasonal workers?”

“Quebec forestry companies are struggling because of high export duties. Hundreds of jobs are at risk. The government must do more to support these businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, my colleague wanted to talk about natural resources in particular. One economic sector in serious difficulty in Quebec is the forestry industry. In the Gaspé, where I come from, forestry businesses are often family-owned. Those that export their products have been hit with 45% countervailing duties since October. One business operating in my riding is struggling financially. I am talking about Damabois, which has plants in Cap‑Chat and Matane. Two hundred jobs across Quebec could be at risk. Clearly, the government is not doing enough to support the forestry industry. Does my colleague agree with me that the government should do more to support Quebec forestry companies?”

“Canadians have some of the highest household debt in the world. Seasonal workers are hurt the most when their employment insurance runs out in the spring before their jobs start again. I want to know when the government will fix this gap.”

“Madam Speaker, despite everything my colleague said, the fact remains that Canada has the highest level of household debt in the world, or one of the highest in the world, according to the IMF. The people most affected by that are those with the lowest earnings: seasonal workers who are struggling to get enough EI, given the rising cost of rent and groceries. I want to share the story of Lise Lapierre, whom I met at the E. Gagnon & Fils plant in Sainte‑Thérèse‑de‑Gaspé. Her EI ran out so she had no benefits coming in from early March to mid-April, so she evidently had no option but to go into debt. When will the government finally take action and put an end to the spring gap in EI?”

“The immigration minister says he supports fair distribution, but he has not offered any real plans. Why is he waiting for our report instead of acting now?”

“Mr. Chair, rather than taking immediate action, why is the minister, who claims to support the idea of equitable distribution but has failed to present any concrete proposals, still waiting for our report after several months as head of the Department of Immigration?”

“Will the minister look at how Europe shares the responsibility of housing asylum seekers?”

“Mr. Chair, does the minister intend to draw on practices in Europe, in particular, to establish a process for the distribution of asylum seekers?”

“Does the minister know that Germany, Denmark, and the European Union have rules to share asylum seekers among different places?”

“Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that, within the European Union, in Germany, and also in Denmark, procedures for the distribution of asylum seekers have been put in place?”

“The minister needs to admit that nothing has improved and the situation is still just as bad as it was in 2024.”

“Mr. Chair, should the minister not acknowledge that there has been no progress and that the situation is still as bad as it was in 2024?”

“The minister says she wants to share asylum seekers fairly across Canada, but that is not happening. Quebec has 22% of Canada's population, but it takes in more than 38% of all asylum seekers. I want to know why she thinks that is a success.”

“Mr. Chair, the minister tells us that she believes in the goal that is the equitable distribution of asylum seekers. She even tells us that it is a success. She explains that the number of asylum seekers is decreasing, which does not answer the question. The question is that there is currently an inequitable distribution of asylum seekers and that Quebec receives more than 38% of all asylum seekers while accounting for only 22% of the population. Where does the minister see success in that?”

“I want the minister to explain how the government has succeeded at sharing asylum seekers fairly across Canada.”

“Mr. Chair, I would ask the minister to explain where the success is when it comes to the equitable distribution of asylum seekers.”

“The minister says our asylum system works well, but it does not. Quebec is still taking in far more than its fair share of asylum seekers.”

“Mr. Chair, the number of asylum seekers is one thing. The distribution of asylum seekers across Canada is another. How can the minister say today that this is a success when the situation has not changed, and Quebec continues to take in a disproportionate share of asylum seekers relative to its demographic weight within the Canadian federation?”

“Quebec still takes in almost twice its share of asylum seekers based on its population. I want to know why the minister calls this a success.”

“Mr. Chair, how can the minister call a situation that has not improved a success? Quebeckers still receive nearly twice as many asylum seekers as they should, given their demographic weight within Canada.”

“Quebec has only 22 percent of Canada's people, but takes in nearly 39 percent of all asylum seekers. How can the minister say this system is working?”

“Mr. Chair, how can the minister call the current situation a success, when Quebec represents 22% of Canada’s population but accepts 38.78% of all asylum seekers in Canada?”

“I want the minister to explain why asylum seekers are still not being shared fairly among the provinces.”

“Mr. Chair, how does the minister explain that, despite her efforts and the voluntary action of some provinces, the distribution of asylum seekers is still so unfair in Canada?”

“Does the minister admit that the government's work has failed, things are still not shared fairly, and the last minister did a bad job?”

“Mr. Chair, does the minister acknowledge that efforts to date have not borne fruit, that the distribution is still inequitable and that her predecessor failed to meet expectations?”

“Asylum seekers are still not being shared fairly across the country. I want to know if the former minister failed to fix this problem.”

“Mr. Chair, the distribution of asylum seekers is still just as inequitable as it was when the minister got the job. Is she telling us that Mr. Miller, her predecessor, was unable to solve the problem—”

“Asylum claims are dropping, but Quebec still takes in almost 39% of asylum seekers while making up only 22% of Canada's population. I want the minister to admit her plan has failed.”

“Mr. Chair, the number of asylum seekers does indeed appear to be falling, but the distribution remains as unfair as ever. Quebec receives 38.78% of all asylum seekers, even though it accounts for just 22% of the Canadian population. Will the minister acknowledge to the House that, so far, her efforts have failed?”

“Quebec still has 39% of Canada's asylum seekers. Will the minister admit that her plan to share them fairly has failed?”

“Mr. Chair, the minister recognizes that it is important to distribute asylum seekers fairly. She is working towards that objective. However, the figures show that, as of April 1, Quebec is still home to 39% of all asylum seekers in Canada. Will she acknowledge that, so far, this plan has failed?”