Joël Godin

“A company pays $13,500 to lease a site, but charges the government $20 million. At the same time, the government focuses on dental care while people cannot afford food. I am asking my colleague if this government is acting responsibly with our money.”

“Madam Speaker, I listened to the speech by my colleague from Beauce, and I found it interesting when he talked about responsibility. He explained how the provincial government is leasing the site to the company in question for $13,500, while that company is billing the Canadian government $20 million. It is absurd. Does my colleague believe this government is acting responsibly? I heard the procurement minister say this week that dental care programs were being offered, while we were bringing up food banks and how much Canadians are struggling to put food on the table. I would like to hear my colleague’s thoughts on whether this Liberal government is acting responsibly.”

“The government's plans are not working. A new report shows more people across the country need help from food banks, including many people who work full time. The government should remove all federal taxes on diesel to lower the cost of groceries.”

“Mr. Speaker, what they have done is not working. The Liberals keep telling us that they have introduced a whole suite of measures but, as I was saying, they are not working. It is time for them to come back down to earth. This morning, the Food Banks Canada report shows that food insecurity is getting worse across the country. In Quebec, more than one-third of those seeking help actually work full time. Why not adopt our proposal to abolish all federal taxes on diesel in order to bring down the cost of groceries and give Canadian families some breathing room?”

“The government's plans are not working, and the latest unemployment numbers prove it. After 11 years in power, the government needs to take responsibility. Will it admit that Canada is in an economic crisis?”

“Madam Speaker, simply put, the hundreds of announcements that were made this summer are not working. We saw the unemployment rate this morning. The Liberal government has been in office for 11 years and it has to accept responsibility for the current situation. Will the government acknowledge that Canada is in a difficult economic situation and that Canadians are experiencing an affordability crisis? Families will be feeling the effects of that crisis even more acutely this Thanksgiving weekend. If we want to find solutions, we need to admit that there is a problem. Will the government acknowledge the situation and admit that we are in the midst of a crisis?”

“Quebec held an election on Monday. I congratulate the four new provincial members elected in my riding and thank the outgoing members for their service. I promise to work with the new members to help our communities.”

“Madam Speaker, the riding of Saint-Augustin—Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier comprises four constituencies in the National Assembly. On Monday, Quebeckers exercised their right to vote. I would like to congratulate the new member for La Peltrie, Maïté Blanchette Vézina, as well as new members Karim Elayoubi, for Chauveau; Marcos Archambault, for Louis‑Hébert; and Marcel Bouchard, for Portneuf. Representing constituents is both a privilege and a responsibility. I would like to wish them every success and assure them of my full co-operation. I would also like to thank the outgoing members of the National Assembly, Éric Caire, Sylvain Lévesque, Geneviève Guilbault and Vincent Caron, for their service over the past several years. Their commitment to serving our society deserves our respect and gratitude. I thank them for their dedication and their contribution. I would also like to acknowledge the 24 candidates who stood for election. Democracy has spoken. Let us now work together to serve our communities and keep the interests of our citizens at the forefront of everything we do.”

“I want the government to vote for our motion to lower the tax on diesel. Cheaper diesel will cut costs for farmers, truckers, and businesses. That will help lower grocery prices for families.”

“Mr. Speaker, as elected officials, our number one responsibility toward the voters who put their trust in us is to do everything we can to improve their daily lives. Today, after question period, we will be voting on a motion moved by the members of the official opposition. It calls on the government to implement practical measures to reduce the cost of diesel. At a time when Canadians are being hit hard by inflation, lowering the tax on diesel could have an immediate impact on the operating costs of our farmers, truckers and businesses. Ultimately, it would help lower the cost of the groceries families buy every week, which means that every generation would benefit: our families, our young people and our seniors. I urge the Liberal government to support our motion. When we have an opportunity to help Canadians save money and enhance our energy self-sufficiency, we would do well to work together without partisanship. Let us put Canadians’ interests first.”

“Canadians are struggling to pay for rent, gas, and groceries. I want the government to lower these costs right now. We should cut taxes on new home building, pause federal fuel taxes until Canada Day, and remove the sales tax on Canadian-made cars.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are big on talk and short on results. They are trying to convince us otherwise, but Canadians are struggling under the weight of rising rents, transportation costs, and grocery prices. Canadians and the people of Saint-Augustin—Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier deserve better. The government needs to take real, immediate action so that people can pay their bills. This is what the Conservatives propose. First, lower the cost of housing by cutting federal tax on the construction of new housing and by encouraging municipalities to issue permits faster, free up land and lower costs. Second, lower the cost of fuel, which will lower the cost to motorists and lower the cost of transporting the products that end up in our grocery baskets. We propose cutting all federal fuel taxes until Canada Day. Third, cut the GST on vehicles made in Canada to make them more affordable and to protect our auto industry. Canadians want concrete and effective measures now.”

“The government's programs are not working. People in my community still cannot afford food and rent. The government should adopt our plans so Canadians can keep more of their money.”

“Mr. Speaker, what is unfortunate is that the Liberals are accusing us of voting against programs that they put in place. They put them in place anyway because they have a majority. However, the fact is that it is not working. Sophie, a mother of three in my community, is desperate for food assistance and rental assistance. She is thinking of declaring bankruptcy. My colleagues heard that right: She is thinking of declaring bankruptcy. This is serious. Will the Liberals adopt our proposals so that Canadians like Sophie can keep more money in their pockets?”

“Canadians are struggling to afford food and housing. I want the Prime Minister to admit his spending caused this crisis.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government has been in power for 11 years and it is still coming up with plans and conducting analyses. Meanwhile, Canadians are desperate. While 2.2 million Canadians are being forced to turn to food banks, 38% are experiencing food insecurity and families are spending more than 120% of their income on housing and groceries, the Liberals are continuing with their inflationary spending. Why is the Prime Minister refusing to admit that his policies created this cost of living crisis?”

“Federal prisons have become more violent under the Liberals, with staff shortages, assaults, and murders. Correctional officers need better tools to do their jobs. I want the government to make our prisons safe again.”

“Mr. Speaker, that is another meaningless answer. It is lost. The Liberals think they have control of everything, but they should be serving the people instead of using them. After 11 years of this Liberal government and the passage of Bill C-83 in 2019, we are seeing the consequences in our prisons: increased violence, staff shortages, repeated inmate-on-inmate assaults and multiple murders. Donnacona’s correctional officers have called for concrete tools. When will the Liberal government fix its mistakes and restore safety in our prisons?”

“Canada is in a recession, and people cannot afford groceries. The Liberals need to admit their plan is not working and fix this.”

“Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate to hear what we just heard. It is rather pathetic to be rejoicing about the fact that the government has to give Canadians money so that they can afford to eat. Canada is the only G20 country that is in a recession. The Liberals have a long list of excuses. Meanwhile, seniors are being forced to cut back on groceries. Families are being forced to make big sacrifices to make ends meet. The Liberals need to admit that what they are doing is not working. They need to quickly find solutions to stop this decline. That said, they need to start by admitting that we are in recession.”

• Echo ×104

  A repeated line

  “Canada is the only G20 country in a recession.”

  Said 104 times by 61 members since May 29.

  Every time it was said →

“Canada is in a recession. The Prime Minister's economic plan is not working. I want him to admit that we are in a recession.”

“Mr. Speaker, it is all well and good to create a diversion. The Liberals are experts at that. We are in a recession. Only the Liberals fail to see that. They make excuses. The President of the United States is being blamed for a lot of things. The so-called saviour of the Canadian economy, our Prime Minister, should be coming up with solutions, because his plan is not working. Will this Prime Minister accept the situation and admit that our country is in a recession?”

• Personal attack
  ?

  Opposition question in Question Period

  Respect 76 of 100

  This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “The so-called saviour of the Canadian economy, our Prime Minister”.

  See full analysis →

“I want the government to take real action to make life better for Canadians. Seniors are skipping meals, and young people cannot afford homes. The Prime Minister asks others to sacrifice while he spends lavishly on himself.”

“Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to my colleague, we are not pleased. We want the Liberal government, which has been in power for 11 years, to take meaningful action to ensure that Canadians have a better quality of life. Our seniors have to skip meals just to put food on the table. Our children have to give up their dream of owning a home. Last year, this same Prime Minister asked young people to make sacrifices. Obviously the Prime Minister has to eat, but could he show a little more judgment? There is a huge difference between baloney and caviar. Will the Liberal Prime Minister—”

“Gas costs 40 cents more per litre today than it did in 2014, even though oil prices are the same. I blame Liberal policies for this. I want the Prime Minister to help Canadians afford their lives.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are out of touch, which is unfortunate. The member should have listened to my question. I will ask another one. There was a global energy crisis in 2014. The price of a barrel of oil was $100, but the price at the pump was only $1.34 a litre. That was during the Harper era. Today, the price of a barrel of oil is the same, but gas costs 40¢ more per litre. That is the result of Liberal policies. Will the Liberal Prime Minister take the bull by the horns and implement measures to help Canadians make ends meet?”

• Echo ×3

  A repeated line

  “The price of a barrel of oil was $100, but the price at the pump was only $1.34 a litre.”

  Said 3 times by 2 members since May 5.

  Every time it was said →

“Life costs too much, and young Canadians are struggling. The government has increased the deficit and its fuel tax relief is not enough. I want the Prime Minister to help taxpayers instead of protecting his tax money.”

“Wow, Mr. Speaker. Canada’s prosperity depends on the high-speed rail project and our young people will be the ones to benefit from it, but in the meantime, we have a problem. They are living in poverty and struggling to make ends meet. The fact of the matter is that Canadians are struggling because the cost of living is too high and the Liberals are continuing to impoverish law-abiding taxpayers. Let us not be fooled. The deficit has risen exponentially on this Liberal Prime Minister’s watch. Will he finally admit that these half measures on the fuel tax are not enough? Why is this Liberal Prime Minister more interested in protecting his tax revenue than in—”