Joël Lightbound

In response to a question from Christine Normandin

“The Bloc Québécois should support the Churchill Falls project. It is the largest clean energy project, and the head of Hydro-Québec says it will bring wealth, cheap power, and clean energy to Quebec.”

“Mr. Speaker, what is absolutely mind-boggling when listening to the Bloc Québécois is that they can say that and, at the same time, mock the Churchill Falls project, which is the largest renewable energy project. I would like to recall what the president of Hydro-Québec said about the Churchill Falls project ensuring prosperity for a generation of Quebeckers, affordable electricity rates in Quebec, and clean, renewable energy. I cannot comprehend in what kind of world the Bloc Québécois is unable to rally behind a project that holds such promise for Quebec.”

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In response to a question from Joël Godin

“Our programs are working. In the member's riding, thousands of families get child benefit money, and thousands of people now have dental care. He voted against dental care, and he needs to start voting for what helps his constituents.”

“Mr. Speaker, if the member believes these measures are not working, then he should explain that to the 24,366 children and their families who receive $80 million annually through the Canada child benefit. He should also explain it to the 23,855 people in his riding who now have access to dental care through the Canadian dental care plan, a program he voted against. He should tell them that the program does not work, that it is not important, that the dental care that they and every Canadian should have access to makes no difference, and that the support this program provides is somehow not working. I urge him to come to his senses and, at the very least, start voting in the interests of his constituents.”

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In response to a question from Andréanne Larouche

“This bill encourages employers and unions to make deals together. It also helps get major projects built across the country. The opposition leader was wrong to dismiss the Churchill Falls project, which Hydro-Québec calls the biggest renewable energy project in North America.”

“Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my opposition colleague, and I thank her for her question. However, that is not our vision at all. What we are trying to do is encourage the parties to reach an agreement, because we believe that the best agreement is always the one that is reached at the bargaining table. That is our aim here. The objective of Bill C‑39 is to get major projects built across the country. I want to point out that the last time we were in the House, the member’s leader mocked the project in Churchill Falls, saying that our major project was in Newfoundland and Labrador, as though the Churchill Falls project would have no impact whatsoever on Quebec. That is a very narrow-minded view that I find quite baffling. To quote the CEO of Hydro-Québec, Churchill Falls is the largest renewable energy project in North America. Prosperity—”

• Echo ×7

  A repeated line

  “I have a great deal of respect for my colleague.”

  Said 7 times by 6 members since April 24.

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In response to a question from Pierre Poilievre

“For 20 years, the member has argued about words instead of helping people. He did not support our benefits for groceries and children, or our school food program. These programs directly help millions of families.”

“Mr. Speaker, for 20 years, this member has been debating semantics in the House. However, for 20 years, whenever the time has come to actually support people, he has not stepped up. He did not step up for the 12 million Canadians who have access to the Canada groceries and essentials benefit or for the six million children who have access to the Canada child benefit. I should also mention the 400,000 children who are benefiting from Canada’s national school food program. These are concrete measures that are having a direct impact on the lives of families in Canada.”

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In response to a question from Greg Fergus

“I want the House to pass this bill. The world is dangerous, and our military needs equipment faster. This bill will speed up how we buy defence supplies, make more of them in Canada, and create good jobs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hull—Aylmer for his question. In a world that is more divided and dangerous than ever, it is truly vital to give the Canadian Armed Forces the equipment they need to protect us. This has to happen quickly. That is why I am so proud that we introduced Bill C‑40, the strengthening Canada’s defence sector act, to bring procurement and investment together. The goal is to act more quickly, ensure that there are economic benefits for Canadians and have more direct, modern business practices. That is what we need to help strengthen our domestic production, meet the needs of the armed forces and support good jobs across the country.”

In response to a question from Gabriel Ste-Marie

“Homelessness is a crisis in Quebec and across Canada. We want to cut it in half. We plan to take big action and work closely with Quebec to do it.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for the question. This is an extremely important issue. In Quebec and Canada, we are facing a homelessness crisis that we intend to tackle through bold and ambitious action. Our goal is to cut homelessness in half in this country. This is one of the issues on which our government intends to work closely with the Government of Quebec.”

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In response to a question from Eric Duncan

“Our policy requires the government to buy Canadian goods for projects over $5 million. We chose to support Canadian workers and businesses. The contract the member is criticizing protects 1,700 jobs and 600 suppliers in London.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the buy Canadian policy that we announced in December. It now applies to procurements above $5 million. When we look at the numbers the member is referring to, we have made a choice to encourage investment in Canada and to prioritize Canadian content. This means contracts like the one to General Dynamics in London, with 1,700 employees in London, workers in London, and 600 suppliers. That is the kind of contract the member says our government should not do, one that is supporting Canadian industry and Canadian workers here at home and incentivizing Canadian content.”

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In response to a question from Andréanne Larouche

“The backlog of pension payments is real and needs to be fixed. It is going down every month as we fix mistakes. We had to switch to a new system because the old one put seniors' benefits at risk. Millions of seniors are getting paid, and we will keep working to clear the backlog.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure my colleague. She is right. The backlogs we are seeing need to be reduced. They keep going down, month after month, because every effort is being made to respond to these errors and ensure that all seniors who are entitled to old age security receive accurate payments. However, there are 7.7 million seniors in Canada who have been receiving their benefits since the system was implemented in March 2025. It is important to note that the alternative was an outdated system that jeopardized the benefits seniors rely on. Switching to a new system was essential. We will keep working to reduce the backlog, as we have been doing for months.”

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In response to a question from Kyle Seeback

“Our policy supports Canadian workers and brings investment to Canada. It is working. Stopping these investments would hurt thousands of jobs at major companies across the country.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will happily explain. It is because we made a deliberate decision to favour Canadian content and attract investment in Canada. If the member is suggesting that we should stop investing in General Dynamics, for instance, to build these LAVs for the Canadian Armed Forces, he should tell that to his colleague, the member for London—Fanshawe. He should say that to our colleagues from across the country who depend on these jobs in their ridings. We are talking about 5,000 jobs for IBM and 5,300 jobs for Microsoft Canada. This was a deliberate choice to increase Canadian content, and our policy is working.”

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In response to a question from Andrew Lawton

“Our buy Canadian policy has been in place since December. We have awarded or started more than $22 billion in contracts to support Canadian businesses and goods. The companies being criticized employ thousands of Canadians.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that the buy Canadian policy has been in place since December for procurement in Canada. More than $22 billion in contracts are either in progress or have been awarded under the buy Canadian policy. This policy aims to encourage the use of Canadian suppliers, but also, and especially, Canadian content. According to the article so frequently quoted since this morning, many companies employ thousands of Canadians across the country.”

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In response to a question from Natilien Joseph

“Our government helps Canadians with housing, cheaper gas, child care, and dental care. Today, we are giving grocery money to 12 million people, including $340 for a family of four. This will lift 67,000 people out of poverty.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his excellent question. It is true that one of the government’s key roles is to ensure that each and every citizen can reach their full potential. The government can help the people, whether it is through social housing, the suspension of the gas tax, the Canada child benefit or the Canadian dental care plan. Today, on October 5, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit that we introduced is being deposited into the accounts of 12 million Canadians. This amounts to $340 for a family of four. This measure reduces poverty for 67,000 Canadians, lifting them out of poverty. This is essential, and I thank my colleague for his work and support.”

In response to a question from Andréanne Larouche

“Those numbers are wrong. The new software for senior benefits did not cost that much, and it works for over seven million people. There was a backlog, but we cut it by more than half. We are working hard to make sure seniors get their money on time.”

“Mr. Speaker, those numbers are way off base. That is not at all what it cost to implement this old age security software, which serves 7.7 million seniors. It works. It is true, however, that there is a backlog, but it has been reduced by more than half in recent months. Every effort is being made to ensure that seniors who are entitled to old age security are getting the correct amount of benefits on time. We will continue this very important work for Quebec seniors.”

In response to a question from Pierre Poilievre

“The Conservative leader talks loudly, but he voted against dental care and child benefits for tens of thousands of people in his own riding.”

“Mr. Speaker, the real question is this: When he was the member for Carleton, why did he vote against 13,513 of his former constituents who were receiving the dental benefit and against 21,600 children? In his new riding, why does he oppose allowing 27,320 children to receive the Canada child benefit or allowing 17,380 of his constituents to use the Canadian dental care plan? My colleague talks loudly here in the House, but when the time comes to vote on the right side and for his constituents, he stays seated.”

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