Joël Lightbound

In response to a question from Linda Lapointe

“Our economic plan is working. Twelve million Canadians just got money to help pay for groceries. Canada also added 88,000 jobs, and wages have grown faster than inflation for 38 months in a row.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her question. Finally, someone asked me a good question. My colleague is right to highlight this initiative. Last Friday, June 5, 12 million Canadians received the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit, including three million Quebeckers. For a family of four, this can amount to up to $1,890 a year to help cover the cost of groceries. That was not the only good news last Friday. Canada has created 88,000 jobs and, for the 38th consecutive month, wages are rising faster than inflation. Our plan to build a strong Canada and a prosperous economy for everyone is working.”

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  “12 million Canadians will receive the Canada groceries and essentials benefit.”

  Said 7 times by 5 members since June 1.

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In response to a question from Maxime Blanchette-Joncas

“Yes. We gave these requests 90 days to be processed for that exact reason.”

“Madam Speaker, the answer is yes. Incidentally, we extended the processing time for these requests to 90 days precisely for the reason he just mentioned.”

In response to a question from Gérard Deltell

“Canada added 80,000 jobs recently, and fewer people are out of work. We are also investing billions of dollars in building projects like the Quebec City tramway, which will create 80,000 more jobs. The opposition MP for Quebec City wants to cut nearly $3 billion from this project.”

“Madam Speaker, I will reiterate what my colleagues said because it is important. Over the past few months, the Canadian economy has created 80,000 jobs. We are seeing a drop in the unemployment rate, especially in youth employment. That is good news for Canadians. I want to take this opportunity to say that we learned something else this week. We found out that the Government of Canada is going to invest billions of dollars in infrastructure, including in the Quebec City tramway. This is going to create more than 80,000 jobs. Those are 80,000 good jobs for our constituents. It is well known that the opposition MP for the Quebec City area has always opposed this project. He campaigned on a promise to cut nearly $3 billion in federal funding from the Quebec City tramway. That is shameful.”

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  “That is good news for Canadians.”

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In response to a question from Joël Godin

“Our government is getting real results. We have made major investments in airplanes, trains, mining, and billions of dollars for Quebec City.”

“Mr. Speaker, 150 airplanes at Airbus is not a diversion. A contract with Bombardier for GlobalEye is not diversion. Nouveau Monde Graphite, the largest graphite mine in the G7, is not a diversion. The high-speed train between Quebec City and Toronto is not a diversion. The $2.75 billion invested in the Quebec City tramway will have an impact. The $10 billion we just announced for the greater Quebec City area is certainly not a diversion. That is action. These are results. It is very real.”

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In response to a question from Martin Champoux

“The Bloc Québécois criticizes us, but they voted against our budget that had $750 million for culture. Now we are spending $600 million to support our artists and culture, and the Bloc opposes that too.”

“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is a master at lecturing others, but it has no lessons to teach. When we were negotiating the budget and sought their support, the Bloc Québécois made no requests about culture. When it came time to vote on the budget, which included $750 million for culture, the Bloc Québécois voted against it. Now that we are announcing $600 million—a decision welcomed by ADISQ and the cultural sector to support our artists, our cultural sector and our cultural sovereignty—the Bloc Québécois is once again opposing it.”

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In response to a question from Gabriel Hardy

“Thousands of families and people in the member's riding get money from the child benefit and the dental plan. He voted against both. He should change his mind and support programs that help his constituents.”

“Mr. Speaker, I have so much empathy for Canadians like Matis. These are the people for whom we stand up every day, the people for whom we fight, the people for whom we implement programs that work. I do not have their names, but my colleague’s riding has 13,500 families who receive $80 million thanks to the Canada child benefit. My colleague voted against that. What does he tell them? His riding has 23,500 citizens who benefit from the Canada dental plan. I do not know their names, but he voted against those 23,500 constituents. My colleague should change his mind and support measures that truly help his people, our people.”

In response to a question from Gérard Deltell

“Our economy relies a lot on the United States, but we are selling more to other countries. Over the past year, our sales to countries other than the U.S. went up by almost 40 percent. This is happening because we are signing trade and security deals around the world.”

“Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned in my previous response, the Canadian economy is far more integrated with that of the United States. However, here is what I have noted when looking at the past year. As a result of government initiatives and efforts made by Canadians, we have increased our non‑U.S. exports by nearly 40% over the past year. That is a major shift. It is because we are signing trade agreements, security agreements and agreements on critical minerals around the world. That is what Canadians expect. That is exactly what we are doing.”

In response to a question from Alexis Deschênes

“Our government is taking strong action on the environment. We are protecting 30 percent of our land and water by 2030, spending billions on nature, and investing up to $90 billion in clean electricity that helps Quebec. We are also cutting methane pollution by 75 percent.”

“Mr. Speaker, if the Bloc Québécois wants to talk numbers, then let us talk numbers. Thirty per cent of our lands and waters will be protected by 2030. We are investing $3.8 billion in the 2030 nature strategy. The clean energy tax credits requested by Hydro-Québec will benefit Quebec. We are providing up to $90 billion to electrify our grid, to benefit Hydro-Québec, and to build the future with Quebec. Shall we talk numbers? The enhanced methane regulations will enable us to reduce methane emissions by 75% by 2030. That is what climate action and environmental action are all about.”

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In response to a question from Jason Groleau

“The member's plans would hurt his own voters. He would take away dental care for over 30,000 of them and cut over $80 million in child benefit money from local families. We will not take advice from him on lowering the cost of living.”

“Mr. Speaker, what is fascinating when I hear my colleague’s question is that he would break the bank for the people of Beauce by depriving over 30,000 of his constituents of the Canadian dental care plan. He would deprive thousands more families of over $80 million per year from the Canada child benefit, and the list goes on. When it comes to lowering the cost of living for Quebeckers and the people of Beauce, we will not take any lessons from this member.”

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In response to a question from Christine Normandin

“The Bloc Québécois does not understand what people in Quebec care about. Quebeckers care about prices, jobs, job training, and major building projects, not old debates about separation.”

“Mr. Speaker, once again, it is clear that the members of the Bloc Québécois are completely out of touch with what the people of Quebec care about. What Quebeckers care about is affordability, creating good jobs and providing opportunities for our young people. What Quebeckers care about is a workforce training program like the one outlined in the economic update. What Quebeckers care about is major projects like a high-speed rail line connecting Quebec City and Toronto, Nouveau Monde Graphite, the expansion of the port of Montreal in Contrecoeur, and major projects that will build Quebec and provide opportunities for ordinary people. That is what Quebeckers care about, not the questions about the Clarity Act that my colleagues from the Bloc Québécois are raising.”

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  “The expansion of the Port of Montreal.”

  Said 7 times by 5 members since April 28.

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In response to a question from Gérard Deltell

“The opposition member always votes against programs that help people. We support helping people directly and building major projects like ports, mines, and high-speed trains to grow the economy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I just listed the programs that provide direct assistance to the people in the riding of Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. The member voted against these measures every chance he got over the past 10 years. We will not take lessons from him on how to help the most vulnerable Canadians and Quebeckers. What sets us apart on this side of the House is that, yes, we believe that we need social programs and direct assistance for Canadians, but we also have a vision for the future that involves building major projects. Take, for example, the announcement regarding the Port of Québec, which will become the sixth international container port. There is also the Contrecoeur project, the Nouveau Monde Graphite mine, the high-speed train and training for young trades workers across the country. That is this government’s vision for building a strong economy.”

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In response to a question from Tatiana Auguste

“A new graphite mine is opening in Quebec. It will add $2 billion to our economy, create hundreds of jobs, and help Canada and our allies supply our own energy.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Terrebonne and say that it is a pleasure to thank her in the House. The launch of the Matawinie mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a significant step toward our energy sovereignty. In addition to becoming the largest graphite mine in the G7 and increasing our production eightfold, it will meet Canadian demand and strengthen the resilience of our allies with whom we have signed more than 56 agreements on critical minerals over the past year. I am proud of this project. It will inject $2 billion into our economy and create hundreds of jobs. Projects like Nouveau Monde Graphite are what it means to be masters in our own house.”