Linda Lapointe

In response to a question from Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault

“I support this bill and want it sent to committee. Social media harms young people and women through fake videos and pictures shared without permission. Our laws need to catch up with new technology to keep people safe online.”

“Mr. Speaker, laws often lag behind a changing society . Twenty years ago, we did not have to deal with social media, but now we need to create new laws to regulate it. We need to make sure that our young people are able to surf the Internet safely and that any non-consensual images are taken down. We have to make sure of that. These things did not exist 20 or 30 years ago. The bill will help us to regulate this phenomenon. I am deeply troubled to know that deepfakes and images that young people did not consent to share are being posted on social media. This causes enormous harm to these young people and these women. The bill will be sent to committee. We will hear from experts and we will move forward. I am sure that we will find a solution that everyone can agree on.”

In response to a question from Gabriel Ste-Marie

“The federal government and the provinces must respect each other's powers and work together. Quebec MPs also need to respect each other and represent their people well. This bill helps keep young people safe online.”

“Mr. Speaker, we must respect provincial and federal areas of jurisdiction. We must also ensure that we work together. We must ensure that all MPs from Quebec, who represent Quebec, respect one another and ensure that they represent their constituents effectively. Governments at all levels, whether provincial or federal, must work in partnership to make meaningful progress. Bill C-34 specifically helps to ensure that the young people using these platforms are safe.”

• Didn't answer
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 32 of 100

  None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

  See full analysis →

“I support this bill and want it sent to committee. Social media companies must protect children and stop online abuse. The bill makes platforms remove shared private photos and child abuse content within 24 hours. It also sets safety rules for users under 16 and holds companies accountable with fines.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-34, the safe social media act. I will be talking about young people, concerned parents and women who are victims of violence online. Social media is part of our lives. It helps us stay connected and keep up with the news. For young people, it is also where friendships are formed and where they try to find their place. I am not saying social media is bad. It has many positive aspects. We also know there are risks, and these risks can sometimes have very serious consequences. A young person can be humiliated in front of their entire school. An intimate photo can be shared without their consent. A child can gain access to content that encourages them to harm themselves. The consequences do not just disappear when we turn off our phones. They follow us to school and home, and sometimes they even keep us awake at night. In Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, and everywhere else in the country, families want their children to be safe. That is only natural. That is why we must take action. A lot of demands are placed on parents today. They have to set limits, understand constantly changing applications and talk about new dangers. Of course, parents play a vital role. No one is saying otherwise. However, we have to be realistic: Parents cannot look at every video and comment. They cannot predict what a platform is going to offer their child the next day. Businesses know how their platforms work. They pick the tools provided and the content recommended. They have to accept their share of responsibility too. Leaving families and victims to fend for themselves is not normal. I would now like to move on to something near and dear to my heart: the protection of women, children and girls. Take a simple example. A young woman shares an intimate photo with someone she trusts. Later on, that photo is sent on to others without her consent. This is a violation of her privacy, even if it follows an argument or separation. Consent matters. Giving someone a photo never amounts to agreeing that it be shown to everyone else. Today, there is another problem to contend with. Artificial intelligence makes it possible to create a fake intimate image. A person’s face can be used to create a photo that was never actually taken. This is called deepfaking. Even if the image is fake, the shame, fear and consequences can be very real. Imagine a teenage girl returning to class the next day, or a woman seeing this image circulating at work. No one should have to go through that. Bill C-34 provides for a swift response to certain types of very serious content. This includes intimate images shared without consent, including sexualized deepfakes. It also includes content related to the sexual exploitation of children. For both of these categories, the bill stipulates that the content must be made inaccessible in Canada within 24 hours of being detected or reported. It also provides a process for appealing the decision. The reason it is so important to be so swift is that an image can cause enormous damage in just a few hours, and the victim should not have to take it upon themselves to remove every copy of that image. We also need to better protect children before problems arise. Today, many young people spend time on platforms that were designed to keep their attention. One video leads to another, then another and another. Even adults sometimes have a hard time stopping, so imagine what this must be like for a child. The bill would require the services in question to look at the risks their platform presents and do what is needed to mitigate those risks. I am thinking of cyber-bullying, attempts at sexual exploitation and content that encourages young people to harm themselves. Children’s safety must be taken into account when the platform is designed. It must not depend solely on a child’s ability to find the right button to ask for help. The bill proposes a rule for some social media platforms. Young people under the age of 16 would not be allowed to have an account. However, I want to clarify. This does not mean that the bill bans all digital tools for all young people. A service can get an exception if they demonstrate that they meet the child protection requirements. This is worth considering. Young people need to talk to their friends. Their personal information needs to be protected and their age needs to be verified. Those are important issues. We need to carefully examine them in committee. To put it simply, if a company wants young users on its platform, it must be able to demonstrate that it is protecting them. We also need to talk about artificial intelligence. Chatbots respond around the clock. They can make people feel like someone is listening, but a digital tool will never replace a loved one, nor can it replace a professional when a person is in distress. Bill C‑34 introduces measures to reduce the risks associated with these services. For example, when a user expresses suicidal thoughts or says they want to harm themselves, the service would be required to direct them to appropriate help. This is an important safeguard, especially for young people and vulnerable individuals. Drafting good regulations is one thing; ensuring compliance is another. The bill would create an independent digital safety commission of Canada tasked with overseeing compliance with the regulations. Platforms would be required to explain the risks and the measures taken to reduce those risks. Financial penalties may apply in cases of non-compliance. When a company’s decisions affect the safety of millions of people, it must be held accountable. I would also like to say a few words about freedom of expression and privacy. These rights are essential. Protecting young people and victims does not mean silencing those who hold different opinions. The bill targets specific categories of harmful content. Private messaging does not fall within its scope. We must remain vigilant about the way in which users’ ages will be verified. The committee’s study will provide an opportunity to hear from parents, young people, experts, and organizations that defend the rights of Canadians. We have to get this right. No law can prevent all problems on the Internet. Parents and schools will always have a role to play. That said, we can do better. We can ask platforms to prevent risks and respond quickly when someone experiences online abuse. I am thinking of the families in Boisbriand, Saint-Eustache, Rosemère, and Deux-Montagnes. They want the same thing as all Canadian families: for their children to grow up and learn in safety. I am also thinking of the women and girls who simply want to live, work and express themselves without fear of being humiliated and intimidated online. For their sake, we must move forward. That is why I support Bill C-34 and am in favour of referring it to committee, where we will have the opportunity to review it, ask the right questions and improve it if necessary.”

In response to a question from Yves Perron

“Our defence investments help both the military and private companies. In Mirabel, there is a centre making drones and autonomous tech that can be used by both.”

“Mr. Speaker, the goal of the investments we are making in defence is to have dual-use applications. We have to ensure that we develop private companies while we develop defence applications. In the Lower Laurentians region, in Mirabel, there is a hub dedicated specifically to developing autonomous technologies, including drones. There will be a dual use: the private sector and the defence sector.”

• Didn't answer
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 47 of 100

  None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

  See full analysis →

In response to a question from Pierre Paul-Hus

“Past governments spent very little on defence. We committed to spending 2% of our gross domestic product, and we want to reach 5% by 2035. We also used to buy 70% of our military equipment from the United States. We want to flip that and make 70% of it here in Canada using our own businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, I want to go back to what was done in the past. When the Harper government was in power, investment was below 2%. In 2013, it did not even reach 1%. In 2014, it was 1.1%. We committed to reaching 2%, which we have already done. In addition, by 2035, we will reach a target of 5% of our gross domestic product. I assume my colleague is aware of this, but in the past, 70% of defence equipment came from the United States. Now, we want to invert that pattern. We want Canada to produce 70% of the equipment. We want to use our own supply chains and our own industries to manufacture it. If my colleague had truly listened to my answer, he would have realized that it was a good idea to look elsewhere when it came to aircraft procurement.”

• Didn't answer
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 25 of 100

  None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

  See full analysis →

“I support this bill and our plan to spend money on military defence. This spending will help Quebec businesses win defence contracts and create good jobs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by paying tribute to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and to all veterans. We have started wearing the poppy in remembrance. Let me now turn to Bill C-40. Our government is making major investments to help Quebec businesses enter and expand within Canadian and international defence supply chains. To be clear, these investments are not about military procurement alone. They are also about jobs, innovation, economic growth and ensuring that Quebec workers and businesses are at the forefront of one of the most important industrial opportunities of our generation. In April 2026, for example, a total of $4.5 million was allocated to Aéro Montréal, Propulsion Québec and Sous-traitance industrielle Québec, or STIQ, to support small and medium-sized businesses. This is excellent news for the Lower Laurentians region. These investments will help Quebec businesses integrate into Canadian and international defence supply chains, market new technologies and become more competitive at securing contracts both domestically and abroad. With this support, STIQ will help manufacturers meet the standards required to participate in defence projects. Aéro Montréal and Propulsion Québec will help businesses in the aerospace, electric mobility and smart transportation industries, which have a strong presence in the Lower Laurentians, to access new defence markets and win contracts with Canada, allied countries and major defence contractors. These investments are part of the broader regional defence investment initiative, which is providing $64.9 million to Quebec over three years. This regional initiative prioritizes business growth and productivity projects, particularly for SMEs, to help them meet existing or future needs of the Canadian Armed Forces, NATO or allied countries. These projects aim to increase their production and innovation capacity; improve their productivity and competitiveness; explore and expand into new markets; meet defence certification and qualification standards; support business start-up and growth, with the aim of integrating into national or international defence supply chains; and respond to calls for proposals from prime defence contractors and the Government of Canada. We want Quebec businesses to increase their production capacity. We want them to develop innovative technology. We want them to improve their productivity, meet defence certification requirements and compete successfully in global and domestic markets. Most importantly, we want workers and communities in Quebec to prosper. Projects funded by the regional defence investment initiative should support hundreds of well-paying jobs across Quebec. Thanks to our regional offices, such as Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, or CED, and Export Development Canada, or EDC, support will be available across the province to help businesses in large and small communities to take advantage of opportunities and access Canada’s growing defence-related investments. These investments are being made in a province that is already a major hub for defence and innovation. Quebec has over 8,500 jobs in the defence sector, which accounts for about one quarter of the total workforce in Canada’s defence industry. Quebec’s aerospace sector is one of the most sophisticated in the world. I am not sure whether members have heard me mention this in previous speeches, but the Lower Laurentians is home to several aerospace companies, such as L3Harris, which maintains the F-35s we were discussing earlier; Airbus; Bell Textron, a helicopter supplier; and MHI RJ Aviation Group, which is developing all sorts of new technologies to meet the needs of the future, because when it comes to defence, we no longer need the same equipment as before. The province’s advanced manufacturing sector is internationally recognized. These research institutions are making advances in artificial intelligence, digital technologies, communications, sensors, optics and highly advanced materials. As defence spending increases, both in Canada and amongst our allies, these forces place Quebec, and of course the Lower Laurentians, in a strong position to seize a growing share of these new opportunities. Businesses operating in aerospace, information technology, security, advanced transportation, critical minerals and precision manufacturing will have opportunities for growth. When it comes to transportation, I would like to point out that my riding is home to the Nova Bus electric bus assembly plant, Blainville is home to test tracks and the neighbouring riding is home to Paccar. SMEs producing drones, optical systems, simulators, surveillance technologies, electronic components and specialized manufacturing equipment are already well positioned to play a greater role in defence supply chains. In fact, the number of Quebec businesses interested in the defence sector has more than doubled over the past year. This shows both the confidence of Quebec entrepreneurs and the magnitude of the opportunities that lie ahead. We do not need to speculate on what these opportunities might bring. We can already see the results within the Quebec companies that are creating jobs, developing advanced technologies and competing in global markets. Consider a company like CAE in Montreal. As a global leader in flight simulation and training technologies, CAE has benefited from defence-related investments that strengthened Quebec’s and Canada’s global leadership in simulation and training technologies. As an aside, my son is a commercial pilot, and he teaches courses on CAE simulators in Saint-Hubert. I wish my son all the best as he pursues his career as a commercial pilot. These investments support research, exports and highly skilled jobs. Our task now is to build on this success and create the conditions for more Canadian companies to grow, innovate and remain competitive. This is precisely the goal of our government’s new defence industrial strategy, under which we have committed $6.6 billion over five years to strengthen Canada’s defence industrial base. We are investing and improving supply chains, accelerating innovation, and improving access to capital for Canadian businesses. Through its first-ever defence industrial strategy, the government is strengthening the industrial foundations underpinning Canada’s security and economic resilience. By combining long-term investments in both defence and industrial capabilities, the strategy supports businesses and Canadian workers, improves our supply chains and makes Canada a trusted partner to its allies. We are making historic investments in Canada’s defence ecosystem to transform our armed forces. We are creating good, well-paying jobs for Canadians across the country and, most importantly, we are supplying the Canadian Armed Forces with the equipment it needs to protect Canada’s security and sovereignty. The defence industrial strategy acknowledges a simple fact: Canadians should benefit from major defence investments. For that reason, our government is prioritizing Canadian suppliers, Canadian materials and Canadian innovation. This is also why we created the Defence Investment Agency: to modernize procedures, speed up projects and help Canadian businesses participate more actively in defence procurement opportunities. What does this mean for Quebec? For Quebec, these investments mean more procurement contracts. They mean opportunities for SMEs and growth in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing sectors. They mean investments in research and innovation. I am not going to take up any more of the House’s time, although I could go on at length about the many positive aspects of all this. Our objective is to help workers, businesses and communities in Quebec and across Canada. I am ready to take my colleagues’ questions.”

“Under the previous Conservative government, defence spending was far below the 2% NATO target. Our government has passed that 2% goal, and we are on track to spend 5% by 2035. I want to know if the Conservatives will support our bill to speed up defence buying and create this new Crown corporation.”

“Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to the speech by our colleague from Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, who talked about procurement. Our colleague has been here for several years now. She was in the House when the Harper government was in power. At that time, defence spending was well below the 2% threshold that NATO requires of its members. In 2013, it was less than 1%. In 2014, it was 1.01%, and in 2015, it was 1.2%. Our government has exceeded the 2% target. In addition, we are on track to meet the 2035 target of spending 5% of our GDP on defence. Our colleague said earlier that it was important to speed up procurement. Will the Conservatives support measures to streamline procurement, improve preparedness and establish the Crown corporation?”

“I want the member to explain why his party voted against the 2025 budget. It gave historic support to Quebec's cultural industries.”

“Mr. Speaker, I listened very carefully to my colleague from Jonquière—Hébertville—Pays‑des‑Bleuets. I think he really has a beautiful riding name. it is very typical of Saguenay—Lac‑Saint‑Jean. I would like my hon. colleague, with whom I sit on the Standing Committee on International Trade, to explain to me why the Bloc Québécois voted against budget 2025, which provided unprecedented support for Quebec’s cultural industries.”

• Echo ×3

  A repeated line

  “Which provided unprecedented support for Quebec's cultural industries.”

  Said 3 times by 2 members since October 22.

  Every time it was said →

In response to a question from Patrick Bonin

“We sell our oil to the United States for less than it is worth because we have no other buyers. US tariffs are also hurting us. We need to find new places to sell our oil so our economy can get more money. Also, the electric car program my colleague mentioned is still in place.”

“Mr. Speaker, let us talk about pipelines. We currently export oil at a discount to the United States. That is the only avenue for our oil, a natural resource. That is why it is important to find new markets and make sure we do so in the best possible way. We also need to make Canada’s economy as strong as possible. We know that the Americans are not helping us right now with the tariffs they are imposing on us. That does not help us at all. If we can export our goods, diversify our markets and get more money, I think, like everyone else, that we will make Canada even stronger and our economy will be even better. All Canadians will benefit. As for the measure my colleague was talking about, it definitely still exists for cars.”

• Off topic
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 44 of 100

  None of this statement addressed the specific topic under debate.

  See full analysis →

In response to a question from Marc Dalton

“People in Nunavut face hard challenges. But high prices are caused by world problems, like wars and United States tariffs, not just our government. Making our national economy stronger will help everyone.”

“Mr. Speaker, my colleague talked about the north. This summer, I had the opportunity to go to Nunavut. The people there are indeed facing difficult challenges that we must address. However, as we know, the world is changing rapidly. What is happening with the tariffs in the United States and the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East is not helping. It is driving global inflation. We, on the government side, believe that the stronger our country and our economy are, the better off all Canadians will be.”

“I want everyone to know that our government is helping families, workers, and seniors with the cost of living. We created grocery payments, lowered income taxes, cut gas taxes, and made child care cheaper. We also expanded dental care and are helping feed kids at school. These programs are making life more affordable, and we will keep supporting them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise and speak today. I am going to talk about measures that directly affect families, workers and seniors in my riding of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. As a reminder, my riding covers Saint-Eustache, Deux-Montagnes, Boisbriand and Rosemère, in the Lower Laurentians, north of Montreal. When I am in my riding, people talk to me about very practical issues. They talk to me about the cost of groceries, the price of gas, their mortgage or their rent. Parents talk to me about the cost of buying clothes at the beginning of the school year, about sports and packed lunches. Workers tell me that they are watching every dollar they spend. I want to start by making one thing clear: I know that many families are finding things difficult at the moment, and I would never suggest otherwise. Our job, as a government, is to listen to them and help ease some of the pressure. That is what we are doing. Let us talk about groceries. As members are aware, groceries are getting more and more expensive. A family with two or three children sees this right away when they get to the cash register. That is why our government created the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. The people who are entitled to it received a payment this week. This benefit is now helping more than 12 million Canadians. Twelve million Canadians is a lot. This year, an eligible family of four can receive up to $1,900. A single person is entitled to receive up to $950. In July, the regular benefits increased by 25%. In practical terms, a family in Saint‑Eustache or Deux‑Montagnes can use this money to buy milk, fruit, vegetables or meat. It is up to them. It can also be used to pay for household essentials. It can make it possible to buy groceries without constantly having to take things out of the cart. I used to own a grocery store. Seeing people having to put items back when they get to the register because they cannot afford them is heartbreaking. It will not fix everything, but we will keep going. It will help. When a family is counting every penny at the end of the month, this support really makes a difference. There is another measure, the Canada child benefit. I want to mention it because it is likely one of the most important measures that our government put in place in 2016. This tax-free payment is deposited into the parents’ bank account every month. Right now, an eligible family can receive up to $1,800 per year for a child under the age of six. For children aged six to 17, the maximum is $6,900. Believe me, this measure makes a big difference for families in Rivière-des-Milles-Îles. In Quebec alone, nearly 892 families are receiving the Canada child benefit. Think about what that means in everyday life. It helps parents buy shoes when children grow too quickly. It helps them buy winter clothes. Winter is just around the corner. It helps pay for activities, fill the fridge or cover back-to-school expenses. It also helps the families who need it most. Since the Canada child benefit was introduced, we have seen a significant decline in child poverty. Between 2015 and 2021 alone, at least 650,000 children were living below the poverty line. This is important because behind these numbers are children and families. There is a parent who might be sleeping a little better at night because they know they will be able to buy what their children need. To me, that is exactly what a government should do. We also need to talk about children arriving at school in the morning. A child who is hungry will not be able to pay attention to what the teacher is trying to explain. It is as simple as that. We have also implemented another measure, and it is a big one. It is the $10 child care program. I am from Quebec, and I was fortunate enough to take advantage of child care services there. Back then, they cost $5, but today they cost $10. Now they are available across the country, and we continue to invest in them. This has a significant impact on women’s labour force participation and makes everything much easier. There is a big difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada when it comes to child care services right now, but we are working to make it available to everyone. There is also the national school food program. We signed an agreement with the Quebec government to ensure that funds are paid directly to schools in order to guarantee that children in Quebec can have breakfast. The program is delivered through the Breakfast Club. We are investing $65 million over three years so that Quebec schools can provide breakfast. In Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, organizations such as the Breakfast Club are already doing fantastic work. Getting up early in the morning to pack the kids’ lunches can be a real struggle. Parents have to get ready for work, drop some kids off at school and take some to day care. If we want children to start the day off right, we need to make sure their bellies are full. This is also an affordability measure. Now I would like to talk about workers, because affordability is not just about providing support for children. It also means making sure that going to work is always worthwhile. The Canada workers benefit is a measure that provides additional support to workers who earn a more modest income. Every job is important in our society, which is why it is so important to ensure that people living on lower incomes can make ends meet. This year, an eligible individual can receive up to $1,665. For an eligible family, it can be as much as $2,870. The measures that I have been talking about all add up. This assistance is not just paid out after an eligible recipient files a tax return. Part of it is paid out in advance during the year. This measure will help people like retail workers at a store in Boisbriand, restaurant employees in Saint-Eustache, or single mothers who work full time. People work hard; they get up, pay their bills and contribute to our economy. If they earn a lower income, it makes sense for our tax system to lend them a hand. We have also reduced income tax. The lowest federal income tax rate was cut from 15% to 14%. Twenty-two million Canadians are benefiting from this tax cut. For a two-income household, this can mean up to $840 in savings a year. Again, that $840 is on top of everything else I listed earlier. This could pay for several months of electricity bills. Sometimes the car needs repairs. Vehicles can break down out of nowhere. Then there are expenses like grocery bills spread out over several weeks or a child’s sports registration fees. Families know all about these expenses. We have also taken action on gas prices. I think this is particularly important for the people of Rivière‑des‑Mille‑Îles. People would love to be able to take public transit everywhere all the time, but the fact is that many residents of the Lower Laurentians need their cars to get to work, pick up the kids, drive a parent to an appointment and go grocery shopping. It is hard for folks who live in the suburbs to get by without a car. We have also temporarily suspended the excise tax on gasoline, reducing the price by 10¢ per litre until January 31 of next year. After that, the tax will be 50% of the regular rate until the end of March. For people who have to fill up their tank every week, that makes a real difference. I am thinking of seniors. Lots of seniors in Boisbriand, Rosemère and Saint‑Eustache have worked their entire lives and want to live with dignity. We continue to support low-income seniors through the guaranteed income supplement. We have introduced another measure that is making a real difference in people’s lives, and that is the Canadian dental care plan. Older Canadians in particular have benefited significantly from it. Dental care is very expensive. No one in Canada should have to live with a toothache simply because they cannot afford to see a dentist. Today, millions of Canadians have access to this coverage. That means hundreds of dollars staying in the pockets of hundreds of Canadians. I would like to move on to housing and support for first-time homebuyers. We have also proposed measures to lower banking fees, and we have eliminated the GST on the purchase of a new home. We are delivering. To conclude my speech, in the long term, the best way to improve Canadians’ standard of living is to have a strong economy and good jobs. However, families need support now while we work to build that economy. Our government is stepping up. I will always be proud to champion measures that make a real difference in the lives of my constituents. At the end of the day, they are the reason I am here. They are the ones I represent. We will continue to work for the people of Rivière-des-Mille-Îles.”

• Echo ×6

  A repeated line

  “Is it the national school food program?”

  Said 6 times by 4 members since April 23.

  Every time it was said →

“Raising a family costs a lot. We cut the sales tax on new homes under $1 million. We also brought in child benefit payments, $10-a-day child care, and school food programs. The Conservatives voted against all three. I want to know how they can claim to care about high costs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I listened carefully to my colleague’s speech. I know that he is aware that it costs a lot to raise a family. I agree with him. I have children and grandchildren. It is very challenging. What does my colleague think about our measure to eliminate the GST on the purchase of new homes worth up to $1 million? I do not understand why the Conservatives voted against the Canada child benefit, which is a big help for families across the country. They also voted against $10-a-day child care. Quebec has had a program like that for over 30 years, and we know that it increases women’s labour force participation. The Conservatives also voted against that. There is also the national school food program. The Conservatives voted against that too. How can our colleague claim to be concerned about affordability?”

• Echo ×6

  A repeated line

  “Is it the national school food program?”

  Said 6 times by 4 members since April 23.

  Every time it was said →

“October 1 is the start of Women's History Month. It is a time to think about how far women have come.”

“Mr. Speaker, October 1 is the start of Women’s History Month. It is an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come. There was a time when women were not even allowed—”