Emmanuel Dubourg

[Jean‑Nicolet Elementary School, November 28th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the young people of Jean-Nicolet elementary school in the riding of Bourassa. Every year, together with the school administration, teacher Kerline François introduces her students to good governance and the democratic process by running a mock election campaign.

For the ninth consecutive year, I had the privilege of swearing in Class 321 government made up of Bryan Daniel Lafortune, prime minister; Êve Bergeron, deputy prime minister; Esther Charles, minister of justice; Marshall Fils-Aîmé, minister of environment; Ryan Fatimi, minister of sports and recreation; Adèle Badry, minister of communication and technology; and Hedley Wiguens Louissaint, minister of the public service and auditor general.

I invite my colleagues to join me in congratulating these young parliamentary apprentices.

[Member for Bourassa, November 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour for me to have sat for 16 years as an MP at both the provincial and federal levels—and as the only member of Haitian origin, I might add. However, the time has come for me to take my leave.

I thank the Prime Minister for this opportunity to serve Canadians.

I thank all members and staff of the House of Commons for their friendship.

I thank the Quebec CPA Order for the Emeritus Certified Accountant award and the title of Fellow. I thank UQAM for the special tribute award for teaching. I am grateful for the Governor of Canada Medal regarding my work at the Canada Revenue Agency. I thank the Hon. Jean Charest for his sincere friendship. I thank all the residents of Viau and Bourassa, my brothers and sisters, my supporters and my employees. From the bottom of my heart, I thank my wife, our children, their spouses and our grandchildren.

Manman, Papa, mèsi anpil pou toute sacrifice nou fè pou mwen.

It was with a lot of emotion that I informed the Prime Minister that I would not be seeking re-election.

AvèwMapMaché.

[Committees of the House, October 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “National Strategy for Veterans Employment”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

I would like to thank all the team members and staff who work to support the committee. I would especially like to congratulate the analyst because, in the course of this study, we received 36 witnesses, as well as briefs, and he did an outstanding job. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated staff in Canada's House of Commons.

[Carlo Rossi, September 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a man who left his mark on Canadian politics. I am talking about Carlo Rossi, Quebec's first MP of Italian origin to sit in the federal House of Commons.

Mr. Rossi was first elected member of Parliament for Bourassa in 1979. He paved the way for Quebeckers of Italian origin.

During his three terms, he served as a parliamentary secretary and deputy whip. Prior to that, he was a police officer with the City of Montreal and was responsible for hostage negotiations.

When I became a Canadian citizen at the age of 22, he congratulated me with a certificate that I proudly display in my office. He led the way for me as well. He passed away on April 11, 1998.

To honour his memory, I would like to one day see his name engraved in a public space somewhere in the riding of Bourassa.

[Medal Awarded by MP for Bourassa, June 19th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, on Father's Day, at the fifth edition of the “eminent men in Bourassa“ ceremony, I had the honour of presenting five men with the Bourassa MP's medal. Day after day, these men carry out meaningful and inspiring initiatives, whose positive impacts are felt in the riding of Bourassa and beyond.

I am pleased to introduce them to the House of Commons of Canada. They are Ghassan Assio, Calogero Caruso, Jonas Lowa Kouassi, Michel Lorange, and the late Félix Saint-Élien, who unfortunately passed away three days before the ceremony.

I paid tribute to each of the recipients in the presence of their families, dignitaries and guests. I invite all members to join me in congratulating these agents of change.

[Committees of the House, June 14th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “New Contract for the Administration of Veterans Affairs Canada's Rehabilitation Program”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a response to this report.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the witnesses who appeared before us for this report, and to acknowledge the tireless work of the committee members, the analyst and the clerks who helped us.

[Haiti, May 18th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, for our country, for our ancestors, united let us march. Nan mitan n pa fèt pou gen trèt. For the flag, for our country, let us toil joyfully. Nou gen on drapo tankou tout Pèp. Se pa kado, blan te fè nou. Se san Zansèt nou yo ki te koule.

[Member spoke in Creole]

[Translation]

These words come from La Dessalinienne, the national anthem of the Republic of Haiti, which is celebrating the 220th anniversary of its flag today.

Today, Haiti needs all of its daughters and sons. This May 18, I call on all of the country's key players to set aside their personal interests and join forces to rebuild Haiti with dignity. This May 18, I ask the criminal gangs to lay down their weapons and end the violence in Haiti.

Long live Haiti.

[Julie Sigouin and Mohammed Barhone, April 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Julie Sigouin and Mohammed Barhone are two well-known community leaders who, unfortunately, passed away recently. I would like to honour their memories today, here in the House of Commons of Canada.

Julie was an engaged, tireless and very empathetic individual. She helped improve the lives of people through various community organizations in Montreal North, including Halte-Femmes Montréal-Nord in the riding of Bourassa.

Mohammed was involved in the community for 25 years. At the organization RePère, he helped fathers develop their relationship with their children, mainly in Ahuntsic-Cartierville. He was also an advocate.

On behalf of the citizens of Bourassa and myself, I offer my sincere condolences to their families and loved ones. May they rest in peace.

[Athletes from Bourassa, March 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, during the Canada Games that took place in February, the riding of Bourassa was in the spotlight. As an example, the young athletes from the Centre d'excellence en karaté du Québec, under the leadership of its president, François Persico, won half of the medals for Quebec.

I am proud to introduce these four young people, aged 14 to 17, who are participating in Quebec's Sport-études program, and to whom I had the privilege of presenting a certificate of merit for their athletic achievements. They are Abdessalam Kerdoussi, who placed in the top seven in sparring, Mohamed Cherif Ilbouche, who won a bronze medal, Maroua Mokdad, who won a silver medal, and Anton Gurin, a young Ukrainian who just obtained permanent residence in Canada and who won the only gold medal for Quebec.

I want to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all these young people who have done us proud.

[Health, March 23rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians suffer from rare diseases that affect their quality of life and that of their families. Among these rare diseases is sickle cell anemia. It is an inherited and incurable disease that affects people from the Mediterranean region and Black people.

The Minister of Health has made an important announcement. Could he tell us more about it?