René Arseneault

[International Day of La Francophonie, March 20th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, today is the International Day of La Francophonie, and it is an honour for me, and all Acadians, to talk about official language minority communities across this big, beautiful country.

The Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie recently announced consultations on plans to modernize the Official Languages Act, which just makes sense, since this act is now 50 years old. This legislation is in dire need of a facelift, considering the reality facing our minority language communities, whether we are talking about anglophones living in Quebec or francophones living in Acadia and across the country, of course.

I remind members that no law can be effective if the institutions meant to enforce it ignore their obligations. Let us enact clear official languages legislation and let us have the good sense and political will to enforce it properly.

To my fellow Canadians, here's to our Official Languages Act.

[Official Languages, February 27th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the Standing Committee on Official Languages and I are extremely proud to be starting our study on the modernization of the Official Languages Act, which is turning 50 this year.

This act has helped Canadians make great strides in linguistic development and identity building over the years. That is why the committee has launched this study. Canada's official languages are a source of national pride and an integral part of our identity.

Could the Prime Minister tell us how the government will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act?

[Holiday Season in Madawaska—Restigouche, December 12th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, as we go into the holiday season, I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Madawaska—Restigouche for placing their trust in me every day.

This historic building is about to close its doors for renovations, so let me say that it has been an honour and a privilege to stand in this place on behalf of the voters of my beautiful northern New Brunswick riding.

From Lorne and Nash Creek, following the coast of the Baie des Chaleurs and the Restigouche River through Dalhousie, Campbellton and up to Tide Head, from Balmoral to Saint-Léonard, by way of Atholville, Kedgwick and Saint-Quentin, from Edmunston to Upper Madawaska and from Upper Madawaska to Lac Baker, families are getting ready for Christmas eve.

Laughter and music will soon be heard from every home.

Just thinking about the feast we are about to enjoy makes my mouth water. It also makes me feel five pounds heavier.

I wish all my colleagues and all Canadians a wonderful holiday season and the very best in the new year, with much happiness and health in 2019.

[Business of Supply, December 4th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my colleague from Richmond—Arthabaska. He extolled none of the virtues of the current government, and yet he could have talked about the Canada child benefit, for example, or the incredible gains made through our multilateral international agreements and the international markets that have opened up thanks to new export initiatives.

The member talked about the plant in Oshawa. That struck a chord for me because, at the height of its production, in 1953, it employed 40,000 people. The number of employees dropped to 23,000. After 10 years under the Harper government, no deal was signed and now it employs only 2,500.

Does the member really believe that the agreement signed with Mexico and the U.S. is the reason why the Oshawa plant is shutting down?

[Business of Supply, December 4th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, with a certain pettiness and mean-spiritedness that he has perfected, my hon. colleague from Cariboo—Prince George insinuated earlier that my colleague from Central Nova is incapable of understanding the needs of his constituents because he left his region for a time to go and work in western Canada.

Is my colleague from Cariboo—Prince George saying that his party leader, who was born in Ottawa and now lives in the riding of Regina—Qu'Appelle, is incapable of representing Canadians properly? That is my first question.

My second question is this: what is the Conservative plan for carbon dioxide emissions?

[Official Languages, November 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, due to the current crisis facing the francophone community of Ontario, official languages minority groups have reason to wonder if their rights will be questioned every time a new government comes to power.

As our Canadian society evolved, our predecessors rightly agreed to protect and promote linguistic minorities wherever they are located across the country.

Canada's Official Languages Act is indispensable for accomplishing that goal.

However, we all know the strongest of laws is meaningless if the political will to enforce it is absent or if the majority is unwilling to adopt it as a fundamental principle.

Beyond the act, I am asking my colleagues in the House to appreciate the importance of valuing both official languages so that minority communities no longer have to worry and so that our official languages become the pride of the entire nation of Canada.

[Official Languages, November 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, today, Franco-Ontarians are rallying in response to the Ontario Conservative government's decision to abolish the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner and cancel the project to build a French-language university in Toronto. In the meantime, here in Parliament, the leader of the official opposition still has not condemned this attack.

How will the Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie support our Franco-Ontarian friends and francophones and francophiles across the country?

[The Economy, October 25th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, in September, the government released a report, saying that Canada's economy was strong and growing and that by this time next year, the typical middle-class Canadian family would be $2,000 better off as a result of our plan.

Nevertheless, there is still work to be done to stay on the path toward growth for our families and workers.

Could the Minister of Finance give us a brief update on the Canadian economy and tell us what the government plans to do next?

[Business of Supply, October 22nd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to know what my colleague from Alfred-Pellan thinks about the Conservative opposition's chest thumping, as it claims to be protecting Canada's borders from the terrorists that return here.

The Harper Conservatives cut the budget of our security agencies by more than $1 billion. Not once did this Conservative government follow through on prosecuting or charging a terrorist returning to Canada. Since this current government was elected, four such terrorists have been prosecuted.

What does my colleague think about this hypocrisy from the official opposition?

[National Defence Act, September 21st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Acadie—Bathurst asked our colleague from Edmonton West an excellent question earlier, but we have not had an answer.

In case he did not understand the question, I will repeat it: does he agree with the provisions of Bill C-77?