René Arseneault

[The Economy in Madawaska—Restigouche, May 3rd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the resilience of the people of Madawaska—Restigouche. First of all, after being in zone 4 and enduring two lockdowns since January 2021, we returned to the orange level as of a week ago. On top of that, all of the regional economies neighbouring my riding have been hit hard, as all cross-border traffic from our immediate neighbours, Quebec and Maine, was halted because of the health measures put in place. Businesses in the Campbellton, Edmundston and Upper Madawaska regions have major challenges to overcome since losing most of their customers from neighbouring regions. As we wait for things to return to normal, there is only one way to contribute to the economic recovery of our beautiful regions and to preserve our jobs, and that is to shop local.

I would like to thank the people of our community for supporting our businesses, following public health guidelines and getting vaccinated in large numbers. We are all contributing in our own way so we can get back to business as usual.

[The Budget, April 22nd, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I would like to salute my colleague, who sat with me for five years on the Standing Committee on Official Languages. We had some good times and did good work.

I heard him speak of his concerns about the budget being extravagant. Without wanting to take a partisan jab at the Conservatives, they are always talking about budget cuts. It is their hallmark. Let us remember that in 2015, the Conservatives wanted to raise the retirement age, the age at which Canadians can start receiving old age security. Today, they are upset that the government increased those benefits for some of our seniors, those aged 75 and over.

Our budget is a win-win solution, because we managed to protect Canada’s economy, which many countries around the world have failed to do. The budget plans for the next 10 to 20 years by investing in our social infrastructure as well as the physical infrastructure.

I would like to hear my colleague talk about budget cuts. During the pandemic, in 2021, what budget cuts would he make and where? In his opinion, where would be the smartest place to make cuts?

[Women's Shelters, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the exceptional work of women's shelters in our riding, which offer support and comfort to the people who are victims of domestic violence. We have amazing teams of advocates here and across Canada who are always available and ready to help these victims. It take my hat off to L'Escale MadaVic and Maison Notre Dame for their amazing contribution in helping to fight domestic violence. The constant and immediate needs of organizations that provide gender-based services have been demonstrated, especially throughout this pandemic. Our government has invested $100 million across the country in support of these services, and for my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche alone, that represents over $252,000.

Again, I thank L'Escale MadaVic and Maison Notre Dame and their boards of directors, employees and volunteers for offering comfort and security to these families in need of help.

[Madawaska-Restigouche, March 25th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the immigration initiative of businesses in my riding. Like other areas in Canada, Madawaska-Restigouche has a significant shortage of skilled labour. To address this shortage, many of our employers have no other choice but to turn to immigration.

I want to salute the businesses that attract skilled newcomers. In turn, these newcomers will participate in the growth of our economy and the overall development of our communities. Last Saturday in Edmundston, I was honoured to meet and welcome 11 Togolese families who, after a mandatory quarantine at a hotel, were able to come out in public for the first time. The smiles on the faces of these families and their children were something to see, as was the pride of the people who were there to welcome them to Canada.

I tip my hat to the employer, Nadeau Ferme Avicole, and the people of Upper Madawaska, and I thank our new families for choosing us. We are honoured.

[Regional Economic Development, February 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, my region has also been affected by the pandemic, and our maple syrup producers, of which there are several in northern New Brunswick, are really suffering.

We are committed to helping all our businesses. That is why the government has continually introduced measures that have been approved by the House over the past few months to help all economic sectors, including sugar shacks.

[Caring Angels, February 24th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, in times of crisis like these, the people of Madawaska—Restigouche always give the best of themselves by helping others.

In that regard, I would like to acknowledge the work of a group of volunteers in my riding known as the “Anges bienveillants”, or the caring angels, who have made it their mission to help the community of Edmundston, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

They deliver groceries to seniors. They make phone calls to comfort people who live alone. They will even clear snow off the vehicles in parking lots at health care institutions so that health care workers do not have to do this after an exhausting shift.

For Valentine's Day this month, they set up rows of large hearts outside of nursing homes in the area hardest hit by COVID-19 and distributed coffee and doughnuts, a demonstration of love and encouragement for the residents who really needed it. In return, they enjoyed the happy smiles they got from our seniors, people who are suffering and our caregivers.

Thank you, caring angels.

[Pierrette Arseneault, February 19th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, it is a privilege for me to rise today to talk about someone from my riding who is very near and dear to me.

Over the years, she has been a shining example to those she loves most in this world, teaching us to remain curious and, above all, to move forward in life without fearing the unknown. She is one of those individuals to whom all humanity will be eternally grateful for so much love and attention.

As members may have guessed, I am of course talking about a woman, a mother, my mother, Pierrette.

Today, February 19, is her birthday, so I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to her and to all the mothers of this world. I would especially like to thank her for the endless and unconditional love she has always given to her children.

Mom, on behalf of your great-grandchildren, your grandchildren, our sister who is watching over us from her star, my brothers and me, we love you very much. Happy 83rd birthday.

[COVID-19 Emergency Response, February 1st, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, today, my thoughts are with the people of Madawaska—Restigouche, and particularly for what we call “zone no. 4”.

Zone 4 became a red zone and went into lockdown over a week ago. Today I want to commend all the essential workers who continue to make our lives as normal as possible, despite the pandemic. I would also like to congratulate all the business leaders who are doing their best to cope in these difficult times.

For all our students, whether at school, college or university, who are seeing their lives turned upside down, thanks for hanging in there in the face of such adversity.

We admire the courage and resilience of our seniors, who can no longer see their loved ones in person. I want them to know that we love them dearly and, just as they do, we look forward to being able to hug them once again.

To everyone in Madawaska—Restigouche, let us stay the course. We will get through this together.

It is going to be okay.

[Criminal Code, December 8th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I have listened with great interest to the debate on Bill C-7, having myself been a member of the joint committee behind Bill C-14.

I heard my colleague say that he has the utmost respect for the Supreme Court of Canada. I would remind him that we cannot talk about Bill C-7 without first talking about Bill C-14, since Bill C-7 is the logical and natural continuation of Bill C-14. On top of that, the Supreme Court of Canada, in which my colleague has great confidence, issued a unanimous ruling in Carter.

Is it not entirely reasonable to keep to the Carter decision, for example, since the Truchon decision addresses in some ways the gaps in Bill C-14, to accept that Bill C-7 finally closes the loop of the Carter case and Bill C-14?

[Criminal Code, December 8th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, when I hear my colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent, whom I hold in high regard, say that the government is dragging its feet, everyone will remember the Carter case.

Everyone will recall that the Supreme Court of Canada had at the time unanimously ordered the Harper government to introduce the legislation that would become Bill C-14. For 10 months, the Conservative government dragged its feet to such an extent that when our Liberal government came to power in 2015, we had only two months to introduce that bill. We had to ask for an extension, which was unprecedented.

My colleague says that we are going too fast. It is always the same doublespeak: we are either dragging our feet or we are going too fast.

In fact, Bill C-7 is a logical continuation of Bill C-14. My colleague sat with me at the Special Joint Committee on Physician-Assisted Dying that was behind Bill C-14. Does he agree that we failed to hold all the consultations necessary to comply with the Carter decision from the outset?