Richard Lehoux

[Seniors, October 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, seniors come with memories: they are history books. In July, the government made a one-time payment to seniors of $300 or $500, depending on their situation. Many seniors are wondering what other support measures are in the works in order to help them through this pandemic. The Liberals recycled some promises in their Speech from the Throne, but they provided no clear plan on how they propose to keep them. As I said, seniors come with memories. They will remember.

What specifically is the government going to do to help this segment of the population? More importantly, when is it going to do so?

[Criminal Code, October 27th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague for her speech.

I would like to ask her a question about Bill C-6 and the prorogation of Parliament on August 18.

Does she think that we could have dealt with this issue more quickly had Parliament not been prorogued?

Personally, I think that we should also spend some time examining other bills.

[Telecommunications, October 2nd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, the government's plan to get rural Canadians connected by 2030 is a slap in the face to the regions.

The pandemic has made Internet access an urgent priority. We must support small businesses across the country and ensure that young people can keep up with their studies. This is essential. The vitality of our regions depends on it.

When will the government get the CRTC to develop a real plan for high-speed Internet access and, most importantly, get telecommunications providers to contribute? This is urgent to rural areas across the country. I would like a date.

[COVID-19 Response Measures Act, September 29th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, dozens of businesses in my riding of Beauce are at risk closing down or are being forced to slow down production due to a labour shortage. It is not that they cannot sell their products, it is that the labour shortage is a serious problem locally. Factories are not the only ones with this problem. In my riding, Giovannina, a restaurant in Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce, has to close three days a week because they are short-staffed.

How will Bill C-4 help in this case?

[COVID-19 Response Measures Act, September 29th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, in my riding of Beauce, dozens of businesses are at risk of closing down or are being forced to slow down production.

This is not because they cannot sell their products, but because they are in need of workers, and factories are not the only ones with this problem. For example, Giovannina Pizzeria in Sainte-Marie has been a family-owned business for over 50 years. It has to close at least three days a week now.

How will Bill C-4 help in this case?

[Employment, September 29th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, many businesses rely heavily on skilled foreign workers who have already been recruited to keep them afloat.

My riding is on the U.S. border. The small businesses in my riding have said that, if they do not go out of business, they are going to transfer their operations to the United States.

When will this government realize that these workers are essential to the survival of these businesses? When does the minister plan to again accept these skilled workers into the country to help with our economic recovery?

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters, July 22nd, 2020]

Madam Chair, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Supply-managed farmers in Canada's agriculture sector have been waiting patiently for the compensation they were promised under previous international trade deals. The Liberal government included compensation for these farmers in its platform, as well as in the minister's mandate letter, to make up for its poor international negotiations.

Will we ever see an actual payment schedule that will enable these farmers to plan for the future and position themselves to kick-start Canada's stagnant economy? I want a date.

[COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Matters, July 22nd, 2020]

Madam Chair, my office is trying to help the largest possible number of businesses in my riding. However, the system for immigration and temporary workers is highly problematic. The labour market studies take far too much time. To my knowledge, these requests previously went directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Now, they also need to go through Employment and Social Development Canada.

I know that baseball training camps just started, but ministers should not just be tossing the ball around.

Seriously, how does the government explain the delay in processing applications, and what does it intend to do about it? I am looking for meaningful action, not just rhetoric.

[Business of the House, July 21st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday I left Sainte-Marie-de-Beauce at four in the morning to get to Ottawa so I could work on moving an important bill for Canadian entrepreneurs forward for a vote.

To my great surprise, when I arrived, I found out that the Prime Minister, the person who convened the House, was taking a personal day. It is time for the Prime Minister to come back down to earth.

Can he tell us why he convened the House the same day he took a personal day?

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, July 21st, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, on February 6, I sent a letter to the Minister of Immigration about the problems being caused by delays and red tape for foreign workers. I never got an answer. In committee on May 22, the minister told me that he would call me. I am still waiting for that call.

The pandemic has only made the situation worse. Fifteen businesses in my riding that are having problems with immigration wrote to the minister directly but did not receive an answer.

On July 7, I once again wrote the minister personally to request a meeting. I sent my request again on July 13. I was told that a meeting would be set up soon.

Can the minister tell me how I am supposed to interpret this lack of response?