Sylvie Bérubé

[United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, April 15th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I have the great honour to finally rise in the House, virtually of course, to speak to Bill C-15, which seeks to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I am also very pleased to give this speech in support of Bill C-15 on behalf of some 20 Cree, Inuit and Algonquin communities in the great riding of Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou.

I said “finally” because we have waited for this bill for a long time. The United Nations declaration was adopted on September 13, 2007. It is now April 2021, nearly 14 years later, and the declaration has still not been enshrined in Canadian law. Fourteen years is a long time. That is four Parliaments. However, 14 years is just slightly less than the gap in life expectancy at birth between Inuit people and the rest of the Canadian population. In 2017, this gap was 15 years for men. A 15-year gap represents half a generation, or one-sixth of a century, which is a lot of years in a human life.

Time goes by and the world changes, but time stands still for indigenous peoples. Nothing moves, nothing changes because procrastination reigns supreme in the kingdom of Canada. It is time for that to change.

I am unfortunately running out of time, so I will talk about the history of our political party, the declaration, and the notion of free, prior and informed consent.

We believe—

[Questions on the Order Paper, April 12th, 2021]

With regard to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: has the government, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, other federal ministers and the provinces, started to develop an action plan to achieve the objectives of the Declaration and, if so, does this action plan include (i) measures to combat injustices, (ii) measures to combat prejudice, (iii) measures to eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination, including systemic discrimination, facing Indigenous peoples, as well as Indigenous seniors, youth, children, women and men, Indigenous people with disabilities and gender-diverse or two-spirit Indigenous people, (iv) measures to promote mutual respect and understanding and good relations, including through human rights training, (v) review or oversight measures, (vi) recourse avenues, (vii) redress measures, (viii) other accountability measures respecting the implementation of the Declaration, (ix) measures to follow up on its implementation, assess it and modify it?

[Awareness Week for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 24th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, this week, I invite everyone in Val-d'Or and the surrounding areas to participate in the 21st Awareness Week for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is being held under the theme of “Together, united against racism”.

This year, because of COVID-19, partners had to replace the Gabriel Commanda walk, which has been an important event for many years, with an individual solidarity march of 1.5 kilometres. People are invited to post pictures of themselves doing the walk on social media and to sign the banners that have been hung in front of Val-d'Or city hall and at the Complexe culturel Marcel-Monette.

Gabriel Commanda, a strong advocate for indigenous rights, is a historic figure in my riding. Thanks to him, for many years now, we have been aware of the reality of racial discrimination in an area where various indigenous peoples and non-indigenous people live side by side. As we have seen in the news in recent months, there is no respite from racism, and so the fight against racial discrimination must go on.

[Business of Supply, March 22nd, 2021]

Madam Speaker, my question is for the minister.

It is true that the pandemic has laid bare all the deficiencies in long-term care facilities and that many lives have been lost. People throughout Quebec and elsewhere have been affected.

However, Quebec is fully capable of looking after its long-term care facilities. The burning question is this: Will the government proceed with health transfers to the provinces, yes or no?

[Committees of the House, February 22nd, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, everything that is currently happening to the tourism industry also affects my riding. Here are a few examples. In Val-d'Or, there is the Spectacle-bénéfice Hardy Ringuette, a benefit that raises money for La Ressource pour personnes handicapées de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue et du Nord-du-Québec. There is also the Festival d'humour de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the Festival des contes et légendes Abitibi-Témiscamingue and the Festival de musique Trad Val-d'Or. In Chibougamau, there is Festival Folifrets, a snowmobiling festival.

Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou is a huge region, so it is important to talk about it. The tourism industry is dealing with a lot of cancellations and a loss of visibility and volunteers.

What about the money that comes from outside our borders, from other countries?

[Citizenship Act, February 18th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.

[Citizenship Act, February 18th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise once again to conclude the debate at second reading of the bill that I introduced.

I had the opportunity to hear from members of the different parties and I am disappointed that the Liberal Party and the NDP do not seem to want to give this bill a chance to be examined in committee. I am disappointed because many studies clearly show that French is in decline in Quebec, particularly in Montreal. I am disappointed because it is essential that we put a stop to this trend and it is by passing bills like Bill C-223, combined with other measures, that we will be able to prevent this disaster. Quite frankly, I am not sure what the Liberal and NDP members did not understand. During the debate, we heard them say all sorts of things that had nothing to do with the bill. Sometimes I wondered if they even read it.

As we know, only 55% of allophones in Quebec make the language transfer to French. In English Canada, approximately 99% of allophones make the language transfer to English. To maintain our relative weight, 90% of allophones in Quebec would have to make the transfer to French.

I therefore invite my colleagues to vote in favour of Bill C-223 because it recognizes the primacy of French in Quebec, it is consistent with recognition of the Quebec nation, it contributes to sustaining French in Quebec, it restores the status of French in Quebec, it acknowledges the importance of speaking the language to exercise all the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship in Quebec, and it is an additional means to slow the decline of French in Quebec.

As for the Liberals, especially the ones from Quebec, I do not really understand why they would vote against this bill. I have to say that all I heard from the Liberals were weak and unconvincing arguments that often had nothing to do with my bill. As usual, the Liberals are using empty words to hide their unwillingness to take action. This bill in no way prevents anyone from immigrating to Canada, because citizenship is the final step in the immigration process. Our bill does not prevent anyone from seeking asylum in Canada. It does not prevent anyone from applying for permanent residence, a study permit, a work permit or a visa.

The Liberals have offered us false arguments. I get the feeling the Liberals do not actually have a reason to oppose the bill. They are against it because they are against it. They are against it for ideological reasons. They just do not like it when opposition parties come up with good ideas.

I think it makes perfect sense for people who immigrate to Quebec to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of French, just as it makes sense to know English in Great Britain, German and Germany and Mandarin in China. Making knowledge of French a prerequisite for obtaining Canadian citizenship in Quebec just makes sense.

Members of the House of Commons who vote against the very principle of Bill C-223 will be proving two things. First, they will be proving that Canada's bilingual nature is not important to them, by rejecting a minimum requirement for ensuring the vitality of French in North America. Second, they will be proving that Canada's constitutional framework cannot ensure the full vitality of the Quebec nation. It is important to make French the common language, as well as to ensure that everyone is included in order to build a coherent and inclusive society.

I therefore ask all of my colleagues in the House to do the right thing and support my bill.

[United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, February 17th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, experience has shown us that failure to obtain consent for development projects often leads to crises involving indigenous peoples. That is what happened with the Oka crisis and with the Wet'suwet'en this winter.

Can the member tell us what the problem is with making sure natural resource development projects are carried out properly in accordance with the FPIC standard?

[Criminal Code, December 2nd, 2020]

Madam Speaker, I do not agree with the principles put forward by my colleague.

Medical assistance in dying seeks to help those people. They are vulnerable, but they still have all their faculties and can make decisions.

The member spoke about discrimination against people with disabilities. I disagree with her because people with disabilities also have the right to choose whether to live or die with dignity, regardless of their illness. There are professionals taking care of these people. They have access to mental health care and palliative care.

It is unreasonable to use extreme examples like you did. I think that this legislation will support these people and they need that support. This bill should therefore be passed. Did you read the bill carefully before mentioning these things and expressing your point of view?

[Questions on the Order Paper, December 2nd, 2020]

With regard to calls to action 81 and 82 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which called for commemorative monuments to be installed in Ottawa and other capitals to honour residential school survivors, and all the children who were lost to their families and communities: (a) has the government taken steps to respond to these two calls to action; and (b) if so, what are the details of the steps it has taken, including (i) providing subsidies to build a monument in the federal capital, (ii) steps to purchase or designate a site for installing said monument, (iii) how many public servants are currently working to respond to these calls to action, (iv) the status of the consultation process with survivors and organizations, (v) the status of discussions with the provinces and territories regarding the full realization of these calls to action?