Mario Beaulieu

Defend supply management

The other end of this axis: Liberalize supply management

Excerpts repeat calls to protect supply management from trade deals and federal inaction, with multiple statements against using it as a bargaining chip.

Will the Minister of International Trade promise not to use supply management as a bargaining chip in the TPP negotiations at the expense of Quebec?

Faster fossil phase-down

The other end of this axis: Slower phase-down, production first

Excerpts repeatedly call for rejecting pipelines, cutting oil production, and weaning off fossil fuels to meet climate targets.

In my colleague's opinion, how much more ambitious should our greenhouse gas reduction targets be? What should we do with all the pipeline proposals? I think we need gradual movement away from oil production, especially from the oil sands, and toward developing renewable energy sources. We need to invest in electrification and develop all kinds of other energy sources so we can meet the greenhouse gas reduction targets—

Restrict new oil and gas

The other end of this axis: Expand production and export

Excerpts repeat opposition to Energy East and new pipelines while advocating reduced oil production.

If he is really serious, he should start taking action to fight climate change by saying no to energy east. Will the government say no to energy east once and for all, or is this all just talk?

Higher taxes and public spending

The other end of this axis: Lower taxes and tighter spending

Excerpts criticize federal cuts to transfers and demand higher health and other transfers to provinces.

We agree with that, but the main problem, and my colleague spoke at length about this before me, is that cuts to federal health transfers are compromising the health care system in Quebec and in the Canadian provinces. From our Quebec taxes that we send to the federal government, the money transferred to Quebec for health care formerly represented 50% of the funding for that sector in the 1970s.

Expand public coverage

The other end of this axis: More private delivery

Excerpts repeatedly demand higher health transfers to expand public system capacity under provincial control.

The provinces want 5.2%, and we want 6%. That would give the Government of Quebec and the provincial governments the flexibility to manage their health care programs. Otherwise, these kinds of proposals will disrupt health care management.

Public supply and demand controls

The other end of this axis: Market supply and deregulation

Excerpts call for federal funding of social housing projects to address shortages.

Eleven projects that would create 235 new social housing units for the homeless are on hold because the federal government refuses to release the $2 million it promised. Will the minister guarantee that all projects will be carried out on time?

Stronger unions and standards

The other end of this axis: More flexibility for employers

Excerpts support extended EI benefits for seasonal workers and worker protections.

Will the Liberal government reinstate pilot projects to extend benefits for Quebec's seasonal workers?

Diversify away from one partner

The other end of this axis: Deeper continental integration

Excerpts repeat opposition to trade deals that threaten supply management and demand no concessions.

Instead of acting like a rock star, when will the Prime Minister send a clear message to the U.S. and Asian negotiators: no supply management, no negotiation?