Rhéal Fortin

Defend supply management

The other end of this axis: Liberalize supply management

Supply-managed producers must be fully compensated and border controls imposed on milk proteins; opposes trade deals without these protections.

First, supply-managed cheese and agricultural producers will have to be fully compensated for any revenue losses. In addition, the federal government will have to provide considerable support for the next generation of farmers, to the tune of $100 million a year in investments. Lastly, the government will have to bring in border controls to prevent milk proteins from entering. The fiscal imbalance is still a reality, and it could doom Quebeckers to decades of austerity unless something is done.

Faster fossil phase-down

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

Opposes Energy East pipeline because it would increase oil sands production and GHG emissions by 40 percent, contradicting Paris goals.

In addition to putting more than 800 Quebec waterways at risk, this project would increase the production of oil from the oil sands and the associated greenhouse gas emissions by 40%. When will the Prime Minister realize that the construction of the energy east pipeline goes against the objectives that he set for himself in Paris?

Restrict new oil and gas

The other end of this axis: Expand production and export

Rejects oil sands expansion and pipelines while calling for clean energy instead.

Also, in any case, oil and gas are energies of the past. Hydroelectricity, solar power, wind power and other clean energies are the future. Can we not agree that, if we really want to help people in Ukraine and our European friends, we should send them energies of the future and not the old stuff, which is already not working and will work even less in four, five or ten years

Tighter prudential rules

The other end of this axis: Lighter capital rules and more competition

Calls for taxing banks and cracking down on tax havens; criticizes federal moves to shield banks from Quebec consumer-protection rules.

Since we are proactive, we even offered some suggestions for obtaining additional revenue: taxing banks and cracking down on tax havens. This budget is zero for four.

Higher taxes and public spending

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

Demands higher health transfers, independent EI fund, and new revenue from banks and tax havens rather than deficit reduction.

Since we are proactive, we even offered some suggestions for obtaining additional revenue: taxing banks and cracking down on tax havens. This budget is zero for four. It provides nothing for transfers, nothing meaningful for employment insurance, nothing to suggest that the infrastructure program will work quickly and effectively, and nothing to meet the needs of our economy.

Expand public coverage

The other end of this axis: More private delivery

Demands 6 percent annual federal health transfers until Ottawa covers 25 percent of Quebec costs and opposes any cuts that affect public services.

Ottawa will have to increase federal health funding by 6% until 25% of Quebec's system costs are covered. Ottawa must also consider that our population is aging.

Higher permanent intake

The other end of this axis: Lower intake

Describes Canada and Quebec as welcoming nations shaped by immigration.

Speaker, if there is one thing that Canada and Quebec have in common, it is that they are both welcoming nations populated by warm, curious, and very friendly people. Our respective identities have been shaped by immigration and continue to evolve through the contribution of newcomers.

Stronger unions and standards

The other end of this axis: More flexibility for employers

Defends workers' rights to independent EI fund, criticizes Air Canada for violating maintenance obligations to unionized workers, and supports seasonal workers.

Since when has the minister been able to flout laws or change them to please the offenders? When will the government demand that the Attorney General intervene on behalf of unionized Aveos workers to force Air Canada to comply with the law and its obligations to Canadians—

Diversify away from one partner

The other end of this axis: Deeper continental integration

Warns against over-reliance on US markets and calls for protection of Quebec industries in trade deals.

If the negotiations result in the elimination of the tariff preference level that our textile manufacturers are entitled to, companies like Rayonese could, in the medium term, be forced to move production to other factories in the United States or overseas. The Bloc Québécois will never allow our workers—