SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 134

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
November 24, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 134 - Nov/24/22
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Nov/24/22 2:18:58 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to acknowledge the 100th birthday of Françoise Poulin. Originally from the small village of Saint-Prosper-de-Dorchester, she moved at 18 to Quebec City, where she met the father of her seven children. Someone should make a movie of her life. When she had an appendectomy at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital, she fell in love with her nurse and future husband, Joseph Dutil, and moved to their home in Saint-Hyacinthe where she still lives today. Living in that house is a way of keeping her husband's memory alive and honour the life they shared for 32 years. A widow at 55, she redefined herself from a wife and mother to a strong, independent, caring and loving woman devoted to her family and loved ones. She passed down her determination and courage to the next generations. These are generous, honest, hard-working, good people. I could go on and on because her sons Richard, Alain and Dany are three of my good friends. They are great guys. I wish Mrs. Poulin a very happy birthday. She has earned it, and it is her turn to enjoy the love.
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Context: House Hansard - 134 - Nov/24/22
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Nov/24/22 2:30:37 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, here in the House, the Prime Minister has not been taking Chinese interference in funding election candidates seriously, to say the least. However, he thought it was serious enough to ask his intelligence services to get to the bottom of it. He is right about that: China has been increasing its efforts to interfere with democracy. He even talked to the Chinese President about it at the G20. What the Global News report has revealed is, at the bare minimum, a glaring weakness in the political financing system. There is a very simple way for the Prime Minister to immediately correct this. Will he bring back public funding of political parties?
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Context: House Hansard - 134 - Nov/24/22
Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)
  • Nov/24/22 2:31:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the answer I just heard. The Prime Minister should be ashamed. Political parties' dependence on donations creates unhealthy conditions that invite undue influence. This is already a problem when it comes to major donors. The Prime Minister knows this because he spent a whole term in trouble for charging business people $1,500 each to join him at private cocktail parties. The Global News report revealed that this weakness can be exploited by foreign powers seeking to influence democracy. China is probably already doing it. The Prime Minister should employ the precautionary principle. I realize he may not be familiar with that idea, but he needs to wake up sooner or later. Will he restore public funding for political parties—
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