SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

Yves-François Blanchet

  • Member of Parliament
  • Leader of the Bloc Québécois
  • Bloc Québécois
  • Beloeil—Chambly
  • Quebec
  • Voting Attendance: 55%
  • Expenses Last Quarter: $98,385.23

  • Government Page
  • Nov/8/23 2:35:30 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I regret to say that the State of Israel broke the trust the international community placed in it to act with restraint towards civilians in the Gaza Strip. Thousands of people have died needlessly. Israel is planning a lasting occupation of the Gaza Strip. There have been repeated calls for a truce, but have we not reached the point where strong action must be taken by the international community to implement a ceasefire enforced by international peacekeepers?
79 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Nov/8/23 2:34:05 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, this morning, the Prime Minister reiterated the government's position and called on Israel to agree to a truce in the Gaza Strip. Many international institutions and countries have reiterated this position over the past two weeks. Unfortunately, all calls have gone unheeded so far. Prime Minister Netanyahu is also completely ignoring the repeated calls made by Mr. Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State. In view of Israel's deplorable attitude, would the Prime Minister agree that it is time to call for a ceasefire, along with effective means of implementation?
94 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/24/23 2:29:17 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, did the President of the United States talk to the Prime Minister about the need for at least a consensus within his own party so that Canada and Quebec can speak with a coherent voice internationally? Speaking of consensus, the Prime Minister told me last week that he agreed to organize meetings between him and the leaders of the opposition parties to build up a bit of information flow and consensus on the voice of this Parliament. I have not heard anything since. Should I bring my agenda tomorrow?
92 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/18/23 2:54:03 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we were one of the first nations, but our nation has too little weight on the international stage to be the only voice. We need friends and we need credibility. Since we have heard nothing about that, am I to understand that the Prime Minister of Canada, over the past 11 days, has not once talked to the President of the United States? As they say in Quebec's two neighbouring countries, “you must walk the talk”. We have a similar expression in Quebec. To give these fine words and good intentions any substance and credibility, is it not time for the Prime Minister to start walking?
111 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/18/23 2:52:37 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, in the terrible conflict that is tearing apart the Gaza Strip, civilians are losing their lives or living in unspeakable distress. Humanitarian aid needs to get to the civilians on the Gaza Strip and aid has to get there unconditionally, no matter where it comes from. To do its work under these circumstances, Canada needs a strong voice. It needs a strong voice to convey the desire for peace on behalf of our Israeli friends, Palestinian friends or friends of peace in general. In that spirit, will Canada join the initiative undertaken by the United States with Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom?
106 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/17/23 2:31:09 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, we agree that this is very much a humanitarian situation. The international community must take humanitarian action, but it must do other things too. The Prime Minister's answer was long, but what he meant was that, no, he will not be part of the group, which has a lot more power to influence and intervene than even the G7 does in this context. Because I want to know more and understand better, yesterday I suggested that the Prime Minister invite all party leaders to meet and discuss these matters privately so we can all be on the same page and more easily build consensus around this crisis, which is bigger than our debates here and our current political issues. Will that happen?
125 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/17/23 2:29:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of co-operation, I asked the Deputy Prime Minister a few questions yesterday. Perhaps this came as a surprise to her, because the answers we received left much to be desired and were rather vague. I would like to put them directly to the Prime Minister this time. The Quint group, which is made up of the United States, Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom, has become quite a force, with a tremendous capacity for diplomatic and political intervention. It is surprising that Canada is not part of it. I asked the Deputy Prime Minister about it yesterday, and now I am asking the Prime Minister. Has he spoken with President Biden about being added to the group?
124 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/16/23 2:31:39 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the U.S. Department of State obviously does not see it that way because it simply did not invite Canada. That is deplorable because it prevents the government from doing its job for its own communities and citizens properly. To ensure that everyone here speaks with a common voice on behalf of members of Canada's Jewish community and peaceful Muslims, this morning I suggested it would be appropriate for all the leaders to meet and discuss the issues in private.
84 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Oct/16/23 2:30:14 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to congratulate you. The United States joined forces with four other western powers—Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and France—to speak as a single strong voice in response to the crisis centred in Gaza that has rocked the whole world. Canada was not invited to participate, despite having a sizable Jewish community. I am not criticizing, but I am disappointed. Did the government ask to join that group of western powers and take steps to be invited?
86 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • Nov/15/22 2:16:01 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, with a huge population and a ruthless apparatus of repression, the Chinese regime is deploying absolutely shocking policies: spying, intimidation, and interference in the electoral process, including illegal financing in 11 ridings here in Canada. More importantly, the Chinese Communist Party is literally wiping out an entire people, a thousand-year-old culture in a conquered province. The Bloc Québécois has made a firm commitment to the Uighur people. However, the Canadian government is showing a disturbing degree of cowardice. If the Liberal government wants to be respected, it must acknowledge, on the global stage, that the treatment of Uighurs amounts to genocide. That is the only correct word. It also needs to bring in sanctions similar to the ones imposed by the United States to counter forced labour and child labour in Xinjiang. Failing that, Canada will only continue to rant childishly, sidelined by its own powerlessness.
154 words
All Topics
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border
  • May/31/22 2:16:41 p.m.
  • Watch
Mr. Speaker, over the past few days, I had the privilege of meeting Catalonia's minister of foreign action, who came to meet with a significant number of Quebec institutions, including the Government of Quebec. We discussed the extraordinary economic advantages of developing partnerships between such prosperous and innovative territories as Catalonia and Quebec, which share some comparable characteristics. Of course, we had the chance to talk about a people's right to self-determination, Catalonia's desire for independence, or at least the desire of a large number of Catalan citizens, and the Spanish government's shameful repression of the will of the Catalan people. We also touched on Canada's support for Spain in this repression, and on the fact that this is hardly flattering. I promised to raise this issue in the House of Commons of Canada so that, together, we could regain a position of dignity before the Catalan people.
154 words
  • Hear!
  • Rabble!
  • star_border