Federal election debates

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Rhéal Fortin Answering Questions at The First Debate


Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!  Before I begin, I would like to thank the CBC for hosting this debate, all the fellow party leaders for being here, and especially you, the People, for tuning in to watch this debate, as you're the ones who really matter in this election, not us.  Now, let me begin.

In response to the First Question, Bloc Quebecois does have a plan to get Canada Working again and rebuild our Economy.  Our plan would involve investment in Green Energy Companies, aid to the ailing Timber Industry, and massive Infrastructure Investment, 15 Billion Dollars, in Canada to help rebuild Canada's Infrastructure and to help employ Canadians on a massive scale.  On the Infrastructure Spending, at least 3 Billion should be Invested in Quebec, which would be 20% of the spending, equal to Quebec's share of the population in Canada, which is about 20%, this way Quebec and her people will be receiving a truly fair share of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs, and we can help revitalize Montreal and the rest of our Great Province.  In addition to all of this, we propose lowering the Small Business Tax Rate from 10.5% to 9.5% in order to give a small boost to Canada and Quebec's Small Businesses, so they can have more of their hard earned money and help to employ their fellow Canadians and Quebecers.  Now how would all this be paid for?  By making the Rich and Corporations pay their fair share.  We propose increasing taxes on Major Corporations to 16.5%, on Oil Companies and Banks to 20%, and an increase of 1.5% on incomes greater than $150,000.  Through this Plan we will be able to help our fellow Canadians and Quebecers get back to work, make the Rich and Big Businesses pay their fair share, and help give Quebec her fair share of Spending as well.

Now, onto the Second Question, Constitutional Reform.  Bloc Quebecois has a very simple reform to offer, we want to put in the constitution that Elections can only occur every 4 years, as long as the elected Government does not fail, to make sure that Prime Ministers cannot call elections whenever they wish as blatant grabs for power, such as this one.  Now, why do we think this time it can work?  Because we believe that every Opposition Party supports such a move, after all the Conservatives, NDP, and Greens all oppose this election and believe it's just a power grab by Mr. Trudeau, why wouldn't they support a solution to it?  In addition to it most likely being supported by every opposition Party, I believe the Canadian people as a whole will recognize it is time to make sure power grabs cannot happen again.  I'm sure they do not wish for their own tax dollars to be wasted on calling elections whenever the PM wishes anymore, and that they do not want this partisanship to exist anymore.  That is why I'm confident our simple Reform, when brought to a vote in a National Referendum, will pass, and the Canadian people should be confident as well, as Bloc will fight for it throughout our next term of Government. We will fight for you the People, not ourselves. 

Next, onto my answer to the Third Question.  The War on Terror has been ongoing since the attacks during Stephen Harper's Prime Ministership, and I believe it has gone ok, but ok isn't good enough.  I will say that Bloc supports Aerial Military Action against Terrorist Groups in the Middle East, such as ISIL, but we do not support bringing Canadian Ground Troops into the Middle East, Ground Intervention is a terrible idea and would merely bog down and devolve into a slaughter of Canadian Lives, something we cannot allow.  At home, I believe we need to do two things, first, sufficient screening of any Refugees coming into the Country to make sure they aren't terrorists or coming to harm us, that way we can protect against possible attacks before they happen.  Second, making sure that Government Surveillance cannot be used to spy on the People of Canada and Quebec without reasonable suspicion that they may wish harm upon their fellow Canadians and Quebecers.  We must remember that our people have Civil Liberties, and do not deserve to have those taken away in order to fight against Terror, the People trust the Government, and the Government should trust the people back.   

Finally, onto the Personal Question.  I'll be glad to explain our position.  Our Party's goal is greater Autonomy yes, and Eventual Independence, but Independence is not the aim of this campaign.  Our Goal in this Campaign is for Quebec to be able to govern itself more, such as being able to collect our own taxes and saving the taxpayers of Quebec more of their hard earned Money, while making more of the tax dollars that go to Ottawa come back to Quebec.  We want it to come back in the form of Infrastructure Spending relative to Quebec's Population and Tax Income, and in the form of Naval Contracts granted to Quebec's Shipyards and Naval Yards, again relative to our population.  So my answer is no, our party is not contradicting ourselves in this Campaign, our goal is Greater Autonomy and Greater Equality for Quebec and her People.

I would like to thank the CBC again for holding this debate, thank all of the other leaders for showing up, and to thank the People for listening to our message, and I hope the people of Quebec will recognize it is the best message for them.

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Rhéal Fortin Answering Questions at The Second Debate


Hello Ladies and Gentlemen!  Before I begin I would like to thank the CBC for hosting this debate, and for you, the people of Quebec and Canada for tuning into this debate, hopefully this time some other leaders will show up!  Heh, alright, now I'll begin.

In response to the first Question, I believe I already stated part of Bloc's idea on helping the environment.  We support increasing investment in Green Energy Companies, while slowly beginning to phase out the Oil industry.  This way, we will be able to transition into a Green Economy and help reduce our emissions.  Bloc also supports tighter regulation on the Oil Industry in order to make sure we don't allow risky pipelines on our beaches and shores, as an oil spill could easily harm the wildlife.  Bloc supports a possible bill to reduce Greenhouse Gases as well, in order to protect our environment and stop pouring carbon emissions into our air in order to begin to combat the effects of Global Warming. 


Onto the second Question, our plan on taxes to pay for greater investment in the Timber and Green Energy Industries, as well as our infrastructure, and to help even the playing field for the average Canadian is as follows.  We support increasing taxes on Major Corporations to 16.5% from 15%, and increasing the tax rates on Big Banks and Oil Companies to 20% from 15%.  On Income Taxes, we support the following Rates, for incomes below $12,000, you will pay a rate of 0%.  For those with an income from $12,000 to $45,000, you will pay a rate of 14.5%.  For those with an income from $45,000 to $90,000, you will pay a rate of 21.5%.  For those with an income of $90,000 to $150,000, you will pay a rate of 27%.  Finally, for those with an income of $150,000 or greater, you will pay a rate of 30.5%.  Now all those numbers mean this, that the average Canadian  will pay less taxes overall, and that the Rich, Big Business, and Big Banks will pay more in taxes, evening out taxes and making the Rich pay their fair share in order to help boost the Canadian Economy and rebuild our infrastructure.


Now the Third Question.  I am happy that the rest of the world likes Canada, and I believe we should continue to be open to the World, however, we should not meddle in other Nations’ affairs.  I believe that Canada should continue to be friendly and open to the world, making fair trade deals with our friends and Allies, and helping our Allies and other nations when they are in need.  However, we should overall avoid meddling into the affairs of other Nations, avoiding Military Intervention except in cases where our Allies are attacked, but issuing sanctions and avoiding trade with Nations that violate Human Rights or harm their people.  Overall, I believe Canada should try to be a Friendly Ally who wishes to trade and be peaceful with our fellow Nations.


Now, the Final Question.  I believe that I should answer this question as why I am the best voice for the people of Quebec.  Now, why should I be that voice you may ask?  Because I promise that I and The Bloc Quebecois will fight for the betterment of all of Quebec's Citizens every single day we are in Ottawa.  I promise to fight for more Infrastructure Investment in Quebec's roads, bridges, Cities, and Airports.  I promise to fight for Quebec to collect it's own taxes and to have more Sovereignty in it's day to day actions.  And I promise to be open to compromise and work with the other parties in Ottawa, as long as it is in the interests of the people of Quebec.  I do believe that I am the best Voice for Quebec in Ottawa because I've actually shown up!  I've been here on this Debate Stage and at home in Quebec fighting for you, the People in this campaign, campaigning for your interests.  In the meantime, Prime Minister Trudeau has been ignoring Debates and airing TV ads in the hopes that you won't notice that nothing in his platform is dedicated to benefiting the people of Quebec, and that he's just trying to hide from you, The People.  Mr. Trudeau is afraid of you, my fellow Quebecers, and frankly he should be, because when February 8th comes, he will face an angry public that wants to be represented by someone who truly holds their interests at heart, not someone who just wants Power for himself.  I have one final promise to you all, that I and the Bloc Quebecois will always hold your interests at heart, and fight for them with every ounce of our being, for every second we are in Ottawa. 

I would like to thank the CBC again for holding this Debate, and to thank all of my fellow Quebecers for listening.  Merci et bonne nuit!