Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank the member of Parliament for Edmonton Strathcona for bringing Bill C-259 forward and for her advocacy on behalf of workers. The Government of Canada recognizes the spirit and intent of Bill C-259, because fairness for all Canadian workers is our top priority. Given the economic headwinds we are facing, worker fairness is needed now more than ever. Canada'…
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Mr. Speaker, do members know what the difference is between this side of the House and that side of the House? Conservatives wake up hoping for bad economic news that they can use to repeat pithy slogans, fire off fundraising emails and talk down Canadian industries and Canadian workers. On this side of the House, we wake up knowing that Canadians are counting on us to build a stronger, more compe…
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Mr. Speaker, in communities across this country, intimate partner violence is not an abstract idea. Survivors have been clear that they need our justice system to act earlier and more effectively to keep them safe. I am proud to be part of this new government's commitment to taking tangible action to better protect Canadians. Will the parliamentary secretary please tell this House how Bill C-16 wo…
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Mr. Speaker, right now, in communities across this country, there are women living in fear inside their own homes. Intimate partner violence is not some theoretical problem to be discussed in the abstract. It is happening at the kitchen table, in the grocery store parking lot and in a text message sent at 2 a.m. It is fuelled by misogyny, and misogyny unchecked can kill. Bill C-16 would take actio…
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Mr. Speaker, right now, as our government is making historic investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, we must not only prepare for thousands of new service members to put on the uniform but also consider what it means for them to one day become veterans, because while meeting the commitments we have made to our NATO allies is important, the commitments we make to the soldiers, sailors and aviator…
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Mr. Speaker, I would ask for a recorded vote.
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Mr. Speaker, six years ago this past weekend, my community experienced unthinkable tragedy. Twenty-two lives were lost across Nova Scotia. They were neighbours, friends and family. These past six years have delivered much pain, sorrow and confusion, but we have also witnessed extraordinary resilience, compassion and solidarity. We have supported one another through the darkest of days and found st…
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today's debate, particularly as we navigate a period of geopolitical volatility and significant change. Disruptions to global energy infrastructure caused by ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East are driving higher fuel costs, creating economic uncertainty for families in Canada and across the world. While governments cannot control g…
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Mr. Speaker, I would say that the majority of Canadians will be travelling this summer, as it will be the tourist season, and this will be a significant savings for those individuals coming home to visit their friends and relatives this year.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I am taking French lessons right now, but I will answer the question in English. I would encourage the Conservatives to join us in our work to grow our energy exports, protect Canadian workers and improve our competitiveness on the global market.
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Mr. Speaker, our government is keenly aware of the situation that everyday Canadians find themselves in, and that is why, whether it is through the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, the elimination of carbon pricing for consumers, increased support for first-time homebuyers or measures to increase housing supply through Build Canada Homes, our government continues to work for Canadians to i…
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Mr. Speaker, our government is keenly aware of and engaged in what Canadians are dealing with these days. I, myself, have not been immune to being in a poor financial situation and having to rob Peter to pay Paul, as they say. I am keenly aware that our government is working to benefit all of our constituents and all of Canada by taking concrete steps to support Canadians through these challenges …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member across the way for his question, but I am not sure that I want to. His point is taken. There certainly have been studies done. The need for veterans' housing is obvious, and the government understood that. This year, it launched Build Canada Homes, which will help provide housing for individuals, including veterans. By identifying the federal surplus b…
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moved: That: (a) the House recognize, (i) that the government is making historic investments in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to meet our NATO funding targets earlier than committed, (ii) the assumption that an increasing number of CAF service members will lead to a growth in the ranks of Canadian veterans over the next few decades; and (b) it be an instruction to the Standing Committee on Gover…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not think there would be a conflict. I believe that we have the opportunity to repurpose historic buildings that have served our communities in past decades and to move them forward. With things like heat pumps, solar power and better energy efficiency, we can transform these buildings into units that can be occupied for decades to come.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague hit the nail on the head. Sending the motion to committee and allowing for the study would enable a process to be put in place so the same procedures could be used across the country to identify buildings within each riding, create a process whereby they can be reallocated for the community and then enable the community to do what is best for it.
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Mr. Speaker, I would say that because OGGO is an opposition-chaired committee, it makes perfect sense for everyone to work on a non-partisan basis to review the opportunities and to see what we can do to move them forward.
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Mr. Speaker, as a newcomer to politics, I am finding the Ottawa approach to problem-solving quite perplexing. I am proud of this government's focus on delivering for hard-working families through tax cuts for 22 million Canadians, making sure every kid gets a healthy meal at school, investing billions in infrastructure projects and creating good jobs in our local communities, but these plans for t…
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Mr. Speaker, my father suffered from four different types of cancer over five years and, indeed, opted for medical assistance in dying, which took place in August 2024. Although sitting with him that day was one of the hardest times of my life, I fully supported his choice to participate in MAID. I also supported the process as it took place and was there throughout it. I wonder if the member acro…
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Mr. Speaker, leading into Remembrance Day, the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, renamed its outdoor athletic facility in honour of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, the only all-Black Canadian unit in World War I. The men of the No. 2 showed up ready to enlist, and Canada said, “No, thanks; this is a white man's war.” When eventually allowed to serve, the No. 2 was the backbone of Canadian efforts, lay…
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Mr. Speaker, budget 2025 is a generational investment in our economy, in our industries and in Canadians. Canadians are paying lower prices for cellular services, with a 40% decline in prices over five years, but these bills still eat into the pockets of Canadians. Budget 2025 has proposed measures to lower costs for Canadians and improve competition. At a time when Canadians are concerned with ri…
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Mr. Speaker, competition is a good thing. Our government's mandate to build a stronger Canadian economy will bring about the opportunity to compete. That may make our companies more adaptable and agile in their dealings within our business environment.
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Mr. Speaker, I have confidence in the Prime Minister and his relationships with governments and leaders around the world. These discussions will lead to the best trade agreements for Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Winnipeg North for the good work he does there. Over the last decade, I have spent time working with small business owners through my work with the community business development corporation. Many of the business people with whom I worked were anxious to expand their business capabilities to trade among the provinces, which we have already accomplished through t…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of an important and timely step forward in our country's trade agenda. We are debating the United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, or the CPTPP. As members of this esteemed House, we must reflect on the broader implications of this agreement, not just for the nation as a whole, but for the diverse…
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Mr. Speaker, things take time and negotiations take time. It is our intention to work with all businesses to help them be as successful as they possibly can be.
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Mr. Speaker, In Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, the father-daughter team at Holdanca Farms is doing something extraordinary. Beyond some fantastic beef cattle they raise, John and Maria have been awarded the Canadian Cattle Association's Environmental Stewardship Award for their care of an entire ecosystem that includes more than 1,000 species across 500 north shore acres. These two farmers insist…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Sara Tessier of The Northpine Foundation. Sara's journey is one of remarkable courage and resilience. As a survivor who has faced immense personal challenges, she has not only persevered but has also transformed her lived experience into leadership. Sara is now a tireless champion for formerly incarcerated people: those who too often face stigma, systemic bar…
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Mr. Speaker, for over a century the Ralston armoury has stood as Amherst, Nova Scotia's monument to national service, where the North Nova Scotia Highlanders answered the call and led the charge in two world wars and generations of young leaders have taken shape. As our government works toward important NATO spending commitments, we will not only make the investments necessary for building up a st…
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Mr. Speaker, this week we mark Gender Equality Week, a time meant to recognize the progress we have made and the work that still lies ahead. Will the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism please speak to what our new government is doing to advance equality and create a more equitable and safe Canada for everyone?
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a reminder of the power of continued investment in Canada's rural communities. I recently had the opportunity to stand alongside Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia and Taste of Nova Scotia to announce this government's financial support for the Nova Scotia Cheese Trail. This initiative creates real opportunities for family farms and local cheese makers to prosper. The trai…
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Mr. Speaker, in the past, we know there have been incentives and subsidies offered at the federal and provincial levels to both encourage the growth of the industry and assist people with purchasing electric vehicles. I am wondering if my honourable colleague across the aisle would support that.
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Mr. Speaker, this past week, the Truro Farm Equipment Museum marked its 35th anniversary of preserving agricultural heritage in Nova Scotia. Museums like this are so much more than the antique tractors and plows that are on display. They are keepers of stories that matter, stories of families working the land and building our society from the ground up. Our rural communities have always been labor…
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank Premier Houston, Premier Holt and our federal government for their leadership in securing critical flood protection for the Chignecto Isthmus. This is not just about protecting land. It is about protecting livelihoods, supply chains and the economic backbone of Atlantic Canada. As this government doubles down on our belief in Canadian businesses and pursues one…
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Mr. Speaker, five years ago, Portapique, Nova Scotia, faced an unimaginable tragedy, but what happened next in my riding is an important lesson in what resilience looks like. The people of Portapique did not just survive; they organized. Working with the Rotary Club of Truro, they said they would not be defined by their darkest hours. Through the generosity of donors from across Canada and support…
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