Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus, which is October 1. Canada and Cyprus have maintained a historic relationship since 1960. Our two countries have developed a strong partnership with respect to our membership and our work in multilateral organizations, such as la Francophonie, the Organization for …
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Mr. Speaker, students in Vimy and across Canada will be finishing their school year in the next few days. I still remember how stressful and exciting June was, what with exams, graduation ceremonies, prom and the start of summer vacation. I am proud of the dedicated teachers and staff at the excellent schools in my riding of Vimy, such as Laval Junior Academy, École Socrates-Démosthène and École S…
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Madam Speaker, we know that Canadians are tired, but ignoring COVID-19 will not make it go away. We understand how frustrating it is for Canadians to experience long lines and delays at airports. Canadians can rest assured that we are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We have hired approximately 400 new screening officers, who are currently in different phases of their training…
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Madam Speaker, as I have said several times throughout the last couple of days, we understand how frustrating it is for Canadians to experience long lines and delays at airports. This is clearly not a staffing issue alone. CATSA is at 90% of prepandemic staffing levels, while travel is at 70% of what it was in 2019. Our government is working really hard with the aviation sector and all the agencie…
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Madam Speaker, I know my colleague was dissatisfied with my response to his previous question about reviewing public health measures at airports. I would like to clarify that a review of measures is ongoing and constant. Health Canada is always reassessing the latest public health data to better dictate our decision-making at airports. There is no completion date, as this is ongoing. It will also …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for this important question. Our government is always ready to work with all parties in the House to come up with solutions and reach compromises. We are always ready and willing to work together. I would therefore invite my colleague to contact me or Transport Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to reiterate that ultimately each country is responsible for the safety and security of its own people. They have their own public health experts that provide them with information. We have our own public health professionals who are world-renowned scientists and researchers. We take guidance from our public health professionals, and we will continue to do so.
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Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member states, this is a problem that is not specific or unique to Canada. There are labour shortages throughout. There are committees looking at labour shortages. There is communication among departments and allies around the world to make sure that we are well aligned and answering the needs of the labour shortages. As we see, it is not only transportation, airports, air…
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Mr. Speaker, ultimately, each country is responsible for the safety and security of its own people. Each country is experiencing unique factors, such as vaccine availability, as per my speech, the vaccination rate and the number of hospitalizations. Each country adjusts its measures to best fit its unique context. I agree with the hon. member that perhaps there should be a list compiled of all the…
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Mr. Speaker, as we have said numerous times, this is an evolving situation. We follow the guidelines of public health. The emergence of the omicron variant and others was a clear reminder that the pandemic continues to evolve. That is why we continue to require vaccination to travel when departing by train, plane or cruise ship. Again, from day one, our public health measures have been based on th…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for that important question. As we have said before, since the beginning of the pandemic, our government has focused on the health and safety of Canadians by following the latest science. Canada's border measures will remain flexible and adaptable, guided by science and prudence. We are currently reviewing the Auditor General's report. I have no doubt that Tr…
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Mr. Speaker, vaccines are an important tool to protect Canadians and stop the spread of COVID-19. Science is clear on this matter. Vaccines are safe and effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19, as well as reducing severe cases and hospitalizations and protecting health. On this side of the House, we will always look to science to help us monitor and mitigate all unnecessary risks to the Canad…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising that important point. It is duly noted. With four major airports to hear directly about what was happening on the ground and to discuss solutions, airports, airlines and CATSA are working to make sure communication to travellers is clear so they can better anticipate processing requirements. TC, PHAC and CBSA are working with airports and air carriers …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Thornhill for having raised this important question, which I know is a concern for many Canadian travellers. I will begin by saying that I understand and share their frustration. I myself am a traveller, and I have experienced delays at the airport. I know it can be aggravating. I also know that airport delays have an economic cost and that th…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his speech. I also want to share some information with Canadians who may be watching us right now regarding the ArriveCAN app. Up to 72 hours before arriving in Canada, or before making a short trip outside of Canada, travellers can log on to ArriveCAN from a computer to obtain a receipt, print it out and have it on hand while travelling. Individuals may al…
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Mr. Speaker, we understand how frustrating it is for Canadians to experience long lines and delays at airports. Canadians can rest assured that we are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. As I said earlier in the House today, we have hired approximately 400 new screening officers who are currently in different phases of their training across the country. We are taking affirmative …
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Mr. Speaker, I will endeavour to get more information and will respond to the member in a quick manner.
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Madam Speaker, we have some wonderful, talented women in Vimy. Dispersa Inc. is a woman-led company that focuses on biosurfactants, which are biodegradable and ecofriendly products for cleaning and personal care. Since being elected in 2019, I have seen Dispersa grow and gain recognition for the incredible work its team is doing to make our homes greener. This week, Dispersa was selected as one of…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about something that many Canadians, especially Montrealers, are passionate about. We all know that Montreal bagels are the best. For generations, Canadians from across the country, and the greater Montreal area in particular, have sought out the best bagel in the world. Today, I would like to inform my colleagues that another name can be …
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Mr. Speaker, last weekend, I had the honour of joining members of the Armenian community to mark the 107th anniversary of the genocide. We heard very personal stories about their family members who experienced and witnessed the atrocities. That pain will never go away. On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Turks began a genocide that resulted in the death of 1.5 million Armenians. Shedding light on the t…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that Autism Month has begun. Yesterday, in my riding of Vimy, I had the honour of attending an event alongside people who are dedicated to the cause. I would like to thank and congratulate the Société de l'autisme et des TED de Laval for all of its work. As the ambassador for the month, I would like to raise awareness about the challenges that people w…
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Mr. Speaker, tomorrow, March 25, marks the 201st anniversary of the Greek war of independence. This day is important not only to Canadians of Hellenic origin, but also to people all over the world. I remind everyone that this day is dedicated to all those who love liberty and freedom, and I warn all who would deny them these human values. This is a moment for Greeks to celebrate and an invitation …
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Mr. Speaker, our government has taken a number of steps to make sure that our oceans and waterways are safe, including the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. The International Maritime Organization has adopted the Hong Kong convention, which aims to create new requirements for the disposing and recycling of ships. Although the convention is not yet in force, Transport Canada is currently…
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Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month. As the member for Vimy, I am fortunate to represent a riding committed to racial equality in our community and across Canada. This commitment will be showcased this month as the city of Laval is hosting a wide range of activities and events that honour the Black Canadians who have shaped our city. From art exhibitions to musical performances, short fil…
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Mr. Speaker, we know that many Canadians, including those living in remote areas and indigenous people, depend on public transit for transportation. The minister sent a letter to my provincial counterparts earlier this year and the federal government is ready to support provinces where public transit is concerned. I understand that the importance of this service for Canadians is top of mind. We wi…
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Mr. Speaker, we are advising Canadians to avoid all non-essential international travel at this time. This is to add to our layered approach at the border, including predeparture PCR testing and on-arrival testing. These are measures that are based on public health advice, and we are constantly evaluating domestic and international COVID situations. We will not hesitate to adjust these measures as …
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Mr. Speaker, I understand the issue that the member is raising is important for his constituents, and I will definitely bring it to the attention of the minister. Aviation safety remains of paramount importance for Transport Canada and our government, and there is good news on this front. The number of overall air accidents has been decreasing over the last decade, as well as the number of fatal a…
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Mr. Speaker, I truly understand the concerns of my colleague, the hon. member for York—Simcoe, and his constituents, and I commend him for his advocacy on their behalf. The Georgina aerodrome will be a new construction. Canadian Aviation Regulation 307—Aerodromes—Consultations applies to new aerodrome development and requires the operator to undertake a consultation process with the interested par…
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Mr. Speaker, I understand changes to regulations and guidance can be disruptive for air operators and the communities they serve. I assure members that we do not take them lightly. Where appropriate, we revise regulations and guidance in consideration of the feedback we receive. Transport Canada advisory circular number 301-001, issue number three, which deals with the issue being raised by my col…
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Mr. Speaker, there is no loophole, as the member for York—Simcoe suggests. As I mentioned previously, generally speaking, aerodromes, airports and airport authorities are subject to provincial law, except where such laws impair federal aeronautics jurisdiction or conflict with federal law. For instance, if the developer of an aerodrome deposits fill on the aerodrome lands, such fill would have to …
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Mr. Speaker, the holiday season is fast approaching, and many families will have to rely on food banks to help them celebrate the holidays this year. I encourage all Canadians to open their hearts and give generously. I encourage the people of Vimy to make a donation to our community organizations. Whether through the food drive organized by the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, the toy drive organiz…
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Mr. Speaker, during the pandemic, our health care workers were on the front lines to protect Canadians. That being said, as they continue to do their work, they are far too often bullied and threatened. Can the Minister of Justice explain what measures we are taking to protect health care workers?
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Madam Speaker, I also congratulate my colleague across the way for her re-election. Vaccination is the way to getting back to normal. We cannot be hypocritical as members of the House. Canadians who voted for us, by the way, saw that a hybrid Parliament did work and that most of us are back in our seats. We cannot be asking Canadians to be vaccinated to help keep everybody else safe and not do the…
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Madam Speaker, it is much better for us all to be here together to communicate, exchange ideas and debate, but is everyone here today vaccinated? The answer is no. If we look at the numbers in the newspapers, we can see there are a lot of cases. Some members do not even want to disclose whether they are vaccinated. I do not think we should risk being infected.
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Madam Speaker, yes, there is a lot of information that we did not have in the past, but we also have to remind Canadians that people were not vaccinated at the rate they are today. We cannot only be asking Canadians to sacrifice their own liberties by staying home when they are sick, so they do not spread the COVID-19 virus. Our government and ministers were always ready, able and willing to answe…
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Madam Speaker, congratulations on your election. I wish to inform you that I will be sharing my time with my colleague, the member for York Centre. This being the first time I rise to speak in this 44th Parliament, I would like to thank my constituents in Vimy for entrusting me once again to be their representative in the House of Commons. I would also like to pay tribute to my team and the volunt…
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