Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is with regard to the elimination of the federal apprenticeship incentive. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to reinstate the apprenticeship incentive grant for Red Seal trades, index it to inflation, link it to the successful completion of technical training and ensure timely, predictable payments to support apprentic…
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Mr. Speaker, the third petition I would like to present today is on nicotine pouches. This petition is being presented on behalf of small businesses, including convenience stores. The petitioners call upon the Minister of Health to remove the restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches to only pharmacies in order to allow convenience stores to sell the product as well. The petitioners also note t…
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Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I asked a Liberal member a very simple question: Could he confirm or deny the rumours in British Columbia that, under the new security partnership between Canada and China and the government's desire to sell federal airport assets, Chinese companies would be able to buy those assets? He could not answer that question. Does the Bloc Québécois agree that Chinese companies…
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Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present today. The first is petition e-7198, which has 5,746 signatures. It calls upon the Minister of Fisheries to not remove the recreational access to chinook and coho salmon in the allotment of salmon allocation. The petitioners note that they want to respect the rights of first nations and the conservation policies of the government, but they would…
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Mr. Speaker, Bill C-30 contains proposed new provisions under the Privacy Act and the Canada Transportation Act to assess the full value of our publicly owned airports. Rumours in British Columbia dictate that part of the new security agreement with China would allow Chinese companies to buy airports in Canada. Can the member confirm or deny this?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the life of Mel Zajac, a remarkable British Columbian whose compassion and generosity left an enduring imprint. Mel's life was marked by a profound tragedy that ultimately inspired a legacy of extraordinary philanthropy. In July 1986, he lost his son Mel Jr. in a tragic accident on the Chilliwack River. Just eight months later, his son Marty was killed in an ava…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal member for Eglinton—Lawrence badgered the CFIB as to why his own government's policies were not reaching Canadian small businesses. The CFIB says three in four entrepreneurs do not feel supported by the government, and many would not start a business today. Why will the government not lower costs and give small businesses a real chance to compete, so we do not continue los…
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Mr. Speaker, the third petition I would like to present today is on behalf of veterans in the Fraser Valley. They note that the absence of an office in Abbotsford limits access for a large and growing veteran population, which can lead to delays in processing disability benefits. They call upon the Government of Canada to open a veterans office in the Fraser Valley.
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we are incredibly worried. Statistics Canada reported on May 29 that “business capital investment fell 0.7% in the first quarter of 2026, the fifth consecutive quarterly decline”. After years of policies that have left small business owners struggling, will these Liberals reverse their policies so businesses can get ahead?
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Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is on behalf of Canadians living with long COVID who are concerned that federal programs do not adequately meet their needs. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to launch a national inquiry into Canada's pandemic response and the long-term impacts of long COVID.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to present my first petition on behalf of the petitioners in Mission who are concerned about the proposed telecommunications tower at 32935 Cameron Avenue. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to review the proposed location and work with the proponents and relevant authorities to identify alternative sites that better reflect community interests and appropr…
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I am getting there. Do not worry. Mr. Speaker, the report goes on to say: The overall target of Canada’s NHS is to remove 530,000 households from housing need by 2027‑28. After accounting for the impact of all relevant federal policies and economic trends, we estimate that 2.4 million households are currently in core housing need and we project that, by 2027, 2.6 million households will be in core…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today on this legislation. Bill C-267 is an act to establish a national framework to promote the durability of electronic products and essential home appliances. At first glance, the bill may appear straightforward. Canadians want products that last longer, they want affordable repairs and they want to get the maximum value from the products they purchase. The…
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Mr. Speaker, before I begin my formal remarks, I want to outline that the City of Abbotsford is launching its consultations this June on the Sumas River watershed flood mitigation plan. Earlier this month, the cities of Princeton, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack and Abbotsford launched the west coast corridor resiliency partnership. Excuse my skepticism today, but with the bill before us, Bill C‑26, and…
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Mr. Speaker, these are only a few examples of how the government creates these big blocks of money without any accountability or transparency. What is the point of scrutiny when the Liberals are just going to turn a blind eye again and again to mismanagement? This is one of the most dangerous things Parliament can do: grant billions of dollars without any metrics of success, without any capacity t…
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Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I plead with the federal government in good faith. As I mentioned, I respect the Minister of Emergency Management, who has shown up in good faith so far. I ask that she comes to our consultation periods, held in conjunction with officials from the United States, to hear what we are proposing. I ask the Minister of Infrastructure to provide the same level of flexibilit…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, young Canadians do appreciate the Canada summer jobs, but it does not omit the fact that this government let in over 170,000 foreign workers in the last four quarters. These programs were meant to be temporary, but under this government, they have become permanent and unchecked. The Globe and Mail calls it an “enduring problem” created by Ottawa's overreliance on foreign workers. Why …
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House of Commons, we believe in the incredible potential of Canadian youth, yet the Bank of Canada says the surge in temporary foreign workers is driving down wages and making it harder for young Canadians to find jobs. The youth unemployment rate sits at over 14%. While Conservatives would prioritize jobs for Canadian youth, the Liberals are still flooding the lab…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of British Columbian recreational anglers who are concerned about proposed changes to recreational access for coho and chinook salmon, specifically along the Fraser River, in a revised policy by the Government of Canada. Petitioners call upon the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to maintain current access for recreational fishers; to not prioritize commercial ac…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, during the amendment stage, the Conservative Party put forward CPC‑13. It would have protected child pornography possession and access offences from charter challenges under sections 7 and 12 by enacting the notwithstanding clause while also preventing these offences from benefiting from the bill's mandatory minimum safety valve. Does the Bloc Québécois believe that the government has…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, at the amendment stage, Conservatives put forward CPC-13, which would have protected child pornography possession and access offences from charter challenges under sections 7 and 12 by enacting a notwithstanding clause, while also preventing those offences from benefiting from the bill's mandatory minimum safety valve. I know the member to be an hon. member. I still cannot get around …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, I asked the Prime Minister a simple question: Will the Liberal government defend the private property rights of British Columbians in response to the Cowichan decision, yes or no? The member for Vancouver Fraserview—South Burnaby said that Conservatives, myself included, were fearmongering. However, British Columbians were not imagining what was happening. Real people…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his response this evening. I am glad he raised the Montrose application. What is problematic is that when the court case commenced, it was only the City of Richmond and not the Government of Canada that explicitly made arguments in favour of fee simple land. Part of the uncertainty today is because the Government of Canada did not make those arguments or use the…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, right now in Canada, clawbacks for old age security commence at $95,000, but individuals aged 65 to 74 earning up to $152,000 and those over 75 earning up to $157,000 can still receive old age security. While I understand the intent of the legislation before us today and what the member is referring to, does she not understand that the costs for old age security would exceed $100 bill…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, in March, the government increased the temporary foreign worker program from 10% to 15% for thousands of work sites in remote and rural communities across Canada. At the same time, Canada lost 112,000 jobs in that same period of time and the youth unemployment rate was at 14.3%. Through my Order Paper question yesterday, we learned that the program for temporary foreign workers cost $…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I just want to say that the speech by my colleague, the member for Calgary Heritage, was so wonderful and well informed. My words tonight will not meet that threshold. What I am here to talk about is shawarma. My first introduction to Arab culture was at Mr. Falafel. It is on 10th Avenue near my old university, the University of British Columbia. I was a poor student, …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the member for Mirabel needs to ask his constituents why it is easier for a small and medium-sized enterprise in his province to trade with the northeast United States. Why is it easier for a Quebec company to do business with America than with a company in British Columbia? I believe in a federation where it is easier to do trade among Canadian provinces first, before doing it with…
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Madam Speaker, I would say that my constituents are very apprehensive right now. They have heard a lot of mixed messages from the Prime Minister. On one hand, he says that we are at economic war with the United States and will take heavy-handed language here in Canada. The next day, he goes down to America and says we need to “make America great again.” They really do not know what to make of the …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, finally, the third petition I would like to present today is on behalf of Canadian organic growers. They are specifically concerned about the policies of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the closing of the research program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre. If the Government of Canada truly wants to double its exports abroad, attacking the organic agricultural s…
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Madam Speaker, recently, there were 112,300 job losses in the first three months of this year alone, with 485,000 more Canadians unemployed since the member for Nepean became the Prime Minister. What is the economic impact of a Prime Minister who does not take our job losses seriously in Canada?
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Madam Speaker, before I begin, I want to say that I will be sharing my time with the member for Mirabel. Before I begin, BC School Sports hosted the high schools' rugby championships in Abbotsford last week. There were thousands of young boys and girls from across the province who competed in sevens and 15s. Our very own in Abbotsford, the Yale Lions senior girls rugby team, won the provincial cha…
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Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is on behalf of concerned Canadians who are worried about the state of human trafficking in Canada. Human trafficking continues to rise, and too many people are being victimized as a result of our weak laws on this subject. Therefore, petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to strengthen the Protection of Communities and …
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Madam Speaker, indeed, the Conservatives voted in favour of removing all federal regulations on interprovincial trade, but the fact of the matter is that the Prime Minister promised there would be free trade amongst the provinces in Canada. What we needed in that moment was federal leadership, for the Prime Minister to say to the provinces and territories that if they do not remove their barriers …
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Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to table several petitions. Notably, on the salmon allocation policy in British Columbia, British Columbians are fearful that the Minister of Fisheries is going to take their cultural rights away through amending the Pacific salmon allocation policy and removing recreational access for coho and chinook salmon specifically. Therefore, petitioners are calling on the M…
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Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today. The first one is regarding the alarming increase in repeat violent offenders being released on bail. The petitioners have witnessed a sharp increase in car theft, gang violence and drug-related deaths. In fact, one constituent warned me about a car theft at my house just this week. Violent crimes have increased by 50%. Violent gun crime has s…
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Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is regarding the ongoing challenges British Columbians are facing regarding recreational access to coho and chinook in British Columbia. Constituents are calling in good faith on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to leave the current salmon allocation policy alone and to uphold the cultural rights and traditions of all British Colum…
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Mr. Speaker, the final petition I would like to present today is on behalf of Canadian organic growers who are concerned about the closure of the organic and regenerative research program at the Swift Current Research and Development Centre. Petitioners note that this was the only dedicated organic research initiative within Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Therefore, they call on the government …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals are failing to defend Canada's system of private property rights and indefeasible title while sowing confusion and fear among homeowners about whether their land is secure. With the Cowichan decision and the Musqueam agreement raising serious and valid concerns, British Columbians are wondering whether their private property rights will be defended at all, especially afte…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise again today on behalf of residents of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford and surrounding constituencies who are concerned about the future of the recreational fishing industry in British Columbia. Throughout our history as a province, we have seen salmon as a common property resource, managed in good faith by the Government of Canada. Proposed changes by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Canadians hoped for relief, but this spring economic statement delivers more of the same. The costly credit card budget means more debt, more costs, more spending and more taxes. Nothing has changed. After years of reckless Liberal policies, families are stretched thin and small businesses continue to struggle. The CFIB said this update leaves “small and medium-sized firms stuck in th…
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present three petitions. The first petition is from the Mission Self Advocacy Group. Petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to significantly reduce administrative and paperwork requirements regarding the Canada dental benefit. They want the program to be more accessible and effective for low- and modest-income Canadians and those who have difficulty fill…
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Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present on behalf of my constituents is regarding Bill C-218 and MAID. My constituents are deeply concerned about the proposed expansion of medical assistance in dying to individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental illness. Petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-218 and halt the expansion of MAID for peop…
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Mr. Speaker, the third petition I would like to present is on behalf of the Miami River Streamkeepers. They are calling for sustained funding for conservation efforts at the local level to support British Columbia's iconic salmon species.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present several petitions today on behalf of British Columbians and my constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford regarding the salmon allocation policy. Petitioners note that the proposed changes by the government, which could compromise recreational access to coho and chinook, could undermine cultural sensitivities and the long-standing traditions of British Columbia…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, whatever the government is doing, it is not working, and a myriad of programs will not replace the structural forms necessary to improve the entrepreneurial climate in Canada. Small businesses indeed are being squeezed from every direction by this government, with higher payroll taxes, rising costs and endless regulations. This government is doing nothing to stop that. How many more b…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the member for his thoughts in more detail about why the government has failed to enact the foreign registry. The government outlined during debates in the last Parliament that it was an important and necessary tool. It was partly in response to the Hogue commission, yet here we are. On three or four occasions, the government changed the timeline. Why is it being s…
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Mr. Speaker, indeed, the Hogue commission does outline that. Again, my personal belief is that democracy is best served when we have to be accountable to the people. The best way to be accountable to Canadian citizens is to convince them that we are good enough that they can open up their chequebook, especially in this time of an affordability crisis, to say, “I believe in you, and I'm going to gi…
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Mr. Speaker, I will acknowledge that Canada does need to improve its relationship with China, but we need to be clear-eyed and realistic about it. Like my colleague from Yorkton—Melville, I was concerned when the government recently signed a new security agreement with the People's Republic of China, even though we have not enacted our foreign registry yet. There would have been much less apprehen…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I would like unanimous consent to table one more petition.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, while I find floor crossing to be a reprehensible action, I do not believe that this power should be taken away from individual MPs. Call me a Conservative, but I believe that, at the end of the day, we are all accountable to the people who elected us. I know that there are varying positions on this in every political party. Ultimately, I believe in accountability to the people who el…
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