Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Portuguese people around the world commemorate their rich history and vibrant culture today. June 10 honours the passing of Luís de Camões, a national hero and a legend who penned Os Lusíadas, a renowned collection of epic poems that capture stories of brave explorers and the Enlightenment during the age of discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. Those mariners were the first to c…
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Mr. Speaker, it is essential to my riding of Mississauga—Lakeshore. We actually have a Canada Lands property. A lot of people are talking about the redevelopment and revitalization of our waterfront, but we also need affordable housing. As a result, there are now three projects in my riding that are being initiated and built. There has been great support from Peel Region to facilitate those projec…
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Mr. Speaker, the member is moderate, except on this question. The fact of the matter is that we are reducing costs and working with other provinces. Ontario has actually matched some of those cuts, and that is important. We have to work collaboratively. I reach out to the members of the opposition to come on board to help their citizens and constituents lower their cost of housing. Let us join tog…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. I am pleased to have this opportunity to discuss the Government of Canada's Build Canada Homes act, specifically the importance that Build Canada Homes has in relation to supporting the Canadian economy and the federal government's buy Canadian policy. Since September of 2025, Build Canada Homes has been a special o…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member opposite for his effort to be moderate during OGGO briefings, as chair. We do appreciate his manner. In this case, though, I want to let him be better appreciative of the effort of the Build Canada Homes act to coordinate all these agencies into one in order to minimize costs and to elaborate and expand affordable housing. The president who has been appointed t…
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Mr. Speaker, I hope the member is wrong, because what the Build Canada Homes act and the agency itself have recognized is that there are a number of other provinces that already operate procurement practices. We want to use those practices concurrently. We would not be duplicating them. We want all of Canada, including Quebec, to benefit from lower costs, greater efficiencies and greater speed, en…
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite brings up a very important point, which is that during these moments of challenge, it is important for the government to stand by Canadian citizens, especially those who are most vulnerable. What has the government done? We have made middle-income tax cuts, which the opposition member did not approve. We provided the groceries and essentials benefit program. We eli…
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Mr. Speaker, it is important that all levels of government recognize that during points of difficulty, it is important to stimulate economic growth. It is counter-cyclical. That is what is happening here. We have to create the bridge to enable our citizens to weather the challenges before us. We cannot just stand in the House and create fear, saying the sky is falling, and do nothing to help. We h…
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Mr. Speaker, how does the member perceive the reaction in trade negotiations when the opposition is proposing that Canada is in a gloomy position, while most economists and experts are not positioning it that way at all? The Conservatives are positioning this as though Canada is in the midst of a tremendous downfall, when in fact it is the opposite, but that is giving leverage and strength to the …
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is bringing the question to me by way of what economists are saying. Let me tell the House what some of the economists are saying. According to Desjardins, “real GDP has contracted for two consecutive quarters”, but according to its analysis, “More than half of the industries in Canada have been expanding over the past six months, and consumers have continued to increa…
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Mr. Speaker, I am participating in today's debate to speak about the government's plan to maintain fiscal stability and provide a bit more clarity on Canada's economy. The government's fiscal plan remains rooted in fiscal responsibility. This is not for its own sake, but to create capacity and invest in long-term economic strength and greater self-reliance. Consistent with this approach, the recen…
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Mr. Speaker, it would be great if we installed some of the crime bills that are right before the House, as well as some of the bail sections. We are combatting crime. On this side of the House, we recognize the impact it has on my community, specifically. We are creating the reverse onus and making it harder for criminals to make bail. We are toughening sentencing for repeat and violent offenders.…
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Mr. Speaker, I disagree on a couple of issues, primarily the lack of government supports and interventions. I believe they are going to be immediate and sustainable supports. In fact, in the year that has passed, there have been the initiatives of the government through major projects, the defence industrial strategy, the workmen and apprenticeship programs and the supports for those who are affec…
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Mr. Speaker, I support anyone in the House who supports Canada. Anyone in the House that wants to propel Canada to provide its strength and defend our sovereignty will have my support. I support the motion in its context because that is about providing support for Canada and Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, the Minister of Industry and the Minister of AI announced $1.5 billion. This is the quote from workers at the United Steelworkers: “Today’s announcement is a positive step for companies facing serious pressure from the ongoing U.S. trade war. It matters to workers because these businesses support good jobs across Canada’s industrial supply chain.” Canada is stepping up…
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Mr. Speaker, these are challenging times. The global market and trade landscape has shifted rapidly, over the last year especially. This includes, of course, the imposition of tariffs. I want to speak today about the opposition day motion, item (c) specifically, which states, “express concern that this new trade environment will have irreparable effects on our manufacturing sector and the jobs tha…
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Mr. Speaker, the member is with me on the defence committee, and he does an extraordinary job. The extraordinary job of the government is highlighted in a particular instance of the defence industrial strategy, which is the extraction of the critical minerals that we can then deploy to make greater services. This is from New Economy Canada: “With North America...we are moving beyond extraction and…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Canadian military intelligence day on the Hill. The service provided by members of the Canadian Military Intelligence Association is critical. Since 1948, it has monitored adversaries and protected us against potential crisis. Each day, more than 3,500 uniformed and civilian intelligence professionals enable the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of Nat…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his contribution at the national defence committee. At committee, we heard that 36 recommendations by Justice Arbour have been implemented. That is a tremendous accomplishment and one of the reasons things have improved. However, there is something experts have said. I know the opposition has talked about having choice, but experts say that is a false choice. Co…
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Mr. Speaker, I agree that every sector of our economy from coast to coast to coast matters. Canada united and supporting every industry throughout the country is important, which includes, of course, those very same companies in Quebec. When the auto sector took a dive in 2008, the Ontario government and the federal government at the time stepped in to provide that support. Had it not been for tha…
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Mr. Speaker, the member reminds us that when I was finance minister, we bailed out and supported the auto industry in Windsor. If it were not for Ontario's participation, against the wishes of the Conservatives, they would have faltered. We stood by the Canadian auto workers, we stood by the industry and we safeguarded those jobs and those companies. We will continue to do so. Foreign direct inves…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the future of Canada's automotive industry and how the government is working to protect the industry and Canadian workers. Canada's automotive sector has long been and remains a cornerstone of our economy. It has defined communities, strengthened our middle class and anchored Canada as a trusted partner in global manufacturing, while supporting hundreds of thou…
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Mr. Speaker, it is important that Canada stays at the forefront of industry and innovation. It is important that we continue to attract investment because we are trusted partners. It is important that we look at the auto sector in a broader scope. It is important that we look to the future of auto. We do not pick winners and losers. They are picking losers. We need to ensure that those competitors…
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand before the House to speak to the third reading of the budget. The finance minister has done an extraordinary job of putting forward a blueprint for Canada that would enable us to be more competitive, to provide for prosperity and to protect our sovereignty. These are important steps, so I thank the minister of finance for doing so. These are values that are critica…
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Thank you, Madam Speaker. I know the members are very interested in what is happening. It is creating discussion, and that is important. After 25 years in the private sector, I wanted to give back to a society that enabled us to have opportunity. Many of us are products of immigration. My parents came in 1953 from a postwar fascist regime in Europe, seeking that opportunity to continue to prosper,…
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Madam Speaker, having engaged with the member opposite in OGGO, I appreciate his reminding the House that I did six budgets and that I did balance the books. Ontario was the largest contributor to the rest of the federation. Even when it was a so-called have-not province, we contributed more to Canada, over $11 billion, than all the other provinces, while Quebec and others were receiving some of t…
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Madam Speaker, the member opposite may or may not know that CANDU reactors and the corporation are within my riding. I have met with representatives of Candu Energy on a number of occasions. We talked about small modular reactors providing supports and electricity to those remote communities in the far north that rely primarily on diesel, which is extremely dirty, to provide greater sources of, an…
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Madam Speaker, the question enables us to talk about some of the measures that I took when I was minister of finance, as the member opposite reminds us. We brought in a cap-and-trade system in Ontario, aligning ourselves with Quebec. Quebec was part of the western climate initiative with California. Ontario had decarbonized its system, so we were great receivers of $1.3 billion annually through th…
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Madam Speaker, the member opposite is speaking about exemptions for opportunities to make Canada more effective, to expedite matters more essential to our economy. I would refer her to those particulars. Every exemption that occurs has to be fully transparent. There is one thing that should never be hampered but is when the Conservatives try to control the Governor of the Bank of Canada, the Ontar…
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Madam Speaker, it is an essential part of the budget. Expanding our trade routes and expanding trade across the world is part of what gives Canada an opportunity to provide a measure, a step, for some countries to deal in the western hemisphere. Canada has been succeeding. Over $1 trillion is now being projected in supports with Canada's engagement. We are punching above our weight. In fact, Canad…
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate that very much, and I think all of us appreciate it. All of us in the House should stand proud and tall for the fact that Canada is seen around the world, and by the G7 and the IMF, for its ability and capacity to grow and invest. Canada has done extraordinary things during downturns. Certainly in 2008, we weathered it better than any other part of the world because we …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the world is changing rapidly and Canadians gave the government a strong mandate to protect our workers and industries, all while building Canada strong. Last week, we announced the defence industrial strategy, designed to transform our defence industry and make Canada more secure. Can the Minister of Industry please share what this strategy means for Canadian workers and industries a…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on National Defence in relation to Bill C-11, an act to amend the National Defence Act and other acts. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Miguel Domingos. A cherished leader and musician, he was a pillar of the Portuguese community. Miguel was a maestro of his beloved Banda do Sagrado Coração de Jesus of Toronto for decades and the conductor of the Banda do Senhor Santo Cristo. In their words, he stood at the helm of these marching bands, guiding their musicians with …
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Mr. Speaker, I am very fortunate to live in a community that comes together to support those most in need. For the 17th year in a row, I am proud to partner with 'Twas the Bite Before Christmas and my annual holiday turkey drive. Over these years, working together, we have raised more than $1.2 million to support food banks in Mississauga. We are once again raising money to provide turkey dinners …
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Mr. Speaker, we recognize it very well. My colleague, the former minister of finance for Quebec, and I delivered around 11 budgets between us. One thing we did that is similar to what is in this budget was ensure that we distinguished between borrowing for operating and borrowing to make investments and increase our prosperity. We delved very precisely into infrastructure spending programs, which …
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Mr. Speaker, it is important to recognize that there are two ways to stimulate economic growth in this country. One way is monetary policy, which the opposition has determined should not even exist. We need to have an independent and arm's-length overview of monetary policy to control inflation, and it has happened. Canadians had to endure some suffering, but the world suffers still to this day. T…
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Mr. Speaker, the question is about debt and deficits. I understand them fully. I delivered six budgets in the past. I recognized, after the 2008 financial crisis, that we were at the lowest we could be across Canada, not just in Ontario. We invested in infrastructure to stimulate economic growth and we tackled the situation by growing and stimulating the economy. Debt is a function of wealth. We c…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin for sharing his time. I am proud to rise today in support of budget 2025. The budget would address the global challenges Canada is facing and seize the opportunity to reshape our economy and our nation’s future. I want to thank the many residents of Mississauga—Lakeshore who have spoken to me directly at town halls and constituency meetings to…
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Mr. Speaker, a lot of filibustering was happening in the previous session, a lot of delays, a lot of activity that obstructed government from doing its job. The member opposite is now talking about some partisan issues, recognizing full well that he himself wanted an election, and he lost because people supported the Liberal Party going forward and they are supporting our actions to support our mi…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. I do not understand why you seem apprehensive. There is no more time to waste. Let us support Bill C-11 now.
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Davenport. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to rise in the House today to discuss a matter that affects not only the Canadian Armed Forces, but the very fabric of our democracy: Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. As chair of the national defence committee, I am acutely aware of the critical work being done…
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to reflect on the very nature of why this bill is important. As noted, there have been expert independent recommendations made by two justices recognizing its importance. One of the major priorities is the civilian enablement of the justice system to have more independence and protection for our armed forces and the individuals involved. All of us agree with that. I believe the…
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Mr. Speaker, having visited Latvia and Estonia, having gone to our bases in the U.K. and having been recently in Petawawa during military exercises, I was able to meet and talk first-hand with some of the soldiers and men and women on the front lines. Believe me, the soldiers, officers and leaders want discipline, but they want fairness and transparency and for their troops to be cared for. They r…
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Absolutely, I do. Mr. Speaker, I take offence to the very nature of that notion. The fact that individuals are suggesting any member of this Parliament would prefer not to put a criminal in jail is offensive in its own right. There are laws that are in place. There are laws that have been in place all along. We have to enforce the law. These changes were not the result of partisan initiatives. The…
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Mr. Speaker, it is interesting. The Charter of Rights protects the very individual asking that question. The judicial system is there to protect individuals. If someone is a criminal, and they have committed a violent crime, they have to face the consequences by law, but the right is there to protect the victims too. We will always fight to have a fair judicial system and to ensure that criminals …
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Mr. Speaker, it was important that the leader of the Liberal Party, as all of us did during the election, recognized some of the concerns that our constituents have with crime, but make no mistake that they had concerns with crime for many years prior, even during the time the Conservatives were in power. Our leader took the time and had the consideration to listen, make commitments and put forwar…
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Mr. Speaker, I am a proud representative of Mississauga—Lakeshore, and I will be sharing my time with the member for Calgary Signal Hill. As I rise to debate the opposition motion before us, I want to talk particularly about its narrative and the appropriate steps moving forward. My community, like many communities, is concerned. We have a number of town halls. We have talk groups. We have ongoing…
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Mr. Speaker, that is another great question. We need a coordinated effort. We need to ensure that the federal government and provincial jurisdictions, which act on the law and are supposed to enforce laws, deal with matters like court delays, the collection of bail data, the funding and resources necessary, and even the justice platform by the BQ. We will continue to work in collaboration with the…
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Mr. Speaker, there we go. The member opposite is making a personal attack over the fact that I balanced the books in Ontario, which did not happen under the Conservatives in the last go-around. We will continue to fight for Canadians. We will continue to fight for public safety. I will not be addressing rhetoric like that. It only causes concern and enables the heightening of people's hate, which …
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