Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent Acadie—Annapolis, a predominantly rural riding in Nova Scotia that I have always called home. I recognize the value of small and medium-sized businesses, whether it is engaging with business owners or supporting them in my daily life. However, we know that rural business owners often struggle with less access to financing, smaller markets, a tighter pool of wor…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on February 23, at the southwest African Heritage Month gala, it was an honour to present the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation to my friend Eric “Chuck” Smith. I have known Chuck for over 30 years. His service, leadership and vision have left a lasting mark on Yarmouth and far beyond. He embodies the very spirit of community. As a talented basketball coach, he gave time freel…
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Mr. Speaker, it has now been 100 days since the launch of Build Canada Homes, and we are now seeing real momentum on the ground. Projects are moving faster, partnerships are coming together and communities in my riding are seeing concrete progress on affordable housing. Can the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure tell us what has been achieved in the 100 days of Build Canada Homes and how this …
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said he would be judged by—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the minister responsible for ACOA knows well that fisheries, forestry and agriculture remain at the heart of Nova Scotia's economy. When the Atlantic economic panel was announced two weeks ago, were representatives from these sectors included? Can the minister tell us how he plans to ensure that these important industries will have a way to contribute to the panel's work?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, last Thursday, the very best of Yarmouth businesses were recognized at the 18th annual Yarmouth Business Awards, hosted by the Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce at the Mariners Centre in my riding of Acadie—Annapolis. It was an inspiring evening that celebrated our region's most dedicated entrepreneurs and community leaders. They are people whose hard work, creativity and determ…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I present a petition today signed by 518 people about Kejimkujik National Park. Apparently, beginning this year, firewood will no longer be provided for backcountry campsites in Kejimkujik National Park. As we all know, campfires are an essential part of the camping experience, and many back country campers, including kayakers, hikers and canoeists, will face significant logistical …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to my dear friend, a proud Cape Bretoner and a true servant of the people, Alfie MacLeod. Alfie was more than a colleague in public life. He was a man of deep conviction, boundless compassion and unmistakable wit. A long-serving MLA and Speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, Alfie dedicated his life to the people of Cape…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member asked that question because, while the school food program is needed in some communities, what has happened in Nova Scotia is a bit of a shame because, when the province takes a hold of things, it tries to standardize those things across the country. I look to a nice elementary school in Cornwallis. There was a community group that was providing meals to stud…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the challenge that all governments face is to provide a bit of certainty when it comes to the economy, along with sensible budgets that are presented on time and respond to needs. However, they have to avoid spending all the money on all sorts of less important projects. The government cannot solve all the problems of all people. I hope to see a balanced budget. That will not be the c…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, quite honestly, in the Annapolis Valley, we are having a tremendous drought problem, and we need to be resilient to those things, which will continue to happen over the next number of years. We need to have adaptation programs to be able to support farmers in growing the products that we need for our grocery shelves. The second thing that I would suggest to the hon. member, as we put …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley for sharing his time. It has been three years since I have had the opportunity to speak to an opposition day motion in the House, because of my previous duties as a chair occupant. First, let me say how proud I am to stand here today to represent the magnificent riding of Acadie—Annapolis. I thank my constituents for thei…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and its funding allocations since January 1, 2020: (a) how much funding has been distributed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, broken down by federal riding and year; and (b) what projects received funding, broken down by federal riding, year, recipient organization, project description, and amount?
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the entry of internationally trained healthcare professionals into Canada: (a) what is the number of (i) physicians, (ii) nurses, (iii) other healthcare workers, who have entered Canada each year since 2016 under the Express Entry system, disaggregated by occupation and province of destination; (b) what is the number of (i) physicians, (ii) nurses, (iii) other healthcare workers,who…
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The hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the economy of Acadie—Annapolis in rural Nova Scotia relies heavily on a strong lobster fishery, yet this past season, it went from bad to worse. According to a Global News report on May 2, some harvesters in southwest Nova Scotia had to give up on their season because they could not fish profitably. There were no lobsters and no price, and this is unacceptable. Will the Minister of F…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is an incredible honour for me to rise today in the 45th Parliament as the elected member for the extraordinary riding of Acadie—Annapolis. I want to sincerely thank the residents of Acadie—Annapolis for once again placing their trust in me to be their voice in Ottawa. This past week has been very difficult for me personally and for my family. In the span of just a few days, I have…
Read full speech →First Session—45th Parliament
A good Speaker knows when to keep their speeches short. Mr. Chair, I would ask you to withdraw my name from the ballot, please.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) 2016 ministerial review of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project: what did NRCan do with the submissions from the public and the meeting minutes?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, every word spoken at the House of Commons is recorded, transcribed, edited, translated and published to the highest standards of a long and proud Hansard tradition. For eight Parliaments, Bruce Young has been the chief caretaker of these words, and today we celebrate his accomplishments as he will soon retire after 26 years at the House of Commons. As head of Parliamentary Publicati…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to government funding for housing related programs: how much has the government budgeted for the future, broken down by program, year, and department or agency?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is highly unusual for me to ask a question or even make a comment, but I just wanted to reflect a little on the hon. member's speech when he talked about family. All of us come with some of the very same kinds of challenges when we come here, where we leave family behind in order come back and would like to be able to spend more time with them. What the hon. member is doing is tr…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) 2016 Ministerial Review of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project: why does NRCan no longer have a record of (i) the presentations made to the review panel at the public engagement meetings, (ii) the notes taken at the public engagement meetings?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I am rising to comment on the question of privilege raised this afternoon by the hon. member for London—Fanshawe. Having reviewed the so-called advertisement, I can tell the House that it was a Facebook post by an electoral district association other than my own. It was posted on its own Facebook page for a free admission, meet-and-greet event, which I agreed to attend. The choice of …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, the seafood industry is a top contributor to Nova Scotia's economy, and my riding of West Nova is home to some of the most productive fishing grounds in the world. The lobster industry is a major employer in many coastal communities, supporting thousands of good local jobs. Everything that has been built in our communities over the years has been done thanks to the strength of the lob…
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Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise on this last day of Diabetes Awareness Month to recognize and thank the patients, advocates, researchers and health care professionals in our communities who continue to work extremely hard to combat this chronic disease. This subject is very important to me. As a type 1 dad and co-chair of the all-party caucus on juvenile diabetes, I know the serious health impa…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to recognize and commend an outstanding individual in our riding of West Nova, Wayne Bell, who is the sales manager at Belliveau Motors in Church Point. For several months, Wayne has been raising funds for a good friend, Dean Jones, who is battling cancer, and has organized 43 of the Terry Fox runs in Weymouth, Nova Scotia. The most that the Weymouth Terry …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure and an honour for me to rise in the House today and say a few words to highlight the amazing career of our much appreciated colleague Michel Patrice, the deputy clerk for administration who is retiring in just a few days. Humbly let me say that I am very impressed by the breadth and diversity of Michel's career, which includes more than 30 years of hard work on …
Read full speech →Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is an honour for me to stand before my dear colleagues today on the traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people to say a few words on my candidacy for Speaker of the House of Commons in the ongoing 44th Parliament. I would first like to express my sincere thanks to the member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming for all the work that he accomplished as Spea…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, this week we celebrate National Volunteer Week, and I want to acknowledge and thank all the incredible volunteers across West Nova's communities for their many contributions. It is without a doubt that our volunteers are an important part of the backbones of our communities. They offer so generously of their time to help others. Our volunteers have the backs of our citizens no matter …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition about the Seal Island Lighthouse, which was established in 1831 as a crucial guide for ships entering and leaving the Bay of Fundy area. Strong tides, weather systems, and reefs and rocks around the island have made Seal Island a major hazard to shipping for more than three centuries. Those dangers continue today. The original settlers of the island, t…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, on Remembrance Day, Canadians from across the country paused to reflect and honour the many contributions and sacrifices made by brave men and women in uniform who served and continue to serve our country with the utmost courage, bravery and respect. It is because of veterans like Jim McRae from my riding of West Nova that we have been fortunate to enjoy the liberties we …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this week has been quite an ordeal for Atlantic Canadians. Hurricane Fiona left desperation and destruction in her path throughout Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, Îles de la Madeleine, and Newfoundland and Labrador. I stand with this House in mourning the loss of life, as all Canadians do. It will take days, if not weeks, to restore many communities' power. It will tak…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, this is a petition signed by 593 Canadians, who note that in Canada many medications available on the market are not adapted for children's use, as manufacturers produce primarily adult formulations, which do not take into consideration the differences in size for children. When no pediatric formulations are available on the market, adult formulations must be adapted for children's us…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, this past Tuesday marked the end of the six-month commercial lobster fishery for fishers in districts 33 and 34 in my beautiful riding of West Nova. I take this opportunity to sincerely thank fishers for their hard work. Being out on the water is certainly not an easy job and can be quite unpredictable at times, but that is what makes this profession so unique and special. More impo…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, last Saturday night I had the honour of dropping the puck at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth as the Mariners took on the Valley Wildcats from Berwick. I am proud to point out that these two great Junior A hockey teams are from my amazing riding of West Nova, and I committed to both teams to congratulate the winner in the House of Commons, maybe wearing a jersey. On Saturday night, the…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, last Sunday was International Day of La Francophonie. French is the sixth most spoken language in the world. This day was celebrated in francophone countries, but also in the small but important communities of Baie Sainte‑Marie and Par‑en‑Bas. As a proud Acadian who lives in the francophone region, I know how important this day is to all francophones in my community. For many genera…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday the community of Yarmouth in the riding of West Nova lost a beloved citizen, our friend Terry Muise, at the young age of 62. On the day of his passing, EHS paramedics, Yarmouth Regional Hospital ER and hospital staff, police officers, firefighters, friends and family gathered outside his home to pay tribute and honour his memory. Terry was a father, a husband, a brother…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the impact of inflation on the Market Basket Measure (MBM) and the poverty line: (a) what is the current, or latest, MBM for the reference family and various poverty lines in each of the MBM geographic areas in Nova Scotia; (b) what was the 2018-base MBM for the reference family and various poverty lines in each geographic area in (a); (c) what percentage of individuals living in ea…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour and admiration that I rise in this chamber today to highlight the memory, the commitment and the brilliant political career of the late Alexa McDonough, who passed away on January 15. First, on behalf of my colleagues and the Conservative Party of Canada, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her two sons, Justin and Travis, and to Alexa's family and …
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, yesterday morning, after two days of delay, fishermen in LFA 33 and 34 kicked off their lobster fishing season. For them, from generation to generation, being a fisherman is not just a job. It is a passion and a reason to live, and they are very proud of it. Today it is with the same pride that I can express to them my deep admiration and respect for what they do, wish them an excelle…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
I will ask the member for Barrie—Innisfil to sum up.
Read full speech →First Session—44th Parliament
It is an honour for me to stand before dear colleagues today to address my candidacy for Speaker of the House of Commons in this 44th Parliament. First, let me take a moment to sincerely congratulate each and every member for being elected or re-elected to represent their constituents in the House of Commons. It will truly be an honour and a privilege to serve with all members. I want to thank my …
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