Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, my colleague made one observation that I want to take particular note of, and that is about the constant mixed messages we get from the government. She spoke about different members bringing different messages to different communities. It is worse than that. We have ministers and parliamentary secretaries giving contradictory explanations of the conflict here in the House, even toni…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, the member who spoke is a parliamentary secretary. Can we assume the positions she took in her speech are positions of the Government of Canada, or are the positions she took in her speech different from the positions of the Government of Canada?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for raising this important question of privilege. An important context beyond the particulars of this case is that, in 2021, we had someone brought before the bar under this—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we have heard a few words said in the House about bullying. I am trying to provide an explanation with context and to answer false allegations that have been made against me. I will persist in doing that. The Leader of the Opposition asked questions about a $9-million luxury condo purchased by the government, identifying a luxury bathtub as one of its particular features. In what foll…
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Mr. Speaker, I just want to say briefly that the NDP whip, in particular, has a history of making false and defamatory comments about me, and this is no exception. Members know this. It is very clear—
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Mr. Speaker, there was an exchange yesterday in question period about extravagant spending by the government, with $9 million spent on a luxury condo on Billionaires' Row. Now, the Leader of the Opposition asked a question—
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, false or defamatory comments have been made about me. If members want to hear a response, I will provide one. The Leader of the Opposition pointed out that $9 million was spent on this extravagant condo and identified a number of luxury features associated with that condo, including an extremely luxurious bathtub. Following that, the Prime Minister made no comment whatsoever about tho…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, false and defamatory comments have been made about me. I am providing a response, and I hope members will benefit from reviewing the context of what happened. There was $9 million spent on a luxury condo on Billionaires' Row in New York. In a question from the Leader of the Opposition, various luxury—
Read full speech →Private Members’ Business
Madam Speaker, we have just finished debate in the House on a Conservative motion of non-confidence in the government. After nine years, so many Canadians are suffering as a result of the failures and frankly, in many cases the malicious failures, of the government that have undermined our national well-being and our social cohesion, as well as had a devastating impact on our economy. I am looking…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. If motions are now finished, we should proceed to petitions.
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, it is good to be back in this place after the summer, a summer, though, in which I heard a great deal from my constituents about how frustrated they are with the cost, the crime and the corruption they are seeing under the NDP-Liberal government. The government has so badly failed, and that is why tomorrow the Conservatives will bring forward a motion of non-confidence in the govern…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, the hon. member says that all parties voted in favour of the motion to bring Kristian Firth before the bar. Actually, when Kristian Firth came before the bar, the government refused to participate in the questioning. They did not want the questioning to proceed, and it is clearly on the record that they refused to participate, so while members of all the opposition parties, even the…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, on a point of order, this member is going off on all kinds of tangents. He is bringing in things that really have nothing to do with the business of the House, and I would—
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Madam Speaker, earlier in the debate, NDP members were talking on and on about grocery lobbyists. I am thinking that Gurratan Singh is somewhere thinking, “I'm right here, bro.” The NDP members talk about grocery lobbyists, but they never talk about their own connections to grocery lobbyists. I wonder if the member has any thoughts on why that is.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, the member is being both irrelevant and unparliamentary in the insinuation—
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Madam Speaker, the next petition I am tabling is in support of the people of Ukraine in their struggle against the illegal, genocidal invasion of their territory by the Russian Federation. In particular, petitioners are in support of Bill C-388, my private member's bill, which would advance a number of measures aimed at giving Ukraine the support that it needs, particularly in the area of weapons.…
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Madam Speaker, the next petition deals issues in Venezuela. The petition does predate the most recent events in Venezuela, and I know petitioners would strongly support the people of Venezuela in their struggle for freedom and democracy, and for the recognition of the real results of the election. Sadly, the government has thus far failed to recognize the opposition victory in Venezuela, and we co…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, the next petition I would like to table deals with natural health products. The petitioners are deeply troubled by the fact that the Liberal government has threatened access to natural health products through new rules that would mean higher costs and fewer products available on store shelves. They note that new so-called cost recovery provisions would impose massive costs on all co…
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Madam Speaker, in the time I have left I would like to table a petition about Canadian identity and heritage, an issue that has not been discussed in this place for some time, but remains very important to many of my constituents. The petitioners note how the Canadian passport has long had images significant to Canadian heritage, including the Fathers of Confederation, the Vimy Memorial and Terry …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, the first petition that I am tabling today is in support of the recognition of the universal dignity of the human person. The petitioners contend that it is always wrong to will the death of a child. Regardless of age, stage or circumstances, it is always wrong to intentionally kill a child. That basic moral proposition did not used to be controversial, and petitioners were horrifie…
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Madam Speaker, the next petition is in support of Bill S-210, a common-sense bill that would protect very young children from exposure to violent sexual images online. Petitioners recognize that exposing young people to violent sexual images is a form of abuse, yet we know that the average age of exposure to pornography in Canada is 11. It is very common for very young children to access this mate…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am rising on a point of order. The Liberal government chose to fund a Russian propaganda film, and if you seek it, you may find unanimous consent to table an article that is—
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, let us recall, when we talk about citizenship, that we have a Prime Minister who referred to Canada as a “postnational state”. That is, he does not believe in this concept of there being a particular Canadian identity, describing this as a postnational state. Then we have this member, who is saying that these people believe they are Canadians. First, the Liberals have no definition of…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be back in the House among friends of all colours. Before I speak to the bill before the House, if the House will indulge me, I would like to make a few brief comments about a constituency matter. I would like to recognize the immense contributions of Dr. Ryan Topping during his period of service at Newman Theological College in Edmonton. The college is not in my r…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I genuinely wish I could repay some of the kind words the member said, but I do not really understand the argument he is making. We are debating this bill on the first day. My understanding is that this is the first day the bill is being debated. I am using my rights as a member, the rights that flow from my status as a member of Parliament, to make arguments about the bill, to highli…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I was responding to the member for Winnipeg North, who was speaking specifically about the individuals this bill pertains to, individuals who may be the grandchildren of Canadian citizens whose family has lived outside of the country for generations. The member for Winnipeg North said these are people who think of themselves as Canadians. My point in response to this would be that for…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to information shared between Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) and the House of Commons Administration regarding threats to parliamentarians who are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China: (a) what information was provided or presented to the House Administration about the (i) threats, (ii) targets of the threats, (iii) source of the threats (i.e., APT31…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize our shadow minister for immigration, who does excellent work in this place, in committee and everywhere else he goes. To his point about this imposing a huge burden, of course it would. Given the huge administrative burden that would be associated with this proposal, given that it is not something we have to do, the question then is why we would do this. Why would …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to government knowledge of 69 shipping containers sent from Canada to the Philippines during the years of 2013 and 2014 by the export company Chronic Inc. and subsequently returned to Canada after being held in port for five years: (a) when did the issue first come to the attention of (i) Global Affairs Canada, (ii) Environment and Climate Change Canada, (iii) the Office of the Prime M…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right that we have seen, just in general, such incompetence from the government when it comes to immigration, or such abuse of process. I did some advocacy on a case. It was a particularly sad situation of international students who were basically victims of fraud. They were able to come into Canada because both they and the government were deceived by that …
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Mr. Speaker, the next petition is in support of Bill C-257, a bill that would protect freedom of expression in Canada by adding political belief and activity as prohibited grounds of discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act.
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Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I wonder if there would be unanimous consent for me to present the first 10 of my petitions today.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the first petition is in support of a very simple moral proposition, which is that it is always wrong to kill a child. Petitioners are presenting this in the context of proposals for extending euthanasia to infants. Petitioners are strongly opposed to that petition. They call on the House to reject any proposal, recognizing that it is always wrong to will the death of a child.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the next petition that I am tabling is in support of a private member's bill I have put forward on getting weapons to Ukraine. It calls on the government to immediately follow through on long-delayed promises regarding military support for Ukraine and to send any surplus military equipment to Ukraine on an urgent basis.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, my final petition notes that, after eight years, it is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost, the crime or the corruption. The failed Prime Minister and his failed NDP-Liberal government have increased the cost of everything and failed to take responsibility for their failures. Crime, chaos, drugs and disorder are filling our streets due to the failed policy of the Prime…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the worker bees in the NDP want to tell us about amendments that they might propose, will propose or intend to propose in the future. Let me tell the House about an amendment Conservatives have already proposed that is at present before the House. This is the amendment I spoke to, from the member for St. Albert—Edmonton, which would, on the basis of the attempt to delay the election…
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Madam Speaker, I do want to assure the member that I think there will be very high participation in the next election, judging from the Leader of the Opposition's rallies and public events and the level of enthusiasm we are seeing from Canadians for the Leader of the Opposition's message. I know that many people who have never participated in politics before are finally hopeful about the direction…
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Madam Speaker, the self-identified worker bee in the corner is making things up about the record of the Harper government, as he regularly does. The choice Canadians will face in the next election is that they will look at where this country was in 2015 and where it is in 2024, and they will say, “Are we better off in 2024 than we were in 2015? Are we better off with the Conservative government, o…
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Madam Speaker, it is fair to say that I would have a bit of a different view of many aspects of the religious accommodation conversation than my colleagues do. I think that a free society, a rule of law society, should make efforts to ensure the protection of religious freedom, of the deeply held convictions of people. Religious freedom is a foundational aspect of human rights. It is in the Univer…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, here is the legislative process in a nutshell. At second reading, we look at the principle of a bill and determine whether the principle of the bill is one that we want to support or not. The principle of what the government is trying to do is that it is looking for cover to delay the election; I think it is quite evident. The principle is that Liberals, the member for Kingston and …
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Madam Speaker, I think we are finally getting through. I think New Democrats are finally hearing us. I think they may be reflecting. The House leader—
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Madam Speaker, the NDP House leader self-identifies as a worker bee. He has told us that he is a worker bee. If we doubt that he is a worker bee, all we have to do is ask him, and he will tell us that he is a worker bee. Meanwhile, New Democrats are at committee putting forward motions specifically to avoid doing parliamentary work over the summer. Imagine that. At a time when Canadians are suffer…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, at the risk of being accused of repetition, I will clarify the point for my Bloc colleagues again, as I did earlier. We are, at present, debating an amendment put forward by my colleague from St. Albert—Edmonton, which is about declining to give second reading to Bill C-65, because the bill reveals the priorities of the government, priorities that are dead wrong. Conservatives would…
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Madam Speaker, first, I want to associate myself with the member's comments and also share congratulations to his employee who is getting his second master's. Maybe once he gets his third master's, he will see the light and become a Conservative. I wish him the best with that intellectual journey. In terms of the views of members, the Conservative Party has been clear and united that we are ready …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I will just reacquaint my friend across the way, and the one person who applauded her intervention, with the fact that we are debating an amendment from the member for St. Albert—Edmonton, which says the following: the House decline to give second reading to Bill C-65, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act, as the bill delays the next federal election so that more departing membe…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to speak to Bill C-65. Before I do that, if members would indulge me, I want to send congratulations to a member of my staff, Ali Shahsamand, who is receiving his master's degree today. Based on his excellent work in my office, he could be teaching many of the classes, but he is nonetheless learning a lot through his master's degree. I am going to do my best …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, maybe the Liberals should open a new office for answering the question that was asked, because I asked it three times at least, and the member opposite chose not to answer. It is a very simple question. Canadians are struggling. They are seeing the incredible waste and corruption within the NDP-Liberal government. In particular, they are shocked that, as part of the arrive scam scan…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, $2,600 was, according to his testimony, the hourly rate earned by one Kristian Firth on the ArriveCAN app or what many people are calling the arrive scam scandal. There was a simple question that I asked the minister, and I did not get a response. Does he think that $2,600 an hour was a reasonable rate? As such, I am back in the House at midnight to ask the same question again. Kris…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, Liberal government incompetence is undermining the ability of Canadian development organizations to support the world's most vulnerable people. Afghanistan and other terrorist-controlled areas in the world are often among the poorest. Canadian tax dollars go to large UN-affiliated multilateral organizations present in these areas, but private Canadian organizations are generally bar…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, as we approach the end of this session, I am reflecting on where we were nine years ago. I was a Conservative candidate in Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. We only had one child; how easy life was then. Moreover, we were getting ready for a fall election. At the time, Stephen Harper was prime minister. He was a steady hand, an economist in office, but Liberals were promising real ch…
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