Parliamentary Speeches
62 speeches by Jagsharan Singh Mahal — Page 1 of 2
Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for opposing this bill for valid and right reasons. I have a question. I agree with him and want to ask him if he can shed more light on this. He quoted a few recent decisions where the courts have turned down the minimum mandatory sentences. Is it not the duty of the parliamentarians sitting on this side of the House and on the government side of the Ho…
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Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal Prime Minister, Canada is the only G20 country in a recession. In Edmonton, families are feeling the effects of Liberal mismanagement. A recent United Way survey found that 60% of Canadians now feel anxiety about their personal finances. Global factors are not to blame. It is Liberal inflationary spending and antidevelopment laws that have staled our economy. Canadia…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his insight on this new Build Canada Homes bill. We have two Crown corporations: the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the Canada Lands Company. However, over the past 11 years, the Liberals have failed to make use of those two corporations, and now they are pushing for another bureaucracy under the name of Build Canada Homes. Why are the Liberals s…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the incredible work of the Edmonton Police Service and other law enforcement agencies involved in a two-year-long national drug trafficking investigation. Police seized approximately 80 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of more than $8 million, along with dangerous narcotics, ammunition and cash. This is a serious reminder of the organized crime networ…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is the only country in the G7 in a recession. There is nothing technical about someone coming home from work and telling their kids that they no longer have a job. Canada's economy has shrunk for two quarters in a row. Business investment is falling. Food bank use is at an all-time high. This is not a technical recession. This is a full-blown Liberal recession. If global factor…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Cariboo—Prince George. One year ago, the community of Edmonton Southeast placed its trust in me to deliver change. After more than a decade of Liberal government, my community feels the effects. Grocery prices are sky-high, streets are unsafe and the fuel that powers their lives is more expensive than ever. Conservatives understand the imp…
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Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more with what my colleague has said. The government needs to get out of the way when it comes to affordability, when it comes to providing good-paying jobs and when it comes to cutting bureaucracy in this country. We need to make sure that all the steps the government takes make Canadians' lives more affordable, and that is exactly what the proposal is about. The op…
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Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the responsibility of the government to make sure that corporations are held accountable, it has to do more. The increase in oil prices is not just because of global impacts or the war in the Middle East. It is partially because of our own government's wrong policies and its failure to scrap the taxes in a timely manner to provide immediate relief to Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite can say that we are hypocrites when we oppose the subsidies, but those do not go to the base of the issues. It is not the government's job, in a G7 country, to provide people with these kinds of perks. The job of the government should be to make sure that the people of the country have good-paying jobs so they can afford their own food and make choices about which …
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Mr. Speaker, when it comes to provincial jurisdiction, we must respect it. For any bill that comes to the House and goes to committee, the committee should decide, based on its rationale and based on logic, why the bill should or should not be passed and what changes should or should not be made. Answering the question, yes, any subject that comes under section 92 of the Constitution of Canada sha…
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Mr. Speaker, my seasoned colleague has experience working in the House, debating on different committees and going through different pieces of legislation. That is a genuine concern. Let us get rid of red tape. Instead of building it, let us get rid of red tape and focus on the results. Let us make sure that the legislation that we pass does not burden the common Canadian with additional red tape.…
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Mr. Speaker, when Canadians hear that Parliament is debating a bill about weights and measurements, gas pumps, grocery scales and utility meters, they might assume this is a technical issue, but the bill touches something Canadians experience every day, the moment they pull up to the gas pump, the moment they scan their groceries and the moment their utility bill arrives at the end of the month. T…
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Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, we, in essence, support the legislation. We support the rationale behind the legislation. Conservatives support the idea that consumer fairness should be at the core of every step the government takes. The hon. member raised two questions: one about the rebates that they are offering to Canadians and one about the bill being studied in the committee. Our positi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when the Prime Minister took office, the projected deficit was $31 billion. He promised to spend less. Instead, he spent more. He piled on $90 billion in new spending, not on results but on bigger government. Bureaucracy is up, costs are up and Canadians are paying the price. Will the Prime Minister commit today that his deficit will not exceed the already outrageous $31 billion left …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on Bill C-238, a bill that attempts to address a very real and serious issue in our country, the issue of growing crime in our communities. Let me be clear. The intent behind this bill is understandable. Across Canada, frontline organizations are carrying an enormous burden, shelters are overwhelmed, hospitals are dealing with constant overdose cases, first respo…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have a few petitions to present today. I rise to present a petition on behalf of the people of Edmonton Southeast. Edmontonians do not feel safe in their homes or on the street. They note that little is being done to combat increasing crime, social disorder and extortion within the communities of Edmonton. However, hard-working Canadians deserve safe neighbourhoods and strong laws. …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of all struggling Canadians, especially those in Edmonton. The cost of living crisis is affecting millions of Canadians and thousands of my constituents. The residents are describing visiting grocery stores as an increasing financial burden, something Conservatives have reminded the government about for a year. Many Canadians are having to …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of Edmontonians and residents of Edmonton Southeast with regard to the rising housing crisis. As the cost of homes skyrockets, the dream of home ownership for many Canadians is slipping away. These residents describe out-of-control rent prices, while the lack of supply increases the price of new homes. This petition, therefore, calls upon the government to cut bureauc…
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Mr. Speaker, that was a wonderful question. My take on the Liberals' stand of adding bureaucracy is that it gives them more airtime to make statements and slogans. If there is less bureaucracy, then time has to be spent on actual results. When we cannot get results, all we have to rely upon are slogans and statements.
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Mr. Speaker, again, if we go into the details, it was the Harper government. It was the Conservative government that laid out all the framework for that agreement to be signed.
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Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with another member of the House. It is an honour to be here and speak to Bill C-13, an act implementing U.K. accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, commonly known as CPTPP. Common-sense Conservatives support free trade. Canada is a trading nation, and we know that through free trade, we get better economic r…
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Mr. Speaker, we know that the member opposite is famous for twisting myths around to sound like they are real. I said that during Stephen Harper's time, we signed 15 trade agreements with 51 countries. That is a fact. The member does not have anything to refer to saying that my information is incorrect or is not well informed, so I encourage him to come up with the facts and the sources he is rely…
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Mr. Speaker, we are supporting the bill, as I said in my speech, with great displeasure. We know that the bill needs further amendments, and we know that there is room for further ratification that needs to be done. I look forward to the Liberal government's making sure that the agreement, when it comes into effect, is balanced for both the U.K. and Canada.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Edmonton residents are paying the price of inaction in the Liberal extortion crisis. Every day I hear about extortionists and gangsters who are threatening families and businesses in Edmonton and across the country. Meanwhile, the government has done nothing but weakened sentencing and pushed catch-and-release bail. Liberal Bill C-5 scrapped mandatory jail time, and Liberal Bill C-75 …
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague asked a valid question. The bill, as far as I understand, would cover fewer than 30% of Canadians who have been really struggling. Some families would not even be covered under its conditions. On top of that, it would increase the deficit by an additional $12 billion. Nobody knows where that money would come from. Would the money be reprinted as in Justin Trudeau's time, …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to table a petition on behalf of the constituents of my riding who want to force the Liberals to withdraw Bill C-9 and block the Liberal amendment that was passed in committee to remove the religious freedom defence clause from the Criminal Code. The petitioners believe that the government is going to criminalize passages from the Bible, Quran, Torah and other reli…
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not measure government success by press conferences, talking points or rebranded programs. They measure success by what they see when they stand at the checkout line in their local grocery store. In Edmonton Southeast, families tell me the same thing again and again: They used to worry about what they wanted to buy, but now they worry about what they can afford. Parents a…
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Mr. Speaker, I did not hear a question in the member's comments. Again, my answer to the comments is that we as Conservatives believe in real solutions. We do not believe in the bandages that Liberals are the masters of putting on when they are out of touch with the real challenges that people face. When they face those challenges at the door, the Liberals come up with rebates and other bandages t…
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Mr. Speaker, that is the core issue. The Liberals are out of touch with reality. They are out of touch with the real issues Canadians are facing. Rather, they come up with rebates and other bandage solutions that their predecessors already tried and that failed. They still have not learned that lesson, and they want to keep on repeating those mistakes.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I sit on the science and research committee. Last Wednesday, the chair arbitrarily cancelled the meeting half an hour prior. Today they cancelled our Monday meeting without any advance notice. They cancelled the meeting on justice and other committees. What are the Liberals trying to hide? What do they have to hide? Why are they running away from questions? Why are they not doing the …
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Mr. Speaker, yes, indeed I do. There has been the same situation in my riding of Edmonton Southeast, where a hospital was projected to be built, with earlier costs set at $1.5 billion. The province had to push that because the cost is now over $5 billion. The cuts that the government is making to essential services and to critical things like hospitals do not make sense. The amount allocated in th…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his genuine, common-sense question on affordability. The Prime Minister has failed badly on affordability. Canadians have already given him an F grade on his promise that he can be judged by how much groceries cost at the grocery store. That said, there are over 5,000 homeless people in Edmonton Southeast. I do not see anything in the budget on afforda…
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Mr. Speaker, I honestly like that the senior member of the Liberals can speak for hours without saying anything or making any sense. To answer his question, I want to say that the Prime Minister has been to the U.S., and there has been no progress. He has been to India, and India has increased tariffs on peas. He has been to China, and there are increased tariffs. He has been to England, and our b…
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Mr. Speaker, less than a year ago, Canadians went to the polls, and we all know what was top of mind for voters: It was affordability. For 10 years, under these same Liberals, affordability was thrown to the side. Our country's spending was mismanaged. They spent all the money they could and took no responsibility for the public purse. Then came the current Prime Minister. During the election, he …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is the most expensive government in Canadian history. Every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians and is driving up the cost of everything. The Liberals could have lowered food costs by scrapping the plastic packaging tax, which drives up the cost of produce by 34% and costs the average household $400; instead, they chose to keep…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving such a touching speech on Bill C-14 and the loopholes within it. There is still the principle of restraint and house arrest for traffickers and people involved in firearms crimes and serious crimes. How does that resonate with him? How does that resonate given the ongoing threats, killings and shootings throughout Canada?
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Mr. Speaker, Bill C-14 still allows serious offenders, such as those who commit robbery, trafficking and firearms-related crimes, to use the option of house arrest. I know, and the member opposite knows, that communities are struggling with ongoing extortion demands and killings in the community. How would he justify the continuing loopholes in Bill C-14?
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Mr. Speaker, we are going through times where youth unemployment is at a record-high number. Does she agree with me that making youth employment a priority on the Liberal side would have an impact on crime when it comes to youth?
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, as a Conservative, I have genuine concerns, and I want to make sure all Canadians know about them. Is the bill not going to add more red tape? When red tape is added, delays are added. Provincial health care is already burdened with delays, as we all know. Has the member consulted provinces on Bill C-239, and which provinces have they consulted?
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Mr. Speaker, would the member opposite agree with me that there is a clear duality in the intent of the Liberal government and that it is failing to walk the talk by leaving out minimum mandatory jail time for fentanyl traffickers and for gangsters?
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his wonderful speech pointing out the frailties and shortcomings in this bill that still need to be talked about. My question is quite simple. The Liberals still seem to be pushing for safe consumption sites, including by schools, day cares and play zones, as you said in your remarks. How do you feel about this disconnect—
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Mr. Speaker, how does my colleague feel about this disconnect when, on one hand, the Liberals say they want to work hard on fentanyl and its consumption, but at the same time, they are not willing to stop safe consumption sites close to schools and day cares?
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Mr. Speaker, would the member agree with me that there is no minimum mandatory jail time for drug traffickers, for fentanyl traffickers and for gangsters in this bill? Also, the bill does not mention anything about stopping safe consumption sites from being close to schools and day cares. Young families are being impacted on a daily basis. How is the government going to stay true to its intent of …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, under the Liberal government, crime and chaos is out of control. Extortion has exploded into one of the fastest-growing crimes in Canada, with threats against small business owners and innocent citizens. Just this weekend, in my riding of Edmonton Southeast, an innocent family had their house shot up after it was misidentified by gangsters. This is unacceptable. It is a direct result …
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Mr. Speaker, among other things, there are frailties in the proposed Liberal Bill C-12, and I want to ask a question of the member who is taking part in this debate about the bill. There is no answer to the safe supply of fentanyl. It is still going to continue, which poses a threat of AMR, something being studied at a committee I am currently working on. There is no minimum mandatory sentence for…
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Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Liberal member advocating for Bill C-12. If Bill C-12 intends to clean up the already burdened asylum system, how come it does not mention repealing pre-removal risk assessments once a refugee claim is already refused? It is parallel legislation within the legislation that would put an additional burden on Canadian taxpayers to force them to redo the same test o…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to recognize an organization that has greatly benefited the Mill Woods community in my riding of Edmonton Southeast. The Mill Woods Cultural and Recreational Facility Association has raised money for and operates community leagues; the Mill Woods Golf Course; Jackie Parker Park, a sensory playground for autistic children; and much more. Over the past 50 years…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said Canadians would judge him by the cost at the grocery store, but after 10 years of the same Liberal government, Canadians cannot afford to eat because of taxes on food. Edmonton's food bank use has doubled in the last five years. The price of sugar is up by 20%, coffee is up by 22%, and grapes are up by 24%. This is because of Liberal taxes on food packaging and…
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Madam Speaker, as I said, Conservatives will propose for the bill to go to committee for proper review, for proper safeguards to be put in place so that Canadian citizenship is not misused, so that it is not abused and so that it is equally valued by the hard-working non-Canadian-born Canadians like me and like millions of others, so they also feel appreciated. There should be no two-tier tests fo…
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Madam Speaker, as I said in my initial speech, Conservatives need the bill to be amended. Strong changes need to be made. A mere three years, or 1,095 non-consecutive days, is not enough to claim citizenship down the road after a third or fourth generation. It is not enough. There needs to be a more genuine connection with the country. Citizenship is not easy; it is not up for grabs. People should…
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