Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am going to deal in facts. Supports for seniors are indexed to inflation. Housing supports help seniors find affordable places to live. There are supports for families and communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The school food program, which another member from Newfoundland and Labrador called “garbage”, feeds children. There is $800 a year for a family of two in savings. I can g…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague across the aisle that the conversations are still happening. No decision has been made, and I encourage their participation as we move forward toward making a decision.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to assure the member that the program funding continues through to March 2026. I am actively engaging with members across the country to talk about the effects of the program in their communities, what was very strong and what we need to look at in the future. The climate changes and the stock of salmon and other seafood changes. We need to be able to align our programs to the …
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Mr. Speaker, instead of repeating the same canned lines, I would ask the member from Newfoundland and Labrador, a Conservative member, to think about what she voted against: $10-a-day child care; food for kids in schools, something that her colleague called garbage; dental care; and the family benefit, which 46,000 families in my riding take advantage of. I ask her to start to work for Newfoundlan…
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Mr. Speaker, I would say to the mom in the member's riding to please ask her member to vote for child care, dental care and the school nutrition program, where a family of two can save $800 a year, and to support the inflation-indexed Canada child benefit, as 46,000 families need that support, along with housing supports. I could go on and on. These are tangible affordability measures. I will neve…
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is very important for me to point out that my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador has voted against every opportunity to help Canadians: housing, the school food program, $10-a-day child care, dental care, and on and on. This is nothing but a circle of tired notes. We need to work together. Canadians want us to work together. I will tell my colleague …
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Mr. Speaker, I was in my riding last weekend, and I spent time at a school in the riding. I served food—
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Mr. Speaker, I was in my riding last weekend. I served food in a school. In my riding, the educators and the administrators all spoke about how important that program is to the 400 children in that school. I also want to remind the member opposite that I had many meetings in the riding with constituents, with Progressive Conservative business owners. They are thanking me for the budget that is inv…
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Mr. Speaker, apart from partisan politics, this member, who is from my province of Newfoundland and Labrador, voted against a budget that invests in Canada and invests in our province. She voted against 46,000 families who will see an increase in the Canada child benefit, families who rely on the food—
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Mr. Speaker, instead of playing partisan politics, let us focus on Canadians. The member opposite from Newfoundland and Labrador voted against a budget that invests in Canada; invests in our province in rural communities, roads, bridges, schools and hospitals; and invests in families with the school nutrition program's $800 savings a year for a family with two children. There is the family benefit…
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Mr. Speaker, unauthorized fishing is unacceptable, full stop. Fisheries officers have many tools they use in the management of unauthorized fishing, from education to charges to fines. Often, their work happens in remote areas and at times of the day when people are not aware of the work they are doing. I want to thank fisheries officers for their outstanding work in keeping our fisheries safe and…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to assure my colleague that the work is happening. He needs to look at what has happened in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and other parts of the country. Fisheries officers are on the water. We support their work. They are making a difference. We accept nothing but authorized fishing.
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Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand today and support a budget that is not only growing this country but also paying attention to rural communities. I can tell members that in Newfoundland and Labrador, investments in roads, bridges, hospitals, houses and communities matter. I ask my Conservative Newfoundland and Labrador colleagues, are they are going to vote for the things that matter to all of …
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Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to stand today, in reference to the question from the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador, and talk about the measures we are putting in place for young workers to train in construction, welding and the other work we need in order to build Canada strong. This is happening in my province, and I was so proud to make that announcement last week. That is just on…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to say this to the opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador: There is no fuel tax. It is an imaginary tax on food. What I want to say clearly is that the measures we have in place in our province, including $10-a-day child care, are allowing moms and dads to stay in the workforce. I was in my riding this weekend and spoke about the importance of the new program in th…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador in the opposition that school nutrition programs are important to a province. We were the first to sign on to this program, because it mattered. The Conservatives voted against it. One Conservative called it “garbage”. It does feed children. It matters. I am asking the member if he is going to vote with us when the time come…
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moved: That Bill C-3, in Clause 1, be amended by: (a) replacing lines 36 and 37 on page 3 with the following: 1,095 days before the person’s birth; or (b) replacing line 28 on page 4 to line 6 on page 5 with the following: 1,095 days before the person’s birth.
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moved: That Bill C-3, in Clause 4, be amended by: (a) replacing lines 27 and 28 on page 7 with the following: at least 1,095 days before the person's adoption; or (b) by replacing line 38 on page 7 to line 15 on page 8 with the following: at least 1,095 days before the person’s adoption. (c) ...
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Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador that Newfoundland and Labrador was the first province in Canada to sign on to the school food program. The Conservative Party was the first party in Canada to not vote for that program. Newfoundlanders and Labradorians value this program. Moms, parents and school educators know what this program means. This is aff…
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Mr. Speaker, while my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador and the opposition want to talk down programs and humiliate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and all Canadians, I will reassure Canadians that the school food program is feeding children. It is saving families up to $800 a year. This is a policy that works. I will always stand for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, illegal fishing is unlawful. It threatens conservation and has an impact on the livelihood of people in coastal communities. That is why we have strengthened enforcement and added more patrols on the water and at wharfs. We are also working with enforcement partners. This summer, in southwest Nova Scotia, fisheries officers seized vessels and traps. They returned thousands of lobsters…
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome this opportunity to share with the member across the way from Newfoundland and Labrador that a single mom in her riding who earns $15,000 a year can now access up to $25,000 because she will automatically get the benefits for her and her children. This is good news, this is affordability and this is not a slogan.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to again remind my colleague of the benefit of the school food program. I have spoken with moms who are absolutely grateful. Their children now have food in their belly and are not separated from all the other children who can expect the basic right to have food in the morning. I also want to remind my colleague of the importance of the dental program, the child benefit a…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague in the opposition from Newfoundland and Labrador for the opportunity to celebrate a very successful fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador: northern cod with increased quotas. I visited communities, spoke with harvesters, visited processors and spoke with plant workers. This is an economic boost for rural Newfoundland and Labrador. I would invite the colleag…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to say to my colleague across the aisle a repeat of what was said in the last answer: The fact is that Canada is working to protect workers. Rather than slogans, misinformation and negativity, the Liberals are actually doing the work of opening dialogue actively on the ground, to ensure that the workers in Canada are protected. We will have Canadians' backs.
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Mr. Speaker, I will echo what so many of my colleagues have said today: We are focused on building the economy in Canada, working with premiers in provinces and territories and building a strong Canada so that provinces like mine and the member opposite's, Newfoundland and Labrador, which is rich in natural resources, will be part of the projects that we will get built in record time and that will…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to say that I was in Nova Scotia for the last couple of weeks. I met with harvesters and lobster fishers, and I want to assure the member opposite that I will continue to do this work. We need to ensure that we have balanced fisheries, and we need to ensure that we support authorised fishing.
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Madam Speaker, I well know the historical importance of cod to the province, as well as the cultural importance. I also remember the moratorium 30 years ago and remember the absolute devastation to so many communities and individuals. As we begin to move forward and see the stock return to a more healthy zone, it is imperative to ensure that we balance the future generations of fishers in the prov…
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Madam Speaker, I will repeat what I said earlier, because I do not know if my colleague heard me. It is imperative that we balance the future of stocks. We need to have a fishery to pass on to the next generation. At the same time, we need to understand that this is people's livelihood. We can do both, but we also need to ensure that we have a stock going forward.
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Madam Speaker, I think it is really important for the member opposite, whom I welcome to the House, to remember that there is a bill that will be tabled later today that is about growing this country, and I am so proud of the work that the new government is doing to ensure that Canada meets this moment. That includes Canada's becoming a world superpower, and I truly hope that the member opposite i…
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Mr. Speaker, illegal fishing is appalling, and that is why Canada has taken a key role in the fight through Operation North Pacific Guard. Our expertly trained fisheries officers and Canadian Coast Guard crew are currently working to ensure that we disrupt the activities that lead to illegal fishing. I am also pleased to say that the crew of the Sir Wilfrid Laurier is currently engaged in this mis…
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Mr. Speaker, it is very important in St. John's, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, that we protect children. The school food program was such an important initiative, and I found it so disappointing that the opposition voted against it. I hope that, when there is an opportunity to vote to support this program, which puts food in children's bellies, the opposition and the member across will vote to…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the people of St. John's East for continuing to put their trust in me. I also want to congratulate my colleague from across the aisle. This government continues to understand the cultural and economic importance of the fisheries. I can tell members that I am very humbled and proud to be responsible for this file. I can assure the people of Canada, and certainly my coll…
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Mr. Speaker, last week the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Government of Quebec announced a historic agreement on Churchill Falls, as well as an agreement to develop the Gull Island project and upgrade other hydroelectric assets. This deal has the potential to transform Newfoundland and Labrador and create tens of thousands of jobs and sweeping economic spinoffs. Can the Minister o…
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Mr. Speaker, I can tell us what every Newfoundland and Labrador family talked about at the dinner table last week, because on December 12, the future of our province changed and a new course was charted. The 1969 Churchill Falls deal was infamous, unfair and forever contentious. It has now been ripped up with the announcement of a new deal between Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Innu Na…
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Mr. Speaker, our government announced new measures to put more money back in the pockets of Canadians to help them afford the things they need and to save for the things they want. Unfortunately, some members on the other side of the House are spreading misinformation about our tax cut, like the member of Parliament for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, who described it as “sending people penni…
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Mr. Speaker, I say this every year, but I cannot believe it is December already. When I was a young girl, Christmas was a time of magic, lights, foods that we rarely got to taste, the school nativity program, and early Christmas morning mass when I really wanted to be home with my toys. Then and now it was a time of joy, new beginnings and peace, and a season to remember acts of kindness. I thank …
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Madam Speaker, today we remember the 14 young women who were killed during the École Polytechnique massacre. As the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence come to an end, we are reminded that our work must continue until we achieve a Canada free of gender-based violence. Could the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth update Canadians on the work our government is doing to pr…
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Madam Speaker, I want to pick up on the notion of how women's rights are being undermined in slow and insidious ways. As a nurse, who went to nursing school in the 1970s, I saw the impact of a lack of choice for women far too many times. I also saw it in my work in the community with the most vulnerable. I wonder if my colleague could speak to the many ways the government is working to enhance wom…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition to the House of Commons in which Canadians are concerned that the Leader of the Opposition continues to refuse to get a security clearance. The undersigned residents of Canada are calling on the leader of the Conservative Party to get his security clearance and take action to help stop foreign governments from interfering in Canada and targeting Canadians.
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Mr. Speaker, Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens Children's scarves and warm woolen mittens Books and newspapers tied up with strings These are a few of my favourite things. Restaurant meals and crisp apple strudels Snacks and candy and schnitzel with noodles Toys and board games and the joy that they bring These are a few of my favourite things. These things will be exempted from GST, star…
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Mr. Speaker, last week, our government announced new measures to put more money back in the pockets of Canadians, to help them afford the things they need and save for the things they want. Unfortunately, some on the other side of the aisle have the wrong impression about the measures, like the member of Parliament for Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, who described it as “sending people pennie…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the tireless work of the Crow's Nest Officers' Club in downtown St. John's. It is a living museum that overlooks the National War Memorial, where Newfoundland's unknown soldier was recently laid to rest. The Crow's Nest is sharing stories and artifacts on the role that St. John's played in the victory of the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous ba…
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Mr. Speaker, one million Canadians have been able to get the dental care they need, and that number will continue to rise with the over 48,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are now approved to receive care, thanks to our government's Canadian dental care plan. Our government understands that oral care is health care, and it is delivering dental care to keep Canadians healthy and reduce the …
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Mr. Speaker, protecting a woman's right to control her own body includes access to clear and transparent choices in health care. Far too often, we see bad actors operating in the charitable health care sector, victimizing vulnerable women seeking sexual and reproductive health services. Can the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance update the women of this country on what this government i…
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Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to celebrate the passing of the Pharmacare Act, which will have an immense impact on the lives of Canadians and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Every Conservative member of the House voted against the historic pharmacare legislation at every step. They voted against legislation that will help nine million women and gender-diverse Canadians…
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Madam Speaker, I certainly believe in a unified country. My question is about Bill C-49, which was quite unifying in my province and I believe in Nova Scotia as well. There is a need to move with speed toward a green economy, a need for wind and a need for protection by the provinces and the federal government in how we move forward with this exciting, important industry for our children's future …
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Mr. Speaker, the offshore wind industry is expected to attract $1 trillion in investment by 2040. With the passing of Bill C-49, Newfoundland and Labrador is poised to lead the way, just as it did for our oil and gas sector. The Atlantic Accord will now ensure that we are the beneficiaries of our wind resources. That means thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment. While Conservative…
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Mr. Speaker, in 2012, the Conservative prime minister travelled to the World Economic Forum in Davos to announce the plan to raise the retirement age to 67. The Conservative plan, supported by the Leader of the Opposition, would have taken away OAS from one million Canadian seniors who turn 65 this year. Can the minister of seniors share how the government has defended Canadians' right to retire a…
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Mr. Speaker, today is National Seniors Day, a day to celebrate and thank seniors across the country. Our government knows the importance of promoting the health and well-being of seniors. That is why we make investments toward programs and services for them. Can the Minister of Health update Canadians on what we are doing to protect and support the health of seniors across this country?
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