Parliamentary Speeches
61 speeches by Kristina Tesser Derksen — Page 1 of 2
Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour today to recognize the recipient of the 2026 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award, Georgetown's own Chris Cuthbert. Chris has been a dedicated member of the sports broadcasting community since his time at Queen's University, now serving over 45 years as a sports broadcaster. People might recognize him as the lead play-by-play commentator during CBC and Sportsnet's Hockey Night…
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Mr. Speaker, I listened with great interest to my colleague's speech. I worked as a family law lawyer, and I assisted women who were fleeing violence at home. However, one of the things that I noticed, which has been very challenging to deal with, is the amount of misinformation that constituents are reaching out to me on about Bill C-16 because of what our Conservative colleagues are putting out …
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague mentioned municipalities in her speech. I am a former municipal councillor. Municipalities at any given time have a lot of balls in the air that they have to balance. One of the big ones is housing. I am wondering if my colleague could comment further on the role she sees municipalities playing and how this legislation would impact municipalities positively.
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Mr. Speaker, what a heartfelt speech from my colleague. I am so glad I was here to hear it. I have mentioned in the House before that I worked as a family law lawyer. I worked in the violence against women sector, and I worked with women who were fleeing violence at home. Oftentimes, more than once, I would have a woman in my office who would just stop and say, “Gosh, I really do not know how I go…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure that my colleague knows this project began under former prime minister Stephen Harper. I will also point out that it is a partnership with another country, to the south of us, which has not been entirely co-operative throughout the process. I am confident that my colleague and this House will hear good news soon on the project.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to the 2026-27 main estimates for national defence and to this government's efforts to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces. We all know the global threat landscape has changed. The threats we face are numerous and multiplying, from incursions in the Canadian Arctic to attacks on our cyberspace. Canada cannot meet these challenge…
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Mr. Speaker, I am not sure how much clout I would have as a humble backbencher at this point, but I am certainly happy to explore any suggestions my hon. colleagues send over to me, and I'm happy to discuss them at any time. Our government is about collaboration and building Canada strong with the help of all members of this House.
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Mr. Speaker, last Friday, families in my riding of Milton East—Halton Hills South woke up to good news. May's labour force survey showed robust job gains, which is a promising sign that our economic plan is bearing fruit. Also, the CRA began issuing payments under our government's enhanced Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which is equal to a 50% increase over the previous GST credit. Can t…
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Mr. Speaker, what a disappointment that question was from my colleague. Today, in the gallery, we had Colonel Jeremy Hansen, who is the pride of the Canadian Space Agency and the first Canadian to venture beyond the moon. The investments we make in space and innovation to establish Canada's role in this new and growing sector are absolutely critical and pivotal to making our place in the world. I …
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Mr. Speaker, certainly, when the government invests in defence, it invests in people. It invests in Canadians. I am sure that all of us can go out into our ridings and talk to different businesses that have a role to play in the defence sector. There are many more in my riding than I even realized, now that I have been going out and talking about the great investments our government has been makin…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for pointing out the great strides our government has made in spending recently, including reaching NATO's 2% defence spending target five years ahead of schedule, as well as the incredible, unprecedented pay raise for every member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Yesterday was the Canadian Armed Forces national appreciation day. I want to take the opportunity to exp…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his excellent speech. Our Minister of Industry recently announced support to train and attract new talent in the field of skilled trades. I wonder if my colleague would like to comment on how see sees that program, to attract and train new skilled trade workers, dovetailing with the Build Canada Homes initiative.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague very much for his advocacy and work on that bill. As someone who has worked in the violence against women sector in the legal context, I know we saw gaps in laws and legislation that could be addressed through this House, and we are glad to see those types of bills moving through now. I am happy to continue to advocate, and certainly it is our job as elected offic…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a great question from my colleague. During my work in the legal field with women who were experiencing intimate partner violence, many of them experienced hesitation and trepidation in coming forward because they were not confident that the justice system could be easily navigated or address their needs. This bill speaks directly to that concern by ensuring that courts can hav…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a great question about mandatory minimum sentences. We had great discussions about that in this House. I do agree that the research on justice does tend to show that mandatory minimum sentences do not necessarily deter crime. However, they do provide more trust and more confidence in the justice system. What our government is trying to do here is find that middle ground where we…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address Bill C-16, the protecting victims act. This bill represents an important step in reinforcing Canada's commitment to protecting victims and supporting survivors of crime. When I was a law student, I worked in a community legal clinic in Toronto. Interacting and advising women who were living with domestic coercion and violence was a sobering experience for me. I…
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Mr. Speaker, in my riding of Milton East—Halton Hills South, there has actually been quite an active growth in film production, and we want to keep it going. First, I would comment that my colleague might want to review the legal definition of what a tax is. This is not in fact a tax. It is a Canadian programming expenditure. Second, as far as encouraging film and production goes, yes, it is defin…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague's French is certainly better than mine, and I hope to speak as well as she does one day soon. Absolutely, it is important that we continue to encourage Canadian talent to be highlighted, and I have mentioned this in some of my other remarks. We have had some great programs lately that have really gotten us a lot of international attention, and we want to keep that up. I t…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. Certainly, a big feature of what the CRTC is trying to do is highlight, encourage and elevate the voices of Canadians, including indigenous, regional and certainly francophone artists as well. I will just mention that I am learning French, as is probably evident from my speech, and as I was raising my children at home, often I would be able to tu…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a great pleasure to rise today on behalf of the constituents of Milton East—Halton Hills South. Today I rise to speak in support of the Online Streaming Act and its implementation by the CRTC. On May 21, 2026, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission released two regulatory policies implementing Bill C‑11, the Online Streaming Act. Those rulings focused on…
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Mr. Speaker, one year ago, the people of Milton East—Halton Hills South placed their trust in me to represent them in the House. It is an honour I carry proudly every day. In that time, we have delivered real results. We have secured $2.9 million for affordable housing in Georgetown, and we are just getting started. Through the Canada summer jobs program, we have increased opportunities for young …
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Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, Bill C-22, an act respecting lawful access, was referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. As this critical piece of legislation continues its parliamentary journey, it is important to remind Canadians how overdue a lawful access regime is in our country. This has been requested by law enforcement agencies for decades. Could the Parli…
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Mr. Speaker, today we are debating a piece of legislation that is very important to the military community and the Canadian Armed Forces. I begin by thanking the members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and their families for their service to Canada. As Canada's new government rearms, rebuilds and reinvests in the Canadian Armed Forces, it is critical that we start with our people. Our work …
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Mr. Speaker, l thank my colleague for presenting the bill, and I am proud to be the seconder. My youngest son is completing his apprenticeship to become an electrician. Given our government's very ambitious plans to engage in nation-building projects, whether in housing or other large projects, we know that we are going to have to encourage more young people to get involved in the skilled trades. …
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Mr. Speaker, what my colleague has asked really goes to the crux of what Justice Arbour found in her report. I would say that no, I do not know of any other situation where a victim would potentially have to come forward to superiors or have the case heard within a workplace. I think we have to be very cautious. I know my opposition colleagues have been talking about options, but we have to be cau…
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Mr. Speaker, I am not a member of the committee at which this was studied. However, I am a lawyer, and I have worked in the space of intimate partner violence and violence against women, so the perspective I bring is my own. As far as working through amendments and committees, this is something that I believe every elected member of Parliament wants to do in good faith at all times. That does not …
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Mr. Speaker, certainly, we give great weight to the testimony of victims and of the good doctor my colleague referenced. I would note that Justice Arbour, who has a long and illustrious career in the judicial system and who has been recognized as an international champion of human rights, carried out a very extensive investigation for her report, for which she consulted hundreds of witnesses, or p…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Bill C-234, the living donor recognition medal act, and I am so honoured to do so at its third reading here in the chamber before it moves to the Senate and, hopefully, soon becomes law in this land. It is with great honour that I stand here today to speak to an issue that continues to impact Canadians from coast to coast to coast. Across boundaries, cities,…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Green Shirt Day, which was last week, as well as National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week and Ontario's Be a Donor Month, a time when Canadians come together to honour donors, their families and the gift of life that organ and tissue donation makes possible. Throughout Canada, thousands of people are waiting for a transplant that could dramatically i…
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Mr. Speaker, any time we talk about making elections changes, there are folks who express concern that it might restrict their ability to participate fully in our democracy. Can the member comment on the safeguards present in this proposed legislation that would ensure we are striking the right balance between protecting our democracy and making sure it is fully accessible?
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Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot in the media about terribly long ballots, and about deepfakes impersonating people in politics. I would like my hon. colleague to comment on the negative impact that has on voter confidence in our democracy, and also the dangers we face if those malicious and nefarious behaviours remain unchecked by legislation.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to welcome the Swiss delegation and the President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation to Canada this week. Canada and Switzerland are bound not only by friendship but by a shared commitment to democracy, innovation and the rule of law. For decades, our two countries have been working closely together to promote peace, prosperity and international co-op…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for standing in the House and delivering those remarks with bravery. I know he has done a lot of work at the justice committee as well, so I thank him for that. In his remarks, the member mentioned the amount of time that has been spent at the justice committee debating this particular bill, over 30 hours, I believe he said. He mentioned some of the conten…
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Mr. Speaker, on December 22, Canada submitted its plan for the long-term reform of first nations child and family services, which has the potential to transform care for our children and to address historic wrongs. Can the Minister of Indigenous Services please speak to the contents of the proposal to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal?
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Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for this opportunity to speak to this private member's bill, Bill C-232. While seemingly well-intentioned, this is legislation the government cannot support. Our primary responsibility is to keep Canadians safe. To do this, we rely on laws and policies that are based on what has been proven to work. We know that the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders…
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Mr. Speaker, I am aware of an academic community organization in that member's province called the Balanced Supply of Housing, or BSH, and it works in tandem with the University of British Columbia. BSH has stated that “Build Canada Homes is not a silver bullet, but it may be a turning point. By investing in non-profit, co-op, supportive housing, and by creating the financing and land pathways to …
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Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, I was proud to stand alongside my colleagues on this side of the House to vote in favour of Bill C-15. In addition to unlocking generational investments to help build a strong, modern, resilient Canadian economy, Bill C-15 contains important measures to make life more affordable for Canadians, including measures to advance open banking. Can the parliamentary secreta…
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Madam Speaker, my colleague mentioned the respect that Canada commands from countries and international organizations around the world. One recent example is from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF highlighted that Canada is a G7 country that has significant fiscal headroom to support economic growth through investment. Can my colleague comment on how this budget leverages Canada's fiscal ca…
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Mr. Speaker, yesterday, our Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance made a historic announcement outlining concrete steps the government is taking to help life be more affordable for Canadians. Residents in my riding of Milton East—Halton Hills South support our government's ambitious plan to strengthen and diversify the economy, but they know that doing so requires both long-term investments a…
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Mr. Speaker, recently I held a town hall in my riding to discuss our government's proposed legislation regarding public safety, including Bill C-14. The discussion was frank, emotional and deeply personal. It was clear that my constituents want action. They are concerned about public safety, they expect results, and they expect Parliament to do its job. Many residents asked why progress has stalle…
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Mr. Speaker, hear ye, hear ye: Mayor Gordon Krantz of the town of Milton is celebrating his 60th year of elected office. First elected as municipal councillor in 1965 and then as mayor when I was just two years old, Mayor Krantz is Canada's longest-serving mayor, having served under 10 prime ministers. Mayor Krantz has guided Milton through four decades of managing growth and modernization. His le…
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians want to see real results, including new jobs, new opportunities and growth that supports families, businesses and communities like mine in Milton and Georgetown. This past week, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs were in the U.A.E. and South Africa making deals, securing those opportunities and showcasing the best of what Canada has to offer. Could the Mi…
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Mr. Speaker, my background as a municipal councillor has been extremely valuable in this role because I understand how the policies of other orders of government trickle down to municipalities and how they impact folks living in municipalities. We were thrilled to see the investments made in community infrastructure, for example, for building stronger communities. This is so important, because com…
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Mr. Speaker, certainly, our government has plans to invest a great deal in public safety. It is something we all heard a lot about at the doors. We are hiring 1,000 RCMP officers and 1,000 Canada Border Services agents. This will result in a stronger border. This government is serious about supporting our law enforcement men and women, who are keeping us all safe. I hope the opposition will join u…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the good people of Milton East—Halton Hills South to bring reflections on our government's 2025 budget and Bill C-15, the budget implementation act. This is a budget that lays the blueprint to address a new paradigm of economic development, nation-building and generational investment. This is a budget that believes in Canada. This budget is historic, and it c…
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Mr. Speaker, I respect my colleague's concerns about this. Our Prime Minister and our government have been extremely clear on this point. No project of this nature is going to move forward without the buy-in and informed consent of the indigenous communities and provinces that are impacted.
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very timely question. Obviously, trade with what had traditionally been our largest trading partner and closest ally for over 100 years is extremely important. Through no fault of our own, we have found that the United States has changed course and decided to become completely unreliable. As Canadians, we need to control what we can control. While we will keep the option ope…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my opposition colleague for highlighting the story of Darian Hailey Henderson-Bellman. Her family lives in my riding, and it is a heartbreakingly tragic story. The member mentioned the burden of reverse onus. Currently, the onus is on the Crown prosecutor to prove that an accused should be denied bail. In Bill C-14, as proposed, reverse onus provisions would shift that onus to…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the good people of Milton East—Halton Hills South to bring reflections on our government's 2025 budget, a budget that lays the blueprint to address a new paradigm of economic development, nation building and generational investment. It is a budget that believes in Canada. This budget is historic, and it comes at a historic time. However, this is also a time o…
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Mr. Speaker, November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month. One in four women in Canada report experiencing intimate partner violence in their lifetime, and alarmingly, those numbers continue to rise. In my community of Milton East—Halton Hills South, Halton Women’s Place provides critical shelter, counselling and support for women experiencing domestic violence. Last weekend, I joined their annual Hop…
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