Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the deadline to submit a brief of support to keep Enbridge’s Line 5 open is in just four days. The Canada-U.S. committee unanimously recommended this action, and the Natural Resources Minister said last night that he would take every action diplomatically and legally to keep Line 5 open. This is the most urgent action required and the Liberals have known about it for months. Why did t…
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Mr. Speaker, one thing that is of concern is the assertion on the part of the government that somehow the Conservatives are delaying this. Could the member comment on that?
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The committee heard witnesses speak on long-term care homes. They indicated they would like a shorter voting period, which Bill C-19 does not provide for. I therefore believe that we should make an amendment to provide for as short a voting period as possible in long-term care homes.
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Mr. Speaker, having those polling stations at colleges and universities improved student turnout. However, I was a bit alarmed when I talked to my own returning officer and heard that they had taken a decision that they were not going to do that in this election. I wonder whether that is common across the country or is just specific to my riding. That is an excellent question.
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Mr. Speaker, certainly when it comes to scrutineering and we think about trying to keep six feet of distance, one of the difficulties would be to be able to see the ballot. Are we going to have to do something in terms of hooking up cameras on the process and having viewing screens? That is one possible solution. If they are going to have multiple scrutineers in the same spot, that makes it even m…
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Mr. Speaker, that is exactly the clarification that is needed. However, my worry is that in discussion with several returning officers, who had already been trained on this legislation even before it had been discussed in the House or amended at committee, they are under the impression that they will be able to count any ballots that come in on Tuesday. Therefore, that retraining or clarification …
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Mr. Speaker, I share the member's concern. Because it is not defined what exactly the electoral officer could do, for health and safety reasons, theoretically they could have the power to do anything at all. That is not good because, definitely as has been pointed out, there are some changes that would need oversight, so I would like to see something happen on that. The other thing that would be d…
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Mr. Speaker, indeed, I sat on the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs and listened to testimony from some of our indigenous folks who did raise these concerns and do need to be consulted. That would be a great idea. We know that especially rural and remote places and places where we have had extreme outbreaks have specific concerns and those concerns need to be heard and addressed so…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. I think it is a good idea to have more polling stations. Since churches hold services on Sunday mornings, we might have to add some morning time slots, around 9 a.m., or afternoon time slots, around 2 p.m. Those are all things we need to think about in order to have a lot of choices regarding polling locations.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here and to recap the brilliant first 13 minutes of my speech in the last six minutes that I have. First of all, with respect to an election in a pandemic, the most important point is that Canadians do not want an election in a pandemic. The most recent Ipsos poll on April 21 said that Canadians, in the majority, thought that it would be unsafe and unfair. It is…
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Mr. Speaker, that was one of the things that was written down on my paper that I did not quite get to. This is very important. The signatures are supposed to indicate that there are enough people in the riding who want the person to present themselves as a candidate. That could be done electronically. Certainly these are the kinds of progressive moves that we would like to see to move into a digit…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to clarify that we are not at all afraid of having an election, in fact, we look forward to the opportunity to get a strong Conservative majority in this country. However, Canadians need to be listened to and they have been clear that they do not want an election. The government tabled this bill in the House before the committee was even finished consideration of this, so it is…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I fully agree. Now is the time for a team Canada approach. I actually spearheaded a letter-writing campaign with all of the trade unions in my riding and all of the stakeholders, and we got all of our friends who live in Michigan, who are her constituents, to write to Governor Whitmer as well. I sponsored a petition. I think all of these things are very important. We have heard that…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. minister for his recognition that Line 5 is essential for our economic and energy security. Certainly he knows the serious impact this would have in my riding. I was fortunate to sit on the Canada-U.S. committee that was in agreement on the seriousness of this issue and made specific recommendations for the government to act on. One of these was that the…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for recognizing that this is not like other debates we have had. Line 5 does not have an alternative right now. People have talked about plans to use 2,000 trucks and 800 railcars a day, but the capacity to do this by next Wednesday does not exist, so I certainly agree that there is no plan. What does the member think the government ought to be doing? …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, farmers heating their barns, drying their grains or heating their greenhouses are going to immediately see a shortage of propane. As we know, when the supply is short the price goes up. In the most extreme cases, such as when we saw the rail blockades, we know that there is potential for those barns to not be heated and for the animals to freeze. That was a real threat, so that is som…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, we absolutely need a plan for the transition. I think that will take a long time because farmers who are currently using oil will need another method. People who own cars and rely on oil will need to buy electric cars, for example. We need a plan, and I think that plan could take 10 years. We need a plan.
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, in addition to it being an election promise that the governor ran on, I think it is interesting to note that the State of Michigan has approved two of the four permits to build this tunnel. Why would the State of Michigan be approving these things if the governor was definitely shutting this line down? I would say that it does show a willingness and that she understands that the tunne…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank every member who is in the House tonight for this very important debate, showing their support and their understanding of how serious this is. Obviously, for my riding of Sarnia—Lambton, this is an extremely serious issue. As many have said tonight, there are three refineries and multiple other related businesses in Sarnia—Lambton, and a shutdown of Line 5 could …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for his work on the Canada-U.S. committee. He did mention that this amicus brief of support would be one of the actions from the committee and something very important. Could he say why with two business days remaining before the due date for that brief, why we have not seen any activity on the part of the government?
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for his work on the Canada-U.S. committee that studied this issue. I believe he participated in that. I wonder if the member could elaborate on some of the specific recommendations that the government should do and the things it is does not appear to do.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her speech. Bill C-12 would do nothing more than create a committee and make recommendations to the government for coming up with a plan. In other words, the Liberals currently do not have a plan. What does the member think about that?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would say, as a scientist, that net-zero is exactly that. It is net emissions. Regardless of the source, there are emissions that are man-made and emissions that are not man-made. That is all the emissions. Then, in the same light, there are absorptions. Net-zero really has to look at all of that. If it does not, then it is not really looking at the whole picture and people are pick…
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague is always passionate about this file. It is very sad that the government, with a whole department of climate experts, does not have a plan. It has had six years in government, running on an agenda to do something to address climate change, and it has failed. What is important is to come up with a plan that all parties could agree to, so regardless of who is in the driver'…
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Mr. Speaker, we have been clear that the punishing Liberal carbon tax does zero to reduce emissions in the atmosphere. It just puts money in the government coffers. Our plan is going to put the money back in the pockets of Canadians, so all together, we can participate in helping our country reduce its overall footprint. That is a good thing.
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to speak to Bill C-12. We have had quite a lively debate today. If we talk about this net zero by 2050 target and we look at the bill to see what it would actually do, we see it is a typical smoke-and-mirrors Liberal bill that does not have any substance to it. It essentially would put together a committee of liberal-leaning anti-oil and gas folks, who, by the way, ha…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not see anything in Bill C-12 that is concrete action to advance us toward the targets. I know the Liberals are not on track to meet even the 2030 targets. Could the member tell me what in the bill is evidence of a plan that would actually meet net zero by 2050?
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, like all of the Liberals' policies, Bill C-10 is a poorly thought-out piece of legislation that will have a tidal wave of consequences for everyday Canadians, first and foremost curtailing their freedom of speech online. This is unacceptable. The Liberals have removed the clause that confirmed the charter right to freedom of speech would be upheld. Looking deeper, Canadians can see th…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and speak to Bill C-237, the national framework for diabetes act. I would like to thank the member for Brampton South for bringing it forward and for all her advocacy. From the time we were both elected in 2015, I have participated alongside her. We were both on the health committee when it came up with recommendations to the government on what it should do …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Brampton South for all of her advocacy on diabetes all these years and for a great speech today. Beyond the national framework that is definitely needed, there are other things the government could do. The member mentioned a 360° Canada plan. Diabetes Canada has been asking for $150 million of funding from the federal government for a number of y…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the deadline for amicus briefs in support for Line 5 is May 11, which is less than two weeks away. A unanimous report from the Canada-U.S. parliamentary committee as well as the natural resources minister has indicated that they will send a brief to support the 25,000 Canadian jobs that will be impacted. Can the minister update the House as to when in the next two weeks it will be sub…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day of Mourning for all those who have died or suffered illness or injury in the workplace. In a year when so many have been deeply affected by workplace tragedy because of the pandemic, commemorating this day is more important than ever. From our health care workers who have battled COVID-19 in their patients and among themselves, to long-term care workers who h…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise to speak to Bill C-271, which seeks to amend the Governor General's Act. The Bloc Québécois member wants the Governor General to be paid an annual salary of $1 and not be entitled to a pension. I cannot support that. The more important question regarding the Governor General is why this bill has even been brought forward, and it is clear to me the reason is that…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, it comes as no surprise that the Bloc Québécois wants to destroy our Canadian democratic system. I understand that the Bloc does not like Julie Payette, but does the member not think that an excellent candidate, like the Right Honourable David Johnston, who worked hard and did a great job, deserves an annual salary of more than $1?
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her speech. I had planned on introducing a similar bill, so I will be supporting this one. However, I do have an idea for an amendment. I think it is good to have a priority to make sure that people get their pensions before creditors get anything. However, I think it would be even better if businesses had to have liquidity, and had to declare ba…
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Madam Speaker, I do not understand why my colleague believes the bill would do anything. We know that 95% of gun crime in Canada is with illegal guns. The Liberals voted against a private member's bill from the member for Markham—Unionville that would have eliminated illegal guns coming into the country. They now have introduced Bill C-22, which would remove penalties for crimes committed with gun…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for highlighting what she liked in the budget. There are a lot of seniors in my riding, and with two increases to the carbon tax during the pandemic and the rising costs of everything, I am wondering this. Why did the government decided to exclude seniors who are 65 to 75 years old from the increase to OAS?
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal vaccine rollout has been floundering for months. We keep paying the price for vaccine delivery delays. In my riding of Sarnia—Lambton, we have had to cancel vaccine clinics repeatedly. Case numbers and ICU hospitalizations are out of control. Do the Liberals have any plan to actually get us out of this pandemic?
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Mr. Speaker, I am very glad that we are trying to update the legislation to reflect our digital reality. The member commented on the Privacy Commissioner and the additional powers that would be given. We have seen quite a number of privacy data breaches from the federal government, especially from the Canada Revenue Agency. Would the Privacy Commissioner have the ability under this legislation to …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last week our leader announced a plan to tackle climate change. I was pleased to see many of the ideas I have been advocating for present in the plan, things like working with major industrial emitters to implement technology to actually reduce emissions, reducing emissions in transportation and buildings, increasing the amount of carbon captured through carbon sequestration and solut…
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Mr. Speaker, one of the things at issue, in terms of protecting Canadians from a digital perspective, is that we are seeing a lot more identity theft. We are getting a plethora of scams, where people have obtained our personal information or email addresses and whatnot and come after us. Could the member comment on what this bill would do to address those concerns?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I want to take this moment to give my deep condolences to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the family of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip upon his passing earlier this week. Prince Philip represented a shining example of loyalty, honour and committed service, both as the Queen’s husband and consort, and in his work for the British Commonwealth. He served for decades as the Colon…
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to speak to Bill C-19, the election in a pandemic bill. What I would say at the outset is that Canadians do not want an election in a pandemic. The only people who want an election in a pandemic are the Liberals, because they are putting their partisan interests over the health and safety of Canadians. The polls reflect what I am saying. The polls on whether Canadia…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his work on the procedures committee, which studied the recommendations from the Chief Electoral Officer. I wonder if he could comment briefly on what he thinks of the government tabling this legislation before that committee has had time to make its recommendations.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister raised the issue of Line 5 with President Biden. Will he ask President Biden again to intervene to keep Line 5 open and save 50,000 jobs on both sides of the border?
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vern Yu, the president of liquids pipelines for Enbridge, told our Canada-U.S. special committee that the company would appreciate the support of our federal and provincial governments by filing amicus curiae briefs in the lawsuit, declaring they support Enbridge’s position that this is a federal matter of jurisdiction in the U.S. Will our natural resources minister commit to fili…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following three reports of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women: the third report, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (C), 2020-21”; and the fourth report, entitled “Main Estimates 2021-22”. The committee has considered the estimates referred by the House and reports the same. The fifth report is, “Request for a Gov…
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Madam Speaker, does my colleague not find it inconsistent that when considering the Senate amendments, the government ruled that the advance consent one was beyond the scope of the bill, even though it had put some advance consent measures in the bill? Moreover, it then decided that mental illness was acceptable to include as not out of the scope of the bill when that had not even been mentioned o…
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Madam Speaker, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands always has a valid point, so yes, the amount of time we have had is not adequate. I would agree that although the Senate does good work, at times senators are overstepping their bounds. Senators are not the elected House and we need to make sure that they understand that as well.
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