Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, certainly, the groceries and essentials benefit is going to be a major benefit for Canadians. It is up to $1,890 for a family of four. This is going to help with the high price of groceries right now, while we roll out our national food security strategy. This gets to some of the more underlining, foundational things we need to change, like more competition in the sector and giving mo…
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Mr. Speaker, in my speech, I did indeed say a great deal about nature. I believe my riding is the most beautiful riding in the country. I spoke about the significant investments being made to protect whales and about the measures set out in the nature strategy. I know there are other points my colleague raised regarding pesticides, and I hope that, in committee, we will have the opportunity to inv…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House on behalf of the people of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country to speak to Bill C-30, the spring economic update implementation act. At a time of global uncertainty, our government is focused on what we can control here at home: building a stronger, more resilient economy, making life more affordable and creating opportunities for the …
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Mr. Speaker, oftentimes, we hear concerns from members on the other side about government spending. They seem to forget that many of the factors contributing to the affordability challenges in Canada have to do with external factors, like the trade war we are in right now. I can tell the member that our investments, including the investments in this spring economic update, like the apartment const…
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Mr. Speaker, I will always support more funding going to our ferry system in British Columbia, but I think we need to remember that one is an interprovincial system and one is an intraprovincial system. There is federal jurisdiction to go in between provinces, and there have been significant investments in buying new ferries in the last couple of years. That works out to a benefit of over $700 mil…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, June is National Indigenous History Month, a time to celebrate the histories, cultures, languages and contributions of first nations, Inuit and Métis people across Canada. In my riding of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, we live on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Squamish, shíshálh, Líl̓wat and N'Quatqua nations. Archeological evidence from B.C. shows tha…
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Mr. Speaker, the spring economic update has some important new measures on the housing front: a $7-billion investment in the apartment construction loan program to build below-market rental units, and changes to the homebuyers plan. Just yesterday I met a couple: Jack, a civil engineer, and Sophie, a youth counsellor. They just bought a new home, and they are very realistic about the costs that th…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition 451-00927. The petitioners, including constituents of mine from the Sunshine Coast, want to draw attention to the fact that long COVID affects approximately 1.4 million Canadians, causing significant health and economic burdens. The amyloid microclot test is supported by global research. It can identify clots linked to long COVID, enabling targeted the…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Canada has what the world wants to experience: stunning coastlines, dramatic mountains and natural beauty on a massive scale. From coast to coast to coast, it is not just landscapes; it is food, culture and distinct local experiences in every region. But what truly sets Canada apart is the spirit of its people: kind, welcoming and easy to connect with. From Newfoundland to Vancouver I…
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Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary secretary, in his speech, talked about affordability and gave the real-world example of filling up his car just a week ago and how much that cost has increased. We have seen the price of a barrel of oil go up to almost $120. Given that Canada has what some describe as the least fuel-efficient fleet in the entire world, we are seeing that cost right now. As part of th…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, three reports of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. First is the committee's fourth report, entitled “Marine and Coastal Protections”. The next is the fifth report, entitled “Equal Opportunities for Coastal Communities: Attribution of Redfish Quotas and Exploratory Lobster Fishing Licenses”. Pursuant to Standing Or…
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Mr. Speaker, I also represent a rural region and my riding is also experiencing a labour shortage. I know that the Leader of the Opposition wants to put an end to the temporary foreign worker program. In my riding, it is really important to bring in people from different parts of the world to offset the labour shortage. My colleague spoke of a grandfather clause for people who are already here. I …
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Mr. Speaker, I think we are talking about two different things here. The member opposite mentioned the need to speed up housing writ large and to address a lot of the barriers that are at the municipal level. In fact, we have programs that are doing just that. One called the housing accelerator fund is helping municipalities speed up their permitting systems, and I have seen its impact across my r…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I want to recognize the profound loss being felt by the community of Tumbler Ridge. All members of the House grieve with the families who are mourning. We stand with the students, staff and first responders who are carrying the weight of this unimaginable tragedy. In times like these, we are reminded that in sorrow, we are united as a nation. Canada will hold them in o…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to request a recorded division.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Long Range Mountains for her speech and for supporting Bill C-19. The member opposite mentioned being honest about the impact of government policies. We have seen in the last year that gas prices have actually been reduced in Canada by about 17% to 20%. At the same time, we have seen grocery prices increase by about 5%. Does she really believe that by…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the extraordinary life of Vi Roden, who recently passed away at the age of 102. A World War II veteran, mother, friend and tireless community activist, Vi believed that if we see injustice, we must act, and she lived by that principle. In 1978, after learning of abuses in the women's prison system, she famously phoned the Attorney General at home and made it cle…
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Madam Speaker, it is a real honour to rise today for the first time in the calendar year 2026 to speak on behalf of the constituents of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. I wish all members of the House a very happy new year. I am looking forward to working in a spirit of collaboration as we get this year under way. I very much hope things will be different this year. Certainly thin…
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Madam Speaker, these are the facts we are dealing with. I would encourage my colleagues from across the way to have a look at that in more detail.
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Madam Speaker, my colleague mentioned some facts that are accurate. Most shareholders in many of the biggest oil companies are based in the United States. If we want greater sovereignty, we need to think about the interests being served by the companies we work with. However, I now know that we have a lot of opportunities to improve and diversify our economy. Our government has a plan to make this…
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Madam Speaker, I do not disagree with the premise of my colleague's question. I think there are actually a lot of ways we can improve how the Impact Assessment Act operates and how it can be more predictable. Frankly, there were a lot of recommendations that came from the task force that looked into it, and I think we should be looking at those right now. The act has been in place for about five y…
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Madam Speaker, the number of EVs that have come have met the quota that we have for this year, so this is not a pressing issue right now, but we want to—
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Madam Speaker, that gives me the opportunity to correct the record on a myth that has been put out there by many, including the Conservative Party. For over 50 years, there has been a moratorium in place on the travel of tankers through the Hecate Strait. It has been in place since 1972. There are no American tankers going through that area. They go around Vancouver Island. Getting rid of the oil …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Squamish Climate Action Network, Squamish CAN, on receiving the 2025 Edible Communities Sustainability Award for outstanding leadership in community-driven climate action. The network's impact is felt across the region. Its self-sustaining downtown school farm gives residents and students hands-on experience with regenerative agriculture, distributes fres…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B), 2025-26: Votes 1b, 5b and 10b under Department of Fisheries and Oceans”. The committee has considered the votes referred and reports the same.
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Mr. Speaker, softwood lumber is a very important industry in British Columbia, too. Before the budget, we announced programs worth $1.2 billion to support this sector. It is very important to find new markets and to have new products that we can use in Canada and sell to the world. I think this evening's debate is a good way to look at how we can do more. However, the Minister of Energy and Natura…
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Mr. Speaker, we certainly need to invest in our trade infrastructure. There is a deepwater port in my riding in Squamish, and we need to make sure we can access these new markets, get more free trade agreements and find alternative markets to the U.S. That is really critical. As we are building these relationships, it is not just selling to new markets, but it is also making sure we can bring in n…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to speak to Bill C-15, the budget implementation act, and what it means for my constituents in West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. First, I want to say a few things about budget 2025, a plan to build Canada strong. It comes at a time when Canada's economy is being deeply impacted by American tariffs. It is estimated that these tariffs are going to…
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Mr. Speaker, I would disagree with many of the pretexts of the member from Sarnia—Lambton's question. For such things as the consumer carbon tax, it is one of the most economically efficient ways of reducing emissions. It is also a measure that was actually a Conservative climate measure. Unfortunately, it was politicized by the Conservative Party. Frankly, that is too bad for our country. In the …
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moved that Bill C-244, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, as one of the 5.5 million Canadians who has the privilege of living on Canada's coast, I know it is not just where we live; it is part of who we are, from learning about the life cycle of salmon…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I enjoy working with him on the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. This amendment seeks to correct a problem created by a court decision. The penalty and the prohibition were always intended as a strict liability offence. The court's interpretation of the law altered its application. This amendment restores the original intent: Any act c…
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Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my speech that this is something that requires multiple levels of government jurisdiction to address. The province has taken some actions, as well, to deal with marine pollution. It is very much something that we can work together on. We all realize that this is an issue. If it is in the water, it is typically the federal government's jurisdiction. When it washes ashore…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an important question. With the changes proposed in the bill, there would be an obligation for the seller to take steps to ensure that they are not selling to someone who they know does not have the means to maintain it or properly dispose of it. There are a lot of ways that one can do that, such as properly disclosing the current condition of the boat and ensuring that the sell…
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Mr. Speaker, I think that this bill makes good progress in the fight against organized crime. As I said in my speech, we announced the establishment of a new financial crimes agency. We have made a lot of changes to our laws in recent years, we have a new registry for companies, and I know that, if we can work together with the provinces and all members of the House, we will come up with even more…
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Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, the principle of restraint was established through the Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence in interpreting how the Charter of Rights and Freedoms should apply to bail hearings. We are very committed to making sure we would be passing legislation that is compliant with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There has never been a federal government that has promi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, money laundering, fraud and financial crimes fuel organized crime, undermine confidence in our financial system and contribute to serious challenges, such as the opioid crisis and rising housing costs in British Columbia. Our government has taken decisive action in recent years through major legislative reforms, but the sophistication of these crimes means that we must remain vigilant…
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Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my speech that there has been a mischaracterization of what the principle of restraint is, as well as of the impact of the inclusion of it in Bill C-75. As I also mentioned, this is a principle that was well articulated in the Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence, and it simply was legislated through that legislation. The Conservatives talk about how the principle of r…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Guelph. I rise today to speak to Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act. This bill would amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act to improve public safety, strengthen accountability for repeat violent offences and serious property crime, and modernize procedures that affect victims, police…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, entitled “Acting Together to Address Derelict and Abandoned Vessels in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House today to present e-petition 45-1, initiated by one of my constituents, Ms. Jenny Perez, a passionate advocate for children's online safety. This petition has garnered the support of nearly 2,000 Canadians, including parents and concerned citizens from coast to coast to coast. The petitioners draw attention to the growing concern that smart phones a…
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moved for leave to introduce Bill C-244, An Act to amend The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House to introduce the clean coasts act. This bill takes two important steps to better protect our coastal environment, boaters and coastal residents by proposing to amend key federal laws. First, …
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, this month, Whistler turns 50. What started in 1975 as a gravel road, a few cabins and the bold dream of pioneers like Nancy Greene and Franz Wilhelmsen has grown into a world-class destination. From the first gondola at Creekside to the rivalry between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and partnering with the Squamish Nation and Líl̓wat Nation to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic …
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans entitled “Challenges to the Sustainability of the Yukon Salmon Stocks”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to speak in opposition to the opposition day motion today, which, at the heart of it, is simply disinformation: disinformation about climate policy and disinformation about an affordability policy that, quite frankly, gives me flashbacks to the last government, where it seemed that week after week, the Conservatives would have a similar type of motion that t…
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Mr. Speaker, the two provinces where people buy the most electric vehicles are British Columbia and Quebec. What do these two provinces have in common that explains this phenomenon?
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Madam Speaker, that is a really important question that we need to consider as we see lower revenues that go to fund some of those things. There are ways that we can think of things. Perhaps, with public charging stations, there may be some of that tax that could go to fund some of those same things. Some jurisdictions have put a small tax on the registration for electric vehicles. I am thinking o…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me another opportunity to speak French in the House. We do know that this is the direction that the world is heading in. There are already countries such as China where it is cheaper to produce electric vehicles than gas‑powered ones. When everyone adds to the number of vehicles produced, prices will be even lower. Technology will also improve. We hav…
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Madam Speaker, I am one of those people who waited for an electric vehicle during the pandemic, so I am very familiar with this situation. We need measures like this so that the vehicles people want to buy are actually available for purchase. Continuing to improve how these vehicles are produced in Canada is one way to accelerate the transition. What is clear is that people want these vehicles, an…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize all those who put themselves in harm's way to fight the Dryden Creek wildfire in Squamish and keep the community safe. Despite dangerous conditions, thanks to the skill and determination of Fire Chief Aaron Foote, Squamish Fire Rescue, Whistler Fire Rescue, BC wildfire crews, Mayor Armand Hurford, the district of Squamish Emergency Operations Centre and the Squamis…
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Mr. Speaker, these are not normal times right now. We are in an economic crisis, and we need to do things faster. I also think the legislation will protect the environment, but we need to put measures in place to make sure of that. I hope that when this bill is referred to committee, these aspects will be studied further.
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