Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, today is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. We join the millions who are participating on this day by holding various events to raise awareness of fibromyalgia, an invisible and debilitating chronic condition. In my riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville, Ms. Susan Monaco has been a strong voice for those affected by fibromyalgia. After being diagnosed in 1986, Ms. Monaco suffered quite a bit…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I know I speak for hundreds of thousands of temporary foreign workers, students, families, employers, communities and hard-working industrious community-minded people who long to be a part of our magnificent country of Canada. My friend and colleague, the hard-working member for Surrey Centre, with Motion No. 44, is the hope that all of these great people need, that our economy need…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, for the first time in 36 years, Canada's national soccer team qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Team Canada will be travelling to Qatar from November 21 to December 18, led by a new generation, a golden generation, of players and a world-class coach supported by an entire country. Our national men's team earned a ticket to the world's biggest sporting event with a historic 4:0 victory…
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 Finance, entitled “Considering the Path Forward”. I would like to thank our clerk Alexandre Roger; analysts Brett Capwell, Michaël Lambert-Racine, Sylvain Fleury and Joëlle Malo; and the whole team of interpreters, technology officers and staff of the committee for their dedicated w…
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 Finance, entitled “Bill C-8, An Act to implement certain provisions of the economic and fiscal update tabled in Parliament on December 14, 2021 and other measures”. I will take this opportunity to thank the members of the committee, the clerk, the analysts, the interpreters and eve…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, a few years ago I had the honour of travelling to Ukraine to oversee the elections as part of our delegation of Canadian parliamentarians. It gave me an opportunity to get to know Ukrainians up close and personal. In my riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville, we have a vibrant Canadian Ukrainian community, including my lovely wife Christina, who is of Ukrainian descent. All of them a…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, it is a tremendous honour and privilege to be a voice for the residents and businesses of Mississauga East—Cooksville and to be able to speak in this 44th Parliament representing my great community. My heartfelt thanks go to the constituents of Mississauga East—Cooksville for placing their trust in me from the year 2003, both in my provincial and federally elected roles. I am so tha…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, can you hear me now? Is it working?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, I thank the members for allowing me to finish my speech. I will move to a part of the Speech from the Throne that speaks to our resilient economy. Our government has supported Canadians through the COVID-19 pandemic and introduced further investments in budget 2021 and the recovery plan to ensure an economic recovery that includes everyone. Together we have helped Canada maintain a …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, I have many friends who live in the area of Hamilton Centre, and it is a wonderful riding. It is second best maybe to Mississauga East—Cooksville. Also, congratulations, yes, to the Costa government, which was re-elected in Portugal. Portugal has taken steps to address many of its addiction and drug issues, and I know here in Canada opioids have been a crisis for our country. That i…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, our government has stood steadfast on putting a price on pollution, understanding that polluters must pay. I believe that lens speaks for our entire country, that all Canadians believe that polluters must pay. If they are polluting, they should pay for the pollution that they produce. That is why we have a robust climate action change plan that puts a price on carbon and on pollutio…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding Bill C-2, An Act to provide further support in response to COVID-19. I want to say a big thanks to the extraordinary and tireless clerks and staff who made this all happen: Alexandre Roger, Philippe Méla, Isabelle D'Souza and Émilie Thiverge. I thank them so much o…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I have sad news. Geoff Scott, a former MP who lived in my riding, passed away on August 5 in Mississauga Hospital after a short illness. Geoff was a kind and loving husband, father and grandfather. He was larger than life and lived life to the fullest. Born on March 2, 1938, in Ottawa, he attended Glebe Collegiate and Carleton University, where he studied journalism. Geoff became the …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “Mandate of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, in June, we celebrate Portuguese Heritage Month, a great time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Canadians of Portuguese descent. Also, today, June 10, is Portugal day, commemorated both in Portugal and around the world by Portuguese in honour of the 16th century poet, Luís Vaz de Camões, whose prose captured Portugal’s age of discovery. It is a special day of pride for m…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the opportunity to thank our seniors. Our seniors have built our country, so through their hard work, through their sweat and tears they have built this magnificent country we have here in Canada. That is why, since we formed government in 2015, we have worked with seniors and supported seniors. We increased the GIS at that time. We have brought more supp…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I cannot thank the hon. member enough for allowing me to conclude. What I want to say to every member in the House of Commons is that this is about helping protect Canadians' health, supporting our workers and businesses and giving assistance to those who have been hardest hit by this pandemic. Supporting this budget and Bill C-30 is what will really help Canada build back better. A…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I live in Mississauga and I proudly represent my constituents of Mississauga East—Cooksville. I know how hard they work to provide for their families; protect their health and provide a better education for their kids, which we know are the keys to a better future; and to take care of their aging parents and grandparents. In short, they work to build and to dream. That is what Missi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member and great friend for giving me the opportunity to speak to something that I am very passionate about. When it comes to long-term care, we saw through this pandemic the tragedy in our long-term care homes, particularly here in Mississauga, but also in London and right across our province and across our country. We saw seniors not treated to the standar…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, tomorrow, May 15, is the International Day of Families. What an appropriate time to observe the day, as our government has just announced the Canada child benefit young child supplement. Through this benefit, families could be receiving up to $1,200 per child under the age of six. This benefit will help 1.6 million families and over two million children. During these very challengin…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Madam Speaker, yesterday was Mother's Day. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected women of all ages, be it our front-line workers, PSWs, caregivers and, in particular, those who have young children. Brave women, mothers and grandmothers, have not stopped working throughout this pandemic. Here is a sincere, heartfelt thanks on our collective behalf. My mother has played an important role in my li…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the wonderful virtual opportunity to join our Polish and Lithuanian residents in Canada to commemorate the 230th anniversary of one of the oldest constitutions in the world. For our one million plus people of Polish and Lithuanian descent living in Canada, this was an important occasion. Poland also celebrated its national day, which marks the anniversary of the adopti…
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 Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “Igniting a crisis: The devastating impacts of COVID-19 on displaced populations globally”.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I am asking to change my vote to yea.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I respect the hon. member, but I reject the premise of that question. That hon. member and the member's party, the Conservatives, have been obstructionists to any kind of climate change policy for the last six years. They have blocked, stymied and done everything possible to stop legislation in Canada from moving forward on real opportunity for meeting our targets. That member does …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, maybe the member did not have an opportunity to hear some of my remarks. We have invested $53 billion in creating jobs and securing a cleaner future for everyone. In budget 2021, there are a number of initiatives for more affordable communities, more livable communities, helping 200,000 Canadians make their homes greener, and working toward conservation, with 30% of Canada's lands a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is always an honour and privilege to be a strong voice for the hard-working people of Mississauga East—Cooksville. I know first-hand just how devastating the impacts of climate change can be on their lives. My riding in the city of Mississauga has had to deal with some of the worst flash flooding in the country. Extreme weather events that used to happen every 40 years are now ha…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I offer my condolences for the loss of the member's friend, who was passionate about climate change and the subject. When it comes to looking at industry and understanding about jobs, industry has gotten behind this legislation. The forestry industry is just one example, as well as labour. Jerry Dias, Unifor national president, said, “Canada can meet [its] international climate chan…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish Ramadan Mubarak to all Muslims in Canada and around the world celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. Here in Mississauga, through this pandemic, we have seen many mosques, Muslim organizations and groups that have stepped up to help our neighbours in need. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone of them. I especially thank those who work on the front lines of combatting …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we know that Canada remains deeply concerned about the egregious human rights violations that are taking place in the Xinjiang region in China. We are particularly concerned by the reports of forced labour in the region and the ongoing repression and persecution of the Uighurs. Yesterday, along with the U.S., the U.K. and the EU, Canada announced targeted measures against Chinese offi…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “The Human Rights Situation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to pay tribute to Natale Bozzo, owner and founder of the famous SanRemo Bakery. Natale tragically passed away with COVID-19 on February 18. Natale was an incredibly hard-working man and an outstanding baker. He had a passion for food and the way it could bring a smile to anyone's face. He was as tough as steel and had a heart of gold. His passion was be…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, during these challenging times of the pandemic, I have heard from many families, friends and loved ones who cannot see or speak with their dying parents living in Ontario's long-term care homes. I feel as strongly as my residents do regarding the long-term care crisis. I strongly agree that things need to change. Understaffing, COVID-positive residents sharing rooms with COVID-negativ…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, this year is the 25th year of Black History Month in Canada. It is a time to celebrate the immense contributions of Black Canadians around the country, along with recognizing their resilience and strength. Although we may celebrate differently this year, we can still connect virtually to honour the incredible achievements of Black Canadians, who have done so much to make Canada the cu…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, today I have the pleasure of highlighting Tamil Heritage Month during the month of January. Adopted unanimously by Parliament in 2016, this month provides Canadians an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant culture and significant contributions of Tamil Canadians to Canada's social and economic fabric. Thanks to our MP for Scarborough—Rouge Park, this year many of us had the wonderful v…
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