Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canada remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We strongly condemn Russia's decision to recognize the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine. This is a serious violation of the Minsk agreements and article 2.4 of the United Nations Charter, and a threat to the security and stability of the region.
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Madam Speaker, nothing in life is 100% certain. I could not live if I were waiting for everything to be 100% certain. However, I believe the burden of proof has been met. We have listened to police forces. We are giving them the tools. We are working with them to ensure our rights and freedoms are protected, but also that the authorities have the tools that they need to act. We will engage. We wil…
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Nunavut for her leadership on this issue. I have been profoundly moved by her questions, both about inclusion and about rights, and now this one. Arrests have been made. A significant number of arrests have been made yesterday and today. These folks are now before the courts, so I am not going to comment on them directly. The court processes will take …
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Madam Speaker, I want to be very clear. The government has absolutely no intention of stigmatizing anybody in this process. However, we are going to follow the money. Now, we have the tools to follow the money and find out exactly where influence is being spread. For two years, I was chair of the public safety committee, and I often listened to Conservatives saying that Liberals were naive, not fo…
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Mr. Speaker, the anger and frustration of the people on the streets, I believe, have been manipulated and exploited by extremists who are fuelled by nothing more than malevolence and a complete disrespect for the values and institutions that Canadians have built and depend on. What has transpired in Ottawa over the past three weeks is a massive disruption that is meant to do more than disrupt traf…
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Mr. Speaker, I have been reflecting all day on the very momentous occasion this is and the kind of debate that is lengthy, engaged and important. I have been listening all day and have actually found the contributions of all the members, which I have agreed with or not agreed with, to be quite helpful for me in engaging with this conversation. We do not do that often in this House. We do not have …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there is no situation that we are more seized with right now than Ukraine, our solidarity with the Ukrainian government and the people of Ukraine. We have also been very clear that we are standing with Canadian citizens who are in Ukraine regarding any possible humanitarian crisis that could extend following a possible incursion. Right now, however, our mission is to de-escalate Russi…
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Madam Speaker, this issue continues to be of the highest priority to the Canadian government. We will continue to work with allies and with affected people until we have brought all Afghan Canadians home, as well as any of those who have helped us as Canadians in our forces. We will continue to work until we have brought over 40,000 people to Canada.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, we will not stop until we have gotten every remaining Canadian out of Afghanistan, and we continue to engage with all—
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable Canadian: Valerie Dunn. Valerie celebrated her 90th birthday on January 18. That in itself is remarkable, but I want to focus on Valerie's most significant contributions. In 1980, she started editing and publishing Hi-Rise Community Newspaper. The paper has always been by and for people living in apartment and condo buildings in the greater Toron…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, I hope you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion. I move: That the House affirm that there is nothing peaceful about harassing residents of Ottawa for displaying pride flags in their homes and in their neighbourhood; and agree that harassment, transphobia and all forms of homophobia seen this weekend…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. With respect to part (a), there are currently two “federal cases” in the U.S. federal District Court for Western Michigan in relation to Line 5. The litigants in both cases are Enbridge and the State of Michigan, not the United States Government, nor the Government of Canada. Therefor…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. Global Affairs Canada has not taken any actions related to moving the Embassy of Canada to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On December 6, 2017, the United States announced it would formally recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and would begin the process of moving the U.S. embas…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. With respect to parts (a) to (d), a changing world requires adapting and expanding diplomatic engagement. Canada will continue working with key allies and partners, while making deliberate efforts to deepen partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. AUKUS is a partnership that responds to the …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. While privacy considerations prevent the sharing of details, the Government of Canada has been clear from the beginning that the case of Mr. Huseyincan Celil is of utmost importance and has been actively engaged on his case. Canadian officials in Ottawa and Beijing are in regular cont…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the current policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, five treaties this morning. The first is entitled “amendments to Annex I of the International Convention against Doping in Sport” notified on October 1, 2021. The second is the exchange of letters between the Governme…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, obviously we have a concern about that because we already have a taxed public service. We have a holiday period coming up. We think it is unreasonable, and we have to find ways to work around that. We also have suggestions, and we have a proposal right now on how we should be handling documents that we think parliamentarians should have access to. We will find a way—
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my apologies. I thought you were recognizing the next debater. On the question, let me be very clear that in four months, this government brought in more Afghan interpreters than the previous Conservative government brought here in four years. That is absolutely true. I know those people; they live in my riding. I am in contact with them every day. I understand what that was about. …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, yes, absolutely. We need to work with civil society organizations. I have had conversations with Rainbow Railroad. I have had conversations with a number of organizations that are attempting to find pathways in a very, very difficult situation. I would not say that no one could have predicted what was going to happen. When the decision was made by the United States to withdraw on Se…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I agree. I believe such a review is indispensable. However, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development must also conduct its own study. That is very important.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the officials at IRCC are working day and night to do these processes. This is not something new. I was in opposition during the Harper government, and believe me, I waited years and years to help refugees at that time. The system does not work perfectly. Can we find ways to improve it? Absolutely. Let us take that to the citizenship and immigration committee, which needs to do it. …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, as usual, I agree with most of what the hon. member has said. First, on the issue of women and girls in Afghanistan, it is critical. It is absolutely essential that we find ways to address it. Do I think we have bureaucratic structures and systems that sometimes get in the way? Absolutely. I have been frustrated, as have others, with respect to all of that. Some of those are put in …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I begin by congratulating the member for Wellington—Halton Hills on once again being the official opposition's critic and also the critic of the Bloc Québécois and the critic of the New Democrats. I begin today's discussion with two people in mind. The first is Wahida, a young Afghan girl who was nine years old when she was sponsored by the church at which I was the minister in 2001…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, I will simply repeat that we will not use bully tactics. We will use steady, careful negotiating tactics using the laws at hand, whether it is the WTO mechanisms, the CUSMA mechanisms or other trade mechanisms that are in place to ensure we have fair disputes. This is not a new situation. Whether it is in Canada, the United States or any of our trading partners, we are a trading natio…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, the member will know very clearly I am not privy to that information. I do not know the facts of this particular mill. I am interested in it, though. I am interested in anything where the entrepreneurial spirit of indigenous communities of Canada can be unleashed and work. This government has been more committed than any government to ensuring indigenous companies, corporations and in…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, I will be sharing my time with the member for Fleetwood—Port Kells. As this is my first opportunity to speak in this House during this Parliament, traditionally we all thank our voters, I will thank them, but also pledge to do my very best to uphold both their interests and their dreams for Canada. Their interests do extend to softwood lumber and this issue. I know that causes some am…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Chair, with all due respect, that is not the way international trade disputes work. The fact is that we will steadily and carefully take our case to the places where trade dispute mechanisms actually exist. I remind members of the House we have consistently won. This is because we are clear, we know where Canada stands on these issues, we listen to our industry partners, we are able to look …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. The Minister of Foreign Affairs participated as the head of the Canadian delegation to the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers’ Meeting in London, United Kingdom, May 3-5, 2021. In addition to the minister, the Canadian delegation was comprised of the following: the G7 political dire…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in August 2019, David MacNaughton completed his term as Canada’s Ambassador to the United States to take up a new challenge in the private sector. During his tenure, the former ambassador did not meet with John F. Stratton.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I note the member's concern about two things, and I want to ask him about the campaign pledge that was made during the last federal election by his party, which was to dramatically reduce foreign aid. He ran on that party platform to reduce foreign aid, yet today he seems to have had a complete change of heart, or a change of head, and I would like him to comment on that. I would al…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. Global Affairs Canada has issued two contracts for moving and storage services in or near Shanghai since January 1, 2020. Global Affairs Canada contracts over $10,000 are proactively disclosed. The two contracts have been proactively disclosed at: https://search.open.canada.ca/en/ct/i…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, there is no appeasement going on. The situation of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor weighs upon our minds and our hearts and our actions every day. Our ambassador is in touch whenever we are able to get consular access to them, as well as others, including Mr. Schellenberg, and others we are not able to get access to. We will stand firm, resolute and smart in our relationship with …
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Madam Speaker, as we have said before in this House, Canada will remain firm and resolute in defending our principles and interests when it comes to China. We have a complex and multi-dimensional relationship with China. It presents many challenges for Canadians. Many of our international partners also face similar challenges and we are actively engaging with them on all of these issues. Our polic…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. With regard to part (a), the course was designed in-house with the input of internal and external subject matter experts, including self-identified Black, indigenous and other racialized employees. With regard to part (b), as of March 31, 2021, the department invested $148,365 to deve…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the member is correct in saying that there are Parliaments, close to half a dozen of them, including this one, that have recognized this genocide. However, he is asking what the government response is. He is not asking what the parliamentary response is. I believe the member does know the difference between a government and a Parliament. He knows the difference in the responsibilities…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for bringing up the week of prayer that Cardinal Bo has instituted with respect to China. I think it is very important for Canadians to be aware of that. I would also note that in March we had a day of prayer across Canada for Hong Kong, to which parliamentarians were invited. I believe I was alone in that prayer evening. I was re…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for not only his question tonight, but his questions in the House that led to this adjournment debate opportunity. I know it is a bit unconventional, but before I begin I want to just commend the member for Vancouver East for her Adjournment Proceedings speech and the questions today regarding racism that is directed tow…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, what victims of this atrocity are asking me, and I believe many members of Parliament, for is that we promote, protect and respect human rights and put them at the core of our foreign policy. That is what we are doing. We put them at the core of our foreign policy. Canada and the Government of Canada stand in total opposition to violence and discrimination in all their forms. We wil…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I will be as tall and sweet as the member is short and sweet. I had a wonderful opportunity to thank her for her career when she gave her farewell speech many months ago. There is great fondness, great respect, great admiration and just a bit of fear that we all have for the hon. member. We wish her nothing but the very best in the next chapter of her life. I am interested to see what…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our position on Russia remains unequivocal. Canada will continue to hold Russia accountable for all its actions. We have strong sanctions against Russian officials under the Magnitsky act and the Special Economic Measures Act. Our government takes foreign interference seriously. To safeguard our national interests at home and abroad, we will continue to work with our allies to put pre…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour today to pay tribute to Alain Baudot, who passed away this week. Professor emeritus in the Department of French Studies at Glendon College, a faculty of York University located in Don Valley West, Alain Baudot created and ran departments, programs and a publishing house at Glendon over the years. He also tirelessly promoted the French language in Ontario. He loved Fren…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, it is a great privilege to join this debate. I am not in Ottawa. I am joining it from the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wyandot peoples. This continues to be the home to many diverse first nations, Inuit and Métis people. I am very proud to be part of this debate tonight, and I w…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I am quite relieved that is not my responsibility as the parliamentary secretary for foreign affairs or the member of Parliament for Don Valley West. However, I am convinced that the Minister of Natural Resources and all those at the provincial level who are looking at the important ways energy fuels our economy have the responsibility. It has been very clear in this debate that no Ca…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, as has been said in this debate, the Prime Minister of Canada has this on his agenda. He has already raised the issue with the American administration, with the President. It has been raised in a number of ways at a number of times. We also have cabinet government in our country. The Prime Minister is seized with the issue at his level. However, Minister of Natural Resources, the Mini…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, two treaties. The first is entitled “Annex V to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty”, done at Bonn on October 17, 1991; and amendments to “Annex II to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty”, done at Baltimore on April 6 to 17, 2009. The secon…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the following reflects a consolidated response approved on behalf of Global Affairs Canada ministers. In response to (a) and (b), in processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. As such, information that could reasonably be expected to facilitate the commission of an offence has been withheld to protect the vulnerabi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, as we have said repeatedly in the House, the relationship with China remains complex and multi-faceted. We will stand up for Canadian human rights and values around the world, including with regard to China. Every action that we take with China will be in the best interests of Canada and Canadians. We again remind the House that we are watching China on every aspect.
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Madam Speaker, this government has actually extended the Office of Religious Freedom and integrated it in a much broader way within our international human rights obligations. We repeatedly have meetings with people from around the world. We are exercising leadership in the international contact group on these issues, both at an individual level and at a corporate level, to make sure that we as Ca…
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Madam Speaker, the member reminds us that the whole world is watching China, and our message to China remains clear: We are watching as well. More than ever, democratic countries must stand together to promote values of democracy and human rights, as must parliamentarians and parliaments around the world. We welcome the decision by the U.K. Parliament. We understand it, and it is in a very similar…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is very important to understand this clearly. I will speak in English because I was not able to change my headset. It is actually a bit tiresome, I would say. I am a little tired of this endless rhetoric from the Bloc about health transfers at this point. The transfers that this government has made in health care have been historic, and absolutely the appropriate way that we have…
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