Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, at a time when girls and women in Afghanistan are being denied the basic right to education, Canadians are stepping up to help. The Ottawa-Kabul Global Education Centre, a Canadian registered not-for-profit founded in 2024, is working to restore educational opportunities for Afghan girls and women forced out of classrooms. Through a fully online academic ecosystem, the organization no…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e-7167, signed by nearly 5,000 Canadians from coast to coast to coast. They draw our attention to the fact that Israel has suspended 37 international humanitarian organizations operating in Palestine, including Canadian-based organizations such as Oxfam-Québec. They note that this severely impacts aid and medical services for Gaza. They call on the Gov…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we have already seen examples of the government supporting new housing projects, such as the 612 new co-op homes near the Kennedy TTC Station in my riding of Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East. Could my colleague share how projects like this demonstrate the kind of community-focused housing the legislation is aiming to deliver?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on November 29, the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, we reflect on the urgent need for justice, dignity and lasting peace. The people of Gaza are enduring what many international legal experts have identified as a genocide, with unimaginable loss of life and suffering. In the West Bank, escalating settler violence continues to displace famili…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, for any pipeline project to go forward, there should be consultations. All projects should meet our strict environmental standards. I will make sure that any projects that move forward go ahead with proper consultation and after looking at environmental impacts.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of Bill C-15, the budget implementation act. The legislation is more than a collection of policies and tax changes; it is a blueprint for building a stronger, more resilient Canada at a time when we face major global and economic challenges. For decades, our prosperity has relied on stable international trade rules and open markets. However, today, the…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I want to reaffirm that this is an investment budget. We were elected in April on the promise of investing in Canadians and reducing our operating expenses. The build communities strong fund is a great example of how we are investing directly in our communities. It is the first time in the history of Canada that there is money dedicated directly to investment in the health care sector…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, of course, on this side of the House, we are committed to making sure that crime levels go down, because it is very important that every Canadian live safely. Every mother should have the satisfaction of knowing that if their young children go out, they will return home safely. That is why we want to get guns off our streets. I hope hon. members will join me in supporting the bail and…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e-6662, which was signed by nearly 11,000 Canadians. The petitioners wish to call the attention of the Government of Canada to the actions of the Government of Israel in the West Bank and Gaza, dating back to 1967; its repeated violations of international law; and the continued suffering experienced by the Palestinians to this day. Until Israel withdra…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today is a day to celebrate science. The Office of the Chief Science Advisor and the Canadian Science Policy Centre have brought 45 researchers from across Canada to Ottawa today for Science Meets Parliament. These researchers are among our brightest emerging leaders, representing the full spectrum of disciplines, from natural sciences and engineering to health sciences and social sci…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by concerned Canadians who wish to draw the attention of the House to what they characterize as inconsistencies in the treatment of former members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, by the IRCC. They are asking the government for a review of the process for determinations of inadmissibility, a clear and transparent process, and aff…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent a riding with a vibrant Filipino-Canadian community that has contributed so much to Canada. Across the board, Canadians overwhelmingly support our government's work to help businesses grow and reach new customers around the world. That is why the Prime Minister and his government's efforts to be out there expanding trade ties are so important for building a str…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by 238 Canadians, including many members of the Bangladeshi community in Toronto and Montreal. They wish to draw our attention to the fact that some members of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a recognized political party in Bangladesh, have been found inadmissible to Canada under IRPA. The petitioners say that this party and its supporters are law-a…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the Toronto International Celebration Church for its remarkable 25th anniversary celebration service. Founded in 2000 by Pastor Peter Youngren, alongside current lead pastor, Nathan Thurber, it has grown into a beacon of faith, love and community in North York. As a non-denominational, evangelical church, it embodies the motto “We love because God first loved us…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, if Bill 21 were the law of the land here in Canada, I would not be sitting in this place because I wear a hijab. I would not be able to be a teacher because I wear a hijab. There are a lot of young girls aspiring to be lawmakers, bus drivers or school teachers. What would the hon. member like to say about the rights of those young girls aspiring to be sitting here?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, yesterday Canada took an important and historic step, formally recognizing the sovereign state of Palestine. I would like to thank the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the millions of Canadians who told their government how important this is to them. All people have the right to self-determination, and Palestine deserves to take its place among the nations of the wo…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present petition e-6555, signed by over 1,000 Canadians. The petitioners draw members' attention to the prolonged delays in immigration processing for Sudanese refugee claimants and how these delays have humanitarian implications, hindering family reunification and leaving families in limbo, unable to move on with their lives. The petitioners ask the government to prio…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Science and Research. The first report is entitled “Distribution of Federal Funding Among Canada's Post-Secondary Institutions” and the second report entitled “Science and Research in Canada's Arctic in Relation to Climate Change”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committe…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I recently had the opportunity to attend the community yard sale and annual bake sale held by the Church of Our Saviour, Don Mills, in my riding of Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East. I thank Liz Liness and Reverend Pierre Niyongere for inviting me, and everyone who helped to organise this fantastic event. I appreciated the warm welcome. It was wonderful to meet members of the communi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands. As I rise for the first time as the member for the new riding of Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, I would like to thank the residents of my riding for electing me to be their strong voice here in Ottawa. My pledge when I first ran in 2015 was that I would be my community's voice in Ottawa and not Ottawa's …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have represented my constituents for the last 10 years and have always been their voice here in Ottawa, not Ottawa's voice in my community. I am proud that we have programs like the Canada child benefit, which has lifted hundreds and thousands of kids out of poverty. We introduced a $10-a-day child care program, which is saving constituents in my area thousands of dollars every year…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, yes, while we were knocking on doors, I heard very clearly about this, and I have worked with my constituents on making sure that we have the ability to build more housing. Now we have the most ambitious housing plan since after World War II, and constituents are really excited that we will double the construction of houses. We will make sure that we construct 500,000 houses every yea…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, as we have all seen, the estimates have been presented to Parliament, outlining the proposed government spending across different departments and for different programs. These estimates are a vital part of our fiscal process, and they deserve careful scrutiny. As we prepare for the fall budget, our focus remains on clearly building an economy that works for everybody, responding to th…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. member on his election. During the debate on the throne speech, we have heard from our friends on the other side that our middle-class tax cut is not big enough, but as I am sure the member knows, the Conservatives ran on a tax cut that would not have helped anyone for three years. Would the hon. member agree that money in the pocket of Canadian…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for the work she has done for all Canadians in the last decade. We all knocked on doors and heard the concerns of our constituents, so I would like to ask my colleague a question. Canadians are finding it difficult to make ends meet in these difficult times. Can the member shed light on how our tax breaks will help Canadians get through these difficu…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, on Thursday we will solemnly mark the fourth anniversary of the horrific terrorist attack in London, Ontario, where a hateful act claimed the lives of four members of the Afzaal family and left a young boy forever changed. As a Canadian and as a mother, I stand with our community in grief and resolve, honouring the memory of Salman, Madiha, Yumna and Talat Afzaal. The tragedy, rooted …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition signed by members of the Bangladeshi community. The petitioners draw the attention of the government to the fact that former members and supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, are unfairly facing immigration challenges due to false narratives being spread by political opponents. They ask the government to review how IRPA is being applied …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I present a petition today signed primarily by Lebanese Canadian constituents in my riding of Scarborough Centre. They draw our attention to the conflict in the Middle East, which has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced many more in Palestine and in Lebanon. Petitioners note that Israeli air strikes have hit UNESCO world heritage sites and health care facilities, and they…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, food insecurity is an issue for many families, and I would like to recognize an organization making a difference in our community: Feed Scarborough. More than just simply a food bank, Feed Scarborough has embraced the UN sustainable development goals as a guiding framework. This means that its commitment goes beyond hunger to creating pathways toward economic stability, educational gr…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from members of the Lebanese Canadian community in my riding of Scarborough Centre. They draw the attention of the House to the expansion of the conflict in the Middle East, which has killed tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians, into Lebanon, where Israeli military action has killed hundreds of people and injured and displaced thousands since S…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I represent a strong and vibrant Lebanese community in Scarborough Centre. They are business owners, professionals and families who are an integral part of Scarborough's social and economic fabric. The Lebanese Canadian community nationwide numbers between 200,000 and 400,000 people. They are deeply concerned for their loved ones overseas, anxiously following every news report and wai…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, today is a big day. The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship just tabled the immigration levels plan for 2025-27. This is a comprehensive plan that will align the number of newcomers to the supports available in the country. As immigration is essential to Canada from an economic, social and cultural perspective, a well-managed, robust immigration system is vital. Could th…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I am concerned about the loss of innocent lives and for everyone. This needs to end. Canadian arms should not be used to kill innocent civilians, period. There should be a complete arms embargo, with no loopholes, to make sure that those arms are not used to kill innocent civilians. It is really important that we stand up to save the lives of innocent civilians. We have never seen t…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, we have seen some sanctions on illegal settlers, but I agree that more needs to be done. I will continue to push for sanctions on those people who posted some of the comments I read in my speech about eliminating Gaza and eliminating the people of Palestine from the earth. It is very important to have more sanctions. Action needs to be taken. Canadians are sick and tired of words. T…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Halifax West. Just over 11 months ago, we had an emergency debate on Gaza, and now here we are again in another emergency debate as this conflict continues to escalate, from Gaza to the West Bank and now to Syria and Lebanon. I said it then and I say it again now: There must be a ceasefire. The violence must end. This is a very dangerous…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I agree. We have lost so many innocent lives. The people of Palestine are not Hamas, just as the people of Lebanon are not Hezbollah. They are like any one of us. They want to live their life. They want a place to call home, where they have safety and protection. They are our fathers and mothers, our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters. It is very important that we stand up…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, over 600 civilians have been killed by Israeli air strikes in Lebanon in recent days. Among them are two Canadians. I send my condolences to the loved ones of all those lost. I represent a large Lebanese Canadian community, and its members are deeply worried for their families and loved ones. Israeli officials say they are ready for a ground invasion that will kill even more innocent …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, it was a busy summer in Scarborough. Our annual community barbecue at Thomson Memorial Park saw thousands enjoying burgers, samosas and other treats. We also held an ice cream social, and I attended many great community events from Canada Day to events celebrating the many great cultures that call Scarborough home. At community events, and as I knocked on doors this summer, Scarboro…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, this summer, millions of Canadians tuned into CBC and Radio-Canada to cheer on team Canada at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris. Canadian athletes set new records and made us all proud. Scarborough is home to many athletes who train at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, but it is also an important community hub for activities and events. We are proud of our local heroes…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, three years ago today in London, Ontario, a normal Canadian family was killed in a terrorist attack. They were targeted because of who they were, visibly Muslim. Yumna Afzaal was a student. Her mother, Madiha Salman, was an engineer, and her father, Salman, was a physiotherapist. The family matriarch, Talat Afzaal, was a teacher. Only an orphan boy survived after a terrorist deliberat…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Filipino Heritage Month is just days away, and Filipinos from coast to coast to coast are ready to celebrate Filipino art, culture and food. The Philippine Fiesta Extravaganza started in Scarborough under the leadership of Von Canton and Philip Beloso. This year it is expanding to cities across Canada, with fiestas this summer in Toronto, Surrey, Vaughan, Brampton, Lethbridge, Hamilto…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I want to highlight that in Bill C-13 there are major investments for the French language. Within the 2024 budget, we are here to support Quebec by investing $3.4 billion to support young researchers in Canada and in Quebec, $1.28 billion to fight homelessness and $1.5 billion to protect and to expand affordable housing. These are some of the measures being taken in this to make sur…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I really want to thank the hon. member for her question and for making sure that we have more rental units available here in Canada. Rental units are very important, and our government is doing its best to make sure that we see the construction of more rental units. That is why we will leverage the $55-billion apartment construction loan program to partner with provinces to build mo…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is a privilege today to rise to speak to the 2024 budget. It is a plan to build more homes faster, help make life cost less and grow the economy in a way that helps every generation get ahead. When I talk to my constituents in Scarborough Centre, they tell me that they want to see our government work to ensure fairness for every generation, including for the youth just finishing …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is a budget for fairness for every generation. It is very important that Canadians are looking to all of us to come together and make decisions that will help build more houses faster. Action needs to be taken today, and many Canadians are relying on us, so it is very important that we put our partisan politics aside and make sure that the implementation of the budget starts as s…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, the painful events unfolding in Gaza are taking a deep emotional toll on many in Canada, particularly members of Muslim and Jewish communities. We must find ways to disagree peacefully, while respecting the rights of free speech and protest and the right of people to feel safe in their schools and places of worship. I have heard from many people who are concerned that their charter …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, Hamas is a terrorist group, but it does not represent or speak for the Palestinian people. It should not and must not have a role in the future of Palestine. Let us be clear: Whether we choose to recognize it or not, Palestine is a state. The Palestinian people have a right to self-determination, as do all people. The contention that this would somehow reward Hamas is a nonsensical ar…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, lasting peace in the region is really very important, and we have to make sure that we put an end to the killing of innocent civilians. We have lost over 31,000 innocent civilians through this war. Voting in favour or against this motion is about morals; it is about humanity. I will be voting in favour, because I think it is the right thing to do. There should be an immediate ceasefir…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in Canada's House of Commons to speak to the carnage and the tragedy continuing to happen in Gaza. Since I first rose to speak to the situation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank during the take-note debate on October 16, 2023, more than four months ago, my message has been consistent and very clear: There must be a lasting, endurable ceasefire to end the violence and to p…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this month, millions of Muslims across Canada and around the world, including my family and me, are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. We celebrate by fasting during the day, sharing meals with friends and family at sunset, and becoming closer to our faith. It is usually a time of community and of celebration. However, when we gather this year, we speak of Gaza. As we eat our date…
Read full speech →