Routine Proceedings
With regard to federal infrastructure funding, since January 1, 2016, broken down by year: (a) how much money has been distributed for infrastructure projects under the (i) Rural Transit Solutions Fund, (ii) Zero Emission Transit Fund, (iii) Active Transportation Fund, (iv) Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program, (v) Natural Infrastructure Fund, (vi) Canada Healthy Communities Initiative;…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her question. We are the government that has brought in the disability benefit. We are the government that has funded this benefit within this budget, to the highest tune of $6 billion. There will be 600,000 Canadians who will be supported through this benefit. This is a critical moment for Canadians, for our government and for all of us working to…
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With regard to loans and other repayable contributions made by government departments and agencies since November 4, 2015, excluding student loans and those made as part of emergency pandemic relief programs such as the Canada Emergency Business Account: (a) how many instances have occurred where loans or repayable contributions were made and the recipient did not repay the amount owed in accordan…
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With regard to the cost to the government to administer remittances for the Goods and Services Tax and the Harmonized Sales Tax, broken down by year for each of the last three years: (a) what is the total amount spent to administer the remittances; and (b) what was the total amount spent to administer remittances to businesses generating (i) under $30,000, (ii) between $30,000 and $60,000, (iii) b…
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With regard to the Housing Accelerator Fund: (a) what is the total amount of funding allocated in Ontario, broken down by each municipality; and (b) what is the breakdown of (a), by type of housing funded?
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for bringing up these important issues. Standing up against hate is a fundamental Canadian principle that every member of the House stands firmly behind. We as a government also have this principle firmly embedded in our mission and mandate. It includes standing up against the recent rise of anti-Semitism. Everyone in this country has a right to live free of…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, these are important matters. We must be discussing in the House the issues of discrimination, making sure that each and every Canadian is safe, secure and welcomed in each and every place in society. Our government is committed to combatting hate in all its forms. We are committed to ensuring that everybody is safe at home, on the streets, in places of worship and in our communities. …
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Mr. Speaker, our government is firm in supporting persons with disabilities, be they travelling from point A to point B by air, by land, by sea and by all means of transport. That is why we held a disability summit, gathering together the airline industry and persons with disabilities to sharpen our pencils to make sure that persons with disabilities can travel with dignity. We are doing this work…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this week is National AccessAbility Week. I would like to recognize the incredible contributions made by people living with disabilities and the organizations that represent them. Persons with disabilities, advocates and organizations work tirelessly to remove barriers. They ensure the full participation of more than eight million Canadians with disabilities. It is by working together…
Read full speech →Government Orders
With regard to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC): (a) what is the total amount of grants and contributions provided by ECCC to (i) not-for-profit organizations or charities, (ii) academia, (iii) international non-governmental organizations, broken down by year since 2019; and (b) what are the details of each grant or contribution in (a), including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the Canada Disability Benefit Act and the reference to regulations to be made under the Act in section 11: (a) will the regulatory framework be in place by June 2024, as stipulated under the Act; (b) how much progress has been made on the regulatory framework to date; (c) when does the government anticipate that benefits will start being paid out to eligible persons with disabilitie…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, May 18, last Saturday, was Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Fifteen years ago, on that same day, a large-scale massacre took place in Mullivaikkal. Tens of thousands were tragically killed, despite the fact that the Sri Lankan government declared no-fire zones. Even today, many Tamils remain missing and displaced. In a day and age when 120 armed conflicts are currently ongoing in 35 co…
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Madam Speaker, our government has stepped up and has implemented the law. We have introduced the disability benefit. This benefit is the single-largest line item in the budget with $6.1 billion over six years. This is an important first step, a step that will help Canadians alleviate poverty. We need to build upon this.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, on April 16, we tabled budget 2024. The budget promotes a fair and inclusive economy, an economy for every generation. Pierrefonds—Dollard is a diverse riding, and as parliamentary secretary for diversity, inclusion and persons with disabilities, I am committed to advancing initiatives that promote inclusivity for all Canadians. Today I will talk about the impact of the budget on my…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and late personal taxes, broken down by fiscal year from tax year 2016 to 2023, by province and territory, and by income tax bracket: (a) how many people had a balance owing and were unable to pay it by the payment due date; (b) what was the total amount of balance owing for people that were unable to pay by the payment due date; (c) how many for each…
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With regard to Global Affairs Canada’s funding to the West Bank and Gaza: (a) does the Representative Office of Canada to the Palestinian Authority receive a budget for spending on aid related projects, and, if so, how much is this budget in (i) 2023-24, (ii) 2024-25; (b) what oversight, if any, does Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa exercise over the Representative Office of Canada to the Pal…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month. All year round, but in this month in particular, we highlight the contributions of Black Canadians and Black excellence. In Pierrefonds—Dollard, we have a number of luminaries. Joan Lee is the president of the West Island Black Community Association. Through her leadership, WIBCA continues to be at the forefront of serving the needs of Black West Islan…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank the member for Kitchener Centre for his advocacy. To pick up on the previous reply, we are currently collecting the responses of Canadians who have fed into the process thus far. They are being put into regulation. Those regulations will be first in draft form, when again Canadians will be able to reply to them and to improve them. The feedback we are getting acr…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kitchener Centre for his important advocacy around the disability benefit, for highlighting concerns and bringing them to this House. The disability community is keen and anxious to see that the benefit will be realized, and realized correctly. We understand that many Canadians with disabilities need the additional support from the Canada disability benefit. Our…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to Global Affairs Canada’s funding to the West Bank and Gaza: (a) does the Representative Office of Canada to the Palestinian Authority receive a budget for spending on aid related projects, and, if so, how much is this budget in (i) 2023-24, (ii) 2024-25; (b) what oversight, if any, does Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in Ottawa exercise over the Representative Office of Canada to the Pal…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
With regard to the purchase of zero-emission vehicles by the government, since January 1, 2016, broken down by year, and by department, agency, Crown corporation, or any other government entity: (a) how many zero-emission vehicles have been purchased in total, broken down by make and model; (b) what was the total cost of purchasing the vehicles; (c) what was the average cost per vehicle, overall a…
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With regard to Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the report entitled, "Evaluation of the Detector Dog Service Program": (a) how many items seized through the postal mode are (i) nonrestricted firearms, (ii) restricted firearms, (iii) prohibited firearms, (iv) replica firearms, (v) antique firearms, (vi) the frame of a firearm, (vii) the receiver of a firearm, (viii) the barrel of a firearm…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), as of December 4, the Department of Canadian Heritage has not been successful in its efforts to recover any of the $122,661 in funds that had been issued to the Community Media Advocacy Centre, or CMAC. With regard to (b), the contract with CMAC was terminated on September 23, 2022, and the Department of Canadian Heritage retained a third-party collection agency to…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, seven years ago, a heinous act took the lives of six men and injured 19 others at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec. Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou Tanou Barry, Khaled Belkacemi, Abdelkrim Hassane, Azzeddine Soufiane and Aboubaker Thatbi were fathers, husbands, brothers and loved ones. They were targeted simply because of their faith, simply because they were Muslim. Unfortunately, Can…
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With regard to Canada's Climate Change Ambassador trip to Dubai to attend COP28: (a) what was the Ambassador’s detailed itinerary on the trip; and (b) what are the details of all meetings attended by the Ambassador, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) time, (iii) location, (iv) list of attendees, including the organization represented by each attendee, (v) agenda items, (vi) topics discussed?
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With regard to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change’s trip to Dubai to attend COP28: (a) what was the Minister’s detailed itinerary on the trip; and (b) what are the details of all meetings attended by the Minister, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) time, (iii) location, (iv) list of attendees, including the organization represented by each attendee, (v) agenda items, (vi) topics d…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Sunday marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations' theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities focuses on Sustainable Development Goals. It is important that we make sustainable development a reality for persons with disabilities. The principle of “Nothing Without Us”, which means we work in partnership with the disability community,…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I would like to again thank the member opposite for her advocacy. We are moving quickly on historic investments and measures. The legislation, Bill C-22, which is now law, requires that we consult with the community in a fulsome fashion, and we are doing so. It requires that we make regulations to have the benefit realized, actualized and in people's pockets, and we are doing so. Th…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I would start off by thanking the member for Port Moody—Coquitlam for her advocacy for the disability community. Since 2015, our government has worked tirelessly to lift millions of Canadians out of poverty. This includes persons with disabilities. We know that too many people are facing additional costs related to their disability. I am speaking of expenses limited to accessible ho…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last week, the leader of the Conservative Party said that what happened on the Rainbow Bridge was a terrorist attack. He was hasty and wrong. He misled Canadians and the House when he said that. Again, the Conservative Party is seeking to heckle me as they did my colleague for Brampton Centre. He had to repeat his statement in the House five or six times. When the leader of the Conser…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for her advocacy and for raising the issue of disability. This is a very important concern. Our government is seized by this issue. Thankfully, this Parliament passed the disability benefit and made it into law. We are working on the regulations, we are consulting the community fully, and this will happen.
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I am so happy that our House, together, passed an important disability benefit with Bill C-22. We are committed to making sure that this benefit is realized, and that this will get dollars into the pockets of those who need it for Canadians who are with disability and who are of working age. This will help alleviate poverty and help Canadians who are looking forward to this benefit. W…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend, the member for Lac-Saint-Louis, for introducing this important bill. This bill is very important. It would help Canada protect those who are facing severe floods. It would also give us a national strategy to address floods and drought forecasting. This, as we know, is the way of the future. Climate change is real. It is impacts us throughout the countr…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, recently, while going to the Fine Arts and Crafts Holiday Market at the DDO Civic Centre, I had the pleasure of meeting Zach Reisman. Zach is a talented artist. Zach is a young adult with autism in my riding of Pierrefonds—Dollard. Since 2018, Zach and his mom Lorri have operated Zach Designs. Their small business sells hand-illustrated greeting cards around the world. His cards are f…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, we are moving as swiftly as possible on ensuring that the disability benefit is fulsome, is done in full consultation with the disability community and factors in the comments, feedback, expertise and lived experiences of the disability community. We are doing the work to make sure this is done properly, in a fulsome way, and done right. From the beginning, our government has been c…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member for Kitchener Centre for his advocacy. Our government recognizes that many Canadians with disabilities need additional financial support. That is the reason for the Canada disability benefit. The benefit will provide this. We are in no way dilly-dallying and wasting time. The passage of Bill C-22 is a major milestone. Our government has a strong and unwave…
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: That the House immediately and unequivocally demands that unimpeded humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza, and in particular, food, fuel and water; that every measure be taken to protect civilian life in Gaza; that all foreign nationals be allowed…
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Mr. Speaker, we have been clear. Our government has been clear. The Hamas attacks on Israel were terrorist attacks. However, Ms. Elghawaby's mandate to combat Islamophobia is 100% national. She is working with our newly appointed special envoy on combatting anti-Semitism to combat discrimination against Muslims here in Canada. At the same time, she is supporting other communities.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question from the member from across the aisle. We need to recognize that a lot is happening within our communities. It is important for every member of the House to understand that. We need to bring people together, as difficult as that is. We must do so as leaders. Within the chamber, we are all leaders in our own right. Within our communities, we must do our ut…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, there is certainly a spike happening right now in discrimination. Anti-Semitism, anti-Palestinian discrimination, anti-Arab discrimination and Islamophobia are happening within our society and communities. In America, we saw that a six-year-old Muslim boy was stabbed to death over 20 times. I am deeply concerned about the future, not only overseas but also here. We need to bring the t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I think that dialogue is very important. We need to have conversations and build bridges with other countries to promote peace. We also have to promote a viable solution. It is very difficult to have this conversation today because of the war that is currently taking place. However, it is absolutely necessary that we maintain this objective. It is absolutely necessary that we create a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Toronto—Danforth, my friend within my party. This debate, this moment and this week have been extremely difficult for all who are watching what is happening overseas. It has caused fear, trauma, anger and hurt. These are emotions that are flowing through all of us. These are emotions we have to recognize. These emotions are legitimate and …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, this is the first time I have risen as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities. I would like to thank the Prime Minister for placing his trust in me. I would also like to thank the people of Pierrefonds—Dollard for their support. I would like to thank the member for Edmonton—Wetaskiwin for his motion and his deep and personal con…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, as a member of the Liberal Party, I am presenting a petition on what is happening in Myanmar, or Burma, and to the Rohingya people. It deals with the illegitimate military junta in Burma and the indiscriminate killing, torture, rape, imprisonment, displacement of civilians and air strikes. The petitioners are drawing the government's attention to this. The petitioners call upon the …
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. The report is entitled “The Human Rights Situation of Tibetans and the Chinese Residential Boarding School and Preschool System,” which outlines what is happening right now to the Tibetan people, by the Government of China. The children …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I visited the “Art Cave” exhibition presented by the Mixed Media for the Neurodiverse class at the Dollard Centre for the Arts. This class is taught by Keyiana every Sunday for eight weeks at the civic centre, which is an important meeting space for neurodiverse young adults. This includes people with autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome and OCD. It was a pleasure to see…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development members hear that NATO plays a key role in peacekeeping and security on both sides of the Atlantic. Canada is currently in charge of setting up the NATO climate change and security centre of excellence in Montreal. With the smoke blanketing Canada right now, this is top of mind. Our government is focused on climate. I…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I am pleased and honoured to speak to Bill C‑281. I would like to congratulate the member across the aisle, the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South, for introducing the bill. Bill C-281, the international human rights act, is now at third reading. Canada is steadfast in its commitment to uphold human rights, both at home and abroad. We consistently look for opportunities to…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and welcome two groups to Parliament Hill today, the Pierrefonds—Dollard youth council and a mixed group of youth and seniors from the West Island Black Community Association, WIBCA. The Pierrefonds—Dollard youth council meets every month to discuss issues of importance to the riding. The council is a regular contributor to community activities. The presence o…
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Mr. Speaker, in recent days, many Canadians have expressed deep concern over the developing political crisis in Pakistan. This is in the wake of the violent arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan. Thanks to our strong people-to-people ties, most Canadians have a family member, friend or neighbour with deep links to Pakistan. There is real concern about what this arrest means for loved ones ove…
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