Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the reality is Conservatives cannot stand the truth. Canadians elect MPs to be their voice in Ottawa. Despite more than 18 Conservative MPs advocating for their communities to receive money through our government's accelerator fund, their leader imposed a gag order preventing them from pushing for this essential funding. Can the Prime Minister explain to the House what the Conservativ…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canadians elect MPs to be their voice in Ottawa. Despite more than 18 Conservative MPs advocating for their communities to receive money through our government's housing accelerator fund, the Conservative leader imposed a gag order preventing them from pushing for this essential funding. Can the Prime Minister explain to the House—
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the situation in Lebanon. The armed conflict is intensifying and widening. The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens from harm. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and her department have been asking Canadian citizens and permanent residents to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. For months, she has been warning that the war could expand. Beyond warnings…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. Since the conflict started in Gaza, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been reminding people, issuing warnings numerous times, that Canadians and permanent residents should not travel to the conflict zones and that Lebanese Canadians living in the region should come to Canada as the conflict might expand. The IRCC and the Minister of Immigration are…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, in my view, when innocent lives are lost, we should not play politics. We should call for an immediate ceasefire to save innocent lives. It has been a year since 1,200 Jewish Israeli people were killed by terrorists, and we all condemned that. Over 40,000 innocent people in Gaza have been killed, and now it is Lebanon. We should call for an immediate ceasefire so that innocent people …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, Israel has a right to exist and defend itself. At the same time, Israel has to live with its neighbours in peace and let them live with dignity. Israel has no right to violate international law and humanitarian law.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I was excited to welcome 56 members of the Southlake Seniors Club from Brampton; they are visiting Ottawa to attend question period today. Southlake Seniors Club is a non-profit organization serving seniors in Brampton. Its aim is to stimulate thinking and encourage interest and participation in healthy activities. The club holds regular gatherings, providing opportunities to socializ…
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Mr. Speaker, when the Conservative leader was housing minister, he built only six affordable units. Our government is focused on building affordable homes. Under two years ago, I joined the housing minister and the local government officials to announce rapid housing initiative funding: $53 million for three projects, 110 affordable homes for Peel and $30 million to convert a hotel into homes for …
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Mr. Speaker, as Black History Month comes to an end, I rise to pay tribute to Marc Andrews, a long-time Brampton resident with a remarkable life of leadership and community service. After a brief professional stint in the CFL, Marc served five years as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces and completed a UN peacekeeping tour in Cyprus, retiring as a captain and a paratrooper. Marc then joined P…
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Mr. Speaker, February is Black History Month. This month, we celebrate the contributions that Black Canadians have made to our society. This year, let us recognize the contributions and achievements of the hon. Jean Augustine. She was the first Black woman MP and cabinet minister. Her motion to recognize February as Black History Month was adopted by the House in 1995. She was a Liberal MP from 19…
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Madam Speaker, we mourn the lives lost in a Quebec mosque seven years ago today and recognize the trauma suffered by Canada's Muslim community on account of Islamophobia. We also mourn the tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of innocent children, who have been killed by Israel in Gaza. The majority of Gaza's traumatized surviving population has been displaced and needs humanitarian…
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Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader's characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident. Jumping to such baseless and …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader’s characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident. Jumping to such baseless and …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader's characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me—
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the Conservative Party recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader's characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident. Jumping to such baseless and e…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader’s characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident. Jumping to such baseless and …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader's characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident. Jumping to such baseless and …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, according to a UN report, since the conflict began, over 1,400 innocent Israelis and more than 10,000 innocent Palestinians, including 4,000 children and more than 2,500 women, have lost their lives. The killing of innocent civilians is heartbreaking and painful. The whole population in Gaza is under siege. Access to food, water, electricity and medicine is being severely restricted. …
Read full speech →Oral Question
Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned about the cost of housing and finding a home at a price they can afford. While the Leader of the Opposition continues to blame municipal mayors and councillors, we are committed to working side by side with all levels of government to increase housing supply. Can the minister explain how he is working with the local government to build more homes in my communit…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, since its first recorded presence in the 1860s, the Muslim community in Canada has grown to 1.8 million people. October is celebrated as the Canadian Islamic History Month, in recognition of the significant contributions that Muslims have made in the arts, sports, academics, literature, sciences and in their communities. Canadian Islamic History Month is a time to learn about the hist…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last year, the people of Pakistan experienced the most devastating floods in its history, wiping out critical infrastructure. There were 1,739 people who died, including 647 children, and an additional 12,867 were injured. While Pakistan is in the process of rebuilding, it has also helped house refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Can the Minister of International Development please share wi…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, last week, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship made it clear that international students who are not found to be involved in fraud will not face deportation. I commend the minister for using his discretionary authority to suspend deportation proceedings and for doing so in such a timely fashion. I would like to recognize the teamwork of my colleagues, the Minister of…
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Mr. Speaker, next week, on June 16 and 17, the Mississauga Halal Food Festival will be held at Mississauga Celebration Square. More than 20,000 members of the Muslim community come together from Brampton and the greater Toronto area to attend this traditional event every year. This beautiful festival is a celebration of halal food and Muslim-owned small businesses. It brings together a wide range …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, harm reduction is a major concern here and evidence-based strategies are a major player here to save lives. We know, prior to 2015, we did not have safe spaces, but with this strategy, we have more safe centres where harm reduction and assistance are being provided. We are saving lives by doing that.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, health care professionals, including those operating safe supply services, must follow federal rules around the secure handling of controlled substances, including measures to help prevent diversions.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, at supervised consumption sites in Canada, there have been more than 236,000 referrals to health and social services. These referrals are supporting individuals on their path to recovery and wellness, so that means the plan is working.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, as everyone sitting in this House knows, the toxic drug supply and overdose crisis is devastating communities throughout Canada. We are losing 20 Canadians a day. Prior to COVID, 10 people were fatally overdosing every day in Canada, but now it has increased. Many more of our friends, family members and community members are being hospitalized, calling emergency support for services a…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, on April 18, I was on hand to congratulate the Hon. Gurbax Singh Malhi as he was presented with the key to the City of Brampton in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a trailblazer for the Sikh and South Asian community. His service and dedication to strengthening diversity in Canada is truly commendable. As the first Sikh member of Parliament, his persistence on wearing hi…
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Mr. Speaker, this Friday, April 21, or Saturday, April 22, based on the moon sighting, Muslims across the world, including myself, several members of this House and many of my constituents in Brampton Centre, will celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month of Ramadan where Muslims fast daily from dawn to dusk, participate in communal prayers and give back to their communities. E…
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Mr. Speaker, a few days ago, the death of a seemingly perfectly healthy 43-year-old affected many in the Brampton community, including me. He was one of my most beloved friends. Coming without warning, with no chance to say goodbye, the news of his death was shocking and heartbreaking. Ravjot Singh Chhatwal was a hard-working division chief in Brampton's fire and emergency services, where flags fl…
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Mr. Speaker, this Wednesday, March 22, Muslims across the world, including me, several members of this House and many of my constituents in Brampton Centre, will begin the month-long observance of Ramadan. Ramadan is a time of patience, compassion and generosity that ultimately brings us closer to our loved ones and our communities. As we abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset and gather …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the late Zahid Malik, a beloved Pakistani Canadian community leader, who passed away on February 16 at the age of 52 fighting cancer. Zahid Malik was a successful small business owner who operated Active Marketplace, a flea market in Ajax, Ontario. Zahid Malik was a generous and kind-hearted man who never backed down from a challenge, especially if it meant givi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, Canada has expertise and talent to become a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing. Could the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry update the House on the work the government is doing to secure Canadian jobs and attract important investments in this sector?
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join everyone in Canada and around the globe in celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas. Diwali symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. Bandi Chhor Divas is known as the day of liberation. It is a celebration of human rights and freedom, marking the freeing of Guru Hargobind Sahib and 52 rajas from a long i…
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Madam Speaker, what I witnessed recently in Pakistan was truly heartbreaking. More than 1,500 people had died in catastrophic flooding. From my vantage point in a helicopter over Sindh province, all the roads and thousands of acres of crops were under water. In one of the most affected areas, we met with the wonderful, experienced staff of Canada’s humanitarian partner organizations working on the…
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Mr. Speaker, the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability found that more than six million Canadians report having a disability. We need to create a Canada that is inclusive from the start. That is why the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion announced new funding today for licensed early learning and child care centres through the enabling accessibility fund, which is …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Calgary Skyview for sharing his time with me. I respectfully acknowledge the Anishinabe people as I join the debate from the national capital region located on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin nation. It is an honour to rise in the House today to speak in support of Bill C-11, the online streaming act. This bill represents an important mil…
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Mr. Speaker, for decades Canadian broadcasters have given us incredible Canadian content through television and radio. That was not an accident. We have chosen to be different from the cultural juggernaut of the United States. We care about our cultural sovereignty. We believe our diversity should be celebrated. Our culture is who we are as Canadians. I am sorry, but English is not my mother langu…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, this bill updates CRTC guidelines that will increase the proportion of French language content to be supported through the Canada Media Fund and other streams. For example, clause 6 of the online streaming act specifies that all new requirements for platforms must work to support and enhance French and English minority language communities across the country. With regard to minority l…
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Mr. Speaker, absolutely, yes, I would. This bill explicitly excludes all user-created content on social media platforms and streaming services. These exclusions mean that the experience for users creating, hosting and interacting with other user-generated content will not be impacted whatsoever, while the treatment of commercial content such as TV shows and all songs across all platforms will stil…
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Mr. Speaker, sports and broadcasting have a strong relation. They go together, and that is the history I am talking about. Bill C-11 is important because broadcasters are directly related with this and sports history is really important to tell to Canadians. Just as a level playing field is vital for sports, it is equally important in broadcasting. Requiring online broadcasters to contribute to th…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, on behalf of the residents Brampton Centre, I rise today to recognize Tahir Khan, Shafiq Ahmad, Aqeel Akram, Raja Ashfaq, Farooq Ahmad, and Zia Inam for their selfless service to the community as the founding members of the Funeral Aid Society of Peel. The society is a not-for-profit organization, and its more than 1,100 members self-insure against funeral and burial expenses. When …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the question of privilege that was raised by the member for Barrie—Innisfil earlier today. I want to take this opportunity to apologize sincerely and unreservedly to all members of Parliament for the unfortunate event that transpired last Friday. I ask the House and its members to forgive me for my lapse in judgment. I take this matter extremely seriously and I promi…
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Madam Speaker, earlier this week, Muslims in Canada and around the world celebrated Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is a festival that follows Ramadan's month after fasting. It is a spiritual celebration of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's gift of the strength and endurance that the fasting required. It is also a time to forgive and to seek forgiveness, to reflect on compassion, charity and generosity. In som…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's 19 million people live in a country the size of Quebec and Ontario combined. It has strong multi-ethnic and multi-denominational roots. Kazakhstan's plains, mountains and climate are like those of Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Co…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to participate in today's debate on this private member's bill, Bill C-237, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act and the Canada Health Act. As proposed, this bill would do two things. It would allow any province to withdraw from a federal program in provincial jurisdiction if comparable programs exist, and it would exempt Quebec from the criter…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, over the last two years, our government has consistently heard from employers regarding their challenges with the skills and labour shortages that have affected not just their businesses but also Canada's economic growth and recovery. In my riding of Brampton Centre, I also have a thriving population of international graduates whose temporary statuses are expiring due to processing ch…
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Mr. Speaker, 82 years ago today on March 23, 1940, thousands of Muslims from all over the Indian subcontinent gathered in Lahore. They had one dream, one vision and one mission. A resolution was passed calling for the creation of a separate homeland for Muslims in British India. Exactly 16 years later, on March 23, 1956, Pakistan adopted its first constitution during the transition from the Domini…
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Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the people of Ghana as they celebrate the 65th anniversary of independence this Sunday. Like Canada, Ghana is a member of the Commonwealth. It was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve its independence from Britain and one of the first countries in Africa to establish diplomatic relations with Canada. Like Canada, Ghana is blessed with abundant human an…
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Mr. Speaker, James William Roman escaped slavery in Maryland and came to Canada via the Underground Railroad. His grandson, Dr. Charles Lightfoot Roman, was born on May 19, 1889, in Port Elgin, Ontario. Dr. Roman was one of the first Black Canadians to graduate from McGill University’s Faculty of Medicine. He was also one of the first Black Canadians to enlist for service in the First World War. M…
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