Parliamentary Speeches

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, there is a spending review from 2023-24, which is ongoing, with the department cutting spending on travel and professional services by—

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, this new government is focusing on reducing the operating budget in the next few years, actually balancing the operating budget and—

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, that is a very important question. We are committed to government operations that are net zero, climate resilient and green. We are committed to greening government strategies, establishing the Government of Canada's targets and commitments to get to net zero and green operations by 2050 and enhance the climate resilience office operation by 2035. Our efforts have resulted in positive r…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, there is a task force to examine the opportunity to improve the disclosure process. I look forward to receiving its report this spring.

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, we have a Prime Minister who has a proven record of building economies and uplifting nations, not one or two nations, so he—

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I can ask the department to provide my colleague the information.

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, again, I would refer the member to the minister responsible for that file.

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, the main estimates include $486 billion—

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for being a critic—

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I had the honour to present the main estimates. The details are there. Total spending is $486.9 billion—

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the new government is making sure that spending is being carefully managed and is focused on our most pressing priorities. In 2023 and 2024, departments started reducing spending on professional services and travel services by $500 million. We will continue to review our spending to make sure we are being efficient, effective and focused.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I just talked about our spending reduction. Let us also talk about investment in the main estimates, which includes important funding to support dental care, the Canadian Forces and border services. The new government is investing in Canadians to build Canada strong.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the investments in the main estimates. They include important funding to support the Canadian Forces, health services for first nations, dental care, border services and immigration, veterans' benefits and housing. The new government is investing in Canadians to build Canada strong.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member that a lot of the funds in the main estimates are transfer payments to provinces and territories. That means billions in federal support for the member's province and constituents. I challenge the member to join us in supporting these investments so that we can deliver services to Canadians and build Canada strong.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, this new government is making sure that spending is being carefully managed and focused on our most pressing priorities. We will continue to review our spending to make sure we are being efficient, effective and focused on meeting the challenges and opportunities Canada faces.

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to work with the newly elected member for Brampton Centre to deliver results for our community and for all Canadians. Canadians elected a new government to take bold actions, and that is what we are doing with our first act: a tax cut for 22 million Canadians, new supports for first-time homebuyers and removal of the consumer carbon price. The new government is taking de…

Speech from the Throne

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, on behalf of the Minister of Finance, a document, in both official languages, entitled “Report on Federal Tax Expenditures” for 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the main estimates, 2025-26.

Mr. Speaker, I move: That the business of supply be considered at the next sitting of the House. (Motion agreed to)

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, in Brampton, safety is a major concern. Community safety must be our top priority. Doug Ford's government should make it their priority as well. Instead, they have been blaming the federal government for their failure. The Government of Ontario needs to get its act together. According to a CBC investigative report, since 2020, 56% of charges in Ontario were “withdrawn, stayed, dismiss…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, Canada voted yes on the UN General Assembly resolution entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. Canada joined 156 other nations calling for Israel's complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories. The resolution demanded that Israel comply with international law, cease all settlement activities and evacuate settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory. Ca…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, last week, I received a message from a small business owner in our community. He said, “Thank you, MP Shafqat Ali and the Liberal leadership. Our small business received the Canada carbon rebate today. It came in unexpectedly and at the right time.” It is great to know the Canada carbon rebate for small and medium-sized businesses is making a real difference. Around $2.5 billion of th…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, it is time for Canada to recognize the state of Palestine. This Friday marks International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. For far too long, the Palestinian people have suffered being stateless. Canada has long supported a two-state solution. Canada took the first step toward diplomatic relations 30 years ago. Canada has a representative office in Ramallah; Palestine ha…

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…

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—

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 …

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.

Emergency Debate

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…

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…

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…

Statements By Members

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 …

Statements by Members

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…

Statements By Members

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…

Statements By Members

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…

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 …

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—

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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…

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…

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…

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…

Statements By Members

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 …

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.

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…

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.

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.