Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. The first is the seventh report, entitled “Protecting Canadian Residents from Extreme Weather Events”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the seventh report. T…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the launch capabilities that we are exploring in Nova Scotia. I have no idea of the details of the provincial government and what deals they are making, so I cannot comment on that any further.
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Mr. Speaker, my conversations have been more focused on some celebrations lately. We just had the 85th anniversary of the HMCS Sackville. We recommissioned it notionally, which was fantastic. We had the commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic. I was able to make a funding announcement for improved and increased housing for CAF members in Halifax and across the Halifax Regional Municipality. My…
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Mr. Speaker, the global security environment today is volatile and uncertain. We face real challenges, both military and non-military, that demand an equally strong and coordinated response. Canada must be prepared to defend ourselves and our allies. Our government has announced the most ambitious defence rebuild in a generation. Today, with the 2026-27 main estimates, we are putting the money beh…
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Mr. Speaker, I am really excited about the dual spending that is happening as we put our strategy into action. Dalhousie University has a wonderful ocean science and research program, and it is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research. That is a really important piece of it, where we are going to increase our innovation and research. Excitedly, today, we just announce…
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Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly disagree with the member. I do not think that we are putting the cart before the horse. I am really excited about the defence industrial strategy. I am really excited about the vision, hard work and accomplishments so far of our Minister of Defence. I am really proud of all of the members of the defence sector in Halifax, many of whom I know more and more, having take…
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an exceptional Haligonian, someone who has had a long and storied career supporting some of our most vulnerable residents. Since 1985, Linda Wilson has dedicated her career to organizations that have significant community impact. From early career roles to senior leadership positions, and with over 40 years of service, her impact is lasting. She had five year…
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Mr. Speaker, I very much enjoy working with my colleague on all the great work we do here in the House. I am quite pleased that our government is supportive of mental health and youth, as well as in terms of crime and public safety. I was very pleased to announce significant funding through the mosque in my riding of Halifax to help prevent gang violence in the Muslim community in Halifax, which i…
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Mr. Speaker, this is one of the changes I am most excited about. I think it would be game-changing for our country and game-changing for the better half of our population. It would be a hugely impactful change, and I support it wholeheartedly.
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Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate what my colleague from Guelph said. This really is a joint effort. There are jurisdictional divisions and responsibilities across all levels of government. I think that our Minister of Justice and his team have been working in good faith and really doing deep consultations with provinces and territories on the shared responsibility of administering justice. I am very …
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Mr. Speaker, every person deserves to live free from violence and fear. No life is worth more than another, and no one should face a greater risk of violence because of their gender, their sex, the neighbourhood they live in, the work they do, the school they attend or whom they love. Violence against our most vulnerable is some of the most morally reprehensible behaviour in our society. It is not…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Sustaining Canada’s Freshwater for Today and Tomorrow”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to rise today to discuss Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's 2026-27 main estimates, especially because the hon. minister, the member for Halifax West, is my riding neighbour and has been an incredible support to me and members of the Nova Scotia caucus in our first year here in the House of Commons. Immigration is a critical part of what makes Canada stand …
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Mr. Speaker, 85 years ago this month, on a rainy day in Saint John, New Brunswick, a bottle of champagne was broken over the bow of a new ship. This ship would become the HMCS Sackville and would go on to have a long and arduous career as a corvette in the Royal Canadian Navy. Most notably, this ship became the single surviving corvette of the Battle of the Atlantic, in which 294 small ships were …
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, in relation to Bill C-241. Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), the committee is requesting a single extension of 30 sitting days to hear from the bill's sponsor.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Federal Climate Policy at a Crossroads”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to mark one year since I was first elected to serve the people of Halifax, and I am so happy to be here. It has been the honour of a lifetime, and what a year it has been. I am proud that our government is focused on the opportunities that arise in addressing current global challenges. We are investing in major projects at home. We are forging new trading partnerships acr…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure there are no diabolical schemes happening on this side of the House. I know that there was a decision to make regarding whether Conservatives are removed from each committee or Liberals are added. My understanding was that the more well-received path forward was to add Liberals rather than to take away Conservatives so that we could still have robust conversations in committ…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Government Motion No. 9 and the importance of parliamentary committees. As members of Parliament, we have been individually elected by our constituents to represent their interests in the House of Commons. Not only do we individually represent the interests of our constituents, but together we represent the fabric of who Canadians are. We are a p…
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Mr. Speaker, being chair of the environment committee in recent weeks, I have enjoyed how we have worked together across parties to move the work forward in our environment and sustainable development committee. In my past life, working at the City of Halifax, it was all about working across different perspectives to get the work done and to have shared objectives to move things forward. I am real…
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Mr. Speaker, I absolutely disagree with my esteemed colleague on the other side that the bills we have passed are unconstitutional. Regardless of how different members feel about floor crossings, they are part of the history of Canadian government. They are completely legal and allowed. I have no further comment.
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Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that parties with status sit on committee and that it is the history of Canadian government and Westminster government that when there is a majority government, there is a majority on every single committee.
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Mr. Speaker, today I would like to call attention to National Volunteer Week, which runs from April 19 to 25, 2026. It is a time to celebrate the outstanding commitment of volunteers. Our country runs on volunteers. Everyone in this room can agree that we would not be standing in this House without the tireless work of the volunteer organizers who got us here. In Halifax, I would like to give a sp…
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Mr. Speaker, as the newly elected chair of the House Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, I am honoured to rise to recognize Earth Day. Today, it is time for all Canadians to think about our shared responsibility for the environment around us. The impacts of climate change are more present in our lives every year. Too many Canadians have suffered from extreme weather even…
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Mr. Speaker, workers in federally regulated sectors, whether they are in banking, telecommunications or interprovincial transportation, need their wages to keep pace with the cost of living. Effective April 1, the federal minimum wage increased once again. Could the Secretary of State for Labour explain what this increase means for workers in federally regulated sectors?
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Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to rise today and speak about Bill C-238, an act to amend the Criminal Code, restitution orders. I would like to begin by thanking my colleague for bringing forward this bill and for drawing attention to the important work that community organizations, emergency services and victim support services provide to communities across Canada every single day. Often,…
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Mr. Speaker, on the heels of Black History Month, I am honoured to recognize and celebrate the incredible contributions of the African Nova Scotian community. Halifax is home to a sombre history of racism that must not be forgotten, and reconciliation must be an ongoing effort. The Africville Museum is ensuring that this happens by sharing the community's history, celebrating its achievements and …
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Mr. Speaker, as-salamu alaykum. Across the country, Muslim communities are celebrating Ramadan, a holy month of fasting, prayer and reflection. I want to recognize the resiliency and generosity of Nova Scotia's Muslim communities, which demonstrate the strength that comes from unity and support. I also want to highlight the important work of the Ummah Society, which recently received $1.2 million …
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Mr. Speaker, we all agree in the House that tuberculosis rates in Inuit Nunangat and in many first nations communities remain far too high and that this serves as a reminder of historical discrimination and the lasting effects of colonization. Can the Minister of Indigenous Services tell the House what our new government is doing to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030?
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Mr. Speaker, the electric vehicle availability standard that we were debating at the environment committee was never actually live. It was still being debated. It was not going to start until 2035, so none of that has actually happened. The global trends have been fairly consistent. What has happened right now between Canada and the United States we could not really predict. The member is right, b…
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Guelph. It is my pleasure to participate in this debate today. As we all know, times are changing. We are in uncertain times in an uncertain world, but our government is focused on what we can control. As part of Canada’s new industrial strategy, we are transforming our economy from one that is reliant on a single trade partner to one that…
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Mr. Speaker, I will not comment on the Conservative Party's priorities around oil and gas, but I will say what I said before: The research shows that incentives for electric vehicles are really important in the early adoption phase. The idea of this five-year plan with the rebates is that by the time we hit those five years, the cost of electric vehicles should have continued to decrease and will …
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Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are addressing, not only with the auto industry strategy but also with all the major work of the government right now: reducing our reliance on the United States and diversifying our trade partnerships across the globe. That is why we are really excited about the progress that has been made with the signing of all the new trade agreements internationally with t…
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Mr. Speaker, as the Olympics take off, Canadians from coast to coast to coast are cheering on our team Canada athletes. I am especially excited to support our national women's hockey team. This is a strong team made up of talented players from across the PWHL, including Blayre Turnbull, from Stellarton, Nova Scotia. I want to shout out head coach Troy Ryan, who grew up in Spryfield, which is in my…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my constituents in New Scotland, proudly wearing the Nova Scotia tartan thoughtfully given to me by my sister-in-law at Christmas, to recognize that this past Sunday, January 25, was Robbie Burns Day. This tradition honours the bard, who was an 18th-century giant of poetry and literature. At a time when Scottish culture was on the decline, Robbie Burns reinvi…
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Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign, I knocked on thousands of doors throughout Halifax. I kept hearing the same concerns about access to health care. My voters know that the federal government can and must be at the table with solutions to improve our health care system. Can the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship tell the House how our government will contribute to this essen…
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Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of a true Nova Scotian legend. Throughout her decades-long careers in curling and journalism, Colleen Jones broke down barrier after barrier, smashing through glass ceilings. A two-time world champion, six-time national champion, and 16-time provincial champion, having played more Scotties games than any curler in Canadian history, she was a s…
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Mr. Speaker, I am really excited about this budget, and people in my community are also very excited. It means great things for Halifax. As I outlined in my speech, we are a port city. We are well positioned to expand our trade to Europe and elsewhere. We have an amazing offshore wind resource. We are going full tilt on improving the health care system. I am really excited about the build communit…
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to congratulate Halifax-based ImmigrateAI Global for winning third place in the global business competition at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance Summit. This is the first time a Nova Scotia company has been recognized on the G20 stage. Max Medyk, the founder and CEO, had to navigate the immigration system when he came to the United States and then to Canada from Ukraine…
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Mr. Speaker, I beg to differ. I sit in the Atlantic caucus, and we have a thriving francophone population across Atlantic Canada. In a recent meeting, I heard that our numbers are going up and passing targets. We have multiple investments in this budget to support the Francophonie across our nation, and not just in Quebec. I outlined only one that was particularly exciting for me. That $4 million …
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Mr. Speaker, I actually used to work for a local government and I spent a lot of time navigating jurisdictional differences between all three levels of government. We cannot move forward as a nation unless we work really positively and have strong relationships with our provincial and territorial counterparts, our indigenous governments and our local governments. I would invite the member to point…
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Madam Speaker, the global economy has changed, and Canada must change with it. In the face of uncertainty and the need to transition to a low-carbon economy, our government's budget is a plan to meet the moment with generational investments that will build a stronger and more resilient country. For my constituents in Halifax, these investments are not abstract promises. They include concrete oppor…
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Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to see that this budget includes funding to support francophone communities across the country, including Acadians. Funding for National Acadian Day festivities has been doubled and made permanent. Could my hon. colleague talk to us about the importance of supporting the francophonie, not only in her riding, but across Canada?
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Mr. Speaker, my riding of Halifax is home to a thriving defence sector with more than 10,000 Canadian Armed Forces members. I know that many of my constituents, including those in uniform, watched yesterday as the Minister of Finance tabled budget 2025. Can the Minister of National Defence speak to the new defence investments Canada is making?
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Mr. Speaker, Halifax is a hub for vibrant and talented artists. We are home to a renowned art and design school, more than 65 galleries, dynamic performing artists and an industry that supports thousands of jobs. Earlier this month, much of my community came together for Nocturne, a city-wide event celebrating Halifax's art scene. Each October, Nocturne presents its Art-at-Night Festival, a free a…
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Mr. Speaker, women's health has consistently been a blind spot in our health care system. We use data to make critical decisions. When research fails to account for gender differences, the results are biased, and women pay the price. From heart attacks to endometriosis, from menopause to cancers, there is a lack of focused research and a deficiency in critical data. Can the Parliamentary Secretary…
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Mr. Speaker, this week, 400 community leaders from across Canada, including municipal governments, indigenous communities and community organizations, are gathered in Halifax for the Livable Cities Forum. Hosted by ICLEI Canada and the Halifax Regional Municipality, the forum’s purpose is clear: to accelerate climate action in our communities by working together through creative and ambitious part…
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Mr. Speaker, it is pretty clear from some of the details in the bill that there are not teeth like there are in a court. This is more about holding the government to account, being transparent, making sure that we are what we have committed to doing in this relationship, and progressing truth and reconciliation in this country. The bill is not intended to have those teeth, but it is intended to be…
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Mr. Speaker, the need for this commissioner comes from the relationship that we have now and are continuing to grow with our indigenous partners across this country. This bill was in the last Parliament and up for debate, but it did not get passed. We have been asked specifically to consider passing it without amendment, because it is a top priority. Part of a healthy relationship is listening to …
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Yellowhead. Kwe. Ullukkut. Taanshi. Hello. I would like to begin by honouring the Algonquin Anishinabe nation, on whose traditional, unceded and unsurrendered territory Canada’s Parliament is established. I am honoured to rise and speak today in support of Bill C-10, which would establish a commissioner for modern treaty implementation. Th…
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