Routine Proceedings
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-239, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (accountability). Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to introduce my private member's bill, seconded by my esteemed colleague and dear friend, the hon. member for Winnipeg North, an act to amend the Canada Health Act, accountability. This bill would ensure that provinces receiving federal health transfers develop …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the life of Mr. Mohammed Iqbal Cheema, a true pioneer of Pakistani and Muslim communities in B.C. Born in Faisalabad, Mr. Cheema arrived in Canada in 1972 with his young family and went on to build a legacy of service, generosity and community leadership. Over the past several decades, he welcomed newcomers at the airport, offered them shelter and worked tireles…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the hon. member for Richmond East—Steveston for all the great work he does and the support he provides. We need to make sure that British Columbians are safe when it comes to fentanyl. This is why we are bringing in Bill C-2, so that we are able to stop the flow of fentanyl across the border, and bringing in searching the mail and other options in this bi…
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Mr. Speaker, as it is my first intervention with you being in the chair, I want to congratulate you and also the constituents of Perth—Wellington for electing you. I am very happy to have you in the chair. I rise today to speak in support of Bill C-2, the strong borders act. This important bill would help keep Canadians safe by strengthening our borders, fighting organized crime and protecting the…
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Mr Speaker, if we listen to the experts, even organizations such as the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police, they are telling us that they need these tools and resources to protect Canadians. There is nothing in this bill that would take rights or liberties away, but it would make sure that criminals are punished.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I personally believe that the hon. member for Mirabel was talking about the Conservative government. When it was in power, it took 1,000 officers away from the job. In fact, it is the Liberal government that brought in 1,000 new law enforcement and CBSA officers to make sure our borders are protected with utmost urgency.
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Winnipeg North was talking about the number six; I am sure he was talking about Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre's record when he was a minister of housing and only six houses were built. In my constituency, even a small builder builds more than six houses a year. My question is for the hon. member. He talked about the $4-billion accelerator fund. Is it i…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Newton Tennis Club, a remarkable volunteer-driven organization in my riding. Founded in 2019, the organization has grown to nearly 150 members and has built state-of-the-art facilities through a partnership with the City of Surrey. The club runs a strong youth program and hosts the popular Surrey Open tournament. This past Sunday, I was proud to attend it…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, you are an expert on immigration issues, as is the hon. member for Winnipeg North. In Canada, by 2030, five million seniors will retire. The way we can sustain that is by bringing in new immigrants. To bring in new immigrants, we have to make sure we are fair and equitable when it comes to making sure they have schools, houses to live in and doctors to serve them. Those are the things…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep gratitude to the people of Surrey Newton for once again placing their trust in me. Being elected for a sixth term is a tremendous honour, and I remain fully committed to serving our community with dedication and integrity. I sincerely thank my family and friends for their constant support, my campaign team for their tireless efforts and all the volunteers and su…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, before I start my speech, I would like to congratulate the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot for his service to the House. I would also love to congratulate the Deputy Speaker on his appointment. I am sure the residents of Calgary Shepard are very proud and that he will do great work. I will be splitting my time with the hon. Conservative member for Nanaimo—Ladysmith. I rise today…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure the hon. member for Oxford hears the same thing. The people in my neighbourhood in Surrey do not want assault rifles or handguns. That is an action we have taken. In fact, they want to make sure the bail terms are standard for the people who are repeat or violent offenders. That is what we are going to do. At the same time, we will have 1,000 new RCMP officers to deal with c…
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to border security, I take pride. As a member in the past two terms, I saw that we put more resources when it comes to border security officers and hiring 1,000 new RCMP officers. In fact, they are also going to help us when it comes to the crime happening around the border. They will help us protect our border as well.
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to highlight the affordability measures our government is implementing to help Canadians save more of their hard-earned money. Starting on December 14, the new GST and HST tax break will allow Canadians to keep more money in their pockets during this holiday season. Additionally, we celebrated a significant milestone in affordability and health care this week,…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, 4,238 Canadians have signed this e-petition, and over 5,000 petitioners delivered a paper petition to me last Sunday. The petitioners say, whereas the Air India bombing of June 23, 1985, which left 331 people dead, was the worst tragedy in the history of aviation terror before 9/11; whereas the victims' families continue to wait for justice and closure; whereas Sikhs in Canada widely …
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Mr. Speaker, November 29 marked a significant milestone in Surrey's history as the Surrey Police Service officially took command from the RCMP. The transition reflects the community's evolving needs for public safety. I extend my congratulations to the Surrey Police Service as it assumes this critical responsibility. At the same time, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the RCMP for their de…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the Sikh genocide. There have been consultations among the parties and I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move that the House acknowledge and recognize that the crimes committed against Sikhs within India in and following 1984 constitute a genocide—
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of concerned Pakistani-Canadian community members, including Dr. Babra Rana, Mr. Saif Pannu and Mr. Muhammad Akmal Gundhra, to address the alleged recent killings of unarmed protesters in Islamabad who were supporting Imran Khan. A symbol of justice and democracy, Imran Khan inspires millions who are striving for transparent governance. Despite political persecu…
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Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to welcome to Ottawa Mr. Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, a human rights defender from Punjab. A distinguished lawyer, Mr. Manjhpur has dedicated his career to defending religious minorities and others facing systemic discrimination. He has litigated landmark cases that now guide legal teams across the subcontinent in securing fundamental rights. As counsel for many political pris…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, it is not just about Ontario and British Columbia, where I am from. It is from coast to coast to coast, all 10 provinces and three territories. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with workers and businesses in every Canadian province and territory to make sure we have a win-win situation. I would like to see the Bloc, the Conservatives, the NDP, the Greens and independents come togeth…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday. The hon. member for Kings—Hants brought an exceptional idea of a team Canada perspective. I was on the international trade committee, which included the Conservative member for Prince Albert, when we finalized the CUSMA. We all worked together, going from Seattle all the way to Washington, D.C., to meet business people, trades, unions …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, before I begin my speech, I want to thank the hon. member for Vaughan—Woodbridge for sharing his time. With his background in economics and finance, he always does amazing work when it comes to issues like the one before us. I rise today to address a critical issue that may have a significant impact on our economy, our workers and our relationship with our largest trading partner. On …
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Mr. Speaker, our government has a proven track record of standing up for Canadians when it comes to our relationship with the U.S. That is very clear. When the U.S. imposed tariffs on aluminum and steel, we put in dollar-for-dollar tariffs and the U.S. backed off. Let us talk about the Conservatives. The Conservative record is very different. During USMCA negotiations, it was the Conservative Part…
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Mr. Speaker, I mentioned in my speech that we must prioritize the protection of Canadian industries and workers. This means providing targeted support to sectors most affected by these tariffs, whether through financial assistance, tax relief or measures to diversify export markets. Our goal should be to ensure that no Canadian loses their job because of another country's trade policies. I 100% ag…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Canadians elect MPs to represent their communities in Ottawa, not to serve the party leaders' interests, but the Conservative leader does not seem to care. After more than 18 Conservative MPs advocated for the housing accelerator fund to support their communities, the opposition leader imposed gag orders, silencing his MPs from pushing for federal funding because he wants to slash hou…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, entitled “Conditions for Growth: Reconsidering Closed Work Permits in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Madam Speaker, by now most members are well familiar with the fact that a Canadian was assassinated on Canadian soil in my constituency. My constituents are asking me to ask every Conservative why their party leader is not taking a security clearance to protect Canadians. There are some of his own members that might be under the—
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, Canadians across this country are deeply concerned by the Conservative Party's lack of attention to India’s criminal activities and interference in Canada. Yesterday at the public safety and national security committee, Conservative members had the opportunity to engage with senior officials but chose to focus on everything other than the actions of the Government of India and the sec…
Read full speech →Orders of the Day
Madam Speaker, foreign agents assassinated my constituent, Mr. Nijjar. That falls in my constituency, but that is not what I am hearing on the ground. What I am hearing is that the leader of the Conservative Party is not accountable to Canadians, because he will not get a security clearance to look at the way the Indian government intervened in our sovereignty and assassinated my constituent. In f…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, we have seen a rise in serious crimes targeting Sikh Canadians and the South Asian community, leaving many Canadians feeling anxious and unsafe. Last week, the RCMP confirmed that agents of the Government of India have been involved in these crimes. Can the Minister of Public Safety please explain the steps the government is taking to ensure that all Canadians can feel safe in their c…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member talked about political advantage. It is well known that there is only one leader who took political advantage, and that is the leader of the Conservative Party. India intervened to make him the leader of the Conservative Party. It is not only that: If we open up any media outlet today or the social media in India, they are saying “Invest hundreds of millions of dollars…
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Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona for her question and for the work that she does on human rights issues, which is unparalleled, and I have to give her the credit. When it comes to human rights, whether it is at home or around the globe, our government and our Prime Minister take human rights very seriously. We make sure that we do everything, including in the trade of…
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Steveston—Richmond East for his inspiration. He always inspires me to do good in the communities. With respect to the community, in Surrey we go together as a team, the hon. member for Surrey Centre and I, and we go and talk to the Sikh community. In fact, the members of the community appreciate the leadership that our Prime Minister has shown. They also appre…
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Madam Speaker, first and foremost, I want to be clear that I did not oppose this motion that came forward. The other thing is that we have full faith in our RCMP and the work that the RCMP is doing. We do not want that work to be jeopardized. I certainly can assure the hon. member for Edmonton Strathcona that I will stand together for anything and everything to protect Canadians and their safety.
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my esteemed colleague from Mississauga—Malton. On June 18, 2023, a community leader from my riding of Surrey—Newton, Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was brutally assassinated outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey-Delta, which is also in my constituency. This shocking act has severely affected Sikh Canadians across the country. At that time, many in th…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, the hon. member is hearing the same thing I am hearing on the ground: Why is the leader of the Conservative Party, the leader of the official opposition, not getting his security clearance so he can know how agents of the Indian government were involved in criminal activities in Canada and the danger it is to our sovereignty? This is the question people are asking me. In fact, they …
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Mr. Speaker, in the member's speech, he mentioned that the Indian government played a key role in the leader of the official opposition's leadership. Is that the reason why the leader of the Conservative Party is not seeking that security clearance, so he can pay back the Indian government for doing what it did in his leadership race?
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the Sikh Motorcycle Club of British Columbia and one of its remarkable leaders, Mr. Avtar Singh Dhillon. Mr. Dhillon immigrated to Canada in 1970 and, as a baptized Sikh, he could not obtain a motorcycle licence because of his turban. Backed by the support of the local Sikh community, Mr. Dhillon filed a complaint and, in 1999, the Human Rights Commission ordere…
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Mr. Speaker, the Rotary Club of Surrey—Newton, founded under the presidency of Harjinder Singh Thind, embodies the spirit of community service. Recently, at the Taj Park Convention Centre, the club held a successful gala event, which exceeded fundraising goals and drew significant community support. Under the guidance of current co-presidents, Nimmi Daula and Dr. Sukhbir Kang; incoming president, …
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate the member's gesture toward my nephew. I am hearing the same thing in my constituency because elderly people and people with disabilities need more time and an accessible system to vote. That is why we are encouraging having an extra two days for the advance polls so that those members of the community who are willing to vote would be able to make sure that their vote i…
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Madam Speaker, contrary to what the hon. member suggested, Diwali is a religious and sacred event in the lives of many Hindus and Sikhs across the globe. We are talking about more participation on the Diwali day when people will be celebrating. There will also be a lot more traffic on the streets of major municipalities, which would distract voters from going to the polls. In fact, it is a very go…
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Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-65, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act. The legislation would make it easier to vote and increase voter participation across the country, which is essential to a healthy, modern democracy. One aspect of the legislation includes legislating campus vote as a permanent program. This is particularly important because it will increase voter engagemen…
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Madam Speaker, the hon. member for Winnipeg North, my dear friend, is always inspiring when it comes to making suggestions about the electoral process and helping communities that need more help to participate in the electoral system. Cryptocurrency should not be accepted as part of donations. That is why we have to make sure that we are able to strengthen the Canada Elections Act. Let us pass the…
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Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, at the Princess Margaret Secondary School, I attended the sixth annual ceremonial review of the 278 Cormorant Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron led by Commanding Officer, Captain Amar Tiwana, and the chair of the sponsoring committee, Simar Pabla. The ACR is a significant event for young cadets, showcasing their skills and achievements acquired throughout the past y…
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Madam Speaker, as far as the information I have is concerned, I think the minister has made it very clear in the House today that Commissioner Hogue has access to this report and all of those documents the hon. member for Vancouver East is talking about.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, regarding the question from the hon. member for Mirabel, I already answered it when the member from Calgary East raised the issue. I can tell the member what the Prime Minister and the government have done. We set up the national security and intelligence committee, which is made up of parliamentarians. Members from all parties sit on it, do the work, know exactly who these people a…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my dear friend, the hon. member for Calgary Centre, for his friendship on the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. When it comes to members of Parliament, diplomacy is part of our service, but when we go beyond that, irrespective of which party MPs belong to, that is unacceptable. I have had discussions to see if the names can be released, but, today, t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, as the members opposite and all hon. colleagues know, the Government of Canada is deeply focused on combatting foreign interference. Today, foreign interference poses one of the greatest threats to our Canadian society, our economic prosperity and our sovereignty. Following the tragic killing of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar at a place of worship in my riding of Surrey—Newton, a Canadian…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday at the Gurdwara Sahib Brookside Canadian Ramgarhia Society in Surrey—Newton, I attended the 301st birthday celebration of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. In the 18th century under the banner of the Dal Khalsa, which was a confederacy of Sikh military units, Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia was a distinguished military strategist who left a lasting mark on Sikh history. …
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Mr. Speaker, we can talk about subsidies; particularly, the hon. member mentioned the north. When it comes to northern communities, we all know that the prices are high. To help, our government has invested the $150 million I mentioned. Those are the monies that will go to charities, food banks and other northern organizations so that people will be able to benefit; the people of the north will be…
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