Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs in relation to Bill C-27, an act to give effect to the Final Self-Government Agreement for the Tłegǫ́hłı̨ Got’įnę and to make consequential amendments to other acts. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the Hou…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled “Issues Related to First Nation Communities Without Reserve Lands”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a remarkable milestone for the Kiwanis Club of Sault Ste. Marie as it celebrates 100 years of awesome service. Since its founding in 1926, the club has embodied the very best of volunteerism, generosity and community leadership. For a century, its members have dedicated countless hours to improving the lives of children and families through fundraising, liter…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports: the report of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group on the 46th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from September 16 to 22, 2025; the report of the Canada-Chi…
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Mr. Speaker, the American tariffs on steel are completely unjustified and illegal. The House knows that. They are affecting my community of Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area. They are making people anxious and creating very difficult decisions for people to make right now. Recently, the Minister of Industry was in the Soo to make a very important announcement on how she would have the back…
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Mr. Speaker, I have some great news for the House. On Friday the Minister of Industry joined me at Tenaris, and we announced over $70 million in funding towards a project that is going to maintain 811 jobs and is also going to create 200 new jobs. As members know, I was elected in 2015, and when I was elected, Tenaris had only 25 people working there. It lay the blame squarely on the previous gove…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report on the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs in relation to Bill S-228, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding sterilization procedures. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendments.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, in relation to Bill C-10, an act respecting the commissioner for modern treaty implementation. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled “2025 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada: Follow-Up on Programs for First Nations.” Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive report to the House.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize two outstanding athletes from Sault Ste. Marie—Algoma who have made our region and our country immensely proud. From Thessalon, Shilo Rousseau reached the Olympic stage in the biathlon, a sport she has pursued since the age of 12. She was inspired by her father, himself a former member of Canada's national team. Her dedication to a demanding sport that combines cro…
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Mr. Speaker, we know that Canadian workers are the backbone of a strong economy. The government's new workforce alliances are bringing together workers, industry and training partners to build the skilled and resilient workforce that Canada needs for the future. Now more than before, Canadian workers need their government to have their backs. Can the Minister of Jobs and Families tell the House ho…
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled “First Nations, Inuit and Métis Identity and Participation in Federal Procurement”. 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 pay tribute to my friend Steve Butland, who served as a member of Parliament in the House from 1988 to 1993. Steve and I also served on city council from 2003 to 2015. He was a one-term mayor and did a fantastic job serving with great passion. He was a mentor to me and a partner in many initiatives. Together, we co-sponsored a motion declaring Sault Ste. Marie the alte…
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Madam Speaker, today I would like to pay tribute to my friend Father Hamish Currie, who passed away recently at the age of 73. He married Lisa and I and baptized my kids, and he was a supporter throughout my political career. Ordained in 1980, he served in the Soo and in Wawa. He used to reach out personally to people who were struggling, offering comfort and support beyond the pulpit. He was deep…
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Mr. Speaker, September 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Can the Minister of Indigenous Services please update the House on what our new government is doing to advance the goals of reconciliation?
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Mr. Speaker, members of Canada's Building Trades Unions are here in Ottawa this week. They represent thousands of workers who are building Canada strong. Can the Secretary of State for Labour please update the House on what this government is doing to support these very important construction workers and the unionized labour across this great country?
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, building on Bill C-48, which made substantive changes to Bill C-75, creating the reverse onus, and working with the provinces and territories, we are going to strengthen it; we are going to go further. The Prime Minister has said we are going to go even further as it relates to judicial and court reform.
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Mr. Speaker, as I rise today, I want to wish my wife, Lisa, a happy 25th wedding anniversary. We are celebrating today. My wife and I live in Sault Ste. Marie, a border town, a very busy border town. Just as business never stops, so too the threats from transnational organized groups. I want to know if the House is ready to hear some really good news from the Minister of Public Safety about a new …
Read full speech →Speech from the Throne
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand here in the House of Commons. Congratulations on your success in becoming the Speaker. I paid close attention to your speech, and I look forward to your leadership as you shepherd us through the 45th Parliament. When I was first elected in 2015, people asked me how long I planned on running for. I said it would be as long as I have the sense of awe when I walk…
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the Hon. Ray Stortini, who recently passed away. Ray became one of the first judges of Italian descent appointed to the bench in Ontario. He was a champion for fair representation and legal aid. Ray was proud of his Italian heritage and west end upbringing in the Sault. He shared his traditions, stories and experience by documenting them and publishing s…
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Madam Speaker, just recently, the Prime Minister was in Prince Edward Island, announcing our school food program, which is going to put, on average, about $800 in the pockets of the people that are affected. In Ontario, we just had it done last week. It joins Manitoba and Newfoundland in helping hundreds of thousands of kids. We look forward to all provinces and territories signing up for this pro…
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Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we know the best deals are always made at the bargaining table. The special mediator has suspended mediation services and the minister has asked both parties to go and create new proposals that will work and get back to the bargain table because Canadians are expecting them to come back and make a deal that works for all.
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group on the 22nd bilateral meeting in Tokyo and in Tohoku, Japan, from May 13-17.
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Mr. Speaker, the current government has done more for seniors than any other government. The first thing that we did was roll back the retirement age from 67 to 65, taking 100,000 seniors out of poverty. We increased the GIS by $1,000, taking nearly a million seniors out of poverty. We increased the OAS for the most vulnerable seniors and, yes, we are doing a tax break for all Canadians, including…
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Mr. Speaker, Christmas is still more than a month away; however, with great enthusiasm and hope, Conservative MPs have already written to the big guy. Their hope is for a stocking filled with the housing accelerator money that their communities will need to build new homes. Alas, these Conservative MPs, their mayors and their communities have been grinched by the leader of the official opposition.…
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Mr. Speaker, attempts at foreign interference unfortunately have become a reality in Canada and around the world. Whether it is the Indian government's involvement in serious criminal activities against Canadian citizens, or Chinese, Russian and Iranian attempts to influence our country, our leaders must be prepared to confront these challenges head-on, and that is what leaders do. They take these…
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Mr. Speaker, the fact is that we have been there for seniors from the get-go. The first thing we did was to reverse the Conservatives' increase in the retirement age from 65 to 67. We brought it back to 65. We enhanced the GIS, taking hundreds of thousands of seniors out of poverty. We have enhanced the CPP, while the Conservative leader questions its greatness. We are always going to be there for…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour and privilege to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group's co-chairs' annual visit to Japan from November 13 to 17, 2023, as well as the report of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group's 31st annual meeting of the Asia…
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Mr. Speaker, it is National Indigenous Peoples Month, a time to recognize and honour the contributions of indigenous peoples, their knowledge and wisdom along with their continued commitment to protecting the land and the creation. This month I want to recognize and thank the countless elders, knowledge keepers and leaders from Batchewana, Garden River, Michipicoten, Mississauga, Sagamok, Missanab…
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Mr. Speaker, as part of the age well at home initiative call for proposals held between June 8, 2022, and July 29, 2022, ESDC received one application for funding from an organization within the constituency of Thérèse-De Blainville. This application was not approved for funding. The organization was informed of this decision by ESDC during the week of April 22, 2024, and therefore there are no ou…
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Mr. Speaker, the government has had the backs of workers from the get-go. The first thing we did was reverse the most anti-union legislation ever created in the House of Commons, brought in by the Conservative government. We further went on to introduce replacement worker legislation, which I am pleased has passed. Right now, the minister is absolutely correct. There are negotiations happening at …
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Mr. Speaker, it is steel day on the Hill, and I would like to welcome all those who have come to Ottawa today to support this very important industry. I was born and raised in this steel town, and that is why I am so proud that the government has consistently stood with steel workers in the steel industry. When I was first elected, Algoma Steel was in bankruptcy protection. Tenaris Tubes had a han…
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Mr. Speaker, May is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, and MS Canada will recognize this through a variety of activities and events, including MS Day on the Hill. I would like to thank all those who go above and beyond in supporting and championing the MS community: the doctors, various health care workers, researchers, family support networks, and the entire MS Canada staff and its volunteers. I…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to the group termination of employment provisions under the Canada Labour Code, part III, pertaining to labour standards, and in answer to part (a) of the question, the head of compliance and enforcement received notices of group termination of employment from Bell Canada, Bell Media Inc. and Bell Mobility Inc. in accordance with the provisions of the Canada Labour Code on…
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Mr. Speaker, Employment and Social Development Canada, or ESDC, conducted a records search internally to determine whether the department had advertising expenditures promoting the Canada pension plan, since 2016. The search concluded that ESDC did not have any expenditures promoting specifically the Canada pension plan. However, the department had a campaign from 2018 to 2023 called Services for …
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Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, all consultations related to the development and the implementation of the new regulations were conducted virtually and in-house. This resulted in zero costs incurred. The only related costs were to publish the notice of intent, namely $1,542 on May 4, 2019, and to pre-publish the regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, namely $17,779 on Oct…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the reports of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 21st bilateral meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from August 27 to 30, 2023, and the Canada-China Legislative Association and Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting their part…
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Mr. Speaker, we have been there from the get-go for Canada's workers. In fact, we have introduced legislation, in concert with the NDP, on replacement workers. We will continue to be there for workers every single step of the way. We have continued to change the legislation to make sure there is a level playing field, and we will continue to address the issues the member just brought up, as well a…
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Madam Speaker, we have been there for seniors from the get-go. One of the first things we did was reverse what the former prime minister, Stephen Harper, did on the world stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He raised that retirement age from 65 to 67, putting a lot of seniors into poverty. We have increased the GIS. We have increased the OAS. We have enhanced the CPP. Meanwhile, we do not …
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Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure today to rise to acknowledge 30 naval and officer cadets from the world-renowned Royal Military College of Canada, who have come to Ottawa today. The delegation is led by one of my best friends, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and a professor at the RMC, Dr. Donald McFarling. Throughout the day, these fine cadets have met with government and official mem…
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Madam Speaker, this is just another example of the Conservatives being willing to say anything to oppose us in fighting climate change. They want to slash the funding to this organization that Parliament and the House voted for over 20 years ago. We are sticking to the facts and to the due process. We will continue fighting to get to the bottom of this.
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Madam Speaker, let me be clear. As soon as we found out about these alleged allegations, ISED acted quickly. The Minister of Innovation has already accepted the resignation of the CEO and the chair. We take these allegations extremely seriously, which is why we are following proper due diligence. Our government is committed to ensuring that organizations that received government funding adhere to …
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Mr. Speaker, let us be clear. As soon as we found out about these allegations, the Department of ISED acted quickly. The Minister of Innovation has already accepted the resignation of the CEO and Chair. We take these allegations extremely seriously, which is why we are doing proper due diligence. Our government is committed to ensuring that organizations that receive federal funding adhere to the …
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives will say anything to oppose fighting climate change, including saying they want to slash an organization that was voted in by this Parliament two decades ago. We are sticking to the facts and due process. We will continue fighting to get to the bottom of this.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, in 2022, an average of 155,477 Old Age Security or OAS program recipients residing outside Canada received benefits each month. These recipients may or may not have non-resident status for tax purposes. Data limitations regarding the OAS and International Agreements administrative databases preclude the reliable identification of beneficiaries …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I wish a merry Christmas to all my constituents. Those two pieces of legislation made it very difficult for unions to operate. It made it difficult to certify their members, easy to decertify them and tried to bury them in red tape. I was pleased to run under that banner and run again when we put pro-union and pro-worker legislation in our platform. This is a promise made and a prom…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague and wish him a merry Christmas as well. The period of 18 months is there because we have a proud history of tripartism in this country, bringing employers, workers and the government together to make sure we get the balance right. It is in that spirit that we are giving all the parties time to prepare and because there are the most significant chan…
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Madam Speaker, this legislation is long overdue. It has been called for by Canadian workers since before Canada was even a country. It would absolutely strengthen this economy and continue to grow our country, the greatest place to work, live and play. I can say that we did a lot of consulting. We consulted with workers, with labour representatives, with employers and with indigenous communities, …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is great to stand here today with a great piece of legislation that is going to help out Canadian workers and help our economy get to the next level. We believe that Canadian workers have the right to fair, honest and balanced negotiations, where replacement workers are not waiting in the wings to take their jobs. That is why we have introduced this legislation, to ban the use of…
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Mr. Speaker, I have great news: The government has launched the Union-Led Advisory Table. Chaired by the president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Bea Bruske, this table includes additional labour leaders from across Canada and across industry sectors. It will play an essential role in providing advice on emerging challenges and opportunities in the labour market, including on matters of automati…
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