Carol Hughes

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, January 29th, 2024]

With regard to Translation Bureau operations, broken down by House of Commons committee and fiscal year since 2011-12 to present: (a) what is the total number of requests submitted by each committee to the Translation Bureau for document translation; (b) what are the details of all requests in (a), including the (i) total number of pages requested, (ii) total number of hours to fulfill translation requests, (iii) total number of overtime hours required to fulfill translation requests, (iv) total cost to fulfill all requests?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, January 29th, 2024]

With regard to Translation Bureau operations, broken down by fiscal year since 2011-12: (a) what is the total number of hours that simultaneous interpretation was provided, broken down by (i) sittings of the House of Commons, (ii) meetings of House committees; (b) how many employees have provided simultaneous interpretation for (i) sittings of the house of Commons, (ii) meetings of House committees; (c) how many freelance contractors have provided simultaneous interpretation of (i) sittings of the House of Commons, (ii) meetings of House committees; and (d) what is the dollar value of all contracts related to (c)?

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 29th, 2024]

With regard to the Wahpeton New School Project proposal, since January 2023: (a) what meetings and consultations have the Minister for Crown-Indigenous Relations and the Minister for Indigenous Services had regarding the need for a new community school; (b) what services has the department offered to help Wahpeton with funding, planning, and completion of a new community school; (c) what interim measures has the government provided to Wahpeton Dakota Nation to ensure students can continue in-class learning; (d) does the government intend to fund and complete a new community school in Wahpeton; (e) for what reasons has the government not proceeded with this project; and (f) by what date does the government expect construction to begin on a new community school?

[Points of Order, December 15th, 2023]

I am now prepared to rule on the point of order raised by the opposition House leader earlier today concerning the treatment of the motion standing in his name and whether it should be given priority over the orders of the day. The hon. member contended that, given the seriousness of the subject matter, the motion should be given precedence over other business until it is decided. In other words, we should treat it as if the House were debating a motion in response to a prima facie question of privilege.

I wish to point out that there is a process for raising questions of privilege and proposing motions flowing from these once the Chair has determined that they should have priority in debate. The motion currently before the House did not follow that process. Instead, it was moved under the motions rubric under Routine Proceedings after having been placed on notice, as is appropriate for motions concerning the conduct of chair occupants. The Deputy Speaker noted as much in his ruling on December 5 at page 19,501 of Debates.

House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, 2017, at pages 467 to 469, provides a list of examples of motions that can be moved under the rubric of motions during Routine Proceedings. That list includes motions to censure Chair occupants, the motion currently before the House.

Further, on page 469, it reads, “When debate on any motion considered during Routine Proceedings is adjourned or interrupted...the order for resumption of the debate is transferred to the Order Paper under Government Orders”. The only exception is motions to concur in a report of a committee governed by Standing Order 66.

While I recognize that this is a serious matter of concern to all members of the House, since it is clear that this motion was properly moved under Routine Proceedings, I cannot find any authority that would allow the Chair to direct that it be treated differently than any other such motion.

Accordingly, if the debate is interrupted or adjourned, the motion will be transferred to Government Orders on the Order Paper. I thank members for their attention.

[Food Security, December 12th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are suffering from a food insecurity crisis that is jeopardizing our constituents' fundamental right to food.

The pillars of that right, namely availability, adequacy and accessibility, are compromised not only in my riding, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, but also across the country.

Food insecurity in Ontario has been steadily increasing, from 7.8% in 2008 to 18% in 2022. Feed Ontario reports a 36% rise in food bank visits last year, soaring by 101% compared to prepandemic levels.

Among the most affected are 41.7% of first nations on-reserve households, followed by single mothers, at a distressing 41%. Moreover, over one-third of food bank users are children.

Parliament needs to implement a national school lunch program and a guaranteed livable basic income, as well as to crack down on corporate greed. Let us all affirm our commitment to a society where every citizen lives in dignity, free from the spectre of food insecurity.

[Gender-Based Violence, November 1st, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, last week, Canadians were collectively heartbroken by the barbaric act of intimate partner violence that took the life of Angie Sweeney and her three young children in Sault Ste. Marie.

As we grieve for Angie and her children, we must redouble our efforts against intimate partner violence. Gender-based and intimate partner violence in Canada has increased for five consecutive years. In 2021, the rate of IPV was 336 victims per 100,000 people. Women and girls represent almost 70% of victims.

In 2021, the rate of gender-related homicides of indigenous women and girls more than tripled compared to the total number of gender-related homicides. In Ontario, the number of women and girls killed as a result of acts of violence involving a male offender increased by 39% between 2018 and 2022.

This epidemic cannot continue. We must implement the recommendations from last Parliament's justice committee report on stopping coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate relationships. Women need us to stand up for them now more than ever.

[George Farkouh, October 19th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, recently, the city of Elliot Lake lost a giant of a man who helped steer the city through some of its hardest challenges. George Farkouh was a legendary community leader. Born in Palestine and having spent his early years in Beirut and Lebanon, he and his family moved to Canada in 1959, settling in Elliot Lake.

While George and his wife Louise started their careers in Toronto, they eventually returned to Elliot Lake, where George became a pillar of the business community as owner of Algoma Chrysler.

George was elected mayor of Elliot Lake in 1988 and led the city for a remarkable 17 years. His days as mayor were not easy. The closing of the uranium mines in the early 1990s had a major impact on the local economy, but George saw a path to pivot the city from mining to retirement community. He created an economic model transition that allowed it not only to survive but to thrive. It is a model that other cities going through a major economic shift can look to for guidance.

I, along with all Elliot Lakers, owe George a debt of gratitude. May he rest in peace.

[Election of Speaker, October 3rd, 2023]

Mr. Chair, I want to begin by thanking the hon. member for Nipissing—Timiskaming for his service as Speaker of the House.

I would also like to thank the people of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing for placing their trust in me to represent them for the past 15 years. I am honoured to be their member of Parliament.

I begin by acknowledging that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin nation. It is important that we, as representatives of the Crown, acknowledge the people whose lands we stand on and the history that this place represents in this context, especially as we just marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this past weekend.

We sit here today at a unique moment in the history of the House. It is obviously quite rare for us to discuss the election of a new Speaker in the middle of a Parliament. This has been done only once before, when Speaker John Bosley, who was coincidentally the last Speaker appointed to the role rather than elected, resigned to sit in the Progressive Conservative backbenches in 1986.

Speaker Bosley, whom you may remember was commemorated in the House last year following his passing, left the position because he was concerned about the erosion of public respect for Parliament and believed he could do more to build that respect from outside of the Speaker's chair. Speaker Bosley was clearly concerned about how the House was being perceived by the Canadian electorate. The erosion of public respect for Parliament is real, and I believe we, the members of the House, all have a responsibility to work toward improving it.

The role of the Speaker, as representative of the House of Commons, is to guide this institution in the debates, to oversee the rules and traditions that are so dear to us and, perhaps most importantly at this time, to maintain order and decorum so as to restore the public's respect for Parliament—something that Speaker Bosley was concerned about nearly 40 years ago.

I believe that my experience as Assistant Deputy Speaker has prepared me for this role. I have held this position for the duration of the past two Parliaments and the first half of this Parliament. During my terms, I have always been fair and reasonable in my duty to maintain order in the House.

I have made decisions that maybe, at times, were not popular, even with members of my own party, because the duties of the Chair demanded it. I have also heard from some members of all parties that they believe I am fair and even-handed and have been consistent in my application of the rules of the House. When we are here, regardless of what our party affiliation is, the rules are the rules.

Speaking of political parties, I know there is more that binds us together than divides us. We are all here because we love our nation and are all dedicated to seeing it flourish. We may have different ideas about how to accomplish this goal, and it is vital that we encourage healthy debate to find the common ground. However, I feel, as I am certain many of you do, that at times members can act in a manner that is challenging for the House. I believe that, in those moments, we do a disservice to the House and to Canadians by allowing unhealthy debate to proceed.

My commitment to each of you is that you will have your moment to engage in healthy debate, and you will allow your colleagues their moment to a healthy debate, without unacceptable interruptions, shouting or heckling. This is how we rebuild the public's trust in and respect for Parliament.

I am also looking forward to following in the footsteps of another of our predecessors, the Right Hon. Jeanne Sauvé, former governor general of Canada, who is to this day the only woman who has served as Speaker of the House of Commons. It has been over 40 years since she last presided over the House, and I believe that we must show young women that they too can see themselves represented in our institutions, including as Speaker of the House of Commons.

In closing, I would like to remind members that Canadians are looking to us to make Parliament work in a way that will deliver results for them. I have shown throughout my years in Parliament that I have the experience, judgment and temperament necessary for this role, which is vital for the functioning of our democracy.

Colleagues, this is why I ask for your support.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

[Events in Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, June 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is officially the first day of summer. There is no better place to spend those long summer days than Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing.

Whether we are talking about festivals, powwows or fairs, people can attend events all over Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing.

Next week, Elliot Lake will celebrate Uranium Heritage Days with special events and activities leading up to Canada Day. Hearst continues to celebrate its centennial with tons of activities during homecoming week.

Do you love powwows? There is one almost every weekend, from Sheguiandah First Nation to Michipicoten First Nation.

Do you love boating or camping? There is no shortage of lakes, including Lake Huron and Lake Superior.

Winnie's Hometown Festival in White River is the perfect place to celebrate the world's most famous bear, and the Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival should not be missed.

People will also find several agricultural fairs from Providence Bay to Bruce Mines. For music lovers, the Go North Music Festival, the Manitoulin Country Fest and Rockin' the Rock are a must.

As you can see, Mr. Speaker, AMK is the place to be for fun in the sun, so come on over.

[Radioactive Waste, June 15th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, constituents from Elliot Lake are demanding action from Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to clean up radioactive waste found at their homes in Elliot Lake.

This waste, from closed uranium mines, was widely used as fill for constructions in the 1960s.

Without their knowledge, these families were exposed to radiation exceeding allowable limits from mining waste buried under their properties.

Yes, this radiation was found in their yards and driveways.

There is a duty to ensure that all radioactive waste in Canada is managed, isolated from the public and safely stored for generations to come. This is the approach embraced by Natural Resources Canada's radioactive waste policy, yet these families' requests for action have been denied. It is imperative that this decades-long issue be permanently fixed. It should not be a family's responsibility to deal with radioactive waste, nor to bear the burden of health risks caused by the uranium mining industry.

Jennifer, Lisa, Kathleen, Margaret and Pamela are asking that this radioactive waste be removed from their properties.