Tim Uppal

[COVID-19 Emergency Response, March 24th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are frustrated with the failure of the Liberals to manage this pandemic. The Prime Minister’s failures on rapid tests and vaccines have had an immeasurable impact on our small businesses, health care system and Canadian families. Over the last year, we have seen a dramatic rise in mental health issues, and addictions and overdoses, which has become a shadow pandemic.

Things must change. The new normal is not okay. The Liberals cannot keep asking Canadians to sacrifice more without being clear about when restrictions will be eased. That is why we are asking for a clear, data-driven plan to support the gradual, safe and permanent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions.

The Prime Minister has been slow on the border and rapid tests, and he is behind the entire developed world on vaccines. The U.K. and U.S. have data-driven plans for lifting restrictions and reopening the economy. Why does Canada not have one?

[Farmers' Protests in India, November 30th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker,

[Member spoke in Punjabi]

[English]

Today is Guru Nanak Dev Ji's Gurpurab, meaning it is the birthday of the founder of the Sikh faith. This year, Sikhs across Canada and around the world are thinking of and praying for India's farmers, who are peacefully protesting new farming legislation. Hundreds of thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and other parts of India have made their way to Delhi.

Shockingly, along the way, these peaceful protesters were met with blockades, water canons, batons and tear gas, but they persisted peacefully. In fact, they even provided food and water to the same security forces who were attacking them.

The right to peaceful protest is fundamental in any democracy. These farmers deserve to be heard and respected. Therefore, as the world watches, we urge the Indian government to hear out the farmers because the fact is, if there are no farmers, there is no food.

[Health, November 27th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, just having a contract for a vaccine is very different than actually knowing when most Canadians will receive that vaccine.

What we do know is the Americans will be vaccinating 20 million of their population in December, and 30 million in January. By the middle of January, the U.S. will have vaccinated the equivalent of the entire population of Canada.

I am asking again, why is Canada at the back of the line when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine?

[Health, November 27th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Canadian production of the COVID-19 vaccine. In August, they announced that Canada would be able to make 250,000 doses by November. It is now the end of November, and the Prime Minister is saying that we do not have any domestic production capacity.

The reality is that, because of Liberal failures, Canada will be getting the vaccine after one third of the world's population does. What happened?

[Firearms, November 25th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I did not grow up around hunting or sport shooting. In fact, when I was a kid, I asked my dad to go camping and he said that he did not move to Canada to cook and sleep outside, but I know how important it is for people in my riding and right across Canada to own firearms and use them in a safe and lawful manner. It is a way of life, which is why last week I went to the Phoenix Gun Range in Edmonton to start the process of taking the Canadian firearms safety course and getting my PALs.

The reality is that banning firearms used by law-abiding citizens does nothing to stop the dangerous criminals who obtain their guns illegally. The vast majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally obtained guns, which is something that the Liberals have failed to address.

I encourage all members of the House to learn about the regulations law-abiding firearms owners face. Only then can we have an evidence-based approach to this issue.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 16th, 2020]

With regard to government contracts for architectural, engineering and other services required in respect of the planning, design, preparation or supervision of the construction, repair, renovation or restoration of a work valued between $98,000.00 and $99,999.99, signed since January 1, 2016, and broken down by department, agency, Crown corporation or other government entity: (a) what is the total value of all such contracts; and (b) what are the details of all such contracts, including (i) vendor, (ii) amount, (iii) date, (iv) description of services or construction contracts, (v) file number?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, November 16th, 2020]

With regard to government contracts for services and construction valued between $39,000.00 and $39,999.99, signed since January 1, 2016, and broken down by department, agency, Crown corporation or other government entity: (a) what is the total value of all such contracts; and (b) what are the details of all such contracts, including (i) vendor, (il) amount, (iii) date, (iv) description of services or construction contracts, (v) file number?

[Questions on the Order Paper, November 16th, 2020]

With regard to government contracts entered into by the member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency, for the acquisition of architectural, engineering or other services required in respect of the planning, design, preparation or supervision of an international development assistance program or project valued between $98,000.00 and $99,999.99, signed since January 1, 2016, and broken down by department, agency, Crown corporation or other government entity: (a) what is the total value of all such contracts; and (b) what are the details of all such contracts, including (i) vendor, (ii) amount, (iii) date, (iv) description of services or construction contracts, (v) file number?

[The Economy, October 30th, 2020]

Madam Speaker, yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister provided the closest thing to a fiscal update that Canadians have seen in over a year. However, instead of announcing anything resembling a plan on getting our economy back on track, she was content on hammering home the same Liberal message as always: more spending. Canadians are left wondering what their return on investment is going to be.

Canada's unemployment rate is the highest in the G7, with nearly 12% in Alberta. Millions of Canadians are still out of work. Businesses across Canada are on the brink of bankruptcy. Canadians need a plan to deal with this pandemic and improve the economy. For Alberta, there are energy projects awaiting this government's approval that would bring thousands of jobs to an industry that the Liberals have decimated in the last five years.

We need a results-based plan. We need a government focused on jobs. We need a government that cuts red tape to help businesses grow their business instead of punishing them with barriers.

[Public Safety, October 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly a month since Mohamed-Aslim Zafis was murdered in front of the IMO mosque in Toronto by an individual with apparent links to neo-Nazi groups.

Studies have shown that since the government took power, the number of white supremacist groups in Canada has increased by over 300%. A letter to the Prime Minister from dozens of multi-faith and anti-hate groups has called for much more action to combat white supremacist organizations in Canada.

When can these groups and all Canadians expect further actions from the government to prevent attacks like this from happening again?