Debates of Nov. 30th, 2023

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I have asked members to exercise restraint three times.

The hon. member for Brampton Centre, from the top, without interruption, please.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader’s characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident.

Jumping to such baseless and emotive language without verification and spreading misinformation—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I know members value the opportunity they have to make statements that are very important to them and their constituents. We are now running behind because this is the fourth time I have stood on my feet on this issue. It will be the last before I start cutting statements from today's list that has been provided to me.

I will ask all members to please keep themselves under control so that all statements that were planned can be given today.

The hon. member for Brampton Centre, from the top, please.

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader’s characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident.

Jumping to such baseless and emotive language without verification and spreading misinformation demonstrate a serious lack of judgment, especially at a time when the conflict in the Middle East has led to an increase in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism here at home.

The leader of the Conservative Party tries to criticize every issue for political gain by spreading fear and—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

Since there are no points of order allowed at this time, I would invite the hon. whip to approach the Chair while we move on to the next statement.

Message of Peace

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, recent incidents targeting our Jewish and Muslim communities concern all of us deeply. Many Canadians, including my colleagues in the House, are being targeted based on their religious or cultural backgrounds, and this is unacceptable to everyone.

Let us stand together as a testament that Canadians value each other as colleagues and as fellow citizens, and that it is paramount to support the right of each other’s communities to enjoy peace and security in Canada. Canada has always been a country where peace, tolerance, mutual understanding and kindness are of utmost importance. Prejudice and hatred have no place in our nation. We must rise above division, extending compassion and support to all.

Canadians made their kindness a worldwide brand, and there is no better branding for us than this. Let us be grateful for what we have and unite around peace and tranquility in Canada.

Johanne Joannette

[Simon-Pierre Savard-Tremblay, Bloc, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we know that buying local is crucial. However, to benefit from local goods and services, we need entrepreneurs with solid regional and national roots. The Acton region understands this extremely well.

The Acton business community owes a great deal to Johanne Joannette, who headed the local chamber of commerce for 22 years. Under Johanne's leadership, the chamber thrived. It moved into the iconic Acton Vale train station, developed tourism in the region, hired young people during the summer, took charge of the region's agri-food fair and launched the Gala Distinction.

Johanne passed the torch to Kassandra Lévesque last year, but she was still working at the chamber two days a week. Today is her last day there, and I know she is tuning in. I can say with certainty that she has not abandoned the region, however, because she is now a municipal councillor for the town of Acton Vale.

I would like to thank Johanne for all she has done.

Maison des jeunes L'Ouverture

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Maison des jeunes L'Ouverture is marking its 40th year in Montreal North, in the riding of Bourassa.

Under the leadership of its director, Sheilla Fortuné, this youth centre plays a vital role in young people's academic and social success. It is a place where young people thrive, because it is theirs. The organization has created various programs to empower young people, including the annual street basketball tournament that has helped some of these youths go on to play for the prestigious NBA.

It brings me joy to underscore this anniversary, since I myself took advantage of this organization's services when I was younger, taking part in soccer and dance when the late Félix Saint-Élien was director.

I congratulate the board of directors, the employees and the volunteers who are guiding our youth toward success.

Christmas

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, Christmas is fast approaching. It is a special time of year for so many reasons. In every part of this great country, people are feeling excited and preparing for quality time and holiday cheer. Along with all the busy shopping, there is so much charity, goodwill and solace that is inspired by the season. It happens all over the world. People of many different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds celebrate Christmas, even in predominantly Muslim countries such as Indonesia, where my sister lives.

Christmas brings peace and unity during difficult times, including war and economic depression, but every so often there comes along a Scrooge or a grinch who wants to steal Christmas. This time around, it is the Canadian Human Rights Commission saying “bah, humbug”. It released a new report suggesting that our public celebration of Christmas is somehow a form of religious intolerance and discrimination. It is just another ridiculous example of woke ideology after eight years of the out-of-touch Liberal government. However, no matter what they say, I will join the overwhelming majority of Canadians and celebrate Christmas wholeheartedly.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas.

Woman Abuse Prevention Month

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, November is Woman Abuse Prevention Month, which recognizes the need to drive awareness and education surrounding abuse against women.

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the From Wallet to Wealth gala, organized by the amazing Whitney Hammond. The gala raised $70,000 for Halton Women's Place, which provides a 24-hour information and support line, outreach services and emergency shelter services for those in need of a safe space.

As a new initiative, purple benches are located in Oakville and Burlington as part of the Barb's Bench project. The project began in Nova Scotia to honour Barbara Baillie and victims of violence against women; it is a reminder that intimate partner violence still exists as a major threat to women everywhere.

This month and every day, let us take action to end femicide and gender-based violence.

Housing Initiative in Richmond Hill

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this Monday marked a milestone for Richmond Hill and a significant leap forward in our fight against the housing crisis. I was pleased to join the hon. Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities in announcing an agreement to fast-track over 780 housing units in Richmond Hill.

This initiative is a catalyst for over 41,500 homes in the coming decade, fuelled by a $31-million investment from the housing accelerator fund. This will address the long-standing barrier to housing construction and accelerate the creation of not only increased housing density but also much-needed affordable units across the community.

I congratulate the municipality for this milestone and I am proud to witness our government's historic investment in our community. It demonstrates what can be achieved with innovation, collaboration and a steadfast resolve to address the housing needs of Canadians in Richmond Hill and across Canada.

Together, we are forging a future of strong, accessible and thriving communities, affirming our commitment to affordability and prosperity for all Canadians.

Diabetes Awareness Month

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise on this last day of Diabetes Awareness Month to recognize and thank the patients, advocates, researchers and health care professionals in our communities who continue to work extremely hard to combat this chronic disease.

This subject is very important to me. As a type 1 dad and co-chair of the all-party caucus on juvenile diabetes, I know the serious health impacts it has on patients living with the disease and their families. This year marks the 102nd anniversary of Canada's discovery of insulin, and while its discovery was a game-changer for the millions of people living with the disease, there is still much more work to do. With more than 200,000 new cases diagnosed each year, diabetes is the most common chronic disease across our country.

As Diabetes Awareness Month comes to an end, I invite all my colleagues to keep conversations around diabetes awareness going. Thus, we can better support all those living with this chronic disease and, one day, find a cure to defeat it.

Jewish Refugees

[Marco Mendicino, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today we mark the expulsion of nearly one million Jews from Arab countries and Iran following the creation of the State of Israel. Their expulsion was motivated by persecutions, pogroms and genocide.

Many Jewish families found safe harbour in Canada, a significant number of whom put down roots in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence.

Despite their exceptional contributions, Jews have continued to face a torrent of anti-Semitism. Tragically, the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel has exacerbated this hate: Jewish day schools have been shot at, synagogues firebombed, students swarmed on campuses and businesses accosted.

As Canadians, we should universally condemn these appalling incidents, and those responsible must be brought to justice by law enforcement. We must also strengthen Holocaust remembrance and education. Today, B’nai Brith is hosting a virtual commemoration of the story of Jews who were expelled from Arab countries and Iran. I encourage all to visit its website and learn, because it is only through learning, education and respect that we can ultimately defeat anti-Semitism and hatred in all its forms.

Carbon Tax

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years of inflationary spending, Canadians can simply no longer afford to pay for this Prime Minister's costs. Today we learned that Canada's GDP declined by 1.1% in the last quarter, the fifth consecutive decline, while that of our American neighbours rose by 5.2%. This is very bad news for Canadians struggling to make ends meet, for the millions waiting in lines at food banks because this government's inflationary policies are raising the price of everything.

We can do something now to help Canadians. This Prime Minister can help lower food prices by taking immediate action: asking Liberal senators to vote immediately in favour of Bill C‑234 and stop obstructing the Senate. Unfortunately, this week, the Liberals voted with the Bloc to maintain the tax on farmers, increasing the cost of food here for everyone. Instead of giving Canadians the help they need, the Liberals and their allies in the Bloc are trying to make everything more expensive. Voting for the Bloc is costly.

Only the common-sense Conservatives will transform misfortune into hope by abolishing the tax on everything and reducing food, gas, and heating costs for all Canadians.

The Economy

[Dan Muys, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we were alarmed but not surprised this week to learn that food bank use in Ontario is at an all-time high. We have seen a similar increase in my home community of Hamilton. What is particularly concerning is that there has been an 82% increase in people with jobs who are relying on food banks.

The erosion of the middle class, under eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, is another reason why the Prime Minister is just not worth the cost. With Scotiabank confirming that 2% of rate hikes are attributable to reckless spending and deficits by the Liberals, mortgage renewals are the latest gut punch that is going to hit household budgets. I heard this at a Diwali celebration this past weekend and at the Christmas kettles the week before. Canadians are very concerned.

I want to say to Hamiltonians and Ontarians that the common-sense Conservatives hear them and are fighting for them. Under the leadership of the hon. member for Carleton, we are going to deliver powerful paycheques and restore the middle-class dream for Canadians once again.

Karl Tremblay

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday evening at the Bell Centre, we paid a moving tribute to Karl Tremblay, the soul of the Cowboys Fringants, who left us too young, too soon. In that iconic place, we celebrated his music's indelible impact on our lives. The meaningful melodies and poignant lyrics resonated in our hearts, a reminder of Karl's exceptional musical legacy. In front of a vibrant crowd, we shared memories and expressed our gratitude to this outstanding artist.

I thank Karl for his years of devotion to Quebec's cultural scene. His legacy will endure. Tuesday evening, the Bell Centre resonated with the sound of his timeless passion. His voice will live on forever. I wish him bon voyage.

Thornloe Cheese Factory

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Thornloe Cheese factory is a symbol of the resilience, skill and determination of the Témiscamingue dairy region. The various blends of Asiago, Charlton, blue and the incredible devil's rock cheese have won all kinds of awards. That is why people in the north were so shocked by the news that Gay Lea Foods is closing the plant and walking away from the region, but not so fast. The people in northern Ontario are determined to keep this value-added food processing operation, and the farmers have a winning track record.

In 2006, Parmalat announced its decision to shut the plant. Rallies were held, and a clear message was sent: Parmalat could leave, but the dairy quota would stay. The same message was sent to Gay Lea.

I worked with the Témiscamingue dairy committee to save the plant in 2006 and will be at its side to get Thornloe back up and running.

When negotiations begin with a new buyer, it is essential that FedNor and the federal government are at the table to help with the necessary upgrades, so Thornloe continues to produce a world-class product.

Our farmers have a simple message: They love the north, and they will fight for Thornloe.

Tremblant World Cup

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, after Chamonix, Val Gardena and Courchevel, it is Mont Tremblant's turn this weekend to host the World Cup women's giant slalom race.

What a source of pride for the entire Laurentides—Labelle region and for Quebec. The International Ski Federation chose Mont Tremblant because it tops many lists as the number one ski resort in eastern North America. The know-how of an entire region is being honoured and recognized.

The mood will be supercharged and joyous as we watch high-level athletes shred the slopes. I invite everyone to come. The pedestrian village will be abuzz with concerts. On Saturday, I will have the honour of personally handing out an award. It is my immense pleasure to wish the athletes and organizers a fabulous World Cup 2023.

Carbon Tax

[Gary Vidal, Conservative, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after eight years, the Prime Minister is just not worth the cost. Do members know who agrees with that statement? It is the Chiefs of Ontario, who filed a judicial review today against the Liberal government's carbon tax. The Chiefs of Ontario are rightly claiming that the Liberal carbon tax is leaving first nations communities worse off and is intentionally designed to ignore their situations.

This liberal carbon tax disproportionately affects first nations, and the Ontario chiefs are asking why a carbon tax carve-out was only given to a region in Canada where the Prime Minister was tanking in the polls. They are left to deal with the unfair burden this tax places on their communities as they struggle to heat their homes and feed their families.

Let us remember that it was the Prime Minister who claimed the relationship with first nations is the most important one to him and his government. That clearly is not true, as the Prime Minister is forcing first nations to go to court to finally be heard in their demands to axe the carbon tax for the children, seniors and families living in their communities.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last Wednesday in this chamber, the leader of the official opposition recklessly labelled a car explosion in the U.S. near the Rainbow Bridge as a “terrorist attack”. The Conservative leader's characterization of the event shocked many Canadians, including me. I was terrified and instantly prayed to God hoping that no Muslim was involved in this incident.

Jumping to such baseless and emotive language without verification and spreading misinformation demonstrate a serious lack of judgment, especially at a time when the conflict in the Middle East has led to an increase in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism here at home.

The leader of the Conservative Party tries to politicize every issue by spreading fear and misleading Canadians. Canadians deserve better. This leader is just not worth the risk.

Holiday Events

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we embark on the Christmas season, we celebrate the spirit of giving that exists in communities across Perth—Wellington. I am always amazed by the generosity of so many people who give so freely of their time and talents in the service of others.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of To Stratford With Love, a community dinner organized by the Kneider family where 1,000 people may enter as strangers but leave as friends. In the town of Minto, David and Jean Anderson will once again host their annual Christmas Day dinner for all who wish to share a meal. I thank all those who are filling Christmas hampers, organizing toy drives and raising funds so that others may have a merry and bright Christmas.

Finally, in the spirit of giving, I encourage all who are able, to donate blood this Christmas season. For those who are battling leukemia, like Kelly Byers, and countless others who need this gift of life, rolling up our sleeves is the least we can do and is a small action that can have a big impact.

Canada's Walk of Fame

[Taleeb Noormohamed, Liberal, Vancouver Granville, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's Walk of Fame is a national non-profit charitable organization that inspires Canadians by proudly shining a light on extraordinary Canadian achievers and their successes.

This Saturday, Canada's Walk of Fame will celebrate a history-in-the-making 25th anniversary gala. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, I look forward to attending this truly inclusive celebration of Canadian achievers: athletes, actors, legends, Olympians, musicians, filmmakers, storytellers, humanitarians, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, titans of science and innovation, and the next generation of heroes.

From the Honourable Rosalie Abella to Avril Lavigne and from Kardinal Offishall to my friends Drew and Jonathan Scott, this event will highlight the incredible talent of Canadians from all walks of life and the incredibly inspirational role that they play every day. The event will inspire and unify us, and remind us of the richness of talent that these remarkable Canadians from every corner of this great country share with us and the world every day.