Debates of March 8th, 2023

Official Languages

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are extremely proud of the work our team did on Bill C-13 to protect linguistic minorities across the country. We will always be there to protect official language minorities across Canada.

That is why we will continue to move forward. I would like to emphasize that it is also important, by the way, to stand up against the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause, an issue on which this member has unfortunately been weaker than the communities would have liked.

We will always defend linguistic minorities across the country.

Democratic Institutions

[Kevin Vuong, Independent, Spadina—Fort York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, foreign operatives have interfered in Canada's electoral system and our democracy. Media and CSIS documents have indicated that members of the Liberal Party and caucus were involved.

Money and instant on-demand supporters were used to get pro-China candidates elected and anti-China ones defeated. Cabinet and the PMO were well briefed on the extent of foreign interference, yet nothing was done.

Why is the Prime Minister eager to turn a blind eye to shady Liberal nominations, sketchy donations and having pro-Beijing MPs in his own caucus? Will his personally selected special rapporteur also be investigating the Liberal Party?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are rightly extremely concerned about foreign interference in our institutions, our elections and our democracy. That is why we are putting forward an independent top expert who will look at the entire landscape of interference and make sure that we are doing everything necessary and give Canadians confidence that the right processes have been followed, will be followed and that Canadians can continue to have confidence in their democracy and in the people they elect.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade for the United Kingdom.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Today is International Women's Day, and as the member for Scarborough—Agincourt asked her question of the Prime Minister and he was responding, the member for South Shore—St. Margarets yelled at the member for Scarborough—Agincourt, “She deserves a participation medal.”

Undermining the presence of women in the House, especially on this day, is absolutely abhorrent.

Every woman has fought to be in this place and every woman deserves to be in this place, and I ask the member to retract that comment.

[Rick Perkins, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margarets, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I will withdraw the comment.

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my comment is going to be very simple. We have all fought hard to be here. Regardless of gender, we have all fought hard, or the majority of us have, I should say.

I am listening to this and it is very dishonouring. It goes both ways, and I would like to say that, on International Women's Day, let us be respectful to all.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 30% of the number of seats in the House are held by women. We are not there yet.

The House resumed from February 15 consideration of the motion that Bill C-224, An Act to establish a national framework for the prevention and treatment of cancers linked to firefighting, be read the third time and passed.

National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting Act

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It being 3:26 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-224 under Private Members' Business.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #263

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried

(Bill read the third time and passed)

The House resumed from February 16 consideration of the motion that Bill C-232, An Act respecting Arab Heritage Month, be read the third time and passed.

Arab Heritage Month

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-232 under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #264

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

The House resumed from February 17 consideration of the motion that C-295, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (neglect of vulnerable adults), be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Criminal Code

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-295, under Private Members' Business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #265

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

The House resumed from March 7 consideration of the motion.

Industry and Technology

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology concerning the extension of time to consider Bill C‑244.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #266

Committees of the House

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I declare the motion carried.