Debates of Oct. 2nd, 2024

Canadian Heritage

[Francesco Sorbara, Liberal, Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I want to welcome to Parliament Hill everyone joining us to celebrate the vibrant Latin American and Hispanic community in Canada. We proudly recognize the contributions of Latinos to every facet of Canadian society, from business and journalism to the House of Commons. Their diverse voices and talents are woven into Canada's social fabric

Can the Prime Minister tell us how our government is honouring the traditions and cultures of fellow Canadians of Latino and Hispanic descent and delivering programs to support families and businesses while growing an inclusive economy?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to thank the member for Vaughan—Woodbridge for his excellent work representing his constituents.

Many Latin Canadians came here as immigrants or refugees, strengthening our cultural mosaic and contributing to Canada's growth and prosperity. While the Conservatives want to cut supports and programs for Latin Canadians and their families, we are lowering rents and building affordable homes. We are investing in $10-a-day child care, dental care and the Canada child benefit. We are supporting businesses and festivals, and we are combatting hate with community-driven approaches.

Happy Latin American Heritage Month.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I would ask the hon. member for Lakeland to please not take the floor unless recognized by the Speaker.

The hon. member for Port Moody—Coquitlam.

Housing

[Bonita Zarrillo, NDP, Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is nice to hear the Prime Minister taking credit for all the wins that the NDP has brought to the House.

Starlight Investments, a corporate landlord, is targeting its tenants with unfair rent hikes, and the Conservatives and the Liberals partnered to help Starlight's CEO avoid coming to committee to explain why he is pricing Canadians out of their homes. It is no surprise, because this CEO is a major donor to the Conservative Party.

Why is the Prime Minister, like the Conservatives, protecting the companies that are fuelling the housing crisis?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I will take no lessons on progressive politics from a party that ran away when the pressures got hot from the Conservative Party of Canada.

The reality is that we were able to work constructively as progressive parliamentarians to deliver big things for Canadians over the past few years. However, the NDP choosing to turn its back on pricing pollution and putting more money in people's pockets, perhaps turning its back on pharmacare, which we will be debating over the coming months, is a real shame.

Yes, it is tough to be a progressive in this time, but we will continue to stand strong for progressive values in this House.

Foreign Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, last year, the Minister of International Development defended UNRWA as one of his “trusted agencies”. He did not even wait for the UN to report on UNRWA's complicity in the October 7 massacre and reinstated funding. This “trusted agency” is now requesting immunity for staff who took part in the terrorist attack that killed over 1,200 people. UNRWA was also forced to confirm that an employee killed in Lebanon was a Hamas leader.

Does the Prime Minister share his minister's trust for an agency that employs terrorists?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ensuring full accountability, decisive action and the implementation of necessary reforms to UNRWA.

Right now, we need to respond to the horrific humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and that is exactly what we are doing. We are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. We are also calling for a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. We condemn Iran for its horrific attack. Israel has the right to respond, but we certainly hope that there is not a further escalation of this conflict as it spreads further and further and harms more civilians.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Kent Smith, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture for the Province of Nova Scotia.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

The House resumed from October 1 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Request for a Royal Recommendation for Bill C-319

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

It being 3:24 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Beloeil—Chambly relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #866

Business of Supply

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

I declare the motion carried.

I wish to inform the House that, because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by 12 minutes.

I wish to inform the House that the volume of the earpieces will now be reset.

Members using their earpiece at this time will have to readjust the volume.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Alexandra Mendes, Liberal, Brossard—Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Commonwealth Conference on Parliamentary Scrutiny and Oversight of National Security from November 21 to 23, 2023, and the 72nd Westminster Seminar on Effective Parliaments from March 11 to 15, 2024.

Parks Canada

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand on behalf of residents of the Bolsover area in Ontario, who would like to present this petition about their concerns with Parks Canada in terms of the bridge owned by the Trent-Severn Waterway.

This bridge has been out for well over three years, probably going past four now, and there is still no word on what the Trent-Severn Waterway, through Parks Canada, would like to do with this bridge. Therefore, these signatories call upon the Government of Canada to immediately reinstate the heritage asset, with Parks Canada listing it as the Boundary Road Swing Bridge, and to resume the repair project on the bridge in a timely manner, ensuring a swift completion of this essential piece of infrastructure.

Environmental Protection

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition on a subject that is of concern to constituents and others: the Northvolt battery plant. This is a Swedish company that intends to build a battery plant in Quebec, but there are many concerns about the nature of the site, which is contaminated because of an explosives plant that was formerly on the location. There are concerns about harm to species, including species that are at risk, such as the copper redhorse and the beluga whale, as well as general concerns for the ecosystem of the region.

The undersigned petitioners are asking Parliament to ensure that there is a full public environmental assessment, with hearings, to ensure transparency and public engagement in the review of this plant before it proceeds.

Ukraine

[Mike Morrice, Green, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to present a petition on behalf of folks who are raising a concern about additional humanitarian aid for Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian children. They note that a significant number of Ukrainian children are left without their parents' care, and they are residing in orphanages. The petitioners are calling for the federal government to step up to provide a variety of supports for these children.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.

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

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers also be allowed to stand at this time.

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

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed from September 27 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment.