House of Commons Hansard #357 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was leader.
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay is going to lead us in the national anthem today.
[Members sang the national anthem]
Mike Morrice Green Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, while indigenous people account for just 5% of the population, around half of those incarcerated in federal women's prisons are indigenous.
My community is no exception. At Grand Valley Institution, the percentage of indigenous incarcerated folks has even increased by 10% since 2020. It is what makes the work of incredible organizations centring reconciliation in their justice system all the more vital. The Healing of the Seven Generations' bail release supervision program helps folks break generational trauma and prevent recidivism as well as community justice initiatives. Its stride program helps incarcerated folks heal and build the community connections that help them to be successful after release.
My deep thanks to Donna, Kate and their entire teams for the impact they are having.
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, two weeks back, I could safely participate in a Hindu event in Edmonton only with the protection of RCMP officers as a group of Khalistani protesters staged a disruptive demonstration against me.
In Canada, we have long recognized and experienced the serious problem of Khalistani extremism. However, let me be clear, the sanctity of Canadian sovereignty is sacrosanct and any interference by foreign state actors within Canada, in any form, is unacceptable.
Khalistani violent extremism is a Canadian problem, and the RCMP has said that the national task force is focused on investigating it. We know that extremism and terrorism do not recognize, and are not limited to, national borders. I call on our law enforcement agencies to take this issue with all the seriousness it demands.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, this week is Small Business Week in Canada.
I myself have been a small business owner for over 30 years, and I am very proud of that. I am very proud because, for all those years, I have dedicated my life to doing what I love most, and that is giving back. Small business owners tend to be generous with their time and money. They share their innovative ideas and create wealth for all our communities. Small business owners are creators above all. They create wealth, jobs, attractive living environments, investments and community infrastructure by giving back. Their ultimate goal is to make their community a better place.
I salute the hard work of all these small business owners, who fight day in, day out to succeed, grow and thrive in a constantly changing world. Small businesses like mine, with fewer than 50 employees, are the backbone of this country. They never run short of challenges, but that is a good thing, because challenges breed innovation and excellence.
I wish all small businesses across Canada a happy Small Business Week.
Peter Fonseca Liberal Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON
Mr. Speaker, I was heartbroken to hear that a dear friend and community member, Mario Nunes, had passed away.
For over 20 years, Mario was not just a friend, but a radiant example of joy, hard work and steadfast dedication to his family, friends and our community. Mario was a devoted husband to Lisa, a loving father to Melissa and a cherished grandfather to Daniel.
Mario left behind a remarkable legacy in the masonry industry. When it came to getting a job done right, everyone turned to Mario for his unmatched professionalism.
Mario's passion and commitment were a source of inspiration to all of us. He was always ready to lend a hand and share a kind word, whether it was capturing moments at Luso charity events or discussing ways to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
Mario's spirit will forever remain in the hearts that he touched, and he will be profoundly missed.
Rest in peace, my dear friend.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, today, October 23, a major figure in regional agriculture is stepping down from his post.
After eight years serving as president of the Union des producteurs agricoles, or UPA, for the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region, Mario Théberge, a dairy and grain farmer from Normandin who is well known at home and respected by his peers, will hand the reins over to the next generation, who are more than ready to follow in his footsteps.
Mario Théberge has been involved in the agricultural trade union movement for over 30 years and was elected UPA regional president in 2016. The time has come for him to turn the page and pass on the torch. One thing is certain: Mario will be remembered as a team player, an inspiration, a passionate advocate and a farmer who was active in his community and was always ready to take on challenges. As president, he has given us confidence in the agricultural future of our beautiful region.
I am certain that it is with great pride and a sense of accomplishment that he will greet his peers today and hand over the keys to the tractor. I wish Mario the best of luck in his new endeavours. I look forward to running into him again soon, but, above all, I thank him for everything.
Patricia Lattanzio Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour of attending the historic inauguration of Amazon Web Services' brand new Espace Voir Grand at the Centre Lasallien in Saint‑Michel.
This educational space is the first AWS Think Big Space in Canada and the first one in the world to be designed for francophones. It will give students, teachers and members of our community unprecedented access to educational resources in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
Thanks to the common vision of both Amazon Web Services and le centre Lasallien, new opportunities through this space will act as incubators of innovation and will help create researchers and inventors of tomorrow.
I am extremely proud to welcome Canada's very first Espace Voir Grand to my riding, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, and I look forward to seeing all the things that will be accomplished there.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the extraordinary achievement of Canadian paralympian, Jolan Wong, who proudly brought home a bronze medal from the 2024 Paris Paralympics. As a dedicated and resilient athlete, Jolan has become a symbol of strength and perseverance, both on and off the court. Jolan has inspired countless Canadians with her determination and dedication to sitting volleyball. Last Sunday, she was awarded the key to the city of Pembroke. Her remarkable achievement is not just a testament to her personal drive, but also a shining example of the power of sportsmanship.
Jolan's victory in Paris is a victory for all Canadians who believe in pushing boundaries and celebrating excellence. We congratulate her for representing our country with such distinction and thank her for inspiring a new generation of athletes. Please join me in celebrating Jolan Wong and her teammates' accomplishments.
My thanks to Jolan.
Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise with great sadness to honour to Ethel Côté, who passed away after a battle with cancer.
Her family paid tribute to her memory, saying that her unwavering commitment to educating, listening to, supporting and, above all, inspiring everyone she met has left an indelible mark on the lives she touched.
A pioneer of the social economy, she founded several organizations, including MécènESS, and contributed to the creation and development of nearly 1,000 community organizations.
As founding president of La Nouvelle Scène and an associate professor at the Université de l'Ontario français, she was known for her collaborative approach and innovative beliefs. She was committed to building a more just, equitable and caring society.
She was selected as a 2015 champion of women's economic empowerment by the UN. She was also appointed to the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario and the Ordre de la Pléiade and was awarded a Prix Saphir.
The loss of this beloved mother and grandmother will leave a huge void in the Franco-Ontarian community and the wider world. I offer my sincere condolences to her family and her loved ones.
Rachel Bendayan Liberal Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, as of this morning, the Bank of Canada cut interest rates by 50 basis points, bringing interest rates down to just 3.75%. That is good news for hard-working Canadians. It is going to help families who need to renew their mortgage. It is going to help young people wanting to go out and buy their first home. It is going to give some breathing room to folks who have debts and loans to repay, making things just a bit easier for them.
Lower interest rates are good news for Canadian entrepreneurs, for businesses of all sizes, whether they have loans or not. I must say, during Small Business Week, no less, it is great news for our small businesses.
Now I am not saying that everything is perfect here. I know there are Canadians struggling with affordability. I know that there are global economic instability forces at play, but I also know that there is no better place to be than Canada right now. Today, things were made just a little bit easier and a little bit better for the good folks living here.
Doug Shipley Conservative Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the Prime Minister, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up. Just this week, Barrie Police arrested a repeat offender in possession of stolen goods only hours after being released on bail. In the past two weeks alone, this one offender has been charged with theft six times. M. Gow, a Barrie resident, recently wrote into BarrieToday to state that they have lived in Barrie since 1967 and no longer feel safe in our community. They do not feel safe going downtown by themselves anymore, especially after dark.
The Prime Minister's catch-and-release bail policies have unleashed a wave of violent crime across the country. The Prime Minister boasts about banning the hunting rifles of law-abiding Canadians instead of targeting the gangsters and gun smugglers who are terrorizing our streets. The Toronto Police Association recently fact-checked the Prime Minister and pointed out that shootings are up 45% and gun-related homicides are up 62% in Toronto.
Canadians deserve a common-sense, Conservative government that will stop the crime and bring home safe streets.
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Mr. Speaker, today I stand before you with a profound sense of urgency and concern regarding the alarming revelations about foreign interference in our country. The RCMP's statement regarding the investigation into violent criminal activities linked to the Government of India has brought to light a harsh reality that Sikh Canadians have long feared.
As a member of Parliament representing a vibrant community of people from Sikh and Hindu backgrounds, I recognize the deep ties that bind Canada and India, yet the chilling evidence presented by the RCMP reveals a betrayal of our shared values. It is unacceptable that foreign agents would operate with impunity on our soil, terrorizing communities and threatening our safety. We have seen extortion, arson, threats and even loss of life instilling fear in the South Asian community, with the particular targeting of Sikh Canadians. This is unacceptable.
Every Canadian deserves to live with safety, free from intimidation and violence, regardless of their beliefs or heritage. Our government has taken significant steps to confront these threats, but we must also stand united as a community, Sikhs and Hindus alike. We cannot allow fear to divide us. We must support one another and advocate for justice, accountability and the protection of our rights.
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal coalition, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up.
The Speaker has ruled that the government violated a House order to turn evidence on its latest scandal, a $400-million green slush fund, over to the RCMP. The NDP-Liberal government's refusal to respect the ruling has paralyzed Parliament, pushing aside all other work to address the doubling of housing costs, food inflation and the crime and chaos that we see in our streets because of government policies.
While Liberal appointees at SDTC were enriching themselves and their companies with nearly $400 million of Canadians' hard-earned tax money, one in seven people in my community of Niagara Falls was visiting our food bank, Project SHARE, simply to get by.
Will the NDP-Liberals end their cover-up and provide the ordered documents to the police so that Canadians can have the accountability they so rightly deserve?
Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON
Mr. Speaker, taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government. Carbon taxes are driving up the cost of all essentials, including gas, groceries and home heating.
Now, according to an article from the Salvation Army, the food bank in Kenora is challenged just to keep stock on its shelves. Rising demand and food costs are making it difficult for people to be able to afford to make donations. In fact, the food bank has been forced to reduce the number of visits per month for each guest, and this will only get worse if the costly coalition quadruples the carbon tax, which will cost Ontario families $1,400 per year in carbon tax alone. In addition, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has once again confirmed that Canadians pay more in the tax than they get back in rebates.
We know that the government and this carbon tax are not worth the cost. Canadians want to know when they will have a chance to vote in a carbon tax election so that they can vote to axe the tax and bring home lower prices.
Ron McKinnon Liberal Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, the recent announcement by the RCMP that agents of the Indian government are involved in serious criminal activity in Canada is deeply troubling. Such actions represent a clear violation of Canada's sovereignty and an attack on the safety of all Canadians, particularly those in the Sikh and South Asian communities.
We must stand united in condemning these actions in the strongest possible terms. Canada's sovereignty is non-negotiable, and we will not tolerate foreign interference or intimidation.
I would like to thank the RCMP and all law enforcement agencies for their tireless efforts in uncovering these serious threats and taking decisive action to protect our communities. The safety of all Canadians, regardless of their heritage or political beliefs, must always be protected.
Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, women, girls and gender-diverse people who are unhoused are invisible in our country. Being without a home or being precariously housed can look different for women. Many find temporary shelter in their car or on a friend's couch.
To make matters worse, as the cost of living increases, more people are left out in the cold. To help, we need vital, person-centred wraparound services and housing. In Nanaimo—Ladysmith, Island Crisis Care Society provides these vital supports. I am so grateful for the incredible work it does, but it cannot do this work alone. Life-saving supports are needed. Instead, we have seen federal cuts. The Reaching Home program was slashed a devastating 60% in Nanaimo this year.
Many in our communities are doing all they can, but they need support. It is time to see the necessary federal investment and leadership now.
Martin Champoux Bloc Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois stands in full solidarity with Marwah Rizqy, the Quebec MNA for Saint-Laurent. Ms. Rizqy has had to seek police protection for her family. She has been receiving threats ever since she called out the Islamist abuse and the mistreatment of children at Bedford elementary school.
One of the people targeting her is Adil Charkaoui, an imam who would already be facing charges for his past hate speech if it were not for the religious exemption that still exists in the Criminal Code. The House needs to understand that there are consequences to allowing people like him to continue to spread hate freely. We strongly condemn any attempt to intimidate Ms. Rizqy or any other elected official.
I thank Ms. Rizqy for her unwavering commitment to children. I thank her for standing up for secularism and for equality between men and women, between our sons and daughters. She deserves to see out her term in a safe and respectful environment, before she finally gets to devote all her attention to her family.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, gun crime is up 116%. The carbon tax will be up to 61¢ a litre. Groceries are up 45% since 2015. After nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, even Liberal MPs agree that taxes are up, costs are up, crime is up and time is up for the unpopular Liberal Prime Minister.
Apparently, Liberal MPs confronted the Prime Minister this morning, but there was one small hitch: They had to get written approval to speak to him. We can talk about freedom of speech.
While the Liberals are busy fighting among themselves, Conservatives are focused on what is important to Canadians: axing the tax, building the homes, fixing the budget and stopping the crime. As Conservatives, we do not agree with virtually anything the Liberals have done. They are destroying Canada.
However, what has become increasingly clear is that a whole bunch of Liberal MPs agree with us. The Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the cost or the corruption. It is time for him to go.
Maninder Sidhu Liberal Brampton East, ON
Mr. Speaker, four out of the five leaders represented in this very chamber have either received their security clearance or are in the process of doing so. There is only one party leader in this chamber who chooses to close his eyes and remain oblivious to foreign interference, refusing to get a security clearance, and that is the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
The Conservative leader across the way is hiding something. What is he hiding, and what exactly is stopping him from getting his security clearance at a time when we are facing serious foreign interference in communities across Canada?
Yesterday a motion was presented in the House that calls for all party leaders to take necessary actions to protect Canadians from foreign interference. It calls for all federal party leaders to get their appropriate security clearance in the next 30 days. Can we guess what? Conservative members said no to this.
When will the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada wake up, get his clearance and start standing with Canadians against foreign interference?
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Prime Minister, costs are up, crime is up, corruption is up and now chaos reigns, because 24 Liberal MPs want the Prime Minister to resign, even though the Bloc Québécois wants to keep this Prime Minister in power.
Considering that even Liberal MPs have no confidence in this Prime Minister, will he call an election so that we can fix what he broke?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I have to say, the Liberal Party, as is the Liberal government, is totally united on holding the Conservative Party to account for the fact that they want to cut programs, cut services, cut initiatives that will help Canadians grow the economy, keep inflation down and make sure there is a strong, prosperous future for all Canadians. That is what we are focused on. While Conservatives focus on petty politics, we will stay focused on delivering for Canadians.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I just want to note that I asked my question in French.
Twenty-four Liberal MPs acknowledge that this Prime Minister is not worth the cost, the crime, the corruption and now the chaos. Today, in fact, the Prime Minister had to silence half his caucus, forcing some MPs to go to the bathroom so that they could text reporters to let them know what was going on in the caucus meeting. Liberal MPs know what Canadians knew already: The Prime Minister is not worth the cost, the crime or the corruption.
When will there be an election?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, while Conservatives focus on division and personal attacks, we will remain focused on the fact that we have to deliver results for Canadians, provide dental care for seniors, provide more child care spaces, and make investments in a greener economy that will create good jobs for the future.
The Conservatives are offering austerity and cuts. That is not what Canadians need. They need a government that is there to invest in their future. That is exactly what we are doing, because confident countries invest in their workers, in their citizens. That is precisely why the economy is getting so much better.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of this Prime Minister, costs are up. The cost of housing has doubled. The national debt has doubled. The cost of housing is out of control. Parliament is paralyzed by the corruption that the Prime Minister is trying to hide from Canadians. Now, there are at least 24 Liberal members who are saying that the Prime Minister must resign. Immigration is also out of control. He cannot fix what he broke while dealing with a revolt.
Will he call an election now?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is clear to all Canadians that all the Conservative leader is offering is budget cuts, austerity and empty slogans. Canadians need solutions. That is why we are moving forward with solutions, such as dental care, investments in a green economy, and investments that will attract high-tech companies from all over the world, whether in the electric vehicle, AI or quantum technologies sectors.
We are here to invest in the future of this country. We are looking toward the future, while the Conservatives want to take us back to the Stone Age.