House of Commons Hansard #362 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was privacy.
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Greg Fergus
It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation.
[Members sang the national anthem]
Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON
Mr. Speaker, today, it is my honour to pay tribute to Hanshi Scott Hogarth, an 11-time world champion and black belt in seven martial arts disciplines, a champion of Milton's martial arts community, an inaugural inductee of our local Milton sports hall of fame, a dedicated sensei, a beloved father and husband, and a true master of his craft. Scott passed away peacefully on October 28, surrounded by his family, including his wife, Tammy.
In 1993, Scott opened his dojo in Milton, not only teaching martial arts but also instilling values of respect, discipline and perseverance in countless students for decades since. Scott's larger-than-life presence inspired many, and he was known for his infectious enthusiasm and commitment to the well-being of others. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of those he worked with, both in the dojo and in the community.
As we remember Scott today, let us celebrate his love of Milton, his extraordinary dedication to our community and the profound impact he had on so many people's lives. He will be dearly missed, but his influence will endure. For my friend Scott, we will always give it 110%.
Kevin Vuong Independent Spadina—Fort York, ON
Mr. Speaker, two years ago, when I raised concerns about the government's failed drug strategy, I was slammed for giving a voice to Canadians living with the consequences of its failure. This is what happens when we speak truth to the regressive left, so intent is it on protecting policies that sound good but are harmful in practice. It vilifies anyone who challenges its radical ideology.
This included parents concerned about their children's safety, seniors tired of thefts and break-ins, and business owners fed up with staff being assaulted. We were called NIMBYs, or “not in my backyards”, when the truth is our yards are full of crime, needles and drugs. However, we have persevered in our fight for safer communities, and the Ontario government acted to protect children by closing drug sites within 200 metres of schools and day cares.
Ontario has taken the first step; it is time for the government to finish the job and to do so now. We can all read the polls. We know the Liberals are going to lose the next election, so they should leave with some dignity, do the right thing, listen to experts and reform safe supply before even more Canadians are hurt.
Pat Kelly Conservative Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, one in 15 Canadians will be diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer affects thousands of Canadian families, including my own. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, and one of the least survivable, with only a 22% five-year survival rate. Many Canadians would be surprised to know that lung cancer kills more Canadians than prostate cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer combined. It is usually undetectable until its final stages.
Stigma remains because of the association between lung cancer and smoking, which may explain discrepancies in research and treatment funding compared with other cancers. While smoking is a factor in 70% of lung cancer cases, nearly 30% of patients have never smoked. If one has lungs, one can get lung cancer. I ask Canadians to treat all cancer patients with compassion and with the best hopes for new, life-prolonging therapies to add years of survival for our loved ones.
Valerie Bradford Liberal Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Mr. Speaker, we recently celebrated national Persons Day, when we remember the Famous Five, prominent Canadian suffragists who advocated for the rights of women and children during the 1880s and 1890s. Their efforts culminated in the landmark case of Edwards v. Canada on October 18, 1929, when the eligibility of women to sit in the Senate chambers here in Canada was recognized.
Emily Murphy, Henrietta Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby have been immortalized in marble outside the current Senate chambers for us to see daily. I am honoured to rise in this chamber today, alongside many women I am proud to call colleagues, as we recognize this special day and the women who came before us on this journey.
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to talk about François Gervais, a staff member at Oka Secondary School, who recently opted for phased retirement after an accomplished career.
For nearly 40 years, Mr. Gervais touched the lives of hundreds of young people. Some of them still talk to me today about his initiatives, such as setting up a fair trade store, creating a student environment committee, establishing a humanitarian action committee in the wake of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and building bridges with the Kanesatake school to forge ties with the entire community.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gervais in May 2023, when he accompanied a group of students here to Parliament Hill to draw our attention to the issue of femicide. I remember him as a fine man with a profound desire to raise young people's awareness of the challenges of tomorrow.
On behalf of all my constituents, I want to thank Mr. Gervais for his unshakable faith in our wonderful young people and in our future. Above all, I wish him a happy retirement.
Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Outaouais-Laurentians branch of the Fédération de l'UPA in is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. I would like to highlight the important work it has accomplished for farmers in the Laurentians and Outaouais, which includes my riding. This branch represents some 2,259 farms and their 3,410 farmers and therefore accounts for nearly 10% of all farm businesses in Quebec.
I would like to thank the team, led by president Stéphane Alary, a Luskville dairy and field crop farmer, for choosing to celebrate the federation's 60th anniversary in my riding. A banquet is being held this evening at the Château Montebello, and I will be pleased and proud to welcome them to Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation.
I wish the Outaouais-Laurentians branch of the Fédération de l'UPA a happy 60th anniversary and many more to come.
Jamil Jivani Conservative Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the police officers who serve our communities, uphold the law and protect our families. For all this, they deserve our gratitude.
Policing is an honourable profession. Every day, officers put their own safety at risk to keep our country safe. My community of Durham is home to police who work in the Durham region, Toronto, York region, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes police services, as well as the RCMP.
We thank them. I encourage all young Canadians with a heart for public service to consider a career in policing, where some of the best and brightest in our country protect and serve.
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to share that an all-girls team from Darcel Avenue Sr. Public School, located in Malton, has won first place at the World Robot Olympiad in Italy.
Known as the “Forest Guardians”, Chathak, Melanie, Chitra and Rubanya created the Blaze-Bot, designed to sense wildfires in their early stages and alert local fire stations before it is too late. Under the coaching of their French immersion teacher, Priya Parekh, and the support of their librarian, Lidia Marcelli, the fantastic Forest Guardians made history as the first-ever Canadian team to take the top spot at this competition. When I look at their faces, I know, with deep conviction, that their futures will help determine no less than the destiny that the nation will fulfill.
It is clear to me that the future of Mississauga—Malton is bright and promising. I invite all parliamentarians to join me in congratulating them and celebrating their significant achievement.
Michael McLeod Liberal Northwest Territories, NT
Mr. Speaker, in even our smallest communities in the Northwest Territories, the drug trade and accompanying addiction issues have reached a boiling point. Our community members, many dealing with trauma, are facing predatory dealers, who will sell to anyone to ensure they become repeat customers. It does not matter if we live in a city, town, village, hamlet or charter community. People are struggling to ensure that communities of all sizes are safe and healthy places to live.
The Government of Canada must continue to work with the Government of Northwest Territories, community and indigenous governments to create and strengthen tools to disrupt and combat the drug trade and provide support and aftercare options that work for northerners. To protect our residents at risk, we need all levels of government at the table to end the drug crisis that is harming our families and our communities. Mahsi cho.
Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, on September 27, my father, Jason Felix Kurek, unexpectedly and suddenly passed away at age 54.
My dad was a good man. He chose life. He always worked hard and gave generously even when he did not have much to give. He loved farming, a type of work that creates a bond that few will understand. He built deep friendships from the field to Parliament Hill. He lived with humility and grace, showing us that faith in Jesus is shown by love and care. Although kind, he never backed down. On the hockey ice or elsewhere, he stood for what was right and the values that built this country. He was a devoted husband to Mom for 35 years. He was a loving father, and he adopted his kids-in-law like his own. He was a seriously proud papa.
Our family and community lost a truly good man. I thank everyone for their support during these difficult weeks, both in Consort and here. In the midst of our grief, my hope is that everyone can remember my dad, Jay, by living with the strength, generosity and faith he showed us.
I love you, Dad. Until we meet again.
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey—Newton, BC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians across this country are deeply concerned by the Conservative Party's lack of attention to India’s criminal activities and interference in Canada.
Yesterday at the public safety and national security committee, Conservative members had the opportunity to engage with senior officials but chose to focus on everything other than the actions of the Government of India and the security of Canadians.
At this critical time, not a single question has been raised in the House by the opposition leader regarding the safety of Canadians. He has failed to hold a press conference, delegating a statement through his MPs, which reflects a disturbing level of disengagement. He remains without security clearance, hindering his ability to gain a complete understanding of national security issues.
Canadians deserve better.
Michelle Ferreri Conservative Peterborough—Kawartha, ON
Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the Liberal-NDP government is not worth the cost of housing. The housing minister has allocated $8 billion of taxpayer money to housing programs that have built zero homes, like the failed housing accelerator fund. The only things it has accelerated are tent encampments, rent and headlines like this one: “Priced out of rental market, Midland senior lives in her shed”.
Common-sense Conservatives have a plan. We would cut the GST on all new builds under $1 million. This would save Canadians $40,000 on homes with an $800,000 value. In Ontario, government taxes account for 30% of housing prices. Enough with taxing people into poverty and hopelessness. Our compassionate, common-sense plan would stop the Liberals from forcing people to put up tents as housing. We would axe the tax and start building the homes.
Eric Duncan Conservative Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON
Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, they are not worth the cost of their failed housing programs that have only doubled the cost of rent, mortgages and down payments. Housing starts have dropped across the country and the Liberals' own forecast says they are only going to get worse in the years to come. That is why our bold, common-sense Conservative plan to axe the GST on new homes sold was so well received this week.
LiUNA says it is good policy. The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness says it is “smart”. The Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association and BILD in the GTA both say our tax cut would instantly make a significant improvement in housing affordability. It is because on an $800,000 new house, it would save homebuyers $40,000 plus $2,200 a year in mortgage payments, and it would spark 30,000 extra new homes in this country each year.
Instead of funding photo ops, more bureaucracy and less homebuilding, it is time to bring home more homes for Canadians.
Randeep Sarai Liberal Surrey Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security heard from top national security and law enforcement officials on the extent of the Indian government's interference in Canada, including serious criminal activities, extortion and the murders of Canadian citizens.
Canadians from across the country are shaken and scared of this blatant attack on our democracy and on their safety. Despite the concerning evidence, Canadians still have not heard directly from the leader of the Conservative Party on this issue. His silence has been noted in the House and now it is being noticed in committees.
Canadian citizens have died at the hands of a foreign government. What will it take for the leader of the Conservative Party to give this issue the seriousness that it deserves?
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. An early screening can catch harder-to-find cancers like triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC, which is more frequently diagnosed in patients under 50.
Those diagnosed with TNBC represent anywhere from 10% to 20% of the overall breast cancer population, and TNBC is more likely to affect Black and Hispanic women. Most people have never heard of TNBC and some Canadians are not even aware there are different types of breast cancer. We need to greatly improve awareness of triple-negative breast cancer and all breast cancers, and ensure more equitable access to screening and treatments. More education, earlier screening and earlier detection mean greater chance of survival.
In closing, I want to recognize friends and breast cancer survivors from Port Moody—Coquitlam: the unstoppable Captain Jenn Dawkins, my wonderful neighbour Hilla Shavit and retired Captain Paula Faedo.
Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to a distinguished member of the House who was first elected in Verchères in 1993 at the age of 28, in his very first election under the Bloc Québécois banner.
He was re-elected without interruption until he made the leap to the National Assembly in 2005, where he notably served as public safety minister from 2012 to 2014. After taking a short break from politics in 2018, he returned to his first love and ran under the Bloc Québécois banner in the 2019 election. No doubt members have gathered that I am talking about the current member for Montarville. Known for his relentless drive, strong work ethic and complete devotion to his constituents, he has always been held in high esteem by his colleagues.
He took everyone by surprise when he announced that he would not seek another term in the next election. We will no doubt miss having him on the Hill, but we are delighted to know that he will remain a proud supporter of Quebec independence.
I congratulate the member for Montarville on his 30 years of service. I thank him for all he has done.
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, there is only one guy left keeping the Prime Minister in power. That is the leader of the NDP, the stuntman who scammed voters right before a by-election. Do members remember his big stunt when he told Canadians he ripped up his coalition deal with the Liberals? In fact, he said, “the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people”.
The leader of the NDP is all talk and is selling out to keep the Prime Minister in power. He voted for the carbon tax 24 times, the same one that sends Canadians to food banks in record numbers, with over two million visits in a single month. He supports the inflationary deficits, voting to fund corruption like the Prime Minister's $60-million arrive scam. Every day the Prime Minister remains in power is because of the leader of the NDP.
It is time for a carbon tax election so Canadians can fire the costly and corrupt NDP-Liberal government.
Yvan Baker Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, recently I spoke in the House about the growth of radical far-right movements. They have organized disinformation campaigns, impacted how some people and politicians treat others and led to some politicians not acting in the best interests of Canadians.
As the Prime Minister recently said, “we have seen that anti-vax messages during the convoy and during the pandemic were amplified by Russian propaganda, especially in the media of the right”; that this media began spreading “pro-Putin propaganda”; and that Russia Today “is currently funding bloggers and other [You]tube personalities at the right,” such as Tucker Carlson, “in order to amplify messages that are destabilizing democracies.” What this tells us is that some of these far-right movements and opinion leaders are not only harming Canada but doing so at the bidding of Vladimir Putin.
Some of these far-right movements are agents of foreign influence, so I wonder why the Leader of the Opposition will not get his security clearance and take this seriously. I urge us all to take the actions we need to, to stop the influence of these radical far-right movements, because our security, our economy and our freedom depend on it.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Canada made everyone a promise. It is very simple. If people work hard, they can earn a big paycheque so they can afford food and a home in a safe community, no matter where they come from. This Canadian promise, like so many other things, is broken after nine years of this Prime Minister, who has doubled the cost of housing. This week, I proposed eliminating the GST on new home purchases. Everyone agrees that this will reduce the cost.
Will the Prime Minister accept my common-sense idea?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition has a fundamental problem, which is that he can think of only one solution to deal with the challenges he mentioned. His only solution is to cut services, programs and investments for Canadians. His idea of a housing solution is to cut billions of dollars from the investments we are making to build more housing faster. He wants to cut the $900 million that we are sending to the Quebec government to speed up housing construction in municipalities across Quebec.
It takes investments to build housing, not the cuts and austerity that the Conservative Party is offering.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is against eliminating the GST on housing, because he is the one who doubled the cost. He did that by breaking the immigration system, by printing 700 billion inflationary dollars, by funding the gatekeepers who block construction and by charging new taxes on home building. He did that to create more bureaucracy in Ottawa, a bureaucracy that does not result in any new housing.
Again, will he reimburse the costs related to these failures and accept my common-sense plan to eliminate the GST on housing?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party's plan is to cut hundreds of millions of dollars from Quebec and cut investments in housing across the country. That is not what Canadians need.
We are investing in housing. We are investing in offering more opportunities for people across the country. He is offering nothing but billions of dollars in cuts to the services and programs that Canadians rely on.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Canada makes everyone a promise. It is a very simple deal. If they work hard, they get decent food and a good home in a safe neighbourhood. It does not matter where someone comes from; if they work hard, that is what they get. However, that promise, like everything else, is broken after nine years of the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister. He has doubled housing costs. That is why I came forward with a now widely celebrated idea to axe the GST sales tax on new homes, saving up to $50,000 on the cost of a new home.
Will the Prime Minister accept my common-sense plan to axe the tax and build the homes?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the only thing the Conservative leader is offering at a time when Canadians need support is cuts. He is proposing to cut billions of dollars of investments in housing across the country that would increase densification, cut red tape and accelerate the construction of homes and apartments that Canadians need.
He is offering cuts. He is offering austerity. He is saying that everything is broken, and then he is thinking that cuts to services, programs and investments are what is going to help Canadians. That is not responsible leadership.