Debates of Oct. 31st, 2024

Korean Heritage Month

[Ali Ehsassi, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a historic milestone, Korean Heritage Month, which we have celebrated in the last month.

Willowdale proudly hosts the largest Korean community in our country, so this is profoundly significant for everyone in my riding. The unanimous support of the Senate has meant that October has become a time for our country to honour the rich contributions and enduring spirit of the Korean Canadian community across Canada.

A few weeks ago, many of us here in Ottawa participated in the first flag-raising ceremony on Parliament Hill, alongside Senator Yonah Martin, Ambassador Lim of the Korean Republic and our brave Canadian veterans of the war. Their sacrifices remind us of the strength of our shared history.

We should all be celebrating Korean Heritage Month.

Fundraisers in Souris—Moose Mountain

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, during these times of economic uncertainty and financial challenges, I would like to take the opportunity to recognize the incredible generosity of the people of Souris—Moose Mountain and to thank them for all they do to give back to their communities.

Two weeks ago, United Way Estevan held its annual telethon, with a goal of raising $348,000 to support the organization's member agencies. It blew that goal out of the water and raised a new off-air record of over $380,000 in pledges and donations by the end of the 33-hour event.

The following weekend was the Weyburn Communithon, which was also filled with performances that showcased some of the local talent from the area. An incredible $92,000 was raised that day alone, and donations continue to roll in.

I sincerely thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make these fundraisers happen, as well as all the businesses and people who continue to donate to these great causes. I am extremely proud and grateful to represent them here in the House.

Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish the Sikh, Hindu, Jain and Buddhist community across Canada a very happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to reflect on the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

Also known as the festival of lights, it is the largest festival celebrated in Brampton. During Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas, communities come together by gathering with their loved ones; lighting diyas; visiting gurdwaras, mandirs and temples; and exchanging sweets and gifts.

As we celebrate, we are reminded of the rich diversity that is the strength of Canada. I have had the immense honour to visit countless Diwali melas, eating more sweets than my dentist would like. It is the time of year I always look forward to.

I ask all members in the House to please join me in wishing everyone celebrating a very happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas.

Special Olympics Quebec 2025

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, I met with delegations from across Quebec during their visit to Granby, host of the next Special Olympics Quebec. This athletic event will feature more than 1,050 athletes from 12 to 70 years of age with intellectual disabilities or autism, accompanied by more than 400 coaches and 100 officials. About 3,000 visitors are expected to attend what is sure to be an unforgettable and enriching event rooted in strong values.

In fact, the whole committee is going to work hard to promote these athletes and help them excel in all 10 athletic disciplines on the program. From the opening to the closing ceremony, from the passing of the torch and awarding of the medals, emotion will definitely fill the air during the competitions. The slogan, “Granby, a bold city where multi-talented athletes shine” aptly sums up the desire to make these special athletes shine, while recognizing their skills and self-determination.

To all competitors: see you next summer. I will be there to cheer them on. They should be proud.

Gratitude to Canadians in Uniform

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges to thank and honour all those in uniform who have served Canadians and those who continue to serve us to this day. I also want to thank and honour their families, who bear the burden of the sacrifices these women and men make every day.

I honour veterans from my community. There is Maxine Brett; 80 years ago, in World War II, she served in the Canadian Armed Forces as a nurse. There is Lieutenant Edward Duckworth; 25 years ago, in Bosnia, he served as an armoured crewman as part of Operation Palladium. There is Lieutenant Lynn Murdoch-Feingold, who left port just 15 days ago on the HMCS Ottawa for the Indo-Pacific region. She and 240 fellow armed forces members will join regional partners and allies to promote a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and help enforce UN sanctions imposed on North Korea.

I wish Lieutenant Murdoch-Feingold, and all those who are actively serving Canada around the world, a successful mission and a safe return home. I thank them for their service.

Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas

[Arpan Khanna, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists from across Canada and around the world celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.

Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas symbolize the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The stories and traditions may vary, but their universal message continues to unite people from all walks of life. This is more important today than ever.

As we continue to see many struggling in our communities and so much darkness and pain around the world, Diwali inspires us all to look forward with hope and optimism. Diwali is particularly special for my family this year, as it will be the first time my two sons, Arvin and Ayvan, will light diyas together, celebrating Ayvan's first Diwali.

I also look forward to celebrating Diwali on Parliament Hill and across our beautiful country with our Conservative leader and our great colleagues. Conservatives will always stand up for our shared values of faith, family and freedom. To all those celebrating, I say happy Diwali.

Judi Weinstein and Gadi Haggai

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Iris Weinstein Haggai, whose parents, Judi Weinstein and Gadi Haggai, were taken hostage and murdered by Hamas following the October 7 terrorist attack in Israel.

Iris's mother, Judi, grew up in Toronto before moving to Israel in the 1970s, where she raised their family in the Nir Oz kibbutz. Judi was a daughter, mother and grandmother who loved her community. She taught children and wrote poetry.

Judi was a Canadian, and her life exemplified Canadian values. For over a year, Iris has fought for justice for her mother and for the rights of families of the victims to see their loved ones returned home. I applaud her courage and call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to do everything in her power to secure the repatriation of Canadians who were victims of the October 7 terrorist attacks.

When I met with Iris, she asked that everyone remember and say her mother's name. I hope all members and, indeed, all Canadians will remember this name: Judi Weinstein. We must bring her and all the hostages home now.

Lebanese Heritage Month

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, this November, we mark our second annual Lebanese Heritage Month in Canada.

As a Lebanese Canadian, I am proud to have sponsored and shepherded the bill into law, and I invite all to celebrate this special occasion. I encourage all Canadians to connect with their local Lebanese communities, attend an event, share a meal, listen to our vibrant music, and experience the pride and passion that define Lebanese heritage.

Lebanese communities across Canada and around the world are hurting as a result of war and conflicts in the Middle East. I reiterate my call for an immediate ceasefire and peace in the region. It is my wish that this month becomes a symbol of hope and joy. I invite all to join us on the seventh as we raise the Lebanese flag on Parliament Hill and sing “Lebanon will be back”.

Happy Lebanese Heritage Month.

I wish everyone a happy Lebanese Heritage Month.

Canadian Hostages in Gaza

[Shuv Majumdar, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today, a tragedy shames our nation.

Judi Weinstein, a proud Canadian, was the only Canadian hostage still held by Hamas in Gaza. A beloved teacher, Judi and her husband were brutally murdered and taken hostage in the savage attacks on October 7. For 83 days, Judi's family waited in agony, unsure of her fate.

Since that horrific day, Judi and her husband's deceased bodies have been held as human currency, depriving their family of closure. The United States has already taken action. It has issued indictments against Hamas perpetrators, against terrorists responsible for attacks upon Americans.

Where is the Prime Minister? He is nowhere. He and his foreign affairs minister have failed to confront Hamas terrorists at every turn. We have demanded that Judi be brought home and that terrorists be indicted. The world is watching. Today, Judi's daughter, Iris, is here in Ottawa. We stand with her.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after the deeply disturbing realization that the Indian government has been interfering in Canada's democracy, including with the murder of a Canadian citizen and intimidation of many others, how can anyone trust the Conservative leader to protect Canadians? He will not get the same security clearance as all other party leaders have.

The Conservative leader knows full well that the NSICOP report indicates that there was foreign interference in the last two Conservative Party leadership races. Okay, so we understand that he is not willing to stand up to protect Canadians or our democratic institutions. That is no surprise. However, one would think he would at least be willing to step up to protect his own Conservative MPs.

Conservatives love to say that sunlight is the best disinfectant, but their leader prefers to dwell in ignorance. I am starting to think that the Conservative leader is so untrustworthy that he does not even trust himself with the intelligence.

On behalf of Canadians, I say that he should step up, be responsible, show some leadership and get the security clearance. Anything less is utterly shameful.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Scot Davidson, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP is the Prime Minister's top guy. When even Liberal MPs are lining up to take the Prime Minister down, the PM knows he can still count on the leader of the NDP to have his back. In fact, there is no bigger supporter of the failed Liberal policies than the NDP leader. He supports the Liberals' carbon tax, which sent more than two million Canadians to the food bank. He supports the Liberals' inflationary deficits, which resulted in fewer jobs and smaller paycheques for Canadians. He supports the Liberals' catch-and-release policies, which have increased violent crime by 50%.

Instead of putting country before party, the NDP leader is putting his pension above everything else. It seems that the costly coalition is as strong as ever, despite all the NDP leader's blustering. The sell-out leader of the NDP will say and do anything to keep the Prime Minister in power and prevent Canadians from voting in a carbon tax election.

New Democratic Party of Canada

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, reports on the death of the NDP-Liberal coalition have been greatly exaggerated. Despite the leader of the NDP's prank on the voters of Elmwood—Transcona, Canadians see the truth. Like an unkillable zombie from a Halloween horror show, the Marxist coalition is coming for our souls.

The NDP's support for the Liberal agenda is making life deadly. The NDP voted for the carbon tax 24 times. These junior Marxists support the Prime Minister's out-of-control spending and Liberal Party corruption. These far-left radicals demanded the soft-on-crime policies that have fuelled the terrifying rise in violent crime. Every day the Prime Minister remains in power, it is because the leader of the NDP sold out Canadians. He offers tricks with no treats.

As we watch the Liberal Party tear itself apart from the inside, Canadians will face a choice when they finally get their carbon tax election: common-sense Conservatives or more corruption on the road to communism.

Dental Care

[Joanne Thompson, Liberal, St. John's East, NL]

Mr. Speaker, one million Canadians have been able to get the dental care they need, and that number will continue to rise with the over 48,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are now approved to receive care, thanks to our government's Canadian dental care plan.

Our government understands that oral care is health care, and it is delivering dental care to keep Canadians healthy and reduce the strain on our health care system. We will ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to oral care through the Canadian dental care plan, a program that the Conservatives have blocked at every step.

Housing

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, after three decades of Conservative and Liberal government failures, Canada's community housing stock is the lowest among the G7 countries. There are about 5,000 people in the Lower Mainland who do not have a place to call home. They have little choice but to try to survive on the street or in encampments. However, what is abundantly clear is that forced evictions do not fix anything; they just make the unhoused more homeless. People need dignity, not decampment.

CRAB Park's tent city residents have travelled from Vancouver East to Ottawa this week for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness conference. They want to see a tiny home village develop on the vacant port of Vancouver parking lot. The federal government can take immediate action and invest in this solution to help end homelessness. Moreover, this can be replicated from coast to coast to coast, in communities large and small.

Talk is cheap. It is time to realize housing as a basic human right.

Philippe Giroux

[Kristina Michaud, Bloc, Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight the exceptional work of a visual artist from Matane named Philippe Giroux.

His work has long resonated with people outside our region, but now he can add prestigious international recognition to that list. On October 6, the Société académique Arts-Sciences-Lettres de Paris awarded Philippe Giroux the gold medal for his body of work.

The ordinary guy from back home who paints our rivers, and more specifically the Matane River and its wildlife, is a true ambassador for the region. His works have found homes all over the world, including the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Bahamas. Over the years, the painter-who-fishes has garnered dozens of international awards and widespread recognition. In fact, the Mondial Art Academia has honoured him for several of his paintings.

Philippe is a source of pride for our region. I thank him for showcasing our part of the country as magnificently as he does. I congratulate him and wish him all the best for the future.

Housing

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what an amazing and exciting announcement. The Conservative Party of Canada will cut the federal tax on all new homes under $1 million. The headlines and reviews of this smart policy are in, and they are fabulous. The West End Home Builders Association says it is “the most significant housing policy commitment made in the past two decades.” The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness says, “This is smart.” Habitat for Humanity says eliminating GST would reduce costs. BILD GTA says this is “a significant step forward in helping housing affordability.” LiUNA, the biggest construction union local in North America, says, “This is good policy.” The Residential Construction Council of Ontario says that “it will save buyers tens of thousands of dollars on the purchase of a new home”.

There is more. Mike Moffatt, economist and founding director of Place Centre, says, “I admire the boldness here. This will get more housing built.” There is so much more to say, but sadly, I am out of time. Here is the bottom line: The NDP-Liberals will increase taxes on housing. Conservatives will cut them and build the homes.

Dental Care

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the number of the day is one million. That is one million Canadians who now have received oral health care through the Canadian dental care plan. That is one million Canadians, many of whom are seniors living in our communities, who visited a dental hygienist, a dentist or a denturist, many for the very first time. They are now getting access to dental care, as they should, so their health can improve.

However, the leader of the Conservative Party argues that this program, somehow, does not exist and he wants to cut it. He would deprive millions of Canadians from getting good oral health care through the Canadian dental care plan. We are proud to have brought in this program that is now serving one million Canadians who live in all of our communities.

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, Statistics Canada revealed today that Canada's economy grew by a paltry 1% in the third quarter. This is a third less than expected, and two thirds less than the United States. Our per capita GDP has fallen in eight of the last nine quarters. In fact, our GDP per capita has dropped faster than any other G7 nation.

Is this not hard proof that doubling the debt and increasing taxes on capital gains are destroying our economy?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, is the Conservative leader looking for some good news? Interest rates are down, inflation is down, and unemployment is down.

Today is Halloween, and the one thing scaring the kids is the Conservative leader's refusal to get his security clearance to protect Canadians and members of his caucus.

When will he answer the question on the minds of kids everywhere today?

Housing

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, what scares people is that their paycheques are getting smaller every year. Their paycheques mean that they cannot afford to buy a house since this government has doubled the cost of housing.

This minister went looking for affordable housing in his city. He could not find any, after nine years of his government doubling the cost. When I was minister, we built 194,000 affordable housing units. Now, we are proposing to eliminate the GST on new housing.

Will he accept my common-sense plan?

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, Minister of Public Services and Procurement]

Mr. Speaker, the children in my riding are smarter than the Conservative leader gives them credit for. They can count to six. Six is the number of affordable housing units the Conservative leader built, not in my riding, but across the country, during his entire term as minister responsible for housing at the time.

Once again, the kids want to know whether they should be afraid of him, since he appears incapable of getting the security clearance needed to protect his own MPs.

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, Statistics Canada reported terrible news for the Canadian economy today. It grew at a meagre 1%, a third lower than foreseen and less than our population grew. In fact, it was the eighth out of the last nine economic quarters in which our per capita GDP shrunk. It has fallen more than any other G7 country's since the year before COVID. This is the direct result of higher taxes on capital gains, on energy and on work.

Why will the Liberals not accept our common-sense plan? Better yet, why do they not call a carbon tax election so we can fix the economy?

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Minister of Employment]

Mr. Speaker, I know the leader of the official opposition does not like facts getting in the way of his good Halloween story, but here are the facts: with 1.6% inflation, the Bank of Canada governor—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It is important for members to be able to follow and for the Chair to be able to follow what is being said. I am having difficulty hearing. I know people who are using translation devices are also having difficulty.

The hon. Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, from the top, please.