Debates of Nov. 1st, 2024

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I should have said the Leader of the Opposition. I am sorry. That was a slip. It is Friday morning.

We will continue to cut the taxes, and we will make life more affordable for Canadians.

[Alex Ruff, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will ask the chamber's indulgence on my comment this morning. I woke up happy, I guess, as I do not even know what the right word would be, to see that the Royal Canadian Legion has chosen Maureen Anderson as this year's National Silver Cross Mother. Her family and she, personally, have made more sacrifices for this country than most people understand. She, herself, served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and her late husband, Peter, started his military career right here on Parliament Hill in the regiment of The Canadian Guards, before joining The Royal Canadian Regiment.

She was selected as this year's National Silver Cross Mother because both her sons, Ron and Ryan, are gone, with PTSD being at fault. I had the honour and pleasure of serving with both Ron and Ryan in Afghanistan. There were no two finer soldiers or Canadians one could find in this whole country. I want to commend the Royal Canadian Legion on selecting such a worthy recipient to represent all those Silver Cross Mothers out there. I just wanted to get that on the record.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add something to that. The member mentioned some great people who have served this country. I would like to give a big round of applause for the gentleman in our ranks who served our country for many years, himself. He is shaking his head. He is not happy that I brought that up because he is a very humble man. I thank him for his many years of service. We all appreciate it.

[Ken Hardie, Liberal, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Speaker, of all the things that might be attributed to higher food costs, there are three things the hon. member did not mention, and I would like for him to comment on those. First, there is shrinkflation, which is when they cut the size of things but charge the same, if not a little more. The second is skimpflation, which is when they use cheaper products in the things that we buy, and they charge a little more. The third is profit, which big grocery has rung up right through the pandemic, and it is still doing that today.

Why is the member not commenting on those as contributing factors to the cost of food?

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as someone who has been in business for over 25 years, I am very familiar with what causes inflation. I am also very familiar that there is a very key point that the member opposite did not bring up about what is causing inflation and prices to rise, and that is the Liberal government.

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this is interesting. We found out this morning that Brookfield Asset Management, which is led by carbon tax Carney as its chair, has just moved its headquarters to New York. This is a guy who is advising the Prime Minister on economic issues, yet, seemingly, he does not have any confidence in our Canadian economy, so he is actually moving his head office to New York.

I wonder if the hon. member has some comments on that.

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be very quick, but it is a shame to hear that, and I will actually add to it.

Speaking of residents moving to the States, I recently, just a few weeks ago, had a doctor from Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte come to my office for a meeting. He informed me that he and many of doctors are looking at moving to the States due to the increase in taxes, especially the capital gains tax. He came into my office and said that. This was a doctor. I told him to please stay and to hang in there for a few more months. Once the Conservatives come into place, we will make sure life is more affordable.

Light the Night

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share the story of my constituent Josephine Crone. At just 20 years old, Josephine received the life-changing diagnosis of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Josephine, like so many, is a warrior, a quiet hero whose strength shines through even the darkest days. Her journey mirrors that of thousands of Canadians battling blood cancers. In 2024 alone, an estimated 6,600 Canadians will hear this difficult diagnosis. Last Saturday, I attended the Light the Night walk, where Josephine and others brought faces and stories to these numbers, showing us the courage, hope and heart behind each statistic.

I am committed to a future where the golden lights honouring those we have lost continue to inspire unwavering support for patients, survivors and the loved ones who walk beside them in this fight, and where more white lights of survival shine brightly.

All Saints’ Day

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, today is All Saints' Day, a tradition shared by many European cultures and various churches, especially the Catholic, Orthodox and Apostolic traditions. Central to this holy day is remembering all the saints and any believer who has accepted the Christian faith through Jesus Christ. Tradition calls us to visit cemeteries at sundown, to light candles and lay flowers, and to pray and share memories of those departed. For some Polish Canadians, we will share small loaves of bread called powalki.

In our overly busy and distracting digital world, it is about taking a moment to stop and remember and cherish our ancestors. This year, as in the past, my family will remember our daughter Lucy-Rose, who passed in 2018, and join the many families across Canada who continue to grieve for their lost children.

I wish every Canadian marking All Saints' Day a solemn and devout observance.

1984 Anti-Sikh Riots

[Randeep Sarai, Liberal, Surrey Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, 1984 is a year ingrained in the psyche of Sikhs across the world. Forty years ago this week, Sikhs were hunted across India by government-orchestrated mobs in a week-long genocidal campaign of violence.

The streets of Delhi saw Sikh families being identified by the use of voter lists, resulting in families being burned alive and women facing horrific forms of violence. The world saw Indian politicians and celebrities openly supporting and celebrating the massacre of Sikhs. This was followed by forced disappearances at the hands of the state and law enforcement, and the continued persecution and targeting of India's Sikh community. Unfortunately, 40 years later, justice for the survivors and victims continues to be denied. Instead, those officials who took part have been protected and awarded medals of honour for their roles.

We remember not only the thousands of Sikh families and children who were victims, but also the humanity of those who gave shelter to protect their Sikh friends during this horrific time. We will never forget 1984.

Gerard Janssen

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember Gerard Janssen, who we lost in July of this year. Gerard served with distinction as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for 13 years.

For more than 20 years after, as a member of the Port Alberni Toy Run charity, he dressed as Santa and led a procession of motorcycles through the streets of Port Alberni that fundraised for many. For many, myself included, he was a friend and a mentor. One of the beneficiaries of his counsel was my friend the honourable Josie Osborne, who remembers his advice to her: “Work hard, don't take yourself too seriously, listen to the people who elected you, take care of your friendships and relationships.” That was Gerard. He spoke from the heart, and his plain-spoken words of wisdom will be forever with us.

I thank Flo and the Janssen family for sharing Gerard with us all of these years.

Mississauga-Erin Mills Women's Council

[Iqra Khalid, Liberal, Mississauga—Erin Mills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the statistics on human trafficking in Canada are truly alarming. About 93% of victims are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and the greatest risk factor is being a woman. Between 2010 and 2020, 65% of police-reported human trafficking incidents occurred in Ontario.

Last week, the Mississauga-Erin Mills Women's Council held a panel discussion to address this issue. It brought together key stakeholders and raised awareness about what we can do in our daily lives, including recognizing the signs of trafficking and how to support victims.

The time for action is now. I call on all members of the House to work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable among us. I would like to thank the Mississauga-Erin Mills Women's Council for organizing this insightful event and for all the work that it does in our community.

Robert Sopuck

[Branden Leslie, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour a great Canadian, Robert Sopuck, who left us far too soon. This Saturday, we will come together to celebrate his extraordinary life, alongside his beloved wife Caroline, his family, his hunting partners and his many friends. Bob was a brilliant communicator. He was authentic, thoughtful and honest. He was a fierce defender of the rural way of life and the greatest champion hunters, anglers and trappers perhaps have ever known. He believed that all those who live, work and play on our natural landscapes are our best conservationists and the true environmentalists.

As an MP, he developed the recreational fisheries conservation partnerships program, and I believe it is safe to say that Bob saved more fish in this country than anybody else, ever. He was loved and admired by his family, his friends and all those he mentored.

Bob lived life to the fullest and we were privileged to be a part of it. We will miss him dearly and we will honour his legacy by carrying on his work in conservation, protecting the natural world and defending the rural way of life.

Media Literacy Week

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week was Media Literacy Week, dedicated to showcasing the power of digital literacy across Canada. In my riding of Ottawa Centre, MediaSmarts led an inspiring effort with its outstanding Break the Fake campaign, reviving the iconic house hippo to confront the rise of AI-generated deepfakes. This playful yet powerful symbol reminds us all to stay vigilant online.

Supported by the federal government, this campaign rolled out exciting new resources, including AI literacy guides, lesson plans and videos, all crafted to help Canadians identify and combat misinformation. The response was nothing short of remarkable.

Media Literacy Week made around four million social media impressions, with 170 partner organizations hosting interactive workshops and events in classrooms, libraries and community centres across the nation. Let us continue to work together to ensure we provide digital media literacy to all Canadians, to protect them from misinformation and disinformation.

Oral Health

[Stéphane Lauzon, Liberal, Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a good day because we reached a milestone. One million Canadians have received dental care from an oral health professional.

More than 22,340 oral and dental care professionals, or nearly 90% of them, have signed up for the program nationwide. Every year, many seniors end up in hospital because of untreated infections that could have been prevented if they had received treatment.

Thousands of seniors in Quebec and in my riding are benefiting from this program. At the same time as we were announcing our success, the leader of the Bloc Québécois called the dental plan “poison”. Bloc members voted against the dental plan.

Seniors save $731 a year. More than 8,420 seniors in Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation are benefiting from that. This incredible program helps Canadians stay healthy without having to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket. I invite the Bloc Québécois members to share my message with Quebeckers.

Public Safety

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's record on violent crime is abysmal. The situation has become so bad that police officials across the country are fact-checking the Prime Minister's fake news.

The Peel chief of police said, “Approximately 90 per cent of (the) firearms that we seize are directly traced back to the U.S. And I can say in reality the remaining 10 per cent are likely also from the U.S.” In Surrey, the police union sounded the alarm, saying, “The federal [government's] handgun freeze fails to address the real issue: the surge of illegal firearms coming across our borders and ending up in the hands of violent criminals”.

The only people impacted by the government's failed gun policies have been law-abiding hunters and sport shooters. Meanwhile, violent criminals and organized crime are benefiting from the government's “bail, not jail” policies. Canadians deserve a government that will bring home safe streets.

Only common-sense Conservatives have a plan to support our police, secure our borders, lock up the violent criminals and stop the crime.

Dental Care

[Tony Van Bynen, Liberal, Newmarket—Aurora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, over a million Canadians across this country have now visited a dental care services provider through the Canada dental care plan. I am delighted to share with my constituents in Newmarket—Aurora that the number of people receiving care under this plan will continue to rise, with over 977,000 people approved for the Canadian dental care plan in Ontario. This is phenomenal news. My constituents can now access dental care, many for the first time, putting their health first.

I have seen first-hand that the Canadian dental care plan is making a huge difference in the lives of Canadians who need it the most. I am proud that our government is delivering that.

Food Security

[Doug Shipley, Conservative, Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, life has never been more expensive for Canadians.

This week, Food Banks Canada released its annual hunger report. It found that visits to food banks are up 90% since 2019 and that over two million Canadians used food banks in a single month this year.

Just this week, Karen Shuh, the executive director of the Barrie Food Bank, stated that the food bank is now supporting upwards of 7,000 people per month, 37% of whom are children. Ms. Shuh went on to say, “As demand continues to rise, we face increasing challenges in keeping up, often needing to make difficult choices about which foods to cut in order to stretch our donations further.”

Despite record-smashing food bank use, the NDP-Liberals decided to hike their carbon tax by 23% earlier this spring, as part of their plan to quadruple the carbon tax. The Prime Minister must call a carbon tax election so a common-sense Conservative government can axe the tax on everything for everyone, everywhere, and bring home powerful paycheques and lower prices for all Canadians.

Housing

[Tako Van Popta, Conservative, Langley—Aldergrove, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Conservatives would cut the GST on new homes. The reviews are in and the plan is a blockbuster. Members should listen to this.

The Canadian Home Builders' Association says, “Today’s announcement by the Conservative Party...will make a big difference”. The West End Home Builders Association says, “Removing the GST for new homes purchased for under $1 million may be the most significant housing policy...in the past two decades.” The Canadian Real Estate Association says, “This proposed step is a positive move toward lowering building costs, increasing housing supply, and making homeownership more attainable”.

Mike Moffatt, the Prime Minister's housing adviser, says, “WOW.... I admire the boldness here. This will get more housing built.” Max Fawcett, a columnist, says, “Big announcement. [The Conservative] team understands how to reach and activate young voters way better than the Liberals or the NDP right now.”

Indeed, the NDP-Liberals are going to increase taxes. We will axe the tax and build the homes.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, Canadians were shocked to learn that agents of the Indian government were involved in serious crimes on Canadian soil, including the murder of Canadian citizens. These actions by a foreign government are a clear violation of Canada's sovereignty and an attack on the safety of Canadians, particularly those in the Sikh and South Asian community.

Yesterday the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security heard from leaders in the Sikh community who urged the Conservative Party leader to get his security clearance so he can learn of current and former politicians and party members who may have collaborated with hostile foreign powers.

We know the leader of the Conservative Party will not listen to the countless national security experts who have called on him to get his security clearance, but maybe he will listen to the leaders of a community that has been the target of foreign interference and finally get his security clearance so he can help protect Canada's national security.

Recognizing Canadians in Uniform

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize veterans, a community I hold in very high regard.

At the end of summer, I participated in the third annual Vancouver Island Run for Homeless Veterans, for the men and women who faithfully served our country in uniform and now find themselves on the street.

Last week, the annual vigil was held at the Cobble Hill cenotaph to honour Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and all those who have lost their lives on Canadian soil in non-combat situations. I introduced Bill C-333 to formally recognize October 22 as peacetime service and sacrifice memorial day in their memory. I urge the government to adopt this legislation.

Veterans Week will commence next week. We will honour Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8. I will be joining my community for Remembrance Day at the Duncan cenotaph, with representatives laying wreaths for me at the other four ceremonies in my riding.

As we wear our poppies in honour of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, let us also commit to standing with those who remain.

Best Cheese in Quebec

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with immense pride today that we celebrate the triumph of Grey Owl cheese, produced by Le Détour cheese factory in Témiscouata‑sur‑le‑Lac.

This culinary gem was recently crowned the best cheese in Quebec by the jury of the prestigious Sélection Caseus competition, which recognizes the most remarkable creations in Quebec.

In direct competition with 197 other exceptional products from every region in Quebec, Grey Owl, with its creamy, refined and distinctive taste won over the taste buds of a jury made up of 25 experts.

This recognition highlights the excellence of the craftsmanship in the Lower St. Lawrence, as well as the expertise and know-how of the people of Témiscouata, who are the pride of our region.

Congratulations to Ginette Bégin, Mario Quirion and the entire team at Le Détour cheese factory for this culinary masterpiece that showcases the entire Lower St. Lawrence region.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Edmonton, AB]

Mr. Speaker, there is one person responsible for propping up the costly and corrupt Prime Minister, and that is the leader of the NDP. I remember when he ripped up his coalition agreement with the Prime Minister. It turns out it was nothing more than a stunt to scam voters right before a by-election.

This week, the leader of the NDP officially taped back together that agreement, but who can be surprised? After all, the leader of the NDP supports all of the disastrous policies of the Prime Minister, from the carbon tax and inflationary deficits to flooding our streets with hard drugs. He is nothing more than a sellout.

Call a carbon tax election.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Vance Badawey, Liberal, Niagara Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, foreign interference is an issue that is detrimental to our national security and to the safety of all Canadians. National security experts, like former directors of CSIS Richard Fadden and Ward Elcock, have already urged all party leaders to get their national security clearance so they can view and act on intelligence.

Yesterday, the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security heard from prominent leaders in the Sikh community who urged the Conservative Party leader to follow the example of all other party leaders and get his national security clearance so he can protect Canadians from foreign interference in his own party. However, on this issue, the leader of the Conservative Party has chosen wilful blindness. In doing so, he continues to put Canada's national security at risk. That is not leadership.

Canadians expect and deserve better. Once again, I guess the rumours are true.