Debates of Nov. 18th, 2024

Liberal

Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, doxing is the unauthorized and malicious release of private information to harm or intimidate. It infringes on Canadians' rights to privacy and free expression, leaving victims vulnerable to threats, harassment and harm. Canadians targeted by doxing may face unjust penalties from employers, professional associations or regulatory bodies based on reputational harm rather than verified misconduct.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees freedom of expression, yet these rights are compromised when individuals face threats from doxing and intimidation. Protective legislation is necessary to penalize doxing perpetrators and deter these abuses, ensuring Canadians' rights and security in the digital age.

I call on Canada to criminalize doxing and prevent individuals from facing penalties solely because of reputational harm caused by doxing.

Jake LetkemanStatements by Members

Conservative

Gary Vidal Conservative Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK

Mr. Speaker, it is with bittersweet thankfulness that I stand and recognize the life and legacy of Dr. Jake Letkeman. A pillar of our communities, he was a once-in-a-lifetime, larger-than-life man who knew that his faith had called him to live a life in service to others. He did that joyfully and with abundant love.

Dr. Jake recognized the health care struggles in Saskatchewan's rural north. He delivered thousands of babies and spent decades travelling to provide ultrasounds and other maternal care to expectant mothers. Holidays for Jake, his wife Myrna and his family would often mean being overseas, helping in clinics in smaller communities or helping rebuild homes after a hurricane.

One of the most lasting legacies Jake left in the community of Meadow Lake was as a founder of Door of Hope, a food bank and life skills organization that serves the most vulnerable and marginalized people in our community.

He was a man who was known by some as father, papa or doctor, but known by all as friend. Today, I ask all to celebrate the life of Dr. Jake Letkeman with me.

Urban Infrastructure ProjectStatements by Members

Liberal

Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we talk so much about division, I am going to share a wonderful story of what happens when we bring people together.

Last week, we literally moved the mouth of the Don River and reconnected it to Lake Ontario. I got to join with members from provincial, federal and municipal government, including the Mississaugas of the Credit as indigenous partners and hereditary owners of that land, to make a big splash about a big moment in urban renewal.

When we look at it, it is one of the largest infrastructure projects in all North America. It protects homes in my community of south Leslieville from floods and unlocks land for housing. In fact, when the project is done, it will be home to over 100,000 people, but in the first phase, there will be housing for 14,000 people, including affordable rental homes.

We are going to open a new park, and everyone can check it out next summer. It is a big moment. I thank Waterfront Toronto for all of its work to bring us together.

Lendemain de VeilleStatements by Members

Bloc

Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Salaberry—Suroît, QC

Mr. Speaker, on October 24, the band Lendemain de Veille won “group of the year” at the Gala Country, which celebrates French-language country music.

This is a big deal. These musicians are as talented as they are high-spirited, and that is saying a lot. Lendemain de Veille won this honour for the third year in a row, but their fans will not be surprised to hear that they have won again. Anyone who has seen them perform live knows that their talent is unforgettable. With a mix of original songs and covers of the best classics in the Quebec canon, no one ever wants their show to end. I remember their very first appearance at the legendary Fête nationale party in Saint‑Étienne‑de‑Beauharnois. The band members were so young and already so passionate.

They have not stopped ever since. Life has not slowed them down or tamed their spirit, and thank goodness for that. I thank Lendemain de Veille for spreading joy throughout Quebec. I am so proud to say that these boys are from my neck of the woods.

Le Diable à cinqStatements by Members

November 18th, 2024 / 2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Stéphane Lauzon Liberal Argenteuil—La Petite-Nation, QC

Mr. Speaker, I recently learned that the folk music group Le Diable à cinq has been selected to represent Canada at World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan. This group is well known in Quebec and is originally from Ripon, which is in my riding.

This is one of the most prestigious events in the world, and it will be held in May 2025. What an honour. The group will be part of the National Arts Centre delegation alongside Pierre Lapointe, Lisa LeBlanc, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Elisapie, to name but a few. These artists will perform at the Canada Pavilion several times during the Expo.

Since it was formed, Le Diable à cinq has played nearly 150 concerts across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. I am proud of them. They are worthy ambassadors of our country and of the beautiful Petite Nation region in particular. I commend them for sharing their love of traditional music, and I hope they have a great time at Expo 2025.

John Glass WilliamsStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a great parliamentarian. Sadly, John Glass Williams passed away in July. A 15-year veteran of the House of Commons, John served the people of St. Albert with class and distinction. Born in Scotland, John immigrated to Canada as a young man to continue a career in finance, working for the Royal Bank before starting his own accounting business. In 1993, he answered the call to serve his country and was elected as a Reform Party member of Parliament.

John served as the chair of the public accounts committee for many years, exposing corruption in the sponsorship scandal and publishing his widely read “Waste Report”. After retiring, he continued in public service, leading the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption. John was a mentor to me from when I was very young, and I will always remember our get-togethers at his farm outside Morinville.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, particularly his wife Christine and his children, Allan, Munro and Vienna. John was also a man of deeply held Christian convictions, and his courageous stand for the truth, both secular and spiritual, will not be forgotten. He has served his country and his God well. May he rest in peace.

Michel BreauStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mona Fortier Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Michel Breau, a man with a big heart, a proud Acadian, and an exceptional community builder in Ottawa—Vanier, who passed away on October 29 after a battle with cancer.

He was an entrepreneur at heart who owned his own car rental and maintenance franchise. A long-time volunteer with the Gloucester Cougars, Michel was dedicated to giving young people every opportunity to play hockey. As president of the Gloucester Centre Minor Hockey Association, he focused his efforts on making hockey accessible and inclusive for all. He even played an essential role in helping children from war zones in Syria discover hockey. To this day, many of them still play in the league. Michel was a true champion. He always gave generously to others and continued to work with great passion throughout his illness.

To his parents, the Hon. Herb Breau and Anne Breau, his son Matthew, his sister Hélène, his wife Ruthanne and his children, Sarah and Jackson, I offer my sincere condolences. Michel will be sorely missed. I thank him for inspiring us every day.

Human Rights AdvocateStatements by Members

Liberal

Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, media freedom advocate and newspaper publisher Jimmy Lai prepares to turn 77, yet he remains unjustly imprisoned in Hong Kong. By the end of this year, he will have endured four years in solitary confinement; by UN standards, this is a condition deemed torture when prolonged beyond 15 days. Mr. Lai has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations by the Chinese government, giving voice to those seeking a brighter future for Hong Kong. He now faces a life sentence, deprived of precious time with his family and enduring deteriorating health. In December 2023, the House unanimously called for Mr. Lai's release and an end to his prosecution. I continue to stand in solidarity with Mr. Lai and reaffirm this call.

Space FlightStatements by Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON

Mr. Speaker, ever since the first Canadian travelled to space in 1984, our Canadian astronauts have held a special place in our hearts. Names such as Chris Hadfield and Roberta Bondar are synonymous with the values of courage, curiosity and hard work. Just 14 Canadian men and women have travelled to space, but that number will soon be 15 thanks to Henry Wolfond. On Friday, he will venture beyond the limits of this Earth as part of Blue Origin's New Shepard mission.

A successful businessman, lawyer, fierce community advocate and family man, Henry will soon be able to add astronaut to his already impressive CV. This is not the apex of his incredible story; it is just the beginning. I would tell him that the sky is the limit, but for someone as extraordinary as he is, even that is not enough. As Henry embarks on this mission, he will see the Earth from above, without any dividing lines or the conflicts that separate us, on his journey of his own campaign to end the pervasive anti-Semitism on this planet. We stand with him, looking up. I say to Hank, good luck, Godspeed and may all parts of the mission be a resounding success.

Canadian Museum for Human RightsStatements by Members

Liberal

Ben Carr Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I was honoured to join senior leaders from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in celebrating the 10th year that this iconic building has been open to the public. The CMHR has played a profound role in helping us understand who we are, where we have been and where the road to progress lies for the future. Through beautifully crafted exhibits and world-class educational programming, visitors are introduced to powerful stories and narratives that shed light on our shared humanity.

In particular, the museum's advancement in helping us understand the history of Indian residential schools has played a major role in supporting the journey towards truth and reconciliation. The witness blanket, made from hundreds of items reclaimed from residential schools, churches and other cultural displays across Canada, is but one of the many moving displays that ground visitors in the importance of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Our history is not void of failures that have caused immense harm to generations, both past and present. The CMHR plays a critical role in helping us move forward with hope and conviction in pursuit of a better world for all. I congratulate the CMHR on 10 years of service to our beautiful country.

Anti-SemitismStatements by Members

Conservative

Marty Morantz Conservative Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia—Headingley, MB

Mr. Speaker, the anti-Semitic violence threatening the lives of Jewish Canadians has now come to Parliament Hill. A homemade bomb had been built by ISIS terrorists, and the RCMP foiled a plot to detonate it during last December's rally for Israel. After nine years under the Prime Minister, hate crimes have increased by 251%, with 66% being directed towards Jews. Synagogues and Jewish schools are being firebombed.

Canada's Jewish community has implored the government to act against this rising tide of hate. The Conservative members of the public safety committee have asked for an emergency meeting to root out this evil. Every Jew has the right to live in safety and freedom from harm; shamefully, however, Liberal members are blocking the meeting. Frankly, it is disgusting.

Will the Liberal members of the public safety committee do their job and keep Canada's Jews safe before a bomb actually goes off?

HousingStatements by Members

Conservative

Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC

Mr. Speaker, nine years with this Liberal government in power is nine years of housing failure.

The “Liberal Bloc” has doubled rents, mortgage payments and down payments. A recent Habitat for Humanity survey revealed that 88% of Canadian renters believe that home ownership is out of reach, and 75% of them are sacrificing basic needs like food and education to pay the rent. All this is happening in Canada.

We are in the middle of a housing crisis, and Quebeckers are no longer getting by. Last week, the Journal de Montréal reported on one Montreal man who is on the brink of homelessness after a 30-year career with a bank. His savings were swallowed up by exorbitant rents. A few days later, the newspaper shared the story of a young doctor. The headline read: “For this 29-year-old chiropractor, moving back in with his parents was a ‘smart move’”.

The Liberals have dropped the ball when it comes to housing. The Conservatives will fix the problem.

Housing Accelerator FundStatements by Members

Liberal

Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Mr. Speaker, Christmas is still more than a month away; however, with great enthusiasm and hope, Conservative MPs have already written to the big guy. Their hope is for a stocking filled with the housing accelerator money that their communities will need to build new homes. Alas, these Conservative MPs, their mayors and their communities have been grinched by the leader of the official opposition. Slinking down the chimney, the Grinch has removed all their hope. Not even Cindy Lou Who can change the Grinch's mind these days. “Only six affordable homes for Canada,” says the Grinch. However, the big guy is leading the chorus and delivering the homes that Canada needs, such as in Sault Ste. Marie, where we are building and refurbishing over 1,000 homes. With 175 agreements in place, Liberals are fast-tracking the construction of 750,000 more homes across Canada.

Canada Water AgencyStatements by Members

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canada is home to some of the planet's most vital resources. Chief among them is our abundance of fresh water. Our Great Lakes, aquifers and rivers are a critical part of our ecosystem and economy. Managing our water sources sustainably is vital, particularly in the face of potentially unsustainable industrial usage.

According to a Statistics Canada study, industrial water use accounts for 91.2% of our country's total water use, and it continues to rise.

While the federal government recently launched the Canada Water Agency, the agency's mandate must remain focused on keeping a close eye on the impact of climate change and industrial policy on our freshwater resources, particularly after the American president-elect commented on diverting Canadian water to the U.S. In Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, this work will have an impact on Lake Huron, Lake Superior and hundreds of lakes, rivers and aquifers. We must treat this issue with urgency in order to protect and manage this vital resource for generations.

Human RightsStatements by Members

Bloc

Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC

Mr. Speaker, this morning, The Globe and Mail reported that Irwin Cotler, the former attorney general of Canada, was the target of an assassination plot by the Iranian regime.

For over a month, Mr. Cotler has been living under police protection because an authoritarian regime wants him dead. Mr. Cotler, a human rights activist and staunch opponent of racism and anti-Semitism, had provoked the wrath of the Iranian regime by calling for the IRGC to be listed as a terrorist entity in Canada and around the world. The IRGC assisted with preparations for the October 7 attack and is responsible for the deaths of young women in Iran, among others.

We will never stand by while people of whatever political stripe are threatened with death because of their opinions. We unreservedly condemn the death threats against Mr. Cotler, and we condemn the increasing willingness of foreign powers to commit political assassinations on Canadian and Quebec soil.

I want Mr. Cotler to know that he is not alone.

Carbon TaxStatements by Members

Conservative

Philip Lawrence Conservative Northumberland—Peterborough South, ON

Mr. Speaker, during his taxpayer-funded stay in South America, the Prime Minister attacked Canadians for not liking his costly carbon tax and even accused them of spreading misinformation. Meanwhile, his radical environment minister not only plans to quadruple the carbon tax, but also plans to introduce a brand new one, a global shipping tax. That is carbon tax number three. All the while, Canadians are lining up at food banks and struggling just to get by.

Enough is enough. Canadians are fed up with the government's high-tax, high-spend and high-hypocrisy agenda. It is time to elect a common-sense Conservative government. It is time to restore the promise of Canada. It is time for a carbon tax election.

HousingStatements by Members

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about a bad idea. Members will know that the leader of the Conservative Party had another idea and this one is a real winner.

Let us talk about the housing accelerator fund. What is the leader of the Conservative Party is going to say? That he is going to kill it. He is going to get rid of that particular program. He needs to start listening to what the Conservatives are actually saying. Let me tell him what they are saying. One said, “If by any chance I attended a municipal housing announcement funded by a Liberal initiative, I would be in a lot of trouble”. Another one said, “It's extremely frustrating”. One Conservative source told Radio-Canada, “MPs are being stopped from helping their cities for partisan reasons.”

The leader of the Conservative Party needs to free up his Conservatives, the Progressive Conservatives, to get behind the housing accelerator fund, or better yet do a flip-flop and support the program.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the Prime Minister is still acting like a pyromaniac firefighter, this time on immigration. He blames “bad actors”, to use his own words, for decisions he made that destroyed our once great immigration system. He decided to open the door to 725% more asylum claims in nine years. He decided to approve a 211% increase in international students. He even allowed foreign workers to enter communities with high unemployment.

If he wants to find out who the bad actor is, could he just look in a mirror?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I think Canadians expect a responsible government to take decisive action.

We saw the plan for immigration levels that I tabled two weeks ago. It proposes a 20% reduction in the number of permanent residents. The Parliamentary Budget Officer said that the plan would reduce housing needs by 50%. It is a responsible plan.

The member opposite wants to call an election. He has no plan, except maybe to do some math. He said he was going to build six housing units. As far as I know, that is as high as he can count.

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is again a pyromaniac masquerading as a firefighter, this time on immigration. He blames bad actors for his decisions that destroyed our immigration system. He decided to open the door to 726% more asylum claims. He decided to approve 211% more international students. He decided to lift the ban on temporary foreign workers in communities with already high unemployment. If the Prime Minister is hunting for the “bad actors” who ruined the system, will he have a look in the mirror?

Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions

Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs Québec

Liberal

Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I do not think we will take any lessons from someone who has spent the last 20 years lighting fires in the House of Commons. We put forward a plan two weeks ago to reduce immigration levels by 20%. Canadians expect us to be responsible and to react to their needs. That is what we are doing with this plan. The parliamentary budget officer himself has said that this new plan will reduce housing needs by 50%. That is what Canadians want. It is responsible.

EthicsOral Questions