Debates of Nov. 8th, 2024

Remembrance Day

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, today, on the eve of Remembrance Day, I rise to pay tribute to Canada's past and present veterans, who have sacrificed so much.

Across our great country, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary courage, commitment and selflessness of the men and women who have served and continue to serve to protect our freedom and democracy.

Today, we also mark Indigenous Veterans Day. We recognize the bravery and sacrifices of indigenous veterans, paying our deepest respect and gratitude for their unwavering dedication to protecting our country's cherished values and rights.

In Ottawa Centre and in every community across the country, we are gathering on November 11 to lay wreaths, observe moments of silence and share stories of heroism, to keep the memory of our veterans alive.

Lest we forget.

Recognition of Military Service

[Rob Oliphant, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Madam Speaker, as we near the end of Veterans' Week and approach Remembrance Day, I want to take this time to recognize the brave men and women across Canada, particularly in my riding of Don Valley West, who have fought for this country.

Over the years, millions of Canadians have bravely fought in World War I and World War II, in the Korean War, in Iraq and in Afghanistan. More than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces members have served in international peacekeeping efforts in dozens of countries over the decades.

The world is dangerous. There are growing international tensions, and we as Canadians owe our security both to our courageous veterans throughout history and to the over 63,000 active military personnel who currently dedicate their lives to keeping us safe.

I encourage everyone to attend a Remembrance Day ceremony this Monday to thank veterans and to pay tribute to those who currently serve in our armed forces.

Public Safety

[Don Stewart, Conservative, Toronto—St. Paul's, ON]

Madam Speaker, after nine years of the Liberal Prime Minister, violent crime is up, gun crime is up and home invasions are up in Toronto and the GTA. Canadians no longer feel safe on the streets, and some communities are even hiring their own private security to patrol their neighbourhoods.

In Toronto, there have been 126 more shootings this year than there were last year. One of the victims, Trevor Dalton, is the brother of my staff member. This hits close to home in Toronto—St. Paul's. We have also seen cars stolen at gunpoint, homes invaded with guns and a police officer shot at Yonge and Eglinton.

The government has done nothing to stop the iron pipeline of illegal guns coming from the United States, which make up 85% of those seized by Toronto police officers. What the NDP-Liberals have done is make life easier for repeat violent criminals with their catch-and-release bail policies. Only the Conservatives have a plan to stop the crime and bring home safe streets.

Recognition of Indigenous Veterans

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Madam Speaker, on November 8, Canadians pay tribute to the first nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, all of whom have served Canada in times of war and peace for more than 200 years.

Thousands of indigenous people have proudly served in uniform. However, despite their service and their sacrifice on the front lines, indigenous veterans were subjected to repeated injustice and discrimination. Often, they were denied access to the benefits and supports given to other veterans, making their transition back to civilian life even more difficult. Decades of advocacy and activism led to a formal apology and compensation from the federal government in 2002.

On Indigenous Veterans Day, we honour the service, struggle, courage and sacrifice of all those who serve at home, around the world and across generations.

[Member spoke in Mi'kmaq and provided the following text:]

Welaliek Smaknisk ujit tan teli Melkita'tioq.

[Member provided the following translation:]

I thank indigenous veterans for their bravery.

[English]

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Madam Speaker, actions speak louder than words. Just a few short weeks ago, the NDP leader said, “The fact is, the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people.” Instead of listening to the will of the people he claims to represent, the sellout leader of the NDP continues to prop up the corrupt Prime Minister.

As it turns out, when he claimed that he had ripped up his coalition deal with the Liberals, it was all just a big Hollywood stunt. He is complicit in every Liberal scandal and failed Liberal policy: inflationary deficits, the failed drug legalization experiment, giving hard drugs to kids instead of treatment and the hug-a-thug catch-and-release policies that have lead to a 50% increase in violent crime.

Every day the Prime Minister remains in power is because of the sellout NDP leader. It is time for him to put his money where his mouth is, stop being Twitter tough and join us in calling for a carbon tax election.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

Although they did not elicit any reaction, I want to remind members to be very careful with the words they use and to be respectful toward other members.

Indigenous Procurement

[Martin Shields, Conservative, Bow River, AB]

Madam Speaker, the House is seized with the question everybody wants to know: Who is Randy? After months of speculation, there is yet another astonishing twist in the fraudulent indigenous procurement scandal that has seen billions of dollars shelled out to people pretending to be indigenous for financial gain. Just yesterday, news broke that the Liberal minister for Edmonton Centre's company bid on federal contracts while claiming to be indigenous-owned.

This is not the first time the Liberal minister has clouded his identity. When discussing government contracts, his business partner said the name Randy appeared several times due to autocorrect. Then he refused to say who the other Randy was.

After nine years of the NDP-Liberal government, it has never been so good to be a Liberal insider. Even the Minister of Employment thinks it is okay to take advantage of indigenous businesses. The Prime Minister needs to remove him from cabinet and recover those taxpayers' dollars, or the common-sense Conservatives will root out their corruption after a carbon tax election.

Recognition of Military Service

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

Madam Speaker, this Remembrance Week, we do more than remember those who sacrificed for our country; we also remember why they served.

My father's family was in the Dutch resistance during World War II. He was just a little boy, but he never forgot the liberation. My father got his first candy from a Canadian soldier. Particularly today, after what happened last night in Amsterdam, it is more important than ever that we learn the lessons of history and never again allow xenophobia and hatred to take hold.

We need to defend and protect our pluralism, democracy and shared humanity. For all of those who served, for the women who had to fight just to stand shoulder to shoulder, for indigenous veterans who faced discrimination, for 2SLGBTQI+ veterans who were purged, for Persian Gulf War veterans who are still fighting for recognition, for those who came home with visible and invisible wounds and for those who never came home at all, we honour and thank them. Lest we forget.

Overcoming Global Challenges

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Madam Speaker, with the Trump election, I hear the words of Antonio Gramsci: “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” It is a time of monsters when the world watches a genocide in real time and does nothing. It is a time of monsters when our world is on fire and our government bankrolls the planet burners.

The Trump election was all about empowering the monsters, about validating blame and hate in order to ignore the immense challenges we face. However, Canadian democracy is also toxified by those who would chase the algorithms of rage rather than doing the hard work of building community.

Evil has always fed on stupidity, and they only succeed if we give them space, so stay focused. A new world is being born. Our job is to birth that world into a better place, to step up and resist the monsters. No pasarán.

National Philanthropy Day

[Gabriel Ste-Marie, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

Madam Speaker, November 15 is National Philanthropy Day. It is a day for us to celebrate the agents of change who make an important contribution to our communities. Their engagement makes the world a better place in so many ways. Over and over again, I am impressed by the positive impact that community organizations can have in our communities when given the means to get involved. I am thinking of the young people who can start the school year with dignity or discover they can enjoy a sport, music or nature by spending a week at a summer camp, for example. I am thinking of how buildings and land are transformed into community projects, like PAX Habitat in Joliette. I am thinking of all the work that Philanthropie Lanaudière does.

To philanthropy professionals, donors, volunteers and those who sometimes need a helping hand, and to everyone here, I wish you an excellent National Philanthropy Day.

Remembrance Day

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Rocky Ridge, AB]

Madam Speaker, Monday is Remembrance Day, the day when we pause to remember those who serve, those who continue to serve, those injured in body or mind, and those who gave their lives in service to Canada. Canada was built on eternal foundational values, values that include freedom, democracy, the rule of law, pluralism, peace and orderliness, yet our way of life has often been threatened or attacked, and it has had to be defended by the force of arms from those who would deny us our cherished values.

In Flanders Fields and the Somme, in Italy, on Juno Beach, the hills of Korea, on the DEW Line, in the air and on the seas, from Bosnia to Kandahar, to the war on ISIS, and today in Latvia, where brave Canadians lead a NATO battle group that gives reassurance to our allies, we who live in peace and comfort owe them a sacred obligation of remembrance, lest we forget.

Veterans' Week

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Madam Speaker, I rise in the House today in recognition of Veterans' Week.

Over the past nine years, our government has made the well-being of veterans and their families a top priority. We have invested over $11 billion to provide new and enhanced services for veterans. We have reduced wait times and improved quality. We have reduced veterans' homelessness in Canada. We have supported veterans facing mental health challenges and other service-related injuries and illnesses. We have ensured that the families and caregivers of veterans are taken care of. We have recognized the unique needs of the women and 2SLGBTQI+ veterans.

We know that there is much more to be done. By collaborating with veterans, other levels of government, not-for-profits and other stakeholders, we can ensure that veterans can live with the dignity and the respect that they have earned and that they deserve for their services through the dedication to our great country. Lest we forget.

We will remember them.

Natural Resources

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

Madam Speaker, the Liberals' cap on Canada's prosperity is a threat to the livelihood of all Canadians. All Canadians benefit from the support of our oil and gas sector, in terms of jobs, investment, royalties, taxes and, perhaps most importantly, our dollar. This production cap will mean fewer jobs, less investment, less taxes to fund hospitals and schools and higher inflation on everything, as our dollar collapses against the U.S. Meanwhile, there are more jobs for American energy workers and steelworkers.

Will the Liberal government finally put aside its obsession with grinding our energy sector down, unleash Canada's energy superpower and scrap the cap?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Madam Speaker, let us stick to the facts. Canada's overall emissions are the lowest they have been since 1997, the year Connor McDavid was born, and they are going down thanks to climate action undertaken by this Liberal government. The Alberta oil sands are by far the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and the Conservatives want to turn a blind eye to unlimited pollution in the oil sands. Alberta's far-right Premier, Danielle Smith, has spent $7 million on a misinformation campaign here in Ottawa to make polluting free again. That is $7 million that could have hired new teachers, new nurses, new doctors, but instead she is shilling for big oil and gas, and these Conservatives are helping her do it.

Climate Change

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

Madam Speaker, speaking of misinformation from this Liberal, the Environment Commissioner confirmed that the Liberal government is not on track to meet its own emissions reduction targets. Canadians are paying the cost of the Liberal government's carbon tax, and it is all pain and no gain. Under the Conservatives, Canada's economy grew and emissions actually went down, but under the Liberals, Canada's GDP per capita is collapsing under the weight of tax hikes. The Liberals' real plan to hit their emissions targets is to collapse our economy and move more jobs south of the border.

When will they have the courage to finally admit it, and let Canadians decide in a carbon tax election?

[Adam van Koeverden, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and to the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity]

Madam Speaker, that is not true. Under the Harper government, pollution went up and up and up. In million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, it went 716, 721, 738, 753. Under this government, we have brought it down under 750 million metric tons, after it was rising under the Harper government, to an average of under 700 million metric tons over the past three years. Under a Conservative government, emissions were projected to be 41% higher by 2030. Conservatives want to abandon our climate commitments to future generations and make polluting free again, and that is not okay.

The Economy

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

Madam Speaker, I will tell you what is not okay. The Salvation Army released yet another devastating report on rising food costs. The Liberals' tax and spend policies are driving up costs for farmers who grow the food, for truckers who ship the food and sadly, for families who eat the food. With malnutrition on the rise and scurvy making a comeback, it is no wonder that Canadians are dissatisfied with the menu of higher taxes and inflationary spending offered by the Liberals.

It is time to axe the tax so Canadians can afford to heat, eat and get themselves to work. When will the NDP-Liberal government let Canadians decide in a carbon tax election?

[Élisabeth Brière, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Families]

Madam Speaker, we know that we are going through expensive times. This is exactly why we have made investments like the Canada child benefit. This means that we send parents over $7,000 per year to help with the cost of raising kids. When the Conservative leader talks about cuts, he is saying that he will cut these cheques and make families worse off. Is this what families need? No, I do not think so. We fight for Canadians and we are there when times are tough.

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Madam Speaker, new data from Statistics Canada confirm this government has failed. GDP per capita has declined in eight of the last nine quarters, spreading poverty among Canadians, while growth in the United States has reached 2.8%. It is much stronger there than here. With its carbon tax hikes and capital gains tax, the government is once again driving down the per capita GDP, with the foreseeable impact on families.

The question is simple. Will the Prime Minister axe these tax hikes that are making Canadians poorer?

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, I get the feeling that Conservatives have an inferiority complex when it comes to the United States. The IMF predicts that Canada's growth will outpace growth in the United States next year. This morning, Statistics Canada revealed that we created 15,000 jobs in October. I hope my colleague understands that we will be there to ensure that the economy keeps growing. I am proud to be Canadian. Why can they not say that?

[Dominique Vien, Conservative, Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC]

Madam Speaker, The Economist has reported that Canada is now poorer than Alabama, which is the fourth-poorest state in the U.S. However, under this Liberal government, $450 billion in investments have left Canada to support the American economy, which, I would remind members, is growing faster than ours.

I have another very simple question. Will the Prime Minister cut taxes to support Canadian families? It is simple and easy to do.

[Rachel Bendayan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Madam Speaker, I do not think my colleague has seen the Statistics Canada figures that came out yesterday.

Statistics Canada revealed yesterday that our growth is even stronger than expected, and this is actually because of increased investments in Canada. Investors from around the world want to invest in Canada because we offer stability. That is what matters.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, we must not expect Donald Trump to temper his deportation promises. On the contrary, he confirmed in an interview yesterday that he would take action, regardless of the cost to the American economy. The risk of a wave of migration hitting our border is both real and high.

Meanwhile, in committee yesterday, as Trump was reiterating his threats, the Minister of Public Safety referred to Quebeckers' concerns as a misplaced fear. He said he would not take action until there was a crisis.

Is it really a misplaced fear to want to avoid more Roxham Roads?

[Francis Drouin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Madam Speaker, as the Minister of Public Safety said yesterday, both the RCMP and CBSA have operational plans for any eventuality. We can reassure the House. Our borders will be protected.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, the federal government may still be asleep at the switch, but there are some people at the border who are getting ready. I am not talking about the government, but about illegal human trafficking networks.

These networks are calling the shots at the border as they take advantage of the RCMP's lack of resources. They exploited asylum seekers back in the days of Roxham Road, and they are still exploiting people migrating from Canada to the United States now. On Tuesday, when Trump won, they popped the champagne. They are getting ready for a wave of migration.

When is the federal government going to get ready too?