Debates of Dec. 10th, 2024

Foreign Affairs

[Shafqat Ali, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada voted yes on the UN General Assembly resolution entitled “Peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine”. Canada joined 156 other nations calling for Israel's complete withdrawal from the Palestinian territories. The resolution demanded that Israel comply with international law, cease all settlement activities and evacuate settlers from the occupied Palestinian territory. Canada's vote reaffirmed our long-standing policy calling for the realization of the rights of the Palestinian people, primarily the right to self-determination and the right to their independent state. Consistent with that policy, and to demonstrate support for the resolution, it is now time for Canada to recognize the state of Palestine.

Serge Godon

[René Villemure, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Serge Godon, an outstanding citizen of Trois-Rivières.

Mr. Godon is what I would call a super-volunteer. He has been involved in numerous community activities in the Mauricie region since the early 1980s, including the Asterix soccer club in Trois-Rivières, the Notre-Dame-du-Cap sanctuary, the St-Louis-de-France and Ste-Bernadette scout associations, the Roland-Leclerc centre, and Artisans de la paix. However, the commitment that impresses me the most is his dedication to Noël du cœur, formerly known as Noël du pauvre, a cause he has been involved with for 44 years.

He is still working to create positive change in the community today with his children and grandchildren by his side. All of them were introduced to volunteering at a young age.

We need people like Mr. Godon all over Quebec, people who make a difference in the everyday lives of others.

I want to thank him for his exceptional volunteer work.

Elevation to Cardinal

[Patricia Lattanzio, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, as part of the Canadian delegation for Vatican City, I had the honour and privilege to attend the induction of His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo into the College of Cardinals, presided by His Holiness Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica.

Cardinal Leo is the 18th Canadian to be inducted into the College of Cardinals. Among his many accomplishments and important positions held, I am particularly proud to say that he taught religion at Collège Reine-Marie, located in my riding. A Montreal-born shepherd of Italian descent, he faithfully served the Montreal Catholic community for over a decade before being appointed as Archbishop of Toronto. His elevation to Cardinal is a testament to his years of dedication and leadership in both local and global faith communities. Our delegation, led by the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, played a key role in representing Canada, our communities and all Italian Canadians in this important and historic event.

I send my congratulations to Cardinal Leo.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, the Archbishop for Toronto was inducted into the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis at St. Peter's Basilica. I was honoured to attend the ceremony with the Canadian delegation on behalf of the Leader of the Opposition. Witnessing this historic ritual was a deeply spiritual experience and a moment of profound inspiration, hope and promise.

Born in Montreal to immigrant parents, Cardinal Leo was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Montreal. He also served in the Holy See's diplomatic service, and taught theology and spirituality. Appointed Archbishop of Toronto in 2023, he oversaw major ecclesiastical institutions and Catholic organizations. As one of the youngest Cardinals, he said that Church outreach must start from the heart and the Church must be a guide, but it must listen to what young people are saying.

This is a proud moment for Canadians. I send my congratulations to Cardinal Leo. Viva Cristo Rey.

Housing in Richmond Hill

[Majid Jowhari, Liberal, Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Richmond Hill is making important progress in affordable housing.

The Richmond Hill council recently adopted a community improvement plan for affordable housing and sustainable design, one of the nine initiatives that are part of the $31-million housing accelerator fund agreement the city has with the federal government.

This new program addresses housing affordability and environmental sustainability by providing incentives for developers to kick-start affordable rental housing projects, ensuring such housing is designed and operated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the long term.

This underscores how our housing accelerator fund is empowering municipalities, such as Richmond Hill, to meet local housing needs. I am proud my city is moving forward with key housing initiatives such as this one. Together, we are building a Richmond Hill where everyone and every family has a place to call home.

I wish a merry Christmas and happy holiday to all.

Omar Zia

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

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to recognize the passing of Omar Zia.

Omar Zia was a loving father, husband, son and brother. He dedicated his career to service in our community as a teacher in Peel School and, most recently, as principal of The Woodlands Secondary School. Omar was a mentor to so many young people in our community. He was breaking barriers, and he was an unwavering advocate for special education, anti-racism, volunteerism and youth. I had the privilege of working with him over the years and could see the compassion that he brought to work every single day.

Last week, he sadly passed away at the age of 49. This weekend, we gather to mourn, share stories and say goodbye to our friend and brother. I will leave members with Omar Zia's signature question, which guided his life's work: “How will you make a positive impact today?”

Justice

[Larry Brock, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberals, crime and chaos have taken over our streets and communities.

This past Sunday, Alisha Brooks was tragically gunned down by her boyfriend, a known serial abuser. As she was taking her final breath, this monster stood over her dead body and yelled at her. The accused, despite a history of gun possession, breaking and entering, weapon prohibition orders, and assaulting other women, was allowed to live in a halfway house.

This devastating loss is yet another glaring example of the NDP-Liberal government's failure to protect Canadians by prioritizing criminals over victims. This criminal should have never been free to harm anyone. Canadians are urgently calling for bail reform to allow law enforcement to do their job and protect communities, yet the justice minister ignores these claims and claims reform has already been achieved.

How many more lives must be lost before the government finally takes action? Only a Conservative government would keep violent criminals behind bars and bring home safe streets.

Surrey Police Service

[Sukh Dhaliwal, Liberal, Surrey—Newton, BC]

Mr. Speaker, November 29 marked a significant milestone in Surrey's history as the Surrey Police Service officially took command from the RCMP. The transition reflects the community's evolving needs for public safety. I extend my congratulations to the Surrey Police Service as it assumes this critical responsibility.

At the same time, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the RCMP for their dedicated service to the city of Surrey. Their unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of the residents has been exemplary and appreciated by all. As we move forward, let us honour the legacy of the RCMP while supporting Surrey's journey into a new era of community policing.

Ethics

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I stand before the House to address an issue that undermines public trust and accountability, namely the member for Edmonton Centre's involvement with Global Health Imports, a company he co-owned and falsely presented as indigenous-owned to exploit government procurement programs designed to benefit indigenous communities.

More troubling is that the Minister of Indigenous Services ignored clear warnings from her own auditors of rampant fraud and abuse. In the typical Ottawa-knows-best fashion, the minister prevented auditors from contacting businesses directly during verification investigations. Instead, they were forced to submit their inquiries to the department, which would then respond to the companies.

Despite the weakened audit process, the minister has been forced to remove 1,100 businesses from the indigenous business directory, highlighting the extent to which the Liberals have allowed things to spiral out of control. Canadians have had enough. It is time to allow voters to put an end to the incompetent government.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC]

Mr. Speaker, when we think about it, Parliament resembles Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol.

First, Canadians were visited by the ghost of the NDP past. It was the current NDP leader who made such a ruckus and tore up his costly NDP-Liberal coalition agreement, declaring that the Prime Minister was “too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people”.

Last night, the ghost of NDP present appeared. After vowing to defend workers' rights, even if that meant toppling the government, the NDP leader humiliated himself and his caucus by standing with the Prime Minister. So much for having the courage of their convictions.

We all know that the ghost of NDP future is busy securing his own pension at the expense of all Canadians. I say, bah humbug. Canadians want to put an end to the NDP-Liberal fiscal nightmare. Only a carbon tax election and a common-sense Conservative government would bring home lower prices and better results for Canadian workers. As Tiny Tim observed, “God bless us, everyone”, except, perhaps, this costly coalition.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas.

Scholars at Risk

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today, on Human Rights Day, I am pleased to recognize the important work of the Scholars at Risk at Carleton University, the University of Ottawa and around the country. This is a vital initiative that champions academic freedom, human rights and the protection of scholars facing threats worldwide. This program provides a safe haven at Canadian universities for hundreds of academics forced to flee their countries due to conflict, censorship or persecution.

The Scholars at Risk program exemplifies Canada's commitment to education, equity and global solidarity. By offering displaced scholars a chance to continue their work in a secure and supportive environment, this program contributes to the exchange of knowledge and ideas that strengthens both our academic institutions and our democracy. We must continue to support initiatives, such as Scholars at Risk, that uphold Canada's values on human rights on the global stage.

John Horgan

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour one of Canada's finest public servants, our ambassador to Germany and former premier of British Columbia, the late John Horgan.

Raised by a single mom, John overcame great challenges to rise to the highest levels of public office. His political career actually started in this place, staffing NDP MPs. In 1991, he left to assume important roles in the B.C. NDP government, ending as chief of staff to the premier. John entered elected office as an MLA in 2005 and ultimately became leader of the party, the official opposition, and then a very popular premier.

Throughout, John carved a deeply impactful path. He had an uncommon common touch. He had that rare ability to rise above partisanship and win the respect of his opponents. He was witty, kind and positive. In my view, John was the best off-the-cuff speaker in Canadian politics.

We extend our deepest condolences to John's beloved Ellie and their two sons. I thank John. His kind shall not pass this way again.

Quebec Film Industry

[Martin Champoux, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Iris gala, the grand celebration of the Quebec film industry, shone brightly again this year.

The biggest winner of the night was Gatineau director Ariane Louis‑Seize, whose film Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person has more than just a catchy title to recommend it. This black comedy won best picture, best first film, and best screenplay for the director and her co-writer Christine Doyon.

Monia Chokri won best director for The Nature of Love, while Théodore Pellerin and Ariane Castellanos were named best actors of the year.

The highlight of the evening was the tribute to director Denis Villeneuve. His talent makes us so proud, and it was moving to see him get so emotional at this gala.

The Iris gala reminded us that Quebec produces, per capita, some of the best filmmakers and actors in the world. Above all, it reminded us of the importance of ensuring that our public institutions provide adequate ongoing funding for the film industry, as this government has promised many times.

Long live the Quebec film industry.

Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada

[Eric Duncan, Conservative, Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians now know that all of the NDP's tough talk is worthless. Yesterday the New Democrats voted against a non-confidence motion in the Liberals that used the NDP leader's very own words against him. It meant nothing when he said he had ripped up his coalition deal with the Prime Minister. It meant nothing when he said, “the Liberals are too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people”.

It meant nothing when the NDP leader looked striking union workers in the eye and told them, just last month, “If there is any vote in Parliament that in any way impacts your rights, we are going to vote no.... Whether that vote is a confidence vote or not, whether it triggers an election or not, I'm telling...the Liberals right now, ‘You're never going to count on us if you're going to take away the rights of workers’.”

Well, the NDP did exactly the opposite yesterday, and Canadians know why: Just minutes ago, the Liberals and New Democrats teamed up to cancel the idea of the election's happening before the NDP leader gets his $2.3-million pension. Here is the deal: The NDP leader gets his pension, the Prime Minister gets power and Canadians get the bill.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, for years the Conservative leader has lectured Canadians about the virtue of tax cuts, yet when our government introduced a GST tax break to help Canadians, what did the Conservatives do? They voted against a tax break. It is like having a doctor who would not accept their own medical advice. The Conservative leader calls himself a champion for affordability, but when the time comes, he turns his back on giving Canadians a real break.

For whom does the Conservative leader want a tax break? Well, that would be his rich corporate donors. Time and time again in the House, when it is about supporting Canadians, we hear silly slogans and bumper sticker solutions. On this side of the House, we are absolutely, 100%, here for Canadians.

Finance

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is weak and has lost control. He has lost control of the borders, lost control of immigration, lost control of the public purse and lost control of his own cabinet.

We have learned that he is squabbling with the Minister of Finance, who wants a large deficit of $40 billion, while he wants an even larger deficit on steroids, bigger than $40 billion.

Who is going to win?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, when a government offers a dental care plan to seniors across the country, Canadians win. When the government offers Canadians a tax break for the next two months, Canadians win. When we are there to invest in a school food program, Canadian children and parents win.

Canadians are not winning when the Leader of the Opposition chooses to vote against all of these measures, when he refuses to help Canadians and when he cares only about his own future, not that of Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Finance disagrees. She promised that the deficit would not exceed $40 billion. She opposed the $6‑billion vote-buying Christmas gimmick, but the Prime Minister forced this inflationary policy on her anyway.

He admits that deficits fuel inflation, and that is why they promised to keep the deficit at $40 billion.

Will he keep his promise, yes or no?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, there is only one person in this room who objects to helping Canadians, and it is the Leader of the Opposition. He voted against a tax break for Canadians. He voted against dental care, against school food, against investments in the electric battery sector, and against our current investments in creating clean energy and more jobs across the country.

The Leader of the Opposition opposes measures that help Canadians because he is only in it for himself, not for Canadians.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the weak Prime Minister has lost control of the border, lost control of immigration and lost control of spending, debt and inflation. Now he has lost control of his own cabinet.

We have learned in the Globe and Mail today that the Prime Minister's finance minister is having her people speak out against him. She wants a large deficit of $40 billion. He, on the other hand, wants an even larger deficit on steroids, bigger than $40 billion.

We know that Canadians are going to lose from all the inflation, but which one of the two is going to win?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians lose when the Conservative leader votes against a dental plan for seniors. Canadians lose when he stands against a tax break for all Canadians over the next few months. Canadians lose when he blocks a school food program that is going to save parents $800 on groceries while putting more food in kids' bellies.

Every single time the Leader of the Opposition gets up in the House, he stands against supports for Canadians, against growing the economy and against supporting a better future for all Canadians, because he is only in it for himself.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is not clear that the finance minister is actually in it with the Prime Minister. According to the Globe and Mail, the Prime Minister's office “has given internal direction for an aggressive and possibly costly policy agenda” that threatens to “[blow] past the spending targets she has already...publicly [stated] for the government”.

The finance minister promised the deficit would be capped at $40 billion, acknowledging that if it went over it would cause even more inflation. That means hungry Canadians lined up at food banks.

Once again, will the government meet the minister's promise to keep the deficit under $40 billion?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, while we once again hear the Leader of the Opposition talking down Canada's economy and talking down Canadians, it looks like the Bank of Canada will be decreasing interest rates once again because inflation is back down within the target range.

The Leader of the Opposition is also perplexed, because he does not let his own MPs speak out on anything he does not stamp and approve. He has people follow him around with tape recorders so they do not speak to media about anything he does not pre-approve. That is not being Canadians' voices in this place.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

We were doing so very well for the first number of questions in terms of members' respecting that only one of their colleagues at a time had the floor. I will ask members to please withhold their comments and let one member speak and one member answer.

The hon. leader of the opposition has the floor.