House of Commons Hansard #387 of the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was policy.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Protection of the Right to Adequate Housing Act First reading of Bill C-423. The bill would enshrine the right to housing into the National Housing Strategy Act and provide tools to stop renovictions and unfair practices by corporate landlords. 200 words.
Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs Members debate the government's handling of the SDTC fund, which Conservatives allege is a "green slush fund" marked by conflicts of interest and mismanagement. Conservatives demand the release of documents, criticizing the government's spending, the rising cost of living, the carbon tax's impact on farmers, and crime policy. Liberals defend their fiscal record and challenge Conservative claims on issues like CBSA jobs and "fixing the budget". NDP and Bloc members also participate, addressing various government policies and Conservative criticisms. 18400 words, 2 hours.
Alleged Intimidation During Proceedings of the House—Speaker's RulingPrivilegeOral Questions
The Speaker Greg Fergus
That is a very good question. I have heard that language being used before in this place, and it was considered acceptable at the time. As, of course, members know, that language has been used here before.
The hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby is rising on a point of order.
Alleged Intimidation During Proceedings of the House—Speaker's RulingPrivilegeOral Questions
NDP
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, that language was utterly inappropriate from my colleague, the official opposition House leader. It borders on misogyny. I would suggest, given the Conservatives' history of being drunk and disorderly in the House of Commons, they should take lessons from your ruling.
Alleged Intimidation During Proceedings of the House—Speaker's RulingPrivilegeOral Questions
The Speaker Greg Fergus
I appreciate the hon. for Regina—Qu'Appelle. However, I do not want to open up a debate on this issue between the two members.
I will ask again that if members have matters to discuss on this particular matter and on what had happened on Thursday, November 28 at the vote, they would please come speak to me in the chair. Of course, I have taken into account all the issues that have been raised before, and I think the Chair has been very generous in terms of hearing concerns that were raised by multiple members on the question.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 12 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Dominique Vien Conservative Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 26th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in relation to Bill C‑378, an act amending the Canada Labour Code in regard to complaints by former employees.
The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.
Iqwinder Gaheer Liberal Mississauga—Malton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2024-2025.
Joël Lightbound Liberal Louis-Hébert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology in relation to the motion adopted on Thursday, December 5, on telecommunication companies' service contract practices.
George Chahal Liberal Calgary Skyview, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, entitled “Concerns Arising from Parliamentary Budget Officer's Report”.
Bonita Zarrillo NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-423, An Act to amend the National Housing Strategy Act (right to adequate housing).
Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to protect Canadians from greedy corporate landlords whose tactics unfairly raise rents, evict tenants and harm Canadians. I thank the member for Vancouver East for seconding the bill and for her work to shine a light on the financialization of housing in Canada.
The bill would enshrine the fundamental human right to housing into the National Housing Strategy Act. It is one of the fundamental rights that the Liberal government deliberately left out of that very same housing act. The bill would provide the government with the tools to stop renovictions, demovictions and the unfair business practices that are making people homeless.
The NDP wants the housing needs of people to be prioritized over the profits of predatory corporate landlords, REITs and even unethical Liberal government pension funds. The Liberals' national housing strategy has failed to uphold people's rights to adequate housing, in favour of making real estate investors rich. Like the Conservatives before them, Liberals prioritize multi-million dollar corporations over fundamental human rights of Canadians.
Everyone, regardless of income, background or circumstance, deserves access to a safe, accessible and affordable place to call home. This is the human right that the bill would enshrine and make a reality.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have three very important petitions to present today. The first is on behalf of concerned Canadians who are bringing to the House's attention the fact that Conservative members of Parliament for Brantford—Brant, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock and Lambton—Kent—Middlesex went on a taxpayer-funded trip to France in June. It is deeply troubling that the duly elected members were not allowed to speak to fellow MPs while there. In fact, they were forced to return early from the trip.
The Canadian petitioners are calling upon the Conservative members of Parliament who wasted taxpayers' money, and who put their party leadership rules above their duty to taxpayers, to repay in full those wasted costs.
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is, again, another very important petition on behalf of Canadians. It is calling to the attention of the House that the media has reported that Conservative members of Parliament are not allowed to speak publicly without the approval of their leader. It is deeply troubling that duly elected members are put in this position. The petitioners also indicate that the Conservative leader has proven himself to be insincere and that he preaches freedom to speak but denies it for his own caucus.
The petitioning Canadians are calling upon the leader of the Conservative Party to allow his members of Parliament—
Leader of the Conservative Party of CanadaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont
The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is rising on a point of order.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether you could just clarify the rules around members of Parliament, in particular members of the Liberal caucus, signing their own petitions.
Leader of the Conservative Party of CanadaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont
While I appreciate the help, I just want to make sure that everyone summarizes the petitions they are presenting to the House.
The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands has the floor.
Leader of the Conservative Party of CanadaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling the petitions momentarily, and the member can then see the signatures that are on it.
The petitioning residents of Canada are calling upon the leader of the Conservative Party to allow his members of Parliament to provide support to their communities, to access the housing accelerator fund and to remove the gags.
Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, a third petition, again another really important one from Canadians, brings to the House's attention the fact that the RCMP has reported that the Government of India has interfered in Canadian elections. There is deeply troubling testimony with regard to foreign interference, from which Canadians learn that Conservative MPs are involved in foreign interference.
The petitioning Canadian citizens are calling upon the leader of the Conservative Party to immediately obtain his security clearance and take action to prevent foreign governments from interfering in Canadian affairs and targeting Canadians.
I am very proud to present the petitions on behalf of Canadians.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am presenting three petitions today. The first one is on the prison needle exchange program. Constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon are against the government's providing needles so inmates can do illegal drugs. That is not safe and it is not good for correctional officers. It is not good for inmates. Petitioners are calling for that government policy to end.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on natural health products. Petitioners in Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon are calling upon the Government of Canada to reverse its attack on natural health products, which will decimate small businesses and a billion-dollar industry in Canada. Again, it is a policy that will hurt workers and businesses alike.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the third petition, petitioners are calling for further support for the Lets'emot Regional Recreation & Aquatic Centre, which brings together indigenous communities and the District of Kent to provide adequate recreational facilities in the District of Kent.
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, I stand to table a petition signed by residents of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and others near the region, who are calling on the Government of Canada to assist in the funding required to build a vital elders home facility in Wiikwemkoong. The petitioners note that funding has been received from the Government of Ontario, CMHC and community members, but a funding shortfall of $20 million remains.
Petitioners also note that the Government of Canada has also funded health care facilities in the largely indigenous community of Moosonee, a long-term care home for the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and a seniors long-term care facility in Rankin Inlet.
The current facility in Wiikwemkoong has reached the end of its life expectancy, and it is vital for the community to ensure that elders can stay in their community to share their knowledge and experience with younger generations. Petitioners indicate that this would actually impact their ability to also remain in close proximity to their family. They also do not want to be subjected to another era of assimilation.
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a petition signed by people in northern Ontario who are calling on the House of Commons to recognize the impact to their representation of reducing the number of electoral districts in the region following the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Their collective appeal is to ensure that the number of electoral districts in northern Ontario is maintained at 10 by modifying the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act. The petitioners are looking to the House to respect the Supreme Court of Canada's 1991 Carter decision, which states, “Effective representation and good government in this country compel that factors other than voter parity, such as geography and community interests, be taken into account in setting electoral boundaries.”
I want to thank Dr. Andréane Chénier for going out and getting a lot of signatures on this petition.
Sukh Dhaliwal Liberal Surrey Newton, BC
Mr. Speaker, 4,238 Canadians have signed this e-petition, and over 5,000 petitioners delivered a paper petition to me last Sunday.
The petitioners say, whereas the Air India bombing of June 23, 1985, which left 331 people dead, was the worst tragedy in the history of aviation terror before 9/11; whereas the victims' families continue to wait for justice and closure; whereas Sikhs in Canada widely believe that this was the handiwork of a foreign intelligence to discredit their political activism and undermine their advocacy work for human rights in India; whereas the recent development within the Sikh community in British Columbia gives credence to this perception; whereas the Canadian government is looking into the growing foreign interference in its political affairs; whereas the Sikhs are living under fear since the murder, or what I call assassination, of Surrey Delta gurdwara president Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023; and whereas, on September 18, 2023, the Prime Minister of Canada stated that there are credible allegations of a link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar; the petitioners, citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to order a fresh inquiry—
Public SafetyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker Chris d'Entremont
The petition is tabled. I would remind members that we have lots of members presenting petitions, so I want to make sure that presentations are as short as possible.
The hon. member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by the great people of Pickering—Uxbridge, Whitby and the Liberal Minister of Health's very own riding of Ajax. They call on the House to immediately repeal sections 500 to 504 of Bill C-47, which was passed last year. These amendments made to the Food and Drugs Act are new regulatory constraints on natural health products that millions of Canadians rely upon and has since affected their medical freedom of choice and the affordability of these products.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to rise to present a petition on behalf of the great people from the healthy-living riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke who are calling on the government to refrain from endorsing the so-called pandemic treaty drafted by the World Health Organization, which had never received a single debate or vote in the House of Commons. The concern is that, by agreeing to this legally binding treaty, Canada is signing away our own sovereignty, allowing UN bureaucrats, who are unaccountable to Canadians, the power to override our laws, rights and freedoms.