Debates of Dec. 3rd, 2024

Alleged Intimidation during Proceedings of the House

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, if I am allowed to speak and continue, I will do that.

The unique thing would be my perspective, given that I was standing right here, eight seats away from where the incident happened. It is categorically false that there were hundreds of Conservative MPs here at that time. That is just not true.

Second of all, I was standing right here when the member stormed all the way down here. The poor guy holding the mace did not really know what to do. He was standing there wondering what was going on. I watched the member, this many feet away, storm all the way down here with a very confrontational and aggressive comportment.

I certainly would not be one to lecture others about decorum when I am in the course of doing my job as a member of Parliament, standing in my place as an advocate for my constituents, but that is certainly a major distinction from storming all the way down here, with an elevated voice toward the Speaker, all of the pages and everyone around them.

More and more Conservative MPs left the chamber while that was happening. There were Conservatives at the very back who were asking what was going on and saying that the House was adjourned, so let us be done. The NDP members then made accusatory and false accusations of our deputy leader. The member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes came over here and sat eight seats away from me, in his own seat. At that point, the member came back here and was joined by at least three members from over there. They rushed over the table, to my male colleague, who was sitting down, who had walked up and sat down, and they stood over him aggressively and physically, over the front of the desk and with their voices raised, pointed down at him.

I can be heard in the video footage that has gone around saying, “He's sitting down.” No one in their right mind and with seeing eyeballs can make the argument that the person who was being a bully and intimidating another was the person sitting in his seat with three or four others standing over top of him with their voices elevated, pointing down and yelling like that. There is just no one in their right mind, and this is shown in video footage, that would say this could be concluded or perceived to be anything other than those members of Parliament, who were on their feet, physically and verbally bending over and intimidating the member sitting in his seat. That is backed up by the comments of the member for Kelowna—Lake Country, who sits right beside that member.

I cannot remember the name of her riding, and this is not her actual last name, but Ferrari—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The member is not allowed to say the first or last name of another member.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, I thought I was saying a different last name.

However, just like the member for Peterborough—Kawartha, I too have had many professional jobs before I was elected to this place almost a decade ago. This is somewhat like the incident where we all pretended that the Prime Minister did not do what he did in our first or second year of being elected here, when he stormed down to that end because he was mad about the length of time the vote was taking. Our then whip, Gord Brown, was frog-marched by him down here, but was too much of a gracious man to say anything. What happened—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

The member is going into some past information. If the hon. member has anything else to add, I invite her to do so, because a lot of what she has indicated has already been raised. Also, the Speaker was here, so he saw what was going on. He experienced it, and I am sure he will be able to provide more context. We also have lots of video. I would ask the hon. member to wrap it up.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, what I dearly hope is that we do not run into a situation where he experienced it differently and that we all pretend that what we cannot see with our functional brains and our seeing eyeballs is the opposite of what happened.

The members for Peterborough—Kawartha and Kelowna—Lake Country are tough women. None of us are shrinking violets. Many of us have gone through challenging things in our lives, including being in unsafe environments, and sometimes physically and verbally intimidating situations. I can speak for myself in that regard. It makes me allergic to bullies as an adult.

However, I share the comments they made. Never in my life have I been in a workplace where that kind of thing could happen and where there are no consequences. I really am looking to hear what the consequences are for members behaving in a way that is blindingly and obviously physically and verbally intimidating in a workplace.

Also, I will conclude by saying that this place is one of vigorous debate. It is one of where we have a duty to represent our constituents on the most important policy and political decisions that impact every day of their lives. These debates will get hot. These votes will be controversial. There will be lots of back-and-forth between all of us. That is the heat of the political frying pan we all volunteer to jump into. If people cannot take it, they should probably get out of it. I hope there will be—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

This is really going into debate. The information was provided before and has already been submitted. I appreciate all of the additional input that members have provided, but for the most part, a lot of this has been debate. As I have said, the Speaker was here. We have lots of video to go through, and I am sure that a decision is forthcoming.

The House will now resume with the remaining business under Routine Proceedings.

The hon. member for Lakeland is again rising on a point of order.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Madam Speaker, the new thing, though, is my very close and direct perspective on everything, which is a unique perspective. The new thing I am really asking for is what the consequences will be.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

We will hopefully see an answer to that, based on the decision that will be rendered. As we have just witnessed, members do get a little hot under the collar sometimes, and sometimes they do things that they may regret later or that are not acceptable in the House. Therefore, I would just ask members to please be respectful of each other.

Falun Gong

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is from residents living here in Canada. They say that Falun Gong is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline that consists of meditation, exercise and moral teachings based on the principles of truth, compassion and tolerance. In July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party launched an intensive nationwide persecution campaign to eradicate Falun Gong and hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in forced labour camps, brainwashing centres and prisons, where torture and abuse are routine and thousands have died as a result.

Canadian lawyer David Matas and former Canadian secretary of state for the Asia-Pacific David Kilgour conducted an investigation in 2006 that concluded that the Chinese regime and its agencies throughout China have put to death a large number, in the tens of thousands, of Falun Gong practitioners of conscience. Their vital organs were seized involuntarily for sale at a high price. Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting has received about 1.5 million petition signatures from over 50 countries and presented them to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for immediate action to end the unethical practice of forced organ harvesting in China and an end of the persecution of the Falun Gong.

The European Parliament passed a resolution condemning organ harvesting abuses in China and calls on the Government of China to immediately end the practice of harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience.

Therefore, the undersigned petitioners request the Canadian Parliament and government to pass a resolution to establish measures to stop the Chinese Communist regime's crime of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners for their organs, amend Canadian legislation to combat forced organ harvesting and publicly call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Madam Speaker, I also have a petition which is indicating, first of all, that Louis Roy of the Quebec college of physicians recommended expanding euthanasia to babies from birth to one year of age who come into the world with severe deformities and very serious syndromes. The petitioners state that this proposal for the legalized killing of infants is deeply disturbing to many Canadians and that infanticide is always wrong.

The undersigned citizens and residents of Canada call on the Government of Canada to block any attempt to allow the killing of children.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

I would remind members to summarize the petitions as opposed to reading exactly what the petition says.

Celiac Disease

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Madam Speaker, I am tabling a petition on behalf of over 27,000 Canadians who are calling for tax relief for those living with celiac disease. Celiac disease affects one in every 100 Canadians, forcing them to live on a gluten-free diet that can be very expensive. The present medical exemption tax credit requires applicants to provide receipts, making it overly burdensome. Only one in five Canadians living with celiac have claimed the tax credit.

The petitioners therefore call for the creation of an annual $1,000 refundable tax credit for Canadians with celiac disease. I want to thank Celiac Canada and everyone who signed this petition. As a founding member of the all-party celiac caucus, I am proud to present it to the House.

Taxation

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition. The petitioners call on the government and the Minister of Finance to scrap plans to increase the capital gains inclusion rate to 66.6%. They note that increasing the capital gains inclusion rate will put Canada and Canadian business at a disadvantage. It is estimated that this change will have an impact on one in five Canadian businesses over the next decade. Finally, they note that a rise in capital gains taxes would strain health care resources, limit access to affordable housing options, exacerbate financial challenges for farmers and compromise retirement savings for Canadians.

Public Safety

[Dan Mazier, Conservative, Dauphin—Swan River—Neepawa, MB]

Madam Speaker, it is always an honour to present a petition on behalf of constituents.

On behalf of the people of Swan River, Manitoba, I rise for the 57th time to present a petition on the rising rate of crime. The community of Swan River is struggling with crime in the area. Statistics Canada reports that, after nine years of the Liberal government, violent crime has risen 50% and gang-related homicides have nearly doubled. Within the last five years, the crime severity index in Swan River has increased by over 50%. Over 18 months, four individuals in Swan River were responsible for 309 total offences, 53 of which were violent offences. This is why the people of Swan River are demanding jail, not bail, for repeat violent offenders.

The people of Swan River demand that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies, which directly threaten their livelihoods and community.

I support the good people of Swan River.

Human Rights in India

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present today.

The first petition is on behalf of the many Canadians who are concerned about the human rights protections in India. The petitioners state that, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, various actors are supporting and enforcing sectarian policies seeking to establish India as a Hindu state.

They state that Christians in India are being targeted by extremists, who are vandalizing their churches, attacking church workers and threatening or humiliating their congregations. They also state that crimes against the Dalit groups, including Dalit women and girls, are increasing. Moreover, they state that Indian Muslims are at risk of genocide, assault and sexual violence.

The petitioners are asking the Canadian government to ensure that all trade deals with India are premised on mandatory human rights provisions, that extremists be sanctioned and that the government promote a respectful dialogue between Canada and India.

Human Rights

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Madam Speaker, the next petition I have to present is from Canadians from across the country who are concerned about human rights protections in Turkey, Pakistan and Bahrain.

The petitioners state that Turkish, Pakistani and Bahraini officials have committed gross human rights violations against thousands of Turks, including eight Turkish Canadians. They state that Turkish officials have killed hundreds, including Gökhan Açikkollu. They state that Turkish officials have wrongfully detained over 300,000 people without reason.

The petitioners state that multiple human rights organizations have confirmed the gross human rights violations in Turkey. They are asking the Government of Canada to closely monitor these human rights violations in Turkey and sanction the Turkish officials who committed violations against the eight Turkish Canadians. They call on the Turkish, Pakistani and Bahraini governments to end all human rights violations in their respective country.

Human Organ Trafficking

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Madam Speaker, the last petition I have to present today is from Canadians across the country who want to draw to the attention of the House of Commons the forced organ harvesting and persecution of the Falun Gong. Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in forced labour camps, brainwashing centres and prisons, in which torture and abuse are routine and thousands have died.

They also want to call the attention of the House the work of the late David Kilgour, who conducted an investigation in 2006. It was concluded that the Chinese regime and its agencies throughout China have put to death a large number of Falun Gong practitioners of conscience and that their vital organs were seized involuntarily for sale at a high price.

The petitioners note that 1.5 million people from over 50 countries have signed petitions and presented them to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for immediate action to end the unethical practice of forced organ harvesting in China and persecution of the Falun Gong. As such, they ask the Government of Canada to pass a resolution establishing measures to stop the systematic murdering of Falun Gong practitioners for their organs, to amend Canadian legislation to combat forced organ harvesting and to publicly call for the end of the persecution of the Falun Gong in China.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, my colleague from Peace River—Westlock had so many petitions, I was afraid I would not get a chance, but here we go. I have a few petitions to present to the House today.

The first raises concern about the government's extreme euthanasia agenda, already the most liberal regime in the world. We see continuing proposals for further radical expansion, including one that draws the ire of the petitioners. It is a proposal to expand euthanasia to include “babies from birth to one year of age”. This proposal was made by Louis Roy of the Collège des médecins du Québec before a parliamentary committee.

This proposal for the legalized killing of infants is deeply disturbing to the many Canadians who believe it is always wrong to kill or wish the death of a child. The petitioners call on the House to block any attempt to legalize the killing of children in Canada.

Russia

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, the next petition is regarding human rights in Russia. Some aspects of this petition are a little dated, but it raises concern about the serious domestic repression in Russia, including violence and other measures targeting those who are advocating for freedom and democracy within Russia. We have seen, while Russia has been invading Ukraine, an escalating repression of democracy activists in Russia.

The petitioners want the House to stand with the people of Russia by working with allies to pressure the Russian government to uphold democratic and human rights norms. They want to see additional Magnitsky-style sanctions imposed against those who are undermining democracy and human rights in Russia.

Pornography

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, the next petition I am presenting is in support of Bill S-210, a bill that seeks to bring about meaningful age verification for those accessing sexually explicit material online. Bill S-210 had the unanimous support of the Senate and the support of a majority of the House at second reading.

The petitioners note that a significant portion of the sexually explicit material accessed online is not protected by any effective age verification method. The average age of first exposure to pornography is very young. It is, in fact, 11 or 12 years of age, so many young children are consuming this material who should not be. In fact, exposing children to sexual material is a form of child abuse. The petitioners also note that there is a great deal of research on harms associated with this early exposure, including reinforcement of gender stereotypes. These harms also include the development of attitudes favourable to harassment and violence, including sexual harassment and violence, especially towards women.

The petitioners also say that online age verification technology is increasingly sophisticated and can effectively ascertain the age of users without breaching their privacy rights in any way. Therefore, petitioners call on the House to pass Bill S-210, the protecting young persons from exposure to pornography act.

Falun Gong

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, the next petition highlights the horrific ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in the People's Republic of China. Falun Gong practitioners practise a spiritual discipline that emphasizes meditation and moral teachings based on the virtues of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance, yet they have faced horrific violent repression by the government. That repression goes back 25 years, and it includes forced organ harvesting.

The petitioners want to see the House do more to combat the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.

Eritrea

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Madam Speaker, I suspect this will be my final petition because of time.

This petition draws the attention of the House to human rights abuses in Eritrea, as well as actions of the Eritrean government that constitute foreign interference. Eritrea has been called the “North Korea of Africa”. There is a complete lack of basic political freedoms, and many have gone into exile. However, many of those in exile continue to face various forms of foreign interference, and their family members may be targeted with extortion as a result of the fact that members of their family are in exile.

The petitioners also note that Eritrea's government is an ally of Vladimir Putin.

Therefore, they want to see the government engage Eritrean political and human rights activists and pro-democracy groups, take a leadership role against Eritrea's human rights abuses and foreign interference activities, and enforce Canada's asylum law to prevent those who are associated with hostile regimes from being able to come to Canada. They also want to see strengthened sanctions against human rights abusers, and they are advocating for the release of various imprisoned parliamentarians and journalists in Eritrea.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand, please.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, NDP, Carol Hughes]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.