Debates of May 22nd, 2024

[The Speaker, Liberal, Greg Fergus]

It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington.

[Members sang the national anthem]

Vesak

[Chandra Arya, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last weekend I had the pleasure of hosting Vesak day on Parliament Hill, celebrating Buddha Day along with hundreds of Buddhist Canadians. Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha.

I would like to recognize and thank the spiritual leaders of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Ottawa, Ottawa Amitabha Buddhist Society of Canada and Hilda Jayewardenaramaya Buddhist Monastery for participating in and blessing the gathering. I give thanks for the artistic performances by groups from the Sinhalese Buddhist Congress of Canada and the Bangladeshi Canadian community. I also thank the children from Buddha's Light Dharma Drum Team and the choir group of the Buddha Light International Association for their wonderful performances.

Hungarian Canadian Award Winner

[Robert Gordon Kitchen, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, last night Candace Barta-Bonk was presented with the Knight's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary by the ambassador of Hungary to Canada.

The honour is given in recognition of Candace's value-creating activities in order to preserve the identity of Hungarians in Canada and to strengthen their cultural, linguistic and spiritual community, as well as her dedicated work to strengthen bilateral relations. Candace, a fourth-generation Hungarian Canadian, grew up in Moosomin and Kipling, Saskatchewan, where her family settled after immigrating in the 1880s.

In 2021, Candace was given the role of Hungarian honorary consul in Saskatchewan, and she continues to promote and celebrate her heritage and traditions through a variety of initiatives. She was instrumental in the restoration of the Bekevar Church, a local landmark in the Kipling area that helps to preserve the legacy of the historic Hungarian community.

I congratulate Candace for her achievement and thank her for all she continues to do on behalf of Hungarians in Saskatchewan.

Pontian Genocide

[Annie Koutrakis, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on May 19, we commemorated the Pontian genocide. On this day of remembrance, we pay tribute to the 350,000 lives lost and hundreds of thousands of others deported due to a tragedy systematically imposed by Turkey between 1914 and 1923. Some 700,000 people disappeared, Pontic families were massacred, a community that had been established for 2,600 years was eliminated. Pontic children, women and seniors were murdered. It was a genocide.

The genocide was part of the broader Greek genocide and was conducted in parallel to the Armenian genocide as part of Turkey's effort to cleanse it of non-Turkish inhabitants. It is our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with the survivors and their descendants, to bear witness to their suffering and to ensure that the truth of these atrocities is never obscured or denied.

The recognition of Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day reaffirms our commitment to truth, accountability and justice. I appeal to all Canadians to sign House of Commons petition e-4929 to officially recognize the entire Greek genocide.

Luc Sabourin

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the name of Luc Sabourin has resonated several times in the House. He is synonymous with integrity, courage and humanity.

Luc saw his professional life and his health destroyed after choosing to do the right thing: blowing the whistle on wrongdoing in the federal government. Alas, rather the punish the guilty, the system punished him, as it did so many others. This is a disgrace that should scandalize the House.

For a year now, in support of my Bill C‑290, Luc delivered powerful testimony to better protect whistle-blowers. A few days ago, he won the Centre for Free Expression's prestigious Peter Bryce Prize. Every year, this honour is bestowed upon a person who served the greater good by courageously speaking up about wrongdoing or abuses of the public and taxpayers' trust.

I call on the House to join me in congratulating Luc and in honouring whistle-blowers. We will continue to fight for these issues.

Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, May 18, last Saturday, was Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.

Fifteen years ago, on that same day, a large-scale massacre took place in Mullivaikkal.

Tens of thousands were tragically killed, despite the fact that the Sri Lankan government declared no-fire zones. Even today, many Tamils remain missing and displaced. In a day and age when 120 armed conflicts are currently ongoing in 35 countries, recognizing the Tamil genocide is absolutely essential.

To bring peace and stability, we need justice. It is for this reason that we recognize the Tamil genocide. It is for this reason that Canada last year applied strict sanctions against Sri Lankan officials. We all hope for a day when we have peace and security, when all live free of war.

Kyriakos Vogiatzakis

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

Mr. Speaker, Kyriakos Vogiatzakis, Kyri for short, owned the Cork & Flame restaurant in St. James. He loved his customers and they loved him. He always greeted them with a smile. He loved going from table to table just to chat. At the end of lunch or dinner, a tray of desserts would often show up compliments of the house. Every Christmas he donated hundreds of food hampers to families in need. He loved the community and they loved him back.

Tragically, on January 24, Kyri was murdered in cold blood at his restaurant. His assailant was on probation, with a record that included court order breaches, drug possession, possession of a weapon, uttering threats and obstructing or resisting a peace officer. Kyri's death is a symptom of all that is wrong with our revolving-door criminal justice system.

We will miss Kyri. My condolences go to his family. May his memory be a blessing.

Citizen Rescue in Squamish

[Patrick Weiler, Liberal, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize a local hero. On April 10, Chris Evans was on his way to work in Squamish when he detected smoke in the distance. As he got closer, he saw a house on fire, with a car in the driveway. Fearing that meant someone may be inside the house, he knocked on the door. Hearing no response, he quickly jumped into action, breaking down the door to search the home to see whether his suspicions were true. He found ninety-year-old Armand Constantin sleeping on the second floor. Chris was able to wake up a disoriented Armand and evacuate him from the burning building.

Perhaps it is a coincidence that Chris Evans shares a name with the actor who played the Marvel superhero Captain America, because that day his actions were heroic. Armand almost certainly would have died if not for Chris's selfless bravery. I hope all members of the House will join me in applauding this extraordinary act that gives new meaning to being a good Samaritan.

The Art of Courage

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, held annually on May 25, Africa Day celebrates the continent's diversity, rich heritage and culture. At the same time, Africa Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the challenges that many regions in Africa face and how we can help.

Harnessing the humanizing power of art to be a catalyst for change, Heather Haynes founded The Art of Courage, creating a platform for storytelling through art to create awareness, educate and advocate to raise funds to change lives. Heather operates through her art and heart, and today the organization has grown to support over 1,000 people, primarily women and children in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Today we welcome Heather Haynes and The Art of Courage to Parliament Hill. The Art of Courage is on display in the Speaker's gallery from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. I encourage all members to stop by and learn of the incredible work Heather and her colleagues have been participating in for over 15 years.

Foreign Affairs

[Melissa Lantsman, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the application by the ICC chief prosecutor to arrest Israel's democratically elected leaders for protecting their country from terrorism, simply put, is outrageous.

The false equivalency drawn between the elected leaders of a democracy and the dictatorial genocidal Hamas terrorists should be a wake-up call to all western countries as a willful distortion of history. Conservatives unequivocally reject it. What is even more appalling is that the Prime Minister opted against taking a clear stance in rejecting it. By playing both sides, he is allowing terrorism to win and is enabling the violence that is rampant in our streets and the chaos that is happening on our campuses.

The arrest warrant is based on a falsehood that is trying to invert history, and the Prime Minister should, just for once, take a clear position. He should have the courage to denounce the warrant and state unequivocally what side Canada is on. I know he cannot do it, and now everyone else does too.

Pontian Genocide

[Emmanuella Lambropoulos, Liberal, Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on May 19, Greeks across Canada and around the world commemorated the 105th anniversary of the Pontic genocide. The Pontic genocide, which was part of the Greek genocide, was a deliberate and systematic destruction of the indigenous Greek community in the Pontus region, and was the result of an Ottoman government-issued decree that led to the systematic annihilation and brutal extermination of over 353 Pontic Greek men, women and children between 1914 and 1923.

I would like to thank the Pontian Association of Montreal, the Canadian Hellenic Congress, the Hellenic Congress of Quebec and all other associations that have been working hard to ensure that we never forget. I would like to thank the Canadian Hellenic Congress for initiating the petition to have the Greek genocide officially recognized by the Government of Canada, and I encourage all Greek Canadians to sign it to have their voices heard.

Today I rise in the House to pay tribute to the victims, survivors and families of the Pontian genocide.

May they live on forever in our memory.

Αιωνία η μνήμη.

Carbon Tax

[Eric Melillo, Conservative, Kenora, ON]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of an NDP-Liberal government, Canadians are having to cancel their summer vacations as the price of a simple road trip is now unaffordable.

The government's inflationary deficits and high-tax agenda have driven up fuel costs nearly 50%, and now the Liberals are planning to quadruple the carbon tax and make everything even more expensive, but common-sense Conservatives are calling for the government to give Canadians a break. We are calling on the government to axe the carbon tax, the federal fuel tax and the GST on gas and diesel until Labour Day. That would save Ontario families $592 this summer and would allow for more people to be able to take a family trip.

We already know that Canadians cannot afford the costly coalition and its carbon tax, and we know that only Conservatives will bring home lower prices for all Canadians by axing the tax for everyone, everywhere, for good.

The Economy

[Rosemarie Falk, Conservative, Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the current Prime Minister, Canadians are struggling just to put food on the table. Food insecurity continues to worsen across this country, and today, Food Banks Canada's poverty report card confirms it. Nearly 50% of Canadians feel financially worse off than last year, 25% of Canadians are going hungry, and food banks have seen a 50% increase since 2021. It is the current Prime Minister's record.

The NDP-Liberal government's inflationary spending and taxes are driving up the cost of living, and the Prime Minister's plan is just to keep hiking up the carbon tax, making gas, heating and groceries even more expensive. Canadians are desperate, and the Prime Minister is not listening.

The Prime Minister is simply not worth the cost. Only common-sense Conservatives would cap the spending, axe the carbon tax and bring home lower prices for all Canadians.

Tribute to 21 People of Haitian Origin

[Emmanuel Dubourg, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on the 221st anniversary of the creation of the flag of the Republic of Haiti, I had the great privilege of decorating 21 persons of Haitian origin here in the House of Commons of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the privilege of allowing me to participate in this ceremony with other dignitaries. These people contributed to Canada in exceptional ways over the last 60 years.

The following countrywomen were honoured: Renée Amilcar, Dominique Anglade, Nicole Baptiste, Carla Beauvais, Yvette Bonny, Fabienne Colas, Simone Méttelus, Claudie Mompoint, Ruth Pierre-Paul, Dorothy Rhau and Marjorie Villefranche. The following countrymen were honoured: Fernando Belton, Angelo Cadet, Jean-Claude Icart, Fayolle Jean, Sacha-Wilky Mérazil, Jérôme Méttelus, Harry-Max Prochette, Frantz Saintellemy, Dickens Saint-Vil and Wilson Sanon.

Avèw Map Maché

Women and Gender Equality

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, abortion rights are human rights, but the Liberals continue to deny equal access to that right. In New Brunswick, the Prime Minister has done nothing to address the total absence of abortion clinics throughout the province, and in Manitoba, we are at risk of losing our only abortion clinic.

A right is only as good as the ability to access it, but this is merely a dream in many rural and remote areas. Meanwhile, Conservatives, including the Conservative leader, voted in favour of backdoor legislation to threaten abortion rights, while other Conservatives have tabled anti-choice petitions and have spoken at anti-choice rallies.

The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada has listed every Conservative MP as anti-choice after they unanimously supported Bill C-311. When abortion rights are under attack, words are not enough. The government must act to ensure everyone who needs a safe, trauma-informed abortion has access to receive one.

Advance Requests for Medical Assistance in Dying

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in February 2023 the joint committee recommended, by a strong majority, that individuals suffering from such diseases as Alzheimer's or dementia be allowed to make an advance request for medical assistance in dying.

Although 83% of Canadians support advance requests, the health and justice ministers are unequalled in their complete lack of political courage and total failure to understand the file. They still expect afflicted patients to bear the burden of having to argue their case in court.

Today, buoyed by the support of the Collège des médecins du Québec, the Barreau du Québec, the Chambre des notaires du Québec and a number of associations, we again call on the government to allow Quebec and any province so inclined to move forward with advance requests.

To those who are suffering, like Ms. Demontigny, I would just like to say that we will never forget them and we will never abandon them.

The Economy

[Michelle Ferreri, Conservative, Peterborough—Kawartha, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today's report from Food Banks Canada is shocking, jaw-dropping and sad. Almost 44% of the population is spending more than 30% of their income on housing. The Liberal-NDP government is failing Canadians. When that much of one's income is going to housing, if one can even find housing, there is barely anything left for other necessities, like food.

Two million people a month are accessing food banks in Canada. One in three of those visitors is a child. Canadians are doing everything that is asked of them. They are going to work, and they are paying outrageous taxes, but they still cannot get ahead. Why? It is because the Prime Minister spends and then gaslights Canadians, telling them that Canada is not broken and that everything is great.

Canadians deserve housing and food they can afford. Conservatives will restore that grade from an F to an A, and we will bring it home so that everybody can afford to live.

UNITE Network

[Sonia Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week I had the honour of attending the high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance at the United Nations in New York as a director of UNITE, an international parliamentary organization for global public health.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is one of the top ten global public health threats to humanity and causes more than five million deaths per year. Political leadership is essential for raising public awareness.

We must work together to combat AMR. This is why the Government of Canada established a PHAC AMR task force and provided an important, multi-year funding commitment of over $28 million in 2021. This government recognizes the need to continue supporting research efforts in budget 2024 by allocating $1.8 billion to core research grant funding.

I encourage everyone to work together for global public health in Canada and around the world.

The Economy

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of debt, taxes and inflation courtesy of the Prime Minister and the Bloc Québécois, Canadians are hungry, literally.

According to a report by Food Banks Canada, 50% of Canadians report that their situation is worse than last year. One-quarter of Canada's young adults have to rely on food banks.

Why is the Prime Minister forcing Canadians to feed his morbidly obese government when they cannot even feed themselves?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the opposition leader would have a bit more credibility if he did not oppose our school food program, which will help 400,000 children across the country eat better.

We are here to invest in and assist families, while the Conservatives have nothing but cuts and austerity to offer. The same applies to our investments in dental care, which have allowed nearly 100,000 seniors to access dental care free of charge. This too is being opposed by the Conservatives. We are here to help Canadians when it comes to affordability.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, his school food program has provided zero meals, zero. It feeds the bureaucracy, not the children.

Let us talk about austerity. In the past three months, 25% of young adults have had to go to a food bank. That is austerity. Some 50% of Canadians say they are worse off than they were last year and 25% are experiencing food insecurity. That is austerity.

How is it that the government has money to spare while ordinary Canadians are struggling to get by?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, once again we see that the Conservatives are just trying to score political points by capitalizing on the challenges Canadians are facing. However, when it comes time to vote for investments that will help families—like the school food program, increasing the number of $10-a-day child care spaces across the country and dental care programs for seniors—they vote against them.

They are proposing austerity measures to avoid investing in Canadians who need it. We understand that creating economic growth means investing in families who need it.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister's taxes, debt, inflation and promises, Canadians are literally hungry. According to the Food Bank's Canada report, 50% of Canadians say they are worse off than a year ago. 25% have food insecurity, and a quarter of young adults went to a food bank in three months alone this year.

Why is it that Canadians who cannot feed themselves have to keep feeding his morbidly obese government?

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, it would be slightly more credible to hear the Conservatives concern about the challenges Canadians are facing if they had not stood and voted against more spaces in child care and voted against our dental care program, which two million seniors have signed up for and has now delivered close to 100,000 dental appointments for seniors in just 22 days. They have also stood against our school food program that is going to help 400,000 more kids across the country have full bellies as they start their school day.

These are investments that they are opposed to and that we are there to help Canadians with.

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, it is a school food program that has not served a single solitary meal, even though it was promised three years ago. What the Prime Minister is feeding is bureaucracy, not children. If all of his spending were working, then why is it that Food Banks Canada reported today that 25% of young adults had to go to a food bank in three months alone, and two million Canadians are lined up every month?

With so many empty stomachs, is it not just a little bit wacko to be raising carbon taxes on farmers and food?