House of Commons Hansard #71 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was amendments.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act Report stage of Bill C-12. The bill, formerly C-2, undergoes report stage debate with numerous amendments proposed regarding Canada's immigration system and border security. Members raise concerns about its omnibus nature and potential human rights impacts on refugees. The debate also covers asylum claims and the parliamentary process for considering amendments. 11700 words, 2 hours.
Arab Heritage Month Act Second reading of Bill S-227. The bill proposes to formally designate April as Arab Heritage Month across Canada. Proponents, including the Liberal and Bloc Québécois parties, highlight its importance for recognizing the contributions of over a million Arab Canadians and promoting education about their diverse cultures, languages, and traditions. The Conservative Party also supports the bill, emphasizing the value of celebrating heritage while fostering a unified Canadian identity. 7900 words, 1 hour.
Adjournment Debate - Natural Resources Arnold Viersen accuses the Liberals of blocking Alberta's economic growth by not guaranteeing pipeline construction and voting against their own energy agreement. Claude Guay defends the government's commitment to working with Alberta and British Columbia, and accuses the Conservatives of playing partisan games with the MOU. 1400 words, 10 minutes.
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, late in question period the member from Saskatchewan suggested that public servants had misled or lied to committee. I think that is something you should review.
Climate ChangeOral Questions
Public Sector Integrity CommissionerRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
It is my duty to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 38(3.3) of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, a case report of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner.
Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), this report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
David McGuinty LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Concerning the Status of Visiting Forces of Each State in the Territory of the Other State”, done at Manila on November 2, 2025.
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the “2024-2025 Reports by Federal Authorities with Obligations under Section 71 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012”.
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 response to five petitions. These petitions will be tabled in an electronic format.
Chris Bittle Liberal St. Catharines, ON
Mr. Speaker, I hope you will allow me a bit of latitude to wish my constituents very happy holidays and a very merry Christmas in St. Catharines.
I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, entitled “Question of Privilege Related to the Member for Wellington—Halton Hills and Other Members”.
Mandy Gull-Masty LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
moved that Bill S-2, An Act to amend the Indian Act (new registration entitlements), be read the first time.
(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)
Bardish Chagger Liberal Waterloo, ON
Mr. Speaker, Carmen Tam, a constituent of the riding of Waterloo, created Petition e-6695. Today I rise to present it on behalf of 14,921 petitioners.
Petitioners need the House and all Canadians to know that in 2025, online video game storefronts like Steam and Itch.io removed numerous games featuring adult sexual content because Mastercard, Visa and other payment platforms changed their policies to regulate adult entertainment. Petitioners share with the House that this sets an unsettling precedent of financial censorship. Petitioners are saying to let creators create and to let consumers choose. Payment processors should not be cultural gatekeepers.
The petition demands the protection of consumer choice and creative expression against financial censorship. Petitioners agree that laws and regulations, all rules, including our Standing Orders, should be followed, but payment platforms should not determine what a creator can create or a consumer can purchase.
Arpan Khanna Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on behalf of petitioners from Oxford County who are calling for the exemption from taxes for registered massage therapies, removing GST and HST from these services and putting them in line with physiotherapy and chiropractic care. Massage therapy is prescribed by medical professionals to help with chronic illnesses, occupational injuries and physical injuries, and to deal with stress.
Petitioners are calling for this to happen as soon as possible so any barriers could be removed for people who might need help. It would promote early intervention, reduce long-term care health care costs and would align with federal policy on modern clinical regulatory realities.
Petitioners ask this to be petitioned and passed as soon as possible.
Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise at the end of this session to table a petition.
The numerous signatories are calling on the Minister of Fisheries to take action on striped bass. I think it is important to note that striped bass used to be a protected species, but now they are plentiful, and that is creating problems for the ecosystem.
We are asking the minister to take swift action so as not to cause further problems for other species and to make this opportunity available to fishermen.
Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS
Mr. Speaker, I am rising to present Petition e-6931, spearheaded by my constituent Emily McEwan-Fujita, regarding the Gaelic language and culture.
The petition recognizes that Nova Scotia is the only region outside Scotland where the Gaelic language and culture remain everyday aspects of community life, and that Gaelic is a heritage language for 6 million Scottish Canadians.
The petitioners also point out that Gaelic publishing has taken place in Canada for nearly 200 years and that Gaelic publishers are struggling to access the federal supports they need. They call on the government to ensure that Gaelic publishers have proper access to federal funding.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table two petitions.
The first is a petition from Canadians who are calling for urgent federal investment on brain injury awareness, prevention and treatment.
Petitioners note that brain injuries can occur in many ways, from accidents to illness and strokes, and often result in serious physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioural effects. They further point out that brain injuries are frequently linked with other challenges, including substance use and homelessness, creating additional barriers for people affected.
It is estimated that 1.6 million Canadians are living with a brain injury today, yet there is no coordinated national response. The petitioners therefore call upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-206, the development of a national strategy on brain injuries, in order to improve awareness and prevention and to ensure better access to treatment, rehabilitation and recovery supports for Canadians living with the impacts of brain injury.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians deeply concerned about the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to restore aid for UN agencies and NGOs such as UNRWA and the World Food Programme, to permit safe entry for Canadian health care and humanitarian workers, and to ensure that all Canadian aid is delivered through internationally recognized, neutral and independent channels.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of petitioners who want this place to know that Hindus in Bangladesh have faced escalating violence, including arson, mob attacks, sexual assault, temple demolitions and forced displacement. There have been over 2,000 incidents in 2024 alone.
I want the petitioners to know their voices have certainly been heard here, that the voices of the oppressed are amplified, and that we are going to intervene before it is too late.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Hope, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand and present e-petition 6908, which was created by a constituent of mine, Aidan Gunter, a local angler. The petitioners are deeply concerned about a growing problem on the Chilliwack-Vedder River, including foul hooking. They call on the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to implement a maximum leader of approximately one metre for sport fishing on the Chilliwack-Vedder River, to increase enforcement monitoring, to ensure compliance and to protect wild salmon.
Carol Anstey Conservative Long Range Mountains, NL
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians with respect to the Liberal-Bloc amendments to Bill C-9. I was in my riding on the weekend and was absolutely overwhelmed with the number of constituents who brought this concern forward to me with hundreds of signatures.
In a country that is hungry and hurting, the government has prioritized attacking freedom of religion and freedom of expression over dealing with the broken Liberal bail system at justice committee. Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved.
The petitioners are calling on the government to protect religious freedom and stop the government overreach.
Religious FreedomPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I do not know if the member was reading verbatim from the petition. Some of it sounded like we were entering debate.
The hon. member for Riding Mountain.
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.
I rise on behalf of the people of Dauphin, Manitoba to present a petition on the rising rate of crime. Residents of Dauphin and the Parkland region are demanding that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies, which have fuelled a surge in crime throughout their communities. Petitioners are deeply concerned by what they read in the local papers, including a November report that Dauphin RCMP are searching for a wanted man with three separate arrest warrants. Our once-safe communities have now turned into places where people fear for their lives because the government's catch-and-release policies have allowed violent repeat offenders to be out on bail instead of in jail.
The people of Dauphin and the Parkland region demand that the Liberal government repeal its soft-on-crime policies, which directly threaten their livelihoods and their community. I fully support the people of Dauphin.
Dan Mazier Conservative Riding Mountain, MB
Mr. Speaker, for my second petition, I rise to present a petition on synthetic food dyes. Petitioners are concerned that synthetic food dyes are negatively impacting consumers' behaviour, memory and learning, especially among young children. That is why the petitioners are calling on the government to reform regulations that are permitting synthetic food dyes like red number 40, yellow number five, yellow number six, and red number three. Petitioners are calling for a reassessment of synthetic dyes under the Food and Drugs Act. They want to see regulations that respect experts and science-based approaches that prioritize protecting the health of Canadians.
Chak Au Conservative Richmond Centre—Marpole, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of Canadians concerned about the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese Communist Party. The petitioners note documented human rights abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture and forced organ harvesting, as well as incidents of transnational repression here in Canada, such as harassment, intimidation and recent threats against Shen Yun performances.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to publicly urge an end to the persecution, to impose sanctions on and pursue accountability for those responsible, and to take stronger measures to protect the Falun Gong community from foreign interference.
Ellis Ross Conservative Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise for the third time to present a petition on behalf of the residents of Skeena—Bulkley Valley, specifically law-abiding citizens who do not agree with the Liberals' confiscation plan. Provinces, police associations and now the Charlottetown council do not agree with the confiscation plan. In fact, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has estimated that this program will cost over $750 million.
The petitioners want the government to stop this confiscation plan in Skeena—Bulkley Valley and go after criminals.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, this year, the 80th anniversary of the falling of the nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House of Commons the fact that work towards nuclear disarmament has slowed and is sputtering to a halt.
The petitioners note that the arms control architecture has all but disintegrated with the termination of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that was in place with Iran, with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Open Skies Treaty between the U.S. and Russia, and with grim prospects for the renewal of the New START Treaty in 2026.
I will abbreviate the petitioners' concerns, but they are deep and command our attention: that we should follow the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence recommendations from 2018; that we should, as the Parliament of Canada, urge the Government of Canada to make nuclear disarmament a foreign policy and national defence priority for the security of the globe; that Canada should assume a leadership position within NATO to work for nuclear disarmament; and that Canada should, with haste, join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, TPNW, to negotiate, on an urgent basis, new legally binding treaties to achieve the ultimate goal, which is the complete elimination of the ultimate weapons of mass destruction, nuclear weapons.
Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition with respect to the approval and accessibility of brain cancer treatment and therapies.
The petitioners observe that an estimated 27 Canadians are diagnosed with a brain tumour each day. Canada is years behind the United States in approving new drugs and treatments, and even when new brain cancer therapies are approved, they are not always made equally accessible to patients across the country.
Accordingly, the petitioners call on the Government of Canada to work with the provinces and territories to ensure that drugs, medical devices and new therapies are accessible to brain cancer patients nationwide, and to remove unnecessary red tape so that brain cancer drugs can be approved more quickly.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition on behalf of residents of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who are frightened by the ever-increasing levels of organized violence, extortion, shootings and intimidation across the Lower Mainland. Daylight shootings, murders and violence underscore a broader public safety crisis.
These residents call upon the Government of Canada to reinforce the process of public reporting so Canadians can clearly see how federal, provincial and local governments are working together to prevent further increases in violent and organized crime.
The petitioners note that this petition is in honour of Darshan Sahsi, who was tragically murdered outside his home in my riding.