House of Commons Hansard #68 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was maid.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 1 Second reading of Bill C-15. The bill implements the budget, drawing Conservative criticism for increasing debt and inflation, undermining the resource economy, and failing to address affordability. Liberals assert the budget supports Canadians and creates jobs, while the Bloc Québécois objects to its length, perceived authoritarian measures, and the repeal of the Digital Services Tax Act. Debates also cover productivity, housing costs, and federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction. 17200 words, 2 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Criminal Code Second reading of Bill C-218. The bill seeks to indefinitely exclude individuals whose sole underlying condition is a mental disorder from MAID eligibility. Conservatives argue that mental illness can cloud judgment, making irremediability unpredictable, and that expanding MAID undermines suicide prevention. Liberals and the Bloc Québécois note that expert panels found MAID for mental illness implementable with safeguards and that Parliament already extended the exclusion to March 2027 for further review. 8100 words, 1 hour.
Julie Dzerowicz Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, entitled “Supplementary Estimates (B), 2025-26: Votes 1b and 10b under Department of Citizenship and Immigration”.
Jacob Mantle Conservative York—Durham, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to present a petition on behalf of the people of Port Perry and Blackstock, in my riding of York—Durham, on the Liberal gun confiscation program.
Residents in my riding draw attention to the fact that Canada already has a sensible firearms regulation system, that legal firearms owners are strong advocates for that system, and that criminals who illegally obtain firearms do not follow that system anyway. Therefore, residents in my riding are asking the government to do three things.
The first is to repeal the orders in council, former Bill C-21 and all other relevant laws that confiscate and prohibit firearms. The second is to cancel the gun confiscation scheme. The third is to apologize to legal firearms owners and compensate them for the loss of the use and enjoyment of their firearms.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of constituents from Hague, Osler, Warman and Rosthern, to table a petition on their behalf.
The petitioners believe that Canadians who find themselves struggling with mental illness should be given support and resources to address the challenges they face. They also believe that vulnerable Canadians deserve compassion and care, and should not be offered medical assistance in dying. As such, they call on this House to support Bill C-218.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am tabling this petition that was collected by Doctors Against Genocide. They state that under common article 1 of the Geneva Conventions, Canada is required to respect international humanitarian law.
The petitioners highlight that under article 59 of the fourth Geneva Convention, Israel as an occupying power must allow and facilitate humanitarian aid by impartial organizations. Canada's own international assistance accountability act requires that all Canadian foreign aid uphold human rights and international legal standards, and Israel's policy and actions violate all of these obligations.
The petitioners demand the full restoration of access to UN agencies and established humanitarian NGOs, including UNRWA and the World Food Programme. They call on Canada to support them and insist on safe and immediate entry for Canadian health care workers and other international humanitarian personnel to Palestine; to withhold Canadian funding from any entity or model that does not comply with the principles of neutrality, impartiality, independence and humanity; and to ensure that all Canadian aid to Gaza is delivered through internationally recognized humanitarian channels.
Sukhman Gill Conservative Abbotsford—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the residents of Abbotsford—South Langley, who are deeply concerned about the increasing prevalence of organized crime, extortion, shootings and intimidation in our community. Recent daylight shootings, homicides and other violent incidents underscore a broader, systemic public safety crisis in our country.
The petitioners mourn the tragic death of Darshan Singh Sahsi.
These residents call upon the Government of Canada to reinforce the process of public reporting so Canadians can clearly see how the federal and provincial governments and local municipalities are working together to further prevent increases in violent and organized crime.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today 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 Fraser Valley and 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 authorities are working together to prevent further increases in violent and organized crime.
Petitioners also outline that their call to action is in memory of Mr. Darshan Sahsi.
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is on behalf of angered parents who send their kids to Abbotsford Traditional School.
The parents are calling upon the Government of Canada to cease all funding to BC Housing until it comes to its senses and stops its plan to put a safe consumption site across the street from the school track. Parents are worried about their children's being exposed to drug paraphernalia and drugs writ large.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, I will present a number of petitions today.
The first petition is from a number of Canadians from across the country who want to call the attention of the government to the persecution of Christians around the world. Christians are the most persecuted group in the world.
The petitioners call on the Canadian government to prioritize the principles of universal human rights and religious freedoms in its foreign policy and right here at home.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians from across the country. The folks who have signed this petition are concerned about the forced organ harvesting that is happening around the world.
The petitioners note that the organ trade is a growing concern across the globe. They want Canada to ensure that the legislation in place in Canada is properly enforced and to maybe re-examine some of the practices that are happening both here and abroad, to ensure that Canadians are not participating in forced organ harvesting and that it is not happening around the world.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition is from Canadians from across the country who are concerned about Canada's MAID regime. They say that choosing MAID in the absence of real services or treatment is not really a choice at all. They point out that a number of folks have been suggested MAID by government officials and that medical assistance in dying has been offered as a solution to folks with a chronic disability or chronic illness. This reduces incentives to improve treatment and care for people with these conditions.
The petitioning Canadians do not want an ableist society or an ableist health care system. Many disability advocates have expressed their opposition to MAID for people with disabilities. Therefore the petitioners call on the Government of Canada to protect all Canadians whose death is not reasonably foreseeable, by prohibiting medical assistance in dying to people whose death is not foreseeable within the next six months.
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Mr. Speaker, the final petition I am presenting today comes from Canadians from across the country who are concerned about the state of religious freedom in India.
Petitioners want to highlight the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which recognizes the state of India's religious freedom. They point out that Christians in India are being targeted and that their churches are being attacked, their church workers are being attacked and their congregants are being threatened. They also point out that the Dalit groups are being persecuted, particularly Dalit women and girls, who are being registered as being victims of crime in India. As well, they point out that Indian Muslims are at risk of genocide and are being persecuted.
The petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to ensure that any trade deals signed between Canada and India have, as an underlying basis, human rights provisions, and to ensure that our human rights dialogue continues between Canada and India.
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am tabling two petitions today. Both relate to freedom of religion.
The first petition relates to Falun Gong practitioners. It is an issue I have been pursuing for a quarter of a century. The very first thing I said in the House of Commons 25 years ago was on the subject of the Communist persecution of Falun Gong, which still goes on after a campaign of more than a quarter of a century.
The petitioners point out that Falun Gong practitioners in China have suffered a number of very serious human rights abuses, ranging from detention to torture and forced organ harvesting, which of course involves the death of the person whose organ has been harvested. There is also transnational persecution that extends to Canada. There are attempts to influence the Canadian government to turn it against this peaceful religion. The petitioners ask that we take steps to make sure this does not happen.
Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition relates to a report from the finance committee some time ago that asked for religious charities to be stripped of their CRA tax-exempt status.
The petitioners point out that nearly half of all work done in the charitable sector is done by religious-based charities, and they note that it is inappropriate for the government to be assigning a values test and saying that unfashionable values, those held by religious groups, should exclude them from doing the great work they do for our communities.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to present a number of petitions to the House today.
The first petition draws the attention of the House to the ongoing illegal occupation of Cyprus by the Turkish military.
Petitioners highlight that the Turkish military invasion in 1974 was illegal and brutal, resulting in the ongoing occupation of 37% of the island and 57% of its coastline; that the occupation led to significant human rights violations, including loss of life, mass displacement, the ongoing presence of military forces on the island and illegal settlements; and that the people of Cyprus, as well as the diaspora here and around the world, continue to be concerned about this issue. Cyprus's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected.
Further, petitioners note that the United Nations Security Council has passed multiple resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers and the reunification of Cyprus based on respect for fundamental human rights and the freedom of all Cypriots. The occupation has impacted many other communities, and other communities that have been impacted by human rights violations committed by the Turkish state continue to be concerned about these issues as well.
The petitioners want the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus upheld. They want the government to condemn the illegal occupation, advocate for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus and ensure that no Canadian arms, military equipment or technology is sold to Turkey for use against Cyprus or other oppressed groups. They want the Government of Canada and parliamentarians to advocate for a free, united Cyprus based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the European Union's statements in this regard.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition I would like to table draws the attention of the House to a quite extreme proposal on euthanasia, or MAID, put forward by Mr. Louis Roy of the Quebec college of physicians. It recommended expanding euthanasia to “babies from birth to one year of age”. This is deeply troubling, but sadly he is not the only person; members of the government have advocated for so-called mature minors, people who are underage, to be eligible for euthanasia.
Petitioners want the government and the House to oppose and block any attempt to legalize the killing of children within our medical system. It is hard to believe that this needs to be said, but in the Canada of 2025, it does.
I am tabling another petition on the tragic situation around euthanasia in this country. It is from Canadians concerned about the impact on Canadians living with disabilities. They note how allowing euthanasia for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses has negatively impacted their experience when interacting with the health care system. It devalues their lives, tacitly endorsing the notion that life with disability is optional and, by extension, dispensable.
Petitioners say that offering medical assistance in dying as a solution for disability or chronic illness reduces incentives to improve treatment and care for people with these conditions. Canadians do not want a continuing degeneration of public services in an ableist direction, where Canadians seeking unrelated services or accessing health support are pushed toward considering death instead.
Many disability advocates in Canada have expressed opposition to allowing MAID for people with disabilities. Therefore the proposal of this particular group of petitioners is to protect all Canadians whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, by prohibiting MAID for those whose prognosis for natural death is more than six months.
Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB
Mr. Speaker, the next petition I am tabling is in support of Bill S-209, although it says Bill S-210 because that was the number used in the last Parliament.
Petitioners support this bill to protect young people, children, from accessing explicit sexual material online. Showing sexually explicit material to children is a form of child abuse, yet it happens regularly online. Many children are accessing violent sexual material at an early age. Well-established methods for age verification that does not involve proof of identity could protect children from this scourge. Petitioners recognize the importance of this and want the House to support the adoption of the bill.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if the government's response to Questions Nos. 474, 475, 476, 477, 478, 479, 480, 481, 482, 483, 484, 485, 486, 487, 488, 489, 490, 491, 492, 493, 494, 495 and 496 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.
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Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.
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Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would like to know whether we have quorum to continue the debate.
And the count having been taken:
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