Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment to the position of Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. I know you have been interested in the position for a long time, so it is nice to see you in the chair.

Before I begin, I would like to point out that we are gathered on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people, who have lived here since time immemorial, to share, discuss and do all sorts of things. We are very grateful to be here.

This is my first real speech in the 45th Parliament as the member for Hull—Aylmer. I sincerely thank the people of Hull—Aylmer for once again placing their trust in me to represent them in the House of Commons. As we all know, elections are an essential part of democracy. In addition to thanking my constituents, I would like to salute the courage of all the people who ran for office in this election.

Many members here in the House already have considerable experience. Running for federal office is quite a challenge. The election campaign in Hull—Aylmer could serve as a model for the entire country. I say this because all but one of the candidates took part in debates organized by community groups. Each of these candidates did their political party proud. Yes, they were keen, and yes, they were passionate, but they were always polite. That is how we do things in Hull—Aylmer. Former Ontario premier Bill Davis often referred to Brampton, the city he represented, as a model to follow. Well, I can say that, at the federal level, Hull—Aylmer is the model riding for Canada. People there are informed and are not particularly partisan. They listen to all candidates and are demanding yet very generous.

The profile of the riding of Hull—Aylmer has changed considerably over time. We are very proud of our Outaouais, Quebec and Canadian roots. Hull—Aylmer has also seen an increase in its population of new Quebeckers and Canadians. That is exceptional. Many of my colleagues, especially my colleagues from Quebec, live in my riding. I am convinced that many of them will recognize Hull—Aylmer as a true international crossroads, where people from around the world live in harmony.

It is well known that Gatineau is the fourth-largest city in Quebec. It is not so well known that Gatineau is the second most popular city in Quebec for newcomers. It is true that many newcomers start out in the big city of Montreal, but 18 months later, only two-thirds of them are still living there. It is remarkable that 98% of newcomers are still living in the Outaouais 18 months after their arrival. In my opinion, that speaks to the values of generosity, openness and hospitality that define my beautiful riding, just on the other side of the river.

Before I begin my reply to the throne speech, I first want to thank a few key individuals. I am thinking of my team of volunteers. No one runs a campaign alone, particularly one that ends in victory. Hundreds of volunteers took part, and I am truly grateful to all those who contributed to my campaign.

No politician stands alone. I owe everything to my children and my spouse, to whom I have been married for almost 34 happy years. I thank her and I thank my two grandchildren. I am truly fortunate to have two grandchildren. Members of the House who are grandparents know what I am talking about: Grandchildren change everything. Yes, we want our children to succeed, but having grandchildren completely changes a person's perspective. We begin to think about the next century and future generations. If I am a passionate politician, it is because I want to make sure that we leave a better world and a better Canada to our grandchildren and future generations. I think we can do it.

All this brings me to the throne speech. I am extremely pleased with many aspects of it. One I would like to mention is the idea of building new relationships with the United States and the rest of the world. That really struck me. Yes, it is easy to trade with our American friends, but I finally heard a government say that it will focus on opening new markets.

Here is why that speaks to me. When I look at the diasporas in Hull—Aylmer, I see opportunities and the ability to create prosperity elsewhere. Many members of the diasporic communities are from Africa, and we know that, by 2050, Africans will make up half of the world's population. Africa will represent a large part of international trade and global prosperity. Canada has a golden opportunity to take advantage of our connections, of all of these wonderful people with African roots. They can help us to significantly increase trade between our countries.

There are other things in the throne speech that I think are very important for the Outaouais and for building a stronger Canada, in particular, free trade among the provinces and territories. I represent a border community, and I can say that it is extremely important for our businesses to finally be able to sell their products and services across the river. In the Outaouais, we are very proud of our businesses, and we have exceptional products. However, because of the trade barriers between Quebec and Ontario, we were unable to benefit. Now we can. As member for the region, I am looking forward to working very hard with entrepreneurs and business owners to take advantage of this opportunity.

Let us talk about the goal of building a united and more affordable Canada. A few years ago, a doctor in my riding told me about the importance of oral health and dental care for seniors. With the Canadian dental care plan, which is now in place, we are able to take care of seniors' health, which is very important.

I have so many things to say, but I do not have much time left. To summarize, suffice it to say that we have a golden opportunity to work together, hand in hand. Yes, we will have our political differences, but together we can make things happen. I hope that, in this 45th Parliament, all members will be willing to work together for the well-being of Quebeckers and Canadians.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Hull—Aylmer, who is my MP when I am here. I am not going to say that he's my MP half the time, because I do spend a lot of time here in Ottawa, but it is much the same. In fact, I would like to thank the member for Hull—Aylmer, because he once gave me good advice when I needed professional services in Hull.

I also liked some aspects of the Speech from the Throne, such as where it says, "one project, one review". That is exactly what I said when I introduced Bill C-375 on February 12 of last year, but my colleague's caucus voted against it. The Liberals have finally changed their minds, which is a good thing.

However, there is something missing from the throne speech. There has to be a budget this spring. The House made that clear yesterday, when it decided that we need a spring budget. The government has been in power for over 10 years, the Prime Minister has been in office for two and a half months, and the Minister of Finance said on February 4 that the government was preparing a budget. Why will the government not table a budget immediately? Canadians need it.

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have long admired my colleague from Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, but, as he well knows because he lives in Hull—Aylmer and is therefore a very reasonable man, preparing a budget takes a lot of time and consultations, and there are many things to consider.

I am confident that this government will table a budget as soon as possible, probably early in the fall. I look forward to participating in the discussions on that budget, because I think it will send a strong signal about all of the government’s priorities.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of his speech, my colleague talked about democratic values, which we share. So much the better if the election went well in his riding of Hull—Aylmer. However, that was not the case everywhere. I am thinking of Nunavik, where not all citizens were able to be heard. There were irregularities, particularly with regard to polling station hours, which were not the same everywhere. I am also thinking of Terrebonne, where ballots were accepted with only the first name of the Liberal candidate, whereas normally the rules are clear: The candidate's first and last names are required. In short, there seem to have been irregularities in some places. This is a fundamental democratic issue.

Does my colleague not agree that everyone in Nunavik should be able to exercise their right to vote? In the case of Terrebonne, does he acknowledge that there were certain irregularities during the most recent election?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the member for Shefford on her re-election. It has been a pleasure working with her for three terms now.

I have complete confidence in the work of Elections Canada. In a previous life, I was the national director of the Liberal Party. I worked very closely with Elections Canada. I have full confidence in their system.

With regard to ballots that include only a first name, the law and Elections Canada regulations are very clear. In a judicial recount such as this, the important thing is that the judge is satisfied that the voter expressed a preference on their ballot. If it can be deciphered, the ballot will count.

[Guillaume Deschênes-Thériault, Liberal, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with and learn from my colleague from Hull—Aylmer. He is always eloquent and thoughtful. I am therefore very pleased to be part of the same team as he is and to work alongside him. I would like him to share his perspective on our ambitious plan to make life more affordable. What impact is that having on his riding?

[Greg Fergus, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank my colleague from Madawaska—Restigouche. I was totally impressed yesterday when he asked his question with passion and clarity. I congratulate him on his election to the House of Commons.

The dental care plan is very important for affordability. Helping first-time homebuyers is very important. Outside Quebec, it is the national child care program that is very important. In Quebec, we are used to it since we have had it for a generation, and I am pleased that the federal government is following suit.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to say that I will be sharing my time with the wonderful member for Winnipeg Centre .

Since this is my first speech, I obviously want to begin by thanking the people of Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie for once again placing their trust in me as I begin my fifth term as an NDP member here in the House of Commons. Once again, I will do whatever it takes to represent and honour them. I want to be able to defend their interests and priorities. I also want to thank my entire election team. I am thinking of all the people who helped ensure that there were telephone operators, that there were volunteers on the ground, that calls were made and that people went door to door. I want to sincerely thank everyone who made this new victory possible.

Like many others here, I would also like to thank my family, especially my partner, Lisa Djevarhirdjian, with whom I have been sharing my life for a little over 15 years now. She is always by my side, always solidly supporting me in my political action. I thank Lisa very much. I give a shout-out to our youngest, Sevan, who was 10 months old when I was first sent to the House. This month, he will be 15 years old. For the first time in his life, he seemed to understand what was going on during an election campaign. It was very funny, because he was extremely afraid that I would lose. He put a lot of pressure on me to go to work. When he saw me at home in the late afternoon, when he came back from school, he would send me outside, telling me to knock on doors and make calls; there was no way I was going to lose, I had to win this election. I thank Sevan for that motivation.

I would like to come back to the Speech from the Throne. I will say that I found it rather peculiar that the monarch of another country was brought in to send a message to President Trump about Canada's sovereignty. The monarchy itself is a matter that could be discussed. As members of the New Democratic Party, we are committed to democratic values. Since the monarchy is not a democratic institution, I do not believe that it is all that legitimate.

What is in the throne speech itself? It has some good things in it, but it is missing a few things. The good things are nice because they highlight NDP achievements in the last Parliament. As progressives, we have worked to improve people's lives. I would like to remind members that, had the NDP not forced the Liberal government to move forward with the dental care program, it would never have materialized. Every other time the NDP proposed a dental care program for the middle class and the less fortunate, the Liberals voted against it. This time, the NDP forced the Liberals to do it because they needed support in the House. That was useful. Now the Liberals are bragging about it. They think it was a good idea, but the truth is, the program exists because of the NDP's work. Folks in Montreal and Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie talked to me about it during the election campaign. Some told me that they had not been to the dentist for 10 or 12 years and that, thanks to my work, thanks to the work we did in Parliament, they can now go to the dentist and and it is paid for. People are saving a substantial amount of money. One woman told me that, when she went to the dentist, her bill was $1,150 and she paid only $57 out of pocket. We helped her save over $1,000. That is a pretty big deal. I think this is one of the NDP's most significant achievements, and it has already helped more than 530,000 Quebeckers. Thanks to us, people have had all or part of their dental work paid for. I think that is a wonderful legacy. We will keep fighting to ensure that people have access to more health care services. Incidentally, health care was barely mentioned in the Speech from the Throne. That is one of the big things they left out.

The throne speech included another of the NDP's achievements. Obviously, I am referring to the progress in terms of the universal public pharmacare program. That is near to our heart. It is also near to the heart of Quebec's civil society, particularly Quebec's union movement. The FTQ, CSN and CSQ have been demanding change for years, since Quebec's current public-private hybrid system has been unable to stabilize prescription drug prices. Prescription drug prices in Canada are among the highest in the world. It is always better to have a hybrid system than no system at all. Some people in English Canada have to go without their medications because they cannot pay for them, so they become even sicker, end up in the hospital, and fill up the emergency rooms. That is not good for anyone.

Canada is the only country that has a universal public health care but no universal public pharmacare. It is as if we had only one leg to stand on and were unable to walk. The NDP will continue to pressure the government to implement a universal public pharmacare program. The Union des consommateurs du Québec is demanding the same, because it understands how important it is for people's lives, for providing care and avoiding illness.

We have made progress with contraceptives and the price of diabetes medications. There are already agreements with the governments of British Columbia and Manitoba. I think there is also a letter of agreement with Prince Edward Island. We hope that Quebec will join in, because it would be a shame for Quebeckers not to have access to medications paid for by the federal government after negotiations with Quebec. I am thinking, for example, about people with diabetes.

That is something that should be implemented everywhere, but it must be negotiated between the Government of Canada and the provincial governments, who manage their own pharmacare programs. Prescription drugs are too expensive, and every study, in particular the Hoskins report, has shown that a universal public pharmacare program is the best way of controlling prescription drug prices.

We will now go over what was not mentioned in the throne speech.

Though it talks about the housing crisis, it never says a word about non-profit housing, also called non-market housing. That is the one solution that will give people access to truly affordable housing. We have to be careful when we use the word “affordable”. What exactly does it mean? In recent years, we have seen that some definitions of “affordable”, like the one used by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, do not match up with what is truly affordable in the real world.

The people we meet on the street and on the ground tell us that they love Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie and want to stay in the borough, but they cannot afford housing there anymore. That is why we need to build social housing, co-operative housing, community housing and student housing. If we keep on building nothing but condos at $2 million each, we will never get there. That is not the way to solve the housing crisis.

We have to move away from a purely commercial mindset. Yes, housing can be a profit-generating investment or even a nest egg. That makes sense. However, it is not right that 97% of the housing stock is used in that way. The proportion of non-market, non-profit housing has to be increased. There are community groups willing to make that happen. The government needs to facilitate stable, long-term funding. That is crucial for having housing prices that are based on a family's ability to pay rather than the mindset of an investor who wants to make a profit and maximize their returns.

Three or four per cent of our housing stock is non-market or non-profit. In Scandinavian countries in Europe, that proportion is 10%, 15%, or 20%. We will never reach 50%, but if the government increases the proportion of non-market or non-profit housing, that will also help the market's private sector. It will help stabilize prices, and it will prevent real estate speculation and stop the sector from heating up, two things that make it impossible for people to afford a house, an apartment or rent. That solution is not in the Speech from the Throne.

There is also nothing about workers. The Liberals have been telling us for 10 years that employment insurance needs major reform, but there is no mention of EI in the throne speech. There is talk of a tariff war and perhaps a looming recession, but, once again, the majority of workers who lose their jobs do not have access to EI. It is ludicrous. This issue needs to be addressed, but there was nothing about it in the throne speech. As New Democrats, we will continue to fight for real EI reform.

We will also support the implementation of promising and meaningful projects. For example, there was no mention in the throne speech of high-speed rail, even though it had been announced. It is a truly exciting project that meets the needs of Canadians. We have long been saying that Canada should have high-speed rail. We are talking about projects of national interest or national scope. Why, then, is this public transit project, high-speed rail, not in the throne speech? There are also other projects that could be implemented but that do not meet our commitments in terms of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

Thus, I have mixed feelings about this throne speech, which highlights some of the good things the NDP has done but fails to address a number of issues, especially for workers.

[Bienvenu-Olivier Ntumba, Liberal, Mont-Saint-Bruno—L’Acadie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to congratulate my colleague on his re-election and on the kind words he had for his family.

We just want to know why his party did not support our efforts to abolish the tax.

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question and congratulate him on his election. Are we talking about the carbon tax? I just want to be sure. The NDP supported the carbon tax for years because it was the only measure the Liberal government brought forward. We have always said that a carbon exchange would be the best solution. However, with no other possible solutions, yes, we did support the consumer carbon tax a few times.

During the election campaign, we advocated for ambitious and strong measures to reduce our carbon footprint. This would include a substantial increase in the industrial carbon tax, which targets major polluters. We also need a real emissions cap for the oil and gas sector, which the Liberal government unfortunately still has not introduced.

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to congratulate my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie on his election. It is only polite.

Ideologically, we are worlds apart. My colleague just proved that by talking about capping production. However, there are some things we can agree on. For example, yesterday, he voted with us in favour of the motion calling on the government to table a budget.

Could he explain to us why this government is refusing to table a budget, when it has been over a year since a budget was tabled in Canada?

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question, and I too congratulate him on his re-election. I cannot explain why the Liberal government refuses to table a budget. It is not my decision. We voted in favour of the amendment put forward by the official opposition. To us, this is a matter of transparency, a matter of honesty.

We know that the Department of Finance was working on a budget in the spring, before the election. The then minister of finance told us that he was working on it. I should imagine that all that work did not disappear or fly away, that the papers did not blow away through an open window.

Fall is a little late to find out where we are headed. There are important decisions to be made for the Canadian economy, for taxation and for social justice in our country. If the Liberals really are rigorous and transparent, they will table a budget.

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie on his re-election. During his speech, I heard him underline something that I myself have raised several times today regarding the Speech from the Throne, and that is the absence of any serious commitment from this government regarding climate change. It is very disappointing. I would go so far as to say it is worrisome. I am pleased to see that I am not alone in thinking that. I would add that the current Liberal government also seems to be essentially copying the Conservative agenda in its ideas and policies. The Liberals are taking a hard right turn these days. This may also be worrisome, especially for a party like the NDP.

Seeing as this Parliament is made up of a very large majority of Conservatives and Liberals who are in perfect agreement about giving up on fighting climate change and shifting this country to the right, does my colleague from Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie still love Canada as much? Does he not think this country needs to go back to the social-democratic values advocated by progressive parties like the Bloc Québécois?

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his trick question. I can say that I love the people of Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie, and I can assure my colleague that I will be here as a left-leaning politician to defend socialist values, fairness, social justice and equality.

The people of Rosemont—La Petite‑Patrie, Montreal and Quebec will always be able to count on me and my NDP colleagues to defend workers and to make the world a better place, where everyone belongs and where everyone is able to have a good job and a good retirement with rights. We will do that together, regardless of how many Liberals or Conservatives there are here in the House. We are here to fight, we are here for the people, and we will continue to do the work.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member from my caucus on his re-election. How does he feel about the Liberal government's trying to fast-track energy projects without proper environmental assessments?

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I share the member for Winnipeg Centre's concern. It seems as though the Liberal government is willing to cut corners on energy projects without respecting the rights of first nations, without respecting science and without respecting a real public consultation process. We will be keeping a close eye on that.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to start my maiden speech by thanking my family, my wonderful team in Winnipeg Centre, my campaign team and, of course, the wonderful constituents of Winnipeg Centre, who have blessed me with the honour of serving them in the House.

Today I am here to make some remarks about the throne speech, a throne speech that builds the economy on the backs of people while lining the pockets of corporations, lining the pockets of developers, and cutting departments and services for communities most in need. We know that the Liberals are close allies with big corporations, and we are seeing that in real time. They plan to cut public spending: day-to-day government spending and the government's operating budget. Yes, it has been growing by 9% every year, and I know that the government is planning to introduce measures to bring it below 2%.

I am not saying that we do not need to cut government waste, particularly the amount of waste by the Liberals' high-paid consultant class, so if those are the cuts the current Prime Minister is talking about, I am 100% in favour. However, who is going to fall victim to the cuts, especially because Canada has made a promise to increase military spending to 2%? Where is that money going to come from?

Certainly the Prime Minister has not indicated that the money is going to come from taxing big corporations or putting in place an excess profits tax to make up for the economic deficit. Therefore my question becomes this: Where is he going to cut? The Prime Minister, in fact up until yesterday, after he was forced through a motion, refused to provide a budget prior to rising in the spring.

That has forced some of us, including me, to make sense of it just based on observation, and this is what I have observed: Youth, seniors, women and gender equality, labour, mental health and addictions, disability, and diversity and equity are positions all cut from the Prime Minister's cabinet. There is only a Secretary of State for Seniors, and not one minister, to represent a large aging population. It is only a secretary of state, who is not privy to sitting at the cabinet table, and we know that the economic gap for seniors is in fact widening.

This is particularly true for members of the disability community, a ministry that the government has cut, where it has failed. Time and time again, the Liberal government has failed to provide a benefit that would allow the disability community to live in dignity. Let us not forget the Prime Minister's initial cutting of the minister of women and gender equality position in the middle of a crisis of gender-based violence that some cities have called an epidemic. Only after over 400 women's organizations came forward with complaints did the Prime Minister choose to reinstate the Minister for Women and Gender Equality, which she has the onus to share as the Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism.

It is not a priority for the current government, when gender equality is under attack.

Let us not forget the fact that the Prime Minister cut the minister of labour position at a time when things are becoming harder and harder for workers, including workers at Canada Post. I was very honoured to attend their rally on Saturday to fight and to put pressure on the government to hold up, lift up, their rights as workers and lift up their rights of unions. Let us hope the Liberal government is not again trying to push in backdoor, back-to-work legislation, taking away the right to strike. Collective bargaining and the rights of unions and union workers are clearly not a priority for the government.

The only thing the government has in fact been clear on is nation-building projects that will be built on the back, and off the lands, territories and resources, of indigenous people. It is looking at quickening the process, looking at getting rid of environmental assessments. The Prime Minister has stated that he will uphold Canada's world-leading environmental standards and constitutional obligations; he has said that even though he plans to fast-track and get rid of environmental assessments at a time when places in Manitoba and places in Saskatchewan are burning to the ground. Places in B.C., like Lytton, were burned to the ground.

Even though he mentions consultations with indigenous peoples, the Prime Minister gives no details on how the government will do those. With the experiences we know, as first nations, with the government, we know this is another empty gesture from the Liberals. In fact, FSIN chief, Bobby Cameron, said, “The Prime Minister and Premiers [at the latest meetings] will be making decisions about our traditional territory without our voices at the table despite the fact Saskatchewan is First Nation ancestral and traditional lands. This continues the colonial pattern of excluding First Nations from decisions that directly affect our people and our lands.”

AFN chief, Cindy Woodhouse, said, in regard to the fast-tracking of national projects, that it “suggests a serious threat to First Nations exercise of Treaty rights, inherent rights, title and jurisdiction.” She said, “‘free, prior and informed consent’ must be obtained before any major infrastructure and energy projects move ahead.”

Let us not forget that in the province of Quebec with the James Bay Cree, the federal government is also bound to uphold treaties that have been made, agreements that have been made, with the James Bay Cree to uphold their rights to proper consultation.

The Prime Minister is fast-tracking projects, with no environmental plan, leaving people who were already falling between the cracks without a voice in his government. I am glad we were able to push the government to put forward at least a budget, because I am ready, along with my NDP colleagues, to hold the government to account on its failure to women and gender-diverse people, workers, labour, seniors, the disability community, and diversity and equity initiatives that are part of the Canadian identity.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I think one of the reasons the NDP is falling out of favour with Canadians on a national basis is many of the policy positions it takes. Let us take a look at, for example, a very popular premier, the premier whom both of us call the premier of the province of Manitoba, and discussions with the federal government and other provincial entities, looking at the major projects and seeing that these major projects are absolutely critical at this point in time in our history.

To make the assertion that indigenous people are not going to be consulted, worked with and part of the decision process does a disservice, I think, to our premiers, including NDP premiers, whether in B.C. or in our home province of Manitoba.

I am wondering whether the member can provide her thoughts in regard to nation-building and the role that provincial premiers of all political stripes have to play.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I find that funny. It was not me who made those observations. It was Chief Bobby Cameron and National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak who made comments about the failure of the Liberal government to uphold constitutional obligations.

“Nothing about us without us” is not about who benefits; it is about being members with obligations. We are obligated to uphold the rule of law, and that includes the rights of indigenous people in Canada to free, prior and informed consent and proper consultations, something the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of for first nations over 200 times because of government failures.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, what message does it send to the friends, families and colleagues of the over 51,000 Canadians who lost their lives due to the overdose and opioid crisis since 2016 that the Liberals do not even have a minister of mental health and addictions and have done away with that portfolio? What message does it send to our first nations communities? What message does it send to all the rural and remote communities that are gripped in this overdose, addictions and mental health crisis?

I want to ask our hon. colleague what message that sends. There is not a mention of the opioid crisis in the Speech from the Throne.

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is tragic that at a time when we are seeing a record number of overdoses, the Liberal government is taking a tough-on-crime approach, totally throwing people suffering from mental health and addictions to the side and making it a non-topic for the government. Certainly, in my riding of Winnipeg Centre, we have had a record number of people die from toxic drugs. The fact that so many people in the riding of Winnipeg Centre have been left out by the government shows it is turning its back on the people most in need of assistance.

[Andréanne Larouche, Bloc, Shefford, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Winnipeg Centre, whom I had the opportunity to work with on the Standing Committee on the Status of Women.

There are many questions I could ask my colleague because, apart from a brief mention of gun control, there was nothing in the throne speech about improving women's safety. We could also discuss the fact that wanting to speed up infrastructure projects and create one economy could be detrimental to the rights of indigenous peoples.

In the end, I would actually like to ask about something else. My colleague mentioned the widening economic gap among seniors, which prevents them from aging with dignity. Should we reintroduce the bill to eliminate the two classes of seniors and increase OAS for seniors aged 65 to 74, as was done for seniors aged 75 and over?

[Leah Gazan, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, we know the poverty rate of seniors is increasing. The NDP has absolutely supported lowering the age for receiving pensions, yet the government does not even have a minister for seniors who sits around the cabinet table. Seniors are the ones who built the foundations of this country, and it is unfortunate that the government has turned its back on them.

[Vince Gasparro, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for South Surrey—White Rock.

I rise today for the first time in this sacred institution with deep humility and gratitude as the newly elected member of Parliament for Eglinton—Lawrence. I thank the people of Eglinton—Lawrence for the profound trust they have placed in me. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I pledge to serve with integrity, energy and dedication for every corner of our vibrant, diverse and hard-working riding. From Lawrence Heights to Lawrence Park to Forest Hill North to Neptune Drive to Lytton Park to Dufferin and Lawrence to Yonge and Eglinton, I will ensure that the voices of my constituents are heard and that I fight for them in this esteemed chamber.

None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my wife Nicola Meyer, who I promised when we got married that I would keep life interesting. Well, to my love, promise made, promise kept. With Nicola I have everything; without her I have nothing. I am so proud of my two daughters, Isabella and Alessia. Their daddy loves them very much. I would like to thank Nicola and my daughters for letting me run not only once but twice in a matter of weeks. They stood by me through two campaigns and that means more than words can express.

I want to thank my mom and dad, Filomena and Albert Gasparro, for their love, support and guidance over the years.

I also want to recognize my grandparents, Vince and Donna Gasparro, who originally immigrated from Calabria, Italy, via Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Canada in 1959, and Gregorio and Irma Natale, who immigrated in 1954 and 1956, respectively, also from Calabria, Italy. They came to this country with nothing. They had families to feed and they worked hard. All they wanted was the opportunity to have a better life for themselves, their kids and the future generations they would never meet. The values of grit, hard work and sheer determination were passed on to future generations, but what was also passed on was the desire to preserve and improve on this great country, the country they chose to come to almost 70 years ago.

After an emergency room visit with my daughter Isabella highlighted deficiencies in Ontario’s health care system, I decided the best way to change and improve things was to run in Ontario’s provincial election. Even though we outperformed the Ontario Liberal Party by 19%, we still fell short by 167 votes, but as fate would have it, between Donald Trump threatening annexation and the Prime Minister becoming leader, calls from the community grew loud for me to run just weeks later.

With grit and hard work, hundreds of volunteers came out to work, and to see us win was remarkable. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to my campaign team and all the volunteers who dedicated their time, rain or shine, through freezing cold and scorching heat, over the past four months. We knocked on over 90,000 doors.

To put it in perspective, on election day alone we had over 400 volunteers. We attracted not only Liberals but disaffected Conservatives, Greens and New Democrats who believed in our vision for Eglinton—Lawrence, one that is based on providing representation that is both fiscally responsible and socially progressive. None of our success would have been possible without each and every one of them. The support and dedication from all our volunteers have meant the world to me. It is truly the honour of a lifetime to represent them during these incredibly challenging times.

I began my political journey right here on Parliament Hill working for then prime minister Paul Martin. I learned the value of principled leadership, sound economic management and a government that balances ambition with responsibility. I was proud to serve as a fiscally responsible Liberal then, and I am equally proud to stand here today alongside the Prime Minister's leadership as we renew our focus on building a resilient and dynamic economy to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Canada is being tested by rising protectionism and economic intimidation from our closest partner. President Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs seeks to undermine our unity and strength, but we are not yielding.

We are a proud, independent nation shaped by strong values, resilience and a commitment to a fair, rules-based international order. I am proud that our government is committed to strengthening relationships with partners and allies around the world and that we will stand by the principles of international co-operation. As the world changes around us, Canada must lead with confidence as a strong democratic country and a leader in the free world.

President Trump’s threats have also provided us with a wake-up call. For too long, Canada has failed to harness the full potential of our vast natural resources. We have created barriers that have held us back from building essential infrastructure, clean energy and new housing. Instead of one strong, united Canadian economy, we are operating like 13 separate ones. That needs to change and is changing.

This is why it is with conviction and optimism that I rise today to offer my full support for the Speech from the Throne. The Prime Minister has presented a clear and compelling vision for the future of this country, and I am proud to stand behind his leadership in this House.

I have spent my career financing institutional clean energy projects and infrastructure, and I know the transformative power that bold investment and smart regulation can have on our country. Our government will be taking decisive steps to deliver new investment, remove bureaucratic barriers and build a stronger economy.

We recognize that Canada’s prosperity depends on our ability to harness our natural resources responsibly, to innovate in the face of global competition and to move at the speed of opportunity. Our government will build both clean and conventional energy to make Canada the world’s leading energy superpower.

Our goal is clear. It is to establish Canada as a global energy powerhouse. We will invest in renewable energy, hydrogen, carbon capture and the next generation of clean technologies. At the same time, we will ensure our conventional resources are developed to the highest environmental standards. We will achieve this in close partnership with provinces, territories, indigenous peoples and the private sector. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, we are once again demonstrating that we can lead with conviction and build Canada strong.

Our government is firmly committed to fiscal responsibility by capping spending growth, eliminating waste and boosting productivity, while continuing to support our most vulnerable. The Speech from the Throne makes it clear that we will build a stronger Canada and a more resilient Canadian economy, one that spends wisely so Canadians can invest confidently in their future.

The Prime Minister's agenda emphasizes fiscal responsibility, but as Liberals, we remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting the vital and comprehensive social safety net that supports Canadians. Our government will continue the expansion of dental care, will support pharmacare and child care and will make a determined push to invest in skilled trades and clean energy industries, all reflecting our belief in the potential of every Canadian. We will cut taxes for the majority of Canadians, putting $840 per year back in the pockets of people in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence and Canadians nationwide. Additionally, by eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers, we will help make home ownership more attainable, delivering savings of up to $50,000.

We will protect our communities' ability to worship freely by introducing security zone legislation to make it a criminal offence to intentionally and willfully obstruct access to any place of worship, school or community centre and a criminal offence to willfully intimidate or threaten those attending services at these locations. My riding is home to a vibrant Jewish community that has faced intimidation at its schools, synagogues, day cares and homes. This legislation is an important step toward protecting not just Jewish Canadians' ability to worship freely, but all religious groups that make up our diverse country. Diversity will always be our strength, and protecting minority groups' ability to worship freely against lawlessness is a basic right guaranteed in our charter.

To truly be the true north strong and free, we must stand united, act with vision and show unwavering resilience. This throne speech marks a decisive step forward, one that will shape the future of the country not just for the next four years but for the next 40.

[Terry Dowdall, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to congratulate the member opposite for his victory and welcome him to the House. I know the member thanked his family for allowing him to run and for their sacrifices. I want to yell out a quick happy birthday to my daughter Sarah, who is 18 years old today. We do miss some events because we are in the House doing our job.

Yesterday, we voted to have the government table a budget before the end of this session and the summer break. The Conservatives wanted to stay over the summer because we have so many issues to tend to in our country. What message does it send to the individuals in the member's riding and people across Canada that the Prime Minister will probably not follow the will of the House?