Debates of June 3rd, 2025

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question, and I hope he gets back to his riding to see his family as well. It is challenging for all of us.

It is absolutely imperative that we get the budget right. In a vastly changing economic environment, it is important to get it right rather than just presenting a budget for the sake of presenting a budget. We have to get it right. Canadians demand that we get it right and that it be as accurate as possible.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to see you again.

I listened carefully to my colleague's speech. He emphasized the ability to worship freely. I fully agree with him on that point. There are, however, some nuances to consider.

My colleague may be aware that the Québécois nation has decided to pass legislation regarding religion in the public sphere in Quebec. I would like to know whether he believes his government intends to respect the will of the Québécois nation in establishing some restrictions surrounding religion in Quebec institutions.

I would like to hear my colleague talk more about that.

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

Madam Speaker, people in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence have been under threat over the last 18 months. The global rise in anti-Semitism that we are experiencing here at home is completely unacceptable.

The government will be bringing forward the security zone legislation that we made a commitment to passing during the federal campaign. It is an important step forward in protecting the people not only in my riding of Eglinton—Lawrence, and specifically the Jewish community, but in all communities.

It is completely unacceptable, what is happening on our streets. All levels of government have to do a better job at protecting minority groups. In this particular instance, I am referring to the Jewish community, which is something we take seriously on this side of the House. I know others on that side of the House take it seriously. We have to stand united to combat the threat of anti-Semitism and hate more broadly.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is awfully good to see this particular Speaker back in her chair and with continued health.

I want to welcome the new member for Eglinton—Lawrence to this place and ask him if he has reflected on the failure of the Speech from the Throne to pick up any of the recommendations on the report of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which was tabled four years ago today.

I am wondering if the hon. member has any reflections on the failure to discuss the need for a guaranteed livable income, which was one of those key recommendations. The government did say it would implement the calls for justice.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for the question.

In my past life, I advised the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation on infrastructure and sustainable finance investments it made. I can tell the member that the resiliency of indigenous Canadians is one to be marvelled at.

On this side of the House, we have a strong commitment to partnering with indigenous communities—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

We are out of time.

Resuming debate, the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest sense of honour and pride that I stand today in this chamber giving my maiden speech, where countless Canadians before me have given of themselves to help shape the landscape of this great country we all call home, which is the envy of people around the world. I congratulate all my colleagues on their election or re-election. It is truly an honour to serve alongside each of them.

I am the first MP in this riding elected for this party in a general election in more than 70 years. I would like to begin by acknowledging that my riding of South Surrey—White Rock is situated on the traditional, unceded territories of several Coast Salish nations, including the Semiahmoo, Kwantlen and Katzie First Nations.

I am truly fortunate to stand here, not through my efforts alone but because of the hard work, dedication and belief of many. Volunteers, friends, family and strangers who became friends, people of all backgrounds, colours, faiths, languages, abilities, sexual identities and socio-economic statuses, believed in the values and vision that this party represents. These are the friends and neighbours of South Surrey—White Rock whose voices I am privileged to represent in this House. To my husband, my children and grandchildren, and my family and friends who encouraged me at every step of what was an intense and deeply rewarding campaign, I offer my deepest thanks.

This seat also belongs to the many who came to this country as immigrants seeking a better life. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to publicly, in front of all Canadians, thank my parents for the profound gift they gave their children, the privilege of becoming Canadians.

My grandfather was arrested and executed for teaching his children about a god, an act considered treasonous under a regime that denied faith. My grandmother was left with eight children. As a child, I often heard how my parents survived by eating field mice and taking whatever was left in the fields after they had harvested the produce they had to give to the Communist Party. Fortunately, after the Second World War, my father, through the Red Cross, reconnected with an aunt in Canada who sponsored my parents to come to Canada. Due to a freeze of immigration policy in Canada, my grandmother, together with several unmarried children, left Ukraine for Paraguay, but ultimately also came to Canada through the efforts of my parents. Although my parents had seven children of their own, they always strove to help their family who ended up in various countries after the Second World War, from Siberia to East Germany and Paraguay.

I thank all those who struggled so their children and future generations could prosper in freedom. To the indigenous and aboriginal peoples, the original stewards of this land, I offer my thanks, my respect and my gratitude. From them, we continue to learn the sacredness of the land we are honoured to live on.

It was a privilege indeed to be present in Ottawa during the historic royal visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla and to witness the King deliver the Speech from the Throne in the Senate chamber. I heard a strong message of hope and renewal, a call to restore the values and dreams that define Canada. The 45th Parliament has a responsibility to identify and build on the strengths that have earned Canada admiration around the world, while also acknowledging the failures and injustices of the past and correcting our course when needed.

While our country faces challenges, our core Canadian values that define us, democracy, freedom, the rule of law and the right to self-determination, are laid out clearly throughout the throne speech. These core values guide us nationally but also align with my personal priorities for South Surrey—White Rock. Already, our Prime Minister is renegotiating Canada's relationship with the United States, our neighbour and one of our many economic partners of the future. This relationship is vital to my riding, which is home to two of Canada's 32 land border crossings, the Peace Arch and the Pacific Highway border crossings. These crossings are more than that; they support trade, tourism and jobs. The land border duty-free shops contribute over $400 million annually to our economy and provide local employment.

The tariffs imposed by the United States, which have put pressure on businesses, including more than 500 small businesses in my riding, are unjustified. As a small business owner for over 30 years, I understand first-hand the challenges and pressures on a business to remain open and thrive. Pivoting one's business has become the new way of modern business. I support our government's core mission to build the strongest economy by removing internal trade barriers and working closely with all the provinces and territories.

At the doorsteps, I heard loudly and clearly that Canadians want the government to stabilize and focus on strengthening the economy for all Canadians, regardless of their political affiliations. Since occupying this chair, I see the opposition members criticizing but not bringing forward solutions. I hear them accusing us of copying and plagiarizing their platform. If indeed this is the case, is that not the greatest form of—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

I interrupt the hon. member as I have a point of order.

The hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George.

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

Madam Speaker, we all follow the various rules of Parliament, one being with respect to attire in the House that is suitable. Last night during the vote, a Conservative member's vote was not counted because the government made a point of raising an issue with respect to his attire.

I ask you for clarification on the outfit this member is wearing. As we all know, men must wear a suit jacket and tie in order to speak. I see now that he has actually put a suit coat on. I ask for clarification.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

I thank the hon. member. Yes, I remind all members that the proper attire for men in the House is contemporary business attire. We ask everyone to be reminded of that.

The hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock may continue.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Speaker, since occupying this chair, I see the opposition members criticizing but not bringing forward solutions. I hear them accusing us of copying and plagiarizing their platform. If indeed this is the case, is that not the greatest form of flattery? If the platforms are the same, let us work toward the common goal of achieving them for the success of all Canadians.

We are a country with many people struggling to survive. The cost of living and affordability are top of mind for many Canadian families. Like many, my constituents are also struggling to get ahead. Our government is listening and acting by reducing middle-class taxes, saving two-income families up to $840 a year. It will cut the GST on homes at or under $1 million for first-time homebuyers and lower the GST on homes. The government will preserve essential programs like universal health care, child care programs, pharmacare and the Canadian dental care program, which is now covering eight million Canadians, saving the average person more than $800 per year.

I have lived and operated my business in White Rock for over three decades. The vibrant and iconic city of White Rock is known for its beautiful beachfront; the famous White Rock Pier, the longest wooden pier in the country; and its cultural significance to indigenous peoples. South Surrey is the largest town centre in Surrey by land area, offering agricultural richness, industrial and urban residential neighbourhoods and historical sites.

My riding is home to young families, newcomers and retirees, which reflects our strength as a community. To protect our neighbourhoods and ensure the safety of residents, our government will hire more RCMP officers and toughen the Criminal Code to make bail harder and to get tougher laws for repeat offenders charged with crimes, along with human trafficking and drug smuggling.

As our Prime Minister said in his opening address, “I will make mistakes.” It is an admirable admission and, to me, the mark of a true leader, one who can recognize when the ship is off course and has the resolve to steer it back.

I say to this House, my constituents and my colleagues that I pledge to serve with integrity, dedication and unwavering commitment to my constituents and all Canadians.

Today, I would like to recognize one of Canada's strengths, which is inclusivity for all. As it is the beginning of Pride Month, I wish everyone a happy Pride.

[Marc Dalton, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the new member for South Surrey—White Rock and want to thank his predecessor, Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who, for many years, represented the riding in a dedicated and excellent fashion.

The member talked about solutions. One solution that would be very much appreciated by Canadians would be the removal of the GST or the carbon tax for small businesses and industries, because they are, essentially, self-imposed tariffs on ourselves, which brings much less competition with the States.

I wonder if the member would comment on this, as we are actually harming ourselves by maintaining the carbon tax on our businesses.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Speaker, I congratulate my colleague on his election as well. I look forward to serving with all members of the House of Commons and to working collaboratively with everyone, especially when there are solutions being brought forward that we can deliver on for all Canadians for the betterment of our society and for the betterment of everyone's well-being in our country.

As I said during my campaign many times, I believe that policies within the government are to be reviewed. I would suggest that we wait until our budget is brought forward, and it will be brought forward by very responsible and well-informed people, and that we take a look at all of the policies there to work toward improving the economic stability of our country, especially as it deals with small businesses.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Madam Speaker, I would also like to congratulate my neighbour in the House, a fellow British Columbian, the new member for South Surrey—White Rock. I want to ask him about an issue that was almost solved with a bill that died on the Order Paper on January 6. It was Bill C-33, and it dealt with an issue.

There is another member of the House who happens to be here, the hon. member for Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, and we worked hard to amend Bill C-33 to have it accomplish the end of shipments of thermal coal and exports out of the port of Vancouver. These come from the U.S. They come on coal trains through his riding.

I wonder if the member has any comments on whether we should bring that bill back.

[Ernie Klassen, Liberal, South Surrey—White Rock, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is indeed a pleasure to be sitting near my colleague. I have admired her stance on all of the environmental issues she has brought to the table over many years. I look forward to working together with her on many of the issues.

The issue of thermal coal has been brought to my attention, especially during the campaign. It has been an issue that many others who have occupied the seat before me have dealt with. At this point, we are not yet at a place where many people in my riding would like to see, which is to reroute the coal trains, if possible. Perhaps with the new tariffs the U.S. has put into place, we can look at putting tariffs on the U.S. for coal.

[Aslam Rana, Liberal, Hamilton Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, my question is regarding affordable housing. All over the country, it is a big issue, including in my riding, Hamilton Centre. There is a bigger project called the Jamesville project. The housing project is still there. I will ask my hon. colleague and member of Parliament how serious the government is about housing.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Brandon—Souris.

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, it is a real pleasure to rise today to deliver my first speech in the House of Commons. I was reflecting while debate was going on earlier, and it is such an incredible honour to be in this place on behalf of the great people of Brandon and Westman.

Members do not get here alone. I would be remiss if I did not start by thanking, of course, my partner Ashley, who has agreed to come along on this wild political journey. She has been a trooper in making the leap into federal politics with me, so I thank her from the bottom of my heart.

I thank my parents, Darryl and Cherilyn. As an only child, I am sure it is a bit of a strange phenomenon for them to see their only child carted off to Ottawa to represent the rural areas of south-western Manitoba. They have been supportive of me through this political journey, so I thank them for being there through thick and thin. I have not always made it easy. I am sure they would reaffirm that, but they have been there with me through it all, so I thank them for that. I thank my in-laws as well, who have allowed a political junkie into their family with open arms. I thank them for their support.

Members get here with a team, so I would be remiss if I did not also thank the members of my campaign team. They came together very quickly after my predecessor announced a sudden departure from politics. We garnered very good results. There is no doubt about that. We broadened our voter coalition. We increased the number of Conservative votes that were received in our constituency. I thank them for their hard work, which was done in very quick fashion to get organized to get up and running.

I also must thank my predecessor, Larry Maguire. He is a stand-up individual. He has been a great advocate for rural Manitoba, for all of Manitoba and for western Canadian agriculture over his many years in politics. He has been a great friend and mentor to me personally. I thank him for his friendship and mentorship, and I wish him well in his retirement, although I am sure we have not seen the last of him in his involvement in politics across Manitoba and the country.

I want to thank the Conservative Party, my Conservative colleagues and our leader, Pierre Poilievre, for supporting me and putting their faith in me in my stepping into Larry's shoes and fulfilling the responsibilities of this role. I do not take that faith lightly, and I plan to work hard on behalf of this team every day.

Most importantly, I want to thank the people of Brandon—Souris. It is such a humbling experience to be a member of Parliament and to be their voice here in Ottawa. I am so privileged to be that voice, and I am going to work hard every day to ensure that their issues, their challenges and their experiences are raised here in the House of Commons.

When I think about Brandon—Souris or Westman, the first word that comes to mind is “home”. Like any home, sometimes the house needs a bit of work, and that is certainly what we heard at the doors during this campaign. We heard that Westman industries are struggling. Young families are having a hard time paying the bills and buying affordable homes. Crime is up, both in our urban cities and on farmyards. This is not an acceptable state of affairs, and unfortunately, it gets worse. With Chinese tariffs on Canadian canola, and our oil and gas sector being suppressed by failed Liberal government policies, people are being left feeling like there is less hope than there has been in many years.

Why are we here? The Liberal government seems focused, or have been focused, on offshore challenges. It is funding farming initiatives in Africa, but there is no support for Canadian agriculture. It is investing in the Asian Infrastructure Bank, building pipelines in Asia, but there has been zero major infrastructure, nation-building projects conducted here on Canadian soil in the last nine and a half years of the Liberals.

That is a shame, and Westman residents have had enough. They made it clear with a decisive mandate vote for change in Ottawa. Part of this larger vote coalition was young people, people who have never voted Conservative or who have never voted at all, and they voted Conservative for the first time. They voted in favour of a Conservative plan that offers a very proud and important path forward for this country.

Young people in Canada want very simple things. They want to be treated with respect and to be able to get a good job that earns them a good wage that allows them to buy an affordable home and start a family in a safe neighbourhood. These are not complicated requests. However, if anything, the Liberal government of the last nine and a half years has shown us that the Liberal Party's secret party trick is to complicate even the simplest of government tasks. We need to look no further than the Phoenix pay system debacle, where the Liberals could not even figure out how to pay their own civil servants, or the arrive scam issue, which complicated crossing the border with a Canadian passport as a Canadian citizen. These are just some of the smallest examples. I am not even getting into infrastructure, procurement and the other debacles of the last nine and a half years.

Young people in this country voted for a common-sense plan, but even more than that, they voted for a plan full of hope. More young people in Canada under 40 voted Conservative than ever before because our plan inspired them with a path forward to a more hopeful future for this country. That is a credit to Pierre Poilievre and those in our leadership team, who have made this Conservative Party younger with a broader vote coalition. That bodes very well for the future of the Conservative Party of Canada. It is a plan to make life more affordable by reducing taxes; reducing government spending; cutting waste; building safer communities; targeting investments in nation-building projects, such as national energy corridors and pipelines; and having a jail, not bail, plan, which would put criminals behind bars and ensure that they remain behind bars to serve time for the crimes they committed to destroy our communities and destroy our families. This is the Conservative plan that young people across the country supported and will support again.

To those people who bought into this vision, this path and this campaign of hope, I say this: Do not lose that hope now. We did not get across the finish line, but the team surrounding me is fighting for them. Day in and day out, we are working to implement that agenda from the opposition benches, and we will get some results. Look no further than last night, when the Liberals lost their first vote on their own throne speech, when we amended it to include the adamant statement that there be a financial update this spring, before the House rises, to ensure that there is a fiscal plan to support the challenges that are impacting them and their families.

I know things are not good right now, but they can be better. We know they can be. With a lot of hard work, patience, persistence and determination, we can make them better. We can do big things in this country. We can make positive change so that those who come after us have a better country and more opportunity than we had when we were growing up. Without a doubt, this Conservative team, under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, is the team to get that done. I am ready to get to work, so let us get to it.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Madam Speaker, we just came through a national election where the Liberal government received over 8.5 million votes. That is the largest number of votes ever before in a national election. I believe they came to that conclusion because they were able to compare Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative agenda to that of the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party's platform. They made a judgment on that issue. The hope is there because of the campaign making it very clear that we need to start working with premiers, indigenous leaders, territories and political parties to build a strong team Canada so that we can deliver on issues, such as the Trump tariffs and trade.

Does the member feel any obligation whatsoever to work with the government on important projects?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, we will certainly support the government if it actually provides a plan to build national energy projects in this country, including oil and gas pipelines. We have seen nothing from the government members about that, and we look forward to seeing that plan come forward. If it does, then we will consider it at that time.

However, the member is certainly wrong. There were more Conservative votes in my constituency this time than in many years past. People supported the Conservative Party platform in my constituency. They voted for change in Ottawa, and we are going to work hard every day to make that change happen.

[Mario Simard, Bloc, Jonquière, QC]

Madam Speaker, my colleague just gave a very interesting answer.

He has probably noted, as I have, the government's desire to table legislation defining projects of national significance. Those projects might not be subject to an environmental impact assessment.

Does my colleague agree with that approach? Does my colleague believe that an environmental impact assessment is not required when it comes to oil and gas projects? Will that be the Conservative Party's position?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, it is certainly not. Our position is that the bureaucracy has become so bloated that we cannot get anything built in this country in a timely fashion. It is taking years upon years to get these permits approved and get construction actually happening, so while we believe that the environment is very important, and that protecting our environment and our natural spaces is very important, we also need to get permitting timelines down to a modicum of a reasonable time frame so that companies and investors have the assurance that these projects are actually going to get done sometime in our lifetime. The Conservative Party's platform is to reduce the amount of time it takes to get these permits done and actually get this country built for a change.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate the hon. member on his election.

During the debate on the throne speech, we have heard from our friends on the other side that our middle-class tax cut is not big enough, but as I am sure the member knows, the Conservatives ran on a tax cut that would not have helped anyone for three years.

Would the hon. member agree that money in the pocket of Canadians next month is better than a tax cut that would not help them for the next three years?

[Grant Jackson, Conservative, Brandon—Souris, MB]

Madam Speaker, I want to make it clear that our Conservative Party, while supporting tax cuts, does believe that the proposal from the Prime Minister's government does not go far enough. We think Canadians deserve more relief from the massive increases in higher taxes that they have received after the last nine and a half years of the Liberal government. The government needs to go further. That is why we are calling for a spring budget to deliver more relief for Manitobans, Westman residents and Canadian families who are struggling to put food on the table.

[Jeff Kibble, Conservative, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Madam Speaker, I stand before this chamber for the first time, and I am humbled to represent the people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, located on beautiful Vancouver Island, from Chemainus to Langford and from Port Renfrew to Duncan, including Thetis Island and Penelakut Island. I thank them for putting their trust in me and for supporting positive change and hope for our riding.

To my wife, Angel, and to our children, I say thanks for their unwavering support, love and enthusiasm as I tackle this new mission in life to represent our communities.

I would also like to pass along my utmost gratitude and appreciation to my amazing campaign team and the committed volunteers who worked tirelessly to connect with as many constituents as possible. They include Janet and Fred, our senior-citizen, door-knocking dynamic duo. We all came together, working endlessly, and they put their trust in me. I thank them.

I say a special thanks to the many young people who volunteered and turned out in record numbers to vote for positive change and Conservative values, many for the first time. I truly believe that the work we are all doing here is for the youth and future generations of our nation, and that is the reason I am here. Their dreams of Canada, where hard work is rewarded with a good paycheque, where families can live in a safe neighbourhood and where they can one day afford a home, are the dreams I will continue to fight for.

Our riding is as diverse as our landscape, from the fast-growing city of Langford, with bustling urban life and a vibrant sports community, to the remote, rugged fishing town of Port Renfrew on the Pacific Ocean. There are farmlands, mills, small ports, logging, mountain ranges and remote communities spread across some 4,800 square kilometres. We have an active outdoor community and endless opportunities for recreation and tourism. We have numerous rivers and many fish hatcheries. It is a truly beautiful, stunning and vibrant place, where I have lived most of my adult life, and I am proud to call it home.

There are seven first nations that make up almost 10% of our population. I continue to learn from them while respecting their culture and traditions. There are seniors, young families, farmers, trade workers, retirees, anglers, hunters and business leaders. As well, there is a strong veteran community and many serving military members across our riding.

However, for all of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford's beauty, resources and opportunities, I am saddened to report that, as in much of Canada, our people are struggling. During my campaign, I spoke with thousands of people across our riding, and the message was clear: This is not the nation we all once knew. People are struggling to make ends meet, pay for groceries, heat their homes, pay their bills and provide for their families.

I met many who are losing their homes or who are now living in shelters or on the street. This needs to change. Many people live without a doctor or basic medical care, with wait-lists of many years. Some of our communities, including Port Renfrew and Lake Cowichan, have no doctors anymore. The seniors who built this country are struggling to make ends meet while feeling unsafe to go shopping in their once-safe communities. These are all signs of a failing economy, and this needs to change.

People are worried about rapidly increasing crime, disorder, open drug use, addictions, homelessness and poverty. This should not be the norm in our communities. The so-called safe supply experiment has failed. The overdose crisis continues to ravage communities, claiming thousands of lives in British Columbia alone.

Families are left helpless as loved ones succumb to addiction. This is exacerbated by government policies that prioritize the distribution of dangerous drugs without providing adequate rehabilitation and support systems. These are not just statistics that we hear in the news. They are our daughters, sons, mothers, fathers and loved ones. The trauma of losing family members to addiction leaves lasting scars. The absence of effective action to address this crisis continues the cycle of dysfunction and despair.

In Duncan, the crime rate is 237% above the national average, and the violent crime rate is 153% above the national average. A few months ago, I met Norm, a retired minister whose 80-year-old sister was mugged and pushed to the ground, breaking her hip.

In Langford, police are finding drug labs hidden in homes and pulling over cars to find fentanyl and illegal firearms. This needs to change. Crime is not just a story in the news; it is something that now touches everyone's life, my own family included. Two years ago, my daughter watched as her boyfriend, Jonny, was murdered by a stranger in downtown Victoria. He was stabbed to death by a repeat violent offender who was let out on bail for attempted murder not three weeks earlier and had a history of no fewer than five violent charges against him.

The Liberals' soft-on-crime bills have allowed dangerous criminals to remain free, which risks public safety. Violent criminals must be held to account to prevent further tragedies and restore faith in our justice system.

What of our veterans, the brave men and women who once stood defending our sovereignty and freedom? These heroes now face bureaucratic hurdles that strip them of the respect and the care they deserve. Too many veterans despair, hearing from their government that “they're asking for more than we are able to give right now”. We lose them not just to old age but to the despair that follows when a nation forgets its promises. This is unacceptable and must change.

Furthermore, serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been devastated by years of neglect. They face challenges that no military personnel should endure, from inadequate resources to outdated equipment and the inability to afford housing where they are stationed. To be a strong fighting force, they need modern equipment and solid recruitment, and we need to restore their customs and traditions. We must ensure they have the tools, training and resources required to do their job effectively.

We need to incentivize municipalities and reduce red tape and bureaucracy while unleashing our home builders so that hard-working tradespeople can build homes. They are the experts. We do not need another government agency that will fail to deliver homes.

We need to repeal Bill C-75 and Bill C-5 to keep repeat violent offenders behind bars so that people like Jonny could still be with us. We need to repeal Bill C-21 and protect the rights of our law-abiding, licensed hunters and sport shooters while protecting our borders and keeping illegal guns from entering Canada and illegal guns off our streets.

We need real tax cuts that will stimulate our economy and relieve pressure on so many.

We need to unleash our industry and natural resources to build our economy. For example, we need to take immediate steps to support B.C.'s recreational fishing industry, which is nearing collapse. A simple fix of marking all hatchery salmon would allow our recreational fishing industry to return from the brink of extinction. We have renewable resources, whether forests, fish, farming or even mining. Now is the time to use them responsibly and build wealth and rebuild our economy.

We need to spend on responsible infrastructure, such as by bringing in rapid transit and an alternative route for the dangerous Malahat Highway. Rapid transit would connect our island, bring economic prosperity, improve safety and benefit the environment.

Unfortunately, the throne speech was light on details. Promises of change and prosperity are not matched by actions or supported with plans. Where is the Prime Minister's plan? Where is the Prime Minister's budget? We were all elected to represent our ridings and bring positive change. Parliament should be sitting through the summer, with committees working tirelessly to address these changes. Actions are not matching the promises.

The people of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford have entrusted me with the immense responsibility of representing them in Ottawa, and I do not take this lightly. We are the government in waiting. Hope is what the House must rekindle in the heart of every Canadian. It is hope that drives parents; they work tirelessly so that their children can have a better life. We must ensure that our children inherit a Canada that embodies the values we hold dear, a Canada where hard work pays off, where families thrive and where every generation inherits a better future.

While I may be new to this chamber, I am not new to working for the federal government. I served Canada for 28 years in the Royal Canadian Navy, defending our great nation's sovereignty, democracy and freedom. Through the skills, leadership and experience gained at sea during operational deployments and command positions, I will continue my mission to serve Canada, but now from this chamber.

Let us rise together and restore the dignity of our seniors, respect our first nations, honour the sacrifices of our veterans, support our serving military and build a country so that our youth can once again have hope. Canada is worth it; our children are worth it, and the future we fight for begins today.