Debates of Oct. 7th, 2026

Canada Post Corporation

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions.

The first one is with regard to the post office in Mission, British Columbia, at 33191 First Avenue. Residents of Mission are concerned about the oversight of Canada Post, its management and the ineffectiveness of that management. Petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to work with our community to maintain full operations of the Canada Post location, which they note is the only representation of the federal government, save for the penitentiary, in our community.

Flood Security

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is with regard to the West Coast Corridor Resiliency Partnership. This is an agreement between Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Merritt and Princeton, calling for stronger, more resilient infrastructure along western Canada's critical trade corridors.

The petitioners note that the 2021 floods, which they have still not received any funding for from the federal government, despite many promises, outlined the critical deficiencies in our infrastructure. If Canada is to actually meet its export objectives, some of the issues that need to be addressed in this corridor need to be fixed in order for Canada to meet those objectives.

Emergency Rooms

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise and table a petition that recognizes the $5 billion committed over three years by the Government of Canada to build on our health infrastructure.

The petitioners are asking for the federal government to make sure that we allocate money toward re-establishing emergency services over at the Seven Oaks General Hospital. It is a very important issue for my local constituents. They are asking the federal government to make sure that they get an allocated portion so that they can get those emergency services restored.

Public Service Pensions

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce three petitions.

The first is petition e-7227, on pensions for injured workers. I rise to point out to the House that the petitioners note that when federal government employees experience severe or prolonged disability caused by a recognized occupational injury, they face financial disadvantages, including the loss of pension entitlements. While the Government Employees Compensation Act provides some compensation, the Public Service Superannuation Act does not protect these workers' pensions.

As such, these petitioners call on the Government of Canada to amend the Public Service Superannuation Act to ensure that a recognized workplace injury causing disability does not result in the loss of a pension.

Animal Welfare

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is identical to many previous petitions introduced in the House over the years that express concern about the welfare of live horses exported for the purpose of slaughter. These horses often endure long journeys and inhumane conditions, and the federal government has no ability to ensure animal welfare in the importing country.

The Government of Canada must take preventative measures to combat the undue suffering of animals. In light of the Minister of Agriculture's official response, in which he does not commit to ban this practice, the petitioners reiterate their calls to amend the health of animals regulations to ban the export of live horses for slaughter.

Severance Pay

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, finally, the third petition notes that when federally regulated workers are terminated without cause, their pay in lieu of notice of termination, as well as their severance pay, is inadequate, particularly for those who have served for many years. The petitioners point out that under common law, workers are entitled to significantly more severance pay, but almost all employers will only provide the minimum amount required by the Canada Labour Code.

The petitioners call on this House to increase the statutory maximum pay in lieu of notice of termination and introduce penalties for companies that routinely underpay owed severance.

Rail Transportation

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Mitis—Matapédia—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e‑7344 concerning passenger rail service in the Lower St. Lawrence and Gaspé regions. The petitioners are calling for the restoration of a daily, reliable and accessible passenger rail service, schedules that would allow trains to stop at stations in the region at reasonable hours, and measures to improve the punctuality and reliability of the service.

I also seek the unanimous consent of the House to table resolutions adopted by 80 municipalities and four regional county municipalities in the Lower St. Lawrence region in support of this petition.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Democratic Process

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette—Mitis—Matapédia—Les Basques, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am also presenting petition e‑7603, which concerns the democratic process. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to recognize the Quebec people's right to self-determination and to freely choose their political status. They also call for a referendum option to be deemed successful if it receives 50% of all valid votes cast, plus one vote. Finally, they call for the release of the documents relating to expenditures incurred by the “No” campaign during the 1995 Quebec referendum.

Medical Assistance in Dying

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, dozens of my constituents, through my constituent Henry, provided me with this petition and asked me to present it on behalf of residents and citizens calling upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-218. They raise the point that Canadians with mental illness should be provided with treatment and support. Mental illness is complex and can include suicidal thoughts as a symptom.

Several constituents have since recognized the AMAD report, but wanted me to present this. With that, I present this petition on behalf of constituents of the riding of Waterloo.

Sports Betting Advertising

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I also received a petition from Robert with regard to the passage of Bill S-211. The petitioners are concerned about the proliferation of gambling advertisements. They recognize that many studies have now come out to show the increase in problem gambling among young men in this country.

The petitioners are calling upon the assembled House of Commons to enact a national framework to regulate sports gambling advertisements.

With that, I present this petition on behalf of constituents, not from Waterloo, but from the Toronto area. I said I would present it, and I am here to do so.

Mental Health

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, this petition is very timely, given that Saturday is World Mental Health Day.

These petitioners highlight that mental health is health, yet too many people in Canada cannot access appropriate and timely mental health addictions and substance use care. They highlight that mental illness is a leading cause of disability and imposes enormous human, social and economic costs, including lost productivity and lives lost.

Canada's first national mental health strategy called for mental health spending to reach at least 9% of total health spending, while mental health advocates now call for a 12% target to address the growing needs. Only 6.3% of health care spending in Canada is directed to mental health.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to ensure that the $5-billion federal commitment for mental health services announced in 2017, which is set to expire in 2027, be renewed.

M-31, on spending for mental health services, calls on the federal government to establish a national target of 12% of total health care spending for mental health services, and the petitioners ask the government to work with the provinces and territories to achieve that. Canada's premiers have called on the federal government to renew these expiring health funding agreements. The petitioners want them to be renewed and increased, and they want dedicated, long-term, predictable funding for mental health addictions and substance use services beyond March 2027.

The petitioners call on the government to implement the objective of M-31 by establishing that national target of 12% of total health care spending for mental health services and ensuring that transparent public reporting on mental health funding access and outcomes is embedded in it.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Unfortunately, the time for petitions has elapsed.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I have unanimous consent to present a petition?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is there consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member may proceed.

Taxation

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues.

I present a petition on behalf of petitioners within my community. They note that during COVID, the use of virtual services became more common, particularly for people in the disabilities community. What has happened since is that the existing criteria for tax exemption for supports for people in the disability community have not been extended to these virtual services. There is a tax unfairness that should be remedied.

Petitioners ask that the Government of Canada please establish a new standard for tax exemptions to enable organizations to offer tax-free virtual support services and programs to disabled Canadians and increase their access to these services and supports in their daily lives.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers also be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.