House of Commons Hansard #92 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was iran.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Export and Import Permits Act Second reading of Bill C-233. The bill aims to amend the Export and Import Permits Act to close dangerous loopholes in Canada's arms export regime, particularly the exemption for exports to the United States. Supporters argue it ensures Canada's international obligations and prevents human rights violations. Opponents, including the Bloc and Conservatives, warn it is too rigid, could harm Canadian industry, and strain alliances and the crucial defence relationship with the U.S. 6900 words, 1 hour.
Government Business No. 6—Proceedings on Bill C-9 Members debate a motion to expedite Bill C-9, which aims to combat hate propaganda, hate crimes, and protect access to religious sites. Liberals and the Bloc Québécois support the motion, citing Conservative filibustering and the urgent need to address rising hate-motivated violence. Conservatives oppose limiting debate, arguing the bill, particularly the removal of the religious exemption, threatens freedom of religion and expression, and that the government is censoring discussion on a "censorship bill." 15800 words, 2 hours.
Canada Post Corporation Act First reading of Bill C-262. The bill aims to modernize and standardize direct-to-consumer shipping of Canadian wine, beer, and spirits across provincial borders, creating a national framework to replace current provincial rules. 300 words.
Build Canada Homes Act Second reading of Bill C-20. The bill aims to establish Build Canada Homes, a Crown corporation, to increase affordable housing supply and promote efficient building techniques. The Liberal government states it will fast-track construction, use federal lands, and leverage partnerships, backed by a $13 billion investment. Conservatives criticize it as a fourth bureaucracy that will not solve the housing crisis, citing past Liberal failures and proposing tax cuts and reduced red tape instead. The Bloc Québécois argues housing is provincial jurisdiction and advocates for unconditional federal transfers to Quebec. 26100 words, 3 hours.
Iran and the Middle East Members debate the hostilities in Iran and the Middle East and their impact on Canadians abroad. The Liberals emphasize de-escalation, civilian protection, and consular support for Canadians, while Conservatives criticize the government's "incoherent and contradictory" position on U.S. air strikes. The Bloc Québécois stresses the importance of consulting allies and preparing contingency plans, and the NDP condemns the strikes as illegal under international law, urging a return to diplomacy. 31600 words, 4 hours.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, the minister just claimed that they have deported Iranian officials, yet news reports say they have deported one out of 700. Worse, today the head of the IRB said that she could not answer why they agreed to keep a deportation hearing of an Iranian regime official secret. I do not understand this.
When will the Liberals start deporting Iranian regime officials?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, the CBSA is working to ensure that people who are inadmissible to Canada who are members of the IRGC, who have held ranks within the IRGC, are removed expeditiously. We have already started that process. As members know, we listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity. We have started the removal process. Others are continuing.
I want to highlight that over 240 visas have been cancelled by the IRCC in anticipation that membership in the IRGC can constitute inadmissibility to Canada.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, here is a problem. Mahdi Nasiri was a propaganda distributor, political deputy of the Iranian regime of the Friday imams' policy-making council and a deputy at the Supreme Leader's Office of the U.A.E., yet he is still in Canada.
It does not seem like the CBSA or the minister is doing a very good job. Why have they deported only one of these thugs?
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Ontario
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. Members of the IRGC are ineligible, inadmissible, to be in Canada. The CBSA is taking—
Immigration, Refugees and CitizenshipOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I lost the sound on the mic, and there was other ambient noise as well.
It was a very important question. Could the hon. minister start from the top, please?
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, ON
Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. Members of the IRGC are inadmissible to Canada. The Canada Border Services Agency is removing those individuals who are deemed to be inadmissible who are members of the IRGC. There are also processes being undertaken to ensure the expeditious removal of those individuals.
Let me also say that the IRCC is taking proactive steps with people who are ineligible to be here, including 240 individuals who have been refused visas for their alleged involvement with the IRGC.
Vincent Ho Conservative Richmond Hill South, ON
Mr. Speaker, conflicts have always existed overseas, but under the Liberal government, we are now seeing those conflicts spill onto our streets here at home. Last week alone, three synagogues in the GTA were targeted with gunfire, and now an Iranian dissident has gone missing, possibly a homicide, while members of the community fear that the regime in Tehran may be involved. After years of Liberal open-border failures and soft-on-crime policies, hundreds of IRGC regime agents are believed to be living safely here in Canada.
When will the Liberal government finally enforce the law, start deporting Iranian regime officials and protect Canadians here at home?
Gary Anandasangaree LiberalMinister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, let me at the outset say that if my colleague opposite feels that we need to ensure the protection of Canadians, he will support the passage of Bill C-9 and the Conservative Party will pass Bill C-9 today. That is how we protect Canadians. That is how we protect communities. That is how we ensure the safety and security of Canadians.
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Mr. Speaker, the new defence industrial strategy is a testament to our confidence in the industrial capabilities—
National DefenceOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member for Orléans will have to start over because there is too much noise coming from both sides.
The hon. member for Orléans.
Marie-France Lalonde Liberal Orléans, ON
Mr. Speaker, the new defence industrial strategy is a testament to our confidence in Canada's industrial capabilities and our strength on the international stage. We are allocating $81 billion to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our Canadian Armed Forces. The government has taken meaningful action, including a $900-million investment in innovative dual-use technologies.
Can the Minister of Industry explain how the defence industrial strategy will increase Canada's presence on the world stage and support our industries?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Orléans for her excellent question.
We presented our new defence industrial strategy about two weeks ago and we are already taking action. My colleagues, the Minister of National Defence, the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement and I announced $900 million for a new drone innovation hub and for a new Bombardier aircraft built here in Canada. We will create jobs in Mississauga, Saint-Laurent and Abbotsford, British Columbia. We will create jobs across the country.
Shuv Majumdar Conservative Calgary Heritage, AB
Mr. Speaker, under the Liberals, foreign conflicts have spilled onto our streets. Their politics and soft-on-crime agenda have made Canadians unsafe. Three GTA synagogues were shot at, and 700 IRGC agents are roaming our streets. We have heard only condemnations and thoughts and prayers. An Iranian dissident has now gone missing, with police probing a possible Tehran-linked homicide.
Liberal ministers failed to secure borders and failed to deport hundreds of IRGC agents. Decide today. Deport these agents of terror today.
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, shame on the Conservatives. We have a bill in the House that they could vote for. It was exactly what the Jewish community had asked for to make sure that it was safe, that we are safe where we pray. They are voting against. By voting against it, they are also voting to keep it legal to display swastikas on our streets.
Shame on them if they are talking about safety.
Public SafetyOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
We are almost at the finish line for question period.
The hon. member for Calgary Heritage.
Shuv Majumdar Conservative Calgary Heritage, AB
Mr. Speaker, there is no action, no details and no surprise. Shame on the Liberals.
The Prime Minister is all over the map, with four positions in four days. He supported the decisions of our allies in confronting the Iranian regime at first, as legitimate and lawful. Then he regretted the strikes. Then he would not rule out Canadian military action. Even his own caucus does not know what his position is. All this is with a regime that has killed 150 Canadians on a passenger plane and continues to intimidate Canadians.
Our people want to know what the Prime Minister is doing to secure us here at home. When will the Liberals finally deport IRGC officials?
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify the government's position for my hon. colleague—
Public SafetyOral Questions
Anita Anand Liberal Oakville East, ON
Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my hon. colleague, allow me to clarify that successive Canadian governments have held that Iran is the principal source of terror in the region. That is why, more than 18 months ago, Canada declared the IRGC a terrorist entity. That is why Canada supports all efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. That is why we have declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism.
All parties have to comply with the rules of international law, and we will work to bring Canadians home safely.
Costas Menegakis Conservative Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals have successively failed to address the fact that we have terrorists on our streets, and there has been zero enforcement of the laws that are already in place.
This is happening because the seven Liberal immigration ministers in the last 10 years have failed to protect our borders, and now hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agents safely reside in Canada, many in my community in Richmond Hill. This is because Liberal public safety minister after Liberal public safety minister has failed to deport them.
When will the Liberal government finally start to—
Public SafetyOral Questions
Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the department at IRCC has a rigorous process for vetting all applicants who are applying for a visa. In addition, we encourage the opposition to vote in favour of Bill C-9, which it is refusing to do.
Finally, let me clarify again that on this side of the House, the Iranian regime is a terrorist entity. It is a state sponsor of terrorism. We encourage all parties to respect the rules of international conflict and engagement, and we will work to bring Canadian citizens home safely.