Ali Ehsassi

[Nowruz, March 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House today to acknowledge Nowruz, the spring equinox, celebrated by 300 million people around the world and hundreds of thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

A 3,000-year-old tradition, Nowruz is a much cherished historic holiday for Persians, Afghans, Turks, Kurds, and many others with cultural roots in western and central Asia.

This joyous holiday, celebrated for several millennia, is a festive occasion that brings together people of different cultures and languages to mark renewal. The holiday celebrates the significance of family, community, and new beginnings.

Speaking of new beginnings, last night I had the honour to join the Minister of Democratic Institutions and the member of Parliament for Richmond Hill to convene the first-ever Nowruz reception on Parliament Hill.

Many members of the House and hundreds of guests joined us around the Haft-Seen to celebrate the arrival of spring and the dawn of a new year. We were particularly honoured to have the right hon. Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs join us to mark this historic first celebration of Nowruz on Parliament Hill.

[Public Safety, March 21st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, it was originally my intention to stand in the House today to recognize Nowruz, the first day of the vernal equinox, which is celebrated by more than 300 million people around the world. I planned to congratulate in particular Iranian-Canadians on the start of a new year filled with new possibilities for a community that contributes so thoroughly to Canada.

Instead, however, I rise today to acknowledge the unsettling events that unfolded in my riding last week, when an assailant approached the armed forces recruiting detachment in Willowdale and injured two members of our armed forces. I am happy to report that both Canadian Armed Forces members have fully recovered. However, the incident, as emphasized by the member for Scarborough—Guildwood, once again serves to remind us of the sacrifices our brave men and women in uniform make every day.

I would also like to acknowledge the Toronto Police Services and in particular the members of 32 Division, headquartered in Willowdale, for their much-needed co-operation—

[March First Movement, February 25th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to bring to the attention of the House a matter of great pride to many of my constituents in Willowdale and indeed to the Korean Canadian community in general. Next Tuesday, March 1, marks the 97th anniversary of the dawn of the March First Movement, also referred to as Samil or the Man-Se demonstrations.

The March First Movement marks an important milestone in the Korean independence movement. On this day we pause not only to remember the ideals articulated in the Korean Declaration of Independence, but to celebrate Korean independence and the Korean Canadian community. One can only marvel at how far the Republic of Korea has come since then, positioning itself as one of the world's most advanced and innovative societies and a beacon to the rest of the free world.

On March 1, I ask all Canadians to join members of the Korean Canadian community in celebrating this historic milestone.

[Member spoke in Korean as follows:]

Dae Han Min Guk Man Seh.

[Small Business, December 11th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in October, Canadians chose a positive and optimistic plan for the future that will provide economic growth by investing in jobs and lowering taxes for the middle class. When middle-class Canadians have more money in their pockets to save, invest, and grow the economy, we all benefit.

Could the hon. Minister of Small Business and Tourism please inform the House of the actions that the government will take to help small businesses?