Arif Virani

[The Economy, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, a lot of us are struggling to understand the nature of today's question period, but I think I have discerned what it is. Those in the official opposition seem to be off their game because they are not using a lot of three-word slogans, and it has destabilized the House.

I can simply say, first, we support housing and the housing accelerator fund that, I think, 17 members of the official opposition advocated for before they were told not to by their leader. Second, we support the fight for the environment. We will continue to advocate for making sure pollution is not free and we will participate and work with any party that wants to support us in that endeavour because it supports the environment—

[Infrastructure, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I would like to highlight all the efforts we are making on this side of the House to promote active transportation, such as jogging, walking and cycling, in Montreal, Toronto and across Canada.

If the member would like to discuss the matter in detail after question period, we would be happy to speak with him to see how we can help the City of Montreal with its responsibilities and see how we can clear the bike paths of snow.

[Carbon Pricing, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I will just point out, for Canadians watching today, that there have actually been three elections in a row on pricing pollution, on ensuring that no one in this country gets away with polluting for free: the 2015 election, the 2019 election and the 2021 election. The Conservative Party actually campaigned on pricing pollution itself.

What I would say is that the price on pollution is proving dividends in terms of the Canadian economy. How is it doing so? We are returning more money to eight out of 10 families through the Canada carbon rebate and through the Canada carbon rebate delivered to small businesses.

[Carbon Pricing, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, a lot of questions have been about what the NDP is doing in terms of supporting parliamentary process. Let me talk about one thing that is very salient for today.

Today is December 6, the anniversary of 35 women being shot down in cold blood at École Polytechnique. What the NDP is doing is supporting a bill on the floor of the chamber that would help tackle the root causes of violence against women. What am I talking about? I am talking about radical misogyny that starts online.

Bill C-63, the online harms act, would help us target misogyny at its core. That is something that every member of Parliament needs to get behind, and we need to do it now because time is wasting on keeping women safe.

[Carbon Pricing, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I just want to clarify the record for everyone who is watching question period on a Friday morning: The coalition on carbon pricing actually fissured this year when the NDP abandoned its policy on carbon pricing. It is known as the most effective economic measure to bring down the price of pollution and also to boost economic activity.

Witness the Canada carbon rebate to individuals and now witness the Canada carbon rebate being applied to small businesses, as much as tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size of a business. It is an economic model that is proven in terms of the evidence, and it is a model that helps bring down emissions.

I would just hope that the NDP would get back on board.

[Justice, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, on this side of the House, we have a plan to combat hate in our country. That includes a national strategy to combat hate, as well as Bill C‑63, which is on the radicalization that happens online. We know that radicalization starts with feelings and ends with acts of violence in the real world. That is what we are targeting with Bill C‑63.

Bill C‑63 targets the very same sections of the Criminal Code that the Bloc Québécois bill seeks to address. We are perfectly happy to co-operate with the Bloc Québécois to combat hate.

[Justice, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the Bloc Québécois member's question.

We are well aware of what was suggested in the Bloc Québécois's bill. On this side of the House, we are in favour of any effort to combat hatred, particularly the anti-Semitism that we are seeing in Quebec and across Canada.

We could work together to improve or amend our own bill on online harm, Bill C‑63, which is already before the House. We are perfectly willing to work with the Bloc Québécois in that regard.

[Public Safety, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, here are examples of a few police officers to whom I am listening. Deputy chief in Vaughan, Alvaro Almeida, has said specifically that without investments in resources like courts and Crown attorneys, we cannot keep the bad guys in jail. I am also listening to the National Police Federation and police officers. What they have said is that in order to be appointed as a JP, who decides bail, in Nova Scotia, a person has to have legal training. That is not the case throughout the country and certainly not the case in the province of Ontario, where I call home. This is an issue that needs to be addressed, because we all have a vested interest in keeping people safe.

[Public Safety, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, let us talk about the facts. The facts, as reported by CTV, are that the Conservative leader has vowed to repeal the legislation entirely should it become law. Yesterday, the Conservative justice critic indicated that it was exactly that, they would repeal online regulation bills passed by the Liberal government.

That might deter some people. It sure as heck is not going to deter me. I am going to keep Canadians safe, and that means Canadian moms and Canadian children. If I do that with my party's help, with the help of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, so be it. I will do it over the opposition of the Conservatives, because their position is morally bankrupt and endangers our kids.

[Public Safety, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-75 codified existing Supreme Court jurisprudence and added a tougher decision on bail for those who target women. That is a fact.

Let us talk about the actual combat against crime. Let us talk about crimes against children. We cannot make this up. What the Leader of the Opposition has said, and what his justice critic has reiterated, is that no matter what progress we make, with the help of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP, on taking down child pornography off the Internet, they will reverse it. That is morally bankrupt as a policy and incredulous to assert in this chamber. The combat against crime includes the combat against child sex predators.