Madam Speaker, if you would indulge me, I would like to thank my hon. colleagues for this year in particular. It was a difficult year for my family as the matriarch of the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, my late mother, Mary Grace Desjarlais, passed away. She passed away surrounded by loved ones and family, and she went the way that she always wanted to, surrounded by her grandchildren. I want to thank my hon. colleagues, my constituents and of course all members of the House for their immense support during this difficult time for me and my family.
I also want to thank the member for Timmins—James Bay. His stalwartness, kindness and demeanour have often shone on this place an ability for us to rise to a better kind of standard, a kind of standard that asks us to think of each and every one of us as part of a larger and greater path that, in many ways, would, hopefully, result in Canadians being even more united. Crisis after crisis, and in particular during COVID-19, as the report suggests, or in dealing with the tariffs being threatened by President-elect Trump, we must find ways to come together.
These are serious issues that can impact every single one of our constituents, every single one of our families and every single part of our lives. When these kinds of issues threaten, we should go beyond being simply political opponents and rise to becoming allies, as Canadians. However, the opposite is so often taking place, where being political enemies for the ability to score cheap electoral points becomes the primary objective.
When the United States threatens 25% tariffs, my goodness, across the board on all goods, we have the Conservatives speaking to the talking points of Trump and gaslighting Canadians, suggesting in some way, shape or form that Canada controls the imports on the American border, which is ridiculous. Every country is responsible for protecting its sovereign borders, its sovereign boundaries, including the United States.
What have we seen from the United States? I have said this in the House before, but watching President-elect Trump is like watching a scary movie twice. We have had to experience and witness his administration in the past. We know the kinds of tactics this guy uses. This guy is bashing Canada, our workers and our economy. We, as a country, must unite against that kind of bullying tactic. Unfortunately, time and time again we see that the Conservatives often take the points of the conservatives south of us in order to attack Canadian interests here at home. That is of incredible concern.
It should be of incredible concern to all Canadians. When the next crisis happens, who will stand with us? Canadians must know that when a crisis impacts every single one of us, we will unite. I am deeply concerned about the changing tradition and consensus in this place. At one point, we would never have been political enemies; political opponents, yes, but not political enemies. That future is now more relevant to us than ever before as we question the interests of the Conservative Party, which consistently uses American talking points to attack Canada's industry, Canadian border officers and the very values we stand for.
Canada is not the 51st state. I am ashamed to have to say that, especially to remind my Conservative colleagues. It is an attack on sovereignty, on our interests and on our values. It is an attack on the kinds of values that suggest no matter where someone lives, who they love and how much they make, they will be at home here in Canada. Those values are being undermined consistently in this place by Conservatives, who continuously seek to gain partisan advantage at the expense of working Canadians. This is a troubling fact that I hope we can rise above. It is one we need to rise above to directly combat the very real interests of Donald Trump's America.
What we saw during COVID-19 was a deadly combination of a government that was out of touch with Canadians, an international pandemic and the age of Internet and misinformation. These three things together are now coalescing in an organized fashion to attack our very democratic tradition. Western democracies across the globe are under attack. It is imperative that we understand the threat, come together to unite against it and speak to the better values of Canadians.
In this place, we should always imagine the kind of Canada that would benefit each and every one of us. It was consistently said by New Democratic leaders to dream big dreams of our country. We should not dream tiny dreams like becoming the sock puppet of America, but dream of becoming a country that stands for justice, truth, peace and prosperity for all human life and that when those values are threatened, we would come together and combat that threat because we know the risk it runs.
The member for Timmins—James Bay gave us a very good history lesson on this. During World War II we saw what these divisive politics can do, and it cost millions of lives. When we start to turn on our neighbours and on one another, it has deadly consequences. At that time, Canadians did not fall at the crisis. We did not fall to the misinformation by Nazi Germany or to the crumbling economy that war presented; we stood up, joined hands, some picked up a rifle while others picked up a hammer and we went to work and to war. Canadians raised the largest merchant navy in the world. The war employed millions of Canadians here at home and created hundreds of Crown corporations. We invented new things right here in Canada. What a great memory for each and every one of us to touch a stone and remember that we have this legacy within ourselves as Canadians. We must find a way to rise to that occasion that would do those who fell in war proud. They fell for peace, freedom and justice. We must stand for those same values today, especially against the immense threat the Americans present.
When we speak of team Canada, we mean a kind of Canada where each and every one of us, although we may disagree on the approach to ensure our country is well-defended economically, would come together against all odds to protect our values and interests. I am deeply concerned by the immense misinformation by Conservatives to destroy the very reputation of our country, polarize each and every one of us, and attack the very integrity of our institutions. Our independent journalists, who risk their lives overseas, are now risking their lives here at home simply for telling the truth.
Here in this chamber, it is with great honour and privilege that I rise and speak to this on behalf of the good people of Edmonton Griesbach, who have exercised their democratic rights to elect a member to speak to these critical issues facing our nation. They expect each and every one of us who knows the threat of what American tariffs present to unite, even amongst our differences, and protect jobs, livelihoods, incomes and the ways we put bread on the table. That is the conversation we are ultimately having.
Trump has said that his number one objective in his threats against Canadians is to balance the American budget. It has nothing to do with the border or drugs; it has everything to do with the very narrow objective of a billionaire president-elect who wants to pad the bank accounts of other billionaires and make Canadian workers pay for it. Worst of all, the Conservatives are applauding him and gaslighting Canadians by saying it is our fault. It has to be Canadians' fault because who else's could it be? What a shame that our workers do so much every single day just to be cast down with a very derogatory comment like that.
I call on all of my colleagues to unite toward a better tomorrow and that big Canada, to dream big dreams and overcome the things that threaten us. Let us defeat these tariffs and stand for Canadian values and Canadian workers.
