Blake Desjarlais

[National Security Review of Investments Modernization Act, October 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today we are debating an important bill that looks at security, particularly investment security for Canadians.

It is no secret that our economy is subject to many attacks, including corporate attacks from foreign entities. What we are also seeing, and something New Democrats have called for for a long time, is a direct connection between the corporate private lobbying interests of some of the largest corporations in the world and members of Parliament. It is no secret, for example, that we have seen Conservatives accept a meal for $6,260 and $600 bottles of champagne in order for them to advance their corporate interests.

What does the member have to say in terms of how we could do better at legislating protections against, for example, corporate interests that are right now infiltrating the Conservative caucus towards private interests?

[Foreign Affairs, October 25th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is getting worse by the minute. This collective punishment has now claimed the lives of over 6,000 people. The 12-year-old daughter of one of my constituents remains stuck in Gaza, separated from both of her parents, and we have no information on her whereabouts.

We need more humanitarian aid and a response that is fair to both Israeli and Palestinian civilians. When will the government join New Democrats in calling for a ceasefire now?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, October 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today we have heard from the Conservatives, on the important piece of legislation, a free trade agreement with Ukraine, a very troubling pattern of information. They are a very well-scripted group. They often speak directly from what they have been told to say, but every once in a while they speak their mind, and what we heard earlier today was truly troubling, when the member for Cumberland—Colchester said that this agreement is too “woke” if it includes indigenous people and our declaration of support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It also speaks about our support for women. If these two principles are too woke for the Conservatives, then what exactly is it going to take for them to support this piece of legislation and to support all Canadians?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, October 23rd, 2023]

Madam Speaker, for the first time in our history, we have seen a free trade agreement that takes into account reconciliation, particularly the rights of indigenous peoples, and reaffirms the parties' commitment to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Would the member support, in the future, our country supporting similar provisions within future free trade agreements, namely with the United States?

[Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 2023, October 23rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed the speech by my hon. colleague. How does the member feel a free trade agreement with Ukraine, particularly as it defends itself in the ongoing war with Russia, will affect the relationship between it and the conflict?

[Amendments to the Standing Orders, October 23rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the motion from my hon. colleague, the member for Elmwood—Transcona and the NDP critic for democratic reform.

The most crucial piece of this motion is directly related to Canada's democracy, which Canadians truly value and is marked across the world for how important and stable it has been. However, the power of prorogation and the power to deem motions a matter of confidence, which is wholly, willfully and solely used by a prime minister, is a direct concern for the New Democratic Party. We have heard very clearly from both the Liberals and the Conservatives that they would rather keep the status quo and continue a tradition that we believe is truly anti-democratic.

On prorogation, for example, back in 2008, Harper used the power of prorogation to avoid a confidence vote. In 2009, Harper again abused the power of prorogation to end parliamentary debate on the government's complicity in the torture of Afghan detainees and avoid complying with the parliamentary motion to hand over all documents on the relevant charges. These are serious situations, and no single individual should be allowed to use this power to avoid the kind of democratic justice that the House can provide. Fast-forward to today's government and, in 2020, we saw the Prime Minister use prorogation to end parliamentary investigations into the WE Charity scandal after it resulted in the resignation of his own finance minister. We cannot continue to abuse the powers of this chamber for reasons of political expediency; it is not in the interest of Canadians.

These standing orders are important for Canadians, but they may not know, in many cases, that these powers are vested in such small circles, like the Prime Minister's Office. What we have seen, and continue to see, is this continued tradition by both Liberals and Conservatives to preserve these exclusive powers of a prime minister and continue to centralize authority and power away from Parliament. It is the position of the NDP that it should be this place, the democratically elected members of Canada in this chamber, who should decide some of these things rather than be decided, for political expediency, by whoever sits in the Prime Minister's Office. However, it is clear, with the Liberals' use of prorogation for political expediency, that it has been a long tradition in Canada, as evidenced by Harper's use of it as well.

We have the Conservatives supporting the Prime Minister right now with his perseverance in the protection of his personal power. Why would Conservatives say, every single day in the House, that the Prime Minister is an evil guy and make personal attacks, but then not actually address the systems that uphold these devastating authorities and powers that weigh over Parliament and Canadians?

There is a saying that New Democrats in the House are often reminded of, which is “Liberal, Tory, same old story”. I am sure both of these parties have heard this many times before, and it does not take a New Democrat to remind them why we say it. We say it continuously, because it happens right in front of us.

We are seeing the protection of the government and the Prime Minister to hold power that we believe is undemocratic. We are seeing unwavering support from the Conservatives who wish to preserve that power, but why? Well, it is probably because they believe that maybe one day they will be in office again and can then lord that power over Canadians. They could prorogue Parliament again, like Harper did, and they could avoid the accountability and justice that Canadians deserve.

The crux of this issue is ensuring that our democratic institutions actually function for the good of Canada. The exclusive use of prorogation and the exclusive use of declaring motions a matter of confidence is beside that point. Members of Parliament are duly elected by our constituents and citizens. We should not be afraid of those facts.

If anything, we should empower our democracy, our members of Parliament and our House to continue our parliamentary work, even if it is inconvenient to the government; even if there is a scandal. If anything, it should be said even louder that these powers should not exist because of the direct connection between the scandal and the use of prorogation declaring motions of confidence.

New Democrats stand in favour of our democratic institutions and seek to empower them for everyday people. The Liberals and Conservatives continue the status quo argument that has favoured them for generations. It is time to put an end to this. It is time to ensure that all members vote in favour of this motion.

[Indigenous Affairs, October 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, at a “glacial pace” is how a recent report described the speed at which the Liberals have been moving to implement the truth and reconciliation calls to action. It is an average of just two calls to action per year. At this rate, it will take 42 years to complete all of them.

For a government that says it is committed to reconciliation, its actions tell a different story. When will the government pick up the pace and ensure that all the calls to action are implemented without delay?

[October 4th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a report on indigenous rights and justice, entitled “Indigenous Lobby Day 2023”, by the Canadian Labour Congress. It calls for safe drinking water for indigenous communities, immediate action on missing and murdered indigenous persons and honouring residential school children and their families. I ask for the consent of the House to table this report.

[Justice, September 29th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, it pains me to say that Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the country.

Instead of ensuring that children do not go hungry, the Conservative Government of Saskatchewan wants to use the notwithstanding clause to save a policy that a judge said was causing irreparable harm. Is that what Conservatives stand for, dividing people and trampling on human rights? That does not sound like common sense to me.

Will the government do everything it can to stop the harm against Canadian children?

[Truth and Reconciliation, September 29th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, to kill the Indian in the child was the goal of Canada's horrific residential schools. It was a brutal policy, made in this place, which stole thousands of children, including my kokum Christina, and subjected them to cruel torture and neglect, which has resulted in serious trauma and death.

Intergenerational trauma haunts families of residential school survivors today, and it is up to all of us to stand with them, acknowledge our inheritance and ensure we end this ongoing genocide. Survivors have come forward and have done the impossible. They have told their stories, reopened wounds and shared with us solutions manifested in the 94 TRC calls to action. To date, we have only accomplished 13 of those calls to action. At this rate, it will take us until 2065 to accomplish all of them.

Let us not repeat the mistakes of the past. Let us act diligently and fulfill our country's promise of truth and reparations. Then, and only then, will we have reconciliation.