House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2025, with 34% of the vote.
Privilege November 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I do understand the member's emotion about many things of this place, and he is a very emotional fellow. However, there is a requirement to treat all members honourably. I asked him a very clear question as to what is the worst Conservative scandal that we can learn from, and he failed to answer that. That was the intent of my question.
Privilege November 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague speaks with great passion in this place and I really do appreciate that. He mentioned that he does not want to be censored. I want to give him an opportunity to reflect upon something in this House.
What is a lesson he would give to this place in relation to what he thinks the worst Conservative scandal is and how we can learn from it?
Privilege November 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, looking at some of this hypocrisy, it is difficult for the New Democrats to digest scandal after scandal of the Liberals. However, there has also been scandal after scandal with the Conservatives. I find this to be a difficult issue to circle, because all of us should be opposed to corruption.
When Mike Duffy did that, did he pay back the money and say sorry? If not, would the member be willing to do that on his behalf?
Privilege November 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, the NDP never got a question.
Housing November 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, rents in Edmonton are rising faster than almost anywhere else in the country. A one-bedroom apartment costs 16% more than it did last year. Working people cannot keep up. These sky-high rents are being caused by greedy corporate landlords who own almost half of all purpose-built rentals, but the Liberals refuse to stand up to them. They have let Canadians down while the Conservatives work to get these CEOs even more.
Why are the Liberals standing by while corporate landlords buy up affordable homes?
Committees of the House November 18th, 2024
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his great work at OGGO, getting to the bottom of much of the serious procurement issue before us. One of the issues we worked together on in the public accounts committee was the issue of subcontracting. At the time, when we were investigating Dalian, a company that claimed to be indigenous for the purposes of getting government contracts, we had learned throughout the process that even he did not know the rules around the indigenous procurement strategy. He never knew them.
How can a government fail so much that even the person applying to the program did not have any idea, according to him, that there were misleading applications? Is this just part and parcel of the program that one must admit to not understanding the program in order to apply? What would the member have to say about those two options with respect to Dalian and with respect to the other Randy?
Committees of the House November 18th, 2024
Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague from London—Fanshawe for her fantastic work and her deep commitment to reconciliation on behalf of indigenous people, particularly when it comes to those who are serving in our armed forces.
Indigenous people have deeply committed to the defence of this country through the Canadian Armed Forces. We can remember them and their deep contributions in World War II or World War I, but they also contribute today, insisting that the very important work of protecting the Arctic should be indigenous led. Inuit have long protected the northern part of the Arctic. We must continue in that great tradition and support them as they continue to do that work on behalf of themselves and Canadians.
Committees of the House November 18th, 2024
Madam Speaker, I would say this to Canadians who are following this debate: The only time the Conservatives will mention indigenous people is if it is to score partisan points. That is always the case, and it has always been the truth across Canada.
It is that truth or the second truth, which is that indigenous people have something the Conservatives want. That is the case in point that the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay just raised. I want to mention that he is a stalwart of indigenous rights. He has long been committed to indigenous people and our participation, not just in this place but right across the country.
I am willing to set aside what I have seen as a pattern from both parties to get a commitment from them to truly see that the solution toward indigenous justice lies not within their parties, but in the minds, imaginations and spirits of indigenous peoples. Their right to self-determination will never die.
Committees of the House November 18th, 2024
Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for that great question. This is something I think we would agree on. The fundamental issue is the land. Indigenous people have a fundamental right to this land. This comes from the very important reality that these people, indigenous people, are part of the land.
The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples that took place in the early 1990s delineated three things that constitute a nation: land, power and money. If there has ever been a moment in time in which indigenous people deserve to have their lands fully recognized as theirs, it was yesterday. The next best opportunity is today.
Let us acknowledge indigenous peoples beyond just our territorial acknowledgements of having traditional territory in this place. They have real territory in this place. These are their lands. We have to respect that and come to terms with that; by God, I hope we can find a way to have reconciliation and forgiveness. With the pathway of ensuring indigenous people have ownership and access to their own lands, in addition to Canadians' ability to reconcile, if that happens in earnest, I think we actually have a chance to live harmoniously in this great place we call home.
Committees of the House November 18th, 2024
Madam Speaker, it is no secret that indigenous people have been disproportionately impacted by resource development throughout Canada's history. I am not talking only about oil and gas. I am talking about the fur trade industry, for example, that began Canada's exploitation in the area I am from. I am talking about the nuclear exploitation that took place in Ontario of indigenous people. I am talking about all kinds of exploitation that Indigenous people often suffer by way of this economic demand by Canadians.
It is true that indigenous women in particular are facing disproportionate levels of violence at resource extraction zones. The member was on the committee responsible for the study I am mentioning. There was testimony in there regarding an indigenous woman who had to resign from being chief because of the amount of terrible things that were being told to her and around her, and the issues that were pertaining to indigenous women and their ability to survive in that resource sector area.
Sexualized violence, racism and hatred, and systemic racism are perpetuated in these systems. We need to find ways to better support our workers in these places so they are better equipped to deal with the challenges of living in a northern isolated community, in addition to assisting those workers in finding pathways to becoming a benefit in those communities, as opposed to what is right now a very serious, risky and dangerous scenario.