Chandra Arya

[Christian Heritage Month, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I stand today to advocate for fairness, unity and recognition.

Christianity, embraced by millions of Canadians, has shaped the moral and cultural fabric of our great nation. Many of Canada's foundational values, institutions and traditions reflect Christian principles. We have months dedicated to Sikh, Islamic, Jewish and Hindu heritage, but there is no such recognition for the Christian faith.

December, a month already steeped in Christian traditions of hope and giving, is the perfect time to honour this legacy. Let us celebrate the values, contributions and diversity Christianity has brought to Canada and to mankind. I urge the government to designate December as Christian heritage month.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

[Committees of the House, December 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, on the same point of order, since this morning I have been sitting here listening to my Conservative colleagues speak on everything other than the main motion.

[Privilege, December 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the need to reduce taxes and also mentioned investment. Due to the actions of the government, inflation has now come down to 2%. The Bank of Canada has reduced the interest rate for the fifth time, to 3.25%. There is still some pain among Canadians with the cost of living, hence the government has taken measures. I have two questions for the member.

First, when he talks about the need to reduce taxes, why is he not supporting the government measure to eliminate GST on certain items for the next two months?

Second, he talked about investments. Why does he not recognize that Canada has attracted the best foreign direct investment per capita among all the OECD countries? Does it not show the confidence that the international corporate world has in Canada?

[Privilege, December 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member mentioned that the Speaker's riding is the most beautiful riding in Canada, but I have to take exception. Mine is the best riding in Canada. It represents the true Canada. It is a suburban riding. We have two rivers. We have agricultural land. We have high tech and emerging technologies. We have got 120 languages. It is 50% Christian, 30% no religion and 20% balanced faith. We have lots of children, and we have a lot of new schools, so it is the best riding that represents the Canada of today and tomorrow.

I have a question for the hon. member. He talked about pandemic management. I am very proud of the way our government successfully managed the pandemic. Under every metric, we did better than any other G7 country in managing the pandemic. Can the member tell us, compared to any other G7 countries, if there is any country, other than Canada, that has done better in any metric in managing the pandemic?

[Somaliland, December 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, on November 13, Somaliland held its presidential election. I extend my congratulations to President-elect Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, Irro, for his landside victory. It is a testament to the trust and confidence the people of Somaliland have placed in his leadership.

I want to recognize the outgoing president, Muse Bihi Abdi, and thank him for his service. I also congratulate the KAAH party on winning to become one of the three officially recognized political parties.

We are in a world where elections are often disputed, as recently witnessed in a couple of countries in Europe. The use of biometric voter identification and the peaceful transfer of power are not just a triumph for Somaliland but also a powerful inspiration to Africa and to democratic countries around the world.

[Privilege, December 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. A few minutes back, the member for Surrey—Newton introduced a motion seeking unanimous consent, and I said no. I believe on the way out of this chamber, the member threatened that I would be effed up. Another member also aggressively accosted me in the lobby. I feel that as a member of Parliament, I should be able to express my opinion and my views freely in the House and I should not be threatened by any words or actions of my fellow members.

[Chinese Canadians, December 2nd, 2024]

Madam Speaker for over 150 years, Chinese Canadians have made remarkable contributions to building Canada. From working in mines and railways in the past to driving Canada's leadership in the knowledge-based economy and advanced technologies, Chinese Canadians have been and continue to be a vital force in Canada's socio-economic development.

With a rich cultural heritage spanning thousands of years, the Chinese people have profoundly contributed to humanity through advancements in science, medicine and countless other fields essential to human progress. It is our collective responsibility to preserve and promote this invaluable culture and heritage, ensuring that all Canadians today and in the future can learn from and celebrate its significance.

I call on Canada to designate February each year as national Chinese heritage month.

[Privilege, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member quoted quite a bit from the preamble of the Constitution and other laws. He had a lot of authorities quoting on the subject he was speaking on. I do agree with him that the House of Commons has the power to legislate, deliberate and hold the government to account, which we do. In one of the authorities he mentioned, he said, “on the surface appears to be without restriction”. I think this was a reference to the power to ask for documents.

The key word in that phrase is the word “appears”. It is not absolute. That is number one. Number two is that I think he also mentioned the parliamentarian or the minister in the U.K. Parliament sent to prison. I do not think it was for his refusal to produce documents. I think it may have been for his refusal to appear before the committee. Maybe the member can clarify.

[Privilege, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's speech. She mentioned economic policies, so I have a question.

The Canadian economy is improving. Inflation has come down to 2%. Interest rates have been cut four or five times. Though the economy is changing for good, the lingering effects of high inflation and high interest rates are still affecting Canadians, and the government is taking steps to help those Canadians in need.

I would like to ask two things. First, why did she vote against the government's measures cutting the sales tax to help Canadians? Second, I would like to ask her why she is not telling Canadians they will not receive the Canada carbon rebate they are getting now, if her proposals are approved.

[International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, November 29th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, today is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. In 2021, I stood in the House and called on Canada to recognize the sovereign state of Palestine. Today, I renew that call with urgency. The New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman wrote, three days back, that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is defending a Jewish supremacist apartheid vision in the West Bank and Gaza, yet the western nations that hold the levers of power and influence remain silent witnesses, allowing this catastrophe to persist.

Canada must take bold and active steps toward justice, not only as a gesture of solidarity, but also as a commitment to a just and lasting peace.