Chandra Arya

[Public Safety, October 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, two weeks back, I could safely participate in a Hindu event in Edmonton only with the protection of RCMP officers as a group of Khalistani protesters staged a disruptive demonstration against me.

In Canada, we have long recognized and experienced the serious problem of Khalistani extremism. However, let me be clear, the sanctity of Canadian sovereignty is sacrosanct and any interference by foreign state actors within Canada, in any form, is unacceptable.

Khalistani violent extremism is a Canadian problem, and the RCMP has said that the national task force is focused on investigating it. We know that extremism and terrorism do not recognize, and are not limited to, national borders. I call on our law enforcement agencies to take this issue with all the seriousness it demands.

[Privilege, October 22nd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, the hon. member mentioned the deficits. During the last two years, when global inflation affected Canadians and resulted in cost of living increases, we continued to invest in Canadians. We continued to take measures and introduce programs to help Canadians who had been deeply affected. The investments we made are yielding fruit. Inflation is down to 1.6%. Interest rates are coming down. In fact, tomorrow the interest rate is probably going to come down for the fourth time. The consumer confidence index has been the highest in the last 30 months.

Does the member recognize that, as the Conservatives were constantly attacking the programs we were rolling out, today they are yielding results? What is his reaction?

[Privilege, October 22nd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I listened to the hon. member's speech. Her comments on the cost of carbon pollution and attacks on the electrical vehicle industry show that the Conservatives deny that climate change is actually happening. Over the last two years, despite the attacks from Conservatives, we have continued to invest in Canadians. Today we are seeing the results. Inflation is down to 1.6%. Interest rates will continue to fall for the fourth time tomorrow. The consumer confidence index is rising to a 30-month high.

Government action is resulting in what is good for Canadians, which is totally different from the picture the hon. member is trying to paint. Could she comment on how that is possible?

[Privilege, October 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, in answering a previous question, the hon. member mentioned that the Liberals were lagging 20% below in the opinion polls. With inflation rates falling to 1.6%, interest rates falling, consumer confidence index increasing, the so-called lead of 20% has already dropped to 13% today and it will disappear to 0% soon.

I would like to ask for the member's comment on that.

[Privilege, October 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member referred to the Parliamentary Budget Officer's note on the deficit. I would like to ask the member for his comments on the inflation rate, which has fallen to 1.6%. For the fourth time, tomorrow the interest rate will be cut by the Bank of Canada. In fact, the interest rate is projected to be 3% by July 2025. Yesterday, there was a report on the Canadian consumer index rising to a 30-month high. The Toronto Stock Exchange year to date has risen by 18%.

Why does the member not also comment results of things because of the government's actions, such as a falling inflation rate, falling interest rates, a rising consumer confidence index, a rising Toronto Stock Exchange index. I would like to hear the member's comments on that.

[Privilege, October 22nd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I think the hon. member's speech was very calm. She explained, in detail, the entire problem with this motion without using any political rhetoric like we see from the other side of the House. I want her to expand on one particular thing. If we go ahead with this demand that we give this document, through the law clerk, to the RCMP, which the RCMP has conveyed in writing is irregular and that it is very unlikely that they will be using it, there are unintended consequences that may actually hamper any possible criminal investigation.

The end objective of all of us here is that anybody who has done anything wrong should be held accountable. If we go through this process, this may have unintended consequences of actually scuttling that.

[Privilege, October 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his speech. He is a former math and physics teacher, and I wish I could ask him questions regarding the quality of our math and physics education in our school system today. In my opinion, our students are falling behind in math and physics compared to their counterparts in many parts of the world, and this is affecting our competitiveness in the global, knowledge-based economy.

I want to acknowledge that the member's speech had less political rhetoric compared to those of many of his colleagues, although I disagree with many of the things he said. Specifically, being a member of the public accounts committee, I share with him the respect that we both have for the Office of the Auditor General. However, the Auditor General has expressed a concern on the blurring of the powers between different parts of the government, and the RCMP has specifically said in a letter to the law clerk of the House of Commons that it is very unlikely that it can use the records that this motion would provide to it in its investigation.

[Public Safety, October 11th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned about the attacks on journalists who report on Khalistani extremism in Canada.

A few days back, Rishi Nagarin of Red FM Calgary was severely attacked. In March 2023, Sameer Kaushal of Radio AM600 in Richmond, B.C., was assaulted for covering a Khalistani protest. In February 2022, Brampton radio host Deepak Punj was attacked in his studio for criticizing Khalistani-related violence. Anti-terrorism investigative journalist Mocha Bezirgan has received death threats for his fearless reporting on Khalistani extremism.

There are many more attacks in the greater Toronto area and across Canada by Khalistani extremists. I call on law enforcement agencies to take notice of Khalistani extremism with all the seriousness it deserves. It has to be dealt with with an iron hand before it is too late.

[Privilege, October 8th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I heard the member speak quite a bit about the Constitution, so I am sure he is well aware that the three branches of our system of government, which are the executive, the legislative and the judiciary, have separate powers and separate constraints too.

The RCMP wrote to the law clerk of the House of Commons in July saying that it cannot use the records received through this process for the investigation, as the charter rights of the suspect are affected. That is number one. Number two, the Auditor General has expressed concerns that we are blurring the division of powers and responsibilities.

First, are we not being counterproductive in giving the RCMP what it needs? The RCMP understands that it has a legal process for obtaining the records and documents, whatever it needs, to start an investigation. Does he not recognize that?

Second, can the member confirm that Ms. Annette Verschuren, the former chair of SDTC, who is central to this question, was the adviser to two former Conservative prime ministers, was a donor to the Conservative Party and, in fact, donated two years back during the leadership race for the Conservative Party?

[Points of Order, October 8th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, this is based on the ruling you just made. I was listening very carefully. You did mention that you watched the video, and you also mentioned, to paraphrase, that you saw that the opportunity was not there for the member to speak and that things were possibly rushed through. Should you not give the benefit of doubt to the member in question so the rights of the members are upheld? Is that not of much more importance than the ruling of the chair of the committee?