Don Davies

[Privilege, November 8th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I agree with my hon. colleague that people are really struggling right now. In Vancouver Kingsway, people are having trouble paying their skyrocketing rent; they cannot afford a home, and they are living paycheque to paycheque. They are facing food insecurity. People need help.

My colleague referred to one of her constituents, Stephanie. One of my constituents, a senior named Mary, contacted me last week. She told me that she went to the dentist for the first time and got dentures. She had been living without teeth for years. She could not eat an apple. Her nutrition and her overall health suffered. She got dental care, primary health care, because of what the NDP has done in Parliament.

Cutting dental care would hurt millions of Canadians, including seniors who need it. If the member's party forms government, will she cut dental care, or will she stand up today and say here in the House that she will support, keep and expand the dental care that is helping Canadians in this country?

[Privilege, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I have had the privilege of serving with my hon. colleague on the health committee for some time, and as he has told the House, he was a family physician for 26 years. He would, then, know of course that unmet oral health needs and poor oral health lead to serious overall health problems like cardiac issues, diabetes complications, low birth rate in women and infections of the upper and lower jaw.

I am wondering whether the member supports his leader's statement that he would cut the NDP's Canada dental care plan, which currently provides dental care to a million people and is slated to provide dental care to nine million people, and does he, as a physician, think that removing that dental care from people who do not have dental care coverage will promote better health in Canada?

[Privilege, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague continues to speak about calling an election. A million Canadians have now accessed the NDP's Canadian dental care plan. Would the member support the elimination of the Canadian dental care plan were he to form government? Is that the position of the Conservative Party?

[Petitions, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present a petition on behalf of Vancouver firefighters in IAFF Local 18. It addresses an urgent issue that has an impact on the health and safety of firefighters across Canada.

This petition, sponsored by my great colleague, the NDP MP for New Westminster—Burnaby, calls for immediate action to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS, in firefighter gear and firefighting foam. These are man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water and oil, but their durability comes at a significant cost. Scientific evidence now conclusively links these substances to severe health risks, including cancer. This puts firefighters, who already face hazardous conditions, at greater risk.

Research shows that PFAS can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. Alarmingly, firefighters face a higher cancer risk than the general population. We can mitigate this risk by regulating what we control in their working conditions. Several countries have restricted PFAS use; Canada must follow suit.

Our firefighters deserve gear that is free from toxic chemicals. Let us protect those who risk their lives for us.

[Youth, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, young Canadians are facing a serious crisis. Youth unemployment is now double the national average, and job security and workplace benefits are becoming a thing of the past. The cost of food is soaring, rent is skyrocketing and the cost of living is crushing. Young people do not have a fair shot under the Liberals, and the Conservatives' only answer is to cut services.

Young Canadians need hope and opportunity. Why is the Prime Minister letting them down?

[Privilege, October 30th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague gave a serious speech, so I think it deserves a serious question. I agree fully that this entire spectacle is a disgrace. We had contracts being given and money being misspent. Taxpayers do deserve answers, and I agree that documents do need to be disclosed.

From what I understand, the Speaker's ruling says that the documents must be disclosed to PROC. It appears to me that is exactly what my hon. colleague's party wants. Can he explain to the House why that is not enough? Why can we not proceed to a vote and have those documents sent to PROC to get the answers that his party seeks? What is wrong with that?

[Privilege, October 30th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, my hon. colleague spoke quite rightly about the waste of $400 million and said this money would have been much better put into our health care system. I agree with him. He also called on the Liberals to apologize for that waste of money.

I was in this House when the Conservatives were last in power. They wasted $2 billion on the Phoenix pay scandal, something we are still paying for today. In the spirit of calling for an apology from the Liberals for wasting money that could have gone to health care, would the member apologize for the Conservatives wasting $2 billion? That also could have and should have gone to health care.

[Questions on the Order Paper, October 30th, 2024]

With regard to budget 2024 and the government’s subsequent amendments to the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act and the Canada Student Loans Act: (a) what criteria did the government use to develop the list of health care professionals and social services professionals included in the amendments; (b) which health care professionals and social services professionals were included in the assessments in (a); (c) for each health care professional and social services professional included in the assessments but not included in the amendments, what is the rationale to exclude the professionals from the final list; (d) what is the total expected cost of the loan forgiveness measures announced in budget 2024, broken down by profession; and (e) what was the estimated cost of including occupational therapists in the loan forgiveness program?

[Privilege, October 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, prior to the current Liberal government, which has been in power for nine years, the Conservatives were in power for nine years. I happened to be in the House for most of that time, and under the Conservative government, the Phoenix pay scandal cost taxpayers $2 billion, a $50-million slush fund was administered by Tony Clement and there were a number of Senate scandals. Also, the Harper government was found in contempt not once but twice for, guess what, refusing to hand over documents ordered by Parliament detailing how it was spending money on crime bills and dealing with the Afghan detainee matter. There was also election fraud galore, for which we watched Dean Del Mastro, a Conservative MP, be led off in handcuffs to jail. If we were to try to find out whose list of corruption and scandals was longer between the Liberals and the Conservatives, we would be here all day.

The Speaker has ruled, in agreement with the Conservatives, to produce documents to PROC. There is no order to produce all of the documents to the police. If my hon. colleague wants such an order, why do the Conservatives not raise a question of privilege and ask the Speaker to order that all documents be produced to the police? Is it because they know the Speaker will not do that?

[Hungarian Heritage Month Act, October 23rd, 2024]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-416, An Act to designate the month of October as Hungarian Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce legislation to designate October as Hungarian heritage month. By introducing this bill on October 23, we honour those Hungarian patriots who fought for freedom, democracy and human rights in the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. I am proud that my honorary godfather, Andras Pinces, was one of those brave people.

This bill recognizes the impressive contributions of Hungarian Canadians to our nation's social, economic, academic and cultural fabric. From the first Hungarian immigrants in the late 19th century to the tens of thousands who arrived after the 1956 uprising, their resilience and achievements have enriched Canada. From business leaders like Peter Munk to Nobel Prize winner John Polanyi, to global music star Alanis Morissette, Hungarian Canadians have made their mark in Canada and on the world stage.

By designating October as Hungarian heritage month, we acknowledge the invaluable role Hungarian Canadians play in shaping our country. I would like to thank Her Excellency Maria Vass-Salazar, Hungary's ambassador to Canada, for her assistance with this initiative.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)