Iqra Khalid

[Holiday Greetings, December 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as we come to the end of another session, I am delighted to wish neighbours in my riding of Mississauga—Erin Mills and all Canadians a very happy holiday season. This is a time for reflection and gratitude, a time to celebrate the values that unite us in kindness, hope and the spirit of generosity. We also recognize that, for many, this time of year can be challenging, and it is crucial that we come together to support one another.

I want to express my sincere thanks to my incredible team, whose hard work and commitment continue to make a positive impact in our community. We have made progress this year, and we are ready to work even harder in the new year to support the people of Mississauga—Erin Mills and all Canadians.

I wish members in the House and all Canadians a very merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah and all the joy of the season.

[Omar Zia, December 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to recognize the passing of Omar Zia.

Omar Zia was a loving father, husband, son and brother. He dedicated his career to service in our community as a teacher in Peel School and, most recently, as principal of The Woodlands Secondary School. Omar was a mentor to so many young people in our community. He was breaking barriers, and he was an unwavering advocate for special education, anti-racism, volunteerism and youth. I had the privilege of working with him over the years and could see the compassion that he brought to work every single day.

Last week, he sadly passed away at the age of 49. This weekend, we gather to mourn, share stories and say goodbye to our friend and brother. I will leave members with Omar Zia's signature question, which guided his life's work: “How will you make a positive impact today?”

[Gender-Based Violence, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, today marks the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, a day to honour the memory of the 14 women who were tragically murdered in the 1989 Polytechnique Montreal massacre, and so many more since.

In Canada, a woman or girl is killed every 48 hours. In Peel region alone, police responded to over 16,000 incidents of family and intimate partner violence in 2023. That is 44 disputes every day and almost two every hour, and that is just what gets reported. That is not counting those who are silent. This violence against women goes beyond physical harm. With the rise of online platforms, harassment now includes trolling, hacking and doxing. This systemic violence heavily affects marginalized women, indigenous women, racialized women and those with disabilities.

We must break this cycle. We must listen to and amplify survivors' voices, and strengthen support systems for those affected by violence.

[Canada Revenue Agency, November 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, we have the highest respect for whistle-blowers and support the private member's bill, Bill C-290, put forward by the member's caucus to protect whistle-blowers. Again, we also have to ensure that Canadians' data is protected. We have to make sure that tax avoidance and tax filings carry fairness within our country and within the system.

We look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen that, and I look forward to working with the member for his ideas as well.

[Canada Revenue Agency, November 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the CRA takes the issue of fraud very seriously.

With respect to what the member has talked about, we have supported whistle-blower rights, as shown in our support of the member's caucus bill, Bill C-290, which aims to increase protections for whistle-blowers. However, we need to find the right balance when it comes to making sure that Canadians' data is protected while also ensuring rights for whistle-blowers.

The CRA has an internal process for reporting, and we look forward to continuing to work with all members in the House and the CRA to strengthen that process.

[Taxation, November 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there are over 60,000 employees with the CRA. There are massive strategies that are being worked on with international partners to ensure that tax avoidance and tax evasion are being prevented.

I look forward to working with all members in this House to make sure that we are providing the right amount of support to the CRA to ensure that we are working on this very important issue. Tax fairness is a pillar of our democracy, and we need to ensure that that continues to happen.

[International Criminal Court, November 22nd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the International Criminal Court has made a historic move by issuing arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader Mohammed Deif. This sends a clear message: No one is above the law.

As Canadians, we take pride in our commitment to human rights and the rule of law. I thank the Prime Minister for affirming that Canada will uphold the decision of the ICC. As a nation that helped establish the International Criminal Court and ratified the Rome Statute, it is our duty to uphold and abide by international law, ensuring that the people responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity are held to account.

Canada must continue to stand firmly with international law and be clear that violations of human dignity will not be tolerated, no matter where or by whom they occur. Let us always stand for justice and the rule of law.

[Canada Revenue Agency, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I do not think that the challenge here is whistle-blowers. As I said earlier, there are ways within the CRA that people are able to report whatever misconduct they see. I think the question really is how we protect whistle-blowers. We have obviously supported Bill C-290 from the Bloc Québécois. I wonder if we can support the Conservative Party and its whistle-blower situation going on right now.

[Canada Revenue Agency, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there are situations that must be denounced. I have to say that our minister and our government have supported Bill C-290, that party's private member's bill. However, there are situations where we are not able to talk about issues, specifically with respect to section 241 of the Income Tax Act, but there are obligations and there are ways in which we are able to have whistle-blowers report what they need to within the CRA, and we are constantly working on these issues.

[World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence, November 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence, a day that demands our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable in our communities. As a member of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights, I heard devastating testimonies from hundreds of NGOs. These organizations are working in over 190 countries and territories worldwide, and they have revealed the brutal realities that children face in conflict zones.

Today we continue working together to advocate for children facing crisis around the world, including in Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine and too many more. Since 2016, Canada has contributed millions in humanitarian funding, but financial support alone is not enough. We must strengthen international protocols, enhance legal protections and create better support systems for children at risk. Every child in Canada and across the world deserves safety, dignity and an opportunity to dream.