Jagmeet Singh

[Health, October 4th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, today is a bad day for Conservatives but a great day for the people of Manitoba. Premier-elect Wab Kinew ran a historic campaign and a hopeful campaign. He ran a campaign to defend a public universal health care system. Now they need a federal partner.

The Prime Minister—

[Election of Speaker, October 3rd, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire NDP, I would like to congratulate you on your victory today. I also want to acknowledge the work you have done for your riding as MP for Hull—Aylmer since 2015.

Let me just say—and I know many other members would say it, too—you always offer a wonderful smile and friendly greeting to everyone.

It is fair to say, without much exception, that you are one of the friendliest members of Parliament, and it is great to see you in the chair now. Congratulations.

I know this has been said, but I want to underline what having you elected means. First of all, I want to acknowledge the humility that you expressed when saying that people do not go to a match to watch the referee; they go to watch the stars. You started off with a message of humility, which is very powerful.

I also want to acknowledge the incredible weight that you now bear and the incredible feat that you have achieved. When people walk the halls of this place and look at the pictures on the walls to be reminded of some of the great achievements of Canada and some of the grave errors we have made as a nation, they are one day going to see your face on the walls of this chamber. What is that going to mean to kids visiting from far and wide who come to the capital city? There are kids who have come here and not seen themselves reflected on the walls, and that is going to change now. That is very powerful.

I know you know how important that is, and it brings me to my next point, which is the incredible role that you will now have to play to restore the honour of this chamber, something you mentioned in your speech as well. We know there is going to be, and rightly so, increased attention on all parliamentarians and on this House. I have no doubt that you will be able to satisfy your responsibilities with the utmost capacity, but it is indeed an increased responsibility.

I also know that there are deep concerns about divisions in politics and the polarization of debate. While vigorous debates are of course important, there is a certain tone and decorum that must be upheld. Going back to kids visiting this place, sometimes when school kids are watching the elected officials of this country engaging in debate, I am embarrassed that they are watching people yelling outlandish things and acting as if it is cool to be yelling at someone while they are speaking. I hope you can restore some decorum. It is important. Everyone is going to have a chance to share their viewpoints, but it should be done in such a way that people are able to express them and then sit down. Then someone else can respond and rebut. I hope you can create that decorum, restore the prestige of this place and restore confidence in the important work that happens here.

I thank you so much for putting your name forward, and congratulations on being elected. I look forward to working with you.

[Climate Change, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the climate crisis is hitting families hard. People are also having a hard time paying their energy bills, and the government is noticeably absent. A report released by Clean Energy Canada confirms that we can reduce energy bills and cut emissions at the same time.

Will the Prime Minister show some leadership and do just that?

[Grocery Industry, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, a report was released that indicated that seven million Canadians are struggling with the cost of groceries. This is after two years during which the Liberal government has allowed greedy CEOs to exploit Canadians and jack up the price of their groceries.

Now, only after the Liberals are falling behind in the polls are they making a show, but it is not good enough. Will the Liberals get serious about taking on greedy CEOs and support our bill, which would bring the cost of food?

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it took three days for this Prime Minister to say anything about what happened in the House. He has said that he was embarrassed, but it is not about him. Real damage has been done. Now we need meaningful action.

What is the Prime Minister going to do to clean up this mess?

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister said that he was embarrassed about what happened in the chamber, but it is not about him. It is much more than that. Real damage has been done: real damage to the Jewish community, real damage to the war effort in Ukraine and real damage to Canada's reputation.

After three days, the Prime Minister has finally said something, but he has to take action. What is he going to do, in concrete terms, to clean up this mess?

[Housing, September 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Liberal inaction is much too costly.

On top of that inaction, we have a very serious situation in Halifax. People currently living in a campground fear they will be homeless when it closes for the season, because there is simply nowhere else for them to go. These people have worked hard. They have jobs. Some live at the campground, and some work there. There is simply no other housing for them to rent in the surrounding area.

They do not have months to wait for the government to approve new housing. They will be homeless in weeks. This is the result of a Prime Minister who could have and should have built more affordable housing, but did not.

What will the Prime Minister tell them when they are homeless in a few weeks?

[Grocery Industry, September 26th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday it was the producers' turn to be summoned by the Minister of Innovation. The minister knows full well that they have inflated prices because he is simply asking them to stabilize them. After the meeting, the minister said inaction is not an option, except that is exactly what he has been doing for the past two years.

Will the Prime Minister promise Canadian families that their Thanksgiving dinner will cost less than it did last year?

[Housing, September 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, “I should have” is not what people want to hear. People want the job done.

Right now, finding affordable housing is impossible because there is none. Affordable rent for someone looking for housing or an apartment is non-existent.

What is this Prime Minister going to do to ensure the construction of housing that people can afford?

[Housing, September 20th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister admitted that he could have and should have done more to build affordable homes in Canada. Now, the reality is that we have a situation where we are losing more affordable homes than we are building as a nation.

What does the Prime Minister have to say to a renter who is living in a home he can afford right now but who lives in fear that one day that home will be renovicted or demovicted and he will lose it? What does the Prime Minister have to say to ensure that people will be able to stay in the homes they can afford?