Judy Sgro

[Committees of the House, February 24th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the legislative committee on Bill C-18, an act to implement the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between Canada and Indonesia.

The committee has studied the bill, and I am very happy to forward it on to the House. It has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

[Human Rights Advocate, February 10th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, I stand with voices around the world in denouncing the unjust and politically driven sentencing of Jimmy Lai, the latest chapter in the erosion of Hong Kong's freedom and independence.

This outcome was not inevitable. For years, advocates globally have called for the release of Jimmy Lai, and this pressure from the international community must continue. His sentencing is a clear violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a legally binding treaty lodged with the United Nations. Sentencing a 78-year-old newspaper publisher to 20 years in prison for peaceful expression is not the justified rule of law; it is repression. I urge democratic societies to answer this abuse with coordinated diplomatic measures and accountability.

Jimmy Lai's case makes clear that Hong Kong's courts now operate fully under Beijing's control. I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, and I reaffirm my commitment to seeking his release, alongside that of all people in prison for their beliefs in Hong Kong.

[Committees of the House, February 10th, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on International Trade in relation to Bill C-13, an act to implement the protocol on the accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with an amendment.

[Iran, February 2nd, 2026]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an important development: the decision by the European Union to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. This decision reflects the courage and determination of the Iranian people, who have endured the IRGC's repression for decades, including the tragic loss of life during the January 2026 uprising. For more than 20 years, democratic opposition leaders and thousands of parliamentarians from around the world have called for this designation, noting the regime's destabilizing activities across the Middle East.

This listing must be accompanied by further steps: closing the regime's diplomatic facilities, expelling its agents, cutting off its financial networks and recognizing the right of Iran's youth to resist tyranny in the pursuit of a democratic republic grounded in human rights. Canada acted by listing the IRGC in 2024, and today I call on the United Kingdom to follow suit and register the IRGC as a terrorist entity.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the government is looking at everything possible to help us with the economic challenges we are currently facing.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, this is a time when we all need to be united.

Earlier I asked one of my Conservative colleagues if they would support the MOU. I am talking about the MOU that the government is putting forward that I think has a team Canada approach of working together and advancing team Canada, as we do at international trade. Overall, working together to advance the issues that matter to our constituents is the best thing that we can be doing. It is time that we all did that together.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, at the moment there is no pipeline. There will only be a pipeline when the multitude of conditions that have been put on the table as a possibility of moving forward get met. Otherwise, there will be no pipeline to have a discussion about.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, I welcome my colleague to the House. I think this is the first time we have had an opportunity to exchange a few words together. I thank him for the work that he did on establishing those protocols.

I would sincerely hope that everyone on the other side of the House would ensure, as I and I am sure all of my colleagues intend to, that the things we are committing to will happen. If the conditions that are spelled out are not met to their full extent, I would not expect anything to move forward.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, it is always good to see you in the Chair, keeping control of all of the comments that are made here in the House.

I am pleased to rise today to speak to the issue of the recently signed Canada-Alberta memorandum of understanding and the duty to consult with indigenous peoples on its implementation.

Let me begin by saying that Canada and Alberta are committed to respecting aboriginal and treaty rights. We have heard it from the minister and we have heard from the Prime Minister continually about engaging in early, consistent and meaningful consultation with indigenous peoples. This will have to be done in a manner that promotes reconciliation and respects the rights and cultures of indigenous peoples while advancing economic opportunities through indigenous ownership and partnership.

The Building Canada Act makes sure that first nations, Inuit and Métis people participate in full partnership in building a strong, fairer economy. It is intentional that section 35 rights are embedded in the legislation, with a requirement to engage in consultation with affected section 35 rights holders at key stages: first, before a project is designated as being in the national interest; second, before the issuance of the conditions document; and, third, before any amendment to the conditions document.

I am going to repeat those three conditions. They are before a project is designated, before the issuance of the conditions document and before any amendment to the conditions document. All of that will have to happen before any progress will be made.

Free, prior and informed consent will also be a central tenet guiding the federal government's approach to implementing the Building Canada Act. Major projects will only proceed following meaningful consultation and, where appropriate, accommodation. This past summer, the government convened three distinctions-based meetings with first nations, Inuit and Métis leaders to discuss the Building Canada Act and how best to work together. There were frank exchanges, and first nations, Inuit and Métis representatives from across Canada had the opportunity to comment and to share their views.

Further, as promised by the Prime Minister, collaboration has continued with first nations leadership at all levels through regional dialogue tables. These meetings are helping shape the path forward together to advance major projects, including projects of national interest. The Major Projects Office is the single point of contact, as well as the leadership, on major projects, partnering with federal departments, provinces, territories, indigenous peoples and the private sector. Its mandate is to advance nation-building projects that connect Canada's economy, diversify trade and industries, create good jobs, protect the environment and uphold indigenous rights.

By streamlining approvals and committing to a two-year timeline for major project decisions, the Government of Canada is creating a more efficient and predictable environment to give investors and project proponents, such as Iqaluit hydro, the certainty they need. What I have heard from all of the members on the other side today are ways to move things along faster when they have the right conditions.

Advancing the interests of indigenous peoples is a vital part of advancing major projects and one of the factors considered in the designation of projects to be in the national interest. I wish to underline that meaningful consultation is key to the success of all future major projects. I do not think anyone on this side of the House is prepared or would be prepared to ram something through, which is what I am hearing on the other side of the House.

That is why Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has been engaging with indigenous partners to improve how federal consultation happens, including during major project processes and Crown consultation coordination, and to better understand indigenous priorities for economic prosperity. We will work with the new federal Major Projects Office and other federal departments to share what we have heard about indigenous interests and economic priorities, including community-supported major projects, consultation expertise and how best to strengthen those partnerships.

This includes updating the federal guidelines on consultation, using consultation protocol agreements and resource centres to help guide and inform these processes, continuing to include consultation provisions in new modern treaty and self-government arrangements and reviewing consultation provisions in existing modern treaty and self-government arrangements to ensure they reflect the latest legal and policy developments.

The Major Projects Office's work also benefits from the leadership and guidance of an indigenous advisory council, which provides expert advice on policy, operational practices and process improvements related to the inclusion of indigenous perspectives and interests in major projects. The council will also support the Major Projects Office by championing indigenous partnerships and economic participation in all major projects in Canada. Consultation continues to be a prerequisite.

The focus of the council will be to provide insightful counsel on policies and processes related to major projects. It will provide expert advice on policy, operational practices and process improvements related to the inclusion of indigenous perspectives on, and interest in, major projects and regulatory processes, including the integration of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act principles. Doing so is reconciliation in action.

Members of the council were selected based on their expertise and knowledge of major projects, economic development, indigenous rights and of course the regulatory space. Members bring diverse perspectives and demonstrated leadership. Some of the members were also nominated by indigenous governments and organizations. The council will also shape how the Major Projects Office works with first nations, Inuit and Métis, as well as modern treaty and self-government partners.

I wish to point out that the duty to consult is a legal requirement that will be carried out by the government and not the council. The establishment of the indigenous advisory council does not replace section 35 obligations for consultations with rights holders under the modern treaties act.

To strengthen the indigenous capacity to participate in these processes, the federal government has allocated $40 million over two years in dedicated funding to support consultation and preparation for community readiness activities as they relate to major projects. When we invest in indigenous economies, we grow the entire country's economy. When indigenous partners lead major projects, things move faster and the results last longer. That is how we build trust. That is how we build prosperity.

To provide increased opportunities for first nations, Inuit and Métis to gain equity stakes in nation-building projects, we have doubled the indigenous loan guarantee program from $5 billion to $10 billion. This program helps indigenous groups get more affordable loans for major projects by having the federal government guarantee the loan. One example earlier this year is from the Canada Development Investment Corporation. Through its subsidiary, the Canada indigenous loan guarantee program issued its first loan guarantee for $400 million of a $736-million investment in 38 first nations.

I am pleased to answer questions.

[Business of Supply, December 9th, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, I think there is a lot of enthusiasm in the House for things to be done right.

I want to ask the member if she is going to support the government's MOU.