Justin Trudeau

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, Canadians and the world are watching very carefully what has happened this week and the terrible error that happened on Friday.

However, they are also interested in seeing who is trying to make partisan hay out of this, who is trying to look for gains out of what was obviously a terrible mistake.

It is important that we learn from this, that we stand even stronger with Ukraine going forward and that we counter Russian propaganda.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the principle of independence of Parliament from the government of the day is well established. The government is always there to work with opposition parties or the Speaker if they have concerns or questions about any of the guests they choose to invite into this august chamber.

We will continue to stand unequivocally with Ukraine, but we will also, at the same time, defend the rights and privileges of parliamentarians.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, indeed, this has been deeply embarrassing for all parliamentarians and for Canada. The important thing is to continue to remain firmly on the side of Ukraine, to fight against Russian propaganda and arrogance. To date, we have invested nearly $9.5 billion in humanitarian, military, diplomatic and economic aid for Ukraine. We will continue to be there to support Ukraine with whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, as I pointed out, this was deeply embarrassing not just to all parliamentarians but to Canada as well.

We stand firmly with Ukraine. We will continue to stand against Russian aggression and Russian propaganda. We will continue to ensure, with the military aid, humanitarian aid, financial aid and diplomatic aid we are engaged with around the world, that we will continue and, indeed, step up efforts to counter Russian propaganda. We will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, with whatever it takes.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, we have sent several messages directly to the Ukrainian people and to President Zelenskyy.

At the same time, we will continue to stand strong and firm against Russia's propaganda, disinformation and misinformation, as it invades a peaceful neighbouring country while attacking the rules-based international order. We will always stand up for international order and stand with Ukrainians.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed deeply distressing to see that the mistake made in the House on Friday is being used by the Russians to continue to spread their propaganda on why Ukraine is defending itself and why they wanted to invade Ukraine.

Here in Canada, we will continue to stand firm in the defence of Ukraine and the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty. We have shared that solidarity with the President of Ukraine many times over the past few days.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, we all know how many years the Leader of the Opposition has served in this House, and we can certainly remember all the times he stood up to defend the honour, the rights and the privileges of parliamentarians. Now, in order to make partisan attacks, he is proposing that the government of the day have the ability to vet and oversee the rights of parliamentarians, and indeed of the Speaker, to include people in this House, to invite them into this House. I know that the Leader of the Opposition used to have more respect for Parliament than that, but he is busy making a partisan attack.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the facts are well known here. The Speaker issued the invitation and delivered the recognition; he has taken full responsibility. The Leader of the Opposition knows that not one parliamentarian was aware, but the truth does not matter to him. He distorts, misleads and aims to confuse, all for partisan gain. It is all he knows how to do.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the privilege, responsibilities and rights of parliamentarians are sacrosanct, and that the Leader of the Opposition would be suggesting that any visitor to this House should be vetted by the government of the day is actually a grievous attack on the rights and privileges of parliamentarians.

However, if the Leader of the Opposition, the Speaker or anyone wants our intelligence agencies to vet any of their guests, we would be more than happy to do that in respect of parliamentary rights.

[Foreign Affairs, September 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all of us in this House, I would like to present unreserved apologies for what took place on Friday, including to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian delegation for the position they were put in.

For all of us who were present to have unknowingly recognized this individual was a terrible mistake and a violation of the memory of those who suffered grievously at the hands of the Nazi regime.