House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Health December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased that my NDP colleague is highlighting all the investments we are preparing to make in health care systems. However, Canadians know full well that we cannot just give the provinces blank cheques.
We need results. We need to see improvements in services to citizens, to families, to people who need those services.
That is why we are working with health ministers across the country. We want to make sure we are delivering real results to Canadian families.
Health December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, we have made commitments to ensure that Canadians have access to family doctors, and we are delivering on those commitments.
We have the money to invest in health care systems across the country, but we need the provinces to make commitments and demonstrate that they will deliver the results Canadians expect.
For too long now, people have been waiting in emergency rooms, waiting for health care and waiting to get a family doctor. We need to see results. That is why we will be there with the money when we see promises to deliver results.
Foreign Affairs December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, the details of the allegations of interference are concerning. That is why we will never tolerate threats to Canada's national security or to the safety of our citizens and residents.
The RCMP has announced that it is investigating these allegations, and I have asked officials to keep a close watch on it.
The Chinese Canadian community is all too often the victim of foreign interference by China. We need to emphasize that Chinese Canadians continue to deliver extraordinary benefits to Canadians as proud Canadian citizens. We will continue to stand with the community that is the victim of interference, rather than perpetrators—
Foreign Affairs December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, foreign actors attempting to monitor, intimidate or threaten Canadians is completely unacceptable. The allegations detailed are concerning, which is why we will never tolerate threats to Canada's national security or to the safety of our citizens and residents.
The RCMP has announced that it is investigating these allegations, and I have asked officials to examine them very carefully. We will continue to work closely with our allies around the world to respond to illegal and unacceptable behaviour by authoritarian states like China.
Health December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to getting provinces to speed up the recognition of credentials, I will highlight that it is an NDP government in British Columbia that has just taken significant measures to do that. If the member opposite thinks he can convince his fellow Conservatives, who happen to be premiers of some provinces, to accelerate those processes, it would be a welcomed change from the kind of obstructionism and two-tier health care that the Conservatives continue to push.
We are going to continue to stand with Canadians to ensure that we are improving and increasing opportunities for Canadians to get good health care and opportunities for new arrivals to work in the industries in which they are trained.
Health December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to encouraging the provinces to make improvements in health care, we are doing more than just encouraging them. We are saying that we will flow significantly more money to the health care systems across the country if they can ensure better results for Canadians, if they can ensure better outcomes and if they can ensure that health human resources take advantage of the thousands of people who come here from around the world wanting to work and build a better life in this country, including in our medical system.
We are serious about improving results for Canadians in health care systems across the country, and that is what we are standing firm on with the provinces.
Official Languages December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, for several years now we have recognized that the federal government has a role to play in protecting the French language in Quebec. Yes, the Government of Quebec has its own responsibility, but the federal government does too. We will always respect the areas of jurisdiction.
That is why we are ensuring that federally regulated businesses respect the principle of French first in Quebec, as well as in all the French-speaking communities across the country.
That is one way to protect French from coast to coast to coast and we are proud of that.
Official Languages December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, we are the first federal government to recognize that we have a responsibility to protect French across Canada, including Quebec. Protecting French across Canada is also one of our responsibilities. That is why we introduced measures through Bill C-13 that will ensure that federally regulated businesses in Quebec and across the country promote the use of French. That is a way of ensuring that we remain a country where French is spoken proudly from coast to coast to coast.
Veterans Affairs December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, even one would be too many. That is why we condemn, in the strongest terms, anyone who has recommended that to our veterans. Our veterans have lived a life of service and deserve the utmost quality of care from our governments. That is why we invested $10 billion after the previous government chose to shutter Veterans Affairs offices across the country and nickel and dime veterans every chance it could get.
We respect our veterans, which is why we are taking seriously the reports that this unacceptable behaviour happened within Veterans Affairs. Our veterans deserve the very best and that is what we will continue to give them.
Veterans Affairs December 14th, 2022
Mr. Speaker, as I have said a number of times, this is absolutely unacceptable. Veterans Affairs Canada is taking serious measures to ensure not only that this never happens again but that any Veterans Affairs officers who have been making those recommendations irresponsibly, and on their own, no longer are in a position to make those.
I will highlight that we have invested over $10 billion in support for our veterans after 10 years of the previous Conservative government nickel-and-diming them and using them for photo ops. We will continue to support our veterans and respect the work they have done.