Justin Trudeau

[Infrastructure, January 28th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, five years ago we made a commitment to Canadians to do things differently from the Conservatives who had underinvested in infrastructure for 10 years. We made historic investments in infrastructure to grow the economy and to improve Canadians' quality of life, while Conservatives campaigned on billions of dollars' worth of cuts from much-needed infrastructure across the country.

Our plan has over 4,800 projects under way or completed, four times the number of the Conservatives in their last four-year mandate. We are building affordable housing, community centres, libraries and bridges. We are investing in Canada's future.

[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 176 people who were taken from this world too soon, to remember who they were and to stand in solidarity with the people they loved.

On January 8, 167 passengers and nine crew members took their seats aboard Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 and waited for takeoff. For 138 of them, Canada would be their final destination. Among these passengers there were newlyweds, a mother and her teenage daughter, a father on his way home to his young son, families of three, families of four, a grade 12 student who wanted to become a doctor, a talented dentist focused on starting a practice here in Canada and an ambitious 10-year-old boy who was confident that one day he would sit in the very seat from which I rise, confident that one day his voice would be heard in this House.

It is tragic that this boy will never get a chance to sit in the House, but his story, and the stories of all the victims of Flight 752, will resonate not only in this House but across our great nation. They are stories of hope, ambition and courage. They are unique, inspiring stories of resilience, determination and joy, because these 176 people are much more than mere victims.

Over the past weeks I have sat down with many grieving families. They told me about their loved ones, about who they were, about what they liked to do and about their plans for the future. They lived lives far too rich to be defined by this tragedy. Before any of this happened, they were not just shaping their own lives: They were building our country, building a future we all share that is now diminished by their loss.

We cannot change the terrible events that took them away from us, but we can choose how we remember them. Today we choose to remember their strength, their kindness, their passion for life. In a way, we all knew these passengers: the friend one could always count on, the child one watched grow up, the inspiring teacher, the superhero mom or dad.

These people, they shape our lives. They make us who we are, and losing them like this, so unexpectedly, is devastating. This is in part why so many Canadians across the country came together in support of the families and loved ones of the victims because, while we can only imagine the magnitude of their loss, we refuse to see them go through this tragedy alone.

In the darkest hours, Canadians came together to support the families and loved ones of these people who left us too soon. Canadians across the country attended memorial ceremonies. They lit candles, placed flowers and offered their condolences. Some even started community organizations like Canada Strong to help the grieving families. Faced with tragedy, faced with injustice, neighbours, friends, acquaintances and strangers responded with compassion, support and generosity. These are the values and spirit that led many of the passengers to choose not just Canada, but Canadians.

I wish I were not delivering this speech today. I wish all 176 people aboard Flight 752 were still with us. This tragedy should never have occurred, and these families deserve to know how and why it did. That is why our government is working closely with our international partners to ensure that a thorough, credible investigation is conducted. We will not rest until we get accountability and justice for the victims' families.

We have been in close contact with the families to ensure they have all the support they need, from facilitating travel and fast-tracking visas to providing legal and financial assistance. We are also matching up to $1.5 million in donations to the Canada Strong fund for those affected by this tragedy.

I want to end this tribute by addressing the families and loved ones of the victims on behalf of all Canadians.

[Prime Minister spoke in Farsi]

[English]

Know that we stand with you. We will not let you weather this storm alone and we will never forget the people you loved.

[Pharmacare, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, no Canadian should be forced to make an impossible choice between medication and food.

That is why, in one generation, we have done more than any other government to reduce the price of medications. We have taken action and will continue to take action. We are in discussions with the provinces and territories with a view to implementing pharmacare based on the principles found in the Hoskins report.

We are working to reduce expenses for families with a strategy for drugs to treat rare diseases.

We are setting up the Canadian drug agency. We will continue to reduce the cost of medications for all Canadians.

[Indigenous Affairs, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we know that reconciliation is something of importance not just to this government but to all Canadians, and that is why we have taken so many historic steps to move forward the relationship with indigenous peoples in this country.

We have ensured that we are respecting Jordan's principle. Under the last years of the previous government, zero cases were approved under Jordan's principle, and since then, hundreds of thousands of approvals under Jordan's principle have made a real difference in the lives of indigenous children across this country. We recognize there is much more to do. That is why we are continuing to work hard every day to create better opportunities for indigenous families.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we will always be committed to a fair and impartial assessment of each case. This goes to show how important it is to have an immigration system that works to bring people from all over the world and build a better society every day for everyone. We know that immigrants bring economic opportunities for all Canadians. We will continue to defend the importance of immigration, pluralism, multiculturalism and the respect we have for all those who want to come live, build their lives, and work in Canada.

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, we understand the profound impact that immigration-related decisions can have on the lives of individuals. We are committed to ensuring that every case is evaluated on merit, in a fair manner and according to Canadian law. Each case is unique, but every applicant can expect professional and impartial treatment and clear rulings.

We are aware of this particular case, but privacy laws prevent us from commenting on it.

[Ethics, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to show the international community how important it is to invest in communities and families and to engage in positive efforts globally, whether by fighting climate change or promoting the importance of international trade and the rule of law in international affairs. We will continue to work to show that Canada has a strong presence on the world stage while helping Canadians here at home.

[Public Safety, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, far too many families in this country, far too many communities in this country suffer the devastation of gun violence. We have taken many initiatives to counter that, whether it is enhanced background checks or requiring sellers to check licences of anyone who wants to buy a gun.

We have invested over $327 million to address gun and gang violence. We will continue to strengthen our gun laws by banning dangerous assault weapons and working with provinces, territories and mayors to keep communities safe.

The bottom line is we will strengthen gun control. Conservatives want to weaken it.

[The Economy, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, over the past five years we have made a very different choice from those of Conservative governments in the past. We chose instead to invest in Canadians rather than looking to balance the books on the backs of service cuts to Canadians. We have invested in the services that Canadians need to help them through times of anxiety. We have increased the Canada child benefit to families that need it, which has lifted hundreds of thousands of people, including young people, out of poverty.

We will continue to invest in the growth and the services that Canadians need.

[Natural Resources, January 27th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, from the very beginning, we demonstrated to Canadians that we understand we cannot make a choice between protecting the environment and growing the economy. We need to do them both absolutely together, and that is how we have moved forward on historic protections for our environment and for our natural beauty while at the same time we have created jobs. We have seen the economy grow.

We will continue to do just that. We will continue to go through rigorous assessment processes and make choices that are the right ones for Canada for now and into the future.