Karen Vecchio

[Petitions, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, the third petition draws attention to the international trafficking of human organs. Once again, many petitioners, as we have seen multiple petitions on this, are asking the Canadian government to move quickly and propose legislation on this travesty.

[Petitions, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, the next petition is to draw the government's attention to the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of the Falun Gong and to take action to end the persecution and to bring them to justice.

[Petitions, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I have three petitions to present on behalf of Canadians.

The first petition asks the government to acknowledge the alarming bouts of unrest in Tigray, Ethiopia. The petitioners ask the government to take action.

[Ethics, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, several committees have had their work stalled by Liberal obstruction tactics. Yesterday, the procedure and House affairs committee was obstructed by Liberals who have been talking since February 23 about everything from their favourite Christopher Nolan movie to spoiled yoghurt in their office fridges.

The Liberals continue to waste time to protect the Prime Minister from having to explain why he shut down Parliament last August when the WE scandal became too much for him. Why is this government wasting the time of the committees to protect the Prime Minister?

[Canada Elections Act, March 26th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a member of the procedures and House affairs committee, which actually tabled a report just a month and a half ago regarding elections in Canada during the pandemic. I was very concerned when I saw this piece of legislation come out prior to the report. The report provided excellent information, including a recommendation not to have an election during a pandemic, yet we know that Liberal campaign offices are already set up in the GTA.

Can I ask this member of Parliament for his thoughts on when he thinks the election will be called by his government?

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, I thank our member who provided such a passionate speech because she does have a great passion for her constituents and for all Canadians.

As we are looking at this issue, I want to talk about what we do when we speak to our young boys. I feel sorry for my son every single day when he brings his girlfriend in and I remind her to just tell me if she ever has a problem because I am right there. I think sometimes it is about showing that we are strong and I want to be that role model for the young women and girls in our community, and for the boys as well.

We have Changing Ways in the City of London, which helps young men who have gone through difficult circumstances with domestic violence and violence against women and young girls. What are some of the things she sees in her community, and how can we expand those resources to help our young boys become good men?

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, I had the honour of working with the member as we travelled on the HUMA committee with lots of laughs. It was an honour working with her.

I also know that she was one of the first women Sikh lawyers in her area, and she should be very proud of being one of the first Sikh women lawyers in Quebec. I am sure there were many challenges. I hope she would talk about some of the challenges and perhaps the discrimination she felt in her field and in her community. If she could share that, I would love to hear it.

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, I am looking at my screen, and knowing people who are in the House of Commons, I can say I do not believe one single person in here wants to see violence against women. I just know that in the bottom of my heart.

I have listened to her words, and I understand, but members should imagine they are members of the Canadian Armed Forces. They should imagine knowing that Operation Honour is the person at the very top, the top brass. We all talk about the retaliation and the fear of going to the police or that upper person and what is going to happen with retaliation. Members can imagine being a woman in the Canadian Armed Forces and having nobody there to protect them.

I would like to know what this member thinks should be done to help our women in the Canadian Armed Forces, and who should be responsible for this, when we know that the top brass is being charged with these types of allegations, which are absolutely disgusting.

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, I enjoy working with the member for London—Fanshawe, as I did with her mother during our time together.

In 2016, a report was done regarding pay equity, and the government indicated that it was an important thing. However, we know that it does not come into effect for quite some time. It seems to me there was a lot of talk, but absolutely no action. It seems like we can talk and we can pretend to be funding things. We can do all sorts of different things.

What are the member's thoughts on pay equity and what the government has not done so far?

[Gender-Based Violence, March 25th, 2021]

Madam Chair, I am sorry that the hon. member will not be able to finish that great question.

I, too, served on that great committee, the status of women, with the member for Shefford. I have had the opportunity to work with many women. Right now, as we continue to look at this crisis, we know there has been a huge increase. I was really proud to work with the member. The NDP, Bloc, Conservatives and the Green Party all came together asking for MAPI funding, the measures to address prostitution initiative.

Does the member think the government has put enough money into the resources for men, women and girls.