Leila Dance

[Taxation, December 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals' short-term GST holiday is creating too much confusion for small businesses across this country. This botched plan is adding more stress on local store owners at the busiest time of year as they scramble to reprice their inventory only to swap back in February.

Thankfully, New Democrats have a plan to make things simple. Let us make the GST cut on life's essentials permanent, so Canadians can have more money and businesses know what to expect.

Will the Liberal government make life easier for everyone?

[Privilege, December 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I attended the transport committee with the member for Northumberland—Peterborough South. During the meeting that he spoke about regarding the big dock, the director for the contaminated sites division from the Government of Canada informed the committee that there is a list of 24,000 contaminated sites across this country, with only 238 being monitored by the government. Will the member promise that, if he becomes part of the government, he will commit to cleaning up these sites and managing all new sites in a fast and effective way?

[Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty, December 6th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, on November 30, I had the chance to be a part of a historical event for Canada. This event, which was 154 years in the making, was the Red River Métis Self-Government Recognition and Implementation Treaty with the Government of Canada.

I would like to congratulate the Manitoba Métis Federation president, David Chartrand, his staff and the community for their ongoing dedication to the Métis people, and for ensuring this historical event happened. During his speech, Mr. Chartrand acknowledged that “Canada is a place where we can face challenges and come to terms with mistakes of the past, and move forward in a positive way, forging a new history for future generations.” Those are words I hope all Canadians can appreciate as we stand together on the correct side of history.

On behalf of my NDP colleagues, I was honoured to bear witness to this historic signing. I hope I can count on my fellow parliamentarians to commit to ensuring the treaty receives royal assent swiftly in the House.

[Business of Supply, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as a new member of Parliament, I was not part of the confidence and supply agreement, but I do not want to be a part of a government that does not support workers in this country. I have walked the picket lines many times in my life, specifically with the workers of Teamsters. I watched my dad fight for the rights of brothers and sisters. I have listened to my brother talk about the safety issues his co-workers are facing every day on the job. I do not support the back-to-work legislation that the Liberal government forced.

However, what will the Conservatives do to support workers in this country? I do not mean in words; I mean in action.

[Committees of the House, December 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, people in my riding of Elmwood—Transcona have talked to me about the challenges of accessing health care. Whether it is for a broken leg, heart surgery or abortion care, the government has a responsibility to ensure that Canadians have access to health care, and abortion care is health care. Manitobans know that Conservative cuts would undermine the ability to access the quality health care that everyone needs.

Can the member speak to the long-term impacts the government's inaction will have on the rights of women in this country?

[Committees of the House, December 3rd, 2024]

Madam Speaker, when I speak to people in my riding of Elmwood—Transcona, they tell me they need help. The Conservatives claim to care about affordability, but they just voted against giving Canadians breaks on essentials. Last year, they voted against taking the GST off home heating. We know that they do not believe in climate change, and it seems that they also do not believe in their own slogans.

Can the member for New Westminster—Burnaby talk about how it would have affected Canadians today if these subsidies had not been given?

[Taxation, November 19th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Manitoba families are paying more and getting less at grocery stores. Prices are going up on everyday items, and the size of packaging is getting smaller. Families need a break. They need relief now.

The Liberals are letting people down, and people in my riding know that Conservatives will cut and gut the important things we need, costing families thousands of dollars. The NDP will help families by removing the GST off essentials like groceries, kids' clothing and diapers.

Why will the government not give families the break they need and remove the GST now?

[Privilege, November 7th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I did have the chance to walk the line with Teamsters during the campaign, which is near and dear to my heart. My dad was from the same union. My brother is now in the same union, so I had the chance to walk with my brother. In 2008, I walked the line with my son and my dad. It was great to walk with those workers, to hear their stories and concerns about safety issues and those types of things, which they have to think about day in and day out, and the ability to come home safe to their families.

Over the weekend, I had a chance to walk with the Canada Post workers in my riding who have the potential of going on strike. That is very near and dear to my heart. I want to continue to fight for workers across Canada and, most specifically, in my riding of Elmwood—Transcona.

[Privilege, November 7th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I want to be a strong voice for Canadians and the people in my riding of Elmwood—Transcona. As much as I have enjoyed being here, we need to move forward. We need to get back to government work and make things happen. I will keep repeating that over and over again. We need to make things happen for Canadians, because they are desperate to have stuff happen, where they can see an actual impact.

[Privilege, November 7th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, yes, I think Canadians want action now and they want things that will impact their bottom line and their pocketbook today, not tomorrow, not in 2025, not in the future. They need to be things that will impact them today and their ability to save money and to do the things they need to do, whether it be supporting their family by having a pantry full of groceries or putting a roof over their heads, something that many of us in this room would take for granted. We need to come together and figure out a way to move forward to help Canadians.