Leona Alleslev

[Canada Day, June 15th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Canada Day is a time to both celebrate and reflect, a time to embrace who we are as Canadians and all that has brought us here, a time to reflect on what we must protect or risk losing, a time to imagine a vision of what our country can become. To be Canadian means believing in diversity, respect and humility. To be Canadian is to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

Canada is a free and sovereign nation governed by democratic values, a charter of human rights and the rule of law. It is a country where Canadians alone define our future.

Our democracy is fragile, never to be taken for granted and always to be defended. The challenges we face today will not defeat us. For 154 years, we have overcome adversity and emerged stronger. We will do so again, together and united as one Canada, one country. Happy Canada Day.

[National Defence, June 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, yet, despite months of devastating testimony and four generals under police investigation, the old boys' club is stronger than ever.

General Rouleau has the power to intervene in military police investigations, and golfing with Vance sends a clear message that the fix is in. Vance and the senior military brass are untouchable. By turning a blind eye, the defence minister ensures that the military's toxic culture can continue unchecked.

Will the minister admit that he is part of the problem and not part of the solution?

[National Defence, June 14th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Canada's military is in crisis, and those at the highest levels know they are untouchable.

General Vance is under police investigation, but that did not stop the boys from enjoying a round of a golf. This brazen act by two of the military's most senior commanders is a public declaration that they are neither impartial nor think that the rules apply to them.

The problem starts at the top of the chain of command with this defence minister. When will he admit he has failed in his duties as minister?

[Housing, June 11th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the national housing crisis, it is about the facts.

Monthly mortgage prices have increased from an average of $330 to $2,500. For many in the GTA, the cost of housing exceeds 75% of their income and owning a home is out of reach as it takes over 277 months to save for a down payment. The Royal Bank says that calls for forceful action to cool the frenzied real estate market have been mostly ignored.

When will the government act to make housing a priority?

[Housing, June 11th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has a national housing crisis, and it is getting worse.

With the lowest per capita housing supply in the G7, Canada simply does not have enough houses. In my GTA riding, housing prices have skyrocketed by over 25% in the last year, with the average price now over $1 million. Canadians cannot find places to live and they are losing hope they will ever own a home.

When will the government take real action to help Canadians achieve a more secure housing future?

[Privilege, June 10th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, I know that my hon. colleague's riding in B.C. on the island, the gorgeous Courtenay—Alberni, is suffering like mine from a severe housing shortage.

Could my hon. colleague give some insight into his perspective on whether this budget adequately addresses the national crisis in housing affordability and availability of supply? What measures would he argue are missing from the budget?

[National Defence, June 10th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian soldiers are entrusted to embody the highest moral doctrine and uphold international humanitarian law, but in 2018, when Canadian soldiers training Iraqi troops witnessed horrific war crimes, they were told to ignore the evidence and carry on. The NATO training mission commander knew. The Canadian joint operations commander knew, and General Vance knew, but they all failed to act.

How could the defence minister do nothing in the face of something so serious?

[Public Safety, June 10th, 2021]

Mr. Speaker, this pandemic has exposed global vulnerabilities to biological threats and shown that progress in biotechnology could be exploited for hostile ends. That is why security breaches at Winnipeg's National Microbiology Lab must not be ignored.

Two scientists were fired from this lab after the Canadian Security Intelligence Service recommended that their clearances be revoked. Chinese military scientists were granted access to work in the lab and deadly viruses were transferred from this lab to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. These national security concerns must be explained.

The government was ordered to provide critical documents to the Canada-China committee, but has refused to do so. Instead, to avoid accountability, the Prime Minister submitted them to a committee that he controls and can subsequently silence. This was not his decision to make. The Prime Minister must abide by the will of Parliament. Canada's national security depends upon it.

[Business of Supply, June 8th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, this opposition day motion calls on the government to have a national housing strategy that does better in all aspects. It is not just one aspect, because housing needs to be looked at in its entirety.

[Business of Supply, June 8th, 2021]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. It is so important to figure out why young people are unable to become homeowners.

Largely, it is because they do not have stable and steady incomes. We are seeing youth disproportionately affected by precarious employment, so while we need to talk about the availability and affordability of housing, what we also cannot overlook is the fact that we need to have incomes that are commensurate and not have precarious employment. I think it is our responsibility as parliamentarians to look to our youth and help them in providing that more secure path.