Lindsay Mathyssen

[Student Debt, December 11th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank my friends, supporters and volunteers, my family, my mom and dad and my partner, but I need to especially thank the people of London—Fanshawe for putting their trust in me to be their voice in the House. For the past year, I have listened to their concerns, their struggles, their hopes and dreams. It is my promise to fight for them and to continuously be their voice in this chamber.

Young people worked on my campaign, students like Jesse, Alyssa, Reenya and Nate, but they are being denied access to education. They are being forced to give up on their dreams because they cannot pay skyrocketing tuition. Young people are struggling under the weight of crushing student debt at the very time when they should be excited about planning their futures.

Instead of writing off billions in large corporate loans, the government could make accessing education a reality for Canadians. It is time to eliminate interest rates on student loans. It is time for the federal government to stop profiting from student debt.

[Health, December 10th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the government's refusal to defend basic access to health care for Canadians and the fundamental right to choose is inexcusable. It is failing to stand up for people in New Brunswick, who are poised to lose the only abortion provider in Fredericton. This was first raised in 2005. The Liberal minister at the time was supposed to act, but failed. Now, almost 15 years later, the minister has continued to do nothing.

What is it going to take for the Liberals to defend people's rights? When will they enforce the Canada Health Act?

[Post-Secondary Education, December 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the government talks about the importance of equal access to university and college, but it is only that, talk. Action is needed to ensure fair access to education based on a desire to learn, not on an ability to pay.

While provinces are raising tuition fees and the government has happily written off billions in debt owed by big corporations, why is the government still gouging students and charging interest on federal government loans?