Lisa Marie Barron

[U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Products, November 26th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, once again, a big happy birthday to you. I am sorry that you are here so late with us all tonight on your birthday.

I thank the member for Kings—Hants. I am sure the member is just as excited as I am to hear the news of the provincial election. We have the first woman leader of the opposition elected in Nova Scotia, Claudia Chender. This is very exciting news.

I am certain the member, being from Nova Scotia, loves lobster just as much as I do and the people who catch it. Who else loves lobster? People around the world love lobster, including in the United States. Some 51,000 tonnes of lobster were caught in Nova Scotia just last year, valued at more than $1 billion, and 60% of that was exported into the United States.

How is the member supporting these local lobster fishers to ensure they can continue to work, and that we can continue to see the benefits of lobster coming back into Canada in light of these tariffs being promised by Trump? How are we preparing to make sure that we are supporting these lobster—

[U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Products, November 26th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, this debate we are having tonight, which was put forward by my colleague from Windsor West, is a really good reminder of how important it is that we are doing the work to support workers and Canadian products. In my home province alone, British Columbia has exported more than $5.7 billion in wood products to the U.S., more than $3.5 billion in agriculture products and over $8.2 billion in energy products, including $4.8 billion in natural gas just last year.

Why have we not seen the government take the industrial strategies my colleague from Edmonton Griesbach spoke so well about tonight in his speech to see value-added products, like the B.C. softwood products, for example, to see workers supported, to see Canadian products developed and to see our local Canadian economy supported? Why have we not seen the government do that to prepare us for a situation like we are in right now?

[Privilege, November 7th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I also want to do a quick acknowledgement, with Remembrance Day coming up on November 11, of the local veterans and frontline workers who have done so much for our country. In particular, I want to acknowledge the legions in my riding of Nanaimo—Ladysmith, branches 256, 257 and 10, for all the work they do for our communities.

My question is coming from a genuine place. We have all heard the ruling from the Speaker, and I genuinely want to understand because I want to get back to talking about the important things Canadians want us to be talking about, like the cost of living, housing and the toxic substance crisis. I could go on.

Can the member clarify the ruling from the Speaker? My understanding is that he asked for it to go to committee, for us to get to the bottom of it. Can he clarify if he also has read that same ruling and if, perhaps, there is another interpretation of what was said?

[Privilege, November 7th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I am hearing that Canadians across the country are bewildered and want us to continue the important work they elected us to do in representing them. There are so many things Canadians need us to talk about, but instead we are hearing the same things over and over again. I would love to see this go to committee so we can dig into it and find some solutions.

We hear what the Conservatives are saying over and over again about Liberal insiders. I find that interesting because we know that SDTC's Annette Verschuren, which I have said before, has donated tens of thousands of dollars to both the Conservatives and the Liberals. We also know that she was an adviser to Mulroney while he was in power.

Should the Conservatives not be talking about the Liberal and Conservative insiders instead of just the Liberal insiders?

[The Environment, November 7th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians deserve better than that excuse. There is another climate report and another massive Liberal failure. Canadians are terrified of the impacts of the climate crisis. They need action.

Today's report has given the Liberals a failing grade. We have the worst climate record in the G7, while the government caves to the biggest and richest polluters. The Conservatives will always put the interests of the rich before the planet.

When are the Liberals going to stop putting oil and gas CEOs ahead of Canadians?

[Petitions, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from Courtney Langille on behalf of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union, FFAW-Unifor.

This important petition received 1,695 signatures, the large majority from Newfoundland and Labrador, asking the government to, first, immediately revert the 2J3KL northern cod fishery to a stewardship fishery with access exclusive to Newfoundland and Labrador inshore and indigenous harvesters; second, reaffirm its commitment to allocate the first 115,000 tonnes of quota to those harvesters; and third, ensure large offshore draggers are not permitted to fish the stock until it has rebuilt to meet the 115,000-tonne threshold committed and to withstand the increased fishing pressures.

Northern cod is a historically and culturally critical species for Newfoundland and Labrador, and the petitioners fear another devastating stock collapse if it is not managed responsibly. It is for these reasons that I am honoured to stand and present this petition today.

[Veterans Affairs, November 5th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, women veterans will be attending Remembrance Day services this week. Despite their courage and dedication, many of them will be asked if the medals they are wearing belong to their husbands or sons. Women veterans and their loved ones have sacrificed so much for our country. They cannot be made invisible.

Will the minister make sure the organizers at the national Remembrance Day ceremony include women veterans, giving them the respect they deserve?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the member for bringing forward this important debate. This is my first time having a chance to review this important document, and we can see there is a list of lessons. Lesson 2 states, “Canada's economy is still dependent on emission-intensive sectors”, which is something that the member is talking about. In consideration for parliamentarians, it goes on, “How much financial support does Canada provide to the oil and gas industry? Could this support be reallocated to workers?” This is an important consideration for us because we have seen the Conservatives continuing to prop up oil and gas CEOs instead of looking at a true transition for workers to a clean economy and for those jobs.

Can the member share why the Conservatives are doing all they can to ensure workers are disadvantaged as we move forward with a clean economy?

[Persons with Disabilities, November 4th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, in Nanaimo—Ladysmith, we are fortunate to have individuals and organizations championing the rights of those living with disabilities. One such group is the Self Advocates of Nanaimo, providing a platform for people with diverse abilities to have a voice and join together in advocacy, mentorship, education and community building.

It was such an honour to meet with self-advocates Miranda, Barbara, Pat, Crystal, CJ, Nick and Ryan, as well as the advisory and outreach supporters Gwen and Cheyanne. These incredible self-advocates shared with me important stories of strength and stories of unacceptable challenges.

People living with disabilities need and deserve enough to live with dignity and respect. Up to $200 a month is nowhere near enough. The applications necessary for supports need to be free and accessible, and housing is in dire need. I hear the Self Advocates of Nanaimo and stand with it.

[Climate Change, October 31st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians' homes have been swept away in floods and hundreds of people have died in B.C.'s heat waves. This week, The Lancet report revealed a stark escalation in health threats caused by the climate crisis.

Despite this, and against all advice, the Liberals keep handing out billions in subsidies to oil and gas companies, and the Conservatives cannot even agree if climate change is real. The health of Canadians is at stake.

Will the Liberals stop fuelling the climate crisis and end fossil fuel subsidies today?