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  • His favourite word is going.

Liberal MP for Richmond Hill (Ontario)

Won his last election, in 2021, with 48% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Housing in Richmond Hill December 10th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, Richmond Hill is making important progress in affordable housing.

The Richmond Hill council recently adopted a community improvement plan for affordable housing and sustainable design, one of the nine initiatives that are part of the $31-million housing accelerator fund agreement the city has with the federal government.

This new program addresses housing affordability and environmental sustainability by providing incentives for developers to kick-start affordable rental housing projects, ensuring such housing is designed and operated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the long term.

This underscores how our housing accelerator fund is empowering municipalities, such as Richmond Hill, to meet local housing needs. I am proud my city is moving forward with key housing initiatives such as this one. Together, we are building a Richmond Hill where everyone and every family has a place to call home.

I wish a merry Christmas and happy holiday to all.

Interparliamentary Delegations December 4th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-China Legislative Association's 24th bilateral meeting in Beijing and Shanghai, China, from March 24-29.

Taxation December 2nd, 2024

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader has built his reputation on bashing taxes, yet when the government puts forward a tax break that would benefit all Canadians, he says no.

Would the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development explain why this GST tax break is so important for Canadians and why the Conservative leader and his party would vote against a tax break that helps everyday people?

Tax Relief November 26th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, the holidays are a time for joy, for family and friends, and for giving back. For far too many Canadians, the rising cost of living adds stress to this special season.

We know the government cannot set prices at the checkout, but it can help put more money back into Canadians' pockets. That is why, starting December 14, we are lifting the GST and HST on many essential goods over the holiday season. This means no taxes on groceries, restaurant meals, children's clothing and toys. Even the family Christmas tree will have GST and HST taken off this holiday season. Grandpa will be buying a lot of presents for Arianna. By making many essential goods GST and HST free, we will be delivering meaningful savings for Canadians with real relief at the cash register.

Chinese Railroad Workers November 7th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, today, on November 7, we remember and honour the sacrifices of Chinese railroad workers who, against extraordinary hardship, helped to build the Canadian Pacific Railway. This railway was essential to Canada's Confederation, ensuring British Columbia's entry and connecting our nation from coast to coast. This date marks the completion of the railway in 1885, a feat that would have been impossible without the efforts of over 17,000 Chinese workers who faced gruelling conditions, low wages and unfair treatment, risking and giving their lives to bring this national vision to life. Their contributions, often overlooked, are a cornerstone of our shared history.

Already proclaimed by the cities of Toronto, Edmonton and Ottawa, we commit to ensuring that this day will be officially recognized as the Chinese railroad workers memorial day across Canada, preserving their legacy in our national memory.

Canadian Heritage October 1st, 2024

Mr. Speaker, today we reflect on the significance of both Truth and Reconciliation Day and Seniors Day, honouring the profound history and contributions that have shaped our Canadian identity.

Yesterday, we reflected on the resilience and the contributions of the first nations, Inuit and Métis people and organizations in Richmond Hill, such as Odeiwin. I speak with sincere gratitude for its important work as an indigenous-led not-for-profit that provides vital employment and education programs across York Region.

As we celebrate National Seniors Day today, I recognize leaders, including the Mon Sheong Foundation and the Caribbean North Charities Foundation. They are crucial in helping seniors in my riding age well at home, stay informed and connected, and live with dignity and security.

In recognizing both days, we embrace the lessons of our past while fostering compassion and unity in the present.

Natural Resources September 26th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that around the world, Canada has a reputation for helping its friends and being there for its allies.

The world was rightly shocked when the Conservative Party repeatedly voted against Ukraine, and Canadians were shocked once again this week when the deputy Conservative leader disparaged and personally attacked the German state secretary for saying that climate change is real and Europe wants to buy clean Canadian energy.

Can the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources share with this House how Canada is supporting our European allies like Germany?

Business of Supply September 24th, 2024

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his passion and his advocacy for the indigenous community.

I will reiterate what I said in my closing remarks: A flame has been ignited but it is fragile and needs nurturing.

I would like to respond by asking, do we have a lot more work to do? Absolutely. Do we have a lot more consultation to do? Absolutely. Do we need to work with our partners, different indigenous communities and organizations, as well as provinces, to ensure that we give the supports that are needed? Yes. Do we need to make sure that we also build the capacity so we can hand over the various economic aspects to indigenous communities? Yes.

We have a lot of work to do, and we are committed to doing it. We ask for the member's support in doing that.

Business of Supply September 24th, 2024

Madam Speaker, my colleague's talking about freedom of choice gives me a great opportunity to actually highlight our pharmacare bill. Part of that is free contraceptives, which will give women choice in their life.

Going back to the point of advance requests, if it were that easy and were not complicated, it would have been done. The hon. member mentioned that 91% of Canada is in support of that. Maybe 91% of Quebec is in support of that, but that is not 91% of Canada.

We are working very hard, both in the House and in the Senate, with key members to ensure that every aspect and every unintended consequence of the bill, including advance requests, is taken into account.

Business of Supply September 24th, 2024

Madam Speaker, my colleague from Vaughan—Woodbridge framed his remarks by saying that, indeed, this is Canada's decade. For the past hours, my colleagues have talked about many aspects of why it has been Canada's decade on the economic front, the environmental front or the social front. However, there is another dimension as to why this is Canada's decade, and it was not like that a decade before.

It is truly an honour to rise in the House today to speak about our government's accomplishments and the important work that we are doing and continue to do each and every day. Let me take a moment to reflect on the aspect I was referring to, which is the progress made on the path to reconciliation. The work that our government has done on that should also be recognized as to why it is Canada's decade.

Let us remember where we were in 2015. After a decade of Harper and the Conservatives in power, the state of the relationship between Canada and indigenous people was extremely tense. We will remember Idle No More, when indigenous people and Canadians joined together to protest across the country because Stephen Harper refused to listen to them. The courts had already ruled that the Conservatives had continued the systematic underfunding of first nations communities when it came to critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants. Is it any surprise that there were 105 long-term drinking water advisories in place by the end of their mandate a decade ago?

We might say this is in the past, that the old Conservative Party was different, but let us remember that the Leader of the Opposition was not only a member of that government but also the minister responsible for housing in that government, and his record speaks for itself. The number was six. As well, from 2011 to 2015, the Harper government did not make a single new investment in first nations housing, and the Conservative leader's $300-million boondoggle first nations housing program only managed to build 99 homes on reserves.

Let us remember the colonial and oppressive policies of the Conservative government that devastated communities by separating children from their families and culture for generations. Let us remember the disproportionate violence that the indigenous women and girls experienced, and continue to experience to this day. In 2015, the Prime Minister promised to transform this relationship. The Prime Minister said that no relationship is more important than a relationship with indigenous people. We have seen the proof of that over the last 10 years, and we have been working very hard ever since to honour our commitment to the path of reconciliation.

Allow me to cover some of the aspects that we have been focusing on. I will start with expanding our housing initiative. We are the first government to work side by side with indigenous partners to assess the scope and scale of housing and infrastructure needs on reserves. Co-developing a 10-year housing and infrastructure strategy is our government's priority. Following the lead of the partners, we have supported the construction, renovation and retrofit of more than 36,000 homes in first nations communities, as well as 9,000 infrastructure projects, to ensure families are housed safely. We are creating tangible, lasting, indigenous-led solutions to close the gap and build strong, healthy communities.

What is also crucial in building strong, healthy communities is long-term access to clean water. I said earlier that, in 2015, we started with 105 advisories. Water is life, and everyone needs equitable access to clean water free from pollution. Since 2015, we have supported first nations drinking water infrastructure and operation. As a result, first nations received on average over three times more annual funding for water and waste-water systems compared to the previous Conservative government. If members want numbers, it is $492 million versus $162 million.

Now, 95% of communities do not have a long-term advisories. We have helped lift 145 long-term drinking water advisories and prevented over 275 short-term advisories from becoming long term. There is also a plan and project team in place working toward a lift in 30 communities with remaining long-term drinking water advisories.

After years of collaboration with first nations partners, we have introduced the first nations clean water act to hold government accountable for investing what is needed in water infrastructure, creating the tools first nations need to manage their own water systems and protecting the lakes and rivers they draw their water from to ensure first nations have clean drinking water for generations to come. Now we are listening to all perspectives from first nations partners at the committee on how to improve the bill. I hope all parties will support this important legislation and ensure it goes through the parliamentary process without any delay.

Another aspect that I would like to highlight is our advancement in child and family services. We vowed to do the hard but important work to address the harmful impacts of child and welfare systems on first nations, Inuit and Métis communities. Bill C-92 became law on January 1, 2020, and it clearly affirms that indigenous people have the right to decide what is best for their children, families and communities. We continue to work with several communities and provincial governments to restore these inherent rights and ensure continued long-term funding for child and family services.

Just two weeks ago, the Minister of Indigenous Services joined the GNN to sign a coordination agreement that affirms its jurisdiction over child and family services. This is the 10th community to reign control over their own child and family services, with more on the way. This is a pivotal moment for reconciliation. We are closer than ever to shifting the power back to indigenous people for better child and family services. For GNN, and eventually more communities, it means that the children will grow up and stay close to their families with the services they need, surrounded by the love and care they need.

If I had more time, I would have talked about the education work that we are doing. Nearly 25,000 students, in five provinces, are in culturally appropriate education programs right now, through 10 agreements that have been made.

I would have talked about the economic reconciliation path that we are on, the work that our Minister of Indigenous Services has done and the forum that was hosted in February. However, I am almost out of time, so I will conclude.

Canadians should be proud of the progress made on the path to reconciliation, but we know there is still a lot more work to do. A flame has been ignited, but it is fragile and needs nurturing. Without care, it could be extinguished by reckless cuts and indifference. We cannot forget that Conservatives voted against funding for indigenous priorities during the marathon votes. They have told us exactly where they stand, and it is certainly not with indigenous people. Most Canadians have already left these colonial attitudes in the past. Today, our government is focused on building a system where everyone has a fair chance to succeed.