Majid Jowhari

[Criminal Code, October 31st, 2018]

moved that Bill C-375, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (presentence report), be read the third time and passed.

Madam Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise today to address the House one last time before my private member's bill, Bill C-375, passes from here to the other place.

This moment has been a long time coming, and I would like to thank my colleagues on this side of the aisle and across who have spoken to my bill, providing support, additional context and, yes, some criticism, as well as my colleagues who studied Bill C-375 at committee and the witnesses who came to talk in support of it. I would especially like to thank my colleague, the MP for Guelph, for seconding the motion today.

[Innovation, Science and Economic Development, October 3rd, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, new technologies have changed the way we access information, shop, live, socialize and work. As a result of these changes, our economy has transformed to become increasingly data driven. These transformations have brought with them new and uncharted challenges surrounding the changing nature of work, privacy, information and consent.

Can the Prime Minister tell the House how our government is helping to unlock the potential of a data-driven economy while balancing Canadians' right to have their data and privacy protected?

[Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 1st, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, this week is Mental Illness Awareness Week, and as chair of the mental health caucus, I am pleased to see members from across party lines taking time out of their schedules to meet with mental health advocates and researchers from across the country.

As Canadians, and as leaders, our awareness of the realities of mental illness has never been greater. As I look around Parliament today, I see the will for real change. However, there is still so much work for us to do.

I hope all members of Parliament can take a moment this week to meet with people who are fighting for that change. Join me in conversation with Mental Health Research Canada tonight. Take the time tomorrow to hear the lived experience of CAMIMH's “Faces of Mental Illness”.

As leaders, this is a week for us to take a moment to listen, learn and act together.

[Autumn, September 28th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, I had the unique privilege of joining our Prime Minister at the mid-autumn moon gala, hosted by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto.

Traditionally a celebration of the harvest and success after a long year, across Richmond Hill and the greater Toronto area, the Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese communities came together with family and friends to give thanks for good fortune.

As the autumn leaves change before our eyes, Canadians of all cultures and backgrounds will celebrate this time of renewal and traditional harvest with a diversity of observances. Whether it is the mid-autumn festival, Jashn-e Mehregan, or a Thanksgiving dinner, let us take a moment to pause as the season shifts and take stock of the things that matter in our lives, to reconnect with our family and friends.

[Main Estimates, 2018-19, June 14th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, let me talk about the records. These are the same Conservatives who got taken to court, because the Parliamentary Budget Officer could not get information.

These are the same Conservatives who referred to the former Parliamentary Budget Officer as “unbelievable, unreliable, incredible”.

These are the same Conservatives who took millions from the border infrastructure fund to build gazebos and fake lakes.

These are the same Conservatives who formed the first government in the history of the British Commonwealth to be found in contempt.

What does the member opposite have to say about those records?

[Men's Mental Health, June 13th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, today my colleague from across the aisle, the representative from Edmonton Riverbend, as well as the Mental Health Commission of Canada and I, hosted an event commemorating Men's Health Week and Father's Day, highlighting the mental health crisis facing men in our country.

In Canada, 80% of those who take their own life are men, real men in a real crisis, who are unable to recognize their own struggle, to speak to and confide in those who love them, and to seek the support and treatment they need.

When diagnosing mental illness, we are better equipped and more comfortable identifying the signifiers more commonly presented by women than the signifiers of internal struggle by men. Men are more likely to lose their social circle as they age, and less likely to speak to their family about their own mental health issues.

Together, we heard the stories of those who struggle, connected with experts, and created a strong dialogue on the issue of mental health for men. I thank all those members who joined us at this reception.

[Innovation, Science and Economic Development, April 26th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, we all know Canada is a leader in research, science, creation, and invention, but when it comes to commercialization of the innovation, we tend to struggle. In my past experience, I have seen this many times.

We invent and create, but can never recap the rewards of our hard work. For Canadian businesses to grow and create good, well-paying jobs, they need the ability to turn their new ideas into new goods and services that can compete in the world market.

My question is for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. What is the government doing to improve the current situation?

[Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, April 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for highlighting the benefit that he is also receiving as a result of the CCB.

As I mentioned, close to 14,300 children in my riding are receiving the benefit. You are right that the benefit is going directly into buying what these children potentially might not have benefited from. It is going directly into the economy, whether through buying books or school supplies or through registration in after-school classes that could help them to continue their education.

I have made similar observations. I challenge all my colleagues to make sure that they extract that data on the number of families receiving the benefit, the number of children receiving the benefit, and the total amount that is going to the economy.

This has a day-to-day benefit. When it comes to our economy, it is making quarterly benefits. As we can see, it has generated over 600,000 full-time jobs.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, April 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, as members know, our government has done a great job on the pension front. I do realize that this is a great step for us to be able to take in our next or future budgets. I thank the member. We will consider that in our future considerations.

[Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1, April 18th, 2018]

Mr. Speaker, the perceived deficit is an infrastructure deficit. This is an investment that we are making in the growth of our economy. As the member can see, it is already paying off. Over the last two years, we have created 600,000 jobs, most of them full-time jobs. Also, as members know, the debt-to-GDP ratio is the lowest among the G7 countries.