House of Commons photoWon his last election, in 2021, with 52% of the vote.
Foreign Affairs October 30th, 2020
Madam Speaker, the government did not answer my question. Exporting these drone systems contributes to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
My question is simple and I will ask it again: Did the government agree to President Erdogan's request and bypass officials to approve the export of these drone systems, yes or no?
Foreign Affairs October 30th, 2020
Madam Speaker, it is clear Canadian drone systems were diverted to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in violation of the Arms Trade Treaty, the Wassenaar Arrangement and Canadian law. There is lots of reputable photographic and video evidence.
Here is what we know: On April 23, the Prime Minister spoke with Turkish President Erdogan. In that conversation, did he agree to President Erdogan's request to approve the export of these drone systems from Canada to Turkey, yes or no?
Criminal Code October 27th, 2020
Madam Speaker, I appreciated the very personal and erudite speech from the member for Calgary Nose Hill. It follows on the speech of another colleague, the member for Stormont—Dundas—South Glengarry, which was equally personal and quite well argued.
It is interesting listening to the Liberal members in the House on this issue. They suggest that we should not have debate and we should just pass the bill through Parliament unanimously. It indicates to me their overall approach to Parliament. They think Parliament is a nuisance. It reminds me of the motion they put earlier in the pandemic, which they were trying to jam through the House, where they were proposing to suspend Parliament's review and power over spending and taxation until the end of next year. It is reflective of a general, dismissive attitude to Parliament on the part of Liberal members.
Forcing anyone to change their gender or identity cannot be allowed to stand in a free and democratic society. The member mentioned her friend Hannah and the issue of informed consent in Ontario. Can the member tell us how this legislation would interact with provincial legislation, regulations and practices already in place across the country?
Foreign Affairs October 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, the last two previous investigations took a year and a half and six months, and led to nothing conclusive being done. The government still has not answered the question. It is clear that Canadian drone systems were diverted to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in clear violation of the Arms Trade Treaty, the Wassenaar Arrangement and Canadian law.
Once again, did the Prime Minister or foreign affairs minister override the recommendations of the Global Affairs risk analysis and approve these drone systems for export to Turkey?
Foreign Affairs October 26th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, last year the government suspended arms exports to Turkey because it was not upholding its obligations. Last April, the Prime Minister spoke with Turkish President Erdogan and reports indicate he committed to addressing Turkish concerns about the suspension of these arms exports. Subsequently, seven drone systems were approved for export from Canada to Turkey.
Did the Prime Minister or foreign affairs minister override the recommendations of Global Affairs officials and approve these exports to Turkey?
Foreign Affairs October 20th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, business leaders often talk about environmental, social and corporate governance goals and about corporate social responsibility. It is now time for them to show leadership.
Last week, leaders of the Canada China Business Council loudly applauded when a Chinese official demanded the release of Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, and when he blamed Canada for problems in Canada-China relations, but they remained silent when our government asked for the same treatment for Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor and clemency for Robert Schellenberg, who is on death row.
Business leaders should know that nothing is inevitable about China's rise. They should also know that Canadians are increasingly fed up with Beijing's belligerence, and so too are our allies. We are a nation slow to anger, but once pushed beyond our limit, history demonstrates that we, with our democratic allies, will push back and win.
Foreign Affairs October 7th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, Iran is one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, and increasingly so, with the imprisonment of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, the execution of wrestler Navid Afkari, the brutal murder of Canadian Zahra Kazemi in 2003 and the 55 Canadians killed last January. When will the government realize the regime does not respond to engagement?
When will it list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, something that the House of Commons called for over two years ago and something the Prime Minister voted for?
Justice October 7th, 2020
Mr. Speaker, on Monday, loved ones and friends of the victims of flight 752 gathered here in Ottawa and elsewhere in the country. It has been nine months since the incident. The victims' loved ones are still calling for justice for the 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents who lost their lives.
Will the government listen to the families and impose Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible?
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply October 6th, 2020
Madam Speaker, the government needs to uphold its obligations under domestic law, under the law concerning export and import permits for military exports and imports, and it needs to uphold its international obligations under the arms treaty. The government has been inconsistent in upholding those obligations.
The member mentioned Saudi Arabia, but there is another present example this week of Turkey. A year ago, the government halted exports of military equipment to Turkey out of concern that it was failing to uphold its obligations as a NATO member. Last April/May, it reinstated the approvals for those permits, and exports have allegedly gone to Turkey. These are being used in Azerbaijan in the conflict currently unfolding in the Caucasus. Then several days ago it reversed course yet again and put another halt to the export of permits.
It seems to me that the government is not upholding its obligations under domestic and international law.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply October 6th, 2020
Madam Speaker, we support the WHO. I believe that this organization is very important in a world currently in the throes of a major pandemic.
We also support the role of Taiwan in this organization. I spoke with my Taiwanese counterpart here, in Ottawa, to tell him that the Conservatives support Taiwan's inclusion in the WHO because, in my opinion, Taiwan did a good job dealing with this pandemic.