Mike Morrice

[Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, December 6th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, Sudanese Canadians have been advocating since April for the government's definition of “immediate family member” to include siblings, parents and grandparents amidst escalating violence and reports of ethnic cleansing in Sudan. Now, Canadians with family in Gaza are living the same horror.

While I appreciate that the minister has rightfully admitted at committee that the definition “probably should be expanded”, nothing has yet changed.

When will the minister fix the definition so Sudanese and Palestinian Canadians can bring their families to safety?

[Privilege, December 5th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, I want to start by thanking the member for New Westminster—Burnaby, the House leader for the NDP, for the measured tone he is taking in this conversation, both in his comments this afternoon and yesterday, and for the substance as well. I think the approach he has taken has heightened our democracy.

I would like to follow up on the comments we heard with respect to how the procedure and House affairs committee would deal with this. Of course, we have seen in the last year that the committee has been a particularly partisan one, where we have seen some measure of theatrics at times.

I would like to know if he could give advice to the MPs on that committee and/or to the House on how we might see PROC move ahead with this in a way that reflects the answer he just gave to the member for Winnipeg North.

[Government Business No. 31—Proceedings on Bill C-50, December 4th, 2023]

Madam Speaker, my understanding is that we are not actually debating the bill at this point; we are debating closure on a motion that is going to move particularly quickly on the bill.

I do not debate the fact that there are various tactics being used by various parties in this place to slow down the business of the House. That being said, this is a bill whose action plan for sustainable jobs would still be two years out, should it get passed. Yet the motion that is being put forward with closure would give only two hours for debate at clause-by-clause consideration.

Can the minister tell us why the response from the government, every time it has delay tactics from the other side, is to go to the exact extreme to limit debate and improvements from other parties on bills as important as this one?

[Privilege, December 4th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I am here in the House of Commons today to try to make progress on the priorities of my constituents. I understand this is a very serious question of privilege. I have attempted for the last five minutes to listen to what the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan is saying and tried to understand how it relates to the original question of privilege being raised, and I cannot see it. Mr. Speaker, can you help me understand the connection between what is being shared right now and the original question of privilege, which was raised an hour and 35 minutes ago?

[Privilege, December 4th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that the remarks we just heard were the history of the member's time getting to this House of Commons, which has nothing to do with what is meant to be spoken about on the floor of the House. I share the concern of other members and would like to see how we can get to closure on this and continue the business of the House.

[Privilege, December 4th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I want to reiterate that this is a really important question of privilege being raised. However, there is live translation of all House proceedings, and I believe that we have heard from several members of the Conservative Party on the point. To your point earlier, I understand that we are looking to get new information on this question of privilege, and I wonder whether you could speak to that.

[Climate Change, November 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, while other countries get set to up their climate ambitions before COP28, Canada is getting singled out for the massive gap between our words and our actions, and the federal government's home energy retrofits grant program is running out of money. The greener homes grant program could easily be funded and expanded simply by taxing the record-breaking profits of the oil and gas industry.

Will the government expand the successful program to support Canadians struggling with the rising cost of living?

[Canada Labour Code, November 27th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, as I am sure the member knows, Greens support this legislation, but we are concerned that, once again, the coming into force date is 18 months away. It is the same thing we saw in play with the Canada disability benefit, where members of the governing party have this rush in their rhetoric, but then, once the bill passes, it waits for far too long.

She mentioned at the end of her speech her concern with how long we would have to wait and whether an amendment could be brought forward to address this.

[Canada Labour Code, November 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, it seems as though, with every bill we talk about in this place, it is just a matter of time before Conservative MPs find a way to bring up the carbon tax again.

In light of that, the fact is, for the rebates Canadians receive, and that workers receive, eight out of 10 give more back than Canadians pay, unless they are among the 20% of the wealthiest across the country. Is the member for Yellowhead aware of the rebates they get back? Is he not concerned about the oil and gas companies that are gouging Canadians at the pumps every single day?

[Retirement Congratulations, November 24th, 2023]

Mr. Speaker, 24 years ago, Mary Jane Patterson left TV production to study at the University of Waterloo. Our community is so fortunate because she would go on to take the reins of a new project, which grew into a 20-person hub for environmental action, a pillar in our community, Reep Green Solutions.

It was a joy to work hand in hand with her to build support for Waterloo Region’s first-ever climate action plan years ago. I am so proud of how she and others have only upped the ambition in the years since.

MJ is not only a friend and a visionary leader, but a mentor to me and to so many in our community. Now, as she gets ready to retire, our community is coming together to thank her for her steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to give thousands of folks the tools they need to take action, including the gem that is the Reep House for Sustainable Living.

I send my congratulations to MJ, and also to Patrick Gilbride, incoming executive director at Reep. I cannot think of a better choice to build on the incredible foundation MJ has laid.