Niki Ashton

[Privilege, October 8th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, the member talked about the challenges Canadians are facing day in and day out, yet we know that Conservatives voted against dental care, they voted against pharmacare, they voted against investments in public housing, and they have not supported our push for tax fairness and calling on greedy corporations to pay their fair share, yet they claim to stand up for Canadians who are suffering.

Why do the Conservatives continue to pretend they stand up for everyday Canadians and vote against them every chance they get?

[Indigenous Affairs, October 8th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we are now over 1,300 days since the Liberals promised to end long-term boil water advisories, but instead of doing that, they are fighting first nations in court as we speak. Doing their best Stephen Harper impression, they are carrying on years of colonialism and denying first nations the right to clean drinking water.

Shamattawa, the lead plaintiff, is taking on Canada, one of the richest countries in the world, whose Prime Minister travels the world pretending to be a leader in human rights, all the while denying Shamattawa clean water.

When will the government stop fighting Shamattawa, Tataskweyak and 58 first nations and deliver clean drinking water?

[Situation in Lebanon and Israel, October 1st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, at least 1,000 Lebanese people have been killed by Israeli bombs in the last few days. One million people have fled their homes. Almost 45,000 Lebanese Canadians currently live in Lebanon. They are worried and terrified. They want Canada to stand up and protect them, but where is Canada? It used to be a champion of peace and justice, including in the Middle East. Instead of that, it has been part of the problem, failing to stand up to Netanyahu's far-right, genocidal government. The Liberals have been speaking from both sides, playing politics with communities and people's lives.

Why has Canada failed to call for a permanent ceasefire now and to bring in a full, two-way arms embargo that does not include loopholes? Why has it failed to apply sanctions on Israel to the fullest extent and refused to recognize a Palestinian state? Why is it dithering while Lebanon is invaded and bombed?

The Lebanese people, Palestinians and Israelis deserve to live in peace. When will the Liberals take a stand for the peace and justice the world desperately needs?

[Indigenous Affairs, October 1st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Liberals spent yesterday professing support for first nations, the same first nations that the government is currently fighting in court over something as basic as clean drinking water. Canada's lawyers are saying, “Canada does not owe any legal obligations or duties to operate [first nations] water systems.” They even say that when ministers make promises, it is just context-specific and can be ignored. This is the Liberal approach to reconciliation: promise clean drinking water to first nations and then direct lawyers to fight first nations in court on clean drinking water.

Will the Liberals cut the hypocrisy, stop fighting Shamattawa and other first nations in court and deliver clean drinking water once and for all?

[Johnson Redhead, September 27th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, today we honour the memory of Johnson Redhead, the little six-year-old boy from Shamattawa First Nation who went missing and, tragically, after days of searching, was found deceased. Johnson was loved by his family and community. Many rallied from communities across our region to look for him. We all mourn his shocking death.

As has been said, Johnson's tragic death did not just happen. His family and advocates are calling for an inquiry. We must be clear on how Canada, in particular, failed Johnson Redhead through a lack of coordinated care and safety protocols to help children with complex needs on first nations, the chronic underfunding of education and health, and the persistent third world living conditions in a community like Shamattawa with an acute housing crisis and acute poverty. Shamattawa is the same first nation that will be at the Supreme Court next month fighting Canada for its right to clean drinking water.

As we approach the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and we wear our orange shirts and state that every child matters, we honour the memory of indigenous children forced into residential schools, survivors and their descendants, like Johnson Redhead, whose lives matter, and we call on Canada to act now for justice.

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, June 19th, 2024]

With regard to individuals who were made to repay or whose COVID-era benefits such as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, the Canada Emergency Student Benefit, the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit or the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit were clawed back by the Canada Revenue Agency: (a) how many of these individuals, broken down by province and territory, and by income level, were (i) the only parent of a one-parent family, (ii) Indigenous, broken down by First Nations people, status and non-status, Metis and Inuit, (iii) people living below the poverty line, (iv) people on disability, (v) individuals aged 65 or older; (b) how much money was repaid or clawed back, broken down by individuals who were (i) the only parent of a one-parent family, (ii) Indigenous, broken down by First Nations people, status and non-status, Metis and Inuit, (iii) people living below the poverty line, (iv) people on disability, (v) aged 65 or older; and (c) what is the total number of Canadians and the total amount which was repaid or clawed back?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, June 19th, 2024]

With regard to the electoral district of Churchill—Keewatinook Aski, broken down by fiscal year since 2005-06: what are the details of all federal infrastructure investments, including direct transfers to municipalities, regional district associations or First Nations, national parks, highways, etc.?

[Questions Passed as Orders for Returns, June 19th, 2024]

With regard to the Universal Broadband fund, broken down by year and province or territory: how much money did the fund disperse and how much money went to (i) Rogers, (ii) BCE, (iii) Telus, or its subsidiaries?

[Questions on the Order Paper, June 19th, 2024]

With regard to Canada Revenu Agency registered charities: (a) which charities that had Israeli nationals as agents or intermediaries had their status revoked due to a failed audit between 2017 and 2023; (b) which charities that had Israeli nationals as agents or intermediaries failed audits between 2017 and 2023 and did not have their status revoked; (c) what are the internal rules, regulations, and protocols around revocation of charity status with regard to both domestic and international recipients; and (d) what are the CRA’s risk assessment tools, and the risk matrix surrounding charities with international intermediaries?

[Republic of Cyprus, June 13th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That, given that

(i) 50 years ago, the Republic of Cyprus was invaded by Turkey in July and August 1974, resulting in the illegal occupation of 36% of Cyprus and the displacement of more than 150,000 Cypriots,

(ii) Canada has condemned the invasion, as has the world community, including the United Nations through resolution 360 of the UN Security Council,

(iii) Canada played a key role as a peacekeeper in Cyprus between 1964 and 1993,

the House

(a) pay tribute to the 33,000 Canadian soldiers who put their lives on the line and honour the memory of the 28 Canadian soldiers who died during the deployment including during the invasion; and

(b) reiterate its condemnation of the invasion of Cyprus and call on all parties to respect international law, end the illegal occupation and act to ensure the reunification of the Republic of Cyprus.