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Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was communities.

Last in Parliament September 2021, as Independent MP for Brampton Centre (Ontario)

Won his last election, in 2019, with 47% of the vote.

Statements in the House

CANADA LABOUR CODE September 26th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, it did not happen only once; it happened many times during my election campaign. The card check system was in existence for a long time and it was not flawed. It was a proper system and it was working. The new system, where 40% of members have a secret ballot vote, gives more power to fewer people, those who can influence the unions and cause the disintegration of them. That will cause an imbalance in the entire system. That imbalance needs to removed by Bill C-4.

CANADA LABOUR CODE September 26th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-4 would repeal Bills C-377 and C-525, which totally restrict unions from working and having relationships with labour unions and employers. Until Bill C-4 is passed, the relationship between the unions and the employers will not be solid and will not benefit workers. They are not going to work properly. The Liberals feel the relationship should be restored. The balance among unions, employers, and employees must be restored, and Bill C-4 would do that.

CANADA LABOUR CODE September 26th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, the bills have created imbalances in the labour relationships and have not served any purpose in creating better unionization. There was no possibility of getting unionized properly. At this time, we think Bill C-4 would bring those changes and improve the relationship between unions and employers.

CANADA LABOUR CODE September 26th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the bigger role being played by the unions in our economy and helping the middle class to prosper. The prosperity of the middle class and the Canadian economy depend upon the harmonious balance of that relationship. However, Bill C-377 and Bill C-525 created imbalances in the relationship between the unions, employers, and employees, which would be corrected by Bill C-4. We suggest that Bill C-4 is the only bill that can remedy the problems created by Bill C-377 and Bill C-525.

CANADA LABOUR CODE September 26th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to address the House in support of Bill C-4, which was tabled last January by my colleague, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

As members know, improving labour relations is one of our government's priorities. I therefore ask all hon. members to support this bill.

The purpose of Bill C-4 is to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations Act, and the Income Tax Act by repealing the provisions enacted by Bill C-377 and Bill C-525.

These bills force unions to produce useless financial statements and make it harder for Canadians in federally regulated workplaces to unionize. Basically, Bill C-4 is a matter of justice and fairness for the workers affected.

Members know as well as I do that good labour relations are essential in ensuring Canada's economic growth and prosperity. Labour relation legislation ensures some balance between employer, employees, and unions. Our government understands this.

When the previous government supported Bill C-377 and Bill C-525, we opposed them and tried to make the government understand that these legislative measures was unjust and unfair. However, our efforts were in vain. The previous government refused to listen to reason and chose to move ahead, even if it meant jeopardizing the fragile balance that had been achieved in employer-employee relations. We were not the only ones who raised the red flag on those bills.

Bill C-4 is the right thing to do. The purpose of the bill is to essentially remedy this by restoring justice and fairness to Canadian labour relations. Many stakeholders expressed their concern. Overwhelming evidence has been heard on Bill C-4.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada supported Bill C-4, saying that Bill C-377 and Bill C-525 were flawed, were introduced without proper consultation, and were detrimental to the rights of workers.

Further, Bill C-4 is hailed by the Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuff and the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario for restoring the labour relations in Canada.

Bill C-377 would force unions and labour trusts to declare their expenses, assets, debts, and the salaries of certain individuals. That information would then be made publicly available on the Canada Revenue Agency's website. They would also have to provide details on time spent on political and lobbying activities, as well as any activities not directly related to labour relations.

Thankfully, the Minister of National Revenue has already taken steps to lift these obligations while Parliament examines Bill C-4.

We have to understand that if this information was made public, these measures would put unions at a huge disadvantage to employers.

Bill C-377 unfortunately upset the balance that had existed. However, provisions were already in place to ensure that unions met their financial responsibilities. Section 110 of the Canada Labour Code and many provincial labour relations laws already require unions and employers to provide financial statements.

Bill C-525 would also create a major advantage for management. The bill amended the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act and the Public Service Labour Relations Act to change the union certification system.

The traditional card verification system was replaced by a mandatory voting system. Unions are no longer certified automatically, even if the majority of workers have signed a membership card. The rule in existence was clear and well understood. Private sector workers with federally regulated employers could obtain union certification by signing a union membership card.

For example, under the Canada Labour Code, if the majority of employees' signatures were recorded on union membership cards, those cards were sent to the Canada Industrial Relations Board to obtain certification. Even if 35% of the workers were in favour of unionization, a formal vote was taken. However, unions now have to obtain support from 40% of workers before mandatory secret ballot votes can be held.

This system had a proven track record, however, the previous government chose to change things for purely ideological reasons. This double standard is grossly unfair because it makes unionization much more difficult.

We recognize the essential role unions play in protecting the rights of workers and helping the middle class grow and prosper. The prosperity of the middle class and of the Canadian economy depend upon harmonious and balanced labour relations. Bill C-4 has been tabled to redress the imbalances in labour relations created by the previous government.

I sincerely hope that other hon. members will see the benefits of Bill C-4, which would re-establish a balance between the rights and responsibilities of the employers and those of employees. We have a duty to intervene, and we are proud to do so today.

Brampton Memorial June 14th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in the House to express my feelings about a horrific car accident. Three young children of my riding, Daniel, Harry, and Milly Neville-Lake, and their grandfather, Gary Neville, were killed by a senseless act of an impaired driver. I met Edward and Jennifer, the parents of the deceased children, just after the accident, and again at later stages. I am deeply touched by the emotional trauma to the family. Bramptonians are with the grieved Neville-Lake family.

I discussed a proposal with the mayor and city officials to dedicate a park so as to keep the memories of the children alive. This will be a strong social signal and will always remind impaired drivers in the future.

Criminal Code May 31st, 2016

Mr. Speaker, first, the important thing is to have legislation in place to give safety to those who assist a person in dying. They should have clear safety in that they are not committing culpable homicide. The Supreme Court has already said we should do that.

Second, there is a requirement that there be maximum information obtained so more and more improvements can be done on these regulations by the health minister from time to time.

Third, as we know, if there is a failure to comply with the legislation, we should have the best provisions so we can make amendments to punish those who do not comply properly with the law.

Criminal Code May 31st, 2016

Mr. Speaker, we are facing a timeline. The instructions given from the Supreme Court gave a June 6 deadline. That limitation period is looming over our heads. We should respect the Supreme Court order.

However, at the same time, we are trying our best to meet those limitations. As I already said in my submission, the House has tried its best to meet those requirements. Every member has their own part and parcel to play in the debate. Now, at the final stage, when we are prepared to make it law, we should work together to ensure the bill comes into force, as per the requirement of the Supreme Court.

Criminal Code May 31st, 2016

Mr. Speaker, my colleague is especially concerned about people dying when they are not critically ill. However, the Supreme Court has given direction to the government to take care of those who are critically ill and need assistance in dying, and to follow the procedures, which we have to now include in the bill, to ensure those procedures are followed by doctors, nurse practitioners, and those who execute the law.

We talk about assisted dying and about the laws being properly executed. Doctors and others who are involved in providing these procedures, maybe the prescription provider as well, all have the right to provide their duties freely without fear of being penalized later.

Criminal Code May 31st, 2016

Mr. Speaker, we are going through this enactment, which is useful for the persons who are really in need of medical assistance in dying. People who are working for the purpose of execution of the act are required to be exempted from the offence of culpable homicide. The Supreme Court has already given instructions to pass a law to develop procedures easy for them to perform their duty. It is a duty of the physician or the duty of the persons who are medically authorized to perform these acts and we are here to ensure they are provided the necessary safeguards.