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  • His favourite word is indian.

Liberal MP for Surrey Centre (B.C.)

Won his last election, in 2025, with 48% of the vote.

Statements in the House

U.S. Tariffs on Canadian Products November 26th, 2024

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my good friend, the member for Vancouver Granville.

There should be no doubt that the Government of Canada places the highest priority on strengthening our trading relations with the United States. For a place like Surrey Centre, this is in no way undiminished, as we are a border city and a port city. Trade is of vital importance. These are indeed unique relations that are tremendously and mutually beneficial to both our nations. Our partnership is not just forged by our shared geography. It is also shared by our similar values, common interests and strong personal connections, which include family connections.

Perhaps most relevant to the subject of our debate today is that our relations are based on deep and powerful economic ties. Millions of jobs depend upon trade and investment between Canada and the United States. We are each other's largest trading partners, with nearly 3.6 billion dollars' worth of goods and services crossing the border each day in 2023.

Our government has worked tirelessly to strengthen and secure the relationship by supporting and helping to ensure the safe flow of goods and people across the border. That is vital to both our countries' economic competitiveness and prosperity, which were key parts of our efforts in securing the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, CUSMA, which went into force in July 2020. This agreement is the anchor for our strong, balanced trading relationship with the United States and the foundation for this relationship is built on the resilience and effective supply chains that carry across all key sectors of the economy. As a result, today, we are each other's largest trade partners with, as I said, nearly 3.6 billion dollars' worth of goods and services crossing the borders each day.

Canada is particularly significant as a secure supplier of energy to the United States' domestic market. Last year, for example, 60% of U.S. crude oil imports originated from Canada. Canada and the U.S. also have a significant investment relationship. The U.S. is the single greatest investor into Canada. These trade and investment relationships support millions of jobs here in Canada. They also support millions of jobs in America. That is because today Canada buys more from the United States than China, Japan and Germany combined. Maintaining and expanding this flow of goods, of investment and of people across the border is absolutely vital for both our countries' economic prosperity.

By the same token, undermining the effectiveness of this relationship by imposing tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States would take us in the opposite direction. There should be no doubt that imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian products would be harmful to U.S. consumers, U.S. workers and the U.S. economy as a whole. In fact, roughly 70% of Canadian goods exported to the United States are used in the production of other goods or, as they say, advanced manufacturing by U.S. manufacturers. This means that imports from Canada are effectively feeding the U.S. economy and U.S. industry with vital inputs, making it stronger and more competitive. It also means that putting a 25% tariff on these Canadian imports would impose a massive increase in the input costs on U.S. manufacturers.

The harm to American manufacturers would not stop there. That is because American tariffs on Canadian goods would open the door to retaliatory tariffs, and that is something we do not want to do. I have been across several states in the United States over the last nine years as a part of my parliamentary duties, especially during the renegotiations of CUSMA, working with the National Governors Association and the Western Governors' Association. I can assure members that 36 U.S. states currently still rely on Canada as their number one export market and over 40 states export more than 1 billion dollars' worth of goods per year into Canada.

Raising the costs of those goods would not just be bad for Canadian consumers. It would be really bad for American manufacturers and their consumers who depend on those sales. Our government does not want to go down that road. We know that efficient trade is the way to secure strong economies on both sides of the border. We know that because, since 1989, the North American free trade agreements have generated economic growth and rising standards of living for the people of all three member countries.

The entry into force of NAFTA in 1994 created the largest free trade region in the world, and by strengthening the rules and procedures governing trade investment in North America, the agreement has proven to be a solid foundation for building Canada's prosperity and has set a valuable example of the benefits of trade liberalization for the rest of the world. What did it mean for Canada? It meant that our total merchandise exports to the United States in 2018 reached $438 billion, representing a fourfold increase from the $101 billion in 1989 before this agreement. Such a dramatic expansion of Canadian exports to a single country is unprecedented, and NAFTA's most recent successor has made us even stronger.

We can see, in clear and unequivocal terms, how free and fair trade between Canada and the United States benefits both countries. We are communicating these points and signalling to the incoming administration our readiness to work together to advance our shared economic prosperity and security. In doing so, we will remain open to the perspectives of our American partners. In fact, we share many of those perspectives. We share U.S. concerns regarding unfair competition and global market distortions, including overcapacity caused by non-market policies and practices that harm our workers and businesses.

We can assure our American partners that Canada will not be a transshipment risk or a vector for trade practices that would harm our collective economic security. To take just one example, Canada imposed a 100% surtax in October on electric vehicles and a 25% surtax on steel and aluminum products from China. Canada is considering additional surtaxes on imports of batteries and battery parts, semiconductors, solar products and critical minerals from China.

We will always defend Canada's interests and do what is best for Canadians and the Canadian economy. We will always do so with the understanding that Canada and the U.S. have a unique relationship and partnership. This partnership works best, creating jobs, economic growth and shared prosperity on both sides of the border, when we work together in common purpose and understanding.

Veterans Affairs November 7th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, we all admire the sacrifice and service that veterans have given for us. I think that question was quite out of line. However, as it is Veterans' Week, it does deserve to remember and commend all the veterans who sacrificed their lives, given back for our freedoms and protected the democratic processes that we have today. We will always remember them not only on Veterans Week but every day of this year.

Veterans Affairs November 7th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, we are not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives. They shut down nine Veterans Affairs offices. We opened nine, plus another one in my hometown of Surrey Centre. They laid off 1,000 Veterans Affairs officers who were there to help veterans get the services they need. We reinstated those services. We have created services to help those veterans get the what they need, and we will continue to do so going forward.

Veterans' Week November 7th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, veterans often see music as a profound way to express themselves and heal from the impacts of military service. That is why, last year, Veterans Affairs Canada hosted its first-ever Veterans' Open Mic night. This event brought together veterans, family members, active service members and music lovers. It was so successful that the idea expanded, with events happening across the country, including in Victoria, in Montreal later this weekend and right here in Ottawa tonight.

I invite all members of this House to join with us tonight at the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess to celebrate the healing power of music.

Veterans Affairs November 4th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, I think the committee on veterans affairs is currently studying this matter. We are waiting for its report. I can assure colleagues that the government will respond to that forthwith. The Persian Gulf War veterans have done a great service for this country, and we all deserve to see the response to this report.

I assure colleagues that the government will respond accordingly.

Housing November 4th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, last week, we learned that the Conservative leader will reverse Canada's housing progress and cut programs that are building more homes faster in Surrey and across the country. It is not just his own MPs who disagree with his reckless housing cuts. Mayors across the country, including former Conservative MPs, are sounding the alarm over the cuts.

The housing accelerator fund invests in housing in Surrey and every local community across Canada, but the Conservative leader wants to shut housing projects down. Interest rates are down. Housing starts are up. Housing permits are up. We need to build on this progress, not take it backwards to the days when the Conservative leader was Harper's failed housing minister. He failed to build more homes back then and he wants to reverse housing progress now.

Canadians cannot afford these Conservative housing cuts. We need more homes, and we will not let the Conservative leader stand in our way.

1984 Anti-Sikh Riots November 1st, 2024

Mr. Speaker, 1984 is a year ingrained in the psyche of Sikhs across the world. Forty years ago this week, Sikhs were hunted across India by government-orchestrated mobs in a week-long genocidal campaign of violence.

The streets of Delhi saw Sikh families being identified by the use of voter lists, resulting in families being burned alive and women facing horrific forms of violence. The world saw Indian politicians and celebrities openly supporting and celebrating the massacre of Sikhs. This was followed by forced disappearances at the hands of the state and law enforcement, and the continued persecution and targeting of India's Sikh community. Unfortunately, 40 years later, justice for the survivors and victims continues to be denied. Instead, those officials who took part have been protected and awarded medals of honour for their roles.

We remember not only the thousands of Sikh families and children who were victims, but also the humanity of those who gave shelter to protect their Sikh friends during this horrific time. We will never forget 1984.

Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada October 30th, 2024

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security heard from top national security and law enforcement officials on the extent of the Indian government's interference in Canada, including serious criminal activities, extortion and the murders of Canadian citizens.

Canadians from across the country are shaken and scared of this blatant attack on our democracy and on their safety. Despite the concerning evidence, Canadians still have not heard directly from the leader of the Conservative Party on this issue. His silence has been noted in the House and now it is being noticed in committees.

Canadian citizens have died at the hands of a foreign government. What will it take for the leader of the Conservative Party to give this issue the seriousness that it deserves?

RCMP Allegations of Foreign Interference by the Government of India October 21st, 2024

I never said anything about that.

RCMP Allegations of Foreign Interference by the Government of India October 21st, 2024

Mr. Speaker, this is a very concerning question. In my friend's riding of Surrey—Newton, there is a very prominent Hindu temple.

The Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey wrote a letter to the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada asking him to not send the Conservative MPs for Edmonton Mill Woods and Calgary Forest Lawn to its temple because of their ideological difference, but to instead send the MPs for Calgary Heritage and Thornhill. Many believe it was foreign interference that wrote this letter.

Could the MP for Thornhill please tell us what the ideological difference is between her and the MP for Calgary Forest Lawn?