Randeep Sarai

[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?

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

Mr. Speaker, that is what every member of the House from every party, save and except the Conservative Party of Canada, has been stating. We need to be unified against any foreign transnational aggression, and the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada should ask for the oath, get clearance and look at it. If he cannot obtain clearance, he should stand in the House and say that he does not pass the security clearance and make it abundantly clear to the House so we know why he cannot take it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think my hon. colleague is probably fairly accurate in that. I think there is a grave concern about that, but obviously the leader of the Conservative Party will not look at it.

As my colleague from Kingston and the Islands stated earlier, it is very strange that the leader of His Majesty's opposition, of the Conservative Party, has not made any statements on his Twitter account, any social media or his party's account. Only two Sikh members of his caucus have posted that statement. He has not made any public statements to the media. He has not taken any questions on it, nor has he condemned the Indian government at all, which he normally spends a very gracious amount of time with.

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

Mr. Speaker, I think all tools are at the disposal of the government and should be used. I think the very first measure, when it was discovered that Indian officials were involved, was the expulsion of those diplomats. My understanding is that more measures will be forthcoming, and I would not mind supporting what the member opposite was just saying. When minorities are being threatened and persecuted, or genocidal statements are being made about those communities, and the Sikh community has been victim to those genocidal tendencies, I think all measures should be on the table. The world should unite against any government that ever thinks or tries to act in such a manner.