Sonia Sidhu

[Health, May 2nd, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, a number of seniors in Brampton South have asked me about access to better palliative care and home care options.

Our government was elected with a mandate to provide more and better home care services, including palliative care.

On this National Hospice Palliative Care Week, could the Minister of Health update the House about her work to improve home and palliative care for all Canadians?

[Immigration, April 15th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, people in my riding know the immigration minister is committed to cutting processing times for spousal sponsorships and family reunification. Our campaign commitment to eliminate the two-year requirement for spouses to become permanent residents is another positive step to continue building on our inclusive society.

Could the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship inform the House on the work he is doing to help families like those in my riding who agree that we should do away with the two-year waiting period?

[Khalsa Day, April 11th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, waheguru ji ka khalsa. Waheguru ji ki fateh.

The Sikh community in Canada today is celebrating Khalsa Day. It is a day of great joy and happiness. It all comes from the day Guru Gobind Singh Ji originated the Khalsa panth, the equality of all Sikhs, the importance of sacrifice for the greater good, and the teachings that we share as our values. It is also the time we celebrate how the harvest becomes golden brown.

The history of our religion and culture makes us unique but also more united. I am proud to be a Sikh MP, along with all the other Sikh MPs and ministers, the most in Canadian history. Sikh history, culture, and religion are being celebrated in places across the country, like in my riding of Brampton South.

On behalf of all Brampton MPs, I wish all Sikhs across Canada a very happy Vaisakhi and a happy Khalsa Day.

Waheguru ji ka khalsa. Waheguru ji ki fateh.

[Innovation, Science and Economic Development, March 21st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight some of the great work happening in Brampton South at Sheridan College. At the Davis Campus a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technologies, the Centre for Healthy Communities, and the EIRC clinic. My favourite part was learning more about how 3-D printing technology can be applied to the health care field. I want to thank the staff at Sheridan College, especially Dr. Rayegani, Mr. Benmergui, and Dr. Zabudsky, for arranging the tour. The innovative work that is taking place at Sheridan College will make Canadians healthier and smarter.

I am very proud of our government's innovation agenda led, by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and the Minister of Science. Together, we are making real change happen.

[Citizenship Act, March 10th, 2016]

Madam Speaker, I am very happy to hear about our government's reforms to immigration. I congratulate my colleague from Brampton East on his contribution to this important debate.

As a fellow Brampton MP, I ask the member how these very needed and welcomed changes to immigration will affect Bramptonians.

[Longest Night, February 24th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, on February 19, I slept in a car. Brampton's mayor, local city partners, and many others took part in the United Way's Longest Night. It was cold. It was uncomfortable, and my neck was sore, but this was only one night. Sadly, too many Canadians do this night after night, some for years at a time. This experience gave me a small glimpse into the challenges of homelessness in Canada. I am glad we could bring a bit of awareness to this vital issue in many of our communities.

I hope to work more with all my colleagues in the House to get people into affordable shelter. How we treat our most in need is a reflection of ourselves. If we work together, we can solve this issue for the people of Brampton South and all Canadians.

[Finance, February 1st, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, one of this government's stated priorities is to bring greater openness and transparency to government. An important area in need of review and reform is the supply process by which the members are able to scrutinize and review government expenditures and hold the government to account. Yet the present process has some important shortcomings.

Could the President of the Treasury Board please inform the House of his plans to address this problem?

[Brampton South, January 29th, 2016]

Mr. Speaker, as this is my first chance to rise in the House, I would like to thank my constituents of Brampton South for electing me to be their voice.

I would also like to thank my husband Gurjit, my twin daughters Arshia and Amrit, my son Akash, my brother Sukhdeep, my parents, and all of the volunteers, voters, and my supporters in Brampton South who believed in me.

I would like to take this opportunity to commend Amigos Portuguese, a fantastic group of dedicated volunteers, for their work in raising over $1.3 million dollars to support the new Peel Memorial Hospital's life-saving work. Their goal was $1 million dollars, but when they hit it they kept going. I was happy to be at the event where they presented the contribution.

I salute these local leaders for their hard work bringing our community together for a good cause.