Soraya Martinez Ferrada

[Regional Economic Development, May 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind Canadians who are listening that if a Conservative government had been in place during the greatest pandemic we ever experienced, people would have suffered enormously.

Today, we are in a better position because a Liberal government was there to support Canadians during the biggest crisis we have ever gone through.

Today, what we are asking of them is quite simple. We are asking them to pass dental care reforms, pass food reforms, pass housing reforms. Let us pass all that.

[Regional Economic Development, May 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, once again, I would invite the member to tell his Conservative Party colleagues to include the words “homelessness”, “fighting poverty” and “investing in Canadians” in their plan if they are serious about supporting Canadians.

I can give them a few ideas. They could start by voting in favour of the programs we are putting in place to tackle poverty, rent increases and the housing crisis and to help feed kids. I think that is fundamental.

[Government Priorities, May 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, that is the height of hypocrisy.

That party voted against the school food program. When we talk about feeding Canadians, we start with children, but they voted against that. We say that people are out of money and that we are helping them, but they voted against the Canada child benefit. When we tell them that we are going to help Canadians put a roof over their heads and pay their rent, they vote against it.

Would they please make up their minds? Do they want to help Canadians or cut their services?

[Government Priorities, May 23rd, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I find that to be a rather hypocritical question.

The Conservative Party uses the word “homelessness”, yet that word does not even appear in its platform or plan. I find it hypocritical coming from a party that, in the House, has voted against every measure that aims to put a roof over Canadians' heads. I think the Conservative Party needs to do some soul-searching about its true intentions when it comes to fighting homelessness.

[Women and Gender Equality, May 9th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, throughout the world, Canada is seen as a land of promise and freedom. When I returned to Chile at the age of 18, I realized that I was pregnant, with no rights and no choice.

Canada saved my life for a second time, this time by allowing me to have a safe, legal abortion and a future of my own choosing. Then and now, for me, as for so many women, that is what Canadian freedom is all about.

Why do the Conservatives want to attack women's freedom to choose?

[Tourism Industry, April 16th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Châteauguay—Lacolle is absolutely right. The tourism industry generated nearly $100 billion in 2023 and employed nearly two million workers across the country. Beyond the numbers, tourism makes us proud. We are proud to share our destinations with more than 2.5 million visitors from around the world.

That is why I am so surprised that the Conservative Party voted against giving Bonhomme Carnaval a job. Those of us on this side of the House wish everyone a happy National Tourism Week.

[Housing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, to me, the dark blue or light blue rhetoric is all the same.

Honestly, a person cannot claim to want to help others and then turn around and vote against all the measures that we announced this week. Incidentally, the measure that my colleague just mentioned was part of last week's announcements.

We announced a fund specifically to support housing infrastructure. We announced a fund to protect renters' rights. We announced a fund to ensure the creation of an industrial catalogue to speed up construction.

On this side of the House, we do not write reports; we build houses.

[Housing, April 10th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted by my colleague's question because I have taken a close look at the infamous report he spoke about and worked on himself.

Several stakeholders are mentioned in his report. These stakeholders, including FRAPRU, spoke positively about housing rights and hailed the fact that we want to build more housing.

We are not here to write reports. We are here to build housing.

[Tourism, March 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, let me start by thanking my colleague from Lac-Saint-Louis because, like me and like our government, he believes that Canada is a destination of choice for international business events.

This week, we announced that Destination Canada will get $50 million to attract major events to convention centres across the country. Investing in such events, whether they take place in urban centres, such as Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver, or in the regions, could generate more than $170 million for Canada's economy.

I look forward to seeing how the Conservatives vote tonight.

[Housing, March 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague knows, before being a minister I was the parliamentary secretary for housing. I have worked with her on many issues on the housing front, and I know that she, like I do, wants to make sure that every Canadian has a home. That is what we are doing as a government. We have the accelerator fund, are working on the right to have a home, and are working on homelessness to make sure people have a roof over their head. We will continue to make every day worthwhile so Canadians can have a home.