Taylor Bachrach

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

Mr. Speaker, I note that the tariffs announced by our southern neighbour bring into sharp focus the very serious situation when it comes to softwood lumber, and what we have seen from this government is a real lack of focus and attention to a critical trade situation amid the closure of hundreds of mills in Canada.

As such, my question to the member is this: On the 19th, the new minister of forests in British Columbia wrote a letter to the member's colleague, the Minister of International Trade, asking the government for a concerted approach. I cannot help but think, as a British Columbian, that if the softwood lumber dispute involved another sector in central Canada, the government's approach to that issue would be far more concerted.

What, specifically, is the government going to do to address the softwood lumber situation that we face, which is costing us jobs, costing us mills and costing our country and our industries millions and millions of dollars?

[Petitions, November 26th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from residents of Skeena—Bulkley Valley, including Sandy Knowles of Kitimat and Karen Sage of Terrace, with whom I met a couple of weeks back.

The petitioners wish to draw attention to the inequitable treatment of single seniors under the Income Tax Act. They highlight that income splitting rules allow couples to split their pension income, claim double non-refundable tax credits, transfer certain unused credits to a spouse and, when one partner dies, transfer retirement savings to the living spouse. Single seniors have none of these options available to them, putting them at a significant financial disadvantage.

The petitioners urge the government to introduce several measures specifically for single seniors, including a new tax credit, an increase to the pension income amount, an increase to the OAS clawback thresholds and an amendment to the tax treatment of registered retirement plans upon death. The petitioners eagerly await the government's official response.

[Committees of the House, November 26th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Drummond for his excellent speech.

His English is much better than my French, so I will ask my question in English.

The Conservatives have promised to cut entirely CBC's English-language programming across the country, but they will protect Radio-Canada because of its role in Quebec culture and its importance to Quebec communities. CBC's English-language radio is more popular than ever. It is gaining market share.

I have two questions. First, does the member trust that the Conservatives will indeed protect Radio-Canada throughout the province of Quebec? Second, does he not agree with me that rural communities in northern British Columbia deserve access to quality public broadcasting just as much as communities in his province?

[Air Transportation, November 25th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, every day it is more clear that the Liberals' air passenger regulations are letting people down. Now we learn the Canadian Transportation Agency is creeping around online forums trying to catch air passengers who are sharing their experiences.

On the one side, we have the rich airlines backed by the best lawyers and lobbyists. On the other side, Canadian families are struggling to navigate the government's botched complaint process.

Will the minister immediately stop government online surveillance of Canadian air passengers?

[Privilege, November 21st, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's remarks. The other day, his colleague said that there are two reasons Conservatives are engaging in this extended filibuster. The first was to hold the government accountable for these documents, but the second was the added benefit of not allowing any other work to be done in this place. I find that second comment rather troubling.

The NDP wants to get to the bottom of this issue concerning the SDTC documents, but I am starting to think that the best thing to do would be to vote for this motion to send this to committee, where we could call witnesses and get the actual facts about what has gone on.

Does it not seem like that would be a better option?

[Points of Order, November 21st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I am not challenging your clarification. What I am asking for is clarity so we know in the future how procedures are going to take place in the House. The practice in the past has been that when the Speaker makes a ruling and asks a member to withdraw and apologize, the matter is dealt with prior to hearing other points of order. What happened today was that you made a ruling, waited a few moments, entertained several other points of order and then chose not to enforce your previous ruling.

I think this is a very dangerous road for us to go down, and I take my Conservative colleague's point that there has been precedent for this just recently from the Speaker. It does not matter which party is proposing the point of order. I think we need to uphold a situation where the Speaker's ruling is respected and enforced in the moment. If that is not going to be the case, then we are certainly going to increase points of order in the wake of other points of order so we can argue our points and try to overturn the Speaker's ruling.

I do not think that is a productive way for the House to proceed, so I would ask for clarity from the Table and from you as to how we are going to proceed in the future.

[Committees of the House, November 21st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, for my colleague from Sturgeon River—Parkland, recommendation 20 in the report states, “That the Government of Canada allocate additional human and financial resources to the Canada Border Services Agency to enable them to better investigate and apprehend those attempting to smuggle illegal firearms into Canada”. The Harper government cut 1,100 CBSA officers, and our southern border is of considerable importance right now, particularly in the context of the incoming Trump administration. The NDP has called for the reinstatement, the hiring, of those 1,100 border officers that Canada so greatly needs.

Will the Conservatives and the member stand with us to call on the government to hire back those important workers?

[Points of Order, November 21st, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I rise on a similar point of order. My point is around procedure.

I have listened to similar points of order in the past, and the practice, if not the rule, has been that when the Speaker makes a ruling on a point of order, that ruling is dealt with prior to hearing other points of order. What happened in this case is that you heard the point of order, you ruled on it and then heard several other points of order, some of which possibly were points of debate on that point of order. Therefore, if you reverse your ruling on the point of order and do not require the withdrawal and apology, I think it sets a very dangerous precedent for this House and we are going to continue to decline into disorder in debate, which is not serving anyone. Therefore, I would ask you to follow your first ruling and uphold the rules of the House.

[Taxation, November 18th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are getting gouged on essentials, while the biggest corporations are posting massive profits. The Liberals could have prevented this, but, instead, they have let Canadians down. Conservative cuts would make matters far worse. In fact, cutting child care alone would cost Canadian families up to $13,000 per child.

The NDP has a plan to take the GST off essentials like home heat, phone and Internet bills, kids' clothing. Will the Liberals do it?

[Haida Nation Recognition Act, November 6th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I believe if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order, Special Order or usual practice of the House, Bill S-16, an act respecting the recognition of the Haida Nation and the Council of the Haida Nation, shall be deemed concurred in at report stage, and deemed read a third time and passed.