Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Madam Speaker, I think we can do the right thing and get the right result. There should be a mandatory minimum sentence if people commit a violent crime with a gun. While they are in prison, I do not believe we should just treat them like animals and throw away the key. We need to help individuals who are in prison and help them become functioning members of society, including being integrated back into society.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Madam Speaker, there are some sectors that we think would not have mental health challenges, PTSD or drug addiction, but I think what my colleague is saying is that in every sector in our country there are issues around drugs and addiction, and we need to help them and we need to be there with good, sound policy.

Criminal Code and Controlled Drugs and Substances Act  Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in this House and speak to this bill. It is my first time rising to give a full speech since the last election. I was able to give a short statement a week and a half ago, but this is my first opportunity to give a full speech. I do want to say a big thanks to the people of Portage—Lisgar who voted for me, and those who did not vote for me, because I am here to represent all my constituents in Portage—Lisgar.

National Defence  Mr. Speaker, today, the new Minister of National Defence apologized for the Liberals' failure to take sexual misconduct seriously, and that is all well and good. However, what we have not heard is an apology from the Minister of International Development. That minister was actively involved in covering up allegations against the most senior officer in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Small Business  Mr. Speaker, the former minister needs to apologize and, frankly, it is disappointing to hear that minister covering up for the negligence of the former minister and the role that he played in covering up sexual misconduct allegations. Small businesses in Canada are reeling from the lockdowns and closing their doors at an alarming rate.

Small Business  Mr. Speaker, the Liberals think that small business owners are tax cheats, and it is clear from their actions that they are doing everything they can to hurt small businesses. Inflation is already making everything more expensive, so what is the Liberal solution to this? A massive payroll tax increase, starting January 1, 2022.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, we hope “due course” is soon, as even the Governor of the Bank of Canada said Canadians can be confident we can control inflation. It seems it is only the finance minister who either does not understand that part of her job or does not care. There are things the government can do to get inflation under control.

Gender-Based Violence  Mr. Speaker, the number of women who are victims of violence simply because they are women should be decreasing, but the evidence shows that it is just going up. Since the beginning of the pandemic, incidents of domestic violence have drastically increased. Many women have been victims of violence and abuse.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for that answer. Inflation is out of control and, with Christmas just around the corner, Canadians are really feeling it. All it seems the members of the Liberal government can do is throw up their hands and say, “There is nothing that we can do.”

Portage—Lisgar  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this 44th Parliament to thank the people of Portage—Lisgar for choosing me as their MP for the fifth time. I am so grateful for their trust. It has been a difficult time for my riding. Some in the riding feared the vaccine and distrust government, but many more have confidence in their doctors' and experts' advice.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, let me take the finance minister back to a meeting that she had just this Friday with Canada's most senior economist, and maybe she would want to ask them some questions and take their advice. Most of them agreed that the government is making the inflation problem worse.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, what the finance minister is saying, then, is that the government has absolutely no control and has no ability to deal with inflation in this country. That is a big F right off the start; it is a fail for the government. I believe the chief economists and experts in this country.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, Canadians are watching the price of everything go up while the Liberals have been denying that their policies would cause inflation. However, by the end of last week, the finance minister was calling inflation a “crisis”. She does not think that the Liberals are responsible for it.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, let me answer that question for the Prime Minister. A year ago, a pack of bacon was about five dollars. Today, to go and buy even a no-name brand, and everybody knows what a no-name brand is except maybe the Prime Minister, it is almost eight dollars. People without children, seniors and those who have school-aged children are buying bacon, bread, eggs and clothing and pay rent, and this is costing them.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, the other thing that is inflating is the Prime Minister's arrogance and disconnect. It is very disappointing to see. The Prime Minister said he does not care about monetary policy. Well, that is clear because his monetary policy is causing massive inflation in Canada.