Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her important question. As I said in my speech, as we look to the future, we need to think about everyone, particularly seniors. We have implemented a number of programs, including the rapid housing initiative, which seeks to create affordable housing for the people who need it most, like seniors.

Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply  Ama sqit, Madam Speaker. I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg North. It is a great privilege for me to rise to speak in support of the historic Speech from the Throne by Her Excellency Mary Simon, Canada's first indigenous Governor General. Over the last two years, Canadians have faced unprecedented new challenges, from a global pandemic to raging wildfires and extreme flooding, from a lack of affordable housing to the tragic discovery of unmarked graves at residential schools.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, the people of West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country are concerned about climate change and the environment. It was one of the concerns I heard most often during the election campaign. Climate change is real, and it poses real challenges for communities across the country.

Flooding in British Columbia  Madam Speaker, we need to continue to do more and we need to do it faster. We need to ensure that we are mitigating our emissions as best we can now, which is why we have committed to setting a cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector and have them steadily decline in five-year increments to ensure we can meet our greenhouse gas mitigation targets that we set and are now held accountable to with legislation passed just a few months ago.

Flooding in British Columbia  Madam Speaker, we need to make emissions cuts right now. It is not just about 2050. That is too far down the road. The emissions that we are able to cut now are that much more important. We have committed to an updated target of 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. The target of 45% below is what the Paris agreement committed to and we need to ensure we do our part to do that and more.

Flooding in British Columbia  Madam Speaker, indeed, all orders of government are working closely together, and cabinet ministers of different portfolios are working on and are seized with this issue. The army has been deployed. To my understanding, currently about 500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been deployed and are working to repair things like the levy and other areas that need to be repaired so that the coming rain will not put people who are already out of their homes at further risk.

Flooding in British Columbia  Madam Speaker, I first want to congratulate you on your reappointment to this role. It is a privilege to rise once more in the chamber to join the debate for the first time in the 44th Parliament. I first want to start by thanking all the volunteers, dedicated staff, friends and family who worked tirelessly to get me here.

Disaster Assistance  Mr. Speaker, my province has been devastated by natural disasters over this past year. Between wildfires, landslides and flooding, my constituents and countless British Columbians are having their property and lives threatened, or even lost. With the ever-worsening reality of climate change, we know these weather events are going to become more frequent and severe.

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question. I think it is a good question, because we already have our work cut out for us if we want to hit our current target. We have to respect what science tells us to do. Under our current plan, we can implement measures in this budget to reduce our emissions to 36% below 2005 levels.

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for his question and his important work as part of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development to get these important amendments passed. Absolutely, the IEA report is an eye-opener. It is a report the Government of Canada asked the IEA to put together, along with a number of other nations.

Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in the House again today to speak in support of Bill C-12. We are having this discussion at a time when Canada is warming at twice the global rate and the regions in our north are warming at three times the global rate. Meanwhile, Canada is a top-10 emitter of greenhouse emissions on an absolute basis and is firmly entrenched as a top-three contributor to emissions on a per capita basis.

Petitions  Madam Speaker, today I have the honour to present petition 114-11264. This petition was initiated by a young leader from the Kootenays and has been signed by many constituents in my riding. The petition notes that we are living in a climate crisis and that industrial activities have caused destruction to ecosystems around the world by activities permitted by law.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise virtually in the House today to present this petition. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to work with first nations to immediately protect endangered, old-growth ecosystems in British Columbia. The petitioners, which include constituents of mine, know that less than 2.7% of old-growth forest remains in B.C.. they also know that old-growth forests provide immeasurable benefits, including carbon sequestration, biodiversity, culture, recreation, education, food and more, and that most Canadians support the sustainable harvesting of forests, which does not include logging irreplaceable old-growth.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, although day scholars were able to seek compensation under the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement for physical and sexual abuse suffered while attending residential schools, they were not able to seek compensation for the experience of attending Indian residential schools because they returned to their homes at night.

World Oceans Day  Mr. Speaker, the United Nations has proclaimed a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development from 2021 to 2030. World-class ocean science research is being conducted in many countries to further our understanding of the marine environment and the biodiversity within. Ocean science is laying the foundation for our blue economy strategy, and we invite Canadians to take part in the dialogue.