Veterans  Mr. Speaker, as a retired police officer, I stand up for our veterans. On the solemn occasion of Remembrance Day, we gather as a nation to pay tribute to the brave women and men who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our great country. Today, we remember the heroes who stood valiantly in the face of adversity defending the values and freedom that define Canada.

Petitions  Madam Speaker, today I am proud to rise in this House to present a petition on behalf of my constituents in Markham—Unionville. This petition calls for additional transparency from clothing and retail companies surrounding the supply chain process with respect to working conditions and environmental regulations.

Court Challenges Program Act  Madam Speaker, I rise today on a matter of great importance touching on the fundamental rights and freedoms of all people in Canada. I speak of the court challenges program and the legislation before us, Bill C-316, an act to amend the Department of Canadian Heritage Act. Since its creation in 1978, the court challenges program has come to be seen as a unique feature of our constitutional democracy, helping people in Canada to bring forward legal cases when they believe their most cherished rights have been infringed upon, regardless of their means.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, IRCC, has received allegations or reports of corruption or bribery committed by locally engaged staff toward applicants for Canadian travel documents in the past 10 years; however, IRCC does not have records extending earlier than 2016.

Questions on the Order Paper  Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), an expenditure authority in the amount of $161 million has been provided by the Treasury Board Secretariat to design, develop and deploy Canada’s ePassport next generation suite of travel documents and all related printing equipment, software and infrastructure by October 2024.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Madam Speaker, I was pleased to stand with the Minister of Immigration as he tabled Canada's immigration levels plan this week. I am delighted to share that Canada will continue to welcome skilled workers, reunite loved ones and stay true to humanitarian tradition. We also have a sensible immigration plan that allows for stable growth to balance pressure on housing, infrastructure and essential services.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member opposite has brought this up. I am proud to stand in the House today and re-echo that, yesterday, we tabled our new immigration levels plan for 2024-26. Our plan will ensure that immigration continues to grow our economy and to provide stabilized growth, while balancing pressure on housing, infrastructure and essential services.

Poppies  Mr. Speaker, I stand today to emphasize the profound significance of the poppy in our great nation. The red poppy, a symbol of remembrance, has served as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and servicewomen throughout history. The tradition of wearing the poppy was inspired by the famous poem In Flanders Fields, which was written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae during World War I.

Climate Change  Mr. Speaker, our government remains committed to both fighting climate change and addressing tax fairness. We have already taken actions to build our green economy and to ensure that all pay their fair share of taxes. We have taken steps to close loopholes, combat tax evasion and ensure that the wealthiest pay their fair share.

Climate Change  Mr. Speaker, between the unprecedented floods, wildfires and storms we witnessed across the country this summer, there is no doubt that the impacts of climate change on Canada are quite real and serious. Just as we know that climate change is real, the path forward is clear. To protect our planet and to build a stronger economy, we must endeavour to do even more when it comes to climate action.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, Canada has committed to support those fleeing persecution, oppression and war. We continue to support provinces, territories and municipalities, including the City of Toronto, with these challenges and do our part. That is why we extended the interim housing assistance program for asylum claimants across Canada for 2023.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, Canada remains committed to upholding a fair and compassionate refugee protection system. With 100 million people displaced globally, the world is undergoing a global migration crisis, and Canada has a moral obligation to step up. Canada is not alone in facing a rising number of asylum claims.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Mr. Speaker, as the number of refugees worldwide grows, Canada continues to protect the world's most vulnerable and be a leader in refugee resettlement. In 2020, Canada resettled one-third of all refugees around the world. In addition, between January and July of 2023, Canada has resettled 27,400 refugees, which is over half of our 2023 target of 51,300.

Thanksgiving  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my warmest wishes to my constituents in Markham—Unionville on this special occasion of Thanksgiving. Across this great country, Canadians are bound together by our shared values of gratitude, unity and compassion. This Thanksgiving, let us reflect on the blessings we enjoy, the moments we cherish with loved ones and the prosperity that our great nation provides.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  Madam Speaker, recent investigations of the Pretoria office determined that visa applications are not and cannot be filtered by race. Its diverse selection team has, in fact, been approving nearly nine in 10 temporary resident applications filed by South African nationals since 2018, with the exception of the pandemic years of 2020-21.