Irish Heritage Month  The history of the Irish community in Canada stretches back centuries, and their influence and contributions are undeniable. Without Canadians of Irish descent like Roy, Kathy, Neil, Colin, Mel and so many others, Canada would not be the country that we know and love today. This is why I am so glad to stand in support of the private member's motion, Motion No. 18, to declare March as Irish heritage month so that an opportunity can be provided to all Canadians to celebrate and learn about the rich and proud history of Canadians of Irish descent, as I did in writing this speech today.

Criminal Code  Efforts to change and to limit that diversity cause harm, and that harm needs to end. Stopping this harm will protect LGBTQ2+ people throughout Canada, but putting an end to this harm will also benefit Canada overall. We know that there is strength in diversity. There is also strength in inclusion. When we can all be fully included in Canadian society, when we can all fully participate, and when we can all be fully appreciated and celebrated as we are and as we were meant to be, everyone wins.

Post-Secondary Education  This year the government invested over $266 million in that program to support up to 40,000 work placements for students in vital sectors such as health care, food processing and e-commerce. As this pandemic drags on, we promise to be there for Canada's young people. They are our future and the leaders of today and they absolutely deserve our support.

Business of Supply  I share the eagerness of the member opposite for early and quick deployment of this vaccine. I would also love to see some dates, but the absolute first step in that line of questioning is Health Canada approval. These vaccines need to be approved by Health Canada and that is a process that we must respect. Members of this House are politicians.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm joining you from Milton, which is on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, the Attawandaron, the Anishinabe, the Huron-Wendat and, more recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. My intervention today will focus on mental health. I would like to talk about mental health in the context of the $82.5 million that Minister Marc Miller announced in August, but beyond that as well.

Business of Supply  I take the comment regarding the pre-procurement of the Pfizer vaccine, as did the Minister of Health earlier today. It is a good recommendation, and that is the type of collaboration that we rely on in this House to serve Canadians.

Business of Supply  Misinformation is another pandemic, and we have to be very mindful of what we put out there. People rely on us for good information. People rely on us for quality information and not to misinform them with political spin. That political spin is coming from the Conservatives, and it is damaging the Canadian conversation around how we are approaching this pandemic, which has been exemplary and, by all standards, according to the international media it is the gold standard for vaccine procurement.

Broadcasting Act  Major changes to the Broadcasting Act occurred in 1991 and since then, we have seen the rise of the Internet and online broadcasting services, which has completely changed the ways that Canadians listen to music and watch television. The Broadcasting Act has not kept pace with these changes and as a result, online broadcasters have been left unregulated.

Broadcasting Act  Broadcasting is absolutely an essential medium for sharing our experiences with each other, but at the same time this is about competition and the competitive nature of the media landscape around the world. As much as we need to work with producers and the platforms, we need to make sure they are paying their share. After looking at the bill, I am really confident that we are going to make sure the web giants pay their share and contribute in a real way, not just a performative way but a real way, to the viability and competitiveness of Canadian media from producers here in Canada.

Criminal Code  I fully recognize, from consultations with many constituents in my riding who live with disabilities, that the benefit we have promised is too little and too late and that we must continue to do more for Canadians with disabilities, in particular, with regard to mental health.

Criminal Code  I would also like to take a moment to speak to the progress our government has made with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada. Last year, we enacted the Accessible Canada Act, which aims to create a barrier-free Canada through the proactive identification, removal and prevention of barriers to accessibility wherever Canadians interact within areas under federal jurisdiction.

Business of Supply  I also have great admiration and respect for the member for Timmins—James Bay. I just heard a really good idea: that we investigate how we can help students. With all of the things going on right now in Canada, whether it is everything going on in Nova Scotia with the Mi'kmaq and the lobster fisheries or other various first nations issues, I would ask if we should not be focused on ways to help Canadians and whether forming this committee and discussing these issues would help Canadians or if we should focus on some solutions for Canadians, young, old, everyone.

Bills of Exchange Act  Mr. Speaker, I rise again to express solidarity with my colleague and to thank him for teaching me so much about Mi'kmaq culture and for speaking the Mi'kmaq language in the House of Commons for the first time. His interventions and interjections on the committee we mutually serve, indigenous and northern affairs, have brought so much to the conversation and debate.

Business of Supply  I do not want to be found in contempt of Parliament so I will not go on much longer, but I would ask my friendly colleague opposite from Carleton if he thinks we have spent too much helping Canadians over the last eight or nine months at the most difficult time in the history of the world, and—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Perhaps your colleagues will go first so that you can hear their take on it as well. My question is specific to women, children and mental health. I'm hoping that you can identify specifically what factors are negatively impacting women and kids and putting them in an incrementally vulnerable position.