Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, we have seen this approach from the Conservatives through 10 years of Stephen Harper that did not get projects built, because they believed in picking and choosing who spoke for whom. They believed in picking and choosing how to engage and characterized anyone who disagreed with them as their opposition or as enemies of the national interests.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, five years ago, Canadians made a clear choice to support parties that were committed to reconciliation. Unfortunately—

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party of Canada continues to demonstrate that it wilfully and deliberately tries to misunderstand the reality of reconciliation in this country. That is why they were excluded from a constructive conversation on how to move forward as a country on the path of reconciliation, to support all Canadians from coast to coast to coast in their economic livelihoods and in their sense of what this country is.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, earlier this afternoon I was pleased to sit down with three parliamentary leaders to talk and discuss concretely the approach we are taking in constructive dialogue to resolving this situation not just peacefully, but for the long term. The leader of the official opposition, the leader of the Conservatives, excluded himself from this conversation with his unacceptable approach to not have constructive dialogue but to follow an approach that would hurt the very people he supposes he wants to help.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Mr. Speaker, I will repeat my last sentence. Patience may be in short supply and that makes it more valuable than ever. In this country, we are facing many important and deep debates, debates about the future livelihoods of our children, the future of our environment, our relations with countries around the world and our positioning on things that are fundamental at a time of anxiety.

Relations with Indigenous Peoples  Madam Speaker, I would like to begin by recognizing that we are on the ancestral land of the Algonquin people. People are troubled by what they have been witnessing this past week. Young, old, indigenous and newcomers are asking themselves what is happening in the country. They are asking what lies ahead for themselves, for their communities and for Canada.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Sydney—Victoria for his work on reconciliation. We are working with indigenous partners to develop and support indigenous leadership in conservation through indigenous guardians programs and to establish new indigenous protected and conserved areas.

The Environment  Mr. Speaker, in the last mandate we moved forward with a historic oceans protection plan, representing one and a half billion dollars of investment in world-class marine protection. We will continue to make the investments necessary, including the refurbishment, revitalization and renewal of our Coast Guard fleet.

International Trade  Through you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Niagara Centre for all the work he does for his region. The new NAFTA safeguards over $2 billion a day in cross-border trade. That means businesses in Niagara and across the country have virtually tariff-free access to the U.S. market, supporting hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs.

Government Priorities  Mr. Speaker, as a government, we have been able to invest in new ways of helping Canadians, from the Canada child benefit, which gives hundreds of dollars more every month to nine out of 10 Canadian families, to the increase in the guaranteed income supplement for our most vulnerable single seniors.

Agriculture and Agri-Food  Mr. Speaker, there were a number of times today when the members opposite brought up the work of the PBO and his report and it is exciting to see them actually give credence to the Parliamentary Budget Officer now. Maybe they could pay attention to the fact that the Parliamentary Budget Officer has clearly stated that the price on pollution both cuts pollution and puts money back into the pockets of families in Alberta, in Saskatchewan and right across the country.

Indigenous Affairs  Mr. Speaker, the road to reconciliation means walking in partnership with indigenous communities and indigenous peoples and respecting and reflecting their priorities. We will work with communities across the country on challenges related to violence and mental health. We will work with them on ensuring that there is greater security for Canadians right across the country, including for indigenous peoples.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, in my riding, Papineau, Quebeckers often tell me how very real the housing crisis is for them. I have been working with community organizations for many years, since becoming an MP. We recognized that it was a real shame that the federal government was no longer playing a role in housing.

Infrastructure  Mr. Speaker, over the past years I have had many excellent conversations with the mayor of Toronto about the ambitious investments that he wants to make in public transit. Every step of the way the federal government has been there to be a partner. I am pleased that things are now moving with the province.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, the first-time home buyer incentive reduces the cost for first-time home buyers in a significant way and has helped families right across the country. Yes, we recognize that in certain areas, such as the GTA, the Lower Mainland and Victoria, the cap is too low, which is why we committed to raising it in the last election.