Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas  Mr. Speaker, today Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain communities across Canada will be celebrating Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas. In celebration of Diwali, houses will be illuminated with diyas in every corner, colourful rangoli artwork decorations will be the vibrant centrepieces of each household, and family and friends will be getting together to share a festive meal.

Canada-India Relations  Mr. Speaker, the Centre for International Governance Innovation, or CIGI, in Waterloo, is a prominent think tank on international governance, global economic research and analysis, security and law. In February, CIGI joined forces with Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations, a foreign policy think tank based in Mumbai, to launch the Canada-India Track 1.5 Dialogue on Innovation, Growth and Prosperity.

Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest  Mr. Speaker, Canadians of German origin are one of the largest ancestral groups in Canada. One out of 10 Canadians is of German ancestry, and one of every five lives where I do in Waterloo region. The Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, now marking its 50th anniversary, is the largest Oktoberfest celebration outside of Germany.

Housing  Mr. Speaker, nearly one-third of all Canadians rely on rental housing for a safe, affordable place to call home. Could the minister responsible for housing tell Canadians how this government's investments in the rental construction financing initiative will increase the amount of affordable rental housing options for middle-class families struggling in expensive housing markets across Canada?

Health  Mr. Speaker, we have all seen the troubling statistics. In 2016, more than one million Canadians had to choose between feeding their family, heating their home, and filling the prescriptions they needed. I have heard similar complaints in my riding of Kitchener-Centre. In budget 2018, we proudly announced the creation of an advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, I know the difference between signing and ratifying. The United States has signed it, but the nuance of its particular system is a bit different, but it has adhered to the treaty. I know the NDP has difficulty understanding economics, so let me explain a bit about economics.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, I am glad the hon. member asked that question. I too also enjoy working with him. I am burdened by science. I am burdened by facts, and here are the facts. The U.S. signed that treaty. The nuance in the American political system is that to ratify a treaty requires two-thirds of the vote in the Senate.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform you that I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Ottawa West—Nepean. Our government entered office with a mandate to expand Canadian diplomacy and leadership on global issues. We are committed to promoting human rights and fostering peace.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, the only time the photo op was held was in April 2013. Now that we are talking history, let me remind the hon. member that 154 countries signed to adopt the treaty. As of January 2018, 94 countries have signed and ratified it. Five of the largest arms producers in the world have signed and ratified it: England, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy.

Export and Import Permits Act  Mr. Speaker, I have had an opportunity to serve with the member on committee now for a year and to travel with him, and I can say that he is a very good guy. However, the speech was a bit shaky. Let me remind him, because I know he is a new MP like me, and give him a little history lesson.

Employment  Mr. Speaker, our government knows that Canada's biggest strength is its resilient, hard-working people. Innovation and technology continue to change the way we live and work. The people of Kitchener Centre, Ontario, and Canada are facing new challenges and new opportunities. More than ever before, opportunities must be available to acquire the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

Petitions  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present Petition E-1364, spearheaded by a remarkable young woman, a constituent of mine, Niara van Gaalen. Ms. van Gaalen is a community leader in the environmental and conservation movement, and has laid out an ambitious plan in this petition to dramatically enhance Canada's wilderness protection and reduce our environmental footprint.

World Immunization Week  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark World Immunization Week. This week, organizations and individuals around the world come together to highlight the work needed to ensure that every person is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. I am proud to say that immunization and global health are always at the heart of Canadian development efforts.

Budget Implementation Act, 2018, No. 1  Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would like to take a moment to offer my condolences to the victims of the van attack in Toronto. My thoughts and those of my constituents of Kitchener Centre are with the victims, their families, and the first responders on the scene. Our government supports researchers, scientists, and organizations that drive fundamental research as we seek to foster the innovation which will create a better world for everyone to live in.

Stephen Hawking  Mr. Speaker, on March 14, the world lost a brilliant mind. Stephen Hawking sought to better understand the underlying laws that govern the universe. He probed the fabric of our reality, and along the way he helped to make theoretical physics and cosmology accessible to millions, acted as a champion for those with disabilities, and became a beloved pop culture icon.