Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. It could be said the bill does not go far enough to make conversion therapy illegal and criminal. I am not a lawyer, but I know it is very difficult to tell consulting adults exactly what they can do with their time and their money.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to expand on the previous member's question. I am not a lawyer. I am not an expert on these types of legal matters, but I know it is very difficult to put into law restrictions on what consenting adults can do with their time and their money. I am with the member.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I think this will become better legislation as we discuss these issues more thoroughly. I am thinking back to Catholic school and the earliest experience that I had when I was a young boy talking to the chaplain about sexuality. I recall him saying that we love the person, but we hate the act.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by acknowledging that I am joining members from the traditional and ancestral territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation here in Milton. It is my honour to join the House from my office to discuss amendments to the Criminal Code that would move us one step closer to banning the horrific practice of conversion therapy.

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.

Bills of Exchange Act  Mr. Speaker, I only rise today to express solidarity to the member for North Island—Powell River. I watched intently as she expressed her emphatic desire to have this passed. I also wanted to rise to express disappointment that it will not be as expedient as we had hoped. I know I should be framing this as a question, and I will, but I wanted to go on the record and express solidarity and an interest in supporting her, her community and various other indigenous communities in any way possible.

Youth  Mr. Speaker, the public service worked to find the best possible delivery of this program to get students grants for their volunteer hours. The public service worked with the WE organization to develop this agreement, and this work was done and negotiated at the officials' level.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I will take the question under advisement and ask the correct officials and the minister in charge if this is something that we might consider.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, while I appreciate the many contributions and reflections upon this and many other issues from my colleague opposite, I, unlike him, rely on experts and expert opinions, research and evidence from people who work in these fields. As a politician, I do not feel prepared or adequately informed to make these decisions in the House.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to virtually join the debate in the House of Commons and participate in the second reading debate on Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying. I will take a moment to speak to the progress that our government has made with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities in Canada.

Criminal Code  Madam Speaker, I profoundly appreciate the work that my colleague across the floor has done for his community in Hamilton prior to his entering federal politics. I am well aware of his many contributions in areas of social justice and I am proud to call him a colleague. He is somebody who stands up for people and ensures their voices are amplified.

Parkinson's Disease  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a voice in Parliament today for the over 100,000 Canadians living with Parkinson's disease and the 10,000 or so Canadians that will diagnosed this year. I recall Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic flame in Atlanta after his Parkinson's diagnosis and watching Michael J.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I am constantly inspired by my friendly colleague in the House, because, honestly, his humour and theatrics are truly inspiring. If I am here as long as he has been, I hope that I can emulate his theatrics in the House effectively. Since we are walking down the path of history, I also have some prose in mind: He who has no sin should cast the first stone.

Business of Supply  Madam Speaker, I have great admiration for the work that my colleagues across the floor have done in international development. I have done some myself as a former athlete ambassador for various organizations. I also have great admiration and respect for the member for Timmins—James Bay.

Criminal Code  Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand in the House of Commons and participate in the second reading debate on Bill C-7, an act to amend the Criminal Code, medical assistance in dying. In developing these amendments, Canadians were widely consulted in January 2020. During these consultations, approximately 300,000 Canadians completed an online questionnaire.