Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for raising this very important point. Canada is deeply concerned about the humanitarian toll the war is taking, and we are concerned about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is threatening global energy security and economic stability. As we have emphasized, Canada's focus is on humanitarianism, de-escalation and ensuring the unimpeded flow of energy…
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Mr. Speaker, the parliamentary return in question was submitted in error and will be corrected at the earliest opportunity. The Prime Minister has been clear that while in Beijing Canada's positions on areas of concern, including human rights, were raised proactively at multiple levels, including by the Prime Minister and his counterparts. I also raised the matter with my counterpart while in Chin…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to confirm that all Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and accounted for. For operational security reasons, we cannot provide further details, but I would like to be clear: Canada has not been consulted regarding offensive strikes against Iran, has not participated in them and does not intend to participate in them, period.
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Mr. Speaker, as I said, all Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and accounted for. As we keep saying, Canada reaffirms that international law applies to all parties and actors, including the United States and Israel, which must follow the rules of international law. Once again, I would like to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for all of the work that they do for our country.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada was not consulted, did not participate and will not participate in offensive strikes against Iran. All Canadian Armed Forces members in the region are safe and sound and have been located. For operational security reasons, we cannot provide more details, but I want to thank the Canadian Armed Forces for the work they do every day for our country.
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Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether my hon. colleague heard today's announcement, but our government has announced support for Lebanon. It consists of $37.7 million in humanitarian aid for people suffering due to the situation in Lebanon. We will continue to be present with humanitarian aid. We will continue to ensure that we support—
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Mr. Speaker, the government opposes the bill. Canada has one of the strongest export regimes in the world, with human rights considerations applied to every single permit issued for military goods. The changes proposed in the bill would decimate Canada's defence industry, weaken Canada's role in NATO and jeopardize the capabilities of our Canadian Armed Forces. The bill would not close a loophole.…
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Mr. Speaker, we support Iran's never obtaining a nuclear weapon. That has been the policy position of successive governments of Canada. Iran must never have nuclear capacity. The support is not a blank cheque. Canada reaffirms that international law binds all parties. Canada is a country of international law, and all actors, including the United States and Israel, must respect the rules of interna…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to reiterate that the Canadian Armed Forces have been supporting our consular services and supporting diplomatic efforts throughout the world, including in the region, over the last number of decades. In particular, I will say that they take it very seriously to ensure that we are, wherever possible, protecting civilians. Our position on that matter could not be more clear: Inn…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify the government's position for my hon. colleague—
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Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my hon. colleague, allow me to clarify that successive Canadian governments have held that Iran is the principal source of terror in the region. That is why, more than 18 months ago, Canada declared the IRGC a terrorist entity. That is why Canada supports all efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. That is why we have declared Iran a state sponsor of…
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Mr. Speaker, the department at IRCC has a rigorous process for vetting all applicants who are applying for a visa. In addition, we encourage the opposition to vote in favour of Bill C-9, which it is refusing to do. Finally, let me clarify again that on this side of the House, the Iranian regime is a terrorist entity. It is a state sponsor of terrorism. We encourage all parties to respect the rules…
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Mr. Speaker, for the benefit of my hon. colleague and this House, I will reiterate that Canada has long spoken out against Iran's nuclear proliferation. We strongly support nuclear non-proliferation internationally. Therefore, we will continue to reiterate that Iran must not have nuclear weapons. In addition, the clarity of our foreign policy in terms of international law must be underscored. We a…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada had no advance notice of these strikes and we were not consulted. We have no plans to become involved in offensive actions taken by the United States and Israel. Canada supports preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and preventing its regime from further threatening international peace and security. We have been clear for years that Iran's nuclear proliferation is una…
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Mr. Speaker, while we support Iran's never obtaining a nuclear weapon, this support is not a blank cheque. Canada reaffirms that international law binds all parties. All actors, including the United States and Israel, must respect the rules of international engagement. There are established international processes for making determinations about international law, and our immediate priority is goi…
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moved: That this committee take note of the hostilities in Iran and the Middle East, and the impact for Canadians abroad. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the hostilities currently unfolding in Iran and throughout the Middle East and the very real impact they are having on Canadians abroad. The situation in the region is changing by the hour. Military strikes and retaliatory attacks have d…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has been clear. Canada was not consulted, Canada did not participate, and Canada has no plans to participate in the offensive strikes against Iran. We support efforts to end the Iranian nuclear program and the regime's decades-long pattern of state-sponsored terrorism. Canada's priorities are clear. Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, internatio…
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Mr. Speaker, of course we do. We have a very robust approach to ensuring we are bringing Canadians home and have already arranged for hundreds of Canadians to return home. I will specifically underline the three particular means of bringing Canadians home: first, through charter flights; second, through blocked bookings on commercial airlines; and third, through buses that transport Canadians to c…
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Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for my colleague. Let me be clear. While we support efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, our support is not a free pass. Canada reaffirms that international law applies to all parties. All actors, including the United States and Israel, must respect the rules of international law. International mechanisms exist to determine compliance with in…
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Mr. Speaker, in my role, I have the privilege of speaking with leaders and citizens around the world, and I repeatedly hear that countries respect and want to emulate the immigration system in this country. In addition, I would ask the opposition to vote with us on Bill C-12. This would be a reform to strengthen our asylum system. We have also recently announced changes to the interim health care …
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Mr. Speaker, on this, the fourth anniversary of the illegal further invasion by Russia of Ukraine, Canada continues to stand with Ukraine in the short and the long term. This morning, I announced $20 million in supports for Ukraine's energy infrastructure. In addition, this brings our total investment and supports for Ukraine to $25.5 billion. Canada stands with Ukraine and makes sure that we are …
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Mr. Speaker, it is shocking that the opposition members do not recognize the measures the government has taken to support the auto sector, to support workers and to make sure that we are investing in national projects. They vote against us every single time. We have an auto strategy. We have a liquidity management fund. We are reducing tariffs. We are making sure we are building Canada strong. We …
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Mr. Speaker, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating conditions in Cuba. Our consular officials are actively engaged. They stand ready to support Canadians in need. We are also working with the Cuban authorities and Canadian tourism stakeholders to ensure a timely and effective response. We understand that aircraft carriers from Canadian airlines will be picking up Canadians. Our top priority…
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Mr. Speaker, I come from a riding with and I represent auto workers and the auto sector. They want this government to keep doing what we have been doing, which is to support auto workers, support unions, support auto manufacturing and ensure that we are, together, building Canada strong. This is what we do in times of economic stress. We band together. On this side of the House, we urge them to vo…
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Mr. Speaker, this transition is an important step toward stabilizing Haiti, including general elections. Canada is a leader in the world. We have invested $450 million in stabilizing Haiti, and we are also co-operating with the diaspora. We are committed to fighting for a healthier and safer future for Haiti.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is deeply disappointed by the tragic sentencing of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong. We call for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai. In fact, we have consistently spoken out against the national security law since its imposition in 2020. While in Beijing, I reiterated Canada's long-standing position to my counterpart: The persecution of journalists, media workers and activists is unaccep…
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Mr. Speaker, this week, I will be travelling to Nuuk, Greenland, to formally open the Canadian consulate there. I will be meeting with my Danish and Greenlandic counterparts, where I will be reiterating the principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and co-operation amongst Arctic states, including the Nordic five. Here at home, we are investing more than $80 billion in Canada's defenc…
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Mr. Speaker, I urge the member opposite to be accurate in her representation of Canadian law. First, Canada has one of the strongest export permit regimes in the world. Second, Canada has not approved any new permits for items to Israel that could be used in the current conflict in Gaza since January 8, 2024. Third, all permits suspended in 2024 remain suspended and cannot be used to export to Isr…
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Mr. Speaker, as I said, we have had discussions with China about several sectors of our economy, including pork, beef and canola. Each time, we continue to say that it is in Canada's interest to have a “friendly” agreement for our pork sector and for our economy. That is our strategy on this side of the House.
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Mr. Speaker, the reality is that we remain committed in our partnerships with all industry stakeholders in the beef and canola industries, in the agriculture industry. At the same time, we will continue to diversify our supply chains for our domestic economy. That is in the national interest and that is our plan on this side of the House.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's work on the world—
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's work on the world stage with his counterparts to bring an end to the conflict in the Middle East is extremely important. He is continuing to be engaged on the peace plan in the Middle East. The plan, in fact, reflects Canada's long-standing position that Hamas should have no role in the governance of Palestine, and the ceasefire provides an opportunity for the Pri…
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Mr. Speaker, the French language and French culture are very important. They are at the heart of our Canadian identity. That is why, this week, we announced Canada's bid to host the 2028 Sommet de la Francophonie right here in the national capital region. Hosting this summit will launch new economic partnerships for Canadians. This is good news for the economy and for francophones.
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister and the rest of the government are here for the whole country, not just for one province, not just for one territory. We are here for Canadian jobs, for our industries and to build the strongest economy in the G7. At the same time, we are building supply chains and partnerships with all global economies. The reason is that the world is changing, the geopolitical sit…
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Mr. Speaker, over the past three and a half years, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $22 billion in multi-faceted support for Ukraine's military, as well as financial and economic support. This week, at NATO, I committed another $235 million for Ukraine in the defence of its sovereignty and security, and to ensure that its soldiers can make it through the winter as they fight on …
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Mr. Speaker, it is true that we need to continue having conversations with the United States. We need to be at the table for these conversations and negotiations. At the same time, we continue to diversify our supply chains and our trade partners, like India, Indonesia and Mexico. On this side, we are continuing to build our economy. On the opposition side, that is not the case. Every single time,…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for her question. I will be at NATO next week to discuss very important issues with our allies, including topics like Ukraine, the Arctic and our collective defence. With an $80-billion investment in budget 2025, we are here for the Canadian Armed Forces and our defence sector. Canada will always play its part in collective defence and in protecting our cou…
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Madam Speaker, with our Arctic foreign policy, we are continually ensuring that the sovereignty and the livelihood of the Arctic are protected. That is why we are putting on the table $80 billion for defence spending. In conjunction with indigenous peoples, we are going to make sure that we protect the Arctic and defend the Arctic, and we will do so with our international allies. I will be travell…
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Madam Speaker, it appears that my hon. colleague has not really been cognizant of what the Prime Minister has been doing: $70 billion in a financial commitment of investment from the U.A.E. We can also list the Philippines, Indonesia, Germany, Thailand and India. These are the trade deals we are embarking upon. On the other side of the House, they focus on issues that Canadians are not going to be…
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Mr. Speaker, everywhere I go, people say they want more Canada. Last week, the Prime Minister confirmed the largest foreign investment commitment in Canadian history at $70 billion. In addition, we have launched trade negotiations with India for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. We are building the strongest economy in the G7 by unlocking generational investments. Long live Canada.
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is overlooking that Canada has a AAA credit rating, has the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7, has been world acclaimed as a home for direct foreign investment and is top of the G20. The difference between that side of the House and this side of the House is that we believe in Canada. We believe in Canadians. We are diversifying supply chains, and we are inves…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada is extremely concerned about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. The report was an essential step and revealed an alarming pattern. China has yet to take meaningful action in response. Canada will continue to work with its international partners to address this situation. Canada remains committed to defending human rights in international organizations. This is a priority for us…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his question. Of course, our government does not support forced labour in any way. We will continue to stand up for human rights around the world, especially within multilateral organizations. We will also continue to invest in our economy and maintain the bilateral relationships that are necessary for our country throughout the world.
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Mr. Speaker, numerous times I have reiterated in this House the importance of diversifying Canada's supply chains. Over the past number of months, I have spoken with my counterpart in Pakistan. Pakistan is one of the world's largest importers of canola. This morning, he confirmed to me that Pakistan will open its doors to Canadian canola. In fact, he confirmed to me that orders have already been p…
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Mr. Speaker, I am going to reiterate that we are actively making sure that countries hear the interests of Canadian farmers, Canadian suppliers and Canadian producers. Not only is Pakistan opening its doors to Canadian canola, but I raised potash, canola, agriculture and seafood in my recent trip to the Indo-Pacific. The governments with which I spoke assured me that we will continue to work toget…
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Mr. Speaker, let me reiterate that the public safety and security of Canadians, regardless of the time and place, are always top of mind for our government, including in our diplomatic relationships. At the same time, Canada will continue to become the strongest economy in the G7, and the way we do that is to diversify our supply chains while making sure we protect our citizens at home.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada believes in a world free of nuclear weapons, and the current arsenals around the world remain far too large. Deterrence is fundamental, and we share the concerns of the hon. member about the unacceptable slow pace of disarmament. We all share a responsibility to protect against these threats, including through the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. At the United Nations rec…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform my hon. colleague and the members of the House that we have provided billions of dollars of support for this economy, including $5 billion in a strategic response fund. We are doing this while supporting our workers, supporting sectors, including the auto sector, and maintaining Canada's AAA credit rating and the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We will g…
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Mr. Speaker, we are making unprecedented investments in our auto sector, with a $5-billion strategic response fund, for example, and all the while, we are making sure that workers are supported. The company NextStar has committed to hiring 2,500 workers and has just hired its 1,000th worker. As an MP with the Ford Motor Company in their backyard, let me tell members that we are here for workers, w…
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Mr. Speaker, every country with which I am speaking wants more of Canada. In fact, in the G20, Canada is ranked among the top two destinations for foreign direct investment. We are the only country in the world that has a free trade agreement with every other G7 country. We are forging new relationships in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe and in Africa. We will not stop until we get the best deal for C…
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