Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Japan Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology”, done at Ottawa on January 27.
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Mr. Speaker, as part of our generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces, we are procuring a new fleet of fighter aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force. We review all procurement approaches to align with the best interests of Canadians and the needs of the Canadian Armed Forces. We are committed to procuring what the air force needs while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians. That…
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Mr. Speaker, we are consumed with rebuilding, rearming and rebooting our Canadian Armed Forces. We are building thousands of new homes. We are retrofitting thousands of existing units. Every member of the House knows it is time for us to invest properly in our Canadian Armed Forces members, which is exactly what we are doing. For example, recently we acquired a 37-unit apartment building in B.C. a…
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Mr. Speaker, we are working together with our colleagues in the Arctic. We are working together. I had the chance to meet with the Premier of Nunavut just this morning. We were discussing a holistic approach to how we will invest in defence and our capacities. Obviously, operational needs will be important, but so will dual-use and multi-use investments as we go forward. These are the kinds of det…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Concerning the Status of Visiting Forces of Each State in the Territory of the Other State”, done at Manila…
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Mr. Speaker, this week, we announced our purchase of a package of critical military capability under NATO's prioritized Ukraine requirements list, or PURL, in partnership with other NATO allies. Our $200-million contribution to this PURL package will include capabilities that have been specifically identified by Ukraine as its urgent requirements to support its defence against Russia's aggression …
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Mr. Speaker, here is what is believable: It is 37,922 jobs through 15 procurement projects across this country and $106.3 billion of investment in our defence sector. The opposition should clamp down on the negativism, help build this country forward, get behind our defence sector and get behind our defence industrial strategy. Let us grow this economy for our people and our future.
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Mr. Speaker, this summer, we signed a historic agreement to forge a new, ambitious and comprehensive partnership with European countries. Today, the Prime Minister announced the conclusion of negotiations for Canada's participation in SAFE. This will unlock billions of dollars in defence opportunities for our Canadian businesses. It will give our defence industry expanded access to the European ma…
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Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his work and for his advocacy for Atlantic Canadian excellence. This past weekend, we announced Canada's first maritime defence innovation secure hub, or DISH, at COVE in Dartmouth—Cole Harbour. This is a brand new, $30-million hub. We will bring together, for the first time, defence and security partners, industry, academia and naval operators to develop, tes…
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Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for her work. As we rebuild, rearm and reinvest in Canada's military, we are making changes to our recruitment processes to get more people in the door, and faster. We have modernized our recruitment process by introducing a probationary period, streamlining the security clearance process, updating the aptitude test requirements and changing medical standa…
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Mr. Speaker, I sleep very well at night because of the incredible women and men in the Canadian Armed Forces. That is whom I count on. We are rearming, we are rebuilding and we are reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. The member knows this. When it comes to CAF housing, we are looking at new solutions through private sector partnerships to give our forces a safe and affordable place to call h…
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Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of meeting Sandra a few days ago at the National Arts Centre. What a film, what a story, what a woman, and what an inspiring person. She really helped iron out the details of this bill. We hope that Sandra's voice, along with many others, will be heard and listened to in committee. If there is progress to be made and improvements to be made, we are here to listen. F…
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Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the reminder. I should have reminded members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are watching that the pay increase is coming, of course, and it is predicated on years of service, as well as annual bonuses and retention bonuses for instructors and beyond. We are very pleased to be able to offer the most significant pay and pay package increase in a generation. We hope i…
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Mr. Speaker, the bill would catch both Canadian Armed Forces members and civilian employees at the Department of National Defence. It is important also for us to recall that recommendation 5 under Madam Justice Arbour's incredibly comprehensive work is the only recommendation that actually requires legislative change, which is why it finds itself in Bill C-11. That is why we have moved so quickly …
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague is absolutely right. Now we must listen. I look forward to seeing what will happen in committee, and I would like to hear the personal stories of these witnesses. We are more than willing to see if we can improve the bill. There is work to be done. Today, we are focused on the future and implementing change. I agree that it has taken too long. This bill was introduced in …
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Mr. Speaker, I think it is important for members of the House to trust a few things. The first thing they should trust is the incredibly important, probative and complete work done by Mr. Justice Fish and Madam Justice Arbour, and their recommendations for improvement. The second thing they should trust is the judgment that has been exercised through the commissions of inquiry, which basically ind…
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moved that Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say good morning to colleagues and to the Canadians who are watching today's debate. I am pleased to rise to open second reading debate on Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. As Canada's new government makes a generat…
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Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague and thank him for his question. In fact, we are moving fast to meet the needs of our armed forces. We just announced the creation of the new defence investment agency to speed up the procurement, and today we are debating Bill C‑11, which seeks to modernize the military justice system to better support our forces. On this side of the House, when the issue i…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an interesting suggestion, and I have taken due note of it. I thank the member for her contribution.
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moved for leave to introduce Bill C-11, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and other Acts. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
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Mr. Speaker, we know that our partners want to see Canada play a much bigger role on the international stage. Yesterday, we signed a new agreement with Indonesia to enhance the participation of the Canadian Armed Forces in military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. This agreement will also benefit Canadian industry and create jobs. Thanks to this new agreement, we will see more of the Canadian…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, this is a Crown corporation in British Columbia. The federal government is investing massively in shipbuilding across the country. We are building ships in Quebec. We are building ships in Halifax. We are building ships in Vancouver. Irving Shipbuilding alone, in Halifax, employs 2,400 workers with 10,000 additional jobs created across the country in its supply chain. We…
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Mr. Speaker, we know that our forces and their families face challenges as they move across the country from posting to posting. That is why, this summer, we gave our forces a well-deserved and overdue pay raise. Our $2-billion compensation package is the largest in a generation. It means that untrained sailors, aviators and soldiers will receive a 20% pay raise. As the brave women and men of the …
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Mr. Speaker, last week the Prime Minister announced a $9.3-billion investment in Canada's defence, which means we will achieve NATO's 2% target this fiscal year. This is not only an investment in our armed forces, but also an investment in good-paying jobs, in Canadian innovation and in economic growth, and the member knows this. Our generational investment is strengthening Canada's role as a stro…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister announced $4.5 billion yesterday for our efforts in Ukraine. We have committed to reducing overall government spending by more than $15 billion while ensuring the services and supports that Canadians rely on are there. We have exceptional expert staff dedicated to meeting our priorities, but we also sometimes rely on outside expertise, and the member knows this, but…
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Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. In the last decade, we have tripled our defence spending. We are investing $72 billion through our defence policy update, $40 billion through NORAD modernization and $11 billion to train our next generation of aviators. We are procuring 200 new aircraft, 12 submarines, six Arctic and offshore patrol ships, two joint support ships and so much more. Now more than eve…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Burnaby Central for his dedication. Canada's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal and unjustified war remains steadfast. Earlier today at the G7 summit, the Prime Minister announced $2 billion in new military support to aid Ukraine in its time of need. This includes funding for drones, for ammunition and for armoured vehicles. We are…
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Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, our government has been an essential partner in strengthening NORAD, the only binational command in the world. We know that we live in a more dangerous world. That is why this new government has undertaken a wide array of discussions with the United States about a new security and economic relationship that would benefit both of our sovereign nations. For example, the Pr…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the six following reports of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union: the report respecting its participation at the annual parliamentary hearing at the United Nations in New York, New York, United States of America, from February 13 to 15, 2023; the report respecting i…
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Mr. Speaker, the International Day of Parliamentarism is celebrated every year on June 30. This year, June 30 also marks the 135th anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the IPU. Having begun as a small group of parliamentarians in 1889, today the IPU is a thriving international organization of 180 national parliaments, open to 46,000 parliamentarians. While Canada first joined the IPU in 1…
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Mr. Speaker, today is McHappy Day, an annual celebration of giving to support Ronald McDonald House Charities. Across Canada, 16 Ronald McDonald houses and 18 Ronald McDonald family rooms give families a place to stay together while their child is being treated at a nearby hospital. I was honoured to announce $9.3 million for the expansion of the Ottawa house, only 167 steps from the Children's Ho…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on its 145th assembly and related meetings in Kigali, Rwanda, from October 11 to 15, 2022.
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Mr. Speaker, the 2332 Major EJG Holland VC Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps was founded on November 25, 1948. It will celebrate its 75th anniversary this month with a ceremonial parade. Eighty cadets strong, and with a dedicated team of officers and civilian volunteers, this unit has volunteered with the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Campaign, the Army Run, Christmas toy drives, the Boots on the Grou…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to mark the 60th anniversary of Sainte‑Geneviève parish in the riding of Ottawa South. The parish dates back to May 28, 1963, when Father Gaston Croteau was appointed as the founding pastor. At the time, the parishioners would gather for Sunday mass in the chapel of Mazenod Seminary on Smyth Road. In late July 1963, the parish purchased a piece of land to…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise today to table a petition on behalf of St. Joseph's Parish here in Ottawa. The petition is regarding the overseas practices of Canada-owned extractive industries. It was circulated across Canada by Development and Peace Caritas Canada, an organization that continues with the important mission of promoting social justice. I am honoured to present t…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation in the parliamentary forum at the United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development held in New York, United States of America, from July 12 to July 1…
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moved that the bill be concurred in.
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Mr. Speaker, I do not like to dance, but I know there will be a lot of dancing. Just this morning, I had the privilege of being with one of our ministers to make an announcement on a very important initiative for my own district and across the city in different schools pursuant to Black History Month, which will help bring together teachers and children who are facing some mental health crises to …
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Mr. Speaker, it is hard for me to comment on the geopolitics of the region now, except to say that we know that the French government is taking the leadership in rebuilding much of Beirut. Canada has been there since the beginning, but I think, as legislators here on Canadian soil, one of our responsibilities is to ensure that the diverse and inclusive communities each of us represent stick togeth…
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Mr. Speaker, where can I begin? How many are there? How can one count the number of contributions? I do recall the coming together of the Lebanese-Canadian community here in Ottawa just recently, after the terrible explosions in Beirut. I remember it coming together, with incredible generosity, to match federal government offerings in funding for support right across, not just the greater Ottawa a…
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moved that the bill be read the third time and passed. Mr. Speaker, good evening to you and to colleagues in the House, and to those who may be watching these proceedings. I am delighted to speak at third reading on my private member's bill, Bill C-232, which would designate every April as Arab heritage month. I would like to thank members from all sides of the House for their support thus far. I …
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to recognize my constituent and a long-time dedicated employee of the House of Commons. Mr. Claude St-Germain, assistant sergeant-at-arms and risk management and investigations officer, is retiring after 35 years of outstanding service. Mr. St-Germain joined the House of Commons security services on September 21, 1987, moving to Ottawa from his hometown of Sudbury. O…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(6), I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding of Ottawa South. The petitioners are calling on the government to enact just transition legislation to address the climate emergency. As an environmental lawyer, I am very pleased to present this petition. I would like to thank my constituent Dr. Sarah Charron for organizing this impo…
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Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, a report of the delegation of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation in the 142nd assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and related meetings, held by video conference from April 13 to May 27, 2021.
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Madam Speaker, good evening to you, colleagues and the viewers who are tuning in to this important debate. After almost 18 years in the House, I know that sometimes there are moments when the House truly comes together. Sometimes there are moments when Parliament can showcase its ability to come together, overcome partisanship and pursue something that I believe all of us here find to be good, fin…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a profoundly important question, and one that is steeped in truth. It is clear that we have seen all kinds of abuse, all kinds of profiling and all kinds of hatred directed at different parts of Canadian society, including our Arab Canadian neighbours and community members. I am hoping that this bill and an Arab heritage month will help elevate understanding, will help celebra…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for a thoughtful and important question. I see my Arab Canadian neighbours and friends. I see the entrepreneurs and the investors. I see Arab Canadians in senior ranks of the public service, in Parliament, in medicine, in law, in engineering, running real estate companies, doing international trade and running airlines. I see Arab Canadians as unbelievable citizen…
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Mr. Speaker, I will use this short answer to commemorate my good friend Arnold Chan, a young man who I actually drafted into public life. He was a very fine and decent man. I would recommend everybody watch the video. It was one of his final speeches and, in fact, a very moving invocation of what we are supposed to be doing here as we come together at our best.
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Mr. Speaker, what I would like to see is shawarma in the House of Commons lobbies so we can all enjoy a tasty meal. The good thing about a month like this is that it will enable Canadian Heritage to plan and financially support celebrations across Canada in small communities and big cities. Arab communities will be able to ask for funding to recognize the contributions of Arab Canadians and help t…
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Madam Speaker, in 2014, I had the distinct privilege of conducting a pre-election assessment for the entire country of Ukraine for the National Democratic Institute in Washington, D.C. I was part of a delegation of five or six members. At that time, it was clear to us that Ukraine was struggling to become the modern democracy that it has since become. Unfortunately, I think a choice was made by th…
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