Parliamentary Speeches

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump's attack on Iran is not only illegal and causing death and destruction but spreading economic chaos around the globe. Canadians are now seeing sky-high gas prices, and the cost of products from fertilizers to food are going to soar, bringing pain to every household. Economists predict that the world will face massive turmoil for years to come. What does the Prime Minister…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, in Davos, the Prime Minister declared that Canada will live the truth by acting consistently, applying the same standards to allies as to rivals. Canada has rightly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine as illegal, yet the Prime Minister is supporting the United States and Israel as they wage an equally illegal war on Iran. This double standard undermines Canada's credibility and ero…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour the remarkable life of Mr. Kuldip Singh Thandi, a constituent who recently passed at the age of 80 after a courageous battle with cancer. A deeply respected leader, Mr. Thandi served the Khalsa Diwan Society gurdwara with unwavering dedication. He held the positions of president and treasurer, leading always with humility, integrity and commitment. …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats' hearts also go out to all of the community in Tumbler Ridge. The Prime Minister told the world in Davos that Canada will be “[p]rincipled in our commitment to...the prohibition of the use of force except when consistent with the UN Charter”. The attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel clearly violates the UN Charter, as the Prime Minister himself has admitted, yet he supp…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, the answer is yes. We do have an obligation to stand by the people of Iran, as we do for all oppressed people of the world. The real question that this debate engages tonight is how to do that. I know my hon. colleague is a lawyer. We cannot justify breaking the law because we think we have a good motive. I imagine Canadian society if we invoked that in our streets. If there was a famil…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, there are moments in global affairs when the decisions of powerful nations echo beyond their borders, when the international order is tested, when rules meant to prevent mass violence are cast aside and when innocent people pay the ultimate price. We are living through such a moment now. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated air strikes against Iran. This was…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for that excellent question. Much is raised by that question, including the proper approach to dealing with what we all agree is a difficult Donald Trump administration. Nevertheless, the Liberal government said it would stand up to the Trump administration, yet all we have seen is concession after concession, and we are getting nothing in return. It raises t…

Government Orders

moved: Motion No. 1 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 126. Motion No. 2 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 127. Motion No. 3 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 128. Motion No. 4 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 129. Motion No. 5 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 130. Motion No. 6 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 131. Motion No. 7 Th…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I am glad my hon. colleague brought up the last election. I do not recall the Liberals telling Canadians in the last election that if they were elected, they would cave to Donald Trump and remove the digital services tax. Frankly, the Liberals told Canadians they would have an elbows-up approach and take a firm stance with Donald Trump. I do not recall the Liberals telling Canadians t…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, no, I do not. The government has a revenue problem. Instead of cutting and slashing services that Canadians need at a time when we are facing crises, and I must respectfully say the Conservatives would slash even more, what we need to do is raise revenue in a fair and progressive manner. That is why we should do things like tax yachts, private jets and U.S. tech giants, and make sure …

Government Orders

moved: Motion No. 48 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 203. Motion No. 49 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 204. Motion No. 50 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 205. Motion No. 51 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 206. Motion No. 52 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 207. Motion No. 53 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 208. Motion No…

Government Orders

moved: Motion No. 78 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 373. Motion No. 79 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 374. Motion No. 80 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 375. Motion No. 81 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 597. Motion No. 82 That Bill C-15 be amended by deleting Clause 598. Mr. Speaker, Canadians are facing multiple overlapping crises, from diffi…

Mr. Speaker, we solemnly gather today in the shadow of a heartbreaking tragedy that has shaken our country. Our nation is in mourning. Yesterday in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, nine innocent lives were senselessly taken and 25 people were injured in a horrific mass shooting. This violence unfolded at a school, a place meant to nurture and protect our children, deepening the shock and sorrow fe…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister recently urged the global community to stand up to superpower intimidation and called on middle powers to stand together to resist it. The United States has imposed an illegal blockade on Cuba for decades, crippling its economy and causing mass suffering to the Cuban people. Now Donald Trump is cutting off fuel, risking a humanitarian disaster. Will the Prime Minist…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, Canada is facing an unprecedented threat to our sovereignty from Donald Trump and his administration. This is the most serious external danger for our country in decades, but we also face challenges to Canada's unity from within. Actions and words that sow division, spread hatred and foment violence are scourges that undermine and damage society. This week we marked International Holo…

Routine Proceedings

Madam Speaker, I rise today to request an emergency debate on the recent deeply concerning actions and statements by the Trump administration that have grave implications for the sovereignty and security of Canada. On January 3, President Trump ordered American forces to disregard international law and core principles of national sovereignty by attacking Venezuela, a UN member state. This aggressi…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats agree to apply the results of the last vote to the current vote, with New Democrats voting yes.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats agree to apply the results of the last vote to the current vote, with New Democrats voting no.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats agree to apply the results of the last vote to the current vote, with New Democrats voting nay.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the New Democratic caucus and my colleagues, I would also like to extend our best wishes this holiday season to all of the members of the House and all of the staff on the Hill. I cannot do better than my colleague from the Bloc, who, I think, enumerated all of the very many people who, every day, not only make this place work but provide such a foundational support for C…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats will apply the results of the last vote, again voting no.

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I was in the House when the Prime Minister said that this pipeline would require the consent of the Government of British Columbia, as well as first nations. I then, of course, read the MOU, and it says no such thing. I think the energy minister went to British Columbia and then said that it would require free, prior and informed consent of indigenous nations. What is the position of …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the former Liberal environment minister says this government approved a bitumen pipeline that abandons Canada's climate goals and risks B.C.'s coast. In the House, the Prime Minister said that British Columbia and impacted first nations must agree to this project. In B.C., the energy minister claimed that free, prior and informed consent would be required, but the MOU signed between O…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is telling Canadians to sacrifice during the jobs crisis. Liberals have no money to sign pharmacare agreements or meet their housing promises, but today we find out they gave $400 million to Algoma Steel when they knew it was cutting 1,000 jobs. They gave $100 million more than they admitted to Stellantis, which cut 3,000 jobs. Why did the Liberals give half a b…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, that is an excellent question. There are probably a number of factors that go into that. I think the fundamental flaw was a decision made in the late 1980s, where it was decided that we would more closely integrate the Canadian economy into the United States' economy. At that time, again, as I said, New Democrats felt that this was the wrong course of action. Although, obviously, our lo…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, Canada's auto industry has long been a proud cornerstone of our economy. It contributes over $16 billion to our GDP annually and supports more than 600,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide, but today, that foundation is cracking. For decades, Canada's auto sector has relied on a highly integrated North American supply chain dependent on just-in-time delivery and seamless cross-border…

Government Orders

Well, Mr. Chair, it is said that when one is in a hole, the first thing one should do is stop digging. We did not just wake up today with this kind of vulnerability in the auto sector. This is the result of policy failures by successive Liberal and Conservative governments over several decades. I was talking to a colleague earlier, from the Conservative Party, who told me that he remembers when th…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, I very much respect my hon. colleague's perspective and experience, but I am afraid that I would have to respectfully disagree with him on a couple of points. One is that I do think the future of the auto sector is one that is going to pivot away from the internal combustion engine. I think that the most far-sighted, intelligent economies of the world will be making those investments no…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, we are not the government. The real question should be reversed. How does the government plan to respond to U.S. tariffs? I will tell members one thing. What the Liberals should do is honour the promises they made Canadians during the election campaign, which was that they would stand up to Donald Trump, elbows up, that they would have a robust position where they would match American t…

Government Orders

Mr. Chair, what I would just mention is this. One thing I have heard in this House for years is that the federal government is going to take the lead on building a nationwide system of EV charging stations. It is true that we have to build the infrastructure to support the transition to those vehicles. The Liberals have never done that, and that is a serious problem. We need a serious government t…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in congratulating and honouring the member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel—Alnôbak. I was first elected in 2008, and even then, the hon. member was already the dean of the House, overseeing the election of the Speaker at the opening of Parliament. Surprisingly, he played the same role just a few months ago, when I myself became dean of the NDP caucus. He was …

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, before he was elected, the Prime Minister claimed to care about the climate crisis and protecting our lands and waters. B.C. Liberal MPs all said they supported the tanker ban in northern B.C. Now we see them stealing pages from the Conservative playbook. Without consulting the Premier of British Columbia or first nations, Liberals are reversing 50 years of protection for sensitive co…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, New Democrats have the best record for balancing budgets per year of government of any party in the House, from 1867 to today. We agree that crushing levels of debt and massive deficits are not healthy. That is why I call this budget a Conservative budget. The Liberals cut revenue and have responded by cutting taxes. They cut the capital gains inclusion measure. They cut the digital s…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, that question really asks whether this budget addresses the very serious issues facing seniors in this country. I would like to focus on pharmacare because we believe that every person in this country should be able to get the medication they need when they need it. Who are the heaviest users of pharmaceuticals in this country? It is seniors. I am shocked this budget does not allocate…

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I agree very much with my colleague that treatment is the answer for people suffering from substance abuse disorder. I think that, for a long time, the population has realized this is a health issue and not a criminal issue. If it is a health issue, we need to create the health care architecture so that everybody can get access to just-in-time treatment, because we all know that when …

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-15, the budget 2025 implementation act, no. 1. Bill C-15 is a massive omnibus bill. It is over 600 pages long and packed with legislative changes that touch nearly every corner of government, from departments and agencies to Crown corporations. Ironically, when they were in opposition, the Liberals strenuously condemned Stephen Harper for using omnibus …

Government Orders

Mr. Speaker, it is true that all budgets have things in them that are worthy of support and other things that we do not like. In a 600-page document, this is going to be the case. This gives me a chance to underscore a practice that has developed in Parliament: implementing omnibus bills, wherein all sorts of things that have nothing to do with a budget are tossed into the budget. Again, that is s…

Statements by Members

Mr. Speaker, Canadians sent us here to tackle the pressing issues they are facing and improve their lives. They want us to strengthen Canada and create a brighter future for our children. New Democrats are inspired by Jack Layton, who urged us to make Parliament work and to deliver results for people. That is because we believe Canadians deserve a future where everyone can thrive, not just the pri…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, it has been said, “Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." The Liberal budget chose to slash public services and cut frontline jobs, but it eliminated a tax on luxury yachts and private jets. To cover this blatant gift to the rich, the finance minister claimed that the tax cost more to administer than it raised, but that is not true; the l…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, last year Parliament passed legislation to deliver diabetes medication and contraception medication to every Canadian through our public health care system. This is vital to millions of people's health and the foundation of universal pharmacare. In budget 2025, Liberals promised Canadians they would protect pharmacare, but they did not allocate any money to it. Will the Prime Minister…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, it is increasingly clear that the government's budget fails to deliver the transformational change promised and fails to meet the moment. It fails to provide any relief right now to the millions of Canadians suffering through an affordability crisis. Sixty per cent are having trouble meeting their monthly expenses. Half are using credit cards or borrowing money for daily needs, paying…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister says he wants to make generational investments in nation-building projects. New Democrats agree. We also know that a healthy economy is a healthy workforce. The NDP pioneered dental care and pharmacare because they deliver essential primary health care to Canadians. We believe every Canadian should have head-to-toe health care regardless of their ability to pay. Wil…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are suffering one of the worst affordability crises in generations. Sixty per cent of them are having trouble meeting their monthly expenses; half are using credit cards or borrowing money for daily needs, paying interest rates of 19% or more; and food bank usage has doubled since 2019. People should not have to struggle like this in a country as wealthy as Canada. What step…

Routine Proceedings

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-250, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (flight attendants). Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce the flight attendants' remunerations act. I thank the hon. member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie for seconding this bill and for his tireless advocacy for workers' rights. The legislation addresses a long-standing injustice in Canada's airline industry: the wid…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country are suffering from punishing high costs of daily essentials, such as food, housing and utilities. Grocery prices are sky-high, and rent is completely unaffordable, yet today's inflation numbers show the problem is getting worse, with food up 4%; rent is up 4.8% and 9.6% in Quebec. Under the Liberals, life keeps getting harder for workers and their families…

Routine Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to request an emergency debate on Stellantis' plan to shift production from its plant in Brampton, Ontario, to Illinois and what this means for Canadian workers, communities and our very economic independence. This follows the announcement of General Motors that it intends to lay off 2,000 workers at its Oshawa plant in January. In Brampton, 3,000 workers are affecte…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, September's job numbers are out, and it is more bad news. Unemployment remains at a 10-year high, and the situation is getting worse for young people, who face the highest unemployment rate since 2010. One in six youth is out of work, with many more underemployed and unable to gain experience in their chosen careers. This is not only unfair to them, but it is damaging our economy as t…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, higher unemployment for young people is not good news. Yesterday, I met with the elbows up for climate coalition, a national group of mayors calling for federal investments to prevent and mitigate the ravages of climate change. They explained the real cost of failing to do so, from catastrophic destruction in such places as Jasper to the high cost of food because of crop failure and d…

Adjournment Proceedings

Mr. Speaker, young Canadians do not need summer jobs; they need permanent jobs. The overlapping crises that Canadians currently face are not isolated problems; they are symptoms of an approach that is failing working people. Now the Liberal government is threatening to make things worse with an austerity budget. That means cuts to the public services people rely on, fewer good jobs and less suppor…

Oral Questions

Mr. Speaker, we all know that Donald Trump is erratic and very difficult to deal with. However, the Prime Minister's growing list of concessions and appeasements is clearly not working. The latest sees him offering up the Keystone pipeline to the Americans and getting nothing in return. This is an uneconomic, environmentally damaging project that directly contradicts his pledge to reduce integrati…