Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, as we move closer to the House's rising for the summer, I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of the riding of Peterborough for their continued trust and engagement. Canada's democracy is one of our nation's greatest strengths. It is the foundation of our freedoms, our rights and our ability to shape a better future together. At a time when democracies around the world face growing challenges, we must remain united in protecting and strengthening the country that generations of Canadians have protected and built. In the House, we bear both the responsibility and the privilege entrusted to us by the people we represent, to preserve this legacy and ensure its strength and vitality for generations to come. I am forever grateful for the honour to serve.

Mr. Speaker, many Canadians are facing a housing affordability crisis, with too many people unable to find a home they can afford. Our government was elected with a clear mandate to build more homes and increase housing supply. Yesterday, the House passed Bill C-20, transforming Build Canada Homes into a Crown corporation focused on accelerating affordable housing construction. Will the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure explain how this legislation will help make housing more affordable and accessible for Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from South Shore—St. Margarets. I am grateful to rise today on behalf of my constituents in the riding of Peterborough to speak to Bill C-16, the protecting victims act, and to contextualize the legislation within Canada's broader effort to confront and prevent gender-based violence. Gender-based violence is a persistent and measurable reality affecting women, girls and gender-diverse people across this country. In 2024, 187 women and gender-diverse people were killed violently in Canada. That represents one woman every two days. Women are far more likely than men to experience severe forms of intimate partner violence, sexual violence and criminal harassment. More than one-quarter of all victims of violent crime in 2024 were victimized by an intimate partner. These are not isolated incidents, and our justice system has struggled to effectively address these crimes, given the complex realities of gender-based violence and the patterns of behaviour that often define abuse. The rate of intimate partner violence, one of the most prevalent forms of gender-based violence experienced by women and girls, is more than three and a half times higher compared to men and boys. Indigenous women, women with disabilities and young women face even higher risks. The Government of Canada has recognized that addressing gender-based violence requires a comprehensive and coordinated response. In 2017, the federal government released a federal gender-based violence strategy and has since invested over $800 million a year to coordinate federal actions under three pillars: preventing gender-based violence, supporting survivors and their families and promoting a responsive justice system. Since 2022, the federal government has invested in a national action plan to end gender-based violence, a 10-year framework aiming to end gender-based violence in Canada by supporting victims and survivors of crime and their families and improving their experiences with the criminal justice system. Significant efforts have been undertaken in this area. For example, the federal victims strategy works to give victims a more effective voice in the criminal justice system and increase their access to justice. Through the victims fund, which is part of the federal victims strategy, resources are made available to the provinces and territories for the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, including for the development of public legal education and information material, and the provision of training on the legislation for criminal justice professionals. Considerable efforts have also been made to strengthen the criminal justice system's response to gender-based violence. Canada's Criminal Code provides a broad-based response to all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse against all persons in Canada. Over the past years, legislative amendments in former Bill C-51 and Bill C-75 clarified and strengthened sexual assault laws and the criminal justice system's response to intimate partner violence, and former Bill C-233 imposed stricter conditions for those charged with an offence involving intimate partner violence. In addition, former Bill S-205, which came into force last April, created a new peace bond designed specifically to provide better protections for victims of intimate partner violence and their children, including by allowing conditions such as electronic monitoring to be imposed on the defendant. All of these efforts reflect an understanding that prevention, protection, accountability and survivor support must work together. Today, Bill C-16 is a critical part of that continuum. It strengthens the criminal law in ways that respond directly to what survivors, advocates and frontline professionals have long told us about how gender-based violence actually occurs. Bill C-16 creates a new offence criminalizing a pattern of coercive or controlling conduct in intimate partner relationships. This addresses the reality that abuse takes place over time. It aligns the law with the lived reality of survivors and allows for earlier intervention, before coercive or controlling conduct turns into serious physical harm or death. It also supports more accurate police and prosecutorial responses by requiring a contextualized assessment of power and exploitation. Bill C-16 also addresses the most extreme manifestation of gender-based violence: the killing of women because they are women. By explicitly naming and recognizing femicide in the Criminal Code, the bill acknowledges that women and girls are disproportionately killed in specific contexts, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, exploitation and hate-motivated attacks. Naming femicide matters. It makes visible a reality that has too often been obscured and affirms that these killings are not random tragedies but systemic failures that demand accountability. The bill would ensure that murders occurring in these circumstances are treated as first-degree murder. It would also require judges, when sentencing for manslaughter in the same context, to consider penalties equivalent to second-degree murder, including life imprisonment and parole ineligibility for 10 to 25 years. Importantly, Bill C-16 also recognizes that gender-based violence increasingly occurs through technology. The rise of sexually explicit deepfakes, sextortion and online harassment has created new avenues for abuse, particularly targeting women and girls. These forms of violence can destroy reputations, livelihoods and mental health, and they often silence victims through shame and fear. The bill would address these gaps by clarifying that non-consensual distribution of intimate images includes realistic deepfakes, as well as criminalizing threats to distribute such material and increasing penalties for those offences. These measures would complement existing Government of Canada initiatives aimed at addressing online harms and protecting digital safety, particularly for young people. The bill would also modernize the offence of criminal harassment. Data shows that stalking and harassment are common before acts of serious violence, yet the current requirement to prove a victim's subjective fear has made early intervention difficult. Further, Bill C-16 proposes reforms to the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights to better protect victims and expand access to testimonial aids for adult victims of intimate partner violence, sexual offences and criminal harassment, offences that disproportionately affect women and girls. These measures would improve justice system outcomes for victims by recognizing that court systems can be retraumatizing and that supporting meaningful participation is essential to justice. The bill would also build on recent reforms to peace bonds and firearms control, reflecting clear evidence that access to firearms significantly increases the risk of lethal intimate partner violence. By strengthening preventive tools and closing enforcement gaps, Bill C-16 would support the Government of Canada's broader commitment to keeping victims and communities safe. Bill C-16 is a necessary step in Canada's ongoing commitment to confront gender-based violence with seriousness, clarity and resolve. It reflects the hard truth that violence is rarely a single act but often a pattern, that technology has created new tools for abuse, and that too many women and girls continue to lose their lives in preventable circumstances. By criminalizing coercive control, recognizing femicide, strengthening protections against online and intimate partner violence, and reducing barriers for victims and survivors of crime within the criminal justice system, the bill would align our laws with lived reality and evidence. For these reasons, I urge all members to support Bill C-16. Addressing gender-based violence is not optional, protecting victims is non-negotiable and justice must be delivered before more lives are lost.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is really important when we are talking about these bills to be very careful with the words we are using and what we are spreading online. This bill would reinstate 15 mandatory minimum sentences. It is really important too that the judges who are appointed to proceed over these crimes have the discretion. They are chosen for a reason; they are chosen because they are smart and they care. I think it is really important for the opposition to understand that the misinformation that you are spreading is not helpful to victims anywhere across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague did a beautiful job of painting the picture of what is really going on here. I would like to take a moment to speak as a survivor of domestic violence and how critically important this legislation is. It is hard to truly put into words how challenging it is to navigate a justice system after having been a victim of crime. This bill would address that. It would address coercive control, which is incredibly important. It is very hard to understand what it is like for victims of intimate partner violence and what they go through for years on end. This bill would address that. I would like for the Conservatives to understand, get out of the way, as they like to say, support this bill for victims and show survivors that we are listening.

Mr. Speaker, I think we can both agree that this bill addresses the issues that have been brought forward and does so in a really thoughtful way, in consultation with survivors and groups that work with survivors and victims. Although I agree with the member that this is long overdue, we are here now. We have an opportunity, but the Conservatives are standing in the way of making sure this bill passes. We can prevent deaths and crime.

Madam Speaker, when the Canadian economy faces headwinds, Conservatives are quick to highlight the negatives, but when Canadian workers succeed and this side of the House brings good news, their silence is deafening. The reality is that our plan to build a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy is creating more well-paying careers and opportunities for Canadians. Supporting workers and growing the economy should not be a partisan issue. It should be something we can all celebrate. Can the Minister of Jobs and Families update the House on what today's job numbers mean for Canadian workers and families?

Mr. Speaker, as spring turns to summer, communities across the Peterborough riding come alive. From beloved events like Peterborough Musicfest, the Peterborough Folk Festival, the Lakefield Jazz, Art and Craft Festival and the Ennismore Shamrock Festival to Canada Day celebrations, there are countless opportunities to come together and celebrate what makes our region a very special place to live. First Fridays, sidewalk sales and farmers' markets in Peterborough, Lakefield, Havelock and Norwood offer local vendors, fresh food and familiar, friendly faces that make each visit memorable and provide great ways to support local businesses and connect with neighbours. Summer also brings many meaningful milestones, from graduations and celebrations to moments of reflection and remembrance. It is a season to gather and to enjoy the vibrant communities we call home. I am looking forward to another wonderful summer across the Peterborough riding and wish everyone a safe, happy and memorable summer.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, the Prime Minister announced new measures to put money back in the pockets of Canadians, including the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which I know will mean a great deal to my constituents in Peterborough and Canadians across the country. The announcement also included new measures to improve our domestic production and enhance food security in Canada. As a farmer, I cannot stress enough just how important this is. Now more than ever, Canadians want food made and produced right here in Canada. Can the Minister of Agriculture please explain what Monday’s announcement will mean for our producers and for food security in Canada?

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a mother, but also as a survivor of domestic violence, to clearly state how important this legislation is and point out how intricate and challenging it is to create such important legislation. I know first-hand what it is like to navigate the criminal justice system as a single mother, with the fear that one lives with every day from one's experience. I am rising today to implore our colleagues across the aisle to support the tireless work of the minister, the status of women committee and the women's caucus in their consultation with survivors, who know first-hand exactly what is needed to protect the generations to come, and the people who are willing to rise, to stand in their fear, as they want to protect those who may come after them.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians elected us to build, protect and empower. In the north, that means reliable partnerships and results people can trust. We have listened at kitchen tables across the north, and budget 2025 reflects those voices. Could the minister share how this budget delivers with indigenous partners so communities see results where they live, and how this approach make the north a driver of Canada's prosperity and a pillar of our sovereignty?

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Canadian women's rugby team on its inspiring performance at the Rugby World Cup. The team is bringing home not only a silver medal but also the distinct honour of uniting Canadians and the House. Last week, I talked to Danielle, the mom of number 22 Olivia Apps, about the struggles that athletes face in their pursuit to compete at the highest level. The challenging road that female athletes climb is familiar to me. In 2003, I had the privilege of playing for Canada at the world cup of lacrosse, a path that was created by the female athletes who came before me. Now, in 2025, the Canadian women's rugby team has undoubtedly paved the way for future generations of female athletes. Today, I rise to not only congratulate the team's players but also to thank them. I thank them not only as a woman and a female athlete but also as the mother of a one-year-old daughter who will grow up watching the strength of female athletes on the world stage at sold-out stadiums. My hope is that her generation will see this as the way things have always been, but we will know. I thank team Canada for inspiring us and propelling the future of women's sports forward.

Mr. Speaker, residents of my riding have contacted me and my team to express their frustrations with the delays they have experienced when contacting the CRA. We know that the dedicated employees of the CRA provide invaluable services to Canadians, but the reality is clear that demand has increased significantly in recent years and the system needs to be improved. Could the Secretary of State for Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions inform the House of the measures taken by the government to improve services delivery at the CRA?

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Trois-Rivières. This is a great opportunity to introduce myself. I have heard a lot about the old government. I am new here. Members will have a great opportunity to meet me later. I believe my colleague next to me is the new member for Carleton, a Liberal who won the riding after 20 years. The Government of Canada accepts the findings of the latest Auditor General of Canada's report related to the procurement of professional services. We take this report, and all subsequent recommendations, seriously and remain fully committed to fairness, openness and transparency in federal procurement practices. Simply put, we are committed to protecting the integrity of procurement. While that commitment remains, our new government will do things differently. Elected with a mandate to deliver change, we will take a new approach to governing, one that includes a laser focus on fiscal discipline. We are well aware of the past issues around the procurement of professional services, in particular, those that were uncovered through previous audits and investigations. Again, in this most recent report. The Auditor General has been clear that the right procurement rules are in place, but federal organizations have not consistently followed procurement policies when awarding and managing contracts. This, we wholeheartedly agree, is unacceptable. While the Auditor General did not make any new recommendations for the government, the report reinforces the previously identified issues in procurement practices, underlining the importance of clearly understanding and correctly applying existing policies. I can say that the government has already acted on past recommendations and continues to take strong steps in improving oversight and the management of federal procurement. Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat are working closely with government departments and agencies to address the gaps identified in previous audits. This includes improving data collection, increasing transparency in procurement decisions, clarifying roles and responsibilities and strengthening oversight and accountability in procurement activities. We are making these changes to strengthen the federal procurement process, improve the way the government does business with suppliers and achieve the best value for Canadian taxpayers. The findings of this report are very much in line with previous reports from the Auditor General relating to similar matters. Previous reports provided the government with important recommendations to improve the oversight and integrity of federal procurement, particularly in professional services. We are taking these lessons, and I assure everyone that we are working hard to apply them. Over the past year, PSPC has taken concrete actions to strengthen oversight on all professional services contracts falling under its authority. In collaboration with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, the department has acted swiftly to implement several measures, including improving evaluation requirements to ensure resources are appropriately qualified for the job, requiring suppliers to be more transparent about the prices and subcontractors they use, improving our own documentation when awarding contracts and authorizing tasks, and better specifying and documenting what needs to be done, as well as which projects and tasks contractors are working on. By streamlining and simplifying our mandatory procurement mechanisms, we are transforming and modernizing how the government procures professional services. This includes reducing risk in our buying processes, improving how we manage contracts and doing more to promote solution-based procurement approaches that would ensure we are always getting the best value for Canadians. The Auditor General had no additional recommendations for the government regarding this file, but asked that we continue to implement the measures we have introduced to respond to previous recommendations. We will ensure that happens. We will actively engage with client departments and agencies to ensure these new measures are implemented quickly and efficiently. We are also taking strong action to ensure that we do not do business with suppliers of concern. Earlier this month, the office of supplier integrity and compliance deemed GC Strategies as ineligible from entering into contracts or real property agreements with the Government of Canada for seven years. PSPC had previously suspended the security status of GC Strategies in March 2024, which precluded it from participating in federal procurements with security requirements. PSPC had also suspended GC Strategies from all professional services, contracts and contract vehicles administered by the department. When it comes to recovering funds in cases where we identified fraudulent behaviour or overbilling, I can assure the House, as my colleague has mentioned, that we are pursuing GC Strategies in court. As I noted earlier, we remain committed to protecting the integrity of procurement and to expecting public servants and departments to operate with the highest standards of integrity when procuring professional services to support their program delivery. Our government will continue to strengthen procurement practices when needed. We know that our work is not finished and that there will be more to be done. We take to heart the Auditor General's advisement to continue applying recommendations made in previous audits. That is exactly what we are doing. Again, I want to thank the Auditor General and her team for undertaking this review and for their findings and previous recommendations. This report affirms that we have the right policies and rules in place, but they need to be well understood and applied properly. We are thankful for the Auditor General's work, which will help us as we continue to review our processes and find ways to strengthen the integrity of government procurement. I wanted to note something very important. There were numerous reports, as well as scrutiny, on this matter in the last Parliament, but bad actors are being held to account. It is now time for the Conservatives to stop playing games and get down to the business of governing. Canadians elected our new government to move forward on a bold agenda, such as tackling crime, securing the border and making life more affordable. Let us put the games behind us to focus on what Canadians sent us here to do.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada has accepted all of the recommendations previously made by the Auditor General. In her most recent report, she made no new recommendations but urged the government to continue to implement previous recommendations, which has happened. These measures are meant to strengthen the integrity of the procurement system, including improving data collection, increasing transparency in procurement decisions, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and strengthening oversight and accountability in procurement activities.

Mr. Speaker, Public Services and Procurement Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat are working closely with government departments and agencies to address the gaps identified in previous audits. This includes improving data collection, increasing transparency in procurement decisions, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and strengthening oversight and accountability in procurement activities, just to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saint-Laurent. I have the tremendous honour of standing here today because of the unwavering support and trust that has been bestowed upon me by the people who are the heart of the riding of Peterborough. From the first nations communities of Hiawatha and Curve Lake to true small-town Canada in Lakefield, Ennismore, Norwood, Havelock, Bridgenorth and Keene, just to name a few, which are home to a vibrant and growing farming community, and to the bustling city centre of Peterborough, which is home to an incredible art scene and world-class education at Trent University and Sir Sandford Fleming College, the people who call the riding of Peterborough home know how fortunate we are to live, work and play in such a beautiful place. It was no surprise that no amount of rain, snow or even an ice storm that knocked the power out for over a week and created a state of emergency was able to derail the monumental efforts made by our campaign team and hundreds of volunteers, who all joined our campaign very quickly and with great determination because of the unity and positivity we displayed. The stories people so generously shared with me, and continue to share, will be with me and guide me to do what is best for my community and to be their voice. A “thanks” will never be enough to truly show the people of Peterborough how much their support means to me. I was raised on my family's farm in the rural part of my riding. What a gift it was to be raised on a farm in rural Ontario, learning often and very young the lessons of caring for others before ourselves and staying the course even when all odds seem stacked up against us, as well as that there is no substitute for hard work and dedication. I know that when our communities rally together, there is not anything we cannot accomplish. Rural Ontario is still the place I call home. I am proud to be able to call myself a third-generation farmer. My husband serves our community as a paramedic; together we are raising our three children while rebuilding my family's farm. Our youngest, my daughter, was born just nine months ago. From the outside looking in, it may not be the ideal time for my family for me to be here. However, my husband and I agreed that I could not sit idly by at a time when the call from our community and country was so loud to find people who know the incredible potential Canada has and to elect those who are ready to move Canada forward for all Canadians. People are called for who will not only listen but act and will work tirelessly to make sure all Canadians know that they are supported. I can assure members that I did not think I would ever be standing here, but the privilege and responsibility are not lost on me for a moment. Today, I have chosen to share with the House a bit about my father. My father passed in 2010 of pancreatic cancer. He was a farmer and a skilled tradesman. He was very proudly a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers. He was a cutting-equipment mechanic who spent much of his life travelling northern Ontario and many parts of Canada. Even now, I can still feel what the atmosphere of the farm felt like when he received a call to head north or out west. Another telltale sign was his signature one grape-tipped Colts cigar, which he seemed to reserve for the excitement of his next adventure. He loved the work of being a highly sought-after mechanic, seemingly able to fix everything. There was no machine too big or too small. He would always return home to the farm and would love to share stories of his time away. I speak about this today because I have witnessed the pride that comes with working in the skilled trades. The skilled trades create opportunities for well-paying, meaningful work that supports Canadian families. My father had the opportunity to be part of projects of national significance that gave him and my family a physical, lasting legacy in the landscape of Canada now that he is gone. I know that skilled trades have been overlooked and underappreciated for too long. However, I stand here today knowing that our new government knows that when Canadians come together, Canada builds things that last. We will build hundreds of thousands of careers in the skilled trades. Skilled-trades workers will continue to be at the forefront of tackling the housing crisis. They will build projects of national importance and proudly play an instrumental role as we build the strongest economy in the G7. We must take these opportunities to build and protect the future for our children, to make sure families have what they need to help shoulder the growing issues of affordability. As we continue to build our economy, our government will protect the programs that are helping families, such as child care, pharmacare and the expansion of the Canadian dental care plan, which are saving families thousands of dollars every year. Our middle-class tax cut would be a welcome addition in helping Canadians who are struggling to get ahead. Residents in my home of Peterborough were ready to have a member of Parliament who would listen to them and be their voice in Ottawa. They understood that we must seize the opportunity for renewal that we have as a country. They know, as we do, that we have an opportunity to think big and to act bigger. I look forward to collaborating with all members of the House to move Canada forward into the strong and prosperous potential it has always had. I believe that across our beautiful country, the people who elect us to be here are expecting the same from all of us. I am thankful to my husband and family for supporting me so that I can be here, helping build a future all Canadians deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to hear about the member's grandfather. Cancer is a terrible, terrible disease that affects Canadians all across our country and around the world. I really empathize with anyone who has been through dealing with such a terrible disease. I am thankful for the member's words. Our new government is committed to helping with the affordability crisis, and it is a great start. We hope the member will support, moving forward, that we need a middle-class tax cut for Canadians and that every little bit does help at this point. We absolutely need to do more. I do not disagree with the member, but I think it is a fabulous start.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful to my lovely new friend and colleague from Don Valley North. The skilled trades are vital to any country and to building anything that is meant to last and is meant to support our economy and the people who live in our country. It is also a meaningful job. My brother is a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, and that was his goal for his life, watching my father also be in that union. It is meaningful work that pays really well and does support families. As we put forth our commitments to build projects of national significance, we will need to continue to build our workforce, especially in the skilled trades, because we do not have nearly enough of those workers.