Emmanuella Lambropoulos

Mr. Speaker, on March 25, 1821, the Greek War of Independence began with an insurrection led by such revolutionaries as the heroic Theodoros Kolokotronis, Laskarina Bouboulina and Rigas Feraios, who wrote that it is finer to live one hour as a free man than 40 years as a slave and prisoner. Today, Greeks around the world celebrate Greek Independence Day to honour the women and men who fought with courage, pride and determination for the freedom of their people, for future generations of Greeks and for the liberation of Greece. As modern-day Greeks and people of Greek origin, we owe our freedom to these heroes and remember them year after year by holding various events in their honour. This year is particularly special for Montreal's Greek community as it marks the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal's 120th anniversary. I look forward to seeing everyone at the various celebratory events, including this Sunday's Greek Independence Day parade. [Member spoke in Greek]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be in the House today, during my maternity leave, to mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. I stand here holding my daughter, Matina, in my arms. As I look at her, I think about the future I want for her. I am talking about a future where every woman and every girl can love, can dream and can walk alone freely without fear, a future where existence itself is never a risk. On the status of women committee, we heard about the changes needed to the justice system. We heard from countless witnesses about the urgent need for prevention, awareness and better support for women. We must strengthen protection for victims and survivors and ensure that there are real consequences for abusers and for perpetrators of violence. I will continue to prioritize these issues, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in government to make our country safer for women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, last Saturday, I had an opportunity to participate in the Peace Road in Beaudet Park in my riding. It is an event organized by the Universal Peace Federation as well as other organizations in Saint‑Laurent to celebrate the International Day of Peace. This event reminds us that peace starts here, at home. International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21 each year, also reminds us of the millions affected by conflicts and wars worldwide and that we cannot let values like empathy, compassion and co-operation falter at home or abroad. These are the values that make us Canadian. They are the reason we chose Canada to be our home. In a context where incidents of hate and violence seem to be growing in Canada, we have a duty to build inclusive communities where we all feel respected and safe. This is how we can build Canada strong. Let us reaffirm our shared responsibility as Canadians and as global citizens, to uphold peace every single day.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a profound sense of duty that I rise today on behalf of the riding of Saint-Laurent to express my support for the Speech from the Throne. Let me take a moment to sincerely thank the voters who gave me the honour of representing them in the House of Commons for a fourth term. It is a great honour to once again serve the community that watched me grow up and that I have always been happy to call home. I want to take a moment to thank my team and the many volunteers, whose determination and long hours contributed to this success. I also want to thank my family for their unwavering support through it all. They truly make it possible for me to continue this important work. The 45th Parliament begins at a pivotal moment for our country. The world around us is changing rapidly, and the values that define us as Canadians are more important than ever. At a time when the principles of democracy and pluralism are being tested around the world, Canada stands firm, strong and free, united in our resolve to protect our sovereignty and defend the rights of our people. In his address to Parliament, His Majesty King Charles III reminded us that Canada is uniquely positioned to lead, as we have the resources and expertise the world needs and the values the world respects. Our government stands ready to meet this challenge. We are taking bold steps to create one strong Canadian economy, not 13, by removing interprovincial trade barriers, barriers to trade and mobility, a process already under way that can help us add $200 billion to our annual GDP. By doing so, we are not only strengthening our internal market but also boosting Canada's role on the global stage. To build on this progress, our government is investing $5 billion through the new trade diversification corridor fund to modernize and expand the infrastructure that connects Canadian businesses to the world. This will help Canada produce Canadian products and reach markets faster, while helping us build stronger relationships with like-minded nations and create high-quality jobs right here at home. With our plan, Canada has the potential to emerge stronger than ever before. While it is important to build a strong and resilient economy, Canadians also need to feel safe in their communities. To successfully build a safer Canada, we will strengthen border security by giving law enforcement and intelligence agencies the necessary tools to halt the flow of fentanyl and its precursors and prevent illegal weapons and drugs from coming into our neighbourhoods. This will be reinforced through the deployment of drones, helicopters, additional CBSA personnel and canine teams. Additionally, we will change firearms licensing and strengthen enforcement of yellow- and red-flag laws. One thing I am particularly pleased about is that those people convicted of intimate partner violence and those subject to protection orders will have their weapons licence removed. Furthermore, in the throne speech, we commit to toughening the Criminal Code to make it harder for repeat offenders charged with committing crimes such as car theft, home invasions, drug smuggling and human trafficking to get bail. International partnerships also strengthen Canada's security. That is exactly why we are joining ReArm Europe and working closely with allies who share our values to build resilient global alliances. What is more, we will rebuild, rearm and reinvest in our Canadian Armed Forces to protect our sovereignty, while strengthening our presence in the north at a time when this region is facing new threats. Through these efforts, Canada will work proactively and continue to be a beacon of stability on the world stage. Canada now stands at a unique crossroads, with a real opportunity to shape the future of the western world within the G7. Guided by values that resonate far beyond our borders, we are moving forward with confidence, ready to act with ambition, clarity and conviction. Our global leadership goes hand in hand with a strong focus on building a better future for Canadians here at home. One of the major concerns of Canadians in my home riding of Saint-Laurent, which was raised at dozens of doorsteps throughout the election campaign, is the issue of housing affordability. To help make life more affordable, our government is eliminating municipal development charges on multi-unit projects and cutting the GST on homes under $1 million, bringing down costs and accelerating construction. We are also doubling the pace of homebuilding across the country through the “build Canada homes” program and strategic investments in modular and prefabricated housing. By leveraging Canadian technology, Canadian lumber and the skills of Canadian workers, we are creating good-paying jobs and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth. We are determined to keep our commitment to supporting Canadian families in their daily lives. As such, we will continue our efforts to build affordable housing and create good jobs. We are reducing the tax burden by lowering taxes for the middle class and saving two-income families up to $840 a year, while continuing to offer essential programs, such as child care, pharmacare and dental care. Eight million Canadians are benefiting from the Canadian dental care plan, which helps families save thousands of dollars a year. This plan will make dental care more affordable and improve access to essential care for many families and seniors in Saint-Laurent. I would not want to end my speech without referencing our government's commitment to environmental protection, as nature is an important part of Canada's identity. At COP15, held in Montreal, we struck an agreement with 196 countries to protect 30% of our lands and 30% of our waters by 2030. Through the throne speech, we have committed to protecting more of Canada's land and water than ever through the creation of new national parks, national urban parks, marine protected areas and other conservation initiatives. Canada has what it takes to be a leader. In this period of global uncertainty, we are firmly on the right track. By choosing to invest in our people, safeguarding our communities and deepening partnerships abroad, we are ensuring that Canada not only meets today's challenges but also emerges stronger as an innovator for tomorrow. Let us move forward together, united in purpose and dedicated to building a brighter future for all Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, we obviously have new leadership here at the Liberal Party, and we have a renewed focus. We are planning on making communities safer, and there are a slew of measures that will be introduced. One of them, as I mentioned in my speech, is that we will make bail harder to get for people who are accused of crimes and found guilty, including reoffenders of car theft and home invasion, etc. Of course, I believe that our government will find the best way forward in order to make sure we are tackling the issue.

Mr. Speaker, Quebec members are very strong voices for their communities. We are here for the well-being of Quebeckers, and we are doing what we can within our government to improve the well-being of Quebeckers. Our government is working with all the provinces and territories to find how best to make life better and more affordable for all Canadians across the country.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians in my riding were quite hopeful throughout the campaign. They saw a renewed hope within our country, and they saw a lot of opportunity for improvement as well. While there were many challenges over the last few months, and new challenges brought by other countries, I think this offers a very unique opportunity for Canada to be very strong, and a very strong leader in the G7 and in the world. I think Canadians want us to step up to the plate and do whatever we can to make sure we remain in that position of strength, continue to create good-paying jobs for Canadians and continue to be there for Canadians who need us the most by continuing to offer the programs we had going on for several years.

Mr. Speaker, last week marked the 35th anniversary of the École Polytechnique massacre. Quebeckers and Canadians across the country mourned the 14 women who were killed in a sadistic act of gender-based violence. In recent years, mass shootings have caused unbelievable tragedy in many communities, such as Portapique, Truro and Quebec City. Can the Prime Minister explain the measures that are being taken by the government to protect Canadians against armed violence?

Mr. Speaker, this summer, millions of Canadians enthusiastically cheered on team Canada. I would like to congratulate all the athletes who participated in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, including Sofia Fassi‑Fehri of Saint-Laurent, an incredible Paralympic basketball player who embodies the dedication and perseverance it takes to achieve excellence. The journey from playground to podium is long and hard, and our athletes must train for years. The Liberal government is proud to support over 1,900 athletes through the athlete assistance program. The government is also proud to be enhancing this program to provide more money to more athletes. The additional $7 million per year increases the living allowance by 23% and the Paralympic athletes' allowance by 30%. Unfortunately, the Conservatives' filibuster is jeopardizing these support measures. I encourage Conservative members to let us get back to work so we can invest in our athletes.

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Conservative leader had a tough week because of the scandal caused by his plan to cancel the housing agreement with Quebec. Yesterday, we announced a major new investment in housing under this agreement. These investments will help fund several building projects over the coming years. This will add 8,000 affordable and social housing units to Quebec's existing supply. Quebeckers cannot afford the Conservative leader's irresponsible plan to eliminate more than 8,000 social housing units in Quebec. I know that in Saint-Laurent, people understand that we need to do everything we can to build more, much-needed housing. I will keep pushing for that.

Mr. Speaker, while our government has always protected women's right to choose, the anti-choice lobby controls the Conservative caucus and leader, according to a former Conservative MP. Anti-choice organizations that support Conservative MPs use misleading tactics to deter women from obtaining the full range of reproductive care through so-called pregnancy crisis centres. Can the Prime Minister tell Canadians what our government is doing to protect women at these centres?

Mr. Speaker, today Greeks around the world are celebrating the famous “no”, oxi, which refers to the response given by the prime minister of Greece, Ioannis Metaxas, on October 28, 1940, to an ultimatum given by the Axis forces to allow them to enter Greece in order to occupy strategic locations within the country. Metaxas rejected the ultimatum with the words “Then it is war”, which led the Axis forces to attack Greece. They expected Greece to fall quickly, but the Greek resistance drove the Italian forces back in less than a month and forced Hitler to change his plans and delay his invasion of Russia by at least two months. According to Sir Winston Churchill, “If there had not been the virtue and courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II would have been.” Today we honour the Greek heroes who fought with courage to defend our values. [Member spoke in Greek] [English]

Mr. Speaker, the Pharmacare Act came into force in Canada this month. Nine million women can now make informed medical decisions about contraceptives without having to worry about the cost. Can the Minister of Tourism tell Canadians about how the Pharmacare Act guarantees women the reproductive autonomy they deserve?

Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness and raise funds for research into breast cancer's cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Our government funded the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care to expedite updates to breast cancer screening guidelines as more and more women, particularly indigenous, Asian and Black women, are developing breast cancer in their forties, not their fifties. However, it is currently recommended that screening begin at age 50. The task force determined that there is not enough Canadian research to justify making a change. That in itself is unacceptable and indicates that we need more relevant and recent research done on women's health, which must include Black, Asian and indigenous women. Unfortunately, in some provinces, the recommendation is to begin screening at age 50. That means that many women are diagnosed in the later stages of the disease, which reduces their chances of survival. On another note, I would like to give a shout-out to all the awesome organizations and businesses, including Pink in the City and Alphabet Café, that have campaigns of their own for this very worthy cause. Their contributions are saving lives, and we want to thank them very much.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been expressing their concerns about auto theft over the past year and have asked for solutions. We took their concerns to heart and we took action. We updated the Criminal Code and provided funding to law enforcement through budget 2024 and our national action plan on combatting auto theft. Can the Minister of Justice outline some of the progress we have made in protecting communities with regard to this issue?

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg Centre. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that Canada's Parliament is located on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. In less than one month, Canada has become witness to the tragic deaths of no fewer than six people from first nations communities across our country. Although the circumstances in each incident varied as greatly as their age ranges, with the youngest among them just 15 years old and the eldest 57, common to all of them was their involvement in police-related incidents in the final moments of their lives. Tragically, these are not the only examples of these incidents. We do not have to look far in the media, in cities and in towns from coast to coast to coast to find other examples of people from first nations communities who have died in similar incidents. Make no mistake that each is a tragedy and each speaks to deeper and more widespread problems that exist here in Canada. Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada are not policing agencies. The mandate and authority related to the administration of the justice system in Canada are not within their purview. These departments, on the other hand, do have an important role to play in building a new relationship with indigenous peoples and in promoting their well-being and safety. This is a priority for these departments and for the Government of Canada. The primary objective of these departments is supporting indigenous peoples in their efforts toward self-determination and empowering them in shaping the future of their communities. That mandate includes ensuring that indigenous peoples and communities have access to the services they require, including health, education and social services. Our vision is one in which indigenous peoples independently deliver services and address the socio-economic conditions in their communities. The administration of justice, which includes policing and enforcement, is a topic of discussion at a number of tables across the country, led by Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, that are looking at ways of recognizing rights and self-determination. We support a way forward on a rights-based approach while being mindful that policing is one element of the broader justice system. Given this, there are immediate needs and longer-term goals, as well as opportunities to proactively address some of the gaps identified through reports, recent engagements, consultations and even litigation. I am happy to hear my colleagues on both sides of the House speak about emergency measures that will save lives in situations similar to those we have been discussing this evening. I hope that such proposals, if they can be feasibly deployed, will make a meaningful difference, a difference of life and death, it is fair to say, in future encounters between people from first nations communities and law enforcement professionals. I would like to touch upon some of the programs that Indigenous Services Canada has co-developed with the support of leaders from indigenous communities across the country. The first is the pathways to safe indigenous communities initiative. Community services are an important part of supporting community safety and well-being. Indigenous Services Canada helps first nations, Inuit and Métis communities and partners, both on and off reserve, to implement indigenous-designed projects that improve community safety and well-being. I stress that these projects are not designed and led by officials from the Government of Canada. Rather, they are developed by indigenous partners to create a broad spectrum of community support. The pathways to safe indigenous communities initiative is providing $120 million over five years between 2021 and 2026 to assist first nations, Inuit and Métis communities and partners, both on and off reserve, to implement indigenous-designed projects to improve community safety and well-being. This initiative supports projects that recognize the importance of traditional knowledge and practices that contribute to greater community safety and well-being, recognize holistic models of community safety and well-being and address existing and emerging needs related to the safety and well-being of indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people. Most of the initiatives we have heard about today are led by Public Safety Canada and administered through the department's first nations and Inuit policing program, or FNIPP. I will, however, say that Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada play a supportive role in the matter of indigenous policing by giving advice to Public Safety on the engagement with indigenous communities on policing legislation. The FNIPP was created in 1991 with the aim of enhancing community policing services, supporting culturally responsive policing in first nations and Inuit communities and recognizing input from indigenous communities of policing services received. Indigenous peoples, like all people in Canada, have a right to receive culturally appropriate and respectful police services, and contributing to safer and healthier indigenous communities is a priority for the Government of Canada. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan commits Canada to leveraging the FNIPP and engaging and working with indigenous communities and with provinces and territories on approaches to enhance policing services that are professional, dedicated, and responsive to first nation and Inuit communities. The costs to run the program are shared between the federal government and the province or territory, while provinces and territories have jurisdiction over operational policing requirements and priorities, and the federal government acts as a funding partner. I am pleased to say that the FNIPP has resulted in dedicated, culturally responsive policing services being established in many first nations communities that would not otherwise have a dedicated on-site policing presence. The federal government is committed to building on the success of this program. Budget 2021 announced up to $540 million over five years beginning in 2021-22 and $126.8 million ongoing to support Indigenous communities that are currently served under the FNIPP and to expand the program into new communities. With this funding, the Government of Canada has been working with first nations and Inuit communities and with provinces and territories to address priority needs. Work is already under way on several other key related initiatives, such as to co-develop legislation that would recognize first nations police services as essential services, to work with provinces and territories to identify improvements to program governance with a view to delivering funding faster, and to revisit the program management relationship with the RCMP to ensure that officer availability is more readily considered and integrated in program management decisions. In addition, the Government of Canada has committed to supporting improved community police relations by working with first nations communities, provinces and territories to support community safety officer projects and community police discussions. At the status of women committee, we heard from countless indigenous women and girls during our study on the red dress alert. Most of them do not trust the police, and there is a lot of work that still needs to be done, regardless of what has already been done. There are several communities that are examples to follow, in which the community is quite close and has built a relationship with the police, and where the police have made an effort. However, there are very few examples, and across Canada a lot more work needs to be done. I mentioned at the outset of these remarks that Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada are not policing agencies. They are not mandated or authorized to provide the types of community services that are performed by law enforcement officials. What we can do, on the other hand, is to provide supports for those professionals and to remember the first nations communities from coast to coast to coast to ensure that people are safe in their homes and in their neighbourhoods. The Government of Canada takes the issue of indigenous safety and well-being very seriously. We are committed to walking the shared path of reconciliation with indigenous people and will continue to work in partnership with first nations and Inuit people and organizations, as well as our external partners, to develop effective solutions. Our end goal is to make sure indigenous peoples from coast to coast to coast are safe and adequately housed. It is also about building capacity, developing skills and providing supports on the ground so indigenous communities can reach their full potential. Meegwetch.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that there is no one better in the House to provide input. I think that the government should listen, and that is the whole point. The thing is that communities, indigenous communities, need to be the ones at the forefront, letting the government know what exactly is needed in order to create a safe space and environment for them. I know that the government has already opened up consultations. It has made that relationship stronger, and I hope that the government continues to do that. I know that is the intention of the government.

Mr. Speaker, yes, that is the case. On the committee, we have done a lot of work to better the relationship between the government and these women and girls who suffer more than anybody else in the country and who are victimized more often than anybody else in the country. This is something we need to take extremely seriously. The fact is that the current laws we have in our country are not necessarily the ones that are protecting these women and girls the most, and I think we need to do a lot more work in order to listen to what they need. One of the things we heard coming out of the study was that this needs to be indigenous-led. It cannot be led by the Government of Canada; it really needs to have the input of indigenous leaders and indigenous women and girls who know what they need in order to be safe and who can really give input. Without that input, we will not make the positive changes, and we have been making positive changes because we have been listening. I hope that continues.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that any initiatives that bring the communities to the elected officials to let them know what exactly their communities need are going to be beneficial, and that is the key. It is really about communication. Indigenous-led initiatives are the ones that are going to make a difference within their communities. Here in Ottawa, we do not necessarily know what people in their communities back home are needing, and obviously we are not necessarily responding to all of their needs right here in Ottawa. We need to hear from them. We need to make those channels more readily available, so any initiatives that make that communication easier are going to be beneficial.

Mr. Speaker, at this time two years ago, Roe v. Wade was overturned in the United States. The fear and uncertainty this has caused millions of women cannot be minimized. It is a reminder that here in Canada, choice for women is paramount. While Conservative MPs celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, our government stood committed to ensuring that choice for women remains a fundamental right. Could the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth share the importance of this work?