Parliamentary Speeches
1,167 speeches by Heather McPherson — Page 23 of 24
Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have some concerns about the debate today. Earlier on this morning, I asked one of his colleagues about full decriminalization and his colleague said that politics was getting in the way of being able to put full decriminalization of small amounts of drug possession. Later on, I asked another colleague who replied, and I am paraphrasing, that of course it was the right thing to do, …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Madam Speaker, under the Liberal government, Canada is not back. Canada has dropped to 75th place in the list of countries contributing to peacekeeping efforts. Canada's official development assistance is lower than it was under Stephen Harper's Conservatives. Perhaps most shocking of all is that today, on the sixth anniversary of the conflict in Yemen, a humanitarian crisis that has been describe…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague about support for students. We are here today to talk about some of the scandals, such as the WE scandal and where that money went. Right now the government has promised time and time again to follow through on, for example, my unanimous consent motion to halt student loan payments. The Liberals have not stopped taking interest on those loans, which th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, it is wonderful to join the debate today, albeit not from within the House itself but from within my constituency of Edmonton Strathcona. I will be splitting my time today with the member for Timmins—James Bay. This is a long motion, so I am going to speak about a number of different portions of it. I am going to start by talking about the committee work and the important, vital role …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, it is an error I fall into on occasion. I apologize. The Prime Minister defended the partnership, saying that WE was the only group with a countrywide network capable of operating a program on this scale for young people. That was not true. That was very clearly not true. As someone who has worked in the sector, I can tell members that there are a number of organizations that could ha…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I spoke to a young woman from the Canadian military. It was heartbreaking to hear how much she wanted to support the military and do her job, but under the current government she felt she could not do her job and was not being protected. To hear a proud member of our military say she was afraid and had been abandoned by the government gives me little faith that it is protecting wome…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the key priority here is getting answers, because that is what the opposition's role is. It is what the government needs to do and it is our job within the committees. I was the executive director of an organization and would feel it was my responsibility to speak on behalf of that organization, but I also had staff who were experts in particular areas and they would be the best peo…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for being such an important voice in Parliament and an important mentor to me. We would like to see the government stop the interest on student loans, as it should not be profiting off the backs of student loans, and put a moratorium on repaying student loans. Recent graduates are suffering right now. Let us give them the help they deserve: the same help we have…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I have some questions for my colleague from Red Deer—Lacombe on the impacts he sees the current government's obstruction and scandal around the WE Charity might have on the charitable sector. We have talked about how this has hurt students and how, frankly, it has hurt our democracy in Canada. However, I also have some real concerns that when we see a charity like WE do things like …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to get clarity on a question I asked regarding the federal government's approval of the proposed Grassy Mountain coal mine. Albertans are overwhelmingly opposed to this project and any other coal projects that would open up the eastern slopes for coal exploration or development. At least 28 municipalities, including the four largest cities in Alberta, have ex…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my colleague's intervention was very interesting. I was very happy to hear him talk about support for those struggling with addictions and struggling with the possession of small amounts of drugs. I am wondering whether he supports emergency exemptions for the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act concerning personal possession and supports the full decriminalization of possession of …
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I tabled legislation calling for changes to the federal Impact Assessment Act. In the changes I proposed, I asked that the federal government take on an impact assessment of all future coal projects, regardless of their size. As the minister knows, the federal assessment only happens if a project states that it will produce more than 5,000 tonnes per day. We have see…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, as an Albertan and someone who grew up hiking, skiing and playing in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, I am deeply honoured to table this petition, which is signed by over 18,000 Canadians. These Canadians are urging the environment minister to ensure that there is a complete assessment of the impacts of all proposed coal developments and exploration activities in the Rocky Mountains. In …
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, COVID-19 has been hard on everyone, but we know it has been hardest on one group of Canadians. More than anyone else, our seniors and those who care for them have borne the brunt of this deadly global health pandemic, and seniors and staff in for-profit long-term care have been impacted most of all. I know everyone in this House has heard the devastating statistics. We know that ove…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I find it interesting that the member is talking about our doing our homework when he speaks about fighting for national standards, as if he were not a member of the government that could in fact put in national standards right now. Does he actually know that he is part of the government and that they could do that? As for working with the provinces I am going to quote André Picard,…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I extend my best wishes to my colleague's mother. I hope she is doing well during this very difficult time for seniors in this country. I think it is important that we recognize that while we have diverse realities across the country, there is a level of care that every senior, regardless of where they are located, deserves to have, with a level of dignity and a level of respect. Th…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I think it is very important that we recognize that, regardless of where someone lives in this country, their standard of care should the same. I can tell colleagues that I come from a province where I am deeply concerned that our provincial government is not doing nearly enough to protect our seniors. I do not trust the current provincial governments to care for seniors, and there …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, today I rise to present a petition submitted by my dear friend Mr. Norm MacIsaac and signed by over 25,000 Canadians. These thousands of Canadians, whether they are patients, caregivers, friends and family, or concerned citizens, urge the government to do much more to support Canadians living with ALS. The petitioners are calling on the Minister of Health to create a pilot project t…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my colleague from Alberta's intervention in the House today was very interesting and very propositional, and I appreciated its tone. I have a quick question for her. I know that she is looking at how we can support small businesses and continue to make sure they are able to survive this pandemic. As to the initial program for rent subsidies, which was driven by landlords and insuffi…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, my colleague and I had the opportunity earlier today to work on some important advancements pushing the government to take action on ALS. I admire her greatly, and I like working with her quite a bit. I would like to follow up on the question my colleague from the Conservative party just asked about us not having a budget. We have also not been able to see certain legislation come for…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, my colleague spoke about the supports for students. He would know that there are a number of post-secondary institutions in my riding, like the University of Alberta, which has suffered pretty devastating cuts from the provincial government recently. However, one of the things I have seen with the federal administration is that it has promised supports for students and recent graduate…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I would like the member to clarify his comments that recent graduates were receiving a relief on interest payments on their student loans. From my understanding, that has not happened yet. In addition to the government not following through with its support for my unanimous consent motion to call for a moratorium on loan repayments, and its failure to extend the Canadian student benef…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, constituents in my riding have asked me to present a petition on their behalf. They are asking the Government of Canada to use the tools within the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, or the Magnitsky act. The petitioners state that over 21 years, the Chinese government has perpetrated violence, including torture and killing, against the practitioners of Falun Gong…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, on a point of order, the interpretation does not appear to be working.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I will be asking my question for my colleague in English. I am sorry; my French is not quite what it should be yet. I am asking a question on behalf of a student in my riding. I spoke to the grade 5 students at Grandview Heights School in my riding. Neve, a grade 5 student, asked me if we should be doing more, and if we could be doing more, to make sure that we are getting to net ze…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, today is International Women's Day, a day to celebrate women and girls, but today is also a day to fight. COVID-19 has had very serious consequences for women around the world. In Alberta we have not seen women's unemployment rates so high since the 1980s. In Canada, even after 50 years of promises, women still do not have the national child care program recommended by the Royal Commi…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, humanity is facing one of the biggest ethical issues of our time to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines everywhere in the world. If we do not get this right, 30% more people will die, Canadians will be exposed to more dangerous variants and our global economic recovery will be delayed by years. Now, when the world needs Canada to step up and support the waiving of intellectual p…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from citizens and residents of Canada who are deeply concerned about the actions of a Canadian corporation, OceanaGold, which is operating in the Philippines with the support of the Philippine government. There are grave concerns about the degradation of human rights, particularly against indigenous people, and of the environment. The petitioners are…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have to express some deep frustration as I listen once again in this House to the Liberals and the Conservatives debate who has been worse for Canadians. The member spoke about the price of food, gas and heat for seniors. Does the member know another price seniors have to bear, particularly in Alberta, where our Conservative government has cut funds for dependents? It is the cost of…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I have watched the hon. member in the House, and his ongoing, relentless advocacy for seniors is stupendous and unparalleled. As he knows, the COVID-19 pandemic has been felt disproportionately by seniors, whether that is in long-term care or in increased costs. Very early on in the pandemic after pushing the government, the NDP was able to get the CERB set at $2,000 a month because w…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I was very happy that the member talked about the importance of recommitting to and reinvesting in a universally accessible publicly delivered health care system. He spoke of how that would help seniors in real, tangible ways. I was also happy he brought up long-term care. I would like my colleague to comment on that. We know that the vast majority of deaths in long-term care as a res…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, yesterday the NDP put forward a life-saving pharmacare bill that would help thousands of Canadians who cannot afford their medication. Eighty-eight per cent of Canadians support a universal pharmacare program, yet of the 34 members of Parliament in Alberta, I was the only one who voted to support this bill. We need to ensure that Alberta health care is strengthened at the federal leve…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, the new second track for accessing MAID requires that one of the two medical practitioners assessing the person have expertise in the condition from which the person is suffering. How will this work in rural or remote areas for Canadians who maybe do not have access to such experts? How does the bill ensure there would be equal access for all Canadians, regardless of where they live…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, my colleague and next-door neighbour's passion on this topic is impressive. He is correct that this is probably some of the most important, if not the most important, legislation parliamentarians can contemplate. While I have not had adequate time to thoroughly review the amendments put forward by his colleague, I will say that I am a supporter of medical assistance in dying. As many …
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last week, we learned that President Biden will be contributing $4 billion to COVAX. Meanwhile, Canada is the only G7 country that has accessed vaccines through the COVAX program, a program intended to prevent more people from dying in low- and middle-income countries and to prevent dangerous variants from developing and affecting everyone, including Canadians. This is an internationa…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, as a member who was on the Subcommittee for International Human Rights and heard the testimony from former Liberal members of Parliament, human rights groups, international legal experts, and survivors of the genocide, whose testimony of course had the most impact, I recognize and have declared that I see this as a genocide. I will support the bill. The word “genocide” comes with se…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his speech. It was very eloquent. Like him, I have deep concerns about the genocide that is happening against the Uighur people, and I appreciate his comments. One thing we have an obligation to do as a country and as parliamentarians is to recognize and acknowledge genocide wherever it occurs, whenever it occurs. However, we are seeing a reluctance by the Prime…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, that was a wonderful speech. It was very brave and very well done. The member sat on the international human rights subcommittee with me. We heard the harrowing testimony together, and I echo his sentiment that we were deeply moved. From what I am seeing, though, from the government, I am not just concerned about the genocide against the Uighurs, but also that our whole China policy h…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, the workers at CESSCO, a company in Edmonton Strathcona, have been locked out by their employer since June. Instead of negotiating, that same employer was able to access federal dollars through the wage subsidy program to hire scab labour. Last week, those workers were locked out in -40 weather while scabs collected their paycheques, paid for by the government. I wrote to the Minister…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to speak in support of Bill C-213, sponsored by the member for New Westminster—Burnaby. This bill is historic. It is a bill that would give us the potential to make history by finally getting pharmacare to Canadians who so desperately want it. We have heard today that approximately one out of every five families in Canada struggles to pay for prescription medications, a…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to be here today. I am particularly thankful that my colleague brought up the issue of jobs and prosperity. Obviously, in my province of Alberta this is a very pressing issue. I also applaud her and her party for bringing forward this opposition day motion. My questions concern why she feels this work cannot be accomplished within the Standing Committee on Internati…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my colleague's comments were very insightful and I enjoyed listening to her intervention. My colleague spoke about an issue that is very close to my heart, and that is vaccine availability around the world. She spoke of the recent news that Canada has accessed the COVAX vaccines. Aside from this being a terrible global economic decision, we know that there will be increased morbidit…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, throughout the pandemic, the NDP has been fighting for protections for workers, and we feel that the Liberals have been incredibly opaque on this. For example, in April former finance minister Morneau stated in a press conference that no workers would be asked to return to unsafe work environments. Finance Minister Freeland then stated the same in May. I, myself, wrote to Minister Q…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I apologize. If the new President can put in protections for workers who have quit unsafe workplaces during COVID-19 so that they can still claim benefits, why will the Liberal government not make the right to refuse unsafe work a real right with real protections during this pandemic? Could the member speak to that?
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, my colleague and I have had lots of conversations over the last several months. As the member will know, of great importance to me is the protection of workers in Alberta. We know that Albertans have suffered disproportionately with job losses and are feeling incredible anxiety during the pandemic and as we come out of the pandemic. We know that we want to get help to workers. We ne…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, last week President Biden announced a freeze on U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Here in Canada, the Liberals continue to fuel the very war they condemn by exporting arms to a country with one of the worst human rights records in the world. This is not right. If the U.S. can do it, so can we. We must protect Canadian workers and uphold human rights. When will the Liberals stop selling…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the second wave of the pandemic has been brutal. We have now lost more than 20,000 Canadians to COVID-19. We have an obligation to those 20,000 Canadians who lost their lives and to the hundreds of thousands of others who survived COVID-19. We owe it to them to fix the problems in our country's biomedical research, development and manufacturing system. We cannot let this happen again.…
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, the production of vaccines is the jurisdiction of the Liberal government, and we have seen Liberal and Conservative governments fail on vaccine production. Canadians have been waiting nearly 60 years to get prescription medications included in our health care system. It was 23 years ago that the Liberals first promised a Canadian national pharmacare program, and they have been repeati…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, as many in the House know, one of the biggest concerns for me, especially representing the constituents of Edmonton Strathcona, is how we are supporting students during this time. There are a number of students in my riding who are struggling and a number of recent graduates as well. While we are delighted to see the government take the initial step to stop student loan interest fro…
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his intervention. I quite enjoy being on the heritage committee with him and I admire the work he does on behalf of artists. As my colleague will know, Edmonton Strathcona is the heart of the arts community in Alberta, where we have the Edmonton International Fringe Festival and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. I too am very concerned about th…
Read full speech →