Hedy Fry

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to champion the Dr. Peter Centre, an organization in my riding that integrates housing, health care, nutrition, therapeutic and cultural programs to serve the underserved and the vulnerable. The centre's integrated model has demonstrated positive and measurable results among its clients for decades. I have personally witnessed its impact: Reduced dependence on emergency departments, improved health status and fewer overdoses equal a decrease in health care costs in the long run. However, most important is the hope that the clients get from this program and the sense of belonging and integration into the community. The Dr. Peter Centre has begun to extend this program across Canada. The vulnerable and underserved need our help and support to achieve these outcomes: positive health and social and economic well-being. After all, is this not what we all came here to do?

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports. They are the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, 21st Autumn Meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, from November 18 to 20, 2023, and the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, 23rd Autumn Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, from November 17 to 19, 2025.

Mr. Speaker, physicians from across Canada are here today as part of the Canadian Medical Association's Hill day. My colleagues are here to deliver this message on behalf of their patients: medicare is in trouble, and we must fix it. I spent years as a physician, standing with patients in times of sorrow, joy, pain, birth and death. It was a privilege and an honour. I saw what happens when a system stretched past its limits is held together only by the dedication of those who deliver care. Our doctors know what is needed to build a more efficient, effective and equitable system. Let us meet with them and listen to them. Let us end the toxic spread of health disinformation that erodes public trust and risks lives. Let us ensure access to care by all Canadians, especially the vulnerable and the stigmatized. I ask colleagues to salute doctors across the country, who show up each day for their patients against all odds to deliver the care they need when they need it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Health. The report concerns Bill C-234, an act respecting the establishment and award of a living donor recognition medal. The committee studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments. I also have the honour to present in both official languages the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled “Supplementary Estimates (C), 2025-26: Vote 5c under Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Vote 10c under Department of Health, Votes 1c and 10c under Public Health Agency of Canada”.

Mr. Speaker, as we enter the fifth year of Russia's invasion of sovereign Ukraine, I want to bring attention to the ongoing abduction of Ukrainian children. Over 35,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted since the start of the war, stolen from their families through manipulation, coercion and violence, and relocated to Russia for ideological re-education, military training and abuse. Only 2,000 have been repatriated. The United Nations demands their immediate and unconditional return. This forcible abduction of children to de-Ukrainize them is a grave violation of international law. The Geneva Convention is clear on this issue. No child should have their identity erased. Russia is now bartering a child for the return of each Russian prisoner of war. This is a disgusting violation of the rights of the child. Canada must continue to lead on this issue. Ukraine's war is our war. Ukraine's children are our children.

Mr. Speaker, I want to offer comfort to the families who lost their loved ones so tragically, so cruelly and so suddenly in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., but I am at a loss for words. They have all been said. What can I say to ease the pain of a parent who will never again see or hug their child, watch them grow or share with them the ordinary joys and sorrows of daily life? As a mother, my heart breaks for those years lost forever. What can I say to heal the wounds of a community that once lived in trust and may now be guarded? What can I say to the families who keep vigil by the bedside of the injured, hoping and praying, or to the traumatized children for whom school was once a place to play, learn and feel safe? Words have become trite. Thoughts and prayers are not enough. We in the House can honour the lives lost in Tumbler Ridge. We can ensure that this tragedy will never happen again to other families, other children and other communities. We have the tools and the power to make that pledge. We must now find the courage.

Mr. Speaker, cardiovascular disease, CVD, remains one of the greatest health challenges facing Canadians today. Currently, one in 12 adults, 2.6 million people, lives with CVD. Nine in 10 Canadians over age 20 have at least one risk factor. More than 750,000 Canadians live with heart failure, and a million live with atrial fibrillation. Nine out of 10 over age 20 are at risk. CVD is one of the main causes of hospitalization and loss of productivity, costing the health care system over $21 billion a year. Early detection in high-risk populations can prevent and delay disease, reduce the cost of treatment, improve quality of life and save millions of lives. The Canadian Cardiovascular Society and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute have partnered with our Speaker to offer heart risk assessments in West Block today until 4 p.m. I encourage members to go. The life we save may be our own.

Mr. Speaker, I want to flag some disconcerting data regarding HIV/AIDS with my colleagues. The goal of ending AIDS as an epidemic globally by 2030 has gone off track. In poor nations, it is now increasing, partly due to U.S. funding cuts. What is alarming is the 35% rise in new cases in Canada this year, especially in Saskatchewan, in Manitoba and among first nations. This is the result of poor tracking, cuts in funding for prevention and treatment, and the myth that HIV is no longer a problem. Antiretroviral therapy combined with pre-exposure prophylaxis is a successful, made-in-Canada solution, but we need to move it forward. It was tried in B.C. with no new cases for decades. We need to introduce it now in provincial formularies and in the national pharmacare program. We will see an end to the AIDS epidemic by 2030 if we do that.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following three reports: the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, respecting its participation of the 24th winter meeting in Vienna, Austria, on February 20 and 21; the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the meeting of the ad hoc committee on migration in Madrid and Canary Islands, Spain, on March 20 and 21; and the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly, respecting its participation at the OSCE PA 32nd annual session in Porto, Portugal, from June 29 to July 3.

Mr. Speaker, as November ends, let us look back at the tragic data on men's mental and physical health in Canada. Too many men are dying young from preventable causes. Men account for 75% of suicides and 72% of opioid deaths. They are at higher risk for cardiac disease, chronic lung disease and many cancers. However, stigma and pride in being macho prevent them from seeking help, and 65% of men say that they delay seeing a doctor for symptoms of mental and physical health. Men's health is not a partisan issue. It is a health imperative. Delayed care costs lives and harms families. As the mother of three men, I say let us break the silence, remove the stigma, advocate for research funding and mental health supports, and ensure confidential access to care. Let us speak up and speak out. We can move men's health out of the shadows and protect and support our fathers, husbands and sons.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Health, entitled, “Women's Health in Canada: Closing the Gender Gap”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour Gordon Quan, the last of the World War II Chinese veterans in Vancouver, whose life stands as a powerful testament to service, sacrifice and patriotism. At a time when the Chinese were denied full citizenship in Canada, young Gordon volunteered for Force 136, Britain's legendary commandos fighting behind Japanese lines. Denied, he persisted until Canada, running out of recruits, decided to accept Asian immigrants. Gordon served with distinction and, as a veteran, continued to volunteer. He was a fixture at Remembrance Day ceremonies, selling poppies until his death last month at age 99. As we remember our veterans, let us honour the many immigrants who, though marginalized, risked their lives to serve Canada with honour and loyalty. Lest we forget.

Mr. Speaker, I have not been this excited about a budget since 1995, when we faced a $43-billion deficit, 18% mortgages and 26% youth unemployment, left to us by the Conservative government of the day. Jean Chrétien's budget was transformative, as is this one. It looked at Canada going into the 21st century and prepared us for that. It was a budget that looked forward and built for the future. This budget recognizes the reality that the world has changed: Supply chains have changed globally, allies are no longer allies and friends are no longer friends. We borrowed sugar from our friends, our next-door neighbours, over the fence, but now we cannot depend on them. They are changing every day, and we do not know what to believe in anymore. It is time for us to let Canada build a strong economy, a strong country and a strong sovereign nation. Let us stand on our own and do what we can to make ourselves great. We have lots of reasons to believe we can do that. This budget is building on that hopeful but truthful idea, and Canada is poised to be the second-best economy in the G7, along with Germany. We are able to say what we can do to be a leader, be strong and build new friendships and security allies that will defend us. This budget looks at so many things that I do not know where to start, but I am going to try to move forward. This budget talks about the urban-rural divide that we hear about often, and it is bridging that divide. It is looking at, for instance in British Columbia, having a transmission corridor that would build communications and electricity transmissions that would link Yukon and British Columbia and go all the way down British Columbia. We are looking at building LNG for the Nisga'a people. This is a strong indigenous incentive. There will be a huge number of jobs with phase two of the Nisga'a LNG. We are also looking at the Ksi Lisims mine, which will look at critical minerals and move down the corridor as well. We are looking at all of that. For me, British Columbia is a winner in this budget, but it is not the only winner. This budget is about all regions winning, whether it is Quebec, the Atlantic provinces, the Prairies or British Columbia. Let me speak about British Columbia a little more. As we advance trade and believe we cannot be friends with our neighbour anymore or trust our neighbour to help us out, we are looking at diversifying trade. Our Prime Minister has been to Asia and has built strong trade relationships with Japan and China. He is looking at India, and he just signed a deal with Indonesia. The bottom line is that British Columbia is the gateway to the Asia-Pacific. As we look at the infrastructure that is going to build ports, whether in the Prairies in Churchill or in British Columbia, British Columbia is poised to trade with Asia-Pacific, not only on the seaway on the Pacific, but also by air. This is big for British Columbia. It is going to create lots of jobs. We are looking at the fact that British Columbia has mines, critical minerals, clean energy such as hydroelectricity, and LNG. This is something British Columbia is poised to do well with. However, this is not only about building an economy and ensuring that we start looking at manufacturing. We have a huge lumber industry in British Columbia. One of the issues we see there is tariffs, so what are we doing? We are putting money into helping the sectors, whether it is steel, aluminum, auto or lumber. We are looking at how we can help workers and those industries not just survive, but expand to build manufacturing. I like to say to look at IKEA. Sweden could fit into British Columbia and get lost, yet IKEA is in the biggest middle-class furniture industry in the world. British Columbia has so many forests. Why are we not building furniture or looking at manufacturing? This budget is big and bold, and it says we can do this. We can build. We can be a strong manufacturing region in British Columbia. This is good for B.C. I look at the Prairies. What happens when Manitoba agrees and we open up Churchill to get that port to go out to Europe to sell our clean energy, whether it is hydrogen, LNG or hydroelectricity? We are ready; we are poised. This is a budget that talks about “build, build, build”. It is a budget that looks to the future. It talks about workers; it is a budget for workers. As we build manufacturing and as we build in other sectors, we are looking at good jobs. This is such an important thing. What did Unifor have to say about this? It believed that this was a big deal. Its national president said, “Building a resilient economy means ensuring that the commitments outlined in the federal budget translate into good, union jobs for Canadian workers.” Jobs are what people want so they can earn money to buy things and to do the things they need to do. This budget is also helping people who are having a hard time. For the sectors hurting from the tariffs, money has been set aside to help them rebuild and re-skill. It is for re-skilling workers whose jobs are not going to be useful anymore in this new Canada and this new world. We are looking at redundancy, so let us retrain and re-skill. We are looking at students, and we talk about youth. We are now moving from 75,000 summer jobs for youth to 100,000. Those jobs mean that kids get hands-on experience working in the real workplace. They are going to be ready to go out there and work when the time comes. This is a budget that I am so proud of. On housing, the budget bridges the rural-urban divide. People in rural areas are going to get infrastructure money to build clinics and hospitals. The budget is creating a new brain gain from the United States, which people want to leave. We are looking at researchers. We put $1.7 billion into building research. We can build a strong pharmaceutical sector here. We have the know-how. We have the innovation. We have the brains. During Diabetes Week, we must remember who gave the world insulin: two Canadians, Banting and Best. This is not new; there have been people who won the Nobel Prize for creating chemical diabetes insulin in British Columbia. We have the brains; what we need are the people to get things going. The money has been set aside to do that. Field of Dreams says, “If you build it, [they] will come.” Well, this budget is about building it, and they are coming. Saab is here, and it wants to build a defence sector with us. We need to protect our Arctic. We need to work with Scandinavian countries like Sweden to help us build a strong Arctic defence. Saab is coming to build the fighter jets. The King and Queen of Sweden are also coming here with 60 business and industry people to work with Canada, to build with Canada. This is already happening. It is exciting. It is going on. Tomorrow the King and Queen of Sweden will be here. This is just the beginning. We are seeing China and India. We are seeing Australia helping us with defence. The world has changed, and Canada is not going to sit by and wait to see where that change goes. Canada is, in the budget, going to lead that change. We are going to take our way. We are going to control who we are. We have already started with a good economy. We know we have the lowest inflation right now. We see what is going on in the United States. I heard people talking about food prices the other day. Well, I think people have to pay $15 to buy a carton of eggs in the United States, but I just bought some for $4.69 at my local supermarket. I want to tell members to believe in Canada. We can do it. We are a strong nation. We have the ability, the brains, the know-how and the innovation. What we need is for people to believe that we can do it. The rest of the world, such as Sweden, for example, is believing. Therefore let us move. I say build it and they will come.

Mr. Speaker, the world has changed. This is a new budget. The hon. member talked a bit about why we should look at productivity. Yes, Canada has lagged in productivity. What do we do when we want to increase productivity? We train people, we skill people, we build industries and we help industry to expand to create jobs. That is what productivity is about. We make sure that women can join the workforce. We make sure that the workforce is a diverse one. We help people to become skilled. That is what productivity is about, and this budget is addressing that productivity lag.

Mr. Speaker, this is very interesting. British Columbia did not get any money back either. Do you know why? It is because British Columbia had its own carbon tax. The province ran it, and it gave money back to the people by way of social programs. I do not understand why if a province did not participate in the national carbon tax it should be compensated for anything. Does it make sense to you? It does not to me.

Mr. Speaker, building is not just about building houses. It is not just about building housing units. It is about building industries and about building manufacturing sectors. It is about building the skills of workers. It is about creating workers. This is a visionary budget; let us make no bones about it. It is a budget that is looking straight down the road to a strong future for Canada, and these are kinds of building: expanding the Port of Vancouver, building Churchill port, expanding airports, building in small rural areas all the transmission grids and electricity grids that they need. This is what this budget is all about. That is what we said. I keep saying, “Build it, and they will come”, and they are coming.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following report. It is from the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation in the election observation mission in Washington, D.C., and other regions of the United States of America from November 2 to 5, 2024.

Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports: the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 31st annual session in Bucharest, Romania, from June 29 to July 3, 2024; and the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 22nd autumn meeting in Dublin, Ireland, from October 2 to 4, 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Health entitled “Saving More Lives: Improving Guidance, Increasing Access and Achieving Better Outcomes in Breast Cancer Screening”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.