Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, I suspect if you were to canvass the House, you would find unanimous consent to go to Adjournment Proceedings.
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Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded vote, please.
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Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, and I think this has been raised before, members have to be careful that they are not actually reading the petition. It is supposed to be short and concise, stating the principle of the petition and then sitting down.
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Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.
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[For text of questions and responses, see Written Questions website]
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Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers also be allowed to stand at this time, please.
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Mr. Speaker, it is significant for us to recognize that this particular budget reflects the last federal election. It reflects what the Prime Minister and members of the Liberal caucus have brought forward on behalf of our constituents. This includes making the school food program permanent, ensuring the longevity of the dental care program and ensuring that we have the largest investment in expan…
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Mr. Speaker, I do not buy into what the member suggests the government has done. I sat in opposition in the third party when Stephen Harper, along with the current leader of the Conservative Party, literally shut down veterans offices across Canada, including in my home province of Manitoba. I do not think there are any lessons to be learned from the Conservative Party on that issue. One of the me…
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Mr. Speaker, coming out of the election, whether it was the Prime Minister or the government of the day, we made some significant commitments to Canadians. We have, for example, the one Canada economy, Bill C-5, which the Green Party voted against. We have the issue of the budget, which is a major aspect of any government. It establishes priorities. The Green Party is voting against the budget imp…
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Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded vote, please.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, we request a recorded vote.
Read full speech →Adjournment Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I can assure the member opposite that issues related to drugs are ones the government takes very seriously. In fact, as a government, whether it is on the issue of crack pipes or of safe injection sites, which is what I was expecting the member to raise and talk about this evening, we continue to work with other levels of government. In working in co-operation with other levels of gov…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sorry. At the end of the day, what I want to do is indicate that the Department of Health works with many different stakeholders, and the purpose of doing that is to ensure that the policy set out by Health Canada is in fact in the best interest of the community and of the individuals who have drug-related issues. If there is something specific, like what the member just raised i…
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Mr. Speaker, if the member would like, I could read the question: ... yesterday Health Canada officials revealed at committee that there are no age requirements at federally approved drug injection sites. In fact, Health Canada revealed that there is not even a requirement for ID. That means minors can legally use drugs in these consumption sites under Liberal law. The health minister approves sup…
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Mr. Speaker, one of the things I have learned over the years of being a parliamentarian is that out in our communities we have all sorts of experts, people who truly understand the issues and complexities of drug-related issues. What we have witnessed is a great deal of co-operation from the different levels of government and first responders. By doing that, the government works in co-operation wi…
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Mr. Speaker, first, if I may, the member seemed to be a little upset with the fact that I might have some knowledge in regard to the issue of health care. Having worked with health care workers for many years in the province of Manitoba, having been the health care critic and having visited drug sites, I do have a bit of a sense of the issue that is being raised. The member opposite brought up an …
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, the member talks about 2008. As we remember, Stephen Harper inherited a multi-billion dollar surplus. He turned it into a multi-billion dollar deficit before 2008. When 2008 came around, it was the banking industry in Canada, in good part, that saved the day compared with what was taking place in the United States and other areas of the world. One of the reasons Canada g…
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Mr. Speaker, that is the reality. That is the truth, and you cannot change history, as much as you would like to be able to. The government takes the issue of affordability and inflation—
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Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time.
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Madam Speaker, less than a year ago, Canada elected a new Prime Minister, who talked about stabilizing immigration. If we look at the actions he has taken since then, the copayment was brought back in the 2025 budget and Bill C-12 was introduced, which would deal significantly with asylum seekers. Where I agree with the member is that there needs to be a respectful level of debate as opposed to pr…
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Madam Speaker, I think it is really important that we recognize that there are many who intentionally spread misinformation. Let us think of it in this sense: The Parliamentary Budget Officer and the projections that were being made were based on something that did not incorporate Bill C-12. Bill C-12 comes out of Bill C-2. Our Prime Minister and the government brought in Bill C-2 to deal with asy…
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Mr. Speaker, I am going to pick up on the idea of misinformation. There are some members who know full well that, when they talk about the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the $1.5 billion, it does not take into consideration Bill C-2, which the Prime Minister and the government brought in last June and that ultimately led to Bill C-12, which is now before the Senate. That will have a profound imp…
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Mr. Speaker, the member for Surrey Newton has been a very strong advocate for Canada's health care system. He talked about those five fundamental principles that Canadians have really grown to love. The member has introduced a piece of legislation to ensure financial accountability. When we talk about the importance of health care, financial accountability is in fact so critically important. Could…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with some mixed emotions about what motivated the Conservative Party to bring forward the motion before us. It is interesting that a couple of the Conservatives have tried to downplay the anger, catering to the far right, to look at ways to raise money on such an important issue. I take the immigration file very personally. For over 30 years, I have been working in the im…
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Mr. Speaker, no, it is not factual. They are saying that the cost is going to continue to grow to $1.5 billion by the year 2030. The purpose of this email is to generate their data bank of rage and more money for the coffers of the Conservative Party of Canada. That is the purpose of this debate, and of the email that they circulated to thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. That is …
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Mr. Speaker, for generations, governments of Canada and prime ministers, both Progressive Conservatives and Liberals over the decades, have recognized the importance of refugees to our nation and to the world and of Canada's contributions. We witnessed all of those administrations recognize the need to provide support, which they did. I suspect that if we went through the decades of support for re…
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Mr. Speaker, the provinces do have their first ministerial conferences. I think the Province of Quebec can work with other provinces. The federal government has provided support to and has encouraged provinces. All provinces should be taking their fair share. I would like to think that one of the nice things about being in a federal state is that there is a high sense of co-operation. I know Manit…
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Mr. Speaker, I would answer the question by looking at what has taken place over the last nine or 10 months since Canada elected a new government and a new Prime Minister. We have seen the Prime Minister and the government bring in a copay system, for example. This is something I believe will make a positive difference. It will save a great deal of money. The Conservatives will try to talk about a…
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Mr. Speaker, it is unbelievable how the Conservatives continue to want to spread misinformation. They say, “2030” and “$1.5 billion”. Even the leader of the Conservative Party says that. They are basing it on the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who did not take into consideration Bill C-12. I understand what Bill C-12 would do, and if the Conservative Party was honest with Canadians, they would give…
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Mr. Speaker, the member has talked a great deal about immigration over the years here on the floor of the House of Commons. I have a question related to temporary visas, whether for visitors or workers. People will often apply for an extension just prior to their visa's expiry, which gives them implied status. I am curious about the NDP's position in regard to someone who has implied status and th…
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Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if we could pick up on the point that the member raised in regard to the first question. In essence, this motion tries to bring two issues and make them one, and it then tries to portray refugees in a very negative light. If the Conservatives wanted to talk about health care, why does the member think they did not just introduce a motion to talk about health care? I wou…
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Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the Conservatives continue to use the $1.5-billion figure. The Parliamentary Budget Officer did a good job of presenting a package for parliamentarians. What the member does not highlight is the fact that it does not take into consideration Bill C-12. The Conservatives know that. The leader of the Conservative Party is very much aware of that, and this means…
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Mr. Speaker, I wonder if my colleague could provide his thoughts on one of the prevailing discussions that have taken place here today, which is that the official opposition, the leader of the Conservative Party in particular, has made the decision to try to bring the issue of health care and the needs of our health care system and put it in with the issue of refugees. I have seen the fundraising …
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Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the Conservatives are not standing up to ask questions of the member. I think it is because the member has really nailed the issue. The Conservative Party, particularly the leadership of the Conservative Party, has made the determination to take a very important issue that Canadians are concerned about, health care, and then tie it to the issue of refugees. …
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and address the issue that the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman has brought forward in the form of a private member's bill. This is one of those occasions when there is substantial support to see a bill advance. I believe we have had members from all sides of the House support the principle of the legislation, recognizing that Canada is indeed a world lead…
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Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that the member spent as much time as he did with regard to health care. I have a challenge to put to the member opposite, and I have had the opportunity to raise this. The Conservative Party, in particular the Conservative leadership, has made the decision to try to paint refugees in very negative light, saying that Conservatives are going to talk about the issue of…
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Mr. Speaker, I suspect you would have unanimous consent to call it 6:07 p.m. so we can begin private member's hour.
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[For text of questions and responses, see Written Questions website]
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Madam Speaker, there is a fundamental flaw in the member's argument, and all one needs to do is take a look at the contrast and compare today's minister to the leader of the Conservative Party when he was the minister responsible for housing, which reflects the Conservative Party's policy. He constructed six houses while he was the minister of housing. The fundamental difference is that a Liberal …
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Madam Speaker, I appreciate my colleague's sense of commitment, realizing that the federal government does have a role to play. I am wondering if she could provide her thoughts and the government's perspective in terms of the importance of working with other levels of government. I think of Winnipeg's mayor and the Province of Manitoba's premier, all of whom seem to be very supportive of our Prime…
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Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions amongst the parties, and if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice of the House: (a) at the conclusion of Oral Questions on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the House observe a moment of silence for Ukraine and the victims of Russian aggression; (b) a member of t…
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Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time, please.
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Mr. Speaker, there is great contrast on this particular issue. On the one hand, we have a government that understands that the federal government has to play an important role in housing, by working with municipalities and provinces. That will, in fact, make a difference. Contrast that to the Conservatives and their whole theme, which is to get out of the way, just like their leader. When he was t…
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Mr. Speaker, I am very interested in whether the Conservatives are taking the position that they are going to oppose the legislation. They do not support Bill C-20. Having said that, will they recognize, at the very least, that we should allow it to go to committee, or does the member believe they are going to continue to filibuster the legislation too?
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Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed in the Conservative approach, which has been consistent since the days when the leader of the Conservative Party was the minister responsible for housing in Canada, and he did virtually nothing. The record would likely show that he was the biggest disaster when it comes to housing in Canada. It may even be part of why we are in this situation today, and nothing has c…
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Mr. Speaker, I am rising to respond to two points of order raised in the previous sitting week by the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands and the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes with respect to the consideration of Bill C-2, the strong borders act, in the context of Bill C-12, the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act. Both members allege that Bill C-2 cann…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to speak to what I believe is a really important issue. One of the things I really like about this issue is that it clearly demonstrates the contrast between the Conservative Party of Canada and where it is on the political spectrum today, and the Government of Canada, the Liberal caucus, as we develop, promote and encourage good, sound public policy. That is …
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Someone said, “Why are you bringing up filibuster?” Mr. Speaker, I can tell the House that significant legislation has been held up by the Conservative Party because its members just do not want legislation to pass, even legislation they support. We passed bail reform legislation just a week ago, and they apparently supported that legislation. Bill C-20 is now before us, the Build Canada Homes act…
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Mr. Speaker, a member across the way said, “apparently”. We will have to wait and see. Hopefully the Conservatives will recognize and allow legislation of this nature to, at the very least, get to the committee stage. I am very interested in what my colleagues in the Bloc have to say about the legislation. With the legislation and some of the basic debate that has taken place already on it, the Bl…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my far right friend. I would go back to May 27. It was no secret. It was a throne speech. Every one of us heard what the government had to say. I quote right from the throne speech. They are talking about Bill C-20 here, but we did not know the bill number then. It reads, “The Government will introduce measures to deliver affordable homes by creating Bui…
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