Government Orders
Mr. Speaker, the member says to work together. He makes reference to having safe streets. On the other hand, there was an election platform from the Prime Minister to bring forward bail reform legislation. The Conservatives have done anything but be co-operative on the legislation. This is legislation that should have passed by now. Canadians deserve bail reform legislation. This is legislation th…
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Mr. Speaker, once again the Conservatives are recognizing that their most productive role in the chamber seems to be preventing legislation from passing from stage to stage. They ultimately argue that we should all be able to speak indefinitely to the legislation. Good examples of that are Bill C-14, the bail reform legislation, or Bill C-2. The legislation, particularly on bail reform, was legisl…
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Mr. Speaker, in my last few questions, I have been trying to encourage the opposition to respond and explain to Canadians why they feel we should not be passing legislation in the House, even substantive legislation such as bail reform. The response has been that they want to be able to debate. It is a bit of a challenge. I am not scared to work late. I am prepared to work late. A lot of Canadians…
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Mr. Speaker, the member talked about first responders. I too have great respect for first responders in many different ways, as I believe all members of the House do, including the Prime Minister. Having said that, it is also in Bill C-14. It is interesting. I have raised this issue before. We talk about important legislation that the Conservatives try to prevent from passing through procrastinati…
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Mr. Speaker, I cannot believe the member used the military as an example. Her leader, when he sat in the Conservative caucus, was the lapdog to Stephen Harper, and at the end of the day, they had under 1% of Canada's GDP in terms of military spending. With this Prime Minister, elected just eight months ago, we are at 2% of the GDP and growing. However, my question is more in regard to the destruct…
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Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have made a decision, and that decision is to filibuster whenever they can, in order to not allow legislation to proceed, whether it is the budget implementation bill or the bail reform legislation. I find it unfortunate. If the issue for the Conservatives is nothing but being able to have more debate time, then let me make a suggestion. I have no problem whatsoever …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise to speak to Bill C-241 today. It is important for us all to recognize, at the end of the day, that having a national strategy respecting drought and flooding and our ability to forecast is critically important. When I say that, I would obviously recognize the lead roles that provinces and municipalities play in dealing with local flooding and so forth. I am …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I want to briefly emphasize that the government recognizes intimate partner violence as a very serious issue. This is why we have seen a large investment of resources, both financial and legislative initiatives, to deal with the issue. When we talk about gender-based violence, it impacts far too many people, and the government is literally spending hundreds of millions of dollars in d…
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Mr. Speaker, the member made reference to the industrial carbon tax. Look at the Alberta premier, who is a Conservative, by the way. She is supportive of the industrial carbon tax. My question is related to Bill C-4. It is a very powerful piece of legislation that would enable over 22 million Canadians to get a tax break. The Conservatives like to talk, and talk is cheap when it comes to deliverin…
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Mr. Speaker, this is interesting. Here we are debating Bill C-4, which would give a tax break to 22 million Canadians, get rid of the carbon tax for consumers and provide for getting rid of the GST for first-time homebuyers. One would think that this is something the Conservative Party of Canada could get behind and want us to pass. Will the member give his personal commitment to try to get this t…
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Mr. Speaker, what is clear is the government's position on three very important tax breaks for Canadians. That is what Bill C-4 is about: affordability and being there in a very real and tangible way for Canadians. What is unclear is the positioning of the Bloc. I would be very interested in knowing this: Does the Bloc clearly support Bill C-4? Does it want Bill C-4 to pass before the end of the y…
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Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the member could provide his thoughts on his own leader's position in regard to a pipeline going through the province of British Columbia. The leader of the Conservative Party believes he does not need indigenous consent or the consent of the Province of B.C. What are the member's thoughts in regard to his leader's commitment to not consult with indigenous people?
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Mr. Speaker, within Bill C-4 is a tax break for over 22 million Canadians. It deals with the consumer carbon tax by getting rid of it. It also provides a tax exemption for first-time homebuyers. All of these are wonderful measures dealing with issues like affordability. I am wondering if my colleague could provide her thoughts on how important it is that we pass this legislation. Would it not be n…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am sure the member is aware that his premier, the Premier of Alberta, asked to sign an agreement in acknowledgement of the valuable role of the industrial carbon tax. I have a two-part question for the member: Does he support the Premier of Alberta's signing of a document that ultimately inflates or causes a greater increase in the carbon tax for the province of Alberta, which he …
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Madam Speaker, the bill does three things. First, it reduces income tax. Twenty-two million Canadians are going to get a tax break. Second, it gets rid of the GST for first-time homebuyers. Again, it is a great tax break. Third, it deals with the consumer carbon tax in terms of getting rid of it in law. These are three things I would have thought the Conservatives would vote in favour of. Can the …
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Madam Speaker, right off the top, just to echo the member, my prayers and thoughts are with the 150-plus people who fell victim to the Hong Kong fires. I appreciate the member's making reference to that. I have a few fascinating questions. I am sure the member is aware that the Conservative Party today is really a far-right political entity, and I understood him to have been a candidate for the ND…
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Madam Speaker, is it because of a lack of confidence in the leadership of the Conservative Party that the member is not giving up his seat at the council level? Finally, could the member provide his thoughts on whether or not he will be voting in favour of the legislation?
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Mr. Speaker, the legislation provides tax relief for all Canadians, including those in the province of Quebec. There are significant tax savings for over 22 million people in total. It also provides the opportunity for first-time homebuyers to benefit by being exempt from the GST. Both of those programs benefit the people of Quebec. How have the Bloc members made the determination to say no to tho…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the boldness of the answer I was provided. It is somewhat disappointing that the members of the Bloc believe that the people of Quebec, through their eyes, should be denied a tax break on their income tax and, further to that, that first-time homebuyers should not be provided the opportunity to get an exemption from the GST. Does the member believe he is consistent with w…
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Mr. Speaker, obviously I disagree with the members' assessment. Canada is still the best country in the world to call home. Quite frankly I am a bit disappointed in the members of the Conservative Party, in the words they have been using to try to justify their positioning of what is actually in Bill C-4. It is a very straightforward piece of legislation. One is either for it or against it. The Co…
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Mr. Speaker, first of all, I do not believe the member's comment when he said that our grocery inflation rate is higher than all the other G7 countries. I do not believe that. I would appreciate it if he could provide the source he has drawn that conclusion from. Second, the member says it does not provide tax relief, but that is what Bill C-4 does. Bill C-4 provides direct tax relief for over 22 …
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, the member did an outstanding job of expressing his thoughts to justify bringing forward the bill and really showing a great deal of sympathy to the victims. That is where I would like to continue, in terms of my question. I genuinely believe that no matter their political stripe, people can relate to the circumstances surrounding these horrendous crimes and be very sympathetic to t…
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Madam Speaker, let me pick up on the word “embarrassed”. If the member is embarrassed, he should be embarrassed that the Conservative Party wants to do economic projects without any formal consent from indigenous communities. He stands up and talks about reconciliation. He should listen to the questions the leader of the Conservative Party has put across related to pipelines. How can the member po…
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Madam Speaker, I am wondering if the member can explain how it is that the Conservative Party respects treaty rights and is in favour of reconciliation when the leader of the Conservative Party is saying what he has been saying for the last week or more about what he believes the Conservative Party would do with respect to a pipeline. He does not believe that he has to consult and work with indige…
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Madam Speaker, again, I want to pick up on the idea of listening. I want to point out that this is a very serious issue, and the leader of the Conservative Party has been very clear, in terms of how he envisions things such as pipelines. He believes that there is no duty or responsibility to work with indigenous leaders when it comes to pipelines. The Conservatives try to give this false impressio…
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Madam Speaker, I will talk about NDP hypocrisy on another day. One thing I can say is that the legislation is substantial. It is something indigenous leaders have been calling for and assisting with the drafting of. Can the member tell the House again how the member reconciles being in favour of reconciliation with not supporting legislation of this nature?
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Madam Speaker, Bill C-10 is before us because of the strong leadership from indigenous people and the grassroots from indigenous community members, along with a co-operative government seeking through reconciliation to bring forward positive legislation. That is the driving force of what we are voting on, but the Conservatives continue to want to filibuster to prevent the legislation from passing.…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Madam Speaker, in the last election, the Prime Minister talked a great deal about expanding trade opportunities. To that end, we have seen the Prime Minister and the government travelling the world to ensure that we are able to expand our export markets. This is so critically important for all of Canada. Personally, I am looking at some of the things that have come out of that, such as a commitmen…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
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Mr. Speaker, when we talk about Bill C-10, this is not just a focus being introduced by the government. This is, in essence, being led by indigenous communities and indigenous leaders. When we talk about reconciliation, this could be a part of it in a very positive way. Based on the Conservative opposition that we continue to see in the filibuster of the legislation and the behaviour of the leader…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate a number of the comments the member put on the record this afternoon. It would appear as if she is supportive, at least in principle, of the legislation. Part of the issue for us is recognizing that in order for the legislation to advance to committee, we need to get support from, in particular, the Conservative Party, which continues to want to prevent it from going to c…
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Madam Speaker, I find it somewhat ironic. Here we are talking about Bill C-10. The Conservatives have made it very clear they do not want it and are going to vote against it, even though indigenous community leaders want the legislation to pass. The Conservatives want to continue the filibuster. Then we witnessed this week the leader of the Conservative Party's saying outright that we do not need …
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Madam Speaker, what has become very clear is that the Conservative Party is going to do what it can to prevent this particular piece of legislation from passing. That is really quite unfortunate, because the legislation is actually indigenous-led. The Conservatives' continued refusal to allow it to go committee is going to make things very difficult, and they know that. In addition, there are the …
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Madam Speaker, for those who are offended, I will recall the word “dictator”, but the point is still made.
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Madam Speaker, I have been listening to what the member said. Looking at the victims is probably the biggest motivation for all of us to give very serious thought to the legislation. I would think every member in the House is sympathetic to the victims and what victims have to go through. I thought he described the situation quite well. Does the member believe there is a possibility of amendments …
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise today to table a petition on behalf of my constituents to deal with an important issue. The relationship between Canada and India continues to grow, in terms of the number of people who want to travel back and forth between Canada and India. The petitioners are calling upon Parliament to do what it can to encourage additional flights, more specifically,…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Read full speech →Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I think it is important when we look at the beginning of the debate today to look at the contrast between the Conservatives and the government of the day. The government is headed by a Prime Minister who is committed to dealing with issues coming out of the last federal election, issues such as building one Canada, working with premiers, breaking down barriers and increasing trade a…
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Madam Speaker, the member who just spoke is a part of the Conservative Party of Canada alliance to try to cause an election. This is the reality. She actually voted with the Conservative Party. At the end of the day, what is in the budget? It is a budget that provides pharmacare, dental care and food for children in schools. She actually believes the Conservative Party would be better at governing…
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Madam Speaker, I must say I find the way the Conservative Party continues with character assassination disgusting. The Prime Minister has done an absolutely outstanding job at protecting Canadian interests, travelling abroad and doing the things that are necessary here in Canada, and all the Conservatives want to do is attack his character. I say shame on every one of them. It is absolutely disgus…
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Madam Speaker, here is a very quick flashback. As we are talking about foreign investment leaving Canada and going to other countries, in particular the United States, I will remind the member that when his leader sat around cabinet, we had the biggest destruction of the manufacturing industry in the province of Ontario in generations. Fast-forward to today. We have a Prime Minister who is attract…
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The Conservative Party stands and gives her applause. Madam Speaker, at the end of the day, does she truly believe the investments that the budget is making into communities from coast to coast to coast would be better done with the Conservative Party? Is that what she really believes? Why could she not identify things in the budget that are to the benefit of her community and, indeed, all Canadia…
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Madam Speaker, a year ago at this time I stood in the chamber and was talking about foreign investment. I said that Canada was number one in the G7 in terms of foreign investment coming into Canada. We were number three in the entire world. The Conservatives try to paint a black picture of Canada. I suggest to the member that Canada is not broken. In fact we have a proactive, aggressive Prime Mini…
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Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that the member has so much bias against the CRA. The CRA, if we do a comparison, is probably in the top two or three revenue agencies in the world given the fine work that civil servants do within the CRA. The member took great lengths to be critical of the CRA's program to enable automatic tax filing. Nothing would prevent an individual from filing their own taxes.…
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Mr. Speaker, members may recognize that, throughout the debate, there has been a whole lot of hypocrisy coming from the Conservative Party. Members should think about it. The Conservatives and the leader of the Conservative Party inherited a multi-billion dollar surplus during Stephen Harper's government. They turned it into a multi-billion dollar debt. If we were to take a look at the highest all…
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Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Prime Minister was elected eight months ago with a new government, and we are aggressively pursuing the building of homes. We are working with provinces, municipalities, other stakeholders and the private industry to get more homes built, and we will see that materialize. The member also talked about the deficit. The reality is that Canada, compared to other G7 countr…
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Mr. Speaker, the only part that I really agree with the member opposite on is when he was talking about the issue of leadership coming out of the last national election. He is right, in the sense that Canadians have a high expectation, and that is the reason the Prime Minister and the Liberal Party received more votes in the last federal election than in the history of our party and, in fact, the …
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Mr. Speaker, when I take a look at the budget, there is so much in there for the entire country, but if I focus on the province of Quebec, I think of things like the aerospace industry with the military expenditures, the port of Montreal and so many other programs, including the enhancement of our arts and culture. There are so many positive things within the budget, yet the Bloc has made the dete…
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Mr. Speaker, I posed a question earlier to her colleague. The member was a part of the Conservative Party of Canada's attempt to precipitate an election by voting against the budget. However, if we take a look at the budget, contrary to a lot of the criticism that she levels, it provides all sorts of sustainable programs, such as schoolchildren getting food, the pharmacare program that she refers …
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