Peter Fragiskatos

Mr. Speaker, the member calls for a focus on economic renewal in this country. We have an opportunity as members of Parliament in this House of Commons to support Bill C-39, a bill that is focused on building up this country. We used to build things in this country. We used to do that, and that is exactly what this government wants to do. We call on Conservatives to put aside partisanship, much along the lines of what former prime minister Harper did quite recently. He put aside partisanship for the benefit of this country. Let us work together.

Mr. Speaker, I remind my Conservative colleagues, with great respect, of course, that if they do not want to listen to Liberals, I suppose that is fine. They can listen to Conservatives. Stephen Harper has already been mentioned. They should listen, especially, to Premier Danielle Smith. My colleague is from Alberta. Most members of the Conservative caucus are from Alberta. They ought to listen to the Conservative premier of that province, who is working constructively with this government to ensure that the country is building and to ensure that jobs are the focus, so we can ensure a future for our children.

Mr. Speaker, this member spent a half hour in a video going after Tim Hortons for converting to paper lids. Paper lids are her contribution to this discussion. She talks about Liberal policies. Liberal policies are squarely focused on the economy, on jobs, on youth, on child care, on dental care and on pharmacare. They are focused on making sure we have a prosperous environment and a prosperous society to give back to our kids.

Mr. Speaker, more than 4,000 Canadians live with ALS, and June is ALS Awareness Month. ALS has been called a rare disease, but that does not take away from the very real impacts it has on people who are living with it. ALS attacks the nerve cells that are responsible for movement; therefore, basic human functions such as walking, speaking, breathing and much more are impacted. While the effects are gradual, they are absolutely devastating. For the month of June, when we reflect on ALS and what it means for those living with it, we also celebrate the resilience of those who have this terrible disease. We also think of their family, their friends, their health care workers and of course the researchers. The researchers are doing so much, not only to bring awareness to ALS but also to provide hope. “Research”, of course, is another word for hope. I thank them. I thank the ALS Society of Canada and ALS Action Canada, two incredible advocacy organizations doing so much as well. We will continue this fight together.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday in the House, we heard from the Conservatives and the government. In a rare moment of unity, we expressed sympathy with what has happened. We condemned what has happened, and we continue to condemn what has happened. The hon. member knows very well that the IRGC has been listed as a terrorist entity since 2024 in this country, and we will always continue to act in accordance with public safety. Investigations on visas are ongoing as well. We will continue to do everything we have to do to keep Canadians safe. That is what we will do.

Mr. Speaker, we continue to entrust law enforcement, in particular the men and women of the Canada Border Services Agency, to do what is necessary to keep Canadians safe. As I said before, since 2024, the IRGC has been recognized as a terrorist entity. Everything we do will be in accordance with public safety. Individuals who break the law are absolutely the focus of the government and the CBSA, and they can be deported.

Madam Speaker, this member is doing outstanding work, first of all, on the committees for environment and for defence. He brings with him years of experience as a city councillor and as a journalist. He has been a pillar of his community. Of course, just like every Liberal MP, the member has advocated for the groceries and essentials benefit, a benefit that that will allocate up to $1,900 for a family of four. Today, cheques going out are up to the amount of $533 for a family of four. This is serious support for families because we believe in this country, and that is the approach we take.

Mr. Speaker, I will say what we will not do for seniors. We will not propose, as our central seniors policy, cutting pensions, for which the Leader of the Opposition fought for 20‑plus years. Housing is a very legitimate issue to talk about. We need more housing. That is why the government is seized with exactly that objective, working with provincial and municipal governments toward that end. If we look at the headwinds facing the Canadian economy and the trade war that has been put upon us, we see that of course there are challenges. The hardships created will absolutely be there for Canadians day in and day out. Conservatives can propose ideas that will not work and will not be serious. We are a serious government. We are going to stand up for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, time and again throughout the parliamentary session, the Conservatives have stood in the way of genuine, real and historic criminal justice reform. They will continue to do so, I suppose, but they should listen to their constituents, who want to see real reform. They should review the comments of police chiefs across the country, who have spoken in favour of exactly what the government is doing on these issues. With respect to the issue of non-residents or non-citizens, he knows very well, or should, that in 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada made clear that courts, and justices in particular, can take note of the immigration status of an individual but that does not impact upon sentencing.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the remarkable legacy and contributions of Arbour Glen Day Nursery, a child care centre in our community of London, Ontario, that will soon mark its 60th anniversary. I say it is remarkable because I speak from experience. Our daughter Ava took her first few steps there, formed her first friendships there and learned her first words there. What is true of Ava and our experience is true of so many other families and kids in London. This is a great place. It has been around for 60 years and for very good reason. It is because of the leadership, and it is because of the board, but it is especially because of the early childhood educators. I use those words very deliberately, as they are the teachers who help these kids day in and day out. With that, I wish the nursery another 60 years of incredible contributions and thank it for all the work that it has done. It matters. It has made a difference.

Mr. Speaker, as we know, Canada has been especially dependent on the relationship with the United States. That relationship is experiencing a rupture. The global economy is experiencing a rupture. The result is that, if we are going to be serious about these matters, we must work together to better this country. If they do not want to listen to the Liberals, that is fine; they should listen to Stephen Harper. We must work together to find ways to ensure our future and our children's future. That is exactly what the Prime Minister is doing. Diversification is a priority. Building this country up, focusing on our resources and focusing on the infrastructure that will get our resources to market—

Mr. Speaker, there is a pattern here with the Conservative questions on immigration. I have great respect for that member. We work together on the immigration committee. However, instead of putting meaningful reform forward that is constitutional, they go back to refugees constantly. That is not an illegitimate issue, but the way they frame it rings familiar. It is right-wing populism. He knows, because we have heard about it at committee, that there is no merit to those points. We are working with communities on long-term housing solutions for everyone.

Mr. Speaker, the member knows, because he works on the House of Commons committee responsible for immigration, that for some time now, hotels have not been used to resettle refugee claimants. We are certainly working with municipalities to assist in a variety of ways. We know that the global displacement crisis that has been in effect since 2015 has certainly created challenges for Canada and other democracies. We are there for municipalities in response. We will continue to do that. I look forward to the report on the matter that is upcoming in committee as well.

Mr. Speaker, that was almost on cue. I guess the member did not have time to revise the question. There the Conservatives go again about refugee claimants. The members knows or should know that the interim federal health program has been in existence since the 1950s, supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Let us also continue with the facts. Refugee claimants comprise less than 1% of the total population. That program, the interim federal health program, makes up less than 0.2% of the total health care spending in Canada. We have an obligation to respond in a compassionate way and also in a responsible way.

Mr. Chair, it is always an honour to address the House of Commons, particularly on the matter of immigration as parliamentary secretary responsible for immigration. We have a discussion tonight that has unfolded, and unfolded sometimes in unfortunate ways. The issue has been politicized over the past few years. Regardless, we have an opportunity now to seize the moment and be serious about a fundamental pillar of Canadian society and the Canadian economy. What is true for Canada, of course, is true for democracies around the world. We are engaged in a global competition for talent. How could we not be? I used the term “pillar” before. The immigration system has always served as a pillar of our country. When we look at those fundamental aspects that Canadians care about in the present and in the future, we look to the health care system first and foremost. Mr. Chair, you and I come from southwestern Ontario. We know the importance of nursing in our area. We know the importance of doctors in our area. You are from Stratford, and the surrounding communities have often lacked family doctors. The immigration system can help with that. The immigration system can help to secure nurses as well. In fact, 25% of nurses in Canada are immigrants, 37% of doctors are immigrants and 25% of overall health care workers in this country are immigrants. When we hear the minister tonight talk about pathways that have been made available to immigrants to settle in Canada to engage and work in the health care system, particularly doctors, she focuses on the right things. This government will stay seized with that. What about the trades? This country is seeing playing out, on a global level, a rupture. The Prime Minister rightly described it as such at Davos in that landmark speech. This is a rupture that is happening across the world. We need to build this country up to address that and to ensure that we export our resources with a focus on oil, a focus on critical minerals and the list goes on. We have to ensure, beyond sourcing domestic apprentices, which are so tremendously important, of course, that skilled tradespeople can come, and the immigration system has always served to benefit this country in that regard. We can think about Portuguese immigrants, Italian immigrants, and I will not let down my ancestors here, Greek immigrants as well, working in the skilled trades. I could cite many other examples of celebrated heritage communities in our country that have made such an important contribution, and the future is bright in that regard. We have a Prime Minister and a government that is absolutely focused on the economy and recognizing fundamentally the natural tie that exists between the immigration system and the economic system. Immigration policy is economic policy. We cannot divorce ourselves from that reality. What about clean energy? What I just said about skilled trades aligns with that as well. We have seen the government pursue a number of initiatives. Just this week, we see the deal that has been set with the German government in terms of LNG. We will see much more work done on this in a variety of ways to advance that important priority. We are going to need skilled tradespeople in that area as well, and the immigration system provides an answer to that. On advanced manufacturing, our region, and Mr. Chair, we come from southwestern Ontario, is going through a very troubling time right now. We should not hide from that fact. The trade war that we never asked for, but has been put upon us, is a very real one, and so advanced manufacturing needs to continue to be a focus. Once we see, hopefully, the page turn, and the American government and the Canadian government come to an agreement that serves this country's interests, we can see a better future for advanced manufacturing. The immigration system can help in that regard as well. My question to the minister is on how the main estimates and how her overall approach, and this government's approach, help to serve the immigration system and the economy. If she could talk specifically about the inextricable link between the two, I would appreciate it.

Mr. Speaker, there are Canadians, certainly, who are experiencing hardship, but they will not find a plan for their future on the Conservative side, with all due respect. The member talks about food prices. The hon. Leader of the Opposition talked about food prices. There is no plan, in fact, on that side. They want to cut every support that goes towards that: the school food program, the Canada child benefit, dental care, child care. The list goes on. This is the Conservative approach: to throw whatever they can at the wall and catch a few headlines. It will not work. Canadians need a serious government. That is exactly what they have. We will continue to do this work.

Mr. Speaker, the International Monetary Fund has affirmed, as we know, the sound fiscal framework that the government has embraced. That is also true of the key rating agencies. My colleagues keep talking about a credit card. Yes, there are Canadians, young Canadians included, who do have credit card debt. Conservatives want to make it worse by forcing Canadians to not receive the Canada child benefit, to not receive support for child care and to not receive support for the school food program. Conservatives want Canadians to pay for these. In this country, we believe that government has a role in fundamentally making sure that Canadians have a chance. That is exactly what these programs do.

Mr. Speaker, as I have shared with the House before, personal attacks speak for themselves. What do we see on this side of the House? We are working for Canadians, putting in place the platform that every single Liberal MP ran on, which is being executed now: a decline in the number of temporary residents, a decline in the number of people seeking asylum, working toward and improving the international student system, a 70% decline in the number of student permits issued since 2014, and an entry and exit system that is being strengthened in partnership with the CBSA. I could go on. We will continue to be serious. The Conservatives can continue to play games.

Mr. Speaker, I will give the Conservatives credit. They are on message. The script does not change. They talk about being in touch. I remind my colleagues that it was their leader who stood in front of the home of a waitress and called it a shack. What do they want to cut? The members on that side have never answered us. Would they cut the child benefit? Would they cut the food program in schools? Would they cut day care supports? They would cut all of it. They do not have a plan. They are not serious.

Mr. Speaker, the member is referring to the interim federal health program, a program that has been in existence since the 1950s, a program that has been supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Yes, this program does provide health care for people seeking asylum. What have we seen since 2015? We have seen a mass displacement crisis across the world. Canada has seen a mass increase as a result of people seeking asylum in this country. The program's costs obviously have grown dramatically since then. What have we done? We have worked to bring down costs, putting in place a copayment system that is going into effect in May.