Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, when Christine and I sent Katherine and Sarah off on school trips, we waved goodbye and could not wait to hear about their adventures when they returned home. That was the expectation for the parents of Minnekhada Middle School students in Port Coquitlam yesterday. Ten students and two adults on an end-of-year excursion to Cultus Lake Waterpark sustained serious electrical injuries. They were rushed to hospital by ground and air ambulance. They are now in stable condition. To the kids, I say get better soon. They have an entire community pulling for them. To the parents, I say I cannot imagine the fear and anxiety in those moments. No parent expects a call like the one they received yesterday. I want to assure the parents, the children and all those impacted that the whole Tri-Cities community stands with them.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that on Friday, April 24, I was arrested by the Coquitlam RCMP. The crime was drinking too much coffee while on House duty. I pleaded guilty. I was cuffed for a cure. Cuffed for a Cure is the lighter side of Cops for Cancer. The harder side is the cycling. Each year, officers across Canada cycle hundreds of kilometres raising funds for life-saving childhood cancer research and supporting families facing the unimaginable. Their commitment reflects the very best of our community: compassion, resilience and a deep sense of service. I encourage all Canadians to support Cops for Cancer and to help ensure that no child faces cancer alone.

Mr. Speaker, next week, residents of Port Coquitlam will celebrate one of our community's most beloved traditions, May Days. Now in its 103rd year, this long-standing celebration of spring brings together neighbours, families and visitors for festivities that reflect the very best of community spirit. From the opening ceremonies this Sunday to the Rotary May Day Parade the following Saturday, May 9, May Days is a reminder of the strong volunteerism and local pride that define our community. I encourage everyone to take part and to enjoy the live music, delicious food and many family-friendly activities that make May Days so special. I encourage everyone to join in celebrating what makes Port Coquitlam such a vibrant place to call home.

Mr. Speaker, Tuesday's tragic events at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School have left a community devastated. My heart is with the families grieving unimaginable loss. I am wishing love and strength to the people who were injured and to the students, staff and residents who are now trying to process what happened. No community should have to experience this kind of violence. I want to acknowledge the courage and professionalism of all first responders, educators and local officials who acted swiftly to protect others and to respond in a moment of crisis. On behalf of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, I extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected. We stand with the people of Tumbler Ridge, all British Columbians and indeed all Canadians at this heartbreaking time.

Mr. Speaker, Iranian Canadians' hearts ache every day. It is the silence after an email that never delivers, the fear when a loved one cannot be reached and the worry that a simple act of courage will be met with violence. In our communities across B.C.'s Lower Mainland, many are living this reality right now, as they have relatives and friends in Iran facing repression, detention and worse. To them, I want to say clearly, I hear them and they are not alone. We mourn those who have been lost, including the victims of flight PS752, and we stand with families still seeking truth, justice and accountability. I will keep listening to Iranian Canadians, and I will keep pressing the Government of Canada to work with partners to defend human rights and protect our communities here from intimidation and foreign interference.

Mr. Speaker, let me start by acknowledging that Canada's Parliament is located on the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin people, whose presence here reaches back to time immemorial. I am honoured to rise in the House today to speak in support of Bill C-10, an act respecting the commissioner for modern treaty implementation. This legislation represents a vital step forward, one that would strengthen accountability, enhance transparency and build trust with modern treaty partners across the country. It would also reinforce our shared commitment to reconciliation and to ensuring that Canada keeps its promises. For too long, there has been a gap between the commitments made in modern treaties and the reality of their implementation. This bill would take a significant step toward closing that gap. By establishing an independent agent of Parliament, the commissioner for modern treaty implementation, Canada would ensure that progress on modern treaty obligations is transparent, measurable and accountable. This is not a symbolic gesture. It is a concrete, practical reform that would support real progress in implementing the rights and relationships enshrined in modern treaties. Our government has made significant policy changes that enable us to conclude treaty negotiations faster and more effectively. As a result, Liberal governments over the past decade have signed or initialled five modern treaties, including, most recently, with the Manitoba Métis Federation in 2024. Right now, Canada's new government is nearing the initialling of six new modern treaties, and we will continue to advance this important work alongside indigenous partners. This bill and the commissioner it would create would build trust, enhance transparency and deliver the results that modern treaty partners have been advocating for. When it comes to modern treaties, we intend to listen to indigenous partners. The commissioner would provide independent oversight of federal activities related to modern treaty implementation, ensuring that progress is visible and its shortcomings are addressed transparently. Through regular reporting and public accountability, Canadians and modern treaty partners alike would have a clear picture of how Canada is meeting its obligations. Accountability is at the heart of this legislation. The commissioner would join a distinguished group of agents of Parliament, officers who safeguard the principles of our democracy, like the Auditor General, who ensures public funds are used effectively; the Privacy Commissioner, who protects Canadians' personal information; the Information Commissioner, who upholds the right to know; and the Commissioner of Official Languages, who defends linguistic rights across federal institutions. Each plays a vital role in strengthening public trust, yet until now, there has been no independent oversight to ensure that Canada fulfills its constitutional obligations under modern treaties. That is the gap this legislation would fill. The commissioner would have full and direct access to the information required to evaluate federal performance, a level of independence on par with other oversight officers such as the Auditor General and Privacy Commissioner. This is the benchmark of openness and accountability, essential to maintaining public confidence and ensuring credible, evidence-based oversight. Transparency is not about blame. It is about clarity, openness and shared progress. When modern treaty partners, Parliament and Canadians can see how modern treaty implementation is progressing, trust grows. Imagine a future where all Canadians can access clear information on where treaty commitments are being fulfilled and where more work is needed. That is what this bill would deliver. Transparency empowers communities, strengthens governance and builds the foundation for a better relationship between Canada and indigenous peoples. Transparency and trust make good governance stronger. They turn promises into measurable progress and ensure that reconciliation is grounded in evidence and results. Reconciliation takes shape through the everyday work of implementing commitments, resolving gaps and fostering trust. This legislation would move reconciliation from aspiration to administration, ensuring that the work of partnership is measured and maintained. Modern treaties are at the core of this journey. They affirm indigenous rights and outline shared responsibilities for the future. However, treaties are only as strong as their implementation. The bill would ensure that implementation will be guided by independent oversight, clear reporting and mutual accountability. By embedding transparency and accountability into our systems, we are advancing reconciliation not just with words but with action. The commissioner's work would complement Canada's commitments under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission calls to action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. These frameworks remind us that oversight and accountability are not obstacles to reconciliation; they are its foundation. What is great about the legislation is that it was co-developed with modern treaty partners. Over 130 indigenous governments and organizations were engaged in shaping this proposal, ensuring the design reflects their experience and priorities. That process has already built trust, and that trust will continue once the commissioner begins their work. As the Tli?cho Government stated, “The Commissioner for Modern Treaty has been decades in the making. This is an exciting moment that our hard work together has paid off, and this important mechanism for accountability and oversight will be established.” Through ongoing engagement and dialogue, the commissioner would ensure that the perspectives of modern treaty partners are reflected in the reviews and recommendations. This is how partnership becomes policy and how reconciliation becomes reality. Modern treaties are much more than legal instruments. They are blueprints for opportunity. They provide a framework for governance, education, infrastructure and economic development. When implemented effectively, they enable indigenous governments to plan long-term, attract investment and create jobs. By improving implementation and accountability, the bill would strengthen those outcomes, not only for indigenous peoples but for all Canadians. Modern treaties contribute to stronger local economies, better infrastructure and sustainable growth. When indigenous communities thrive, Canada thrives. As an agent of Parliament, the commissioner would report directly to Parliament, ensuring independence from political influence. These reports would highlight successes, identify challenges and recommend systemic improvements to ensure better outcomes. This accountability mechanism would serve both Parliament and modern treaty partners, providing transparent information and supporting continuous progress. Accountability is not about perfection. It is about persistence, learning and the courage to adapt. It shows modern treaty partners that Canada is prepared to hold itself to the same standard of responsibility it asks of others. The bill is about accountability, trust and reconciliation in action. It ensures that Canada fulfills not only the letter of its modern treaty obligations but also the spirit, grounded in partnership, respect and shared responsibility. The commissioner for modern treaty implementation would bring independent oversight, greater transparency and meaningful accountability. This is not a cost but a tool that would prevent disputes, strengthen relationships and deliver lasting results. We have made progress, but we know there is more to do. Let us seize upon this opportunity to make reconciliation real, not only with words but with measurable results. The bill strengthens the institutions that uphold reconciliation, not by rewriting the past but by ensuring accountability for the future. By supporting the act, we affirm that transparency and trust are the cornerstones of our shared journey forward. Meegwetch. Qujannamiik. Marsi.

Mr. Speaker, while it is true that existing committees can undertake studies of this kind, many committees do a lot of work on many different things. What is important about this approach is that it is a focus mechanism that is deeply integrated in our relationship with indigenous people and would allow this new agent of Parliament to focus very directly, on an ongoing basis, on matters that are of concern to indigenous partners.

Mr. Speaker, I have a list here of dozens of indigenous partners that were consulted. In my speech, I mentioned there were 130 organizations and indigenous governments that were consulted. This position of an independent agent of Parliament has been requested by indigenous partners and peoples for at least 20 years. It is critical in being able to focus on the deficiencies in the processes and to make sure that we achieve effective progress going forward.

Mr. Speaker, the member mentioned that Parliament's remit is not only legislation but also holding government to account. He mentioned many times the Auditor General. I would remind the member that the role of this new commissioner is exactly in parallel with that of the Auditor General. Its job is to inform Parliament, to make Parliament more able to hold ministers to account and to hold government to account.

Mr. Speaker, the member is concerned that there is no enforcement capability in this agency, while at the same time he is bewailing what he considers the creation of a bureaucracy. I would suggest that if enforcement were incorporated, that would mandate an enormous bureaucracy. In truth, there would be no bureaucracy around the position. This is all about using the bureaucracy of the House of Commons to hold the government to account. The role of the agency would be to be a tool of Parliament so Parliament can be kept informed on an ongoing, live basis of situations that need action and so the House can hold the government to account.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Beauport—Limoilou for sharing his time with me. It is my pleasure to take part in this debate today on Bill C-19, the Canada groceries and essentials benefits act. As we all know, advanced economies around the world are facing complex economic challenges, and Canada is no different. Rising protectionism in the form of tariffs, supply chain disruptions and climate change are all posing significant challenges to the Canadian economy, and Canadians are feeling the impact in their daily lives. In response, our new government is moving Canada's economy from reliance to resilience, but we understand that some of the biggest long-term payoffs in this transformation will take time to be felt. To ensure Canadians have the support they need right now, we have introduced a series of new measures to limit pressures on costs, including making groceries and other essentials more affordable. The bill I am here to talk about today will help more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians afford day-to-day essentials. The support will be indexed to inflation and builds on the goods and services tax credit to provide $11.7 billion in additional financial assistance over six years. To help address affordability challenges, the benefit will provide a one-time top-up payment equal to a 50% increase in the annual 2025-26 value of the GST credit. This support will be paid out as early as possible this spring. It will deliver $3.1 billion in immediate assistance to individuals and families who are already getting the GST credit. There is more. In addition, the value of the Canada groceries and essentials benefit will increase by 25% for five years starting in July 2026. This expansion will deliver another $8.6 billion in support over the 2026-27 to 2030-31 period and will ensure the benefit goes to 500,000 new individuals and families. Taken together, these measures will provide up to an additional $402 to a single individual without children, $527 to a couple and $805 to a couple with two children. At these levels, our government will be offsetting grocery cost increases beyond the overall inflation rate since the pandemic. Let me provide a couple of examples of what this assistance would look like. A single senior with $25,000 in net income would receive a one-time top-up of $267 plus a longer-term increase of $136 for the 2026-27 benefit year, for a total increase of $402. In total, this senior would receive $950 for the 2026-27 benefit year, including the top-up. A couple with two children with $40,000 in net income would receive a one-time top-up of $533 plus an increase of $272 for the 2026-27 benefit year, for a total increase of $805. In total, they would receive $1,890 for the 2026-27 benefit year, including the top-up. After the one-time payment is made in the spring of 2026, eligible families and individuals will receive the enriched regular payments under the Canada groceries and essentials benefit as of July 2026. The benefit payments will arrive quarterly to ensure families can use the funds to help with their day-to-day expenses. To simplify this benefit for Canadians, recipients will not need to apply for the additional payments, but will be required to file their 2024 tax return to be able to receive the top-up. Recipients will need to file their 2025 tax return to receive the increased Canada groceries and essentials benefit payments as of July 2026. As we know, this benefit is one example of the many ways we are supporting Canadians during these unprecedented times. It will be in addition to existing benefits, such as the Canada child benefit, the Canada disability benefit and the guaranteed income supplement, which are already providing relief to millions of Canadians. The government is committed to limiting pressure on everyday costs for Canadians. Budget 2025 outlined how we will spend less on government operations and cut waste so we can invest more in growing our economy and protecting essential programs and initiatives that make life more affordable. There are programs and initiatives like the national school food program, which we are making permanent so that it can continue providing meals for up to 400,000 children every year. We are renewing the Canada Strong pass to help families and young people travel and explore Canada for less, and we are launching automated federal benefits that will reach up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians for the 2028 tax year. Bill C-19 also builds on measures we have introduced to lower costs for Canadians and protect essential programs like cutting taxes for 22 million middle-class Canadians, eliminating the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes under $1 million, lowering the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million, and cancelling the federal consumer carbon tax. Affordability measures, especially those related to food, require immediate support for Canadians. As previously mentioned, it is estimated that 12.6 million individuals and families would benefit from the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit, representing a material support to Canadians who need it the most while the government's plan to build the strongest economy in the G7 takes effect. The government is focused on building a stronger economy to create more career opportunities and higher wages. In parallel, we are limiting cost pressures to make life more affordable. That is how we will empower more Canadians with greater certainty, security and prosperity, now and into the future. I urge all hon. members to pass Bill C-19 without delay, so that we can ensure Canadians get this much-needed relief as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I would not agree with the causes of the high price for food that the hon. member mentioned. It is more realistic to understand that the high prices for food at this time are due more to tariffs, climate change and things like that. This program is not intended to be a magic bullet that will solve all the problems. This is a program that will help people to weather the storm while our other major undertakings take root and prosper.

Mr. Speaker, I will refer to my predecessor, who answered the question about whether payments are monthly or quarterly. It is a practical matter of getting things out in an efficient and effective manner. In terms of the overall budget that we presented before Christmas, it still has to be passed. It still has to go through all the steps it needs to go through. This is faster. This will allow us to deal with some of the intermediate problems that we are going to face over the coming months in a much quicker way.

Mr. Chair, I will be sharing my time. I rise today with a profound sense of solidarity and optimism to speak for the tens of thousands of Canadians whose lives and livelihoods are entwined with our nation's softwood lumber sector. These men and women, from the forests to the mills to the communities they support, embody the spirit of Canadian resilience, enterprise and hope. Canada's softwood lumber industry is a foundation for prosperity. It drives rural economies, sustains urban development and represents the best of our collective ingenuity. When the U.S. imposes duties and tariffs that harm this sector, as it has done periodically over the last four decades, it is not just about numbers on a ledger; it is families, futures and dreams that are put at risk. As for my home province of British Columbia, we heard first-hand at the natural resources committee from Kim Haakstad of the British Columbia Council of Forest Industries. We also heard from Andy Rielly of the Independent Wood Processors Association of British Columbia. Both Kim and Andy spoke of the importance of forestry to the economy of our province. In fact, Ms. Haakstad said, “In many towns, forestry isn't just an industry; it really is the community”. This past summer, the United States doubled existing duties and then applied an additional tariff last month. This unprecedented burden is impacting our businesses and communities. It is impacting workers and their families. It is putting Canadians' livelihoods at risk. However, in every region, Canadians have shown their strength and unity, finding ways to support one another, reimagining opportunities and never losing sight of what we can build together. As parliamentarians we are entrusted with the responsibility to defend Canadian workers and ensure our industries have the tools and support required to thrive both in the face of challenge and in times of transition. This government has recently introduced $1.25 billion in programs and measures to help businesses and workers adapt to the impact of these unfair U.S. duties. Funding for innovation, product and market diversification, training, and retraining is aimed at creating new jobs, strengthening local economies and developing skills for the jobs of the future. Our actions are guided by a single principle: no Canadian is left behind. We know that our workers are among the most skilled and dedicated in the world. From forestry professionals to truck drivers and from engineers to entrepreneurs, Canadians in the lumber sector contribute not just to our economy, but to our national identity. Their ingenuity and grit ensure that our forests are managed sustainably, our products meet the highest standards and our communities remain vibrant. Indigenous communities are vital participants and leaders in the forest sector as well. Their stewardship has shaped how we view our environment and our responsibilities as caretakers of the land. This government continues to work alongside indigenous partners, including through joint ventures, resource management initiatives and employment programs, to build inclusive, thriving futures for all. The impact of unwarranted U.S. duties and tariffs on our lumber has been felt far beyond any Canadian sawmill's gates. When a mill closes or downsizes, the effects ripple through local schools, hospitals, businesses and service providers. Every job loss touches lives in ways that cannot be measured in statistics alone. Still, Canadians persevere, standing together, supporting one another and finding new ways to move forward in unity, despite deep frustration and even anger brought on by the United States's decision to impose unjust tariffs and duties on Canadian softwood lumber and additional forest products. This government's response to these unjustified duties and tariffs is not limited to domestic assistance. Canada is vigorously contesting and has vigorously contested the unfair U.S. duties through established mechanisms, challenging them under CUSMA and engaging in legal action in U.S. courts. We remain confident in our legal and diplomatic efforts. At every step, we are guided by our values and by the resolve of the workers and communities we represent. The government is also working to diversify markets, encourage value-added production and promote sustainable forest practices that give Canadian products an edge around the globe. This strategy is anchored in our core values of collaboration, innovation and optimism for the future. The Canadian spirit shines brightest through times of challenge in small towns and big cities—

Mr. Chair, the extraordinary and unjust tariffs that we are facing right now were not actually present during the election. The Prime Minister did negotiate with the United States and, in fact, 85% of our products, in general, are tariff-free. They are covered under CUSMA. Our fundamental problem with the United States and the softwood lumber arrangement is that the United States administration believes that it does not need our lumber. As long as it thinks it does not need our lumber, it puts us in a very bad negotiating position to try to negotiate. The fact is that it is wrong. The U.S. does need our lumber. When it realizes that it does need our lumber, it will sit down with us and talk in good faith. When it is ready to sit down and talk with us in good faith, we will be more than willing and able to do so.

Mr. Chair, I certainly would love to see this resolved under the new version of CUSMA. The fundamental problem, as I mentioned before, is that at the moment the United States administration does not believe it needs our lumber. The President said so back in September. He said, “We don't need their lumber, because we have our own forests.” The United States is wrong. It does need our lumber. Once it starts to realize that, once that percolates into the American economy, the U.S. administration will be able to sit down with us in good faith, and we will be able to negotiate a deal that is good for Canada. We have to be in a good negotiating position in order to make a deal that is good for Canada, and the United States has to make sure the deal is good for them as well. A good business deal is good for both parties.

Mr. Chair, absolutely, we must continue to support the industry. We must continue to provide alternative directions. We must continue to build out our use of wood products domestically and to develop market diversity so that we can sell more offshore. The United States does not have to be our only external market. We can sell to the world. We have a product that is worth selling to the world, a product that the world needs and that the world wants.

Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to Bill C-14, a bill the government has introduced to strengthen bail and sentencing laws. With over 80 clauses, it represents a major step in modernizing Canada's criminal justice system and reinforcing public safety. Today I would like to speak to the House about three of the amendments that aim to protect our communities by strengthening our sentencing regime. These amendments would create new aggravating factors targeting offences against first responders, as well as theft and mischief offences that harm essential infrastructure, and retail theft. Recently I met with Keegan Gordon and Steve Piccolo of the Coquitlam firefighters, who were here in Ottawa for the annual firefighters legislative conference. Both Keegan and Steve spoke of the need for the protections the bill offers to first responders. An aggravating factor is a circumstance or detail about an offence that makes the crime more serious and can lead to harsher sentences. These factors send a message to the court that certain conduct justifies harsher sentences. Among these amendments are specific provisions aimed at better protecting our first responders, who face a disturbing rise in violence and threats that happen while they do their critical work. Every day, firefighters, paramedics and police officers put themselves in harm's way to keep our communities safe. They accept that their jobs come with risk, including running toward burning buildings, volatile scenes and the unknown. However, no one should have to accept being assaulted while doing their job. Risk is part of the job; abuse is not, yet across Canada, the stories keep coming. More first responders are being threatened or attacked while simply doing their jobs. In October, a paramedic in Kamloops, B.C., was assaulted while refuelling her ambulance at a gas station on a Sunday evening. An unknown man walked up and hit her, unprovoked. In March, Greg Stubbs, a paramedic on Vancouver Island, was attacked and seriously injured while responding to a call at an encampment in downtown Victoria, and in Winnipeg, union leaders reported nearly 100 assaults on first responders in 2025 alone, including a firefighter's being struck in the face with a metal pole while on duty. Our police officers, paramedics and firefighters need to know that their safety matters. Bill C-14 proposes a new aggravating factor at sentencing for offenders who commit violent acts and other crimes against all first responders in the course of their duties. This amendment would respond to ongoing calls to denounce and deter violence against first responders. The proposed amendment would build on earlier amendments, including former Bill C-3, which amended the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code to create an aggravating factor when the victim of an offence is a health care worker. Ultimately, this change would ensure that judges consider imposing tougher sentences when violence targets those who serve. The message in Bill C-14 is clear. If someone targets first responders, they can expect zero tolerance. They would be held accountable for their conduct. Just as we must protect those who respond in moments of crisis, we must also protect the systems they rely upon to do their jobs: our power grids, communication networks and transportation corridors. Bill C-14 aims to do this by enacting a new aggravating factor; this would apply to theft and mischief offences that have an impact on essential infrastructure. Across Canada, we have seen a sharp rise in thefts and damage targeting power lines, railways and telecommunications networks. These are crimes that may look like property offences on paper, but they can shut down hospitals, delay first responders and put whole communities at risk. According to Statistics Canada, metal theft, which includes copper wire along with other things, such as manhole covers, grew 56% between 2018 and 2022. Bell has documented more than 2,200 instances of copper theft nationwide since 2022, with hot spots in Hamilton, Cambridge, Windsor and Quebec's Saguenay region. In Calgary alone there have been over 40 incidents targeting telecommunications infrastructure, causing more than $1.4 million in damages and repairs. Copper wire theft affects entire neighbourhoods, leaving homes without electricity, Internet or access to emergency communications. When these crimes go unreported, the danger only grows, putting lives at risk. Bill C-14 makes it clear that attacks on infrastructure are not minor property crimes; they are serious threats to public safety. The bill proposes an aggravating factor when offences like theft, mischief or robbery interfere with access to essential infrastructure, disrupt its functioning or make it unsafe or unfit for use. If someone steals, damages or disrupts the systems people in Canada count on, like our power, communication or transportation networks, it is a threat to public safety. The bill proposes that our justice system treat it this way. Bill C-14 would also seek to address crimes that harm our businesses and communities, namely retail theft. When we talk about retail theft, we are referring to high-volume, profit-driven crime. These are thefts carried out repeatedly, often by organized networks, with the intent to resell, barter or fraudulently return merchandise. The government has heard concerns raised by provinces, territories and industry stakeholders about the growing problem of this type of theft. We have seen media coverage and industry data that show organized retail theft in Canada has exploded, costing billions of dollars, involving repeat offenders and violence, and crippling local businesses. Specifically, the Retail Council of Canada has reported that retailers lost an estimated $9.1 billion to theft in 2024, an increase from previous years, and organized theft has been identified as a contributing factor to several retail store closures. The RCC also reported that approximately 45% of theft incidents in 2024 involved violence against employees or customers. In the city of Vancouver, police reported nearly 7,700 shoplifting incidents last year, an increase of about 12% compared to the year before, with shoplifting in the downtown core up 40%. Bill C-14 recognizes and responds to this reality, seeking to ensure our justice system treats organized, repeat, profit-motivated retail theft with the seriousness it deserves. While courts have long-considered profit motivation an aggravating factor under common law, this amendment would codify that principle in legislation. Codification is important because it ensures consistency across the country and clearly signals to judges, offenders and the public that these crimes are serious and will be treated as such. Bill C-14 would introduce aggravating factors at sentencing to ensure our courts recognize the seriousness of these crimes. By highlighting the impact on public safety, critical systems and communities, the law would signal to judges that these offences are not ordinary property or assault cases. In closing, whether it is an attack on those who run toward danger, damage to the systems we rely upon or theft that undermines our communities, Bill C-14 makes it clear that this conduct is unacceptable and will be treated with the seriousness it deserves. We are standing with first responders, protecting critical infrastructure and supporting Canadian businesses and communities. With these measures, we are sending a simple but powerful message that Canada will not tolerate attacks on its people, its systems or its neighbourhoods.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sufficiently familiar with the Jordan principle to respond to that, but I note that in this legislation, we are emphasizing the importance of increasing the severity of sentences for violent crimes and sex offenders, and informing our judicial system that we consider these matters with great seriousness. Judges should be very careful with these kinds of crimes when granting bail and considering release. We are implementing reverse onus provisions for many new crimes as well to ensure that our judicial system has more awareness of the danger that some of these individuals present and that we keep them off the streets.

Mr. Speaker, that is a great question. Of course, we have consulted very broadly and very widely with first responders, with police and with legislators across the country to provide the direction we are going in and to get this direction under way. It is critically important that we pass this legislation soon so we can take the appropriate action in a timely manner. As the member mentioned, it is very critical that we do so before we rise for the break.

Mr. Speaker, today I congratulate Port Coquitlam's Patina Brewing on its success at the 2025 BC Beer Awards. On October 17, at New Westminster's Anvil Centre, Patina earned second place in the mixed-style beer category for its Italian Pilsner. This recognition reflects the skill and pride of a hometown team that keeps raising the bar for quality and community. Our region's craft beer scene is thriving. Local brewers brought home six awards this year, with strong showings from Burnaby's Dageraad Brewing, Port Moody's Yellow Dog Brewing and New Westminster's Steel & Oak Brewing Co. These achievements come during challenging times for the industry and they speak to resilience, creativity and the support of loyal customers across the Tri-Cities and New Westminster. Congratulations, Patina. Keep brewing excellence.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered today on the traditional and unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people. I rise today to speak about how the legislative amendments proposed in Bill C-12 would continue to uphold our humanitarian tradition and due process while focusing resources on those who need them and improving confidence in our asylum system. These amendments would strengthen and streamline Canada's asylum and immigration systems. They include new rules related not only to whose asylum claim can be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a decision, but also how claims are received, processed and decided. Under the legislation, the federal government would no longer refer claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board for an asylum claim decision for claims made more than one year after someone first arrives, after June 24, 2020, or claims made 14 or more days after someone enters Canada irregularly between border crossings. The amendments are designed to help protect our system against surges in claims, as well as people who want to use the asylum system to extend their stay in Canada when other mechanisms fail. They are not designed to turn away people with well-founded fear for their safety should they be returned to their home countries. In these instances, claims would be referred to the removal process, which includes the ability to seek a pre-removal risk assessment. Individuals can request this risk assessment when they believe they have a well-founded fear of removal to a situation where they would face persecution, torture or other grievous harm, for example. This safeguard gives us confidence that reforms to our asylum system do not undermine our commitment to protecting the world's most vulnerable people. The risk assessment upholds Canada's obligations under international human rights and refugee conventions. It is a well-established mechanism that operates within a larger system today, providing an opportunity for those facing removal to demonstrate that they would be at risk of persecution or harm should they be removed. A risk assessment request might highlight information such as conditions in their home country or personal circumstances that make their return unsafe. These could be, for example, political and economic upheaval, armed conflict or shifting social dynamics in a country. Similarly, personal circumstances, such as visibility in activism or family dynamics, can heighten the risk of harm should they return. The risk assessment ensures that these factors are thoroughly reviewed before any removal order is carried out. It is conducted by trained officers who carefully evaluate the credibility and significance of the evidence presented. This is a rigorous process rooted in a deep understanding of risk and refugee law. The importance of having such a process cannot be overstated. Without it, we would lack a critical safety net, and there would be risk of irreversible harm to individuals. Canada's pre-removal risk assessment process gives people a fair opportunity to submit evidence while ensuring that each case is deliberated with the seriousness that it deserves. The process is supported by a wealth of detailed data on country conditions and officers trained to evaluate risk with a high degree of expertise and sensitivity to individual circumstances. This underscores the importance of the pre-removal risk assessment process in maintaining Canada's strong history of refugee protection. The pre-removal risk assessment process also ensures that legislative changes made to our asylum system do not inadvertently expose individuals to harm. It acts as a backstop, allowing policy-makers to modernize and strengthen various aspects of our immigration framework while knowing that there is a fail-safe in place. Whether we are streamlining initial asylum decisions, addressing backlogs or modernizing pathways to protection, the pre-removal risk assessment remains an essential safeguard that gives us the confidence to innovate responsibly. It is important to recognize that the risk assessment is not a tool for delaying lawful removals. Instead, it is about making sure that each person's case is reviewed against the most current information and circumstances so that there is a full consideration of the risks they face and no one is sent into harm's way. This House has the important responsibility of ensuring that Canada's immigration and asylum systems reflect our values of compassion and fairness, while also meeting the needs of an evolving global context and addressing the pressures facing Canadians today. The pre-removal risk assessment process embodies this balance. It reassures Canadians that while we are taking urgent, necessary steps to strengthen our immigration system, we do so without compromising our commitment to protecting human life and dignity.

Madam Speaker, I agree with the hon. member that the process is important and that we do have to make sure the appropriate checks and balances are in place and people can get their story properly before the decision-makers. I believe that is the thrust of what the advance risk assessment process is about, to make sure that we put in that additional process and put in the additional checks and balances to make sure that the decisions coming forward are in the best interest of the country and of the individuals involved.

Madam Speaker, I am happy to welcome a new local newsroom serving Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, New Westminster and Burnaby. It is called Freshet News, and its first edition went online on Sunday. Local news is not a luxury. It is how neighbours learn what councils have decided, what local sports team won the game and what small businesses recently opened. The launch follows a community effort to save local news after local newspapers closed. Four veteran reporters stepped forward with a plan to build trusted coverage. I thank Janis Cleugh, Cornelia Naylor, Mario Bartel and Theresa McManus for their leadership and service. Freshet News will value verification, reflect our diversity and ask tough questions to make public policy better. I welcome that scrutiny and will keep an open line. I congratulate Freshet News.

Mr. Speaker, to me, what seems to underscore the very importance of the bill is the fact that certain issues could be separated from the military justice system and put into the civilian system. In some cases, for example, circumstances of sexual misconduct and other things of that sort could be directed directly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission without going through internal processes. I wonder what the member would say to that.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-11, the military justice modernization act. The Minister of National Defence has made it clear that Canada's new government is committed to ensuring the members of the Canadian Armed Forces have a workplace where all members feel supported, respected and included. Canadians have watched over the past few years as the Canadian Armed Forces has made significant efforts to organize—

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have watched over the past few years as the Canadian Armed Forces has made significant efforts to modernize and evolve as a 21st century workplace. While much has been accomplished toward this goal, there is still much more to do. Proposed Bill C-11 is another critical step towards meaningful and lasting institutional reform. Bill C-11 focuses on strengthening trust and confidence in the military justice system. This would be the next step in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces' efforts to address recommendations from independent reviews from former Supreme Court justices Fish and Arbour. These reports, and the more than 100 recommendations that stem from them, remain extremely important to our larger cultural change efforts. Overall, these reviews have helped define how DND and the CAF are undertaking changes to the military justice system and cultural evolution efforts. They have allowed for an impartial evaluation process, highlighting both the efforts that have fallen short and the barriers that still exist, and have made recommendations to improve. That is why today I will provide an overview of these independent external reviews and the progress that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have made to address their recommendations to date. I will begin with the independent external comprehensive review, also known as the Arbour report. This review was launched in April 2021 and led by former Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour to examine harassment and sexual misconduct in the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as policies, procedures, programs, practices and culture, including in the military justice system itself. The final report was made public on May 30, 2022, and the minister at the time welcomed all 48 recommendations. When the final report was received, there were 17 recommendations for which implementation could be undertaken immediately. This included the implementation of recommendation number 48, appointing an external monitor to oversee the implementation efforts of the Arbour report's recommendations. The minister at the time appointed Madame Jocelyne Therrien as the external monitor who provides monthly progress reports to the minister on the implementation of the recommendations. She also provides biannual progress reports that are made available publicly. The minister also announced the implementation of recommendations 7 and 9, changes to the military grievance and harassment processes, in August 2023. With the implementation of these recommendations, any CAF member who has experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct or any other form of discrimination based on sex or gender while performing their duties can now choose to bring their complaint directly to the Canadian Human Rights Commission without first exhausting internal grievance and harassment processes. The Arbour report also outlined improvements for the military college system in recommendations 28 and 29. That is why, in December 2023, the minister announced the seven people appointed to the Canadian Military Colleges Review Board to review Canada's two military colleges. In March 2025, this board released its report, which included 49 recommendations covering a range of areas, including cost, governance and quality of training. As we see with Bill C-11, which is being debated here today, we would also address the key aspects of recommendation 5 of the Arbour report by removing the CAF's investigative and prosecutorial jurisdiction over Criminal Code sexual offences committed in Canada. Since December 2021, all new Criminal Code sexual offence charges are now being laid in the civilian criminal justice system and no new Criminal Code sexual offence charges are being adjudicated in the military justice system. The Canadian Forces military police group is also leading a Criminal Code sexual offences operational framework working group with the Ontario solicitor general and Ministry of the Attorney General to develop a framework for the transfer of cases. Bill C-11 also addresses several recommendations from Justice Fish's third independent review of the National Defence Act. Bill C-11 would address eight recommendations from this review. These amendments seek to, among other things, first, modify the process for the appointment of the Canadian Forces provost marshal, the director of military prosecutions and the director of defence counsel services; second, expand the class of persons who are eligible to be appointed as a military judge to include non-commissioned members; and third, affirm the judge advocate general's respect for the independent authorities in the military justice system while exercising its superintendence of the administration of military justice. These amendments seek to strengthen trust in military justice authorities operating independently from the chain of command and to bolster the trust and confidence of Canadians in the military justice system. We are taking these recommendations seriously and moving quickly. We know that members of the Canadian Armed Forces are counting on us. As our government makes a generational investment in Canada's national defence, we know that we must invest in our people. The members of the Canadian Armed Forces are the foundation of Canada's national defence. Members have told us time and time again that they want to feel safe, protected and empowered to serve in a modern 21st-century workplace. External reviews of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have also told us that we need to modernize the military justice system. That is precisely what we are doing in Bill C-11, the military justice system modernization act. The legislative changes proposed in Bill C-11 would play a critical role in helping us address several important recommendations regarding sexual misconduct and would enhance trust in the military justice system. I encourage all members of this House to come together to support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, we brought this bill forward to be passed, and we count on the support of all members of the House to do so. It is clear that all members value the importance of this bill and the need for it to pass. The bill that was introduced in the previous Parliament, as mentioned, was unable to be proceeded with because of the filibuster that went on, which basically brought Parliament to its knees. We intend and wish for this bill to be carried forward to fruition. We want to get it to committee and pass it with the necessary amendments and appropriate improvements.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians across the country are preparing to mark the day of truth and reconciliation on September 30. This is an opportunity for us all to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools and to honour survivors and their families. Can the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations share with us the importance of this day and how Canadians can do their part to address the legacy of the residential school system and advance reconciliation?

Mr. Speaker, our government will win the trade war thrust upon us, by making Canada an energy superpower, diversifying our exports and building the strongest economy in the G7, all while working with first nations rights holders. Selling our resources responsibly will generate revenues needed to deliver the programs Canadians rely on, while helping our allies shift away from higher-emissions fuel sources, and taking cards away from autocrats and giving them back to Canadians. It is a win-win. Can the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources share an update with the House about Canada's work to achieve these objectives?

Mr. Speaker, as it is my first time rising in this Parliament, I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation and thanks to the people of Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam for electing me to a fourth term in this place. I am pleased about an important initiative in British Columbia, in the Lower Mainland, to save our local news. Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Burnaby, New Westminster, Anmore and Belcarra lost local news coverage when Glacier Media shuttered their papers. People no longer know what is happening in their council chambers, read news about their little league teams or learn about that new cookie shop downtown. Last week, I learned about the Save Our Local News campaign. Headed by former local reporters Janice Cleugh, Cornelia Naylor, Mario Bartel and Theresa McManus, it will create a new, reliable news outlet with the support of Unifor. Please join me to save our local news.