Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “The Human Rights Situation in Haiti”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Mr. Speaker, last week, Environment and Climate Change Canada released Canada's national greenhouse gas inventory. This annual exercise summarizes Canada's progress in the fight against climate change. There is a lot of good news in the report. Can the Prime Minister inform the House about Canada's record on reducing greenhouse gas emissions?
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Madam Speaker, Canada's innovation and economic priorities are evolving. We will continue to prioritize clean growth, good jobs and investments for the future. Budget 2023 announced many innovative new measures that will enable Canada to play a leadership role on the international stage. Can the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry tell us about these important measures?
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about my recent visit to Health Partners International of Canada, commonly known as HPIC. I saw first-hand the incredible work that this organization is doing. HPIC sends humanitarian and emergency medical kits to vulnerable communities around the globe. Since 1990, HPIC has dispatched $670 million in medicines to 130 countries. Today, it is working in 37 countri…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all the members who have expressed themselves thus far on this extremely important piece of legislation, Bill S-211. We need to take a step back and look at the path this bill has taken. First off, the very notion of forced labour being enacted into legislation has been something that this Parliament has been discussing for several years. Thankfully, we are on …
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Mr. Speaker, I request a recorded division.
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Mr. Speaker, six years ago on Sunday, six men lost their lives to an act of hate at the Centre culturel islamique de Québec in Sainte‑Foy. The next day, vigils for the Muslim community were held throughout Quebec. I attended one in Montreal. It was freezing outside, but my heart was warmed by the sight of Quebeckers from all walks of life coming out in solidarity. Most of them did not even belong …
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Madam Speaker, yes, I consent.
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Madam Speaker, I would request a recorded division.
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Madam Speaker, I thank everyone who spoke to this motion. It is a beautiful thing to hear voices united together, echoing as one, for this particular motion, a motion to help our human family and address a pressing issue. Whether one views it as genocide or grave and serious crimes against humanity, it is an issue that must be addressed with clarity. This motion will be looked at not only by Canad…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan a question. We are working together on the Uighur file, which is an important issue. We are the co-chairs of the Canada-Uyghur Parliamentary Friendship Group. I ask the member how the bill would impact this grave and serious human rights concern, which the House has said is a genocide occurring currently against the …
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Madam Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan. I also want to thank Senator Ataullahjan, who has created this conversation within our House, the lower house, the House of Commons. This Senate bill, Bill S-223, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (trafficking in human organs), is a critical piece of legis…
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Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Canada's first official Hindu Heritage Month, I rise to congratulate the Murugan Temple for its years of service and the Hindu-Mandir on its recent 24th anniversary. Since they were founded in 1983 and 1995, the Murugan Temple and the Hindu Mandir have been playing a vital role. Their work not only serves the social and religious needs of our community, but also prom…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “The Situation of Human Rights Defenders, Journalists and Media Organizations”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
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Madam Speaker, this Remembrance Day, Canadians across our great country will remember the men and women who served and continue to serve in times of peace, crisis and war. Last week, a fire destroyed the legion in my riding. It had been established in 1957. Many irreplaceable items were lost, including the Legion's original charter, which was signed by Queen Elizabeth II; a restored World War I ri…
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Mr. Speaker, last Friday, October 21, Emmanuel Christian School in Pierrefonds—Dollard held a walkathon against violence. The gathering honoured Jayson Colin, who at 26 tragically lost his life on August 10, 2022. Jayson was an Emmanuel graduate. Jayson was a victim of gun violence. Jayson was deeply involved in his community. Jayson was deeply loved. Let us recommit to creating communities that a…
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moved: That, given the motion adopted unanimously by the House on February 22, 2021, recognizing that a genocide is currently being carried out by the People's Republic of China against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, in the opinion of the House, the government should: (a) recognize that Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims that have fled to third countries face pressure and intimidation by the Chin…
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Madam Speaker, I offer my apologies. My seconder is the member for Outremont. I would also like to highlight that we have members from every party endorsing this motion by jointly seconding. From the benches opposite, we have the former leader of the Conservative Party, the member for Durham; a friend and colleague of mine who is very active on the Uighur file, the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Sa…
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Madam Speaker, this is an important question. We are politicians. We know conversation and dialogue are important in what we are doing, so that is what I am doing. I am personally having robust conversations, and I encourage the member to do so as well. When we do so, let us do so in order to win people, to open up people's hearts, so they can see the merits of what we are pleading. If we approach…
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Madam Speaker, I tabled this motion in the hope that the government would support it. I always have the hope and the belief it will happen. As somebody who was an activist in the past, I believe everything is possible with effort.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Bloc Québécois member for his question. I hope we will speak with one voice. I do not yet know if that will happen, but I hope it will. For now, I think we are on the right track. Twenty members of Parliament supported this motion, and that includes members from across all parties in the House. I hope that we will continue in this direction until the end.
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member opposite for that important observation, that Uighur people are right now suffering a genocide and that we need to act as soon as possible to help people. The sad reality is that we cannot go into China to stop it. We need to continue to work with the international community and call for unfettered access, because it is only with unfettered access that…
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Mr. Speaker, as politicians we know that everything is movable and nothing is determined in advance. That is why I make the clear call for us to unite together in order to make the possible happen. Thus, I will keep it very simple and to that single point. That is my firm opinion. If we ask for it and call for it, it is possible, so let us make it happen.
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Mr. Speaker, lawyers say we cannot put ourselves in the mind of somebody else, so I cannot put myself in the mind of anyone else; I can just control what I do. I had a slot in the lottery that allowed me to put forth any piece of legislation or motion, and of all the things I am working on, I chose this one issue, because I knew that through this I could have a positive impact, that we could have …
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Mr. Speaker, I hope I am audible with the microphones here. I know my voice is gone. I do not have COVID. I tested negative, but I am here to speak to the motion the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan brought forth. This is an important debate and, I would suggest, a preview of what we will be seeing on Wednesday and in December when we will be discussing my own motion, which is Motion No.…
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Mr. Speaker, on October 1, people around the world demonstrated in solidarity with Iranian women. These people have been rising up since the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. In Montreal, I joined thousands on the streets who called for freedom and justice. Mahsa Amini was a vibrant 22-year-old Iranian woman. She was arrested by Iran's morality police and died a short while after, while in custody. Acc…
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Mr. Speaker, according to the United Nations, the world is going through a global food crisis caused by war, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada, with its international partners like the World Food Programme, has worked tirelessly to combat food insecurity. Mr. David Beasley, the executive director of the World Food Programme, has been championing this cause during his ongoing visit t…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to sound the alarm on the critical situation of the Uighurs and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang, China. Today, the National Council of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Uighur community have organized a Uighur advocacy day on the Hill. In February 2021, this House recognized the Uighur genocide. Currently, over one million are living this nightmare. Recently, in August, …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an important leader and friend who will soon be leaving our community. Rabbi Mark Fishman has served as Beth Tikvah's rabbi since 2013. Our synagogue in Dollard is home to one of the most vibrant Jewish communities in Canada, a community I am honoured to serve. Whether he was organizing family fun programs, such as the Purim carnival, bringing the synago…
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Mr. Speaker, June is CDKL5 Awareness Month. Amelia is a five-year-old resident in my riding. She is a young girl in Pierrefonds—Dollard who suffers from this rare disease. CDKL5 is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a rare gene mutation. It also is one of the most common forms of genetic epilepsy among young girls. Amelia lives with this disorder, and it is an honour to talk about her braver…
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Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to talk about an organization that is doing fantastic work on behalf of the Black community in Pierrefonds—Dollard. The West Island Black Community Association, properly known as WIBCA, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month. This wonderful organization provides a wide array of services to all segments of society while also empowering Montreal's Black …
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Mr. Speaker, last year, in the community of London, Ontario, a heinous Islamophobic attack took the lives of four members of the Afzaal family and left a young son orphaned. Canadian Muslims are no strangers to acts of violence and hate: the Centre culturel islamique de Québec, the IMO mosque in Etobicoke as well as London. Hate and bigotry have no place in Canada. We must all contribute to buildi…
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Mr. Speaker, the 75th World Health Assembly convened last week. It was the first to be held in person since the beginning of the pandemic. This was an excellent opportunity for the delegates, WHO experts, partner agencies and civil society to discuss current priorities and future solutions to issues critical to global public health. Can the Minister of Health tell the House more about this assembl…
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Mr. Speaker, I am happy to second this bill, and I hope that we can pass this legislation quickly through the House.
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Mr. Speaker, this week, more than 300 million people around the world are celebrating Nowruz. Nowruz, which means “new day”, celebrates the Persian new year and the arrival of spring. During this time, friends and families sit around the haft-seen table and exchange gifts, share food, and reflect on the year that has been and the year to come. Without a doubt, the past two years have been quite ch…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure and an honour to rise in the House to speak in support of Bill C‑232, which would designate the month of April as Arab heritage month. I also want to thank the hon. member for Ottawa South for introducing this bill. I would also like to take a moment, given the context we are in right now with world affairs, to mark and speak about Ukraine. We know that this is a grav…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Cumberland—Colchester for his comments and also I want to extend my condolences for the passing of your friend. I appreciate a lot of what you said. I would like to hear from you in particular around, since we are talking about it, the protest convoy in front of the Hill right now. You did not mention it at all in your address, and I am curious a…
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Mr. Speaker, xin nian kuai le. Sun nien fai lok. Happy New Year. On February 1, Canadians of Chinese and Asian origin will celebrate the lunar new year. In Asian tradition, we are now entering the Year of the Tiger. The tiger is known for its raw power and impressive bravery. This is meant to inspire energy and positivity, qualities we can all embrace as we enter this new year. Since the beginning…
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Mr. Speaker, I sincerely thank the voters and residents of Pierrefonds—Dollard, as well as my volunteers and family for helping to send me back to the House of Commons for the second time. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay homage to a volunteer in my recent campaign. Two weeks ago today, Osama Alsamman passed away at the age of 35 due to complications related to COVID. Osama was a …
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