Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to taking responsibility, the Liberal government has a long record of making excuses and getting very few results. After 10 years, Canadians are carrying record household debt, they are facing the highest food inflation in the G7 and they are living in the only shrinking economy in the G7. These are the consequences of policy choices that have driven up costs and made it…
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Mr. Speaker, according to Statistics Canada, over 100,000 jobs were lost in the first two months of this year. Today, Algoma Steel will be laying off 1,000 workers. These are families who are now left wondering how they are going to pay their bills and put food on their tables. After years of warning signs, the Liberal government continues to impose policies that weaken our competitiveness and cos…
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Mr. Speaker, there have always been conflicts abroad, but we have never seen them spill onto our streets the way they have under the Liberal government. Last week, three synagogues were shot at in the GTA, and now an Iranian dissident has gone missing, which is being investigated as a homicide. Today we are calling on the Liberals to table a plan within one week to do the following: enforce deport…
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moved for leave to introduce Bill C-270, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (defence of person). Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to introduce the stand on guard act, my very first bill in the House. Our homes are supposed to be the one place where we can rest and feel safe, but across Canada, home invasions are rising, and too many families are living with fear inside their own homes. We have all…
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Mr. Speaker, I have had countless seniors in Newmarket—Aurora come up and tell me that they have had to leave retirement and find jobs because they are struggling to eat, heat and afford a roof over their heads. This reality is backed up by data. A new survey from the National Institute on Ageing revealed that one in five Canadians over the age of 50 are living near the poverty line and cannot eve…
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Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to the member, during all my studies and over 15 years working in finance, there is one basic economic truth that always held. When costs go up, prices go up and when competition is fierce, prices come down, yet during this food affordability crisis, the Liberals are inhibiting competition all while piling taxes and regulations on those who grow, ship and sell our…
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Mr. Chair, the people of Iran have been very clear. They have been waiting for 47 years. The reality is that many lives have been lost. Iranian people today want to know that those lives, those sacrifices, were worth it. Right now, they believe that it is their only chance.
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Mr. Chair, I will be splitting my time with the member for Richmond Hill South. This past weekend, I held an open house in my riding of Newmarket—Aurora. It was a chance for neighbours to come by, share a cup of coffee and talk about issues affecting their families and what is happening around the world. Among those who came were many members of the Persian diaspora, my neighbours, people who have…
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Mr. Chair, I held an open house this weekend in my riding, which has a large Iranian community. Its members know there are about 700 IRGC operatives in Canada. One of the things attendees asked me was to explain why the Liberal government is not doing anything about expelling them and is allowing them to operate here and to intimidate Canadians. I would love to hear my colleague's thoughts on that…
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Mr. Chair, the future of Iran and the future Iranian government is up to the Iranian people. I think the Iranian diaspora here has been very clear in their cautious optimism for what this opportunity has created. There have been family members who have died with the hope of an opportunity to have a new government, a new life. That moment has come, and they are cautiously excited about it, but it w…
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Mr. Speaker, Canada has the worst food inflation and the only shrinking economy in the G7, and it is no wonder. The Liberals' increasing fuel standard is already costing Canadians seven cents per litre today, and it will rise to 17¢ per litre by 2030, hitting the farmers, fishermen and truckers who put food on our tables. These costs are entirely made in Ottawa by the Liberal government. If the Pr…
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Madam Chair, I would like to thank my colleague for her strong convictions. I would be interested to hear her thoughts on the consequences and damage of having the Prime Minister, the leader of this country, change positions so many times. What does that say not only to Canadians and to the Iranian diaspora here, but also to the rest of the world?
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Mr. Chair, the stories I have heard over the last few months are countless. There are stories of hope and heartache. There is a deep desire for life and liberty, and for economic stability. There are stories, also, about the history of Iran and what Iranians have contributed for over two millennia. It is their desire, their dream, to continue the work in leading their contributions in governance, …
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Mr. Speaker, the finance minister should know better. Those huge generational deficits are what is driving inflation up in this country. Going back to the cost of food, which was my initial question, they have also failed to drive competition. Instead of keeping these countless taxes on the building blocks of our food supply, they should address them. The reality is that Canada is falling behind, …
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Mr. Speaker, we are here today to discuss Bill C-15 at a critical time in Canada's history. When I knock on doors in my community in Newmarket—Aurora, Canadians are very clear about what they want. They want action. They want results. They know that the government has enough power to make big changes. They are watching and waiting in anticipation. They expect progress, but sadly they are still anx…
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Mr. Speaker, to address the member's comments at the beginning, I wholeheartedly agree that a strong opposition makes Canada overall stronger. That is what we are here to do. We are here to strengthen bills, provide amendments, improve ideas, work together and represent our constituents. The day that we stop representing our constituents, we do not belong in the House. My speech focused on the ame…
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Mr. Speaker, I would have loved a bit more time with this bill. It is a huge bill, not only in the number of pages but as an omnibus bill. The Henry VIII provision, in fact, should have been a stand-alone bill and taken out. However, we have ultimately tried to compromise and to continue to provide safeguards while fostering innovation. It is important for Canada, but most certainly not at the cos…
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians are tired of political talking points. The Liberals must have the humility to face the reality. Young Canadians are not falling behind by accident. They are being pushed behind by Liberal policies, and they are not asking for programs. Talk to a millennial. They are asking the Liberals to get out of the way today. TransUnion Canada reported that household debt reached $2.6 t…
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Mr. Speaker, I take particular pride in Bill C-15, particularly in the amendments we put forward. This is an example of how we can work together and of how working together will, in fact, make the bill stronger. This is critical as we fight for stronger take-home pay for Canadians, as we work together for a sovereign Canada and as we focus on several issues that are critical for Canadians today, i…
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Mr. Speaker, millennials were told that, if we worked hard, played by the rules and planned for the future, we could build a stable life here in Canada, but a recent RBC poll shows that 57% have nothing left after paying their monthly bills and 4 in 10 believe that they may never be debt-free. After years of soaring housing costs, persistent inflation and higher taxes, my generation is carrying re…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table petitions from Canadians who are deeply concerned by the sweeping powers contained within Bill C-15. The petitioners warn that this provision would allow ministers to exempt any individual or corporation from any federal law, except for the Criminal Code, without full public or parliamentary scrutiny. They believe it undermines the foundational principle of our d…
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Mr. Speaker, consumer bankruptcies are up, to the highest level since the financial crisis. That means 141,000 Canadians are losing their homes, their savings and their sense of security. Clearly the Liberals' band-aid programs are not enough to prevent bankruptcies. Canadians need long-term solutions that bring down the cost of food and housing. When will the Liberal government stop the inflation…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, for over four decades, the people of Iran have lived under a regime that promised hope but delivered repression, corruption and violence. Like a lion long restrained but never broken, the children of Cyrus the Great are rising once again. This is not simply because of economic collapse but because a people can be pushed only so far before they demand their freedom. The regime answered…
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Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member, but I was deeply disappointed to hear the opening of his speech where he said that he disagrees with everything that the Conservatives are proposing. Does he disagree with increasing competition in grocery chains? Every first-year economics student learns that when markets have more competition, it drives prices down, it disciplines profits and …
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Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with the member for Stormont—Dundas—Glengarry. It is a privilege to rise in the House and once again represent my neighbours in Newmarket—Aurora. Today I am speaking to Bill C-19, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit act, but before I go any further, I want to take the opportunity to thank the Newmarket Food Pantry, the Aurora Food Pantry and the cou…
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Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague's riding well. I used to cover it when I was in the financial sector. As I mentioned in my speech, Canadians have been pushed beyond their limits. They are doing everything they can to make ends meet, and they are exhausted. On that basis, every little bit helps. This $10 a week will provide some sort of relief, but the reality is that we need to address the root o…
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Mr. Speaker, this is the same Liberal government that campaigned on building at speeds not seen in generations, but in the last year, home sales are down 45% in the GTA. The Canadian Home Builders' Association warns that allowing these conditions to continue will create a lost decade for home ownership. The longer the government delays, the more businesses will close and the more Canadians will lo…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's suggestion. In speaking to my neighbours in Newmarket—Aurora, any sort of relief would be helpful at this moment. Monthly relief would also be helpful to them, but I do want to reiterate that Canadians have been asking for serious long-term solutions to the root of the problem that is driving up the cost of food disproportionately compared to other G7 countri…
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Mr. Speaker, I inevitably think of this one mother, a single mother of three, I met in Newmarket. She is a mother of three boys. When I knocked on the door, she was very reluctant to open the door, and I later understood why. She is struggling to pay her rent. When I introduced myself after she opened the door, she burst into tears and told me she cannot keep up with the rent and that she does not…
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Mr. Speaker, in my community, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and nurses cannot afford to buy homes in the communities they serve. Eighty-seven per cent of Canadians are now worried about the housing market, and 86% of builders say they might not survive the next 12 months. In the middle of a housing crisis, homebuilding should be accelerating. Instead, home sales are down 45% in the GTA…
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Mr. Speaker, there are critical statistics every member of Parliament must take seriously. There are 2.2 million visits to food banks every single month. Canada's food inflation is 6.2%, and that is double that of the U.S. This year it will cost $17,600 to feed a family. That is a national emergency we must take seriously, and Conservatives want to expedite a real solution. Will the Liberal govern…
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Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the Liberals have tried this before, and it has only made matters worse. Canada is a country full of farms and fields, yet we are known as the food inflation capital of the G7. Food inflation has doubled since 2019. This is a homegrown crisis caused by high taxes on farmers, truckers and food processors, lack of competition in grocery chains and reckless inflationa…
Read full speech →Private Members' Business
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to a private member's bill brought forward by my colleague, the member for Edmonton Manning. His bill proposes something simple: a national medal of recognition for every living organ donor in Canada to raise awareness and education about the power of living donation. My family has lived with the cruelty of Alport syndrome, a genetic disease that steals kidney fu…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, I take that as a compliment. I rise today to table a petition from Canadians who are alarmed by the Liberal government's manipulation of our national books. They are calling for honesty and integrity in fiscal reporting, and demanding an end to the practice of redefining “capital investments” to shrink the deficit on paper. Under this practice, subsidies, tax breaks and corporate hand…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition, for a second time, from Canadians alarmed by the Liberal government's manipulation of our national books. They are calling for honesty and integrity in fiscal reporting, and demanding an end to the Liberal practice of redefining “capital investments” just to shrink the deficit on paper. Under this scheme, subsidies, tax breaks and corporate handouts a…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister once said that the grocery aisle would be his report card. Well, today in that aisle is a mother standing still, staring at the price of baby formula, which has gone up 84%. She does the math in her head and wonders what she is going to cut next, because feeding her baby is not optional. Under the Liberals, even that has become a source of fear and anxiety. Their po…
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Mr. Speaker, when Canadians tell the government they cannot afford food, its response is that they are taxed to death and cannot afford groceries but should cheer up: It has a program for them; they should be grateful and have never had it so good. Eighty-six per cent of Canadians list food as their largest financial worry. The food price report confirms grocery prices are set to increase by up to…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister wanted to be judged by prices at the grocery store, and eight months later, Canadians are judging and they are hungry. The food price report released today shows that the reality of Canadians is only getting worse. In 2015, a Canadian grocery bill was $163 a week. Under the Liberals, it has more than doubled, to $340. That is a grocery bill of $17,600 a year. Libera…
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Mr. Speaker, all we hear from the Liberals are empty promises. For the last decade, they have been promising the same things. They know these ideas do not work. The record speaks the truth. In the GTA, housing starts have plunged, not increased, by 34% in just nine months. Condo starts are down 51% and the slowdown in the construction industry means 35,000 lost years of employment for Canadians. I…
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Mr. Speaker, a resident pleaded with me, “My family and I are struggling with rent costs and the price of food.” They are not alone. A CTV News article tells us that 35,000 families are fleeing the GTA because staying in the GTA means living on the edge financially, with very little room to grow. Families are being uprooted, with generations torn apart. Canadians are forced to leave the very commu…
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this week, the owners of a small family-owned business in Newmarket—Aurora reached out to me. They have been serving our community of Bayview and Mulock for 50 years with no major theft or crime, but over the past two years, they have been hit so often that they have actually lost count. They have spoken to other businesses in the area and heard the same stories. The incidents are so …
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberals say the cost pressures on Canadians are fake. I have another note from someone else in Newmarket who said that, as the cost of living increases and their salaries do not, they are being driven into poverty. Four out of five Canadians list food as their number one worry when paying their bills. Statistics Canada confirms that beef is up 17%, baby formula is up 6% and coffe…
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Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is the most expensive in Canadian history. A father in Newmarket, who is an engineer, said to me that they cannot cover the living costs. He can only pay for the mortgage, utilities and taxes. Food, transportation and insurance are out of pocket. While Canadians struggle, the Liberals keep a punishing fuel tax that adds up to 17¢ more per litre at the pumps, hik…
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Mr. Speaker, I have a question on the credibility of the budget and the Prime Minister, which is what the Liberals like to talk about. There is a $100-billion procurement of submarines that the Prime Minister and the Liberal government forgot to include in the budget. What does that do to credibility? We have heard the Parliamentary Budget Officer talk about a 7.5% chance of the government keeping…
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Mr. Speaker, in 2022, the Liberals brought in Bill C-5, which took away the mandatory minimum sentences brought in under the Harper government. Bill C-14 fails to do two main things. There is only a partial reversal for house arrest eligibility, and it would not reinstate mandatory minimums. This bill fails to make real sentencing reform and would put our communities at risk. Recently, the Supreme…
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Mr. Speaker, Bill C-14 would not repeal Bill C-75, which brought in the principle of restraint. I am even more concerned that it took the Liberals six years to learn that there is a crime wave happening in Canada. The principle of restraint is not working, yet Bill C-14 still directs that if a release is ordered, it must be on the “least onerous conditions” necessary. This is what breeds violence …
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been clear, painfully clear, that we need a justice system that is respected by those who break the law and trusted by the people who live with the consequences. We need laws that actually protect families, not laws that look good on paper while leaving our communities vulnerable. Trust cannot exist without real accountability. When offenders face symbolic consequences,…
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Mr. Speaker, I agree with my colleague. This is a direct result of 10 years of the Liberal government's weak bail laws. These are the consequences our communities are living through. It is a bit hypocritical that the Liberals appear to feel so strongly about it, when we, the Conservatives, put the jail not bail act forward for a vote and they voted against it.
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Mr. Speaker, I will repeat myself. Bill C-14 fails to do two main things. There is only a partial reversal of house arrest eligibility, and it would not reinstate mandatory minimums. As the member of Parliament for Newmarket—Aurora, I send monthly surveys to my constituents, and crime is one of their top concerns. It is not only because we now watch it on the news; it is because we hear it from ou…
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Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Budget Officer rang the alarm on Friday. He told Canadians there is just a “7.5% chance” the Prime Minister will meet his own fiscal promise. The Liberals have twisted the definition so badly that he now recommends an independent expert body to police the numbers as he has uncovered a $94-billion reallocation in the budget. What is the Liberals' response? It is not a…
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