Shannon Miedema

Mr. Speaker, this summer was difficult for many communities who experienced extreme weather events from coast to coast to coast. Wildfires, flooding and heat waves are now staples of Canadian summers and not anomalies. That is why I am pleased our government funded its third national conference on climate adaptation. I was pleased to open the conference on Tuesday, where I spoke about the economic and social benefits of investing in preparedness and resiliency. I especially want to thank my constituent Quinn MacAskill, a Dalhousie University student, who spoke so passionately about hope in the face of the climate crisis at the conference opening. I want to congratulate her for winning the 2025 National Youth Climate Activism Award. As we return to Parliament, let us be mindful to govern with a climate lens to ensure we are making good decisions that advance our national priorities while supporting the safety of people, communities and ecosystems against climate impacts.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in relation to Bill C-244, an act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, and the Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. The first is the seventh report, entitled “Protecting Canadian Residents from Extreme Weather Events”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the seventh report. The second is the eighth report, in relation to Bill C-241, an act to establish a national strategy respecting flood and drought forecasting. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Mr. Speaker, the global security environment today is volatile and uncertain. We face real challenges, both military and non-military, that demand an equally strong and coordinated response. Canada must be prepared to defend ourselves and our allies. Our government has announced the most ambitious defence rebuild in a generation. Today, with the 2026-27 main estimates, we are putting the money behind that commitment. I am really pleased to stand in the House to talk about this today, representing my riding of Halifax. Halifax is home to the largest defence base in the country. CFB Halifax, in one form or another, has existed since the 18th century, predating Canada as we know it. The military and our armed forces members are ingrained in our history and are already shaping our future. Our city is advancing incredible projects for the Canadian Armed Forces. We are building the River class destroyers and we are home to NATO DIANA and the Maritime DISH. As we prepare our next big defence procurement with the new fleet of submarines, there is even more possibility for Halifax. The government is requesting $50.7 billion for the Department of National Defence. That is $15 billion more than the previous year, or a 42% increase in funding. That includes $5.1 billion in new operating funding, $7.1 billion in capital and $2.3 billion in grants and contributions. These are not abstract numbers. They represent real capabilities and real investments in real people: the personnel who wear the uniform and defend this country every day. Last year, Canada hit 2% of GDP on defence for the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall, half a decade ahead of schedule. Reaching the 2% benchmark is a foundational step in renewing Canada's defence and a clear statement of resolve in a more dangerous world. We are now working toward NATO's new defence investment pledge: 3.5% of GDP for core defence and 1.5% for broader defence and security infrastructure, for a total commitment of 5% of GDP by 2035. As the Prime Minister noted at CANSEC, Canada is already meeting that 1.5% target for critical defence infrastructure. These estimates keep that momentum going. Canada's new government is delivering on its promise to make generational investments in the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces and to further accelerate these investments in the years to come. In a more dangerous and divided world, Canada is taking full responsibility for defending our sovereignty and building our strength as a reliable partner and ally. Our government made a promise to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces, and we are getting it done. A military is only as strong as its people, and this government has made clear that our people in uniform deserve to be treated accordingly. The $1.3 billion in these estimates reflects the historic pay increase we delivered for CAF members; the largest in a generation. Better pay means better recruitment. It means better retention and a more capable and more ready force. The results are already showing. CAF recruitment is the highest it has been in three decades. Last fiscal year, we surpassed our recruitment goals, bringing in over 6,700 new regular force members. We are also investing $274.9 million in CAF recruitment and training to modernize how we attract and develop the next generation of service members. We are building a more robust recruiting and training system, and we will dedicate the resources needed to be successful. There is $274.5 million committed for Canadian Forces health services, because the obligation to care for our people does not end when an operation does. The CAF continues to build a more modern, effective and inclusive military supported by digital tools and data-driven processes. Work is ongoing to improve efficiency, reduce delays and align recruitment and training systems with the evolving needs of the organization and of Canadians. Words do not defend Canada, but capabilities do. The CAF must be ready to operate in the Arctic, across North America, through NORAD, within NATO's collective defence framework and wherever global stability demands a Canadian contribution. These estimates include $7.3 billion for in-service support, keeping the equipment we have available, reliable and sustainable. As well, there is $1.2 billion for fleet equipment readiness to adapt and respond to a faster and more complex security environment. Preparedness also means investing in what comes next. That is why we have included $12.8 billion for major multi-stage procurements, River class destroyers, joint support ships, Canadian multi-mission aircraft and critical infrastructure investments that will serve Canada for decades. These capabilities will defend our sovereignty in the north, protect our maritime approaches and allow us to operate shoulder to shoulder with our allies. The Canadian Coast Guard is part of the Department of National Defence's main estimates. The $4 billion included here funds its critical missions, search and rescue, icebreaking, environmental response and ocean science. As part of the defence portfolio, the Coast Guard will now do more, sharing intelligence, coordinating with defence partners and enhancing Canada's maritime security posture. In a country with three oceans and the world's longest coastline, that is no small thing. No country defends itself alone, not Canada and not our allies. That is reflected in the $3.3 billion in grants and contributions, funding programs, organizations and partners whose work advances Canada's defence mandate. A significant share supports Ukraine through the military training and co-operation program, because the fight for a rules-based international order is one in which Canada has a direct stake. We are investing in NATO initiatives that strengthen interoperability, intelligence sharing and collective decision-making across the alliance. We are also doubling down on Canada's defence industrial base. These estimates include initial investments for the new Canadian defence industry resilience program, strengthening domestic production capacity and Canadian sovereignty. That includes support for nitrocellulose production, a critical energetic material for artillery that is in high demand across allied militaries. Programs like IDEaS and MINDS continue to connect innovators, academics and industry to the defence mission, turning Canadian expertise into Canadian capability. In February, we released Canada's first-ever defence industrial strategy. The framework is straightforward: building Canada first, partnering where we cannot and buying smart where we must. These estimates put that strategy into action. Spending more is only part of the story. Spending well is the other part. Through the comprehensive expenditure review, the Department of National Defence is targeting approximately $460 million in operating cost reductions from 2026-27 through 2028-29. That means continuing the fleet divestment strategy, streamlining the real property portfolio, expanding energy performance contracts and modernizing project approvals and internal business processes. The global security environment is not waiting for anyone. We are building again. The 2026-27 main estimates are a down payment on that commitment, an investment in people, in preparedness and in the partnerships that make Canada stronger. We are spending with purpose, we are investing with urgency and we are rebuilding the Canadian Armed Forces with the ambition this moment demands. I urge all members to support these estimates.

Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly disagree with the member. I do not think that we are putting the cart before the horse. I am really excited about the defence industrial strategy. I am really excited about the vision, hard work and accomplishments so far of our Minister of Defence. I am really proud of all of the members of the defence sector in Halifax, many of whom I know more and more, having taken this role on just over a year ago. I am excited to continue to partner with them. The response that I have received so far is one of gratitude, optimism and hope for the future of Canada and of our defence.

Mr. Speaker, I am really excited about the dual spending that is happening as we put our strategy into action. Dalhousie University has a wonderful ocean science and research program, and it is capitalizing on defence spending to further ocean science and research. That is a really important piece of it, where we are going to increase our innovation and research. Excitedly, today, we just announced that the Our Ocean Conference is going to be hosted for the first time in Canada in 14 years in Halifax in 2027, where we will bring all the great minds from science and research together to continue to advance our shared priorities.

Mr. Speaker, my conversations have been more focused on some celebrations lately. We just had the 85th anniversary of the HMCS Sackville. We recommissioned it notionally, which was fantastic. We had the commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic. I was able to make a funding announcement for improved and increased housing for CAF members in Halifax and across the Halifax Regional Municipality. My conversations have been much more celebratory of late, but I am sure my constituents have a lot to say on those 10 priorities, and I will be sure to talk to them shortly.

Mr. Speaker, I am very excited about the launch capabilities that we are exploring in Nova Scotia. I have no idea of the details of the provincial government and what deals they are making, so I cannot comment on that any further.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an exceptional Haligonian, someone who has had a long and storied career supporting some of our most vulnerable residents. Since 1985, Linda Wilson has dedicated her career to organizations that have significant community impact. From early career roles to senior leadership positions, and with over 40 years of service, her impact is lasting. She had five years at Adsum House, eight years with Phoenix Youth Programs, 16 years at HomeBridge Youth Society and now over 11 years as the CEO of Shelter Nova Scotia, where she is overseeing the charitable, not-for-profit organization that supports 1,500 Haligonians navigating times of crisis and transition through residential, trustee and outreach programs annually. This summer, Linda will officially step into her next chapter, which is retirement. I wish her all the best and some much-deserved rest. On behalf of all Haligonians, I ask the members of the House to celebrate this remarkable woman.

Mr. Speaker, every person deserves to live free from violence and fear. No life is worth more than another, and no one should face a greater risk of violence because of their gender, their sex, the neighbourhood they live in, the work they do, the school they attend or whom they love. Violence against our most vulnerable is some of the most morally reprehensible behaviour in our society. It is not a demonstration of strength or power or control. It is a profound failure of respect for the dignity, autonomy and humanity of another person. It rewrites the rest of their story, because becoming a victim of a violent act changes someone forever. It changes their sense of safety and often the course of their life. Our responsibility as legislators is to help build a society where those principles are not merely aspirations but realities. These acts may rewrite their stories forever, but we can help to ensure a happier ending. I am proud to stand up today in support of our government's Bill C-16, the protecting victims act, because it would put the necessary tools in place for law enforcement and the legal system to take action. It would give police, prosecutors and courts the ability to intervene earlier, better protect victims and survivors and help prevent future harm. Bill C-16 is about victims, not as statistics and not as stories, but as people. It aims to do right by them and to recognize that their lives are fundamentally altered by violence long after the courtroom is empty and public attention fades. It would be responding to the real-world concerns we have heard from victims across Canada. Too often, our justice system asks these victims to relive the most traumatic moments of their lives while offering them little certainty in return. It asks them to be resilient and patient and silent while we debate the process. It places the burden of safety on those who have already been harmed. As a government, we are saying this is not good enough. We need to make changes, and we need to make them now. Bill C-16 would strengthen how victim safety is considered throughout the justice process. It would ensure that courts are better equipped to assess risk, recognize patterns of repeat violence and impose conditions that reflect the lived reality of victims. It would improve consistency and accountability in decision-making, particularly in cases involving intimate partner violence. It would also introduce concrete measures to better support victims throughout the legal process, including permitting, in the courtroom during testimony, support persons, or in some cases even support animals, to accompany children, persons with disabilities and people who have experienced sexual violence. This legislation is grounded in a simple but urgent truth: Violence, particularly intimate partner violence, is rarely random. It is often patterned, escalating and predictable. When we have evidence that harm is likely to occur, failing to act is not neutrality; it is negligence. As the member of Parliament elected to represent the people of Halifax, I have a responsibility to support this bill, which, among so many important steps, proposes to criminalize coercive and controlling conduct. For far too long, our criminal law has focused almost exclusively on isolated incidents of physical violence while failing to recognize the sustained patterns of psychological, emotional and financial control that so often precede them. Coercive control includes isolating someone from friends and family, monitoring their movements, controlling access to money, issuing threats, intimidation and humiliation. It is violence that may leave no visible injuries but that causes deep and lasting harm. The evidence is clear. Coercive control is one of the strongest predictors of serious injury and intimate partner homicide. In Canada, women are far more likely than men to experience intimate partner violence, and research consistently shows that the presence of controlling behaviour dramatically increases the risk of lethal outcomes. By criminalizing coercive control, Bill C-16 would give our justice system the tools to intervene earlier, before violence escalates, before lives are lost and before harm becomes irreversible. These are the steps that matter most, because this bill is not just about changing the way we respond to violence; it is about stopping it from happening entirely. It refuses to accept that violence must become extreme before the law responds. However, coercive control is only one part of how this bill would modernize our response to the evolving forms of violence. The protecting victims act would also take further preventative measures, including the creation of a new offence that would prohibit even threatening to distribute child sexual abuse and exploitation material, because threats need to be taken seriously, and we need the tools to stop them from becoming a reality. The bill would also target sextortion by criminalizing threats to distribute intimate images and by increasing penalties for people who exploit fear and humiliation for coercion or gain. Bill C-16 would also modernize our criminal law to reflect the realities of harm in the world we live in today. It would strengthen protections for victims of image-based sexual violence, including the non-consensual creation and distribution of intimate images and sexually explicit deepfakes, recognizing the profound and lasting damage these acts cause. It would improve accountability of people who weaponize technology to humiliate, threaten or control others, particularly women and girls. The bill would enhance how courts consider risk, patterns of behaviour and victim safety across bail, sentencing and supervision, and it would reinforce a simple principle: that dignity, consent and personal autonomy do not disappear online. It would also modernize Canada's criminal harassment laws, recognizing that stalking and intimidation increasingly occur through technology and that victims should not bear an unreasonable burden to prove their fear before the law can respond. Violence is violence, whether it happens behind closed doors or behind a screen. In April 2020, Nova Scotia experienced the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history. For many Canadians, it was a shocking and tragic news story. For my constituents, and for those of my fellow Nova Scotian MPs, it was something far more personal. Communities across our province lived through the fear and uncertainty of those days and continue to carry the grief and loss that followed. The events of April 18 and 19, 2020, led to the establishment of the Mass Casualty Commission, which undertook a comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and the systemic factors that contributed to it. Among its findings, the commission highlighted the critical link between gender-based violence and broader threats to public safety. It found that patterns of intimate partner violence, coercive control and escalating risk were present long before the shootings occurred, yet those warning signs were not sufficiently recognized or addressed. The commission concluded that violence is often not a series of isolated incidents but rather a pattern that can escalate when left unchecked. It called for earlier intervention, stronger risk assessment tools and a justice system that responds to gender-based violence with the seriousness it deserves, designed to protect victims, prevent future tragedies like this and to keep communities safe. Bill C-16 would respond to those lessons by strengthening our ability to intervene before harm becomes irreversible. In my community of Halifax, we see both the devastating impact of violence and the extraordinary strength of the people who survive it. We also see the tireless work of frontline organizations that step in where systems too often fall short. Shelters like Adsum house provide safety and stability for women and children children fleeing violence. Organizations such as the YWCA Halifax, Alice House, Bryony House and the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre support survivors through crisis, recovery and rebuilding their lives. These groups do life-saving work every day, often with limited resources and under immense pressures, and they have been clear with us about what is needed. Safety cannot begin only after harm has occurred. It must be built into the system itself. Proactive and preventative measures save lives. Bill C-16 is one part of how we do better. It is not the only solution, but it is a necessary one. It reflects evidence, it reflects lived experience, and it reflects a commitment to ensuring that victim safety is not an afterthought but a priority. We are here not to accept violence as a fact of life but to prevent it where we can, respond to it where we must and ensure that it never goes unanswered, because we know that harm is predictable, and we also know that it is preventable. We owe that responsibility to survivors, to families and to communities across this country that deserve to feel safe in their homes and in their lives, and that is why I support the protecting victims act.

Mr. Speaker, I will reiterate what my colleague from Guelph said. This really is a joint effort. There are jurisdictional divisions and responsibilities across all levels of government. I think that our Minister of Justice and his team have been working in good faith and really doing deep consultations with provinces and territories on the shared responsibility of administering justice. I am very hopeful that this is going to get us much further.

Mr. Speaker, this is one of the changes I am most excited about. I think it would be game-changing for our country and game-changing for the better half of our population. It would be a hugely impactful change, and I support it wholeheartedly.

Mr. Speaker, I very much enjoy working with my colleague on all the great work we do here in the House. I am quite pleased that our government is supportive of mental health and youth, as well as in terms of crime and public safety. I was very pleased to announce significant funding through the mosque in my riding of Halifax to help prevent gang violence in the Muslim community in Halifax, which is being led by members of the mosque, as an example. I also know that the Minister of Women and Gender Equality has been talking a lot about the substantial funding that we have to support the organizations that are really on the ground, on the preventative side and the response side, to support victims in this regard.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Sustaining Canada’s Freshwater for Today and Tomorrow”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Mr. Speaker, 85 years ago this month, on a rainy day in Saint John, New Brunswick, a bottle of champagne was broken over the bow of a new ship. This ship would become the HMCS Sackville and would go on to have a long and arduous career as a corvette in the Royal Canadian Navy. Most notably, this ship became the single surviving corvette of the Battle of the Atlantic, in which 294 small ships were the workhorses of the North Atlantic, dominating the longest battle of the Second World War. As the sole survivor, she was saved from the scrapyard and restored to her wartime configuration; she is now Canada's naval memorial, spending her summers in the Halifax harbour, open to residents and tourists who would like to learn more about our navy's history. Earlier this month, HMCS Sackville was officially recomissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy. Please join me in acknowledging this important symbol of Canada's naval history, a sign of our commitment to stand in defence of our ideals and our country.

Mr. Chair, I am very pleased to rise today to discuss Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's 2026-27 main estimates, especially because the hon. minister, the member for Halifax West, is my riding neighbour and has been an incredible support to me and members of the Nova Scotia caucus in our first year here in the House of Commons. Immigration is a critical part of what makes Canada stand out. It fills labour gaps, grows businesses and bolsters sectors like health care. In municipalities like Halifax, we see this every day in growing sectors such as ocean tech and shipbuilding that depend on skilled newcomers. Newcomers bring energy, ideas and global connections that enrich our communities, and I very much enjoy spending a lot of my time in the riding with them on a regular basis. Immigration is also central to our government's plan to build strength at home amid a rupture in the global order. A strong system depends on clear rules, reliable screening, secure processing and public confidence. These estimates strike the right balance. They reflect responsible, sustainable use of public funds while maintaining the core work Canadians expect from their immigration system. They ensure that public dollars match the system Canada is building. First, they maintain the essential capacity needed to run the system. Second, they adjust funding where volumes are lower or temporary measures are ending. Third, they target support where capacity, integrity and stability are needed most. The estimates support the implementation of Canada's multi-year immigration levels plan, which guides permanent resident admissions, temporary resident arrivals and the balance across immigration categories. We are maintaining targeted supports where the system needs them. This includes helping protected persons already in Canada transition to permanent residents, supporting workers already here and contributing to labour needs in communities across the country. The estimates also support the interim federal health program, which provides temporary health care coverage to eligible people who do not yet have access to provincial or territorial insurance. This program helps bridge the gap so people can access essential services when they need them the most. Many in my riding of Halifax rely on this program, and I am very pleased to see its continued support. The estimates also support the interim housing assistance program, which helps provinces and municipalities respond to temporary housing pressures linked to asylum claimants. This is a clear example of prioritizing the responsible use of public funds. As global conflicts, climate pressures and shifting migration patterns continue to displace people, Canada must respond with compassion and with a system that is orderly, fair and sustainable. A sustainable system must still support people in need, work with partners and maintain the services that help newcomers integrate and help communities respond to pressure. In Halifax, organizations like the Immigration Services Association of Nova Scotia, or ISANS, demonstrate how strong community partnerships help newcomers settle successfully. Canadians need to know that immigration is being managed carefully and strategically, that resources are being used for clear purposes and that the department is adapting as immigration levels, operational pressures and public expectations evolve. These estimates do precisely that. I will move on to a question for the minister. The 2026-27 main estimates show that our government is committed to continued support for IRCC operations and newcomer services as we find a more responsible and sustainable path forward. Can the minister explain how the planned spending will support newcomer services in places like Halifax to ensure families benefit from timely processing?

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, in relation to Bill C-241. Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), the committee is requesting a single extension of 30 sitting days to hear from the bill's sponsor.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, entitled “Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Federal Climate Policy at a Crossroads”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to mark one year since I was first elected to serve the people of Halifax, and I am so happy to be here. It has been the honour of a lifetime, and what a year it has been. I am proud that our government is focused on the opportunities that arise in addressing current global challenges. We are investing in major projects at home. We are forging new trading partnerships across the globe. We are securing our sovereignty and our economic resilience, and we are doing so in a way that allows us to continue with our environmental and climate objectives. At the same time, we are ensuring support for Canadians who need it the most. We are responding to the rising cost of living by cutting taxes and launching affordability measures such as the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, all while maintaining the many other social supports that people depend on. We have shown up, listened and acted. Whether through nation-building projects or local targeted support, this year has been building a stronger Canada. I am so proud to be part of this team, and I am grateful to my family, friends and supporters. I wish a happy first anniversary to all members of the House from the class of 2025.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak to Government Motion No. 9 and the importance of parliamentary committees. As members of Parliament, we have been individually elected by our constituents to represent their interests in the House of Commons. Not only do we individually represent the interests of our constituents, but together we represent the fabric of who Canadians are. We are a privileged minority of Canadians elected to this House, representing Canadians from every beautiful region of this vast and breathtaking country. We are standing here today to represent our constituents' interests and as a representation of the will of our constituents. Every moment of our work as parliamentarians is ultimately aimed at good governance for the benefit of all Canadians. Much of this work is done in committees, which is the subject of Government Motion 9. Before I speak to the motion itself, it is important to highlight the role of committees in the Westminster system. One of the fundamental functions of members of Parliament is the development of legislation, and the crux of this work is done in committee. Committees are the venues that allow for and facilitate the detailed examination of not only legislation but also other policies and issues of interest to Canadians. Committees allow us to have focused and detailed discussions on what would be possible in the chamber, where debate is focused on the principle and scope of each bill. Committees are the place where we can review legislation, hear from witnesses and conduct clause-by-clause consideration of bills. It is through this process of legislative scrutiny that we can voice our views, ask experts questions, raise our concerns and debate proposals with each other. Our ultimate, and I suggest shared, objective is to improve legislation when it is needed. It is this scrutiny and detailed examination in committees that not only strengthens accountability but also allows members to work together to find solutions to issues facing Canadians. That process and engagement builds trust with Canadians. It encourages open and transparent government. Participation in committees gives members the opportunity to scrutinize decisions and expenditures and monitor progress. Robust and constructive debate in committees is the means through which we arrive at solutions. Committees produce extensive and comprehensive reports, thereby adding to greater transparency for Canadians by ensuring public access to information about the government's work. These studies help inform government policy and future legislative proposals. Committees are also incubators of non-partisan collaboration. They allow members from across parties to come together to address complex problems in a collaborative manner and foster consensus on difficult issues. Committees allow us to build camaraderie among members so we can bring forward our diverse perspectives as members from across the country, consider evidence-based insights and come together to advance the interests of Canadians. The discussions and insights that committees generate enrich our parliamentary process and our ability to work together. Further, the common thread to the work of all committees is that of hearing directly from Canadians, stakeholders and experts on a range of issues that are important to who we, together in the House of Commons, represent. With every committee study undertaken, through witnesses and briefs, we get to hear the diverse aspects and views on a particular subject, from business leaders to academics, scientists and Canadians from across this great country who are directly impacted by or have a strong interest in any one of the numerous subjects that the parliamentary committees study. This engagement of experts, stakeholders and citizens acts as a bridge between Parliament and the broader Canadian public. Committee work can also bring international perspectives on how we can best achieve our policy goals. Hearing about experiences from like-minded countries can help facilitate an exchange of ideas and ways to incorporate good ideas from abroad that can be implemented here in Canada. By bringing in the international perspective, we get to hear about emerging issues and opportunities to learn from the experience of other countries. Through this process, we learn about what worked well, what did not and how to avoid challenges that other countries have experienced. Every time I chair or participate in a committee meeting, I am struck by the extent to which witnesses want to share their expertise and lived experiences to inform the studies we undertake. The fact that we hear from witnesses with varied and sometimes opposing perspectives helps us stay in touch with the diversity of Canadian perspectives. What Canadians think and their views on issues not only matter; they are important to informing us as members of Parliament. All of what we learn through parliamentary committees is taken into account as decisions are made. I encourage all Canadians to get involved in the work of our parliamentary committees. It is democracy in action. Now I will turn to Government Motion No. 9. It is important to take a moment to note that the standing committees and special joint committees in this Parliament have mandates that are focused on the issues that are important to Canadians and to Canada. The reason they are called standing committees is that they should reflect the standings of the recognized parties in the House of Commons. In a Westminster parliamentary system such as ours, the composition of parliamentary committees is historically determined by reflecting the representation of political parties. This balances the need for representation with effective governance. The composition of committees should always reflect the standings in the House, and Government Motion No. 9 simply seeks to uphold and institute the principle that underpins our parliamentary system.