Government Orders
Madam Speaker, I am very proud of the fiscal prudence our government brought to Canada. Our government absolutely understands that our job is to balance fiscal responsibility and compassion, and we have done that. If we review our record, Canada has the lowest deficit in the G7 nations. Canada also has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. Canada's AAA credit rating was reaffirmed just two weeks…
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Madam Speaker, I totally understand how important this $4-billion accelerator fund is to the municipalities, particularly in Surrey—Newton. As I said earlier, the wait-list for the plans and projects is too long. We have to bring it down. We need to have those efforts with Quebec. Similarly, all those efforts are not only needed in Surrey, but they are needed across the country, including in Quebe…
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Madam Speaker, we are also looking to give more powers to the Competition Bureau to conduct marketing studies and compel information from companies so a decision can be made to bring the prices down.
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Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. leader of the Bloc Québécois for his leadership on this file. The member mentioned that the leader of the Conservative Party did not know anything about Quebec. He has come to British Columbia a few times, but I personally believe he does not know about British Columbia either. British Columbia was the very first province—
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Madam Speaker, I know why those members are aggravated. They know that he does not know anything about British Columbia. British Columbia was the first province to bring in a carbon tax in 2008. It covers 70% of the emissions created by fossil fuels. What are his comments about British Columbia being the leader in that future?
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Madam Speaker, I see a pattern from the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock when it comes to misleading Canadians. I will mention two instances. The minister was in Surrey to plant trees and bring in a program to plant trees. I recall the hon. member tweeting that we did not meet the targets. In fact, the truth was that I was able to come up with the numbers that clearly show that we are ahead…
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Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to take part in this debate today. Our government is relentlessly focused on building an economy with stable prices, steady growth and abundant, good middle-class jobs. The last three years have been difficult, which has increased the financial pressure on Canadians. First the country was slammed by the COVID pandemic, then came the COVID recession,…
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Madam Speaker, I will go back to my home province of British Columbia where the government implemented carbon pricing in 2008. Now, it covers approximately 70% of the provincial greenhouse gas emissions. It helps, but there is more to be done, and our government is committed to doing that.
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Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Windsor West for bringing up this issue. I am very proud of the Liberal government. The legislation that we brought forward has always been well thought out and has helped middle-class families in Canada, whether it was to do with the Canada child benefit, the environment or safety. All the legislation that we brought forward was very well thought out and…
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Madam Chair, the member mentioned in his speech that the Conservatives are not speaking in the House today and that their leader is backtracking from the statement he made yesterday in the House. I just want to find out from the hon. member if the Conservatives got a call from Prime Minister Modi or former prime minister Stephen Harper to not speak on this topic and to backtrack from the statement…
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Madam Chair, the hon. leader of the NDP mentioned the intimidation by the Indian government when someone speaks out against human rights violations. I can say that he has faced many challenges. I will give a personal example. When I presented a petition on genocide in 2010, I was denied a visa to India for three years. I want to know from the leader if he is aware of many situations like this of o…
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Madam Chair, after 1984, when the Golden Temple was demolished by a military attack in India, there was a genocide of Sikhs in Delhi. After that, emotions were very high in the community across the globe when he was growing up. In fact, one casualty was here at home. I am speaking of the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities, whose own maternal uncle, her mom's brother, wa…
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Mr. Chair, because the hon. member is a deputy whip, I want her to explain why, if every party had the same number of spots to speak today on this debate, some parties are not speaking. Is it their will or that of others?
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Mr. Chair, I just want to thank the hon. member and her family, who have been involved in Sikh diaspora issues for many years. It is very important that we stand up for human rights, not only in Canada but also around the globe. Any person who tries to raise their voice, whether it is a minister in this cabinet, the leader of the NDP or myself previously, can have consequences for raising those is…
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Mr. Chair, the member is concerned about how we can all work together. Personally, I would love to see that. As members of Parliament, in 338 constituencies, we should be able to reach out to the Sikh diaspora and other diasporas that feel intimidated or at risk from foreign interference. We have to go to them and bring that voice back to the minister and the government about what can be done. It …
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Mr. Chair, when it comes to the safety and security of Canadians, as I mentioned in my speech, the Prime Minister personally assured me yesterday and has assured the House that we will do everything to make sure that every Canadian, irrespective of their background, feels safe. The government will take every step, moving forward, to protect their safety and security.
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Mr. Chair, these credible allegations of a link between the Government of India and the killing of my constituent, Mr. Nijjar, are immensely troubling. It is a substantial attack directly on Canadians and Canadian values, with a specific focus on Sikh Canadians. Can the member speak to the importance of all Canadians coming together to denounce this and affirm shared Canadian values?
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Mr. Chair, I appreciate the member's passionate speech; she is known for her passion toward human rights. If we talk about India, even today we are getting news from Manipur that Christian women are being gang-raped in public. Holy Bibles are being burnt. When this is happening there, would the member think that we still need to have free trade talks when human rights are at risk?
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Mr. Chair, on June 18, a respected community leader from my riding of Surrey—Newton was brutally killed at Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Surrey—Delta in my constituency. I want to extend my thoughts and prayers for the soul of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar to his family, friends and loved ones. The tragic assassination of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar has shaken the entire community. Every Canadian deserves to f…
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Mr. Speaker, I commend the Minister of Labour for his leadership during the longshore workers strike in British Columbia. Workers in Surrey—Newton and across the country have been loud and clear that they support legislation to ban the use of replacement workers. This morning, workers gathered on Parliament Hill to call for legislation as soon as possible. Can the minister tell us if and when this…
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Madam Speaker, my thoughts and prayers go out to the soul of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, his family and his loved ones. I rise today to present a petition brought forward by the leadership and sangat of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Surrey-Delta, following the tragic killing of Mr. Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The petition calls upon the government to address concerns related to India's alleged involvement in …
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Mr. Chair, first of all, I want to commend the minister for giving us three ample housing projects. One of them was particularly for women at risk. The minister had meetings with three mayors, including the mayor of Surrey. Surrey is one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Canada, with 1,200 people moving in every month. I wonder how the minister's plan will help mayors, like those he met wit…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to pay honour to a remarkable young man from Edmonton Mill Woods, Jaspreet Singh Pandher, who passed away on January 20 at the age of 32. Jaspreet spent several years on our Liberal government team serving Canadians and building a better country. He had a deep passion for Canadian politics and dedicated himself to advancing inclusivity and quality. He w…
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Mr. Speaker, recently in Surrey, the Minister of Public Safety announced that $4.5 million under the safe communities fund will go to the City of Surrey. He is well aware that in Surrey, guns and gangs are one of the top priorities for my constituents. I would ask him how this bill would help the people of Surrey.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean for his friendship. Even though he is a sovereigntist Quebecker, I can say that I worked with him on the Special Committee on Afghanistan and the immigration committee, and it is fun to work with him. He mentioned Kenny Chiu. I want to correct him, through you, to say that the fellow who was elected in Steveston—Richmond East was bo…
Read full speech →Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, March is National Engineering Month. As a fellow engineer, I want to acknowledge the invaluable work engineers do in my riding of Surrey—Newton and of course in the riding of my colleague, a dear friend and fellow engineer and the Minister of Transport, the riding of Mississauga Centre, as well as in communities throughout Canada. Presented by Engineers Canada, the annual campaign is …
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Mr. Speaker, throughout February, I participated in several Black History Month events. At one such event, I was alongside the parliamentary secretary to the Prime Minister and colleagues from London West, Fleetwood—Port Kells and Steveston—Richmond East, and local leaders. It inspired dialogue and support for Black achievement. I also joined DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society's first annual …
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec has led the way for many, many years when it comes to child care, and I have to give it credit. We continue to learn from the Quebec model on this particular issue. We are glad that the other provinces and territories are now following Quebec's lead by partnering with us and continuing to build the early learning and child care system. Moving forward, I am sure that we, as Cana…
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Mr. Speaker, I can say that the system we are building is an affordable and inclusive system. I gave the example earlier that in British Columbia alone, the capacity has gone from 6,500 to 12,500 spaces across the province, and I am sure other provinces are following the lead that British Columbia has taken and are creating those spaces. However, I want to remind my hon. colleagues on the other si…
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Mr. Speaker, in September 2020, the Governor General delivered the Speech from the Throne that outlined our government's intention to create a Canada-wide early learning and child care system with provinces, territories and indigenous partners. That was the start of our journey to transform the way child care is delivered in this country. This is why I am standing in the House today, and I will be…
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Nunavut has said it all. I support her on this one, and I am sure the advisory council would be very diverse in its background and would also be inclusive with indigenous membership.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the hon. member for not only his speech but, in fact, his support for early learning and child care. That is very important. I remember when the first agreement was signed with British Columbia when the minister was out in B.C. It included not only organizations that believed in social justice. In fact, business organizations did support that $10-a-day day care …
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Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to join the third reading debate on Bill C-291, an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other acts, regarding child sexual abuse and exploitation material, which was introduced on June 17, 2022, by the member for North Okanagan—Shuswap.
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Madam Speaker, before I continue, I also want to express my sincere condolences to the family of our hon. friend Jim Carr, who we lost. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and constituents. When we talk about this bill, the protection of children against sexual abuse and exploitation of any kind is an objective that I believe all members support. It is also a priority for the Gov…
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Madam Speaker, this includes materials such as works of fiction that promote the sexual abuse of children, as well as the sexualized portrayal of adults as children. I am pleased that the new term was adopted unanimously by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, as it is an important step towards bringing Canada in line with the general trend away from the term “child…
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Mr. Speaker, keeping our oceans safe and clean is a top priority for many British Columbians. With dozens of vessels transiting every day in B.C. waters, protecting our oceans is of utmost importance to British Columbians. Can the hon. minister inform the House of further ways that our government is keeping our waters safe from coast to coast to coast?
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Mr. Speaker, many of my constituents in Surrey—Newton travel regularly to India to visit loved ones. Some of them are presently in Ottawa. The pandemic put a pause on many of these international trips. My constituents are now looking to reconnect with family and friends. Would the minister update the House on what steps our government is taking to make it easier for Canadians to travel to India?
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Mr. Speaker, 23 years ago a group of dedicated volunteers held their first blood donation event in Surrey to commemorate the lives of Sikhs brutally killed in India in 1984. Since then, the Blood Donation by Sikh Nation annual campaign has expanded to include donation events across Canada and countries worldwide, which has helped save over 165,000 Canadian lives. The Sikh Nation is the largest con…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an amazing run of 32 years for the City of Surrey’s manager of culture Liane Davison, who retired earlier this year. As Surrey has grown from a rural community to one that will soon become British Columbia's largest city, Liane's dedication and passion were at the heartbeat of the city’s arts and cultural landscape. Our population has grown dramatically over …
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Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Special Committee on Afghanistan, entitled “Honouring Canada’s Legacy in Afghanistan: Responding to the Humanitarian Crisis and Helping People Reach Safety”. In accordance with the motion adopted in the House on November 8, 2021, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government …
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Youth Helping Youth Society, which held its annual fundraising dinner in support of the B.C. Children's Hospital. Last Friday's event raised $41,000, which brings the total amount raised since 2012 to an amazing $291,000. I thank the organization's young volunteers and directors, including Manroop Ghuman, Amritpal Ughra, Manvir Kooner, Arvin Kooner, Arshd…
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Mr. Speaker, April is Sikh Heritage Month in Canada, when we celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of Sikh pioneers for their positive impact on our country. This past weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the Sikh heritage society of B.C.'s annual opening gala in celebration of these rich historical and cultural contributions. I was inspired by speaking to many young leaders and hear…
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Mr. Speaker, I stand today with a heavy heart for the people of Ukraine, who continue to face the onslaught of an unprovoked and illegal invasion that has been launched under false pretenses and that is targeting civilians. My heart and prayers go out to all residents of Ukraine and to the Ukrainian diaspora. To the families and parents in Surrey—Newton and throughout Canada, I encourage them to t…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Calgary Forest Lawn. The member talked about the backlog. However, I would remind the member that when the Conservatives were in power, it was taking—
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the extraordinary community spirit of local media organizations in Surrey-Newton, and the extraordinary generosity demonstrated by the people of British Columbia. In response to the recent flooding across British Columbia, Red FM initiated an emergency fundraising drive that raised $1.1 million for Canadian Red Cross flood relief efforts. Similarly, Connect FM and …
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Mr. Speaker, this past summer, my province of British Columbia was hit by devastating wildfires. In recent weeks, heavy rains have brought flooding and landslides to communities across the interior and Fraser Valley. This has taken the lives of at least four people and damaged countless homes, businesses and family farms. Can the Prime Minister update the House on what our government is doing to s…
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Madam Speaker, I would like to assure the member that dealing with the climate issues is the top priority of our government, and we have done so in the past many years. We are on track to get to net-zero emissions by 2050. With respect to avoiding the fires the member talked about, we have dedicated $500 million to train 1,000 new community-based firefighters to ensure we are ready for future fire…
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Madam Speaker, I want to congratulate the member on his election to this House. I assure him that our government is committed to doing everything everywhere in Canada, from coast to coast to coast, if an emergency happens, and I am certain those processes are already under way.
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Madam Speaker, when it comes to emissions control, the projected Canadian emissions are 36% lower for 2030 compared to 2005 levels, which shows that our government is on the right track and by 2050 there will be net-zero emissions.
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud member of Parliament from British Columbia to relay the impact that the recent extreme weather events have had on the lives of British Columbians. As this is my first speech in this 44th parliamentary session, I want to begin by thanking my constituents in Surrey—Newton for placing their trust in me as their representative. I also want to acknowledge all of m…
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