Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Canadians will welcome His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the 50th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, to Canada. It is his first visit to Canada since his ascension to the imamate. Canada and the Ismaili imamate have a decades-long history of partnership and co-operation, built on shared values and a commitment to improving the quality of life of people around the world…
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Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, this agreement between Quebec and Canada to work together within the Build Canada Homes framework should reassure my colleague that the Quebec government is committed to protecting the rights of Quebec and Quebeckers. We can draw on Quebec's experience and capabilities to assure Quebeckers that the federal government's involvement in this matter will benefit Quebec. In …
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very good question because it illustrates some of the information that I think people should have access to. As each department has gone through and looked at their land inventories, that is one step in the process. There is also a process by which Build Canada Homes will ask pointed questions when inventories do not look like they line up with reality. I will give a good ex…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for the amazing work that she does in that community. The example she presented is a perfect example of how community-led initiatives give government the priorities that it should be using. When we look at the types of projects that communities need, we see that communities know best what they need. By being able to work through the Build Canada Homes process…
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Mr. Speaker, I want to begin not with a policy argument but with something more fundamental, a question that I think most Canadians are grappling with right now: Can the next generation afford to live in the communities they grew up? For too many Canadians, and certainly this is the case in my riding of Vancouver Granville, the answer is no. I think it is worth sitting with that for a moment befor…
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Mr. Speaker, building a strong economy is not just about looking at any single sector. It is about looking at all sectors. It is about making sure we are investing in the economy of the future today, making sure we are investing in technology, making sure we are investing in artificial intelligence, and making sure we are creating the jobs of the future in industries where Canadians can lead. As w…
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Mr. Speaker, on February 4, Ismaili Muslims across Canada and around the world will celebrate Imamat Day, marking one year since His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan became the 50th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims. In that time, Mawlana Hazar Imam has worked tirelessly to build bridges between nations, to advance the fight against climate change, to support community resilience and to improve…
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Madam Speaker, I am glad to see a member from British Columbia in the House. I look forward to the questions that I am certain he will ask. I look forward to answering them. The motion that has been put forward actually leaves out the conditions that Alberta must meet before the federal government would support any such project. That is an important consideration. When we leave out the details and…
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Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his passion. I wish he showed the same passion for working collaboratively to get things built in this country. As we all know, in the decades that the Leader of the Opposition has been the leader, under his personal watch, nothing has ever gotten built. In the six months that the Prime Minister has been the Prime Minister, in British Columbia alone, we…
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Madam Speaker, in order to be competitive, we have to understand the rules of the game, how to play the game and how to win. In order to be able to win, we have to understand that building things in a way that is responsible for the future is critical. In this MOU, we have managed to get Alberta to agree to cutting methane emissions, the first time in an incredibly long time this conversation has …
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Mr. Speaker, what we are hearing from the member opposite is exactly the problem with this MOU. It discounts several things. One is that in a federation we work together. We work with provinces and we work with indigenous communities to make things happen. Getting out of the way is only a strategy if we want to get nothing done. The way to get things done is to work together, and for every single …
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Madam Speaker, my hon. friend's question reminds us of exactly what Canadians chose. British Columbians chose to elect more members of Parliament on this side of the House than ever before, because they saw a Prime Minister who understood the urgency of working with British Columbia. They saw a Prime Minister who understood the urgency of building things, with the ability, the experience and the k…
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Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise in the House today to speak on behalf of and for British Columbians on building a united country and against a divisive motion from a divisive and divided Conservative Party, whose members cannot figure out whether they support British Columbia from one day to the next. It has become clear, from looking at the flawed text of this motion, that it belies a ve…
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Mr. Speaker, climate change is very real for all of us, especially for the people of British Columbia. There are provisions in this budget for methane regulations and climate regulations that will be in place. I am confident that we will be able to work with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to ensure that these regulations are in place to protect the environment and fight climate cha…
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Mr. Speaker, I hope that the hon. member opposite will be voting in favour of the budget to support those projects that are happening in his community. I sat across from the Premier of British Columbia on Monday. We talked about the importance of projects that are going to make British Columbia's economy move forward, including communities like that of the member opposite. That is why there is the…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for his speech and the thoughts he has shared with us. He comes from a province where the arts and culture are such an important part of the fabric of the island. It is a part of the country I have really come to love. I wonder if he could share with the House the importance of the support in this budget for culture and the arts, something very dear…
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Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend knows well that this problem with softwood predates any Liberal government. This is a problem that governments of all stripes have had to deal with for generations in terms of the United States. That is the reality of having to deal with the United States on the issue of softwood. That is why, this past Monday, I was there with many of our ministers to ensure that we wo…
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Madam Speaker, it is such a privilege to rise in this House to speak in favour of the budget that was tabled by the Minister of Finance in the House yesterday. This is a budget that is about building. It is about building the type of Canada that each and every one of us deserves, that our kids deserve. It is about building the economy of the future today, about investing in the future of this coun…
Read full speech →Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, our government and our Prime Minister have been working hard to ensure that Canadian farmers have access to markets around the world. Part of the work they have been doing is exactly that: cutting deals with more and more countries to ensure that Canadian farmers can sell their products to more and more markets around the world. That is exactly what we have been doing, from Singapore …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the House to congratulate my constituent Ms. Amel Misbah on receiving the 2025 Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in STEM. This award, Canada's highest honour for elementary and secondary school teachers, recognizes STEM educators who go above and beyond in fostering engaging learning environments and preparing students for a digital and innovation-based ec…
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Mr. Speaker, the only reason we started talking about immigration and not just citizenship is that the members of the Conservative Party started talking about immigration and the problems related to the system. It is hard for us to have a meaningful discussion about the concept of citizenship without acknowledging the problems with the immigration system in relation to obtaining citizenship. Even …
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Mr. Speaker, as is the custom for members on this side, we consider every single amendment, we consider the impact of those amendments on the lives of Canadians and we make our voting decisions accordingly. With respect to some of the amendments that were put forward, we heard the term “chain migration” being used. This is very dangerous language use in this place, because it fundamentally misrepr…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak about Bill C-3 and the transformative power of Canadian citizenship. At the heart of it, the bill is about Canadians, families, their histories, their sacrifices and their deep and abiding connection to Canada, no matter where their careers or lives may take them. Since second reading, the immigration committee has completed its review of the bill, …
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Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member. I want to say two things. First, I think we all agree that there is an important moment in this country's history to be able to reform the immigration system so that it works in a thoughtful, meaningful way, which is exactly what our government has said we are doing, and that is exactly what we are doing. The member opposite said that I made a b…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member opposite commenting on my capability. That is much appreciated. When we talk about what Canada is, it is very different from the Conservatives' vision of Canada. The Conservatives talk about the Canada that was, not the Canada that could be. On this side of the House, we talk about the Canada that could be, the Canada that can be and the Canada that will be. It…
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The Conservatives may laugh, Mr. Speaker. They may laugh because they think it is funny to think about the concept of managing our economy in a responsible way, making prudent investments that are going to be there for the future of Canadians. That is okay because they are not running this country; thankfully, we are. The reason that we are in this position is that Canadians trusted the vision of …
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Mr. Speaker, I have been following this conversation with a lot of interest, and I am quite surprised by what we are hearing from members opposite. They claim to know the economy, fiscal prudence and what investment is about, but as we heard in question period yesterday, they do not seem to know what the private sector really is. I suppose one thing I might share with my colleagues across the way …
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Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is yelling that there are 3,000 people on a wait-list. This shows there is demand for a government program. That is clearly not a failed policy. On top of that, Conservatives talk about caring about Canadians and young people in this country. They talk about their concern about the prices of food. They voted against a school food program. They voted against a progr…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his question. In difficult times, families and governments alike must make difficult decisions. To have a more effective government with clear priorities, we may end up doing less than was done in years past. However, maintaining our fiscal position with banks and investors is also important. It is very important. The November 4 budget will show us how the govern…
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Mr. Speaker, do I find it strange? No, not when there is a leader of a party who has never had to live on anything but the taxpayer dollar. I think it is difficult for the Conservatives to understand how an economy works, let alone how balancing books works, so it is of no surprise to me the degree to which they would have made expenditures without considering how they were going to pay for them. …
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Mr. Speaker, on October 12, lsmaili Muslims from Vancouver to Halifax, from Resolute to Laval and from around the world will celebrate the 54th birthday of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, his first since his ascension to the seat of the lsmaili lmamat. As our 50th imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim continues the legacy of his father as a strong partner to Canada. It is a partnership built on the shared …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, this summer was an incredible season across the riding of Vancouver Granville. From local festivals such as the dragon boat races on our shore to the community days that were held across our riding, our neighbours came together in so many ways to showcase the vibrant spirit of our constituency. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and community members who help…
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Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to speak in support of Bill C-2. Recognizing the amount of time that I have, I will make my comments somewhat brief. I do want to begin by saying that, throughout the last campaign, and since 2021, I have had the privilege of meeting thousands of my constituents. Over and over, I have heard one message. They want a forward-looking and ambitious government t…
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Mr. Speaker, when I was young, I was very concerned about Bill C‑51, a bill introduced by Prime Minister Harper's Conservative government. In my opinion, Bill C‑2 is not perfect. No bill introduced by any government is. That is the reality. However, we have to protect the country, we have to protect Canadians, and we have to work together to keep improving the situation, including through regulati…
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Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise in this House as the re-elected member of Parliament for Vancouver Granville. I want to thank my constituents for placing their trust in me once more. Their ideas and determination inspire me every day. I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers who supported me, as well as my family, who give so much to allow me to serve. From Kits Point to south Van, from Sha…
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Mr. Speaker, if I were the Conservatives, I would be taking a long, hard look in the mirror wondering why union after union in that sector has turned its back on their party. They do not care a damn about workers.
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Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Louis-Saint-Laurent—Akiawenhrahk. It is a privilege to rise in this House today for the first time during this session. I do so with a strong sense of honour and responsibility. I want to begin by thanking my constituents of Vancouver Granville, who have placed their trust in me. I also thank my family for their heartfelt support and the t…
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows full well that on this side of the House, our government has made and continues to make unprecedented investments in supporting farmers and the agricultural sector. As for his part of the country, we appreciate the work the farmers in his riding do and those riding tractors and other important pieces of equipment who are helping to bring food to the table. We con…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his very interesting comment. As someone who lives in and represents a riding in British Columbia, I can say that we know that climate change is real. We understand the reality of the climate crisis. For me, the choice was clear in the last election. Canadians, and even Quebeckers, chose the vision that we presented, one where we can build a strong economy for…
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Mr. Speaker, as I said in my speech, this is an opportunity for us to ask where the economy of the future is going today and how we can make sure we are on the leading edge of that as a country and as a series of industries in this country. As the member rightly points out, this is an opportunity for us to create the types of jobs for the future that young people can look to so we can advance the …
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Mr. Speaker, as we get ready for the holidays, as always, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the residents of Vancouver Granville. We are all made better by their ideas, engagement and solutions, and I am so grateful to serve them. The holidays are a time to take care of one another, and that is why the two-month GST holiday that starts this Saturday will make the holidays a little bit bright…
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Mr. Speaker, whether it is funding for the Fringe Festival in Vancouver or the Mermaid Theatre in Kings—Hants, our government will always be there to support the arts. I want to assure the member that we will work with him and any members who are interested in ensuring long-term sustainable funding for the cultural sector in our country. This afternoon, I will be meeting with the CEO of the Canada…
Read full speech →Routine Proceedings
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Audiovisual Co-production Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of South Africa”, done at Cape Town on September 3, 2024.
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to honour three extraordinary Paralympians from my riding of Vancouver Granville: Nathan Clement, Peter Isherwood and Julia Hanes. In particular, I would like to highlight Nathan Clement. This summer, Nathan took home the silver medal from the Paris Paralympic Games in the men's T1 individual road time trial. He was also a swimmer at the Rio Paralympics and h…
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Mr. Speaker, our government knows that, even though Canadians work hard, many of them are still struggling financially. That is why we introduced the new working Canadians rebate last week. This tax-free $500 payment will go directly to more than 18 million Canadians. If people worked in 2023 and earned up to $150,000, this rebate is for them. This is meaningful support that Canadians who work har…
Read full speech →Emergency Debate
Madam Speaker, I share my colleague's concern for the forestry sector in British Columbia that tragically took its biggest hits as a result of decisions made by the Harper government, of which the current leader of the Conservatives was a member. We all know that the incoming president of the United States is a deal maker. This is an opportunity for us. It is a chance for us to sit down with someo…
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Madam Speaker, I do not believe much of what the Leader of the Opposition says. When it comes to protecting Canadian interests, he is an individual who refuses to get a security clearance to ensure that he has the information to protect his own party, let alone his own country. He is a man who speaks of freedom but refuses to let the members of his caucus speak freely, vote their conscience or rep…
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Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to rise in the House today, as it always is, as we speak in this important debate about the prospect of the tariffs proposed by President-elect Trump. This is an important moment for our country, and it is an important moment for us to reflect on so we respond in a way that is beneficial not just to Canadians but to our shared North American prosperity. Canada and …
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Madam Speaker, any strong economic strategy has to encompass all elements. It is not “and/or”. It is not “this or that”. It can be both. We do need to talk about how we continue to build industry and to take elements from natural to production in this country, just as we do need to do for other parts of the supply chain. That is the beauty of having an integrated North American economy; it allows …
Read full speech →Statements by Members
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John Horgan, British Columbia's former premier and Canada's ambassador to Germany, who passed away far too soon, on November 12. John from Langford, as he was affectionately known, was a great Canadian and fierce fighter for our province. He believed and lived the belief that we can build a strong economy and do the best for the most vulnerable, and that…
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