Statements By Members
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to remember Robert Smythe, a true pillar of Centretown who passed away on November 15. For over 50 years, Robert dedicated his life to preserving the character and history of our community. As the founding editor of the Centretown BUZZ, Robert captured the stories and struggles of our neighbourhood with passion and care. He shared downtown Ottawa's history and architectur…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to parts (a) to (j), as part of the standard regulatory process for drugs and vaccines, when a new drug or vaccine is authorized by Health Canada, a drug identification number, DIN, is issued. The product DIN is a unique number that identifies the following product characteristics: manufacturer, product name, active ingredients, strengths of active ingredients, pharmaceuti…
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Mr. Speaker, as the member of Parliament for Ottawa Centre, it is my great privilege to speak to my constituents on a regular basis. I knock on doors almost every week in my community, and I have been hearing from my constituents, who tell me that the cost of living is real. They have seen the hardships of rising inflation, and even though inflation is coming down, they are seeing their budget str…
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Madam Speaker, today, on the eve of Remembrance Day, I rise to pay tribute to Canada's past and present veterans, who have sacrificed so much. Across our great country, we pause to reflect on the extraordinary courage, commitment and selflessness of the men and women who have served and continue to serve to protect our freedom and democracy. Today, we also mark Indigenous Veterans Day. We recogniz…
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Mr. Speaker, last week was Media Literacy Week, dedicated to showcasing the power of digital literacy across Canada. In my riding of Ottawa Centre, MediaSmarts led an inspiring effort with its outstanding Break the Fake campaign, reviving the iconic house hippo to confront the rise of AI-generated deepfakes. This playful yet powerful symbol reminds us all to stay vigilant online. Supported by the …
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Mr. Speaker, the number of the day is one million. That is one million Canadians who now have received oral health care through the Canadian dental care plan. That is one million Canadians, many of whom are seniors living in our communities, who visited a dental hygienist, a dentist or a denturist, many for the very first time. They are now getting access to dental care, as they should, so their h…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to parts (a) to (k), the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priority and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over biologics, including vaccines. Before any of the COVID-19 vaccines were approved in Canada, the department conducted rigorous scientific review of the extensive data regarding the vaccines’ safety, efficacy and quality, i…
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Mr. Speaker, without a comprehensive list of children’s illnesses, it is not possible to determine how much Canadian Institutes of Health Research, or CIHR, funding has been allocated in this area since 2015. Additionally, CIHR has concluded that identifying projects and then producing and validating a comprehensive response to this question would require a manual collection and validation of info…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (a) to (q) of the question, the health and safety of Canadians are the utmost priority for Health Canada. Health Canada has a rigorous scientific review system in place to ensure vaccines are safe and effective in preventing the diseases they target. More information on these standards and how Health Canada regulates vaccines for human use in Canada can be found a…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines. Before a vaccine is approved in Canada, the department conducts a rigorous scientific review of its safety, efficacy and quality. Submissions filed by vaccine manufacturers typically contain extensive data regar…
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Mr. Speaker, ensuring the vitality of francophone communities outside Quebec is a priority for our government. Under our new plan, francophone permanent residents will represent 8.5% of the overall permanent resident admission targets in 2025, rising to 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027. These targets demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the growth of francophone communities outside Quebec and are co…
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Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we will always stand up for a publicly funded health care system. That is why we are making unprecedented investment in our system, working with provinces and territories, with over $200 billion over 10 years. We have never seen that kind of investment. That is not to mention investments in dental care and pharmacare. These are the kinds of things we are doi…
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Mr. Speaker, after the pandemic, we had to increase our immigration levels to help our economy and businesses recover. Our postpandemic measures reflected what Canada needed at the time. The new plan reflects what Canada needs today. By slowing down demographic growth in the short term, we will achieve growth and prosperity in the long term.
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Mr. Speaker, we are committed to ensuring that pesticides used in Canada are safe for human health and the environment. All pesticides undergo a rigorous scientific review process prior to being approved for sale in Canada, and they are regularly reviewed to ensure they continue to meet health and safety standards. We take the concerns raised in the research by Dr. Christy Morrissey seriously, and…
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Mr. Speaker, given the complexity of this issue, we are going to take the time to review the details of the Quebec government's announcement. We remain committed to working with Quebec and all provinces and territories to carefully evaluate the next step.
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Mr. Speaker, MAID is a complex and deeply personal issue, especially when it comes to advance requests. The possibility of expanding MAID eligibility to include advance requests is a very momentous decision. It requires collaboration with physicians, experts and health professionals nationwide.
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Mr. Speaker, we will always defend immigration and make sure that immigration remains an integral part of the Canadian success story. We will also always defend a woman's freedom and right to choose. What I have not heard from any members on the Conservative benches is an affirmation that they will also defend a woman's right to choose. We know, after hearing from one of their former members, that…
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Mr. Speaker, the new immigration levels plan is a transition plan that responds directly to our country's changing needs. That is what Canadians want and that is what they asked us to do. These reductions are needed to enhance our economic and social prosperity, while ensuring that newcomers are able to succeed.
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Mr. Speaker, it is always rich to hear from the Conservatives when they talk about fake colleges. I hope the member opposite is calling her premier, Danielle Smith, to make sure that fake colleges are not getting credentials. I hope the members from Ontario are calling Doug Ford to let him know that he should not be accrediting fake colleges. On this side of the House, we will always make sure to …
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Mr. Speaker, immigration is key to the economic growth of Canada. This country is full of incredible stories of immigrants, one of whom is speaking right now. They are of a country that has welcomed people from around the world. The government has always taken a very responsible approach to immigration to make sure that Canada continues to grow. That is exactly the kind of responsible approach we …
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Mr. Speaker, I have always worked with the Province of Quebec. Immigration is necessary to grow our economy and strengthen our communities. Canadians want a strong, sustainable immigration system that allows Canada and all those who come here to succeed. That is exactly what we are doing with the announcement we made yesterday about the immigration levels plan. We are reducing the number of tempor…
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec has more power over its immigration system than all the other provinces and all the other territories in the country since it controls more than half of the immigration of temporary residents. We asked Quebec for its plan to reduce temporary immigration and we are still waiting for that plan.
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Mr. Speaker. Over the last few weeks, my constituents have been asking me why the Leader of the Opposition will not get a security clearance. That is a really legitimate question. I do want to give the Leader of the Opposition the benefit of the doubt, but he is just running out of excuses. I thought I would look at what the national security experts are saying, because they are the best people to…
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Mr. Speaker, this week, I had the pleasure of meeting with Lupus Canada and its team of doctors and patient advocates to speak about the ongoing challenges faced by the one in 1,000 Canadians living with lupus. Often referred to as a disease with a thousand faces, the complexity of this autoimmune condition and its various symptoms make diagnosing it a lengthy and challenging process, currently ta…
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Mr. Speaker, yes, it was an exciting day. Pharmacare is now law in Canada. This means that 3.5 million Canadians will now have access to diabetes medications. It means that nine million women can have access to contraceptives. We know that the Conservatives are always against public health care systems, so they voted against this, but what is really disappointing is that the NDP ripped up the agre…
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Madam Speaker, it is my great honour to rise today to celebrate community newspapers in all of our riding. This past week, I had the great honour of attending the 50th anniversary of the Ottawa South Community Association Review, also known as OSCAR. In this era of declining traditional media and the rise of social media, it got me thinking about the important role that community newspapers play. …
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for his steadfast advocacy for patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. I believe that the member opposite would agree that we are all committed to making sure that we provide care for people who suffer from HIV/AIDS. That is why our government has invested almost $90 million to help tackle sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections across Canada. T…
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Mr. Speaker, the only radical thing about the opposition leader's ideas is his plan to cut Canadians' pensions and health care. He has shown his true colours again and again. He will not stand up for protecting universal health care for all Canadians. What does the Conservative leader mean when he says “radical pharmacare”? It means he does not want to see universal health care protected in our co…
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the memory of Gay Cook, a cherished figure in Ottawa who passed away on September 11 at the mighty age of 93. Gay was more than a food journalist; she was the heart of Ottawa's culinary community. Gay together with her sisters Jean Pigott and Grete Hale formed the legendary Morrison sisters. Gay's influence as a food professional, mentor and friend was far-reach…
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Madam Speaker, I am thrilled to recognize the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation, also known as CCOC, as it celebrates a phenomenal milestone: 50 years of transforming lives and building communities. CCOC owns and manages over 50 properties that provide nearly 1,600 affordable homes, primarily in the heart of Ottawa Centre. Its mission is to foster diverse, inclusive and sustainable communitie…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to part (a) of the question, the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, has 457 GeneXpert Systems, some of which were received on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, or ISC; 260 of these systems have been deployed by PHAC. In terms of Part (b), the vast majority of GeneXpert Systems distributed by PHAC are currently being utilized for respiratory virus testing, in othe…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to part (a), on March 22, 2023, the Government of Canada announced measures in support of the first-ever National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases, with an investment of up to $1.5 billion over three years. As part of this first phase, the Government of Canada will provide up to $1.4 billion over three years to provinces and territories through bilateral agreements. Th…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to (a), with regard to the Public Health Agency of Canada’s, PHAC, work to prepare its Canadian child welfare information system, CCWIS, report, PHAC collaborates with provinces and territories, other federal departments, and indigenous organizations to support work on the CCWIS. The development of the 2023/2024 report involved collaboration, input, and/or consultation wit…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to parts (a) to (c) of the question, the health and safety of Canadians are the utmost priority for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC. Health Canada has a rigorous scientific review system in place to ensure vaccines are safe and effective in preventing the diseases they target. Before a vaccine can be approved for sale in Canada, it undergoes a…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to parts (a) to (z), the health and safety of Canadians are the utmost priority for Health Canada. Health Canada has a rigorous scientific review system in place to ensure vaccines are safe and effective in preventing the diseases they target. More information on these standards and how Health Canada regulates vaccines for human use in Canada can be found at https://www.ca…
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Mr. Speaker, in December 2011, the Government of Canada announced that the Canada Health Transfer, or CHT, would continue to grow at six per cent annually from 2014-15 to 2016-17, and, beginning in 2017-18, the CHT would grow in line with a three-year moving average of nominal gross domestic product, or GDP growth, with funding guaranteed to increase by at least three per cent per year. The Decemb…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priorities, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before any of the COVID-19 vaccines were approved in Canada, the department conducted rigorous scientific review of the extensive data regarding the vaccines’ safety, efficacy and quality, including results of pre-clinical and clinical studi…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before the initial approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the department completed a rigorous scientific review of the product’s safety, efficacy and quality, including details on manufacturing processes and information on adverse events foll…
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Mr. Speaker, Health Canada’s mandate is to help Canadians maintain and improve their health. The health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over health products, including vaccines. Health Canada received Pfizer’s submission seeking authorization to its Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on October 9, 2020, available at…
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Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a) to (g), the Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, does not have access to provincial or territorial databases like the Ontario Health Data Platform that provide an individual-level information such as medical diagnoses or date of deaths. Similarly, PHAC does not have access to databases managed by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences. Canada has a robus…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priority, and before the initial authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, COMIRNATY, the department completed a rigorous scientific review of the product’s safety, efficacy and quality. Following authorization, Health Canada remained active in discussions with international partners in assessing the quality, safety and ef…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to (a) to (r), the health and safety of Canadians are Health Canada’s top priority. The department exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines, and conducts a rigorous scientific review of their safety, efficacy and quality prior to authorization. In July 2023, Health Canada evaluated the presence of the SV40 promoter/enhancer sequence in the plasmid used to pre…
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Mr. Speaker, the Pan-Canadian Vaccine Injury Support Program, or VISP, provides financial support to people in Canada in the rare event that they experience a serious and permanent injury as a result of receiving a Health Canada authorized vaccine, administered in Canada, on or after December 8, 2020. The program also provides death benefits and support for funeral expenses in the rare case of a d…
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Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is Health Canada’s top priority, and the Department of Health exercises stringent regulatory oversight over vaccines. Before a vaccine is approved in Canada, the department conducts a rigorous scientific review of its safety, efficacy and quality. Submissions typically contain extensive data regarding the vaccine's safety, efficacy and quality, inclu…
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the member opposite for asking a really important question. I know he has asked similar questions before. As I said earlier in the House, our focus is to make sure that we approve medications through Health Canada, but do so in a manner that maintains the safety of medications for Canadians. We cannot afford to ever take shortcuts that could jeopardize the lives of C…
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Madam Speaker, one thing that is absolutely clear is that the Conservatives do not care. They do not care about Canadians. They want to make sure they keep giving tax breaks to the ultrawealthy in this country. At the same time, they will cut programs for Canadians that Canadians rely on. What is clear today is that the Conservatives will cut the Canadian dental care program, which is serving 200,…
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Mr. Speaker, in response to (a)(i), (ii), (v), (vi) and (ix), the Minister of Health and Health Canada officials did not communicate or correspond, directly or indirectly, with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council in 2020 or 2021 regarding mask exemptions, COVID-19 vaccines, medications to treat COVID-19, or any other public health…
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Mr. Speaker, I am excited to rise today to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Centretown Community Health Centre, a pillar of support and compassion in my community of Ottawa Centre since 1969. Over the past five and a half years, CCHC has evolved into a multiservice, non-profit organization offering a wide array of services that cater to the diverse needs of the residents of Centretown. I know…
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Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of coach Cliff Brimmell. Anyone who had the good fortune of knowing Cliff knows what a wonderful man and passionate coach he was. An active member of the Ottawa Rowing Club for almost 50 years, Cliff shaped the lives of countless young rowers, instilling in them not only the skills and discipline required for rowing but also the values…
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Mr. Speaker, I agree with the member opposite. The arts are extremely important for all of us individually, for our communities and for our country. There is so much Canadian arts and culture to celebrate, which varies from region to region. That is why Liberals will continue to support arts groups and artists all across the country, regardless of which part of the country they live in, including …
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