44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 17, 2022 10:00AM
- Jun/17/22 11:00:24 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, over the past year, our community of Newmarket—Aurora has lost two gentlemen whose impact on health care is immeasurable.
Art Craig passed on October 17, 2021, and Al Roeder passed on May 29, 2022. Both served our community in leadership positions with what is now the Southlake Regional Health Centre. Each served as president.
Al was a consummate professional, a health leader and in many ways a health pioneer. He was also, above all else, a gentleman, loved and respected by family, neighbours and former colleagues.
Art was a great supporter of arts and culture who believed in serving the community. He is remembered as a kind soul with a love of family and friends. The respect that he had from those who benefited from his support is exemplified with lifetime memberships in various organizations.
Our community, and specifically our hospital and health care, owe much to the leadership and the vision of both of these gentlemen.
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- Jun/17/22 11:02:47 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, look no further than to Essex to find people who will rise to the occasion when there is a cry for desperately needed help for the families of Ukraine. We all need a good-news story these days, and wow, do I have a great one.
Gary Taveirne and his amazing family were horrified by the horrible images of the illegal war on Ukraine and knew they had to do something, but they have gone above and beyond.
They have created the Kyiv Home Project and are building a two-family home in Cottam's Woodridge Estates for Ukrainian families to settle in, as well as supporting these families for three years as they get back on their feet.
With the help of BK Cornerstone, the Town of Kingsville, corporate donors, contractors, skilled trades workers and Pastor Kim Gilliland and the congregation of the Cottam United Church, their goal is to provide safe housing and necessities, which will soon become reality for Ukrainian families.
I am proud to strongly support this incredible act of compassion. I ask all of my colleagues in the House to join me in thanking the Taveirne family for their generosity and for leaving the world a better place than they found it.
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- Jun/17/22 11:03:56 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadian families across the country are stepping up to help Ukrainians come to and stay in Canada. The Parkers, a family from Eastern Passage in my riding of Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, are now hosting their second family from Ukraine.
Anastaslia, Oleski and Paulina arrived in Canada two weeks ago. Last Friday, I visited the Parker home to give young Paulina a Canadian flag and a backpack full of goodies. It was heartwarming to see her playing on the trampoline and waving her hand-held Canadian flag.
I want to thank the Parkers and all other families across Canada who have shown incredible generosity in opening up their homes and their hearts to the people of Ukraine.
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- Jun/17/22 11:04:55 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, food prices are going through the roof and working-class families are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. We know that Vladimir Putin's illegal war in Ukraine is driving fears of a global food shortage, but those fears are the perfect cover for the giant food conglomerates that are jacking up prices, not because of inflation but to gouge us.
Cargill's profits were up 64% in a single year. Loblaws' first-quarter profits are 40% higher than last year.
What is the government doing? The Liberals, remember, used taxpayers' money to fix Galen Weston's fridges while Loblaws was scamming us over the price of bread, and the Conservatives? Well, their would-be leader says to invest our savings in crypto-Ponzi schemes to beat inflation. I mean, a financial genius this guy is not.
What we are dealing with is not inflation but old-fashioned price gouging and corporate giants ripping off Canada's working class. The New Democrats say that it is time we took on these corporate giants and got this money into the pockets of working-class families.
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- Jun/17/22 11:05:58 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, we need to talk about men's health. This is Men's Health Week, and June is Canadian Men's Health Month, but we need to recognize how important it is for men to be aware of their physical and mental health every day of the year.
Canadian men die at alarmingly high rates of chronic illnesses in Canada, yet 70% of men's health problems are preventable just by living a healthier life. Healthy eating and daily physical activity play an important role in the health, well-being and quality of life of all Canadians, but physical activity in particular decreases stress and helps prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other things we should all work to avoid.
The good news for guys is that resources are available, and there is a huge community to support them. MensHealthFoundation.ca is a great place to start if my colleagues are ready to focus on their mental and physical health.
In closing, I would like to wish my dad, Joe, and all the other dads out there in Milton and across Canada a very happy Father's Day.
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- Jun/17/22 11:07:00 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, summer is just days away. In my riding, patio umbrellas are starting to go up in backyards and the smell of barbecue is in the air.
I would like to wish all the people of Beauce a fantastic summer holiday. The past two years have been tough, but the summer promises to be more or less normal. We have to keep supporting our local grocery store, coffee shop or corner store this summer because the neighbour, friend or family member who runs it needs us now more than ever.
Let us not forget that we cannot spell “Beauce” without “beau”, which means beautiful. I know that I am a bit biased, but our scenery, our hospitality and our sweet treats are a cut above the rest. I invite all my colleagues to come to Beauce this summer to enjoy our Beauce Route and learn all about our local legends along the way. Those who find it hard to leave are welcome to stay at my place.
I wish everyone a great summer. In Beauce, they will feel at home.
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- Jun/17/22 11:08:03 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, on behalf of the residents Brampton Centre, I rise today to recognize Tahir Khan, Shafiq Ahmad, Aqeel Akram, Raja Ashfaq, Farooq Ahmad, and Zia Inam for their selfless service to the community as the founding members of the Funeral Aid Society of Peel. The society is a not-for-profit organization, and its more than 1,100 members self-insure against funeral and burial expenses.
When a loved one passes away, the funeral and burial expenses can add to the stress of bereavement. Upon the demise of one of its members, the Funeral Aid Society steps in to pay all funeral and burial expenses. It then distributes that cost pro-rated among its members.
I have much appreciation for the Funeral Aid Society of Peel, as well as its founders, volunteers and members, for helping community members during one of the most difficult times of life.
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- Jun/17/22 11:09:03 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill is situated on the traditional territory of the Wyandot, Haudenosaunee and Anishinabe peoples. It is covered by Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties. We are privileged and grateful to share this part of Turtle Island.
The actions of many, including our government, have been revealed under the bright light of truth. We cannot deny the residential school graves or that the number of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls has become an epidemic. It should enrage us all that more than 63% of indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual violence. We cannot remain complacent. That is why national action plans have been put into place and why a special interlocutor on residential schools has been appointed.
Change finds its roots in many places. High school students in York Region, where my riding is located, will be studying indigenous literature. In 2021, Richmond Hill closed its facilities for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Aurora held a gathering, led by Jared Big Canoe of Georgina Island, to mourn and affirm that every child matters.
June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, but these are just dates, unless we all commit ourselves to ensuring that the future is different than the past and choosing to change. I am committed, and I believe change is possible. Together we must all walk the path of reconciliation.
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- Jun/17/22 11:10:36 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this week, the residents of Stanley Mission returned home after the whole community was evacuated due to a forest fire. In this overwhelming situation, there are many people deserving of our thanks and recognition. These include the fire crews of Stanley Mission and surrounding communities, who were on the frontlines; the La Ronge Regional Fire Department for providing equipment and personnel; the council of Stanley Mission, the PAGC and the SPSA for their organization and assistance in managing both the fire and the evacuation; the Red Cross, which went above and beyond in the preparation for and implementation of the evacuations of the cities of Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina; and finally, EMO coordinator Maurice Ratt and Chief Tammy Cook-Searson of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band for their steadfast leadership and hard work in guiding their communities through a very difficult and stressful emergency.
To all of those I mentioned, and to the many volunteers who played a role in keeping the community and the people of Stanley Mission safe, I say, “Thank you.”
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- Jun/17/22 11:11:44 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, after 46 years of being the voice of sports in Kingston, local legend Doug Jeffries is hanging up his microphone. A native of nearby Gananoque, Doug's career started in 1976 when, shortly after graduating from Loyalist College in Belleville, he was hired by local radio station CKLC to cover the sailing events that were being held in Kingston as part of the 1976 Montreal Olympics. For the next 25 years, Doug was a staple on CKLC and its sister station Fly FM, hosting both morning shows and sportscasts, as well as being the voice of the Queen's Golden Gaels football and OHL's Kingston Canadians.
Doug then moved on to TV, working for CKWS, initially as a news anchor before returning to sports in 2002 as the station's sports anchor. Doug also cares deeply for local sports in Kingston, showcasing, in particular, the skills and highlights of local high school athletes on the evening news.
This past Wednesday, June 15, was Doug's final broadcast, and it has been declared Doug Jeffries Day in Kingston. I would like to thank Doug for sharing his talent and his voice with us over the last 46 years. I wish him a happy retirement.
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- Jun/17/22 11:12:54 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, last week marked the start of the 2022 CFL season, and football fans across the country are excited and ready to cheer on their team. As a die-hard CFL fan, I am always happy to get a chance to highlight this great Canadian sport, which I believe is the best version of the game of football. With wide open play, exciting offence and energetic defence, one needs to stay to the very end to see who wins.
The CFL has nine teams split between the east and west divisions, and hopefully there will be a team in the Maritimes soon. The season will culminate in the Grey Cup championship game happening on November 20 in Regina. This will be the 109th Grey Cup game, and after two years of the pandemic, the province of Saskatchewan and the city of Regina are excited to welcome tourists back with open arms. This is a great opportunity to take in some world-class football played by outstanding athletes. I encourage everyone to attend a game and to watch the games on TV.
While I know which team I will be cheering for, but I wish all players, coaches and staff a successful season. Go, Riders, go.
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- Jun/17/22 11:14:10 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Lee-Anne Quinn has received the Order of Military Merit award, the highest order a member of the military can receive. She is the honorary lieutenant colonel to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.
She is an all-star athlete. She is a Guinness World Records holder. She is an RN. She is a nurse practitioner who volunteers her time at Camp Maple Leaf. She received the Florence Nightingale Medal in 2007 as Canada's top nurse. She has served and practised medicine around the world in war-torn countries. She is also a survivor of PTSD. Lee-Anne is passionate about mental health solutions and service. She retired this past Tuesday so she can devote all her time to the Brock Clinic, which she worked tirelessly to make happen. The clinic offers free care for the homeless.
Lee-Anne has done so much for this community. I promise, as I said I would, that I will continue my work at the federal level to work across all party lines to ensure that mental health care becomes a priority from coast to coast to coast in this country. I am so honoured to know Lee-Anne.
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- Jun/17/22 11:15:18 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to draw the attention of the House to the dire situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
We are seeing renewed violence on the part of M23 fighters and other terrorist militias, which has resulted in egregious human rights abuses. Tens of thousands of people have been driven from their homes. UN peacekeepers have been targeted, and there have been allegations of cross-border rocket fire.
The head of MONUSCO stated, and I quote: “We reaffirm our strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the DRC and strongly condemn the use of proxies.”
I urge the Government of Rwanda to work with the DRC to de-escalate the situation and reach an immediate ceasefire for all armed groups.
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- Jun/17/22 11:17:30 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, today I am honoured to acknowledge a special anniversary of an extraordinary organization in Winnipeg Centre. The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, known as IRCOM, is celebrating 30 years this month. This organization uses a one-of-a-kind model that provides safe, affordable transitional housing, along with wraparound supports, to 111 newcomer families in Winnipeg Centre.
I want to acknowledge the leadership of the refugee communities and advocates for building IRCOM Ellen 30 years ago and for opening IRCOM Isabel in 2016. I thank them for creating these spaces for the community to thrive. IRCOM introduces its values like this: “At IRCOM, we love...our community. We are full of hope and optimism.”
I am proud to share this with the House and to celebrate this with every member of the IRCOM community, including families, staff and volunteers, and with a special tribute to IRCOM’s youth.
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- Jun/17/22 11:18:35 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this Saturday will be our last opportunity to hear Joël Le Bigot's smooth voice on Radio-Canada's radio show Samedi et rien d'autre. He is retiring at the end of this season.
Joël Le Bigot delighted listeners every weekday morning as host of CBF-Bonjour for nearly 20 years with his team of contributors. After taking a year off, our seafaring broadcaster headed back to land to become the king of weekend radio in Quebec.
Throughout his brilliant radio career, Joël has been much more than a voice. He has a kind and curious nature, a playful sense of humour and a big heart. He is known for being a devotee of Georges Brassens' music, and many consider him to be the driving force behind the return of Quebec's Media Food Drive.
We know that he will be busy in retirement, embracing his role as doting grandfather and catching up with friends. This is the end of an era, but what an era it was. Fair winds and following seas to Joël Le Bigot.
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- Jun/17/22 11:19:40 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, I asked Yuliia, a 24-year-old intern from Ukraine, to describe Putin's brutal war in her own words. This is what she wrote, “Imagine it's Wednesday night. You set your alarm for 6:00 a.m., but it never goes off. Instead, your world is shattered by the deafening sounds of explosions. You're not sure what's going on. Your phone incessantly beeps with notifications. The war has started. Death steals your mind. Adrenaline fills you. You grab your passport, stuff your life into a backpack and try to escape. It takes six hours. You have no destination. Everything has been bombed. Friends text, 'Russians are entering the town, shooting civilians, looting apartments, stealing your life's belongings and sending them back to Russia.' Air sirens wail constantly as you read heartbreaking stories: A six-year-old boy's hair turning grey as he watches his mom being raped, a mom and daughter tied to a mine that exploded, a missile launched at a maternity hospital.”
Plain and simple, the Liberals need to stop sending their officials to drink champagne and eat caviar with Russian officials and do more to help Ukrainians.
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- Jun/17/22 11:20:53 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, this week the youth council of Canada's chief science advisor, Dr. Mona Nemer, is in Ottawa. I had the great privilege of speaking with the council yesterday as part of its meetings in the capital. I was deeply impressed by the diversity of its members' fields and backgrounds, from oceans to aerospace and everything in between. I was also moved by their brilliance, their probing and smart questions, their passionate and advocacy for their research, and their curiosity with respect to the intersection of science and politics. Dr. Nemer has tasked the youth council with writing a report on the future of science in Canada, and its meetings this week with government representatives and members of Ottawa's science policy community will inform its work.
One thing is clear to me. With these young people at the forefront of research and discovery in Canada, the future of science in our country knows no bounds. I would like to invite all members to join me in congratulating the chief science advisor's youth council on its successful trip to Ottawa and in thanking it for its excellent contributions to science in Canada, both those of today and those to come.
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- Jun/17/22 11:22:08 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, Canadians continue to have to pay Service Canada for expedited passports, despite the minister assuring this House that this would not be the case. Half the time, they are not even getting the enhanced service they are being forced to pay for. This directive first came out weeks ago, yet it is still not being implemented.
If the minister’s department does not respect her enough to follow her directives, how does she ever expect to clear the backlog?
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- Jun/17/22 11:22:42 a.m.
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Madam Speaker, as the hon. member and many Canadians know, after two years of travel restrictions in this pandemic there is an unprecedented backlog of applications both in Canada and around the world. This has led to delays in processing and issuance, but the minister has been adamant with the department to address the situation and improve service and we continue to do so on a day-to-day basis because the situation is not acceptable. Canadians need their documents. We will keep Canadians informed about additional measures as we take them, and encourage people to plan ahead to ensure they have passports planned before booking. I would like to also emphasize that those who—
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- Jun/17/22 11:23:19 a.m.
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The hon. member for Red Deer—Lacombe has the floor.
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