SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 131 - Nov/21/22

Mr. Terry Duguid (Winnipeg South, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:00:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the most successful regular season in their 92-year history. Although Winnipeg did not win the Grey Cup this year, its fans and the entire city of Winnipeg are grateful for the exciting season the team brought us. I would also like to congratulate the Toronto Argonauts for their Grey Cup victory. The team had an excellent season and put on a gritty and impressive championship performance. The Bombers were led by Mike O'Shea, who won his second consecutive coach of the year award, and quarterback Zach Collaros, who won his second consecutive trophy as the league's most outstanding player. I give a big shout-out to the four hometown athletes who were on the Bombers' roster this year, including Nic Demski, Brad Oliveira, Geoff Gray and Mike Benson, all of whom were born and raised in Winnipeg. We are so proud of them and the entire team.

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Mr. Ron Liepert (Calgary Signal Hill, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:01:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, like most members in this place, I took time on Remembrance Day to honour those who sacrificed so much for us, giving us the opportunity to participate in forums like this. At the same time, I also recognized our brave men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces. Too many Canadians take our freedom for granted, and Russia's attack on Ukraine should serve as a clear wake-up call. However, while we honour our brave men and women of the Canadian forces, both past and present, the government must start reinvesting in our military. Our funding is inadequate. Our equipment is out of date, and personnel are leaving the forces in greater numbers than are joining. Many of our veterans also need help, and again, the Liberal government is failing to adequately address our veteran situation. Whether it is the veterans who need help, or the current state of our military, the government is failing.

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Ms. Joanne Thompson (St. John's East, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:02:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay respect to Mr. Bill Saunders, a Newfoundland veteran of the Second World War, who passed away last week at the age of 101. Mr. Saunders joined the Royal Navy at 18 years old and was at sea when the first Allied vessel liberated Hong Kong from the Japanese in August 1945. He went on to be a dedicated member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 1 for over 70 years, until the age of 98. The best way to describe Mr. Saunders is through a quote from the Legion Branch president: “When he came through the door, everyone seemed to light up when they see him”. That just paints the perfect picture of the man he was, respected as a mentor and a teacher. As the number of World War II veterans remaining reduces, let us take the time to connect with veterans, hear their stories and learn from them. What they experienced and fought for, we must never forget. We pay respect to Mr. Bill Saunders and think of his friends, colleagues and families during this sad time. May he rest in peace.

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Mrs. Claude DeBellefeuille (Salaberry—Suroît, BQ)

Nov/21/22 2:03:31 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Quebec celebrates the social economy every November. When people purchase goods or services from the social economy, the whole community benefits. The social economy is about supporting businesses that care about community and local services. The social economy is about businesswomen and businessmen who value quality of life and citizen engagement. These are business leaders who prioritize quality of life over profit no matter what. Quebec's social economy is a big deal. We are talking $47.8 billion. We are talking 220,000 Quebeckers working for 11,200 companies all striving to change the economic landscape. I salute the Chantier de l'économie sociale for its dynamic involvement, the 22 regional hubs and every consumer across Quebec who chooses the social economy. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I wish everyone a happy social economy month.

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Mr. Peter Schiefke (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:04:42 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, every year during the holidays, the people of Vaudreuil—Soulanges come together to make the holiday season a happy one for everyone. With global inflation this year, it is more important than ever. I rise today to thank the organizations and individuals in my community who play a leading role. I want to thank organizations like Moisson Sud-Ouest, which provides food to 92 food banks and soup kitchens. I thank the incredible individuals who are working hard every day, people like Stéphane Spisak, Marie-Andrée Prévost and the entire board of directors, as well as all the employees and dedicated volunteers. I invite everyone in our community to support them. The easiest way to do so is to give generously to the media food drive, which will be held across Quebec on December 1. All proceeds collected will go toward helping put food on the table for seniors, families and kids over the holidays and into the new year. I invite all members of my community of Vaudreuil—Soulanges who can to give generously.

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Mr. John Nater (Perth—Wellington, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:05:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, in the summer of 1995, John Davidson pushed his son Jesse in his wheelchair across Ontario in what was known as “Jesse’s Journey”. What was the purpose of this journey? It was to raise funds and awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In 1998, John walked across Canada to continue the journey. Along the way he would break a Guinness world record for the fastest crossing of Canada by foot, but more importantly, he raised another $1.5 million for Duchenne research. Since then, Jesse’s Journey has granted more than $16 million in research funding. Twenty-seven years after it all began, Jesse’s Journey is now Defeat Duchenne Canada. The name might have changed, but the purpose remains: a world where those born with Duchenne can live long and healthy lives. John Davidson, representatives from Defeat Duchenne Canada and Duchenne families, such as grade 7 student James Allen, who is living with Duchenne, are in Ottawa today. I hope all members will join me in welcoming them to Ottawa and committing to the hard work and resources necessary to defeat Duchenne and other rare diseases.

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Mr. Adam van Koeverden (Milton, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:06:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the Toronto Argonauts on their record 18th Grey Cup victory, the most any Canadian professional football team has ever won. Chad Kelly, the backup quarterback for the Argos, came on for the injured McLeod Bethel-Thompson in the fourth quarter. A pair of touchdowns from AJ Ouellette, and the Argos were once again champions with a hard fought 24-23 victory over the strongly favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Toronto linebacker Henoc Muamba had a key interception late in the game and was named the game's most valuable player and top Canadian. Henoc is only the second player in CFL history to be named both most outstanding player and most outstanding Canadian in the Grey Cup championship game. After 11 years in the league, this is Henoc's first Grey Cup, and he credited the positive culture on his team and the support of his family for his success. To the players and the coaches, the Argos staff and everyone in their locker room, their families, supporters and fans, and to the incomparable legendary Michael “Pinball” Clemons, we say congratulations. We thank them for playing the Canadian game with three downs, a larger field and our rules. Once again, I send my congratulations the Toronto Argonauts, the double blue, on their record 18th Grey Cup win.

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Ms. Jenna Sudds (Kanata—Carleton, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:08:12 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this weekend I was honoured to march alongside Iranian Canadians as they demanded justice, justice for PS752, justice for Mahsa Amini and justice for victims of the Iranian regime's human rights violations. Canada shares in their calls for justice. Last week, our government announced another round of sanctions against the Iranian regime, targeting IRGC commanders, state-affiliated weapons firms and UAV manufacturing companies. These sanctions prohibit dealings with the listed individuals and entities, effectively freezing any assets they may hold in Canada and prohibiting them from operating in our country. Canada will not hesitate to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to respond to the Iranian regime's aggressions, whether in Iran or abroad. We will attain justice for victims of flight PS752, for Mahsa and for the Iranian people.

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Mr. Ted Falk (Provencher, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:09:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this coming Sunday is the first Sunday of what Christians call Advent. It is the first of four Sundays that anticipates the coming of Jesus. The Christian church has seen this as a time of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the king. Here was God coming to us as a baby to live among us to invite us into a personal relationship with almighty God. Each Sunday in Advent represents God's promises of hope, peace, joy and love. That is what God wants to bring into this broken world. We read in the gospels of the wise men, the kings, the leaders of the time, bringing gifts to this baby because they knew something in this baby's coming merged truth, justice and mercy with this world. Still today, Jesus invites people to accept, through faith, the forgiveness that he offers and the gift of eternal life. I wish the Speaker, all members of this House and all Canadians across this beautiful country the hope, peace, joy and love of Jesus throughout this Advent season.

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Ms. Ya'ara Saks (York Centre, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:10:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, November 20 is National Child Day in Canada. This special day honours our commitment to upholding the rights of children through two historic events: the signing and adoption in 1959 of the UN Declaration and in 1989 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This year's theme is “8 Million Rising”. Across Canada there is a growing movement of young change-makers, who are standing up for their rights and speaking up for their generation. National Child Day is an important occasion to reflect on the progress to date and the challenges that remain, especially for indigenous, racialized and 2SLGBTQI+ kids. To support our children with the best start in life, our government introduced the Canada child benefit, lifting over 435,000 children out of poverty. It is building a nationwide system of high-quality, affordable child care, and it is laying the groundwork for a national school food policy to help ensure children are well nourished. Finally, it is implementing the Canada dental benefit for children under 12. Children are not just the future. They are leading in the present as well.

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Mrs. Stephanie Kusie (Calgary Midnapore, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:11:43 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, listen to this list of Canadians. Vanessa, a single mom in Calgary, just wants to use her minivan to drive her kids to school, to dance and to sports. Cooper in Chilliwack uses his truck to drive from his shop to his clients to use his plumbing skills all around the region. Flora heats her home in Newfoundland with oil to keep her and her husband Peter warm. Jackie thinks twice about turning up the thermostat a degree instead of deciding to just put on a sweater. Mark gets in his big wheeler in Milton at the crack of dawn to deliver food to grocers. What do these Canadians have in common? They are struggling to keep up with energy prices under the Liberal-NDP coalition, and to the Prime Minister, they are just polluters.

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Mr. Brad Vis (Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:12:48 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General recently released a report, and the results are in: The federal government does not know if it is reducing chronic homelessness. Five years have gone by since the launch of the federal government's national housing strategy, yet there is no accountability for billions of dollars spent, while more and more people are living in tents and cars. This is unacceptable, and it is only getting worse right across Canada. The federal government must develop a clear strategy with timelines and targets for ending chronic homelessness, including a definition with measurable targets. The Liberals' plan to announce large amounts of money with no follow-up and zero accountability is not working, and it is failing Canadians. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has already spent $4.5 billion and committed $9 billion more to tackle homelessness, but cannot conclude if any of those funds have made a measurable difference. Canadians need leadership. Canadians need a plan. Canadians need homes built now. They cannot afford more of this wasteful and bad bureaucracy from the Liberal government.

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The Speaker

Nov/21/22 2:13:51 p.m.
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Order. I want to remind everyone that statements are being made and there are very important things being said. I want to make sure everyone can hear everything. Members talking among themselves should try whispering rather than talking across three benches or across the floor. The hon. member for Etobicoke Centre.

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Mr. Yvan Baker (Etobicoke Centre, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:14:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the famine genocide in Ukraine, known as the Holodomor, when the Soviet Union closed Ukraine's borders and confiscated all food to destroy a Ukrainian population opposed to its rule. There were 19 people per minute, 1,200 per hour and 28,000 per day dying of famine at the height of the Holodomor. The world was silent, and millions died as a result. After World War II, we said, “Never again.” Year after year, here in this House, we commemorate genocides and atrocities, and we say, “Never again.” Right now, in Russian-occupied Ukraine, it is happening again. Russia is executing; Russia is torturing; Russia is raping women and even children. Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine. Let us learn the lessons of the Holodomor. The only way to stop this is for the world to help Ukraine liberate all occupied territories. If we do not do this, then millions of Ukrainians will become victims of a genocide; we will show that we did not learn the lessons of the Holodomor, and we will have lost the right to ever again use the words, “Never again.”

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Mr. Peter Julian (New Westminster—Burnaby, NDP)

Nov/21/22 2:15:39 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, we have a health care crisis in Canada. I witnessed this first-hand over the past year as first my father and then my mother fell sick and went into palliative care. I witnessed the immense dedication of Canada's nurses, doctors and health care workers, and I know, as we all do, how underfunding by the government has created a crisis in public health care. That crisis is clear to see in children's hospitals and emergency rooms everywhere. Our health care workers are overworked to the point of exhaustion. Patients are sleeping in hospital hallways because there is nowhere else to go. The Liberal government has been irresponsible here. Instead of providing adequate health care funding to provinces and territories, it gave $750 billion in liquidity supports to help big banks maintain their profits. The same government allows over $30 billion in taxes to go to loopholes for the ultrarich and overseas tax havens every year. It must be a top priority to restore adequate health care funding so that seniors, children, families and everyone receives the health care support they deserve.

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Mr. Martin Champoux (Drummond, BQ)

Nov/21/22 2:16:49 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Jean Lapointe has left us. He left an indelible impression on us as a comedian who made Quebeckers laugh for decades, and as a prominent actor in Quebec films such as Les ordres, L'eau chaude, l'eau frette and Le dernier tunnel. We will never forget his star turn as Duplessis, arguably one of the most remarkable performances in the history of Quebec television. We will also never forget his successful career as a singer-songwriter, with hits like C'est dans les chansons, Cyrano, Si on chantait ensemble and Chante-la, ta chanson. Above all, we will never forget his altruism, which motivated him to help out people who were struggling. Since 1982, Maison Jean Lapointe has been a beacon of hope for people seeking help for alcoholism and drug abuse. Thousands of Quebeckers, as well as their families and friends, are indebted to him. Thousands, even millions, of Quebeckers are grateful to him, and his passing is a huge loss to us all. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I offer my most sincere condolences to all those who loved him.

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Mr. Kevin Waugh (Saskatoon—Grasswood, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:18:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, since this government took office, failed Liberal policies have cost thousands of Canadians their lives. Unfortunately, in my province of Saskatchewan, drug overdose deaths are on the rise again this year. Addictions are terrorizing every community across this country and are the result of a failed experiment by the Liberal government to provide taxpayer-funded drugs to addicts. This approach has failed in every jurisdiction it has been tried in. Addiction can happen to anyone. It is a health crisis that unfortunately touches almost all families in this country. It feels like everything is broken in Canada, but there is hope. The Conservative leader has a plan: a compassionate, health-based approach to providing recovery, treatment and counselling. We need to fix the problem. We are losing too many sisters, brothers, parents and friends to drugs.

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Mr. Francesco Sorbara (Vaughan—Woodbridge, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:19:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canadians come from a vast range of nations, races, religions and heritage. All Canadians can be proud of their identities, take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging. A community that brings Canadian society to life by sharing its identity is the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada. We can all attest to the generosity, resilience and commitment of Ahmadi Muslims through Humanity First, Mercy for Mankind, Muslims for Life, Muslims for Remembrance and the Run for Canada. These are just a few initiatives led by the Ahmadiyya community in support of Canadians. Despite facing persecution and discrimination in many countries, Ahmadi Muslims strive to live up to the simple but profound message of “Love for all, hatred for none.” As chair of the Parliamentary Friends of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at group, I ask members to join me in welcoming the Ahmadiyya community to Parliament. I also invite them to join us tonight as we continue to promote adherence to the values of human dignity and freedom of religion for all.

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Hon. Pierre Poilievre (Leader of the Opposition, CPC)

Nov/21/22 2:20:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada ranked 58th out of 63 countries in terms of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Liberals have missed every target for reducing emissions, yet they are moving forward with the same strategy. In fact, they want to triple down on the strategy by tripling the carbon tax, even though Canadians are struggling to pay their heating bills. When will they realize that turning down the heat in our homes is not the goal of fighting climate change?

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Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson (Minister of Natural Resources, Lib.)

Nov/21/22 2:21:23 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the most comprehensive plans in the world to combat climate change. We will meet our target of a 40% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. At the same time, we need to ensure that life is affordable for Canadians, and we have made the investments to ensure that it is.

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