44th Parl. 1st Sess.
December 12, 2023 10:00AM
- Dec/12/23 2:49:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, addressing the ongoing violence against indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQ+ people is a whole-of-government approach which requires living up to our moral obligations as a country on the calls to justice. That is why, in budget 2023, we have invested $125 million to implement the national action plan for MMIWG, ensuring accountability by establishing an oversight mechanism and support for the National Family and Survivors Circle.
We will continue to work with families to ensure that the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls—
91 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:50:34 p.m.
- Watch
The hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
8 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:50:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Liberals announced legislation for clean water on reserve, but they made no mention of the Neskantaga First Nation which has gone 28 years without access to clean water.
At the same time, the leader of the Conservative Party ordered his caucus to try to cut funding for both the suicide hotline and for first nation clean water projects. His indifference is deeply disturbing, but it is not surprising.
As for the Liberals, Neskantaga First Nation has reached out time and time again. Why is the Liberal government continuing to fail the people of Neskantaga First Nation?
99 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:51:17 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I have been meeting on a quarterly basis with Neskantaga to solve the current crisis that Neskantaga has been undergoing. Despite the renovation of their plant, the water is still not testing clean. We are working together to make sure that happens.
In regard to the legislation, Neskantaga was one of the litigant communities that were deeply involved in the drafting of the legislation. We look forward to continuing to hear their perspectives.
75 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:51:50 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, every day, approximately 12 people die by suicide in Canada. Each life lost by suicide can have far-reaching effects, whether it is families grappling with the loss of a loved one or the effects that are felt within communities. Last week, I was disappointed to see the Conservatives vote against funding to support the implementation of the new suicide crisis helpline. Can the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions tell us how our government is bringing 988 to Canadians, no matter where they live?
87 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:52:24 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for being such a strong advocate for mental health. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost a loved one to suicide. To those struggling with suicidal thoughts, we want to say clearly, “We are here for them; they are not alone”.
Last week, it was despicable to see Conservatives vote against or abstaining on funding for the new 988 suicide prevention helpline, including the member for Cariboo—Prince George, who abstained on his own motion.
The Conservatives' risky and reckless behaviour has real consequences. We will not pit mental health against climate change.
108 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:53:02 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister's Christmas gift to Canadians is two costly carbon taxes, driving up the cost of food, fuel and home heating. However, premiers and first nations across this country are demanding that he axe the carbon tax because they know that this Prime Minister is not worth the cost. They are joining Conservatives in opposing this punitive carbon tax because Canadians cannot afford Christmas dinner.
Every month, two million Canadians are lined up at food banks because they cannot afford to feed their families. When the Prime Minister increases taxes on farmers, those numbers get worse. Will the Prime Minister cancel his plans to quadruple the carbon tax on families, first nations and farmers?
118 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:53:42 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, if they want to talk about food affordability, we should talk about Ukraine as the breadbasket of the world. What I found interesting is something that the Leader of the Opposition said today in response to the Prime Minister's calling out the Conservatives' vote against Ukraine. He used the term “faraway lands”. That reminded me of something: “We will no longer use American military might to construct democracies in faraway lands”.
Donald Trump said that. Why are Conservatives repeating MAGA lines?
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
Mr. Speaker, it is merry Christmas and I guess the member opposite does not realize what country she is in, but the merry Christmas gift from this Prime Minister to farmers is what? It is a billion-dollar carbon tax bill in their stocking, quadrupling that carbon tax under the tree; and the gift from the Prime Minister's Liberal loyalists in the Senate is to cancel Bill C-234, preventing a carbon-tax carve-out for farmers.
When we have two million Canadians lined up at food banks every month and those numbers only getting worse when they increase taxes on farmers, why was the Prime Minister cancelling Christmas instead of cancelling the quadrupling of his carbon tax on farmers, families and first nations?
125 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:55:16 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the Conservative leader inadvertently showed his true colours a moment ago. He could not bring himself to say the word Ukraine, so instead he dismissively called it a faraway land. Do members know who notoriously used that term? It was Neville Chamberlain in 1938 when he infamously described Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia as “a quarrel in a far away country between people of whom we know nothing”. Shame on them for using the language of appeasement and dissolution.
83 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:56:01 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, after eight years of the Liberal-NDP government, it is evident Canadians despise the carbon tax. Premiers are suing the government, first nations are taking the government to court and people are lined up at food banks because they cannot afford this Prime Minister's inflationary carbon tax.
This Prime Minister has ruined Christmas for Canadians by keeping his punitive carbon tax that raises the price of food we buy. This Prime Minister is not worth the cost of the lost hope that Canadians should feel around the holidays. Therefore, will the Prime Minister cancel his plan to quadruple the tax on families, first nations and farmers for good?
111 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:56:41 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that as the holiday season approaches, the Conservative members in this House thought that Christmas was coming early because it seems that Tucker Carlson is coming to Calgary to host Danielle Smith, and that does not stop there. It is going to be Rex Murphy, Tucker Carlson and Conrad Black in Edmonton just after. The question is, will that member pay for her ticket individually or is there a group discount for Conservative MPs?
79 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:57:13 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, can he stand with Albertans and stop gaslighting Canadians?
Yesterday, CTV reported that basic necessities cost more in Calgary than any other major Canadian city. One Calgarian said, “It's really difficult if you're sacrificing your own meals so that your children can eat because grocery prices are expensive, or if you're rationing on things like heat for your home."
After eight years of this Liberal-NDP government, families are struggling to meet their basic needs, feed themselves and heat their homes because of this cruel carbon tax. Will the Prime Minister cancel his carbon tax or will he continue his plan to ruin Christmas for all Albertans and all Canadians?
116 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:57:54 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that member has clearly found her voice today, but it has been months that she and the Alberta Conservatives have been silent on defending Albertans when it comes to Danielle Smith's risky and reckless approach to taking Albertans out of the CPP. Maybe she agrees with her leader that Ukraine is some far-flung foreign land. Ukraine matters to Canadians, it matters to Albertans and it matters to Ukrainian Canadians. They and she should be ashamed.
79 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:58:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, things are happening with the $460 million the federal government has to give back to Quebeckers for asylum seekers. Yesterday, the minister confirmed that the ball is in the Minister of Finance's court. That is why we are asking her about this today, but there is information she may be unaware of.
For starters, asylum seekers are a federal responsibility. Even so, Quebec takes in 48% of all those seeking asylum in Canada, at Quebeckers' expense, with no help from the provinces. Basically, we do all the work and we foot the bill. Will the government pay Quebeckers back?
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:59:10 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member may be disappointed to learn that we have a good relationship with Quebec. Last week, we spoke in a reasoned and reasonable way about reasoned and reasonable immigration to Quebec within the context of the Canada-Quebec accord that gives Quebec more than $700 million to do the work that falls within its jurisdiction, which is to take in immigrants, especially French-speaking immigrants.
Asylum seekers are a shared responsibility. We have to work on this together, because it is a challenge for all western societies. Canada and Quebec are ready to take up the challenge.
101 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 2:59:44 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we are addressing the Minister of Finance, because right now, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship is the problem. He is the one who is preventing this file from being resolved. We want a conversation between serious-minded people. Quebec takes in 48% of all asylum seekers across Canada as a whole and pays 100% of the bill. The Minister of Finance can clearly see that this is not fair or equitable. Quebec is simply asking for everyone to do their part.
Will the Minister of Finance do her fair share, take the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship off this file and pay Quebec back?
109 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 3:00:22 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I will give the Bloc Québécois the time to speak. I think it has time to listen to my answer as well. First, I commend the hon. member for his superhuman effort to reinvent and rephrase his question. While I am at it, I will repeat the same answer: Canada is not an ATM for the provinces. It takes a reasoned and reasonable discussion, a good discussion like the one we are having with Quebec. I look forward to continuing that conversation.
88 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 3:00:52 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, Canadian premiers and first nations are suing the federal government over its unjust carbon tax, and Canadians cannot afford to eat, heat or house themselves. After eight years of this NDP-Liberal government, indeed it is a weary world.
Back home, there are over 1,800 on the roster for our local food bank, and over two million Canadians across this great country are visiting their local food banks so they can afford to eat. The Prime Minister is not worth the cost.
On behalf of all Canadians, will the Prime Minister cancel his plan to quadruple his tax on families, first nations and farmers?
107 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Dec/12/23 3:01:28 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that the member opposite brings up the misery in the world, and part of that is what Ukrainians are facing right now defending their democracy.
Let me read from Trump's “America First”. It says, “we will no longer use American military might to construct democracies in faraway lands, or try to rebuild other countries in our own image.”
Is that why Conservatives vote against the Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement, because they are taking their lessons from Donald Trump and do not support the rebuilding of Ukraine and democracies around this world?
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
