- Member of Parliament
- Liberal
- Eglinton—Lawrence
- Ontario
- Voting Attendance: 64%
- Expenses Last Quarter: $83,797.98
- Government Page
- May/11/23 2:58:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as the Prime Minister already stated earlier this week, CSIS decides what information it shares with departments and with the Prime Minister. The 2023 budget provides funding for the establishment of a national counter-foreign interference coordinator and for the RCMP. That is how to protect not only democratic institutions, but also all Canadians
56 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 3:14:59 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what this government has been doing since we took the reins of government in 2015. We have put in place the authorities, the personnel and all the technology to protect our institutions from foreign interference.
We will continue to work with the members opposite, despite all of the chicanery, despite all the lobbing of insults, despite all of the distraction, and despite their incompetence of 10 years when they had the opportunity to do this work. We are doing this work and we will do it regardless of partisanship to make sure that all the MPs in this chamber can do their job.
108 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 3:10:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is the foundations of democracy that are being well served by the authorities and the investments that this government has made in our intelligence community, which the Conservatives never did. They brag about their record when it comes to national security. They talk tough, but they never back it up with concrete action. It is the members on this side of the chamber who are rolling up our sleeves, doing the heavy work and protecting the people who work in this chamber so that we can protect our democracy.
92 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 3:07:06 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, by now, given the repeated nature of the questions we are receiving from Conservatives, they will know that we have taken decisive and concrete action in supporting the member for Wellington—Halton Hills.
It was the Conservatives who were asleep at the switch, respectfully. They were asleep at the switch for 10 years when they had the reins of government. They could have introduced new powers for CSIS; they did not do it. They could have introduced an NSICOP; they did not do it. They could have introduced NSIRA; they did not do it. It was their incompetence and their being asleep at the switch that allowed us the opportunity to do that work, and we will continue to build on it so we can protect the people in our institutions.
134 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:53:14 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the government is focusing on an issue that affects everyone in the House. That is why we supported the opposition member who works for the community of Wellington—Halton Hills. That is why we created new powers for our intelligence service. That is why we will work around the clock, seven days a week, to protect all MPs in the House and their families so that they can do their work.
74 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:52:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary for Global Affairs, informed this chamber that if any agent representing a foreign government exceeds their lawful authorities and activities here, we will take whatever appropriate steps are necessary.
Canada's record in condemning the actions of foreign and hostile actors is universally well known. We will continue to take the steps that are necessary to protect our institutions.
70 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:51:27 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as you heard, my colleague, the Parliamentary Secretary for Global Affairs informed this chamber that we will leave all options on the table for any agents who may be engaging in conduct which goes beyond—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
43 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:50:11 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as we have said before, the idea that somehow we are not concerned about the safety and security of the member for Wellington—Halton Hills is outrageous. That is why we took decisive, concrete action to ensure that he was provided with a briefing yesterday. We will continue to be vigilant on this front, putting in place the resources, the personnel and the authorities to protect the people who work in this chamber so that we can uphold our democracy.
83 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:48:48 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, my colleague opposite raised a number of concerns, one of which is how it is that we are protecting our democratic institutions, including our elections. As he knows, we have set up independent panels, including with protocols, to make sure that we inform Canadians when there are threats, but also making sure that we are vigilant about the threats that occur today, which is why in budget 2023, there is $49 million for the law enforcement community to protect Canadians from foreign interference.
I sincerely hope that the Conservatives will see fit to support that budget because that is the way we will protect Canadians from foreign interference.
110 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:45:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I share the concerns of my hon. colleague. That is why we offered the member for Wellington—Halton Hills a briefing.
We have a strong track record when it comes to fighting foreign interference by giving new powers to our intelligence services and to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. We also have new committees to enhance transparency. In co-operation with the Bloc Québécois and all members of the House, we are going to build on this track record.
90 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:41:34 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that, as soon as we became aware of this specific issue regarding the member for Wellington—Halton Hills, we took decisive action.
We reached out. We spoke to the member opposite. We offered him a briefing. We made sure that the briefing occurred. It occurred yesterday. It was not the only briefing the member opposite received, which is because we want to be sure we can protect him, his family and, indeed, all members in this chamber, so they can do their job, represent their constituencies and defend our sworn obligation to uphold this democracy.
103 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:40:20 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, those types of absurd suggestions do not advance this debate, neither does the suggestion that we do not care about the members opposite or their safety and security.
As I said yesterday, there are intense debates in the chamber about both foreign and domestic policy, but rest assured that the members of this government will do everything in their power to fight against foreign interference to protect the members who work in the chamber, and their families, so we can defend our democratic institutions. That is something we should all be united behind.
95 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:39:04 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, as I was saying before I was interrupted by the Conservatives across the aisle, the member opposite has received briefings from CSIS on a number of occasions. That is one of the ways in which we are attempting to address the concerns that have been raised around foreign interference.
More importantly than that, we have put in place people, resources, new laws and transparency mechanisms to shine a light on the way in which we are combatting foreign interference, so we can protect the people in this chamber, as well as their loved ones. That is our paramount objective.
101 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:38:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would hope that the member opposite would be able to reconcile that with his own personal experience, which was that, within the last 24 hours, he not only received a briefing, but also, on a number of occasions, received support from CSIS—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh!
51 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:37:15 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I can certainly confirm that we are guided by the advice we get from our intelligence agencies, which is strictly governed under the Security of Information Act, as my colleague across the aisle knows.
It is important that we navigate this very carefully because when we talk about matters that relate to national security, it is people's lives that are at stake: the people who work for CSIS, within the law enforcement community and in this chamber, including the member for Wellington—Halton Hills. That is why we briefed him numerous times. We will continue to ensure his safety and security so we can protect the people who work within these institutions.
116 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:34:45 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that we have laws to protect information that is classified as “top secret”.
We rely on the advice of our independent, non-partisan public servants to guide us in decisions about disclosing information. CSIS briefed the member for Wellington—Halton Hills yesterday.
We will continue to work with all members of Parliament to protect the people who work in our democratic institutions.
72 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:31:03 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the Conservative leader is inventing the laws around diplomatic immunity.
More important, it is this government that has introduced new laws to provide CSIS with the powers necessary to protect parliamentarians and Canadians from foreign interference. It is this government that has raised the bar on transparency by creating NSICOP and NSIRA. We will continue to work with all members of Parliament so we can ensure they are able to represent their constituencies in a way that is safe and secure from foreign interference.
89 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:29:46 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, we put confidence in our intelligence agencies to take the actions that are necessary when threats are posed against members in this chamber.
As we heard, the member for Wellington—Halton Hills was briefed yesterday. He has been briefed on a number of occasions. The Liberal government will continue to ensure that parliamentarians are getting timely and concrete briefings. We have issued fresh instructions to CSIS on this point, so that we can protect the people and the families that work in this space, as well as our democratic institutions.
93 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:28:38 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, does the member opposite really think that by exaggerating his rhetoric and lobbing attacks at the government, he is doing any service to the member for Wellington—Halton Hills?
Of course the members of this government care about the safety and security of the member for Wellington—Halton Hills and his family. That is why we provided a briefing for him yesterday. It was not the first briefing that he received. We will continue to do the work to protect the members that work in this space and our democratic institutions.
95 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- May/3/23 2:26:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, the member for Wellington—Halton Hills was briefed by CSIS yesterday, and it was not the first briefing he received.
This is one example of how the government is taking concrete action to fight foreign interference. On this side of the House, on the government side, I mean, we are going to keep taking action to protect all the members who work in our democratic institutions.
69 words
All Topics
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
