SoVote

Dec/2/21 5:06:29 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, yes.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/2/21 5:06:33 p.m.
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Earlier today, the Speaker found a prima facie question of privilege in relation to the decision of the Board of Internal Economy to require vaccination against COVID-19 for members accessing the House of Commons precinct. However, the Speaker signalled that he would reserve his final ruling until such time as the member for Banff—Airdrie could move an appropriate motion. Since the member for Banff—Airdrie has since indicated that he is satisfied with the Speaker's finding and no motion was subsequently moved, the Chair considers the matter to be closed. Resuming debate, the hon. member for Oakville North—Burlington.

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Ms. Pam Damoff (Oakville North—Burlington, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:07:23 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-4

Madam Speaker, I would like to acknowledge that I am speaking today from the unceded territory of the Algonquin people. I will begin by thanking the people of Oakville North—Burlington for the confidence they have placed in me by electing me for the third time to this place. Our riding was created in 2015, and it has been my greatest honour to be its first and only member of Parliament. I also want to thank my incredible team of volunteers and donors, without whom I would not be here, and my staff, who I would argue, are the best on the Hill. I thank them very much. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family, who have been beside me every step of the way. My son, Fraser, knocked on doors when he was nine years old when we were trying to save a local pool from being closed, and now in this past election, more than 20 years later, he brought his son, my grandson, Cameron, out to campaign with his nanny. I was motivated to enter politics to make my community better. I continue to be motivated by the desire to leave the world better than I found it. Our government's throne speech lays out a number of priorities that will do just that. Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. As a climate leader, Canada has put in place measures to reduce pollution and achieve a net-zero economy by 2050. To create a more resilient economy, create jobs and grow the middle class, Canada must take strong and bold climate action. That is why we are moving forward to cap and cut oil and gas sector emissions, invest in public transit and mandate the sale of zero-emission vehicles. The federal government has already worked in partnership with Oakville Transit and Burlington Transit to deliver over $60 million in federal funding over the past five years to modernize and electrify our public transit fleets. It has also worked with the Ford Motor Company of Canada by investing $295 million to make its Oakville plant the hub for electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada. Since elected, I have advocated for a strategy to get more people active, encouraging them to use their feet and their bikes to get around. I am thrilled that our first-ever active transportation strategy was announced this summer, with $400 million in funding over five years. I look forward to working with Oakville and Burlington to help them access this funding to better connect our communities and expand our already beautiful trails system. Together, we need to go further and move faster on climate action, not just to protect our environment, but to grow our economy in a way that leaves no worker behind. Building a better future starts with getting the pandemic under control and finishing the job on vaccines. It is because of the efforts of all Canadians that more than 86% of us over 12 years old are fully vaccinated, and children between the age of five and 11, like Roisin and Tiernan O'Meara, are getting the vaccine. Halton Region has done outstanding work distributing vaccines in our community. The leadership of our medical officer of health, Dr. Meghani, has been exceptional, and I want to thank her and her colleagues for their work to keep our community safe. To build a healthy future, however, we must do more than get needles in arms. We must strengthen our health care system and public health support for all Canadians, especially for seniors, veterans, persons living with disabilities, vulnerable members of our communities and those who have faced discrimination by the very system that is meant to heal. There is much work to be done on mental health and addictions treatment, on improving long-term care and accessibility, and integrated data collection to inform future decisions and get the best public health results possible. Over the last year and a half, I have heard from businesses and individuals who have told me that they do not know how they would have survived without supports from our government. I have heard repeatedly about the labour shortage in Canada. Each of us in this place can be leaders in our communities by talking to business and our chambers of commerce about the untapped potential of people living with disabilities. Twenty-five percent of Canadians are living with a disability, and about 70% of those are unemployed or underemployed. What an opportunity for employers to bring on someone in a wheelchair to their law firm or an individual with an intellectual disability to their assembly line or child care centre. We are moving forward on safe, affordable, inclusive child care for all, with nine provinces and territories already signed on. When my son was born, I had four months maternity leave, which was the law at the time. When it came time to return to work, the cost of infant care was more than we could afford. I almost did not return, but thanks to an incredible boss who doubled my salary, gave me an extra month at home and promised that I could take whatever time I needed for my son, I did return. My life would be very different if it were not for Ken Field, and I know my experience was the exception not the rule. Women should never have to decide between having a child and their career. Our plan for $10-a-day child care, which we still need Ontario to sign on to, will not only be good for children and families, but will grow the economy by billions of dollars when women are able to fully participate. Canadians were horrified by the discovery of unmarked graves and burial sites located near former residential schools. As a country and a government, we must continue to tell the truths of these tragedies so we can right past wrongs and move forward in the spirit of reconciliation for everyone. I have heard about home ownership for young people repeatedly, and that is why we are going to be putting home ownership within reach for first-time homebuyers with a first-time homebuyer incentive, a new rent-to-own program, and by reducing closing costs. Indigenous women are the fastest-growing prison population in Canada, and have been for some time. Most of these women are in prison because of poverty, trauma, mental illness, addiction or gender-based violence. Recently I visited Grand Valley Institution for Women and spoke to some of the women there. Sadly, because so many indigenous women are entering the criminal justice system, we have run out of room for them at institutions near their communities, and they have been transferred out of their home communities. Sixty-five indigenous women are now held at Grand Valley, while a few years ago it was just 13. We must implement changes to mandatory minimum sentences and other reforms to the criminal justice system, including restorative justice, to stem the tide that is disproportionately sentencing indigenous women to federal prison. It has been said that when they sentence a woman to prison, they also sentence the child. While the mother-child initiative at Grand Valley is outstanding, too many of the children of these moms are in foster care. We must do better. During the election campaign, I was once again targeted by the gun lobby. I have been a vocal advocate for enhancing public safety through gun control, from extended background checks in Bill C-71 to banning military-style assault rifles. Over 80% of Canadians support these measures, but the Conservative Party and Canada's gun lobby do not. From depicting me in demeaning and misogynistic cartoons, to distributing flyers door to door in my riding, the gun lobby and the Conservative Party are becoming more and more intertwined and more and more out of touch with the concerns of Canadians. I know my constituents overwhelmingly support our efforts on gun control, and I am looking forward to continuing to work with our government on the issue. I heard repeatedly at the doors that Canadians want us to work together in Parliament. They appreciated the early pandemic response when we all worked together. It is my sincerest hope that we can set aside partisanship when we are in this place, as we did yesterday in passing Bill C-4 to end conversion therapy. When we disagree, which we will, let us disagree agreeably. Canadians expect no less.

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Mr. Tom Kmiec (Calgary Shepard, CPC)

Dec/2/21 5:16:14 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I note that the member mentioned the first-time homebuyers incentive, and I have been a long-time critic of the program. It has only helped 9,100 Canadians actually purchase a home because the government has changed the criteria. As of this throne speech, this will be the third set of criteria since September 2019. If we just look at the number of homes sold last year in 2020, which was a pandemic year, over 550,000 homes changed hands, from a willing buyer to a willing purchaser, which is 1.6% of people. Will the government just admit, and will the member agree with me, that the program is a failure, and that it is time to abandon it to do something else like adopt the Conservative plan for housing?

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Ms. Pam Damoff

Dec/2/21 5:16:53 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, while I appreciate the hon. member's question, I disagree with him wholeheartedly. We are increasing the first-time homebuyers' incentive. As someone who has a son who was just very recently a first-time homebuyer, and he has many friends who have been first-time homebuyers, I know that they appreciate the support we have given, but we need to do more. There is not only one solution to the housing crisis for young people, and that is why we have put forward a suite of programs that will help people, as opposed to the Conservative program, which, in my opinion, would not have supported young people to get into a new home.

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Ms. Kristina Michaud (Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, BQ)

Dec/2/21 5:17:43 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-21

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for her speech. I really enjoyed working with her on the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security. I hope she will serve on it again in this Parliament. She talked about gun control. In the previous Parliament, we did not have the time to study Bill C‑21, which nobody liked anyway, not firearms owners and not those who want to see assault weapons and all other firearms banned, because it did not make the buyback of military-style assault weapons mandatory. The Liberals have promised to make the buyback mandatory, which is a very good thing. However, the problem with the May 2020 list of banned firearms is that similar firearms or variations on them, like the SKS, are still available on the market. Why not try to include a definition of a military-style assault weapon in the Criminal Code? That way, we would know what type of firearms to ban, instead of making a list of banned firearms and leaving similar firearms on the market. What does my colleague think of that?

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Ms. Pam Damoff

Dec/2/21 5:18:43 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to work with the hon. member, and I know we share many of the same values and same desire when it comes to gun control and keeping the public safe. We have not introduced new legislation. In whatever capacity I end up with in committees, I would be happy to work with her and open to listening to suggestions she may have in terms of ensuring we are being most effective when it comes to banning military-style assault rifles. I look forward to working with her, and it is quite important that we move forward on the mandatory buyback. There is someone in my own riding who has said he has two AR-15s that we will have to rip from his cold, dead hands. I would sleep much better at night knowing those weapons were not in his hands.

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Ms. Laurel Collins (Victoria, NDP)

Dec/2/21 5:19:45 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I want to thank the hon. member for her advocacy for child care and prison reform. I share those passions. However, in her speech, the member used the words “as a climate leader” when referring to Canada and to the government. While the government continues to talk about how its plan gets an A, its record gets an F. Its own environment commissioner described Canada's action as going from failure to failure. We have missed every single climate target we have set. These are not the acts of a government that is serious about the climate crisis. I am curious how this member can stand behind her government when it continues to fail to tackle the climate crisis.

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Ms. Pam Damoff

Dec/2/21 5:20:35 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I have the utmost respect for the member across the way. I watched her speech last week and was so impressed with her advocacy. I am very proud of our government's actions on climate change. We put a price on pollution. We had to fight my home province of Ontario all the way to the Supreme Court on that. We have ensured we are taking action on climate change because we know how important it is for Canadians, for our health and for our economy. It is the biggest crisis we are facing right now, and I am proud of the actions we have taken.

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Mrs. Karen Vecchio (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC)

Dec/2/21 5:21:26 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I understand some of the concerns raised when talking about firearms, but there are also concerns about the fact that many of the crimes we are seeing in the downtown Toronto area, not far from the member's constituency, are using firearms coming from the United States. They are coming through CBSA. There is an absolutely horrific thing happening there. We can talk about what we see, but we know the majority of these crimes are being done with illegal firearms. Can the member tell me how the government is going to deal with that? In the last Parliament, the government was going to reduce minimum mandatory sentences for these people and firearms. What is the government going to do when it comes to criminals and firearms?

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Ms. Pam Damoff

Dec/2/21 5:22:17 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, 75% of people who die by a firearm die by suicide, so dealing with firearms is not a one-approach system. We reinvested $500 million into border services, which were cut by the previous Conservative government. We are taking a multipronged approach to firearms, which is what we need to do.

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Mr. John Brassard (Barrie—Innisfil, CPC)

Dec/2/21 5:22:53 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today. I will be sharing my time with the member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington. We are very excited to be here in the House. If you will indulge me for a couple of minutes, there are a couple of people I need to thank, but first let me recognize that the member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington is the cousin of the mayor of the town of Innisfil, one of the towns I represent. Mayor Lynn Dollin will, I think, be watching tonight. There are so many people to thank. This is the first time I have been able to rise, in debate, in the House of Commons in the 44th Parliament. This is the third time the people of Barrie—Innisfil have sent me here to be their representative. I am very humbled by this. Since 2006, I have served publicly, first as a city councillor for nine years in the city of Barrie, and now for six years as the member of Parliament for Barrie—Innisfil. I am very, very honoured and humbled to be that member. No one can do this without a team, a big team of not just campaign volunteers, but also friends and families. I would like to acknowledge a few of them right now, if I can, such as Rob Decker, who was my campaign manager, who worked with a group of people that really organized terrifically during the campaign. Then there were Robin McClennan and some of my “big sign guys”, as I call them: Al, Richard, John, Kevin, Barry and, of course, my dad, who has been there since the start of my being here politically. There were numerous “little sign people”. There has not been an election that I have been involved with since 2015 where I have had more signs placed. There were more requests coming in and it was just awfully difficult to keep up with them. Of course, it has been a hell of a 20 months, frankly. My constituency staff have been there consistently on the front lines, dealing with issues related to the pandemic. I really want to acknowledge them: Susan, Sara, Brandon and Jennifer, and former staff Rhea, Andrea and Chelsea, and of course my family. There is no way any of us could have placed ourselves in this symbol of democracy to work on behalf of the people we represent, not just within our ridings but across this country, if not for the strong support of family. I thank my mom Doreen, my dad Jean-Guy, my sister Cathy, my sister Linda and, of course, my family: my wife Leanne and my four kids. They have been there since the beginning, not just of my previous career as a firefighter but also of my current career as the member of Parliament for Barrie—Innisfil. I cannot do this without them, particularly my wife, Leanne. Oftentimes, when we run locally within our ridings, we fail to recognize those people who run against us, but I want to recognize them: Lisa-Marie Wilson, who ran for the Liberal Party, and Aleesha Gostkowski, who ran for the New Democratic Party. I also want to acknowledge Corrado Brancato, who ran for the People's Party. I want to acknowledge them, because it is difficult to run and put one's name on a ballot. Shortly after the election, I sat down with Aleesha Gostkowski of the NDP. I had a coffee with her. We talked about the issues that came up during the election. On many of the issues we talked about, we found we had similar concerns. Those issues were housing affordability, housing attainability and food security for people who are finding it hard right now because of the financial pressures they are facing. I would add one more, which would be energy security. Right now, we are seeing the cost of everything go up and an inflation crisis that is impacting broadly many people in my constituency, particularly in the area of affordable housing. Rents have been increasing. It is becoming harder and harder for people not just to put a roof over their head, but also to maintain a roof over their head, and no more so than with young people. There is a housing crisis that is happening in this country that we have not seen in several generations. It is not just housing. It is the cost of everything. The cost of the necessities of life is going up as a result of what we are seeing with these inflationary pressures. Gas, food, heat and hydro are all going up, and it is becoming increasingly difficult. The anxiety that exists today among the people I represent, affordability anxiety, is real. I know that throughout the course of the speeches in response to the Speech from the Throne, we have heard about that, not just from the opposition side but from the government side as well. The House of Commons is a place where we come as the people's voices. I have been receiving, and I am sure my colleagues have, numerous emails about the affordability crisis that is happening and how it is directly impacting people. I will make them short, but it is important to read them into the record to hear that it is not just me talking about this. These are, through me, the people I represent. A young man named Justin emailed me. He said, “People my age are” for lack of a better word, it is unparliamentary, but he said “screwed when it comes to housing. We are done for. We will be paying rent of $3,000 a month or more forever, unable to save anything for a home and barely making ends meet.” “I was distressed when I found out that developers are buying up detached houses with the aim of renting them at inflationary prices,” wrote Sherry. “I see Barrie is now the highest rent in the country. I am a homeowner. I know that rent is tied to the value of the house, but this is getting out of hand. There are many people in my age group, 25-35 and lower, whose dreams of owning a home have been dashed with the current situation,” wrote Sean. Speaking about the first-time homebuyers assistance, Greg wrote, “It is awfully difficult to access and it is time for a little non-partisan politics for the benefit of the country.” Kim wrote to me, “I have been trying to help two friends look for different places to rent in Simcoe County, and I cannot believe how difficult it has been for both of them. This is a serious issue.” This one is particularly troubling. Steph and Christie wrote, “We are a family of seven. Rent was $800 a month just two months ago, but the landlord sold the house to a new owner and now our rent is over $1,500 a month.” This is the kind of stuff that is happening not just in the riding of Barrie—Innisfil but right across the country. People are anxious. They are worried about affordability and how they are going to pay not just to put a roof over their head, but for the necessities of life. In the throne speech, little mention is made of the issue of agriculture. There was nothing of any substance in agriculture. In the large rural area I represent, the producers are concerned about the increasing costs, not just of the products they need to farm but also of heating, dryers, barns, etc., and in particular the impact the carbon tax is having on those. There is very little mention of guns and gangs. I know we have been talking about that over the course of the last week, the difficulties that are going on and how there is not enough being done to deal with that issue. There is nothing about the military. One of the things that concerned me as well is that there is nothing about veterans either. As I said at the outset, it has been a hell of an 18 months. We have really been focusing on the expense side of the ledger through the different supports and programs that have been put in place, but we need to start looking at the revenue side of the ledger and how we are going to pay for this. The only way we are going to pay for this is through the power of the Canadian economy, and it will be led by business: the people they employ, the products they produce and the services they provide in every sector and every region of this country. It does not need big government intervention. We have to be competitive both domestically and internationally, and big government intervention will not allow for that to happen. We need to be focused and tactical in our approach to the way the economic recovery will happen. Lastly, as I conclude, this Christmas season businesses need our support more than ever. They have been devastated over the last 20 months, and I encourage everyone, not just in Barrie—Innisfil but right across this country, to make sure they shop local and support local as well.

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Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

Dec/2/21 5:33:00 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-2

Mr. Speaker, let me start off by echoing the statement the member just made. Let us shop local and encourage our constituents to recognize the difficult times that our businesses have had to endure over the last 18 months. One of the ways we can support them is to shop local. There is another thing we can do collectively here in the House. We understand now that Bill C-2 will be going to committee, and I am hopeful and optimistic that we will see it come out of committee and ultimately get the support that is necessary to see it pass, because it too would support small businesses. My question is more related to the issue of housing. We have seen over the years the amounts of money being invested in social housing, and they have been historic. There has been a housing strategy too, something that has never happened before in the history of Canada, at least for the last number of generations. I am wondering what specific initiative the member believes would make a difference, from his perspective, because there are a number of initiatives already in place that are having an impact.

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:34:22 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, that is an important question, because we have seen asset valuations increase directly as a result of governments and banks printing money. It is indisputable at this point. I have spoken to local realtors, the Ontario Real Estate Association and the Canadian Construction Association. All of them say to organizations that we need to move to increase the supply. We need to make sure that houses are being built free of any regulatory burdens and make sure there is ample supply in the marketplace to ensure that young people can afford not just rent, but also the opportunity of home ownership. There are lots of things that all three levels of government can do, and we need to make sure we work together. That is why were sent here, and I believe this election, by its result, showed that Canadians want us to work together to solve these problems of great magnitude.

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Mr. Rhéal Fortin (Rivière-du-Nord, BQ)

Dec/2/21 5:35:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I enjoyed my colleague's speech. I appreciate and find it interesting that he is from Quebec. I wonder if we share any other concerns. This week, my colleague from Avignon—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia proposed that we form a special task force of American, Canadian, Quebec and indigenous police officers with the goal of curbing firearms trafficking. Also this week, some 50 firearms were seized on their way from Akwesasne to Cornwall. Today, an 80-year-old woman was killed, apparently murdered, because spent cartridges were found next to her in Coaticook. What does my colleague think of the idea of forming a special task force to stop illegal firearms at the border?

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:36:19 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I was born in Montreal, and I am from a francophone family. My father, Jean‑Guy Brassard, is a real francophone. Montreal is where all my relatives live, on the French side. It is a tough question. The issue of guns and gangs is an issue of guns and gangs. It is not an issue of law-abiding firearms owners. They are not running around the streets of Montreal, Vancouver or Toronto shooting up the place. The issue of guns coming into the country illegally needs to be addressed. In our platform we talked about guns and gangs and how to address them, such as giving more resources to police forces across the country and setting up special task forces. Those are the things we need to do, not go after law-abiding firearms owners, who are the most responsible and have the strictest gun laws in the world. Illegal guns and illegal gangs are the problem in this country, and it is time the government and all parliamentarians get serious about dealing with that issue.

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Ms. Lisa Marie Barron (Nanaimo—Ladysmith, NDP)

Dec/2/21 5:37:34 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciated the member's constituency stories in particular. I always like to hear from constituents. A lot of what I am hearing from constituents in my riding is about the concerns in our long-term care homes, both for their loved ones in care homes and for the workers. I am wondering if the member could share his thoughts about the importance of putting into place national standards to better support those in long-term care homes.

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Mr. John Brassard

Dec/2/21 5:38:07 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, nobody understands the issue of long-term care facilities more than I do. We went through the situation at Roberta Place. That is in my riding. All levels of government have a role to play, understanding that this is a provincial responsibility. However, we can work with the provincial governments to make sure that we have the type of standards that look after seniors in long-term care homes. Long-term care homes are getting better and are really doing a good job of protecting their seniors. My mother-in-law is in Roberta Place right now, and I feel extremely comfortable that she is there because of the staff and the people who are looking after her.

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The Deputy Speaker

Dec/2/21 5:38:45 p.m.
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Before we move on to the next speaker, I want to remind members that the shorter the questions and answers, the more members get to participate. We keep running out of time. Resuming debate, the hon. member for Hastings—Lennox and Addington.

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Mrs. Shelby Kramp-Neuman (Hastings—Lennox and Addington, CPC)

Dec/2/21 5:39:09 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I stand before you humbled by the enormous responsibility entrusted to me by the voters of Hastings—Lennox and Addington. In an ideal world, the people who are responsible for making this moment possible would be here with me. Though they are not here, they are certainly not forgotten. There were dozens of volunteers and friends who put their lives on hold during our campaign. I want them to know that I count them as my political family. I will be forever grateful for their efforts and am so thankful to have them as part of my circle of trust. I want to thank my husband Tadum for believing in me and standing beside me. Our life is beautifully chaotic, and I appreciate him for being able to support me and make it possible for me to be here. I also want to say that I am so incredibly proud of daughters, Tori and Reese, my volleyball player and hockey player. They always strive to be authentic and genuine. To my two sisters and their families, the village of support to help with the girls is so appreciated. Next I want to thank my parents, Daryl and Carol Ann Kramp. My mom has taught me to be fearless, respectful and responsible. She is an incredible role model, and I certainly know where I get my energy from. My father has earned a tremendous amount of respect here in Ottawa, and the impact he has made in my riding over the years is remarkable. My dad and I share something very unique to Canadian politics. My father is our current MPP for Hastings—Lennox and Addington, while I now hold the federal seat. He is my political mentor, and more importantly he is my dad. May I follow his lead but mark my own path moving forward. To the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, know that I will remain laser-focused on the task that has been given to me: holding the government accountable. I will be more than just a critic. I will propose solutions while representing my constituents, and I will never stop being an advocate for our riding. There are those who have grown tired of politics, and I hope to inspire them and restore their faith in this great institution. Last Tuesday, the Governor General read the Speech from the Throne, the document that sets out the government's agenda and vision for the upcoming session. Unfortunately for the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, as well as other rural ridings across this great country, the speech did not appear to include them. Whether it is rural broadband Internet, the agricultural sector or rebuilding main street, the government has signalled that these issues are not areas of concern for it. There is no plan to lower inflation, nor to address labour shortages and supply chains. There is no plan to ease the financial burdens of struggling business owners. The current government loves to talk about money. It talks about the amount of money promised, committed or spent, but the results are just not there. We have more consultants, more studies, more bureaucracy, more debt and more disappointment. Accountability and transparency matter. In my opinion, we are experiencing the most corrupt and divisive government in history. This matters and we need to do better. Too many Canadians are suffering from depression, anxiety and burnout. Canada's mental health crisis has deepened. Mental health is health, and we should be collectively supporting it in a non-partisan manner. For those personally affected, please reach out. Surely the six people who may be the pallbearers at someone's funeral would rather lift them up now in their time of need. We send our love to Matt. Allow me now to address the outlook for our agricultural sector. It is bleak. The farmers and livestock and dairy producers who are found in every corner of Hastings—Lennox and Addington are once again an afterthought of the government. In a nearly 3,000-word document, our agricultural sector was mentioned one single, solitary time. Let me be clear: Our united Conservative caucus knows it is farmers, like those found in Stirling and Napanee, who feed Canadians from coast to coast to coast. It is high time the members on the other side of the House recognized this fact. I was pleased that the throne speech spoke to the issue of reconciliation with Canada's first people. I have the good fortune to count the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte among my communities. During my very first week as a member of Parliament, the people of Tyendinaga voted to ratify a partial land claim returning 300 acres to the Mohawk territory. In the spirit of reconciliation, I call on the government to settle the remaining land claims expeditiously, with fairness to all concerned. As shadow minister for seniors, I would like to now focus on an area that is very close to the hearts of many Canadians. With this Speech from the Throne, the Liberal government has sent a chilling message to Canada's most vulnerable. With only a single mention in passing, the government chose to completely ignore some very serious issues. There was no mention of combatting social isolation, no mention of cracking down on elder abuse, no mention of improving access to palliative care and no mention of fixing the rising costs of critical goods such as groceries and medicine. This is a troubling trend. During the previous Parliament, members of this place from every party and every province were receiving frantic phone calls, emails and letters from seniors in their ridings. The complaints were nearly identical: The GIS had been severely reduced or, in many cases, completely eliminated after the July recalculation period. Seniors who depended on the guaranteed income supplement to pay for food to eat, a bed to sleep in and medicine to live had their financial safety net torn out from underneath them overnight. The people who built this country suddenly found themselves abandoned by it as a result of poor communication from the government. Realizing the very serious consequences of such a sudden and unforeseen reduction in disposable income, my colleague, the member for Battlefords—Lloydminster, quickly took action and sent a letter to the then minister of seniors asking her to address the situation. She never received a response. Not only are seniors' dollars not going as far as before, but they now have fewer to start off with. On top of this, many seniors are embarrassed to come forward. They are embarrassed to go to food banks or to ask for help. Traditionally, seniors and our country have been self-reliant. This is becoming increasingly difficult. On page 14 of the 2021 federal budget are the words, “We owe our elders a great debt. This is a partial repayment.” What the government has done in the intervening months is not only a spectacular failure to partially repay our elders, but rather it has increased the debt we owe to them. I know the government does not have the best track record on balancing budgets, but as a former financial adviser I can assure the government that it is not difficult to figure out that its policies have added to the debt it owes our seniors, not repaid it. Being elected as a member of Parliament to represent the people of Hastings—Lennox and Addington, or anywhere across this great nation, is a privilege. We must never forget the people who sent us here and we must never stop fighting for them. It is my sincere and perhaps naive belief that every person who comes through the doors of this chamber has the intent to make our country a better place to live for ourselves, our children and our seniors. I grew up having so much pride in Canada being a self-reliant, resilient and resourceful nation. I ask members to join me in wanting to earn this back. Let us work together to give our young leaders the tools and resources to continue to make this country strong and free. We all have a different approach as to what progress looks like, but it is that personal drive, that core tenet of public service, that unites all of us. This is what makes this place such a profound and powerful institution. Regardless of people's paths in life, they should do it to the absolute best of their ability. They must never stop learning, improving and making a difference. In closing, I was fortunate to learn a great deal from an amazing parliamentarian. That knowledge and relationship shaped me into who I am today and is why I am here. The growth I was able to achieve learning from one parliamentarian was profound, and I cannot wait to see what learning from 337 others will do. I thank my mom and dad for their kind words of wisdom: we should always believe in ourselves and always keep our doors open. Things do not happen unless we make them happen. We should be kind, love life and seek happiness along the way. God bless.

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