SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 148 - Dec/14/22

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/14/22 4:54:25 p.m.
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Pursuant to an order made earlier today, the House will now proceed to brief statements. I now recognize the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons.

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Hon. Andrew Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle, CPC)

Dec/14/22 4:57:50 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I do not want to sound too repetitive, but we are going to be thanking many of the same people. I, too, want to add my voice, on behalf of my colleagues, to wish everyone a merry Christmas around the parliamentary precinct. It has been a tumultuous few years. The House has seen a lot and has had to grapple with a lot of challenges over the last few years. We are always served with such a high degree of professionalism and excellence by everyone around the precinct. This includes the procedural team at the table and the many people who work for them, like the Journals branch, Hansard, translation and security. It takes a lot to allow the chamber to function and allow members of Parliament to represent their constituents and go about doing the people's work on their behalf. I would like to add a special thanks to all the staff who work for members of Parliament. Our names and faces go on television, on campaign signs and on ballots, but we have a lot of people behind us helping us do our jobs. They are often the unsung heroes who are here late at night going through briefing materials and Auditor General reports, or translating things into one of the two official languages. I know they will welcome the early adjournment this week and take a little time to recuperate. This has been a fairly lengthy stretch that is coming to a close now. I would also like to thank my counterparts from the other parties. This is my second time serving as House leader for my party and the second time I have worked with the hon. member for New Westminster—Burnaby. It is my first time working with the hon. member for La Prairie. Regardless of our party in the House, we all have the same motivation. Regardless of which party members were elected as and regardless of our political philosophies, I have gotten to know over the years that members of Parliament are all motivated by the same thing. Even though we may disagree, and I may feel that some of my colleagues are misguided in their approaches, their motivation is to do what is right by their constituents and what is good for the country. This time of the season, it is a good opportunity for us to reflect on that and on the common bonds of humanity we all share. Tragically, in the wake of a colleague's passing, and as we celebrate the birth of Christ and all the hope that brings to the world, it is a constant reminder that our time on this planet is short, so we should appreciate the best of each other. As we enter into the Christmas break, we will all be attending events and visiting all corners of our constituencies. I hope it is a safe and happy holiday season. I know there will be a lot of travel back and forth. I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas break and a very happy new year, and we will see everyone back here in January.

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Mr. Alain Therrien (La Prairie, BQ)

Dec/14/22 5:01:05 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I have made a little list so that I do not forget anyone. When I am saying thank you to people and forget someone, I feel like I look a little crazy. I do not want to end the parliamentary proceedings looking crazy. First, I would like to thank the House leader of the official opposition, who is new here. I am slowly getting to know him and I must say that the future is bright. We get along well and I am certain that, despite the fact that we are at the beginning of our friendship, I have a lot of hope that we will develop something very solid, much like I have developed with the other leaders who came before him. I am very happy to work with this gentleman, and I know that we will develop a great relationship. I am convinced of that. I would like to thank the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons. I have been getting to know him for a year. We are getting to know each other, a bit like in The Little Prince. I see great things in his future. I feel that our relationship is improving, and we are developing a genuine friendship. I think he is an amazing guy, and so I salute the member for Ajax for the work he has done. Finally, I want to thank a veteran of this place, the member for New Westminster—Burnaby. He is the NDP member with whom I have always worked. He teaches me a lot because he really has a great deal of experience. I have to say that we have a good relationship. We work well together, and I am certain that we will continue to do so. The House leader of the official opposition mentioned that we have extraordinary staff, and I believe that everyone here recognizes that. I salute all the employees who help us do our jobs, be better people and, above all, do our work properly for our constituents. As politicians, we work hard and often forget the people who make it possible for us to do our jobs properly. I have a list with me. It is very important. I thank the House of Commons clerks, law clerks and analysts. I thank the team of interpreters, who are so important to our party, which insists on keeping French alive in the House. I thank the pages, who have bright futures ahead of them. I imagine that this work is of great benefit to them. They learn much about what to do and what not to do. No matter, this experience will serve them well in the future. I salute them. Perhaps we will meet one day in another place. I will then reflect on the success of these young people who, quite frankly, are extraordinary. I thank the maintenance and food service teams. I thank the IT technicians. Less capable people like me often call on them for help. I know first-hand how extraordinarily patient they are with dinosaurs. I thank the shuttle drivers. We must not forget them. They are always there for us. I thank the Hill reporters, whose daily reports on the goings-on here are good for our democracy. Let us not forget that. Lastly, I want to thank you, Madam Speaker, and your team, the Speaker and Deputy Speakers, who put us at ease. When I rise in the House and look at you, I feel that at least one person here is listening to me, and that is wonderful. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish everyone a lovely holiday, a happy new year and a merry Christmas, and may 2023 bring us all that we desire.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/14/22 5:04:52 p.m.
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If I may, I would also like to say a few words. I want to thank the hon. member for Joliette who often helped us, the chair occupants. I salute him and thank him for his help. The hon. member for North Island—Powell River.

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Ms. Rachel Blaney (North Island—Powell River, NDP)

Dec/14/22 5:05:16 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to rise here today to extend best wishes, happy holidays, merry Christmas to everyone, and a big thanks to everyone around the House from the New Democratic caucus. Of course, that includes all my colleagues. I thank them all for their kind words here today. I know the House leaders and the whips of all parties work very hard to make things flow as well as they possibly can in this place, in sometimes very interesting circumstances. Also, people across Canada may not know, but there are a lot of talented folks in this place who make everything run smoothly with their professional diligence. First of all, I would like to thank the Speaker and his team, who do tremendous work and have very helpful procedural experts in the Clerk's office, the Table, the Journals Branch, the committee staff, the Library of Parliament staff and, of course, all of our incredible pages, who are so good to us. I also want to recognize the Sergeant-at-Arms and his team. They must be doing something right, because one of them, upon retirement, continues to come here two days a week. I thank Darryl for that. There is the parliamentary precinct security, as well as traffic operations, the drivers of the buses, dispatch operators, mailroom staff, and messengers who keep us all connected in various ways. There are the cafeteria staff, the parliamentary restaurant, all the food services and the catering team. Of course there are the amazing maintenance team, the tradespeople of the parliamentary precinct, matériel management and room allocation. They do invisible work, but boy, do we all appreciate it. There is everyone in information services, including telecom, ISSI, printing services and the broadcasting team. There are the people who deal with HR, finance, travel and pay and benefits. Boy, do they help us a lot. There are the folks who document all of our words in Hansard and who translate and interpret them from one language to another. The last two years in the pandemic have brought incredible challenges for everyone, and I am so grateful for the extraordinary work all these people have put in to ensure the House can operate efficiently and effectively. Finally, I want to pay a special tribute to the Clerk, Charles Robert, who is retiring in January after 42 years of service on the Hill. I wish him all the best. I would also like to thank our nurse consultant, Lise Séguin, who will be retiring after 32 years of loyal service. She has always been there for hundreds of members and staff here who have benefited from her incredible care. Of course, a very special thanks go to the NDP whip and House leader's team, who make us look very good on this side of the House. I thank you, Madam Speaker and everyone who works so hard in this place. I wish everyone all the best over the holidays.

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Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

Dec/14/22 5:08:19 p.m.
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Madam Speaker, I would like to start by joining in with a word of thanks to all House of Commons staff, which we have heard already from many of my colleagues, from clerks to pages and from interpreters to the Parliamentary Protective Service, food services, IT, the House administration and other staff on the Hill. As a newer member in this place, it has been interesting for me to come to understand all the people who are part of making our work here a possibility. Much has been said by others, so I will be brief. I simply would share and recognize that the holidays can be a difficult time for many. It is particularly difficult for those living in poverty. It is difficult for those who have recently lost a loved one and those with a family member in hospital. We send our strength to those who are in positions like that. I hope that as we reconvene in the new year, it will be with a renewed vigour to address poverty in this country, to strengthen our health care system and to advocate for those whose voices may be more rarely heard in this place. I wish happy holidays to my neighbours in Waterloo Region, to colleagues here in the House of Commons, and to all those who make it possible for us to be here.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/14/22 5:09:47 p.m.
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Hon. colleagues, before the House adjourns, I would like to take a moment to thank all House of Commons employees and wish them a very happy holiday season. Without the dedication and professionalism of each and every one of them, it would be particularly difficult for the House to function on a daily basis. From the staff who keep our workplace clean and safe to the cafeteria, restaurant and catering staff, to our Parliamentary Protective Service, interpreters, translators, pages, table officers, administration, IT and communications professionals, policy analysts and everyone else who is here to serve Parliament, I thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts. Please know that your work matters and that through your excellence you make the House of Commons work in the service of Canada. I hope the next few weeks will give everyone an opportunity to rest a bit and enjoy some precious time with their families and loved ones. While members of Parliament take time over the coming weeks to reconnect with their constituents in their ridings, I hope they will also take the time to reconnect with what is most important to them. We will be back at the end of January, refreshed and ready to continue our work for Parliament and for Canadians. I wish everyone very happy holidays. Have a wonderful holiday, and we will see everyone back on January 30.

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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Alexandra Mendès)

Dec/14/22 5:11:33 p.m.
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It being 5:11 p.m., pursuant to order made earlier today, the House stands adjourned until Monday, January 30, 2023, at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1). (The House adjourned at 5:11 p.m.)

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