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Mr. Jagmeet Singh (Burnaby South, NDP)

Oct/3/23 1:52:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire NDP, I would like to congratulate you on your victory today. I also want to acknowledge the work you have done for your riding as MP for Hull—Aylmer since 2015. Let me just say—and I know many other members would say it, too—you always offer a wonderful smile and friendly greeting to everyone. It is fair to say, without much exception, that you are one of the friendliest members of Parliament, and it is great to see you in the chair now. Congratulations. I know this has been said, but I want to underline what having you elected means. First of all, I want to acknowledge the humility that you expressed when saying that people do not go to a match to watch the referee; they go to watch the stars. You started off with a message of humility, which is very powerful. I also want to acknowledge the incredible weight that you now bear and the incredible feat that you have achieved. When people walk the halls of this place and look at the pictures on the walls to be reminded of some of the great achievements of Canada and some of the grave errors we have made as a nation, they are one day going to see your face on the walls of this chamber. What is that going to mean to kids visiting from far and wide who come to the capital city? There are kids who have come here and not seen themselves reflected on the walls, and that is going to change now. That is very powerful. I know you know how important that is, and it brings me to my next point, which is the incredible role that you will now have to play to restore the honour of this chamber, something you mentioned in your speech as well. We know there is going to be, and rightly so, increased attention on all parliamentarians and on this House. I have no doubt that you will be able to satisfy your responsibilities with the utmost capacity, but it is indeed an increased responsibility. I also know that there are deep concerns about divisions in politics and the polarization of debate. While vigorous debates are of course important, there is a certain tone and decorum that must be upheld. Going back to kids visiting this place, sometimes when school kids are watching the elected officials of this country engaging in debate, I am embarrassed that they are watching people yelling outlandish things and acting as if it is cool to be yelling at someone while they are speaking. I hope you can restore some decorum. It is important. Everyone is going to have a chance to share their viewpoints, but it should be done in such a way that people are able to express them and then sit down. Then someone else can respond and rebut. I hope you can create that decorum, restore the prestige of this place and restore confidence in the important work that happens here. I thank you so much for putting your name forward, and congratulations on being elected. I look forward to working with you.

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Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

Oct/3/23 1:55:54 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for this opportunity to offer my congratulations. First of all, I want to say a hearty thank you on behalf of the Green Party caucus to the member for Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel for his excellent work as interim Speaker. Mr. Speaker, turning to you, it is a joy to see you in that chair and to address you for the first time in this way. I deeply appreciate the words you shared with us just hours ago, highlighting how important respect is in this place. Yes, we may have different opinions across the country, and yes, the debate here may be difficult at times, but Canadians expect this to be a place where parliamentarians can come together to elevate the quality of debate and make progress on what they care about most. I have no doubt that with you in that chair, with the support of all parliamentarians and certainly on behalf of the Green Party caucus, you will be well supported to ensure that continues to be the case. While this may be a toxic place at times, it does not have to be that way. I know you will ensure that the debate is elevated here. On behalf of the Green Party caucus, once again I wish you all the very best.

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Right Hon. Justin Trudeau

Oct/3/23 1:58:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that it is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor General that the House shall present its Speaker later this day in the chamber of the Senate to receive Her Excellency's approval.

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The Speaker

Oct/3/23 1:58:31 p.m.
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The sitting is suspended to the call of the Chair.

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The Speaker

Oct/3/23 3:01:16 p.m.
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I have the honour to report that, the House having attended on Her Excellency the Governor General in the Senate chamber, I informed Her Excellency that the choice of Speaker has fallen on me.

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Mr. Han Dong (Don Valley North, Ind.)

Oct/3/23 3:02:10 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election. Today I wish to share the eyewitness account of a humanitarian emergency from an Armenian Canadian and resident of Don Valley North, Rupen Janbazian. Mr. Janbazian recounts: “In the past few days, myself and my wife have witnessed the unimaginable hardships of the people of Artsakh trying to escape the Azerbaijani-controlled region, which has undergone mass ethnic cleansing over the last two weeks. “The journey from Artsakh to Armenia normally takes under two hours and now took 30 to 50 hours. “I've witnessed families arriving with everything they could take from their homes strapped onto the roofs of their cars, the insides stuffed with eight to 10 people. “My wife and I are currently hosting a family of 15 who escaped from Artsakh. They are my dear friend's family; he has been missing since an explosion at a crowded gas station near Stepanakert, Artsakh's capital, left scores of people dead and injured. “My people are enduring a brutal ethnic cleansing, and in this era of technical advancements, this atrocity is unfolding in real time on people's smart phones and computers, yet”—

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The Speaker

Oct/3/23 3:03:20 p.m.
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The hon. member for Nepean.

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Nepean

Mr. Chandra Arya (Nepean, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:03:24 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Indo Caribbean World on its 40th anniversary, which published its first edition on September 14, 1983. It has succeeded in its mission to become the voice for an under-represented and largely unrecognized lndo population in the growing Caribbean diaspora in Canada. I would like to recognize the founder and publisher, Harry Ramkhelawan, and editor, Romeo Kaseram, for their excellent work and achievement. Their team informs and educates not only the growing community, but also all of Canada about lndo-Caribbean, Caribbean and our Canadian subcontinental roots. lndo Caribbean World plans to stay committed to its 40 years of history and philosophy in bringing the voices from the margin into the centre, and to continue contributing to building a glorious and free Canada.

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Hon. Mike Lake (Edmonton—Wetaskiwin, CPC)

Oct/3/23 3:04:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the invaluable work of the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, CAMIMH, and to recognize the significance of this week, October 1 to 7, as Mental Illness Awareness Week. For over two decades, CAMIMH has been a steadfast advocate for those living with mental health challenges, working tirelessly to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and advocate for improved and expanded mental health and substance use health services. Its dedication to this critical cause has positively impacted countless lives across Canada. Earlier today on Parliament Hill, CAMIMH was proud to announce the 2023 champions of mental health. I am happy to commend and welcome the seven individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing mental health in Canada. Their relentless efforts create lasting change in their communities and improve the lives of many. Together, we can create a more accessible and inclusive society where mental health is a priority.

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Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:09:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the life of Seamus Grew, whose life was tragically cut short in July of this year after a long and courageous battle with ALS. Seamus was born in 1944 in Ireland. Although he was certainly proud of his Irish roots, he was a proud Canadian to be sure, and he made a great contribution to this country. It was here where he worked as a public servant for the City of Toronto. It was also here where he was known to Canadians for his first passion, which was music. He was the founder of the Carlton Showband, which entertained particularly the Irish diaspora, and beyond to Canadians across the country. The band won a Juno Award for its efforts. I had the opportunity to know Seamus because he was the father of one of my closest friends, Kevin, so I saw the love he had for his family up close. His wife, Maureen, along with their six kids and 10 grandchildren, can be very proud of the man he was. Canada was better because of Seamus. I thank him very much for who he was. We miss him.

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Mr. Louis Plamondon (Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, BQ)

Oct/3/23 3:09:32 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the Gaspé region lost one of its most stalwart advocates. Former member of Parliament Raynald Blais passed away at the age of 69. Elected three times as the member for Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Raynald Blais represented his region in the House of Commons from 2004 to 2011. I had the honour to work alongside him in the Bloc Québécois. He truly distinguished himself when advocating for eastern Quebec fishers in their dealings with a federal government that was very out of touch with their realities. The Bloc Québécois remembers him as a real boots-on-the-ground kind of guy, a proud regionalist with deep roots in his beloved Gaspé, a man who stood up for his people, whether here in Ottawa or back home as a radio journalist or union leader. He might have left the House in 2011, but he never truly left politics behind. He was still working as a political adviser up until recently. On behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I offer my deepest condolences to his loved ones and to the whole region he loved so much.

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Ms. Patricia Lattanzio (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:09:54 p.m.
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Congratulations, Mr. Speaker. October is Women's History Month in Canada. It is an opportunity to reflect on and to honour the efforts and dedicated work of countless women in the feminist movement. One such actor is the Montreal Council of Women. I joined them this weekend to celebrate their 130th anniversary. MCW has played a pivotal role, not only in empowering women but in encouraging them to be vectors for change and progress. In fact, three decades after the inception of MCW, we witnessed the resilience, strength and courage brought on by the Famous Five women: Parlby, McKinney, McClung, Murphy and Edwards, who spoke up, argued before the courts and were instrumental in gaining women the right to vote. Let us use Women's History Month to highlight the immeasurable contributions that these women and many others have made in every aspect of our society, and let us push to make sure that every woman receives the opportunities and the rights that she deserves.

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Mr. Clifford Small (Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, CPC)

Oct/3/23 3:10:36 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on the morning of this past September 12, Dwayne, Leonard, Brian and Tim left Fleur de Lys harbour for a day of cod fishing, like so many others along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador that day. Little did they know that three of them would not return alive, including Tim, who is still missing. While the sea gives so much to sustain us, words from a song by the band Simani, who often played in Fleur de Lys, sum it up: And the Newfoundland story of loss to the sea,Was told as so often before. I personally knew most of the boys and their families, as did many on the Baie Verte Peninsula, where the hurt from this tragedy will linger for years to come. I give a special thanks to those involved in the search and rescue efforts. I express condolences on behalf of the House of Commons to the families of Leonard Walsh, Brian Walsh and Tim Shea. Our thoughts and prayers are with them, and with Dwayne Barrett, the sole survivor.

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Hon. Judy A. Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:10:47 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, this past Sunday, on October 1, Ukraine celebrated the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, a day that honours the bravery, sacrifice and resilience of the men and women who are defending their homeland against Russia's aggression. Defenders of Ukraine have faced numerous challenges and threats, yet they have remained steadfast in their commitment to safeguarding their nation's sovereignty, freedom and democracy. As we remember and honour the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, let us also reaffirm our support for a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine. Let us stand together in solidarity, working toward a future of victory and justice, where the principles of democracy and human rights are upheld. To this end, I would like to invite fellow MPs to join me tonight to celebrate the Day of Defenders of Ukraine at 6:30 p.m. in the Valour Building. May we say thanks to all those in the front lines of Ukraine and those helping them to persevere.

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Ms. Annie Koutrakis (Vimy, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:11:55 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your new position. On October 1, Cyprus celebrated the 63rd anniversary of its independence. It was indeed an occasion worth celebrating, because despite all the tragedies and all the challenges that Cyprus has faced, it has transformed into a model democracy with a high standard of living. Cyprus gained independence in 1960 after a lengthy battle. Only 14 years later, it was invaded by Turkey, which still occupies one-third of the country. Cyprus is a member of the European Union, the Commonwealth and la Francophonie, and it maintains excellent relations with Canada and all of our allies. We should also remember and celebrate Canada's contribution and the 25,000 Canadians who served as peacekeepers in Cyprus, with some continuing to serve to this day. Close ties and alliances are critically important for all countries. We see what is happening in Ukraine and to the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, and we should work with all our allies, friends and the United Nations to make sure this type of aggression stops.

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Mr. Gary Vidal (Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, CPC)

Oct/3/23 3:13:17 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, everything in Canada feels broken. Canadians do not feel safe in their communities and life is now unaffordable for many. On my recent travels in northern Saskatchewan, I was reminded of this again when I found a $17 jug of milk, a $41 bag of flour and a $4 can of mushroom soup. Everything on every shelf everywhere has a huge freight cost. What will these basic necessities cost if the NDP-Liberal government gets to its 61¢-a-litre tax on fuel? I will tell members. The lives of people in northern Saskatchewan and of all Canadians will not be better off. However, there is hope on the horizon. Under the direction of the Conservative leader, we can put the pieces back together. He will lead a government that lives within its means, leaves more in one's pockets, protects its citizens and lets us feel safe again in the Canada we know and love. For all Canadians, let us bring it home.

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

Oct/3/23 3:14:29 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, each year, as the leaves change colour and the air turns crisp, Vaughan residents, friends and neighbours gather to celebrate Thanksgiving and the harvest season at the Woodbridge fall fair. This year the fair is celebrating its 176th anniversary. It is older than Canada itself. Just as every year since the start in 1847, the fair embodies the essence of Thanksgiving. It offers something for everyone. That is why it attracts over 10,000 visitors every year. As people stroll through the fairgrounds, they witness the hard work and dedication of local farmers, vendors and volunteers. This Thanksgiving I would like to invite everyone to create a new family tradition and visit the Woodbridge fall fair at the beautiful Woodbridge fairgrounds. The annual event serves as a reminder to reflect on the many blessings we have received with gratitude, to appreciate the abundance of the land and to acknowledge the efforts of those who work tirelessly to provide for our communities. From my family to everyone's, happy Thanksgiving. We look forward to seeing them at the Woodbridge fall fair.

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Mr. Matt Jeneroux (Edmonton Riverbend, CPC)

Oct/3/23 3:15:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I am not sure if members know this, but monthly mortgage payments on a typical family home are now a crushing $3,500 per month. When the leader of the official opposition was the housing minister, homes were attainable and affordable. Now it takes 25 years to save up for a down payment in a city like Toronto. Some families have even had to stretch the terms of their mortgages to a shocking 90 years. Some just cannot make their payments anymore. Let us take Cora Cook, a Barrie, Ontario, woman, who bought a home in January 2022 and was forced to sell when her monthly mortgage payments jumped from $2,800 a year to just over $6,000 a year. After selling belongings and holding garage sales, Cora and her husband could not hang on anymore and were forced to sell. For those clinging on to their homes, time is running out. Our common-sense plan will cut the waste and cap spending so Canadians can once again keep their homes.

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Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC)

Oct/3/23 3:16:46 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-11

Mr. Speaker, the day the online streaming censorship act was introduced, I was free to produce a livestream video on Facebook warning Canadians about this threat to freedom of speech. The Internet gave each citizen the freedom, power and will to become a newscaster, podcaster or independent digital creator. For nearly a century, the government and a few powerful media companies controlled the flow of information and money in Canada. A free and open Internet represented a threat to the rich and powerful, so on their behalf the Liberals took action to crack down on the free and open Internet. The online streaming censorship act will force podcasters the Prime Minister does not agree with out of Canada. This urge to censor is rooted in a malignant narcissism that views any opposition as intolerable and deplorable. Only Conservatives will bring home a free and open Internet.

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Mrs. Brenda Shanahan (Châteauguay—Lacolle, Lib.)

Oct/3/23 3:16:46 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the 350th anniversary of Châteauguay, which has grown from the seigneury offered to Charles Le Moyne into the city we know today. Our entire shared history is what we are celebrating on this important anniversary. We are celebrating 350 years of courage, solidarity and living in harmony. This important anniversary represents our many stories and shared history. Many thanks to all those who have contributed to building this magnificent and prosperous community. Châteauguay has a rich past, a present it can be proud of, and a future it can look forward to with confidence.

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