SoVote

Context: House Hansard - 318 - May/27/24

Mr. Richard Cannings (South Okanagan—West Kootenay, NDP)

May/27/24 1:56:05 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, the member across the way's speeches are always passionate and entertaining, and I just want to give him— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

27 words

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

May/27/24 1:56:17 p.m.
Watch

I am going to get the hon. member to start from the beginning, because there seems to be cross-debate. I would ask those members, if they wish to have conversations, to please take them out into the lobby. The hon. member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay has the floor.

51 words

Mr. Richard Cannings

May/27/24 1:56:29 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, it is always entertaining to hear the member from Nova Scotia speak in this House about how he cares for the people of Atlantic Canada. The bill is important. It is essential for the people of Atlantic Canada, for Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nova Scotia, to develop sustainable resources, which they have in spades, that will drive a real boom of jobs for the future. I am just wondering if the member can comment on that and on how the provinces, as he mentioned, have asked for this, and yet the Conservatives have blocked it, have filibustered and delayed it. It is as if they do not really care about Atlantic Canada at all.

116 words

Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:57:21 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, because he is 100% right. I said it from the beginning. The Harper government did not care about the Atlantic accord. It wanted to take the royalties away. Now the Conservatives have a chance to make it up. They are doing the same thing, because the Leader of the Opposition does not care about Atlantic Canadians. To the member's point, the provincial minister of Nova Scotia said that this is probably the greatest opportunity in decades that Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick and P.E.I. have. We must take advantage of it, and I want to see the people who moved away from Atlantic Canada, probably because of the 2007 decision by the Conservative government, come back home. It is time to come home. It is 2024, and we care about Atlantic Canada.

143 words

Ms. Yvonne Jones (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern Affairs and to the Minister of National Defence (Northern Defence), Lib.)

May/27/24 1:58:16 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-49

Madam Speaker, I want to express my support for Bill C-49 and say what a rousing speech my colleague just gave in the House of Commons. Bill C-49 is allowing Atlantic Canadians in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador to kick-start a new economy and to lead a new initiative that will bring jobs and wealth to our provinces. Why are the Conservatives so dead against Atlantic Canada leading the way in this new technology and this new energy sector?

83 words

Mr. Darrell Samson

May/27/24 1:58:56 p.m.
Watch

Madam Speaker, the first thing that comes to mind is jealousy, but I guess that is too simple. The real answer is that the Leader of the Opposition does not care about Atlantic Canadians and does not care about us having good-paying sustainable jobs for Atlantic Canadians. That is what it is all about. People would come back to Nova Scotia. Many people have returned because of the shipyard contract. Many more will return now. These are opportunities for Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, P.E.I. and all of Canada. We are going to lead the world into this industry. The opposition should get out of the way and let us do our job.

118 words

Mr. Chandra Arya (Nepean, Lib.)

May/27/24 1:59:55 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Azerbaijan achieved its Independence Day on May 28, 1918. I had the pleasure of hosting its Independence Day celebration on Parliament Hill last Friday. On Saturday, I participated in an event, raising the Azerbaijan flag on Parliament Hill grounds. Azerbaijan became the first democracy in the entire Muslim world, and it is also one of the first nations in the world to grant women the right to vote. Religious minorities, including Jews and Hindus, have equal rights to practice their faith in this Muslim-majority country, and they enjoy state support too. Azerbaijan's geographic location gives it great strategic importance as an energy producer and transit hub. I would also like to recognize the contributions Azerbaijani Canadians have made and continue to make toward our country, Canada.

130 words

Mr. Mel Arnold (North Okanagan—Shuswap, CPC)

May/27/24 2:00:58 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, this weekend we celebrated eight members of the Vernon Search and Rescue Group Society for decades of search and rescue service and community safety in North Okanagan—Shuswap and across Canada. At the ceremony we recognized Robert Cross, for 28 years of service; Geoff Vick, 31 years; Robert Hurtubise, 34 years; Coralie Nairn, 35 years; Don Blakely and Leigh Pearson, 37 years; James Viel, 50 years; and Pete Wise, 60 years, the longest-serving search and rescue volunteer in Canada. These volunteers have committed their time to assist and often lead in the search and rescue of many Canadians no matter the time of day or the weather conditions. They also assist emergency services during evacuations and disaster response. Their families make sacrifices and contributions by supporting them. Employers give them time away from work, while sponsors provide resources. I thank these volunteers and the thousands more across Canada who embody the professionalism, sacrifice and courage to the search for and rescue of Canadians across the country.

170 words

Mr. Ryan Turnbull (Whitby, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:02:08 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, as we approach World Ocean Day on June 8, it is timely to reflect on the ocean's profound contribution to our economy, climate and way of life, and to Canada's prosperity as a whole. The ocean sector contributed close to $52 billion toward Canada's GDP in 2022 and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs nationwide. There are opportunities to create many more jobs in the fisheries, aquaculture, shipping and tourism industries, as well as emerging industries like offshore renewable energy and marine biotechnology. This evening, representatives of Canada's Ocean Supercluster will be hosting a briefing reception at the Shaw Centre to discuss Ambition 2035, its vision for fivefold growth in the ocean economy. I encourage all members to attend and learn more about how we can enable this vital sector.

136 words

Mr. Denis Trudel (Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, BQ)

May/27/24 2:03:10 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we learned of the closure of the community organization Loisirs St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache, which has played a key role in the lives of hundreds of families in Longueuil since 1995. I would like to especially thank Dolorès Vaudeville, who ran the organization with passion and dedication for 17 years, and Sophie Hébert, who greatly contributed to the organization's development thanks to her unfailing commitment and dedication. Loisirs St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache was located in a neighbourhood where people face daily challenges, but each action taken by the organization made a difference in the lives of many people in the community. I would like to express my gratitude to all the volunteers, partners and community members who supported this cause over the years. We hope that the legacy of St-Vincent-de-Paul/Champlain-Gamache will continue to inspire other community initiatives in the future to help the least fortunate among us live with dignity.

172 words

Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:04:20 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, do members know that the heart of Canada's Filipino community is located in Winnipeg North and that June is Filipino Heritage Month in Canada? No matter where someone goes in Canada, they will be encouraged to participate in a wide spectrum of Filipino hospitality. One of the things they will notice is that it does not matter what kind of event they go to; they will experience hospitality, kindness, love and hard-working people. These are the types of things that are embedded in our Filipino heritage community. Today, over one million people in Canada are of Filipino Canadian heritage. That is something all of us should be very proud of. I would encourage all members to get out and promote Filipino heritage in the month of June no matter where they live in Canada.

138 words

Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus (Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, CPC)

May/27/24 2:05:25 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to pay tribute to the exceptional commitment of Roger Barbeau, a citizen in my riding of Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles. An accomplished businessman in the shoe industry, Mr. Barbeau founded the first Caisse Populaire in Saint-Émile in his home in 1959. With the tireless support of his wife Aline and his sons Blaise and Gervais, he devoted much of his life to the service of his community while promoting the values that were so dear to him. As a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 55 years, he was the embodiment of that organization's spirit of fraternity and solidarity. He was a model for us all, thanks to his compassion for the least fortunate and his commitment to the principles of charity and goodwill. He inspired those around him with his kindness, wisdom and ability to reach out to those in need. I would like to thank Roger Barbeau for everything he has done and for everything he is. His legacy will live in our hearts forever.

181 words

Mrs. Salma Zahid (Scarborough Centre, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:06:32 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Filipino Heritage Month is just days away, and Filipinos from coast to coast to coast are ready to celebrate Filipino art, culture and food. The Philippine Fiesta Extravaganza started in Scarborough under the leadership of Von Canton and Philip Beloso. This year it is expanding to cities across Canada, with fiestas this summer in Toronto, Surrey, Vaughan, Brampton, Lethbridge, Hamilton, Niagara Falls, Miramichi and Montreal. I encourage my colleagues in these communities and all Canadians to go to their local fiesta events and other events to experience Filipino food, music, and art as we celebrate Filipino culture and 75 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Philippines. I was proud to sponsor the motion that made June Filipino Heritage Month in Canada, and I thank everyone who has taken Parliament's declaration and made it a month-long celebration. Mabuhay Canada; mabuhay Philippines.

146 words

Mr. Ben Carr (Winnipeg South Centre, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:07:41 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, Dr. Ian C. P. Smith was a tireless and passionate public servant for over 40 years. We lost this cherished member of Winnipeg's community recently. Throughout the course of his distinguished career, Dr. Smith received numerous accolades for his hard work, including the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo Hunt, the Outstanding Achievement Award of Public Service of Canada, and both the Queen's golden and diamond jubilee medals. He was an internationally respected biophysicist, having contributed to Canada's reputation as a leader in state-of-the-art medical diagnostic devices. Under his leadership, the National Research Council's Institute for Biodiagnostics has garnered a reputation for world-class research. It has generated and commercialized new, non-invasive diagnostic tools used in human and veterinary medicine, and continues his cutting-edge research on the early diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Smith was an accomplished man, both professionally and personally. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. His work in the field of biophysics will continue to have a lasting impact. We wish his family all the best during this difficult time, and thank Dr. Smith for his lasting contributions to our country.

197 words

Mr. Rob Morrison (Kootenay—Columbia, CPC)

May/27/24 2:08:52 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, the NDP-Liberal Prime Minister is not worth the hunger and homelessness. The Salvation Army report showed that 75% of Canadians face challenges managing limited financial resources, poverty and food insecurity worse in every corner of the country. Twenty-five percent of Canadians eat less so their children and other family members can eat. It is staggering. Twenty-six percent of Canadians skip or reduce the size of a meal because they cannot afford to buy groceries. I was just at the food bank in Cranbrook. I was talking with a young couple and their two children. I have known them for many years. They were regular contributors. They were embarrassed as they told me they were there at the food bank to pick up some groceries for their family. The NDP-Liberal government hiked the carbon tax 23% last month, driving up the cost for food, gas and heating, especially hard-hitting in rural Canada. Only common sense Conservatives will cap spending, axe the carbon tax, and bring home safe streets and powerful paychecks for Canadians.

182 words

Ms. Yvonne Jones (Labrador, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:09:58 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, I would like to invite all my colleague to join me and others tomorrow as we celebrate National Seal Products Day, which is normally on May 16. Inuit and coastal communities across Nunavut, Atlantic Canada and Quebec have relied on seal and seal products for subsistence and survival for millennia, and we continue to use seal for food, clothing and historical ceremony. Seal Day is about recognizing and honouring historical, cultural, social and economic contributions that seal represent for our communities and our people. It is a day when we can recognize and counter narratives about the seal that seek to delegitimize and have devastating impacts on indigenous and coastal communities. I support the industry, and it is a strong industry that has sustained people for many generations. We must continue to work together to ensure the economic viability of seal for all Canadians.

146 words

Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner (Calgary Nose Hill, CPC)

May/27/24 2:11:01 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after nine years of the current Liberal government, it is a cruel summer for Canadian pet owners. Life in Canada is now so unaffordable that the Calgary Herald just reported the following: “Calgary animal advocates say the increased costs of living, combined with a housing crisis, are forcing pet owners to make tough decisions between their needs and those of their pets.” Animal shelters are overflowing, and Melissa David, founder of Parachutes for Pets, said that her organization is taking nearly 100 calls a day on average from people whose entire support network is their pet but who are considering heartbreaking decisions like abandoning their pets because inflation means they cannot afford them anymore. The inflation caused by nine years of massive Liberal deficits and the ineffective carbon tax has led us to this place. At a minimum, the Liberals must cancel the carbon tax, the federal fuel tax and the GST on gasoline and diesel between now and Labour Day. This would save the average Canadian family $670 this summer and could mean the difference between keeping their beloved furry family member or cruelly having to abandon it.

193 words

Mr. Earl Dreeshen (Red Deer—Mountain View, CPC)

May/27/24 2:12:16 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, after nine years, tax-and-spend Liberals are jeopardizing all that Canadians hold dear. The family vacation was the one opportunity to enjoy Canada's great outdoors, a chance to connect with fellow travellers and to see the sights and sounds of this great nation. Now, even a simple road trip is unaffordable as parents struggle with the basic necessities of life. A summer vacation is no longer an option for Canadian families. Families will have to pay $700 more for food this year than they did in 2023. Last year, food banks had to handle a record two million visits in a single month with one million more monthly visits expected in 2024. In the middle of this historic cost-of-living crisis, the NDP–Liberal coalition decided to hike the carbon tax by 23%. This is just one step in its plan to quadruple the carbon tax over the next six years, making everything more expensive at the worst possible time. This has to stop. Our common-sense Conservatives can be trusted to axe the tax this summer and to give Canadian families the break they so desperately deserve.

194 words

Vacation

Mr. Sameer Zuberi (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:13:23 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, this week is National AccessAbility Week. I would like to recognize the incredible contributions made by people living with disabilities and the organizations that represent them. Persons with disabilities, advocates and organizations work tirelessly to remove barriers. They ensure the full participation of more than eight million Canadians with disabilities. It is by working together with the disability community that we have made progress. This year's theme is “Forward Together: Accessibility and Inclusion for All”. Collective efforts are needed from all sectors of society. We need this in order to reach a barrier-free Canada by 2040. I invite my colleagues and all Canadians to celebrate the exceptional work being done by so many. Let us continue working toward a more accessible and inclusive society, a more accessible and inclusive Canada.

136 words

Mr. Taylor Bachrach (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP)

May/27/24 2:14:23 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, “If you can work, if you can pay tax, if you can serve in your armed forces, then you ought to be able to vote” were the words of U.K. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer just last week. I mention his statement because this week, here in Ottawa, young people from across the country are gathering for the first-ever national Vote16 summit. The Vote16 movement around the world is growing because the issues being discussed in places like this have a profound impact on the lives of young people. It is growing because the evidence shows that when young people are empowered to vote, the voter turnout rate rises, which is a hallmark of a strong democracy. That is why the Northwest Territories' Chief Electoral Officer has recommended that the voting age be changed to 16 in that place, and it is why I tabled my bill, the right to vote at 16 act, here in Ottawa. I want to wish all the young people gathering in Ottawa for the summit a productive session.

180 words