Heather McPherson
Edmonton Strathcona, Alberta · NDP · Canada
“To the security personnel, to the Sergeant-at-Arms, I thank them so much for keeping us safe in this moment, when times become much more dangerous as we go. To the food services staff and the cafeteria staff who keep us fed, we are so grateful for that. I thank them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take a moment, on behalf of New Democrats, to thank all the people who make the work that we do in the House possible.”
“It has been a difficult year for many of us. I am so very grateful for Blake, Christine, Jen, Peter and every one of the staff, who have been with us and who have done the important work. I would like to echo the thanks we have heard from other parties. Our families endure an awful lot while we come to do our work in this place.”
“Mr. Speaker, this week, the Prime Minister claimed that Trump's war in Iran was “worth it.” Thousands were killed, including schoolchildren. Schools and hospitals were destroyed. Families and entire communities were displaced.”
“Mr. Speaker, more than 3,000 volunteers helped collect over 200,000 signatures from Albertans who are determined to protect our mountains, our rivers and our drinking water from the threat of coal mining. Albertans have spoken loudly and clearly.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am so proud today to stand and table petition e‑6783, which was signed by 10,182 Canadians. These Canadians are asking the government to apply the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act consistently for all those Canadian citizens returning from conflict zones.”
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“Mr. Speaker, Israel has bombed dozens of sites in Iran, including residential homes, causing hundreds of casualties, including children. Netanyahu is leading the region into yet another war in which civilians will pay the price. Canadians with loved ones throughout the Middle East are terrified of what comes next. We need de-escalation, diplomacy and rule of law. Will Canada condemn this latest escalation and finally commit to real nuclear disarmament, or will they stand with the Conservatives against international law?”
“Mr. Chair, I would like to just point out to the minister that in fact he is responsible for ensuring that money leaves the federal government, and so he has oversight on how that is done. All programs require funding from the federal government, and we have the ability to ask him questions about those funds. The fact that he has not been able to answer very many of those this evening is deeply worrying for many of us. I will ask one more question. It is about the investment in women and girls across this country. Right now, we are seeing a backsliding on the feminist agenda that the previous government had guaranteed—”
“Mr. Chair, yes, and those rules can be changed, which is what our job is here actually, Minister. My next question is on Canada summer jobs. In Edmonton Strathcona, four out of five Canada summer jobs are unfunded, despite the fact that we have a youth employment crisis in this country. I am wondering if the minister has anything to say about the chronic underfunding of the Canada summer jobs program, particularly in urban ridings, such as Edmonton Strathcona.”
“Mr. Chair, in the last Parliament, I tabled some legislation that would tie federal transfer payments intended for post-secondary education to be used solely for post-secondary education. It was a piece of legislation that was intended to ensure that the transfer payments we send from the federal government to the provincial government could direct and ensure that post-secondary education became more affordable and made sure that there was adequate staffing. I am wondering whether the minister would be willing to look at ensuring that the transfers that go to provinces are tied to making sure the post-secondary institutions receive the funding that was intended for their use.”
“Mr. Chair, I was not asking if they were going to be working on reducing racism. I was asking if they were going to fix the systems that were systematically targeting Muslim charities within the CRA. The answer he provided does not answer the question I asked him. Indigenous and northern communities continue to face critical challenges, from inadequate infrastructure and housing to limited access to clean water and essential services. Given the federal government's responsibility and commitments, what concrete steps is the government taking to ensure long-term funding for indigenous and northern communities?”
“Mr. Chair, in addition to the 11% cut to peace and security spending, there is a 5% cut in development spending and a 40% decrease in peacekeeping since 2016. That does not feel, to me, like a government that is playing a meaningful role on the world stage. In addition to that, the minister knows that there have been recent reports, including from NCCM and the University of Toronto's “Under Layered Suspicion”, that have revealed troubling evidence that Muslim-led charities are being disproportionately targeted by audits by Canada Revenue Agency. This raises serious concerns about systematic bias and Islamophobia within the CRA. What does the minister have to say about this?”
“Mr. Chair, the minister is responsible for ensuring that those benefits are paid to people living with a disability. I would say those are the people in this country who are most vulnerable and are constantly being asked to wait by the government. The minister also spoke about the important role Canada will continue to play in the world and talked about defence spending. While the New Democrats are happy with the 2% defence spending announcement, I am very concerned about an 11% cut to spending on peace and security. How does he account for that?”
“Mr. Chair, without a budget, it will be difficult for any Canadian to take the minister at his word. The disability benefit is something that was brought up earlier this evening. The payments are meant to be starting in July, and the process to apply for the disability benefit has not even opened yet. Nothing has been done. How does this minister expect that he will be able to pay people the insufficient, but very necessary, disability benefit?”
“Mr. Chair, I would like to extend my congratulations to the minister on his appointment. The Parliamentary Budget Officer has warned that, to pay for the government's promises, deep cuts to the federal public service will be unavoidable. Canadians deserve to know what things are going to be cut. Is it their public health care system? Is it veteran services? What will be cut to make sure that the government can live up to the promises they have already made?”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge that I stood with my colleague this week as we urged the government to provide honorary citizenship for Jimmy Lai. I appreciate his work on that. It is unfortunate that has not happened yet. The government has announced huge expenditures in defence spending. One of the things I worry about is that this is ultimately a procurement issue, and I am concerned about whether he trusts the government—”
“Mr. Speaker, the member spoke a lot about the mandate that the Canadian people have given his government. One of the things the Prime Minister ran on was the idea of “elbows up”, fighting back against Donald Trump and the illegal tariffs that he has put on Canada. However, we have now learned that they are texting, they are buddies and they are sending messages back and forth. They are agreeing on some ridiculous Golden Dome that will cost Canadians $61 billion. That does not appear to me to be something that Canadians did in fact vote for. It does not appear to be very “elbows up”, either. I wonder if the member could talk about the fact that what Canadians voted for is definitely not what they are getting with the Prime Minister and the government.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would believe that questions on trade agreements would be something that the trade minister should be able to answer, and the fact that the minister is not answering that question makes me think he does not actually want to provide an answer to Canadians. Will the government introduce mandatory supply chain due diligence legislation requiring companies to address human rights, including forced labour and child labour, as promised in the last Parliament? When can we expect this legislation?”
“Mr. Speaker, with the ongoing genocide in Gaza by Netanyahu, the expansion of settlements, the announcement of 22 new settlements planned for the West Bank, and Canada's obligation under the Genocide Convention, is your government planning to suspend the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement as New Democrats have asked you to do?”
“Mr. Speaker, in March, the government announced temporary EI relief because of foreign tariffs. It was lowering the hours needed, waiving the waiting weeks and suspending the severance clawbacks, but those changes are only temporary. I am wondering whether the government will be making those changes permanent for Canadian workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians were shocked to learn that the Indian prime minister, Prime Minister Modi, has been invited to the G7 meetings here. This is deeply troubling and hurtful for the Sikh community and for all Canadians who are concerned about human rights and foreign interference. Now we find out that the Saudi leader has also been invited. Honestly, the G7 leaders' summit is becoming a showcase of tyrants. Will the Prime Minister rescind those invitations and make sure that the people coming to the G7 summit believe in human rights and believe in people, not profits?”
“Danielle Smith's United Conservatives in Alberta have passed legislation that would authorize the province to withdraw Alberta from the Canada Pension Plan. While Albertans are very worried about their CPP and losing their access to CPP, the implications of Smith's plan go well beyond Alberta. Alberta's withdrawal from the CPP could harm millions of Canadians outside Alberta who rely on the CPP now and will rely on it into the future. The bill would change the CPP act to require approval of at least two-thirds of the provinces currently participating in the CPP, ensuring that Canadians impacted by the decision would have a say in the future of their pension plan. New Democrats are committed to protecting retirement benefits for Albertans and for all Canadians, today and into the future. I hope all members will support my bill.”
“Bill C-207. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-207, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan . She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be tabling my legislation, an act to amend the Canada Pension Plan. I am very grateful to the member for Vancouver Kingsway for seconding my bill. The bill would strengthen the Canada Pension Plan act and give the millions of Canadians who contribute to and receive benefits from the CPP a say in the future of their CPP. It would protect the CPP from politicians who would gamble with their retirement security. Canadians need and deserve financial security in retirement, and the Canada Pension Plan is a critical component of that financial security, but the CPP is at risk from Conservatives.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is very nice to see you in that seat. You look very distinguished there. For me, when I read the throne speech, one of the things that shocked me the most as an Albertan, as somebody who is deeply worried about housing, health care and all of those things, was that none of that was in the throne speech. There was nothing on below-market housing, nothing for indigenous housing, nothing for health care, and nothing for workers, who are the most impacted by the tariffs that we see from Donald Trump. Why is that?”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague from Edmonton on his election. I am certain that this evening he, like I, will be cheering for the Edmonton Oilers as they head into the Stanley Cup finals. I have a question for the member. In regard to this particular throne speech, but in previous Parliaments as well, the workers across this country have been demanding that the government take steps to reform EI and make it more appropriate. Now that we are getting such incredible threats from the United States, from Donald Trump, and we are seeing illegal tariffs on our steel and aluminum, would the Conservative Party support reforming EI to make it so that all workers can use it as they need to?”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate my colleague on his discourse and his speech in the House, and to welcome him. I have a bit of a concern, because I think about so many people in this country who are living with a disability and who did not see their concerns echoed within the throne speech. I wonder whether the member, while he was talking to his constituents, heard from constituents who are deeply concerned that $250 is simply insufficient to help people living with a disability stay out of poverty. Will the government be taking the necessary steps to protect Canadians living with a disability, particularly in my province of Alberta, where the provincial government has taken $200 off, with the—”
“Mr. Speaker, postal workers across the country continue to serve Canadians in every corner of our nation, through snowstorms, through uncertainty and even through a global pandemic. However, Canada Post continues to undermine this essential service, pushing Canadians to privatize services, refusing to address working conditions and stripping postal workers of their right to free and collective bargaining. Why is the government allowing management to tear apart our postal system and delay negotiations with CUPW members, who are simply asking for a fair deal?”