Ben Carr
Winnipeg South Centre, Manitoba · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, entitled “The Impact Of U.S. Tariffs on the Tool, Die, Mould and Metallurgical Manufacturing Industries in Canada”.”
“Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been discussions amongst the parties, and if you seek it, I think you will find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion: Motion That, notwithstanding any Standing or Special Order or usual practice of the House, with respect to the consideration of Government Business No.”
“I cannot help but note how much fundraising my colleagues have done off of this piece of legislation in the last year. They are telling Jews, for example, that they will not be able to say they are Zionists. That is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.”
“They said it is very important for the government to show leadership. It is very important, they say, for the government to have legislation that makes it easier for the police to be able to enforce the law. Is that not exactly what Bill C-9 does?”
“Here is something I find interesting. Two weeks ago, when a noose was put around the neck of an effigy of a Jewish leader being burned on a street in Montreal, members across the way were, rightly so, up in arms, and they should have been, but now the member for York—Durham is saying that the very symbol placed around the neck of that Jew…”
“I know because they have put pressure on me and my colleagues in the Jewish caucus on this side of the aisle, and on Jewish leadership across the country, to take action. The question is, of course, why? Well, the reason for this is that we have seen a significant increase in hate in this country.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology, entitled “Improving Productivity in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.”
“There are lessons here for governments across the country to take note of. I thank Beverly for showing us how innovation, community spirit and determination can help older adults age with dignity. Growing older should never mean growing alone.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the Canadian population ages and our older adults, along with our systems, face new challenges as a result, we need to be innovative and bold. My constituent, Beverly Suek, is both those things. When her husband passed away, Beverly faced the common challenge of loneliness, but she did not stay still. Beverly purchased a house, wrote up a questionnaire for prospective residents and shared on social media her plans for an idea that could help others like her. The Women's Housing Initiative Manitoba is a co-operative home to six women ranging in age from 60 to 80. They share responsibilities, and most importantly, they look out for one another. This initiative, aside from saving health care and housing costs, is proof that aging in place in community reduces isolation and strengthens independence.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member opposite and I have a natural bond, being Jewish members of Parliament, and I enjoy the opportunity we often have to talk about the needs of the community and the country as a whole. I am not going to be partisan whatsoever. One thing that my hon. colleague mentioned in her remarks was enforcement. I sometimes struggle to understand, even if I were to accept the argument in its entirety, which I do not, that the laws that currently exist are strong enough and it is an enforcement issue, I would like to understand from her perspective, aside from the IRGC, where I do understand where she is coming from, how, when we are talking about enforcement on the ground, let us say, at rallies, she believes the federal government has a role to play in discussions with police services.”
“Mr. Speaker, as I referenced in my speech a number of times, we are so fortunate to live in this country, with its strong parliamentary system rooted in the democratic principles that allow us to have these conversations. We have had them and we are obviously continuing to have them, and I do not think this discussion will end even with the passage of Bill C-9 , which is quite important. Ongoing conversation and reflection about the impact that laws have in the country is critical to the health of our democracy, and I look forward to continuing this debate while it is in this chamber.”
“Mr. Speaker, I do not know whether I can explain where the interests of my colleagues in the official opposition lie. However, as I said during my speech, I think it is important to maintain a respectful tone and style of debate in the House. Over the past few months, in the course of this debate, I believe that our discussions have at times taken a rather more partisan turn. The tone used was unnecessary and did not serve us effectively in the House.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a great degree of respect for my colleague across the way. We have many people in common in the city of Winnipeg, and I believe him to be a very thoughtful and honourable person. Having followed some of the proceedings of the justice committee and having had a chance to review the bill and the amendments that were made recently, I do believe that much of the concern has been addressed. We can always have a debate, of course, and it is usually a subjective one, about how much debate is enough debate and how much consultation is enough consultation. I do believe, given the urgency of the need for this legislation right now, that an appropriate amount of discussion has taken place in this country and that Canadians will have the opportunity to tell us how they feel.”
“However, it is my belief, quite firmly, that Bill C-9 is an opportunity for us, at a time of great division, danger, fear and anxiety in our society, to protect the communities that need protection the most.”
“I say with humility that it is important to recognize that none of us, myself included, has a monopoly on the way a particular community feels. There are Jews in this country who support the bill. There are Jews in this country who have some questions about it. There are Muslims in this country who support the bill. There are Muslims in this country who have some questions about it. There are some Christians in this country about whom I would say the same thing, and the list would go on and on. I have very much appreciated the opportunity in the hallowed halls of the chamber to have a respectful and peaceful conversation about what is in the best interests of our country.”
“In addition, going back to the example I used of Folklorama in Winnipeg, nobody should be intimidated going into a space when they are there to worship, to celebrate their faith or to honour their identity or the roots of their community. One of the things the community has asked me to relay during the course of my remarks here in Ottawa, not just today but also in the days that have passed, is that the legislation is something they believe they need in order to be safer. Given what we have seen over the course of the past couple of weeks in particular, I think it is quite an appropriate time to move forward with this piece of legislation. One of the things that has happened from time to time in the House, particularly in the context of this debate, is that we often speak broadly about what one community wants versus what another wants.”
“They had to walk into spaces that are meant to be safe but were not able to do so, or certainly did not feel comfortable doing so, quite understandably, by virtue of the fact that there was a permissive ability under law for some of this to take place. With this feedback, we went to the drawing board and had a conversation about what we could do to ensure that we strengthen protections. One of the things I find so critically important about Bill C-9 is that it would take some concrete action to help prevent these things. Hate symbols are not something that ought to be able to fly proudly in our streets. It is time, I believe, that we take action in making it something that would be in breach of the law.”
“I encourage all members to come pay us a visit. It is where people from countries around the world have an opportunity to come and learn about the culture, language, dance, food, different goods that are sold and stories that are told about where people come from. Last year at the Israeli pavilion, children, whether they were Jews or not, who walked into that space to learn about a different culture, were told by protesters that Hamas was coming for them. They were told to go back to Europe and were spit on. They were told they were child murderers. This happened as they walked into the celebratory space, and some were as young as my niece, who is five years old. I am also thinking about the University of Winnipeg students who, after October 7, had to walk onto a campus that had Hamas flags flying.”
“(1630) However, although coming from conversations and experiences I had with Canadians across the country as I had the opportunity to travel in a variety of capacities, my support for Bill C-9 comes primarily from the conversations I had with my own community in Winnipeg South Centre. I am fortunate to represent the largest Jewish population in western Canada, and after October 7, for reasons I am sure many have opinions on and would be a debate that we could have unto itself, there has been a significant rise in anti-Semitism. One of the first things my constituents, particularly from the Jewish community but not only them, have said they need is a strengthening of laws. Here are some examples. There is something called Folklorama, which is a wonderful event that happens in Winnipeg every year.”
“As my colleague who spoke before me noted, there are already a number of different ways in which we see protections for people that are embedded in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and in current Canadian law. I could never in good conscience support a piece of legislation that I felt would hinder the ability for my colleagues, my constituents, my friends, my family members and Canadians across the country to practise their faith. The degree to which we are talking about somebody having to be prosecuted by the arm of the law for using a text for hate is significant. Nonetheless, I do appreciate that we have the opportunity in this beautiful country of ours to have this conversation. It is so representative of the strength of Canadian parliamentary democracy.”
“Having said all this, I have a great degree of respect for many of my colleagues across the way and many from other parties and in my own party who come from places of faith. I deeply appreciate it, notwithstanding the fact that I am not particularly religious. I very much see how so many people in this country, whatever religion their faith rests in, have it as a core part of their identity and that it serves a critical purpose in who they are as individuals. I have a tremendous amount of respect for that, which is why I understand the elevation of the discourse around the religious exemption that has been debated in particular. This is part of the reason I asked my colleague a few moments ago if he would support this piece of legislation should it be amended.”
“I stood with Jewish community members in the GTA just a few days ago and saw bullet holes ripped through front doors, reminiscent of a very dark period in our time that none of us want to see relived. The Muslim community across the country, but particularly in my hometown of Winnipeg, has faced its fair share of discrimination. Recently the owner of Habibiz Café, a shawarma shop, of which there are so many across our country, woke up to a message of hate. Christians in this country, as well as members of other faith-based communities have been the victims of discrimination based on their beliefs. Bill C-9 would allow us to accomplish a pathway, through the strengthening of laws, to allowing us to reduce some of the severity by ensuring that we increase the structure of our laws.”
“This is a story that has played out across countless communities and is an experience that individuals who have called Canada home for some time hold as the foundation of why this place is so dear and special to them. Unfortunately, today, much of what my ancestors experienced and people who have come from other communities are experiencing in this country is a similar type of victimization. I think of the Jewish community that I come from in my riding of Winnipeg South Centre, the synagogue I attend and attended as a kid and the high school I went to and taught at in Winnipeg, which had swastikas spray-painted on its windows just a few weeks ago.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am always proud to rise in the House on behalf of the people of Winnipeg South Centre. Today I rise as a Jew, as a member of Parliament and, perhaps most important, as a Canadian, to speak to Bill C-9 . I have enough humility, I hope, to recognize that it is members not just of one party but of all parties who have allowed at times the conversation in this debate to be filled with perhaps a bit more hot air than is productive for the discussion that Canadians would like us to have. I hope today in my remarks to reflect honestly and transparently about what I have heard from the community I represent. My great-grandparents came to Canada in the early 20th century, escaping the pogroms of Russia. They did so because they were victimized as Jews and were searching for a better life.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague across the way and always enjoy the conversations we have on a number of issues. The religious exemption clause seems to be the basis for a lot of sensitivity in the House today. Would the member support the other measures in the bill as they currently exist if the clause pertaining to religious exemptions were removed? If so, would he also encourage his leader and his party to do the same?”
“Madam Speaker, I was doing a bit of research as my hon. colleague was speaking, and I note that the bill was co-developed with modern treaty partners. I am wondering if there is any evidence to suggest that the modern treaty partners who were involved in the development of this legislation have the same concerns that she raised in her speech.”
“Through performances across Manitoba and beyond, Sopilka has helped ensure that Ukrainian traditions remain vibrant, visible and proud. I congratulate Vicky Adams, artistic director Kristina Frykas, dancers, instructors, families and alumni on 55 remarkable years. Here is to many more.”
“Mr. Speaker, this year, the Sopilka Ukrainian Dance School, located in my riding of Winnipeg South Centre, is celebrating 55 years of preserving and sharing Ukrainian culture. Sopilka began as a small Ukrainian language class and grew into one of Manitoba's most respected dance schools. The school was founded in the early 1970s by Vicky Adams, a constituent of mine and a lifelong champion of Ukrainian culture, education and community life. Her extraordinary contributions were recently recognized with a King's coronation medal, reflecting decades of volunteerism and leadership, including her deep involvement with the Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church. For generations of young people, Sopilka has been a place where discipline, history and cultural pride are passed down.”
“One of the things we are seeing is that it takes a significant number of first responders, upwards of 12, 13 or 14, in order to deal just with one individual. While undergoing this psychosis, these individuals are unfortunately very dangerous and unpredictable, and they can even take on forms of superhuman strength whereby they are able to pose a much greater risk and threat to those who are trying to assist them. The essence of this legislation is critical, and I look forward to a continued debate and the ultimate passage, I hope, of Bill C-14 .”
“Taken together, these efforts demonstrate Parliament's shared commitment to protecting those who serve our communities and to ensuring that our criminal justice system responds firmly, fairly and coherently when they are harmed. I look forward to the committee's study of this bill and to continuing this important work on behalf of the everyday heroes who protect us. I am just thinking about a conversation I had, again with Winnipeg's fire and paramedic chief, a few months ago. They showed me a video of the training exercises Winnipeg police officers, paramedics and firefighters will go through for dealing with someone who is undergoing a meth psychosis. This is unfortunately a very common occurrence in our streets these days.”
“When seconds can mean the difference between life and death, our society cannot accept that those who rush toward danger are themselves targeted by criminal behaviour. Denunciation matters, consistency matters, and clarity in the law matters. This is why I believe the work of the committee will be essential. It will allow parliamentarians to hear directly from frontline workers, legal experts and stakeholders, and to ensure that Parliament adopts the most effective tools available to address this problem. In closing, I support the objective of better protecting health care workers and first responders. At the same time, I believe that Bill C-14 offers a broader and more comprehensive approach, one that ensures consistent protection across all Criminal Code offences and clearer guidance for our courts.”
“In Ontario's Peel Region, data showed that paramedics reported an incident of violence every 18 hours, a physical assault every 36 hours and physical harm every nine days over a one-year period. Here in Ottawa, a survey of paramedics revealed that every respondent has experienced violence on the job. More than one-third face violence or threats monthly, and for more than one-fifth it is weekly. These are not isolated or regional anomalies; they reflect a national problem that deserves a national response. How can we reasonably expect that these professionals will deliver urgent and often life-saving care if they must constantly fear for their own safety? The answer, of course, is that we cannot. Our justice system must send a clear and unequivocal message: Violence against those who respond to emergencies will not be tolerated.”
“This is something I hear in Winnipeg, reflected back to me in conversations I have with stakeholders on an ongoing basis. In November, here, the International Association of Fire Fighters held its Canadian legislative conference. Representing more than 350,000 firefighters and emergency medical workers across Canada and the United States, the IAFF has repeatedly called for stronger protections against threats and violence. According to a survey of its affiliates, 13% reported incidents of violence during responses to structure fires, and 40% reported violence during medical calls over a five-year period. These are deeply troubling figures. Firefighters are not alone.”
“However, I believe it is fair to say that Bill C-14 provides a clearer and more unified framework by embedding this protection within the general sentencing regime of the Criminal Code. Beyond the legislative mechanics, we must not lose sight of why this issue demands our attention, and I think the hon. colleagues who have spoken before me today have done a very good and sincere job of laying that out. Following the introduction of Bill C-14 , the Minister of Justice noted, “Good ideas don’t come from closed door meetings—they come from conversations with people on the ground.” That rings especially true here. Health care workers and first responders have been telling us consistently and urgently that violence has become an increasingly common part of their working reality.”
“In other words, while Bill S-233 focuses on specific assault-based offences, Bill C-14 would ensure that protection would not depend on the technical classification of the offence but rather on the reality that a frontline worker was targeted while serving the public. Both bills share the same objective, which is to denounce violence against health care workers and first responders, and to ensure that sentencing reflects the seriousness of that conduct. The difference lies in scope and coherence. (1900) I will leave to the committee a more detailed examination of the legal interaction between these two bills, including questions of overlap and statutory interpretation.”
“Bill C-14 also addresses violence against health care workers and first responders, but it does so through a broader and more comprehensive approach, in my view. Specifically, Bill C-14 would expand an existing aggravating factor in the Criminal Code, one that currently applies to offences committed against health care workers and personal care workers, to explicitly include first responders. Importantly, this aggravating factor would apply to all Criminal Code offences, not only to a defined subset of assault-related offences. This distinction matters. Under Bill C-14 , courts would be required to consider the aggravating factor of not only assaults but also of other serious forms of criminal conduct directed at frontline workers, including intimidation, criminal harassment or other offences that may arise in the course of their duties.”
“As members know, Bill S-233 proposes to address the issue by creating a new aggravating factor that would apply where the victim of certain assault-related offences against a health care worker or a first responder is engaged in the performance of their duties. The offences captured include uttering threats, assault, assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm, aggravated assault, and unlawfully causing bodily harm. At the same time, it is important to situate Bill S-233 within the broader legislative context currently before Parliament. The government has introduced Bill C-14 , the bail and sentencing reform act, which as of today is before the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.”
“In the course of that line of work, things can be very challenging, and health care professionals also need protection that legislation of this kind can offer. I want to emphasize that this issue should not and does not fall along partisan lines. The Minister of Justice made this clear during question period last fall when he stated his willingness to work across party lines to advance measures that protect first responders as quickly as possible. I believe that sentiment is widely shared in the House. Ultimately, the question before us is not whether we should act but how best to do so.”
“While speaking about the bill, I am thinking about a number of people in my hometown of Winnipeg. That includes the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service chief, Christian Schmidt, as well as the Winnipeg Police Service chief, Gene Bowers, and members of their teams. I am very proud to say that on my beer league hockey team, The Mermen, with whom I have played for many years, there are two individuals to whom I want to give a shout-out here in the House of Commons today: a firefighter, Brad Russell; and a police officer, Jay Murray, who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe in the city of Winnipeg. I also think of my mother, who is a health care professional, a family doctor for many years who switched over the course of the past decade to helping people fighting addiction and mental health challenges.”
“Their work has helped to ensure that this important issue remains squarely before us in the House of Commons. These initiatives give us an opportunity to speak about an issue that affects all Canadians from coast to coast to coast. We are all impacted, because every day, Canadians depend at some point in our lives on the ability to call for help in an emergency situation and know that somebody will respond. Whether it is a firefighter, a paramedic, a police officer or a health care professional, these individuals are there for us in moments of crisis, vulnerability and fear. That is why the sponsor of the bill referred to health care workers and first responders as everyday heroes. I agree wholeheartedly. They show up, often at great personal risk, so the rest of us can be safe.”
“Madam Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to rise today to speak to Bill S-233 , an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to assault against persons who provide health services and first responders. At its core, Bill S-233 seeks to strengthen protections for the people who serve our communities every day, by requiring sentencing courts to treat as an aggravating factor in five assault-related offences against health care workers and first responders the fact that those offences are committed in the course of their duties. I want to begin by thanking my colleague in the other place for bringing the bill forward, as well as the member for Cariboo—Prince George , who previously introduced a similar measure in the last Parliament.”
“Mr. Speaker, Friday will mark three years since the passing of my father, the Hon. Jim Carr. My dad loved Canada, its people, its culture, its kindness and tenacity, and all that it gave him. He taught me from a young age that those with whom we disagree are merely our opposition, not our enemies. He conducted himself with integrity, honesty and compassion. Seldom a week goes by without someone coming up to me to share a fond memory of him, and each encounter ends with some variation of the same: “He was a good man,” they say. Whenever the time may come that I look back at my own parliamentary career, I hope I will be able to genuinely say that I have lived up to the standard that he has set for us all. In the Jewish faith, upon one's passing, we have an expression of condolence that we offer: May their memory be a blessing.”
“Mr. Speaker, in my father's dying days, he mustered the courage to stand in this chamber to fight for the passage of his private member's bill, which set out a vision for the prairie provinces to continue playing their prominent role in our federation. That vision was realized with the passage of the Building a Green Prairie Economy Act, which received royal assent shortly after his passing, on December 12, 2022. Can the Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada share how the newly announced prairie partnership initiative enhances this vision and establishes new opportunities for growth across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba?”
“Mr. Speaker, just in reference to the member's commentary in her speech about the luxury tax, my understanding is that it was costing more to actually collect the tax within the department than to levy the tax. This would be a cost-saving measure within cutting red tape in government. Surely, she is supportive of that. Would she not be?”
“At Linden Meadows School, under the leadership of teachers Colleen Nelson and Alex McGavin, students are dedicating time regularly to debating ideas. They are staying engaged with the world around them and are doing it in a respectful way. I am so proud to represent these bright young people, who are paving the way for a future full of kindness, compassion and hope.”
“Mr. Speaker, this past month, I had a chance to visit three schools in my riding where students are bringing about positive change in the world. At École Robert H. Smith, students raised thousands of dollars for CancerCare Manitoba by organizing drink sales that saw them working early hours on top of their regularly scheduled academic responsibilities. They put the needs of others ahead of their own. Over at Earl Grey School, nearly 50 students, guided by educator Lily Godinez Goodman, formed a media literacy club and started a school newspaper. Their commitment to citizenship can be held up as a model for all to follow. I experienced first-hand the challenge of being in the lion's den of one of their media scrums.”
“Mr. Speaker, I very much enjoyed the time I spent at committee with my colleague across the way. One of the things I enjoyed about my time with him is that I always found our conversations educational. There was much I had to learn from him, and I will take this opportunity as one whereby I will seek his guidance for more input on where he thinks the challenges and opportunities in relation to this problem lie.”
“Mr. Speaker, far be it for me to disagree with the doctor who represents Winnipeg West. I will take his word for it. However, I do not have to just take his word for it, because I have had conversations with hundreds if not thousands of people on the ground in Winnipeg South Centre, during the time I have had the privilege of representing them, who have highlighted for me that our investments in health care in Manitoba are critical to their well-being. For young people to older adults and everybody in between, the budget is going to be a critical framework from which we can continue to deliver the highest standard of care in Manitoba. I will just take the opportunity in closing to say that I thank my hon. colleague from Winnipeg West very much for his ongoing dedication to our health care systems in Manitoba.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am not surprised that my colleague would ask a question about Quebec's health care system. I respect the fact that this is a priority for my Bloc Québécois colleagues, but since I am a member from Winnipeg, Manitoba, I do not have much more information to share about the agreements signed between the federal government and the Government of Quebec. However, I am proud to say that the investments we have made in the province of Manitoba are making a big difference for the people of Winnipeg South Centre.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am sorry the member was not listening more carefully to my speech. I just talked about historic health care transfers. I talked about $5 billion in addition to that in health care infrastructure. I talked about historic funding in housing. I talked about huge reforms to our public safety systems and administration of justice in this country. All the things my colleague across the way just asked for are not only highlighted in the budget but serve as a core foundational framework for it.”
“He would talk about two particular moments in Manitoba's political history that he always kept at the front of his memory. One is referred to as “Duff's Ditch”. This is the floodway in Manitoba that was built to protect Winnipeg and surrounding communities from the flooding of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. It was not a popular decision for the Progressive Conservative premier at the time, but thank goodness he did it, because it has saved the city and tens of billions of dollars. The second example that I will highlight very quickly is Assiniboine Park, which is located in my riding. Every single city councillor who voted in favour of it lost their seat in the subsequent election, but today it serves as a marvel and a gem of our community. The point is to invest—”
“The Golden Boy, which sits atop the Manitoba legislature, faces north to symbolize the power and the future of the north, whether that be Canada or, specifically, northern Canada. In this instance, I am talking about northern Manitoba. The port of Churchill serves as a key economic hub, but it is one that can be enhanced significantly. We are working tirelessly, as a Manitoba caucus, as a Prairies and north caucus and as a government wholesale, alongside first nations partners in Manitoba and the provincial government, to make sure that we can get this to the next phase. This is going to allow for significant critical mineral development, among other things. Because my time is wrapping up, I will talk very quickly about something my father used to share with me when he was in politics.”
“What is really important about this is not just the housing infrastructure or the wraparound services and supports we need to make sure that people who are struggling right now are able to get the help they need to continue to make progress on their journey to recovery. It is also about how we are honouring the significant historical ties that exist in these communities. There are a few examples of this in my riding of Winnipeg South Centre, including the historical Rubin Block, which will be redeveloped, and the Elswood, which is going to be an energy-efficient, 147-unit facility in Winnipeg South Centre. In the time I have remaining, I want to talk about the Port of Churchill Plus project.”
“A very long process was undertaken whereby the Government of Canada worked with first nations communities that had the rights to the land in order to move forward on development. Fortunately, after a very lengthy process, we have arrived at this point, and we have already started to see significant development on the site. Part of the site is owned by Canada Lands, which, as a result of the direction our government gave it, is making sure that there will be 320 units as part of this redeveloped site, with 40% of them being affordable. They will eventually be part of a total of 2,100 housing units across the full site.”
“Another thing we would do, in addition to these health care measures, is make sure that the public safety component of that challenge is met, and I will speak more to that in a few moments. Related to the challenges that people are facing, particularly around mental health and addiction, is housing. There are a number of important initiatives in this budget related to housing. For example, there is the removal of GST on homes valued up to $1 million being purchased by individuals buying a home for the first time. There are a variety of other examples. Being from Winnipeg South Centre, I would love to take the opportunity to talk specifically about initiatives in my riding. One of those is a project referred to as Naawi-Oodena. Members who have been around for some time may know this as the former site of the Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg.”
“I am very proud that in this budget, we would undertake a number of initiatives to help address those needs. (1605) The most important initiative to highlight is the $5-billion health infrastructure fund. This fund would be in addition to the historic high provincial health care transfers that the federal government has invested in over the course of the past number of years. What would this fund do? It would do a couple of really important things. The first would be the construction of hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centres and medical schools. In my city of Winnipeg, there is a significant crisis unfolding right now related to fentanyl and meth. The investments we make in our health care systems are critical to ensuring that we meet the needs of these people and that we meet them where they are.”