Kevin Lamoureux
Winnipeg North, Manitoba · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, as I have indicated, when we take a look at this particular legislation, or any other piece of legislation or budgetary measures that the government has brought in since the last election, when Canadians elected a new Prime Minister and a new government, we will find that listening to Canadians is the top priority.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want the member to recognize the degree to which the Conservative Party always wants to talk down the economy. It brings me to yesterday, when we found out that the Prime Minister went to the G7 and that 13 new deals were signed off, with countries such as Japan, Italy, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands and Portugal, fi…”
“Mr. Speaker, since the last election, just over a year ago, when Canadians voted for our current Prime Minister and a new government, we have been listening to the people of Canada. Members will see that listening in every aspect of our legislative agenda and our budgetary measures.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to pick up on my friend's comment that we live in the real world. The real world is looking pretty good in terms of where Canada has been since the last federal election. We have a Prime Minister who has been out and about, attracting literally billions of dollars in commitments of investment.”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciated to a certain degree the member's comments when he made reference to the issue of the process. However, I would ask him to realize that, over the years, things have changed considerably. We saw time allocation used during Stephen Harper's government a record number of times.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a petition from a number of individuals. Actually, over 1,000 people have signed the petition. The petitioners are looking for a sense, from both the provincial Government of Manitoba and Ottawa, of working together to try to come up with a solution to deal with Manitoba's unique situation related to our wo…”
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“Mr. Speaker, I have a newsflash for the member. This is not just about the government owning homes. Let me give us a specific example. The first-time homebuyer exemption for GST will enable young people, in particular, to afford to buy homes. This is very good. It is in the budget. Will the Conservatives not recognize that the blanket opposition to all housing initiatives coming from the Conservative Party today is wrong?”
“Mr. Speaker, I find it amazing that the member would talk about housing in the fashion he has. When we stop and think about it, his own leader, the leader of the Conservative Party , was at one time the minister responsible for housing. He built six houses. I still do not know where they are in Canada, but apparently he built six homes. The member talked about tinkering. Never have we seen, in the last 50 years, a prime minister commit hundreds of millions of dollars and work with provinces and municipalities to ensure we build homes in all the different regions. The Conservatives say not to invest in Canada; that is all we hear from them. How can the member honestly say the Conservatives are concerned about housing when in fact they—”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to compare Conservatives, and the member in particular, to the Liberal government. Let us think of the national school food program, a program that feeds children. What does the member specifically have to say about that program? He was very clear that the national school food program was “garbage”. Wow. That is what he said. I believe that the member owes an apology to all Canadians with respect to the school food program. Will he stand up today and apologize on behalf of himself and the Conservative Party for their approach on this national program that is there to care for our children?”
“Mr. Speaker, this is a generational investment budget that recognizes the value of investing in Canada and investing in Canadians. The Conservatives have made the decision not to see the merit in doing that. Why does the Conservative Party not believe in investing in Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, if we were to compare the two previous administrations, Justin Trudeau to Stephen Harper, based on what the member was saying, Justin Trudeau created double the number of jobs Stephen Harper did, and in a shorter period of time of governance. We are talking about 1 million jobs versus 2 million jobs. Since we have had the new government, we have had a Prime Minister who has negotiated with the provinces and indigenous leaders to build a one Canada economy. At the same time, he is ensuring that we get the best deal for Canada and Canadians with respect to the Americans' deal. We also have a Prime Minister who is travelling the world, increasing exports, getting hundreds of millions of dollars in commitments coming into Canada, whether they are from Korea, Philippines, India, the United Arab Emirates or England.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to sit as a seat mate with my colleague and good friend. I see her as a very strong advocate on the whole arts file and on the French language. I know that within the budget there are commitments that are going to help a lot of people in Quebec. I am thinking of the Montreal port, for example, and of the aerospace industry through the military expenditures we are making. There is a lot of support in all the different regions, but if we were to focus on the province of Quebec, I think we would see that there is a lot to be very proud of in supporting the budget. I wonder if my colleague could provide her thoughts in regard to why it is such an important budget to pass, for all Canadians but in particular for the province of Quebec.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member, I know, has asked questions of Liberals with regard to safe sites. I am sure he is aware that there is a process for acquiring a safe site, which actually includes community involvement. It also includes having letters from the provinces and territories. Is the member aware of any province, territory or community with a safe site that has actually said no, they do not want a safe site? Is he aware of one in Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, during the last election, I am sure the member for Carleton heard at the doors, as I did, a great deal of genuine concern about the Canada-U.S.A. agreement. We talked about two things during the election and coming out of the election. One is that we need to be able to expand our trading opportunities beyond the Canada-U.S.A. border, and the second is that, especially after the election, we would have to be patient and make sure we get the best deal between Canada, the United States and Mexico. We should not have to feel rushed to do it; rather, we should put in the time to make sure we get the best deal for Canadians. Can the member provide his thoughts on the importance of trade, in particular on expanding trade beyond the Canada-U.S.A. border?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member made reference to nuclear energy. One of the new major project is about the advancement of nuclear energy. We have a Prime Minister who in the last number of months has brought together industry, provinces and territories, all for the advancement of major projects that are going to create opportunities for Canadians in every region. Will the member at the very least support the major projects the Prime Minister and others have initiated and put on the books to move forward with?”
“Mr. Speaker, here is a flashback. When Stephen Harper became the prime minister, he inherited a multi-billion dollar surplus and turned it into a multi-billion dollar deficit in virtually one year. That is the reality. The highest deficit, when we factor in inflation, was when the leader of the Conservative Party sat in the Conservative caucus with Stephen Harper. Instead of trying to look at issues within the budget, would the member at the very least concede that the number one issue coming out of the last election was the opportunity for Canada to look beyond the United States on trade and enhance trade opportunities? That is exactly what the Prime Minister has done. We can talk about England, Asia, the Philippines, Korea, Indonesia and so many others. Does the member support those initiatives?”
“Mr. Speaker, my friend made reference to the Canada Infrastructure Bank. I love the contrast between the Liberals and the Conservatives on that particular institution. The member said it is a valuable part of investing in Canada. In fact, in British Columbia, there are at least a half dozen multi-million dollar megaprojects that are taking place in B.C. through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The Conservatives, on the other hand, want to get rid of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. They constantly criticize it. I wonder if my colleague could provide his thoughts on why it is important that we support investing in Canada and investing in Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, the number one issue I sensed at the door in the last federal election was the issue of Trump, tariffs and trade. People were genuinely concerned in regard to Canada's economy and the impact the issue was going to have. The Prime Minister made a commitment to Canadians to look at ways in which we can expand trade opportunities beyond the Canada-U.S.A. border. We will be patient, and we will work toward getting the best deal for Canadians on the U.S.A.-Canada-Mexico deal, going forward. Does the member support the initiatives that the Prime Minister has taken in recent months to support expanding exports, whether it is with Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, India or England, and beyond?”
“Mr. Speaker, I think it is somewhat unfortunate that the Conservatives want to portray this false impression of Canada with respect to the deficit and the debt. The member himself refers to the G7. How is Canada doing in the G7? We are talking about Germany, Italy, France, Japan, England, the United States and Canada. We have the second-lowest GDP deficit, beaten only by Japan. When it comes to the debt, we are in fact the lowest in the GDP. The Conservatives know that. We have the International Monetary Fund's general manager saying how Canada is in a great position to use its fiscal responsibility to invest. That is what this budget is doing. Why does the member not have the confidence to invest in Canada and Canadians at this time?”
“Mr. Speaker, I wonder whether the member could provide their thoughts in regard to why it is so important that we continue to advocate and lobby for having trade that goes beyond the Canada-U.S. border. As a direct result of what is taking place between Canada and the U.S., there is an additional pressure for us to look outside the Canada-U.S. border.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The leader of the Conservative Party , last week, requested an emergency debate and later on went on to say that it was the government that opposed the debate. I think it is important that we emphasize that the government does not oppose emergency debates. It is a ruling from the Chair. The official opposition should be aware of that and not promote something that is other than truth.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 423 , 424 , 425 , 426 , 427 , 428 , 429 , 430 , 431 , 432 , 433 , 434 , 435 , 436 , 437 , 438 , 439 , 440 , 441 , 442 , 443 , 444 , 445 and 446 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to three petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.”
“I am wondering if the member and her party can support the trade initiatives the Prime Minister and his government are taking today.”
“Madam Speaker, the member made reference to the issue of trade. Let us take a look at that. I have been a parliamentarian for over 30 years. I cannot name another individual, outside of the Prime Minister , who has been so aggressive in looking for trade opportunities that go beyond the United States border, while at the same time waiting to get the best deal we can with the United States. In the interim, let us look at what has been taking place with Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Africa and the European Union. We have legislation. We have all sorts of actions, with millions of dollars going into billions of dollars of potential future trade because we have a government and a prime minister looking at trade and exports as something that will deliver for Canadians not only for today but also for tomorrow.”
“Madam Speaker, there is no shock on this side that the member opposite is not going to vote in favour of the budget. At the end of the day, we need to recognize the contrast between the Conservative Party and the government, the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party believes that we have to invest in Canadians and in the economy. Now is a great time to do it. Coincidentally, every premier of the provinces and territories is in agreement. They are working with Ottawa. The Prime Minister is out securing additional potential markets for trade beyond the Canada-U.S. border. We have a budget that delivers; from children to seniors, it covers the spectrum. However, the Conservatives want to stand by, do nothing, spread misinformation wherever they can, and say they want to be in government some day. Where is the plan?”
“That is what we continue to work for on the government benches: to build the strongest, healthiest economy in the G7. That is our goal. We will achieve that goal. That was more of a comment than an actual question.”
“Madam Speaker, suffice it to say that I disagree with virtually everything the member opposite has said. Look at the national budget that we brought forward. It has received a wide spectrum of support in virtually every region. I believe even Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, wanted to see this particular budget passed. We have a prime minister who has been working with provinces, indigenous leaders and so many other stakeholders to build a stronger, healthier Canada with major projects and to invest in Canadians and so forth, yet all we hear from the Conservative Party is negativity. That is it. My advice to the member opposite and the Conservative caucus as a whole is that Canada is not broken. Canada is still the very best country in the world to call home.”
“These are the types of things with which we can build more public confidence within Canada and that show why it is so important that we continue to support international development and aid. Here at home, at times there can be resistance to it. If we provide a sense of accountability and explain to Canadians why it is so important that Canada plays this role, I believe it will be better received all round. I believe we have a moral obligation to continue on the path that we started many years ago. I appreciate that this motion was brought forward by my colleague.”
“These are the types of values that we often tie to our foreign assistance. I believe that builds a healthier and stronger relationship. When we take a look at the motion that has been brought forward by my friend from York South—Weston—Etobicoke , we see the three points that are amplified: integrating reciprocal economic opportunities for small businesses, non-profits and the like so there is a benefit for Canadians; having a dedicated economic partnership window, especially for larger projects, which I suspect will make a huge difference; and ultimately having a report to Parliament on an annual basis dealing with outcomes, ensuring more accountability.”
“Canada cares about what is taking place in the Philippines, and as a direct result, this has had an impact, as the Philippines has elevated its middle class, which has grown expeditiously over the last number of years. Its GDP continues to increase. Its place in Asia continues to grow. Because of Canada's relationship with the Philippines over the last number of years, not only have we been able to help many people in the Philippines, but we are now seeing the dividends here in Canada. I think of the former minister and the efforts that he put toward the continent of Africa and toward the many countries to which we have contributed international development assistance over the years, covering a wide area of support, with emphasis on children, hunger, education, women, human rights and climate change.”
“Going back to the Philippines, I would suggest, using a tangible example that comes out of the motion, that Canada has a long history with the Philippines of supporting initiatives to support the people of the Philippines. Earlier this year, five or six weeks ago, the Prime Minister was in Malaysia, where he met with President Marcos. They had a wonderful discussion, which ultimately led to a commitment to trying to get a free trade agreement between Canada and the Philippines in 2026. When I have had discussions with members of Congress from the Philippines in the past, or just with individuals in general from the business community and others, they often talk about the special relationship between the two countries.”
“(1105) When we take a look at the overall numbers, we find that through a relatively small investment, Canada can have a profoundly positive impact in the country where we made that investment. When I say small investments versus large impact, I am talking about, for a few million dollars, impacting literally millions and millions of children in particular. That is where my interest is when I think of foreign investment to support international assistance. It is how we help children and women in particular in our society. I take great pride in the manner in which Canada, in many ways, leads the world on that as a G7 country.”
“The Red Cross has been supported to help support the Philippines in dealing with climate disasters, as have the areas in which we promote economic development for a more stable community. That project, as I recall, is from a few years ago, and we provided, I believe, $1 million. That provided an educational program to promote peace and tolerance, human rights and anti-racism in the Mindanao area of the country to ensure there is more tolerance, if I can put it that way. We saw a substantial decrease in racist behaviour, or more tolerance among children. The program affected thousands of students and the hundreds of teachers who provided the programming, and that was with $1 million.”
“People may be be surprised to know that Canada leads the world in potato production in many ways, with good-quality potatoes. Our expertise and technology were being used in the Philippines, where we saw potatoes being produced from seeds from Prince Edward Island. Those potato seeds ultimately increased the production of potatoes in the Philippines. I would ultimately argue that there are many different ways in which we can contribute and that there is a great benefit not only to the people who receive assistance, but also to Canada. Just recently, the Secretary of State for International Development came back from the Philippines. There was a commitment of multiple millions of dollars to support 12 different types of projects in the Philippines.”
“Through our aid, we have been very generous over the years, and we have been effective with the dollars we contribute. There is a high sense of accountability, and we have to look at ways to do this in a smart fashion, in a strategic and innovative way, so we can contribute to the betterment of other countries and their development. The motion we have before us highlights three ways in which we can do that. We can talk about how important it is for us to integrate opportunities for reciprocal economic benefits where we provide some form of assistance to small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits so they are able to benefit from the foreign aid that has been provided. I am going to use the Philippines in a couple of examples. Not that long ago, I was in the Philippines with the former minister of agriculture.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and speak to the motion from my colleague and friend. The member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke has introduced a substantial motion that all of us should get behind. The experience he brings to the table as a former minister who has dealt with the issue first-hand and who has had the opportunity to experience the benefits of Canada's contribution to foreign aid speaks volumes. I would like to reflect a bit on a couple of things. One is the important role that Canada plays as a G7 country. Much like other G7 countries, we have a leadership role to play in the world in how we can make the world a better place in which to live. Canada has a moral and, I would ultimately argue, legal obligation to financially support other areas of the world.”
“I realize that the member has put a great deal of effort into the legislation. I would hope that in his concluding remarks he will address the two specific points I have raised. They are valid points, and for the government to support the legislation, the member would have to provide a justification for doing so, on those two points in particular. At the end of the day, I believe that we have to do what we can for the families, friends and communities of victims. There will be another hour of debate before the legislation goes to committee, and we will have to wait and see what happens in the vote. However, at this stage, I do not see the government's supporting the legislation as it is.”
“I believe we will find that there were child murderers who were transferred from maximum-security prisons to minimum-security prisons even when the Conservatives were in power. I am not quite sure why it was necessary to make reference to that today. Interestingly enough, there is Bill C-14 , the bail reform legislation, which deals with crimes by repeat violent offenders and others. It would have an impact in regard to the length of parole hearings and with regard to sentencing. I believe there are actually 80 different clauses that would be reformed. Bill C-14 is going to committee today. At the same time that it would be providing for stronger, healthier and safer communities, it would reinforce the fact that there are roles for the different levels of government to play.”
“I am not convinced by what the member tries to give the impression of: that victims are not already served well through the current process. Looking at the legislation, comparing it to the charter and looking at the duplication, we see that there is no guarantee that we would be looking at extended periods of time if a body is not disclosed. I have a great number of reservations with respect to the legislation. I would encourage the member to look at some of the other comments that have been made, even by him when he indicated he was not being political. The Conservatives have made reference to the levels of our prisons. We have some prisons where there is a higher level of security versus a lower level of security.”
“I was actually alive when it was being signed. I value the rights and freedoms we all have. I am not too sure that the legislation that is being proposed would actually be charter-compliant. I do not know whether in fact the member has an opinion on that issue. If I had a follow-up question, that would be what I would ask the member. There will be two hours of debate on the subject matter, but maybe in his concluding remarks, the member could provide some further thoughts on that issue. The other issue I have highlighted in the questions, to expand on that, is that there has been a great deal of concern from some members of the House who do not necessarily recognize the full role our judges play in the courtroom.”
“If I was to provide a few very succinct comments on it, I would indicate that with the legislation, we would potentially create contradictions and shorter periods of parole ineligibility for first- and second-degree murder. That would result in judges having a choice to pick a shorter parole ineligibility period for these offences. (1355) It would not necessarily have the effect of making parole ineligibility periods longer, as indicated. There is no guarantee of that, even with the legislation that is being proposed. As I indicated, when we think of related factors that can be and already are considered during sentencing, the court already has the power to delay parole eligibility, including for manslaughter. I have always been a big advocate for the Charter of Rights. I can recall the signing of it.”
“Myran, which allowed for a proper traditional burial and brought some closure not only to their families and friends but also to the community as a whole. I think we all understand the importance of trying to support the identification and return of the remains of victims to family and friends. I would like to believe that is supported by all members, no matter what side of the House they might fall on. I asked a question of the member opposite in regard to judicial independence and, in handing out a sentence, what sort of disposition would be given by a judge. We have to recognize that judges have the opportunity today to consider everything, in essence, that is being proposed by the member opposite.”
“Having said that, as best I can tell, there were at least four victims. The courts might be able to give a bit more detail as I did not follow it in that kind of detail. There were four victims, and it was believed fairly confidently that the bodies were dumped in a landfill site just north of the city. That had an impact not only on the families but also on the community, and it became a major issue during the provincial election. To the credit of Premier Wab Kinew, there was an allocation of financial resources, which was complemented by federal resources. I must say, those federal resources were provided right at the very beginning. There was an extensive search of the landfill site. It was quite encouraging that we were able to recover at least some of the remains, those of Ms. Harris and Ms.”
“It is occurring in our communities, and we do need to do more where we can. In big part, that means working with provincial jurisdictions, our different stakeholders, indigenous leaders and community members to ensure that women and girls feel safe in the communities they live in. We take that issue very seriously. I would be remiss if I did not mention the circumstances that became a very hot political issue during the last provincial election in the province of Manitoba. There was a serial killer found out. I believe it was because there was a search of one of those steel garbage cans in an alley, and a victim's body part was discovered. I do not want to say the perpetrator's name, the serial killer. I do not want to associate any sort of fame, as negative and as horrific as it is, to the individual.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to Bill C-236 . I believe, at the end of the day, that all members of the House, and I would like to think all parliamentarians, can sympathize with the family members of victims in the situations being portrayed here this afternoon. I suspect there are a number of very high-profile situations people can really relate to. The member himself, in introducing the legislation, referred to a situation that took place in my home province of Manitoba. It is something that I have been following for many years, which is the issue of murdered and missing indigenous girls and women. Back in 2010-11, I believe the number of people missing was well over 1,200, but some suggested it is 1,400. One thing that people should be aware of is that we still have murdered and missing indigenous women and children today.”
“Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I would emphasize the sympathy that I think all members have for victims of this nature and their families. It is something we should all take very seriously, and I will expand on that shortly. I am interested in the member opposite's thoughts in regard to judicial independence. Does he believe that judges do not take into consideration that someone is withholding an important thing, such as where a body could be found, in making a disposition?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that when I listened to Premier Doug Ford, a Conservative, he in essence said that we should pass the budget. He was pleased that it actually passed, because he believes that we need a team Canada approach. The Prime Minister is out and about securing more markets for Canadians. Exports are very important; we are a trading nation. We make up 0.5% of the world's population, yet we contribute 2.5% to world trade. Therefore when an individual like Premier Doug Ford says that this is a good budget that should pass, and that we should have a team Canada approach, what would the member say to him?”
“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the fine work that my colleague and friend does. I want him to provide his thoughts on the Prime Minister talking about building Canada strong and making Canada the strongest of the G7 countries. What does that mean for him and his constituency?”
“Mr. Speaker, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 409 , 410 , 411 , 412 , 413 , 414 , 415 , 416 , 417 , 418 , 419 , 420 , 421 and 422 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled in an electronic format immediately.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I table a petition today signed by many residents of Winnipeg North. What they are looking for is more international flights going out of the Winnipeg international airport over to Europe, ideally to India. Whether it is through members of the House or the Winnipeg Airports Authority, they want to see those flights enhanced.”
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is amazing to hear the Conservatives talk about pipelines. In 10 long years, how much pipeline did the Conservatives actually built to the tidewater, to the ocean? It was zero: not one inch of pipeline. Talk is cheap, but we have a Prime Minister and a Liberal government pushing growth for our clean energy and energy in general. I think it is time the Conservatives come on board and support a government that knows how to get a job done and build Canada stronger.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is truly amazing. The Conservatives need to refocus their questions. Quite frankly, when it comes to trade and building Canada strong, we have to look at exports that go beyond the United States. Whether it is with Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines or the United Arab Emirates, the Prime Minister is working hard for Canadians every day to expand trade opportunities. That will mean hundreds of millions of dollars in exports. That is a positive thing. They should be supporting that instead of asking ridiculous questions today.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am going to assure the member opposite that every member of the Liberal caucus is listening to Canadians. That is why we have substantial legislation before the House. Unfortunately, the Conservatives continue to filibuster, preventing good legislation from ultimately passing. We have a Prime Minister who is travelling the world to secure future markets for our businesses and Canadians. I wonder if the member can provide his personal opinion as to whether he believes that having the Prime Minister go abroad and secure markets is a good thing for Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, what is unbelievable is the attitude the Conservative Party has with respect to not wanting to invest in Canadians and indeed in Canada. The member made reference in his speech to DND and military spending. Does he not realize that the leader of the Conservative Party sat around a caucus that left it at 1% of GDP? This budget would have 2%. How dare the member have any gumption at all to be critical of the Prime Minister . We have a Prime Minister who is travelling the world in order to solidify markets for Canadians and for businesses. In fact, in the United Arab Emirates, we are talking about hundreds of millions of dollars in potential investments for megaprojects. Does the Conservative Party support expanding our economy beyond the U.S. border?”