Leah Gazan
Winnipeg Centre, Manitoba · NDP · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, this has been one of the most disappointing years of my nearly seven years in Parliament, watching the Carney government bulldoze constitutional rights and human rights. The final blow came this week when the Liberals tabled new water legislation after years of failing to end long-term boil advisories.”
“Mr. Speaker, this week the Liberals tabled water legislation that would fail to recognize clean drinking water as a human right. Today I stood with Grassy Narrows First Nation, where children continue to suffer mercury poisoning caused by decades of government and corporate neglect. This is a national disgrace.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to table e‑petition 7402 in response to Manitobans who are calling for a public health emergency in light of the preventable passing of too many community members in the recent weeks due to toxic drug supply.”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister tabled Bill C‑37 yesterday, yet its definition of “First Nation lands” is limited to reserve lands under section 91(24) of the BNA Act. While the bill repeatedly references UNDRIP's application, it appears restricted to reserves.”
“Mr. Speaker, I also rise today to table e‑petition 7135, which calls on the government to modernize the disability tax credit by revising its eligibility criteria and administrative interpretation to recognize the fluctuating episodic nature of disabilities such as multiple sclerosis and to align the DTC with the disability definition use…”
“Mr. Speaker, I would also like to rise today to table a petition to put in place a horse export ban. The citizens in my riding are calling on the residents of Canada to call on the government, through the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture , to ban the live export of horses for slaughter by amending the health of animals regul…”
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Every one of 252 lines we hold for Leah Gazan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 6.
“Mr. Speaker, over the last short while, because, of course, we were given very little time, I have expressed very serious concerns about Bill C-5 as it relates to the constitutional rights of indigenous peoples, the protection of our environment, and workers' rights. I would like to thank my very brilliant colleague, the member for Vancouver East , for helping us split the bill to ensure that the Liberals and the Conservatives cannot hide behind interprovincial trade barriers to violate indigenous rights and accelerate the climate emergency. In spite of the amendments, my concerns remain. The building Canada act constitutes a clear breach and violation of indigenous rights under the Constitution and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
“Mr. Speaker, there seems to be a misunderstanding about what nation building is. In fact, this bill has been called a fast track to the Supreme Court, meaning no building of the economy and no new jobs. I am wondering why the Conservatives are supporting a bill that is going to spend more time holding up projects in the courts than getting things done on the ground.”
“Mr. Speaker, indigenous rights holders and civil society groups have been clear: Bill C-5 would violate constitutional rights, escalate the climate crisis and endanger workers' health and safety , but the Liberals and Conservatives are teaming up to pass the bill without proper consultations. The AFN, the ITK and NAN have indicated that it is an ungracious invitation to the Supreme Court. This will stall our economy and the creation of good jobs. Will the Liberal government uphold its constitutional obligations and keep the bill out of the courts?”
“Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, during question period, members of the Liberal caucus kept providing disinformation about the notion that they are upholding section 35 rights. That is not true and I would like them to apologize.”
“Mr. Speaker, Bill C-5 violates constitutional obligations, eradicates environmental protections, compromises workers' health and safety, and fails to hold corporations accountable in cases where violence is inflicted on indigenous women and girls, which is one of the calls for justice from the national inquiry. We thought Pierre Poilievre lost his seat, but it seems like he is leading the Liberal Party. Is that why the government is trying to fast-track Bill C-5 ?”
“Mr. Chair, the minister clearly does not understand the concept of free, prior and informed consent, meaning that the consultation has to occur prior to decisions being made, including in the development of a bill. Moving forward, does the minister agree that the ability of the minister and cabinet to throw out the Impact Assessment Act procedure is overreaching at a time when we are seeing an increase in extreme weather events, yes or no?”
“Mr. Chair, any sort of shift within the Constitution, which the bill does, requires consent. Moving on, does the minister agree that the government must uphold its constitutional obligations set out in treaties, yes or no?”
“Mr. Chair, the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement provides for multiple environmental assessments and review processes. Has the minister received consent from the Grand Council of the Crees and Cree Nation Government in the creation of the bill, yes or no?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that Bill C-5 would usurp the authority of modern land claim agreements and legally transfer that authority to ministers in cabinet, without the consent of indigenous signatories?”
“Mr. Chair, the minister has been very clear that safety for communities where resource extraction occurs is a non-issue. Is the minister aware that modern land claim agreements provide for environmental assessment and review procedures that require direct indigenous involvement and participation, yes or no?”
“Mr. Chair, the minister seems to be totally absent and not to understand the issue of gender-based violence. He has not taken any of those factors into account. Moving forward, would Bill C-5 put in place measures to hold resource companies accountable in cases where workers perpetrate violence against indigenous women and girls, or is that still off his radar?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that this report and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called on the government to hold resource extraction companies accountable for violence against indigenous women and girls occurring around resource extraction projects or in “man camps”, temporary villages that are set up to house workers?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister aware of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women report titled “Responding to the Calls for Justice: Addressing Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls in the Context of Resource Development Projects”, yes or no?”
“Mr. Chair, the minister seems to be having difficulty answering any of my questions, although he seemed to be able to answer questions when he felt like it. Is the Minister of Natural Resources aware of the risk of increased violence against indigenous women and girls that will result from fast-tracking extraction and oil and gas projects without putting in place safety plans for communities hosting companies, which is something the national inquiry noted in its calls for justice?”
“Mr. Chair, how will the government uphold its commitment to fight the climate crisis in Bill C-5 when a minister in cabinet can override legislative assessment processes, including the environmental protections contained in the Impact Assessment Act?”
“Mr. Chair, through numerous Supreme Court of Canada decisions, the court has determined a constitutional obligation to consult and accommodate indigenous peoples, including the obligation to obtain full consent. Is the minister aware that Bill C-5 fails to uphold that constitutional obligation, yes or no?”
“Mr. Speaker, tens of thousands of well-paying jobs are being threatened by the 50% tariffs on steel in the auto, aerospace and building sector. The Prime Minister said he would stand up to Trump. [ Translation ] However, we cannot trust the Liberals. There is no labour minister. They are forcing people to go back to the office and want to replace workers with AI. [ English ] Why will the government not reform EI and income supports, and place countermeasures on U.S. steel to protect workers?”
“I uplift all frontline workers risking their lives, leaders advocating on behalf of their communities, community members taking evacuees into their homes, indigenous rights holders, and climate leaders who refuse to sit back and let the planet burn, including one we are joined by today, Dr. David Suzuki.”
“Mr. Speaker, after being elected as the member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre for the third time, I rise to express my sincere gratitude to my family, my campaign team, our Winnipeg Centre team and all those who gave me their support this election. Regardless of whether they voted for me, I am committed to working to gain their trust and to doing my best to be their voice in Ottawa. I will waste no time ensuring that our community receives the attention it deserves. Today is World Environment Day, yet our province is in a state of emergency due to wildfires, which are becoming the new normal. We must act to address this climate emergency.”
“Madam Speaker, it is really troubling to me that the Liberal government is trying to push through an omnibus bill of over 120 pages. I am wondering if the member agrees with me that perhaps we need to push the government to ensure that we can look at the legislation separately and get it out of an omnibus bill.”
“Does the member opposite agree with me that this is the new normal and that the federal government needs to put in a permanent response to deal with the escalating climate crisis?”
“Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague said that the government has done all it can. People disagree, including Chief Monias of Pimicikamak Cree Nation, who has claimed that the Government of Canada has neglected its constitutional obligations to collaborate and consult in the evacuation process, often citing bureaucratic issues and jurisdictional disputes that are delaying processes. First nations chiefs in Manitoba have also voiced that, while the federal government could have immediately deployed the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with coordination, wellness checks, evacuation logistics and reception of evacuees in Winnipeg, it did not do so, costing nations time, resources and peace of mind.”
“Mr. Speaker, in the case of first nations communities, it is in fact under the jurisdiction of Indigenous Services Canada, which has a fiduciary duty of care. For example, in the case of Pimicikamak Cree Nation and Pukatawagan, where six people at a time were being lifted out of their community because its airstrip closed down, that is a failure of the federal government. It is certainly time that the federal government stops passing the buck to the provinces to uphold its fiduciary duties.”
“Mr. Speaker, here is the thing. In the middle of wildfires, where is the Prime Minister ? He is meeting with other premiers around the country to fast-track resource extraction projects, getting rid of environmental assessments and fast-tracking consultations with indigenous peoples. We need a couple of things to happen. We need proper consultation processes with indigenous people. The federal government has been in power for over eight years. It is time for it to stop sitting idly by and put in place the infrastructure necessary to deal with extreme weather events that have become the new normal.”
“Mr. Speaker, I certainly cannot speak for the Premier of Manitoba. I am speaking on behalf of first nations leadership. I know the member opposite has had a really difficult time understanding the federal government's constitutional obligations to free, prior and informed consent of indigenous people, but perhaps he can read that in a book.”
“As many evacuees struggle to find housing, health resources and safety, including in Winnipeg Centre, the government has an obligation to uphold UNDRIP, the Charter of Rights, and its fiduciary responsibility to ensure the dignity and security of all those impacted by the wildfires. This means that there needs to be direction to federal departments, including Indigenous Services Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Crown-Indigenous Relations to work with provinces to enforce and support emergency orders and take federal responsibility where provincial action is insufficient—”
“I can say that the NDP will continue to push the government to put in place permanent emergency response systems that take place in consultation with indigenous people and that uphold the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, to come up with responses that are regionally based, led by, controlled by and specific to the nation in which the negotiations are taking place. As I said, this is not the first time this has happened. The government needs to commit to preventing future emergencies through the creation of a national wildfire fighting force and the establishment of a youth climate corps to help respond to extreme weather events and promote climate resiliency. Nobody should be left behind in a climate emergency.”
“In fact, the Liberals are calling for the building of more pipelines and extraction projects, fast-tracking consultation processes and environmental assessments, getting rid of environmental assessments and jeopardizing free, prior and informed consent, a constitutional obligation they have with indigenous peoples, violating their obligation to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, even though Bill C-15 affirmed its application in Canadian law. They continue to play games with the lives of people who are most impacted by extreme weather events. As I said, extreme weather events are becoming the new normal.”
“We not only need to ensure that we give evacuees access to housing and health services, including mental health and reproductive health services; we also need a plan to bring folks home safely, prevent future tragedies like this and have plans put in place should the unfortunate event happen and people are unable to return home for a long period of time. We cannot neglect that these wildfires are the new normal and follow a broader pattern of rising temperatures causing them to burn hotter and wilder, causing much greater destruction. We know fire season is starting earlier, is lasting longer and is harder to contain. Look at what just happened in Jasper or in Lytton, B.C. We see this time and time again. It is shameful that at a time of a climate emergency, the Liberal government continues to ignore what has now become the new normal.”
“Martin First Nation was flooded, and many people from the community were unable to return home for more than a decade. During that time, many women and girls from that community were sexually exploited and suffered from sexual violence or human trafficking due to being uprooted from their community and placed in unsafe situations. We have a crisis of murdered and missing indigenous women and girls in this country. We have people being placed in urban centres, and it is their first time ever being away from their community. Where is the federal government to ensure that it is providing funding for proper mental health supports and proper supports for families so they can be safe in the city of Winnipeg?”
“This means enforcing and supporting emergency measures for evacuees and fulfilling its legal obligations rather than passing off responsibility to provinces and territories and delaying action and response times due to jurisdictional bantering. Here is the issue: This is not the first time this has happened. In spite of calls by the NDP to put in place permanent infrastructure and resources to respond to extreme weather events, the government has idly sat by, and now communities are struggling to get community members to safety and be placed in accommodations where they can live in safety and dignity. We have already borne witness to examples of the federal government's failure to protect people from extreme weather events. (1835) In 2011, Lake St.”
“We have also heard from first nations that the government delayed its support for evacuations, placing evacuees in greater danger, as we witnessed in Pukatawagan, where community members, elders and children were forced to leave the community six people at a time when their airstrip was closed, allowing for only helicopter access. In spite of the community coming forward a few days before instructing the government that they were in an emergency situation, they had to wait to be taken out to safety. The federal government must uphold its fiduciary, treaty and charter obligations in its work with provinces, territories and indigenous peoples to ensure that indigenous human rights are upheld and respected without qualification.”
“It is also obligated to uphold our Canadian charter, specifically section 7 of the Canadian charter, which concerns rights to life, liberty and security of the person. This has not happened, as evacuees have often been exposed to unsafe conditions as a result of an inadequate federal government response. We have heard from first nations chiefs that evacuees may remain in overcrowded, under-resourced accommodations. Families are being separated. Vulnerable children, elders, and medically at-risk individuals are being placed in unsafe and uncertain conditions.”
“Wildfires continue to burn in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, forcing thousands of people away from their homes, particularly in northern, remote and first nations communities. I am here today on behalf of community leaders to inform the federal government that there has been a failure to properly consult with indigenous peoples, which is resulting in treaty and charter rights being violated. The federal government is obligated to uphold the dignity and well-being of first nations that are affected by these wildfires, and this includes the following. The Government of Canada is bound to respect its fiduciary duty of care and treaty obligations when working with indigenous peoples.”
“moved: Motion That this House do now adjourn. She said: Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time with my colleague from Nunavut . I first want to express my sincere appreciation to all the frontline workers, firefighters and health care workers who are working around the clock to respond to the wildfire disasters. I would also like to thank the people of Peguis First Nation, Sagkeeng, The Pas, Thompson, OCN, Norway House, Portage la Prairie, Dauphin, Winnipeg and beyond who have opened up their homes to friends and families affected by this climate tragedy. Finally, I want to thank the chiefs and community leaders who are caring and advocating for their people in a time of crisis. To all the children, families and elders who have been impacted by this emergency, I am with them with all of my care and love.”
“Mr. Speaker, we know the poverty rate of seniors is increasing. The NDP has absolutely supported lowering the age for receiving pensions, yet the government does not even have a minister for seniors who sits around the cabinet table. Seniors are the ones who built the foundations of this country, and it is unfortunate that the government has turned its back on them.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is tragic that at a time when we are seeing a record number of overdoses, the Liberal government is taking a tough-on-crime approach, totally throwing people suffering from mental health and addictions to the side and making it a non-topic for the government. Certainly, in my riding of Winnipeg Centre, we have had a record number of people die from toxic drugs. The fact that so many people in the riding of Winnipeg Centre have been left out by the government shows it is turning its back on the people most in need of assistance.”
“Mr. Speaker, I find that funny. It was not me who made those observations. It was Chief Bobby Cameron and National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak who made comments about the failure of the Liberal government to uphold constitutional obligations. “Nothing about us without us” is not about who benefits; it is about being members with obligations. We are obligated to uphold the rule of law, and that includes the rights of indigenous people in Canada to free, prior and informed consent and proper consultations, something the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled in favour of for first nations over 200 times because of government failures.”
“The Prime Minister is fast-tracking projects, with no environmental plan, leaving people who were already falling between the cracks without a voice in his government. I am glad we were able to push the government to put forward at least a budget, because I am ready, along with my NDP colleagues, to hold the government to account on its failure to women and gender-diverse people, workers, labour, seniors, the disability community, and diversity and equity initiatives that are part of the Canadian identity.”
“This continues the colonial pattern of excluding First Nations from decisions that directly affect our people and our lands.” AFN chief, Cindy Woodhouse, said, in regard to the fast-tracking of national projects, that it “suggests a serious threat to First Nations exercise of Treaty rights, inherent rights, title and jurisdiction.” She said, “‘free, prior and informed consent’ must be obtained before any major infrastructure and energy projects move ahead.” Let us not forget that in the province of Quebec with the James Bay Cree, the federal government is also bound to uphold treaties that have been made, agreements that have been made, with the James Bay Cree to uphold their rights to proper consultation.”
“In fact, FSIN chief, Bobby Cameron, said, “The Prime Minister and Premiers [at the latest meetings] will be making decisions about our traditional territory without our voices at the table despite the fact Saskatchewan is First Nation ancestral and traditional lands.”
“It is looking at quickening the process, looking at getting rid of environmental assessments. The Prime Minister has stated that he will uphold Canada's world-leading environmental standards and constitutional obligations; he has said that even though he plans to fast-track and get rid of environmental assessments at a time when places in Manitoba and places in Saskatchewan are burning to the ground. Places in B.C., like Lytton, were burned to the ground. Even though he mentions consultations with indigenous peoples, the Prime Minister gives no details on how the government will do those. With the experiences we know, as first nations, with the government, we know this is another empty gesture from the Liberals.”
“(1150) Let us not forget the fact that the Prime Minister cut the minister of labour position at a time when things are becoming harder and harder for workers, including workers at Canada Post. I was very honoured to attend their rally on Saturday to fight and to put pressure on the government to hold up, lift up, their rights as workers and lift up their rights of unions. Let us hope the Liberal government is not again trying to push in backdoor, back-to-work legislation, taking away the right to strike. Collective bargaining and the rights of unions and union workers are clearly not a priority for the government. The only thing the government has in fact been clear on is nation-building projects that will be built on the back, and off the lands, territories and resources, of indigenous people.”
“Time and time again, the Liberal government has failed to provide a benefit that would allow the disability community to live in dignity. Let us not forget the Prime Minister 's initial cutting of the minister of women and gender equality position in the middle of a crisis of gender-based violence that some cities have called an epidemic. Only after over 400 women's organizations came forward with complaints did the Prime Minister choose to reinstate the Minister for Women and Gender Equality , which she has the onus to share as the Secretary of State for Small Business and Tourism. It is not a priority for the current government, when gender equality is under attack.”
“The Prime Minister, in fact up until yesterday, after he was forced through a motion, refused to provide a budget prior to rising in the spring. That has forced some of us, including me, to make sense of it just based on observation, and this is what I have observed: Youth, seniors, women and gender equality, labour, mental health and addictions, disability, and diversity and equity are positions all cut from the Prime Minister 's cabinet. There is only a Secretary of State for Seniors, and not one minister, to represent a large aging population. It is only a secretary of state, who is not privy to sitting at the cabinet table, and we know that the economic gap for seniors is in fact widening. This is particularly true for members of the disability community, a ministry that the government has cut, where it has failed.”
“Yes, it has been growing by 9% every year, and I know that the government is planning to introduce measures to bring it below 2%. I am not saying that we do not need to cut government waste, particularly the amount of waste by the Liberals' high-paid consultant class, so if those are the cuts the current Prime Minister is talking about, I am 100% in favour. However, who is going to fall victim to the cuts, especially because Canada has made a promise to increase military spending to 2%? Where is that money going to come from? Certainly the Prime Minister has not indicated that the money is going to come from taxing big corporations or putting in place an excess profits tax to make up for the economic deficit. Therefore my question becomes this: Where is he going to cut?”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to start my maiden speech by thanking my family, my wonderful team in Winnipeg Centre, my campaign team and, of course, the wonderful constituents of Winnipeg Centre, who have blessed me with the honour of serving them in the House. Today I am here to make some remarks about the throne speech, a throne speech that builds the economy on the backs of people while lining the pockets of corporations, lining the pockets of developers, and cutting departments and services for communities most in need. We know that the Liberals are close allies with big corporations, and we are seeing that in real time. They plan to cut public spending: day-to-day government spending and the government's operating budget.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member from my caucus on his re-election. How does he feel about the Liberal government's trying to fast-track energy projects without proper environmental assessments?”
“Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the Prime Minister has presented an exclusionary throne speech in which there is zero mention of seniors, the disability community and youth mental health and addiction, with honourable mentions of women, gender-diverse folks, workers and indigenous people, even though his whole economic plan is dependent on indigenous lands, territories and resources. He also has no budget. During an affordability crisis, how does the Prime Minister plan to address the growing inequality in Canada that is the result—”
“The system is broken, and the people are paying the price. In a country like Canada, no community should be left behind during a climate disaster. It is our duty as parliamentarians to act. Therefore, I respectfully request an emergency debate to deliberate on immediate actions to protect affected communities and ensure a just and effective response to this worsening crisis.”