Ziad Aboultaif
Edmonton Manning, Alberta · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the minister is promising 500,000 homes every year. According to CMHC, Canada's housing starts are projected to fall to as low as 212,000 homes. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, even though houses will be built, the new Liberal agency Build Canada Homes will add only 5,000 homes per year.”
“We know that such things should not be allowed to happen again, but there is nothing in our laws to ensure that. Bill S-228 would fix that. It proposes to clarify one section of the Criminal Code to bring an end to a legacy of systemic discrimination, colonization and racism that disproportionately, but not exclusively, affects indigenous…”
“In the early part of the 20th century, a movement arose that had a flawed concept of human dignity and what it meant to be authentically human. The idea was that we should strive to create perfect people, which meant those who were considered to be imperfect should not be allowed to have children.”
“It is a simple change, but an important one if we want to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. We want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings.”
“Additionally, section 45 of the Criminal Code of Canada protects individuals from criminal responsibility for performing a surgical operation if it “is performed with reasonable care and skill” and is reasonable based on the person's state of health and other circumstances.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to apologize from the outset. This is not a speech that will soar to oratorical heights, castigating the government for its many failures and its apparent inability to understand the needs of the country. There is a time for that, but it is not now because this is not a partisan issue.”
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“Madam Speaker, our wonderful colleague has been speaking for three hours, and he is putting a lot of good ideas and points out there for the government. Unfortunately, we have students out there, watching—”
“Mr. Speaker, the minister is promising 500,000 homes every year. According to CMHC, Canada's housing starts are projected to fall to as low as 212,000 homes. According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, even though houses will be built, the new Liberal agency Build Canada Homes will add only 5,000 homes per year. That is 1% of the half a million homes promised. How can the minister explain to Canadians that his plan is the right plan and the one that is going to deliver homes to Canadians?”
“We want to put an end to the practice of forced sterilization in this country once and for all. We have the opportunity to do something meaningful. I encourage hon. members to do the right thing and support the legislation.”
“Forced sterilization is a clear human rights issue. Non-consenting sterilization is aggravated assault and should be prosecuted under the Criminal Code. It is as simple as that. Legislation, of course, is not enough. The bill cannot fix the past trauma and harms suffered by victims, but it would go a long way to preventing future violations and to providing survivors some measure of justice. It is a cliché to say that people who do not learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat them, but those words have become a cliché because there is a lot of truth in them. With Bill S-228 , we in the House have an opportunity to show that we have indeed learned from our past and that we are concerned about our present and, of course, our future.”
“Additionally, section 45 of the Criminal Code of Canada protects individuals from criminal responsibility for performing a surgical operation if it “is performed with reasonable care and skill” and is reasonable based on the person's state of health and other circumstances. If this is a situation from the past, why do we need to address it today? Why is the bill necessary? As the Senate report noted after hearing from witnesses, this is not just a historical issue. The conclusion was that involuntary sterilization continues in Canada, under-reported and underestimated, and it needs to stop. As in the past, the targets are marginalized people, including racialized women, women with disabilities, institutionalized persons and indigenous women. Justice demands that we in the House deal with this situation.”
“members might be wondering about the issue of consent. What about those situations where an individual, for medical or other reasons, desires to be sterilized? Would this still constitute an assault? After all, in the Criminal Code, consent is not a defence against a charge of aggravated assault. The case law on that is very clear. However, there is jurisprudence concerning when the patient or substitute decision-maker is unable to consent and there is demonstrable severe suffering or an imminent threat to the life or health of the patient. In that case, a doctor has the duty to do what is immediately necessary, without consent.”
“It is a simple change, but an important one if we want to make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. We want to make sure that there are no misunderstandings. I should point out that, at the Senate committee, concerns were raised by witnesses and senators that the original drafting of Bill S‑228 was over-complicated and that it might have unintended consequences, especially in cases of emergency surgeries or medical procedures resulting in sterilization. That has been rectified. After consultation with the Minister of Justice and legal advisers, the bill was simplified while maintaining its core goal of making it explicitly clear in the Criminal Code that forced sterilization meets the requirements of an aggravated assault. It would be against the law and would be prosecuted. (1115) Some hon.”
“We know that such things should not be allowed to happen again, but there is nothing in our laws to ensure that. Bill S-228 would fix that. It proposes to clarify one section of the Criminal Code to bring an end to a legacy of systemic discrimination, colonization and racism that disproportionately, but not exclusively, affects indigenous and racialized persons. It will end the sterilization of persons without their consent. Section 268 of the Criminal Code deals with the crime of aggravated assault. I think we can all agree that sterilizing someone without their consent is indeed a form of assault. Bill S-228 would add a subsection, 268.1, to the Criminal Code of Canada, clarifying what a sterilization procedure is and ensuring it is understood that a sterilization procedure is an act that falls under this section.”
“Many were sterilized at a young age. They were not even aware of what was being done to them, hardly the actions of a society and a government that was supposed to protect its citizens. While Alberta may have led the way, it was not the only province to carry out these shameful acts. What is even more reprehensible is who the state deemed to be unworthy of having children. Young people and minorities from indigenous backgrounds were targeted. Furthermore, many of those were declared to be mentally deficient. Because of that classification, their rights were denied, and they were sterilized without their consent. Canadians understand now that these actions were wrong; the product of another time and a warped view of the humanity of some individuals.”
“In the early part of the 20th century, a movement arose that had a flawed concept of human dignity and what it meant to be authentically human. The idea was that we should strive to create perfect people, which meant those who were considered to be imperfect should not be allowed to have children. The state would force those deemed unfit to be sterilized so they could not reproduce. This was, and is, a reprehensible view. Sadly, it was my home province of Alberta that led the way in this sad chapter of our history. The provincial Sexual Sterilization Act was passed in 1928, and more than 2,800 women were sterilized before the act was repealed in 1972. These women were denied the privilege of having children because society felt there was something wrong with them. What is more, they had no say in the matter.”
“Madam Speaker, I would like to apologize from the outset. This is not a speech that will soar to oratorical heights, castigating the government for its many failures and its apparent inability to understand the needs of the country. There is a time for that, but it is not now because this is not a partisan issue. It is not a matter of left or right, but we could say it is a matter of right and wrong, or at least to ensure that a historical wrong is never repeated. Four years ago, the Senate human rights committee issued its report on forced or coerced sterilization of persons in Canada. For many people, it was eye‑opening. Canadians are vaguely aware of the history of forced sterilization in this country. Our history at times is nothing to be proud of.”
“Madam Speaker, I agree that this bill is not going to do anything. What is scary in this whole process is this: Is the government losing direction? Is it losing focus? The focus has to be on building more homes for Canadians to fix the problem. Is the government only interested in building bureaucracies? I would like the hon. member to comment on that.”
“Wherever commerce happens in this country, whether it is big or small, we are almost certain to find a businessman or woman of Arab descent. All of this is to point out that it is long overdue for us to acknowledge the contribution of those of Arab heritage to the Canadian mosaic. Setting aside April as Arab heritage month would allow all Canadians an opportunity to pay tribute to a special people. As I have said before, Canada is an example of what a society can be when the people celebrate their heritage without forgetting what unites them in common purpose. Let us celebrate Arab heritage month, whoever we are and wherever we are from.”
“Championship wrestler Sami Zayn is a first-generation Canadian born to Syrian immigrant parents. We Arabs are a social people, which may be why many of us are drawn to political life. We want to serve, though we do not always see things the same way. That may be why Arabs who have served in this House have done so for the Conservatives, the Liberals, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democrats. We are united in our desire to serve, even as we disagree on policies. That, of course, is the very Canadian way. We have not had an Arab Canadian prime minister yet, but Prince Edward Island has had a Lebanese Canadian premier, Joe Ghiz. It goes without saying that one of the Arabs’ biggest contributions to this country has been in the area of business. We have an entrepreneurial spirit.”
“Setting aside April as Arab heritage month would encourage Canadians to discover more about these people and their history. (1730) The Arabs have always exported their culture. We can visit Spain’s Andalusian region and see the Arab influence in the architecture of the region. Does this matter in Canada? There are probably those who say that what happens elsewhere is not as important as what happens inside our borders. The truth is that Arab Canadians have made a huge impact on this country in all the areas one can imagine. Who was the first international Canadian pop star? It was Paul Anka, a Lebanese Canadian from Ottawa. Who is perhaps our most beloved children’s entertainer? It is Raffi, whose roots are also in Lebanon. What NBA all-star is of Syrian background? It is Jamal Murray, who also represents Canada internationally.”
“Some of the notable Christian scholars of the time were Hunayn ibn Ishaq, Yusuf Al-Khuri, al Himsi, Qusta ibn Luqa, Masawaiyh, Patriarch Eutychius, and Jabril ibn Bukhtishu. If not for Arab scholars at that time working to translate works from antiquity, from the original Syriac, Greek, Persian and Latin, into Arabic, much of the knowledge of the ancient world could have been lost forever. We owe a cultural debt to those Arabic scholars of more than 1,000 years ago for preserving so much of the world's heritage. I could go on and talk about how Arabs have influenced architecture and medicine in ways that continue to impact us today, but members get the idea. There is so much more to Arabic culture and history than most people are aware of.”
“I must admit, I have never had a conversation about the origins of Arabic numerals and their liberating effect on mathematics that has led to so many scientific advances. Perhaps I should start doing that. Or, maybe I could initiate discussions about the scientific advances of what is referred to as the Islamic golden age, a period of rapid scientific advancement that took place between the eighth and 13th centuries. Despite its name, the advances of this period were not brought about exclusively by Muslims. Wikipedia tells us: Christians...contributed to Islamic civilization during the reign of the Umayyads and the Abbasids by translating works of Greek philosophers and ancient science to Syriac and afterwards to Arabic. They also excelled in many fields, in particular philosophy, science...[and theology].”
“When we celebrate Arab heritage month, we are celebrating the people and we are also celebrating this language. It is the language of poetry and mysticism, and of law and humour. It is a language that unites people across the Middle East and North Africa. The rich literature that can be found in Arabic tells the story of many cultures united under a common banner. To me, that sounds like Canada. For centuries, Arabic was the language of culture and learning, especially when looking for information on science, mathematics and philosophy. Our mathematics system is based on Arabic numerals. We all know that and rarely, if ever, stop to think about why they are called that. Arabic heritage month would be an opportunity for those of us with Arab roots to share the richness of our culture in perhaps a more deliberate way than is the case now.”
“United by a common linguistic root, they have different religions and cultural traditions. The popular perception may be that to be Arab is to be Muslim, but we Arabs know differently. Canada's Arabs identify as Christian, Catholic, Orthodox and various types of Protestants. The majority are of Muslim background. There are many who are a vital component of the societies of the Middle East. These diverse communities are tied together by a common language, the Arabic language. Even if one does not understand a word, it has a melody that makes it pleasing to listen to. Arabic is spoken by more than 400 million people worldwide. After English and French, Canada's official languages, it is the third most widespread official language on our planet. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are here once again to consider whether April should be designated as Arab heritage month in Canada. Given the contributions of Arab Canadians to the growth of this country, since the first one arrived in 1882, I am sure this is an idea that we can all agree on. This community, which started with just a few families, has grown to more than one million Canadians who have Arab heritage. The Arab community in Canada is not, as the media sometimes thinks, a group of people who come from one place and have one way of thinking. We are, in many ways, an example of the diversity that is Canada. Canada's Arabs trace their roots to many countries: Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, Kuwait, Tunisia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Jordan, Mauritania, Libya, Yemen, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.”
“Madam Speaker, we are debating the time allocation the government has given, which is basically shortening the debate on 332 pages of law. It gave us only three hours before, so for each 100 pages, we have only one hour of debate. Members can imagine the shortcoming of Canadians not being able to understand what is going on with these bills and not being able to understand the consequences of what the government is providing.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is a neighbour in Edmonton. He mentioned in his previous answer how this can affect the negotiations with CUSMA or the USMCA. We are hearing from the United States about this specific topic. If he can talk about this, I think it will be important for this conversation.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadian families are cutting down on groceries, gas and necessities while the Prime Minister is piling up the national credit card. Life is becoming unaffordable. Inflation caused by deficit spending is eating away at their ability to afford day-to-day life. With a trillion-dollar debt, the government's approach is just an illusion while Canadians are paying the price. Will the Prime Minister tell Canadians that his credit card budgeting is the cause of all their suffering?”
“Mr. Speaker, 12,000 Canadians will be diagnosed this year with type 1 diabetes, joining the 300,000 already dealing with it in the system. T1D can occur in people of any age. Its causes are not fully known. Most of those diagnosed have no family history of diabetes. It is not caused by diet or lifestyle. It is not contagious or something someone can outgrow. It has no cure. For more than 50 years, Breakthrough T1D has been working to improve the lives of Canadians suffering from diabetes. Their five-year plan, including $62 million proposed for budget 2026, is part of a $100-million private-public project to translate Canadian medical research into therapies that can benefit Canadians. I thank them for their tireless efforts.”
“Mr. Speaker, going into debt makes things cost more. After 10 years of increasing Liberal borrowing, Canadians are worse off, and 60% of Albertans said it is difficult to meet monthly expenses. The Liberals spend and spend, and the taxes go up and up. Canadians cannot afford to buy groceries. Can the Liberal Prime Minister not see that his policies are making things worse for Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for all the speeches. They have added so much value to the conversation on an important bill. Beyond how much this bill means to me personally, I think it is going to mean a lot to many Canadians now and in the future. This is what we are trying to do here tonight. I am thankful for all the co-operation from all sides, from all provinces and from all MPs. This effort belongs to everyone who helped facilitate this bill getting to this stage. Hopefully, we will pass it tonight and let it go to the Senate. That would be the greatest gift and the greatest achievement of my almost 11 years here. I thank everyone.”
“Mr. Speaker, I enjoy working with the hon. member. We travelled together on an international development mission to Nicaragua. Yes, she is right. Awareness is the whole spirit of this bill. If we keep this in front of Canadians every day, that opportunity is going to encourage Canadians and educate them more on it. Not every family has to live through this to be able to learn how important it is to have a transplant and to have the organ at the right time. We are doing everything in our capacity to make this a reality, to bring that in front of Canadians, not just once every year or two, but sometimes on a daily basis. This bill will probably bring those opportunities in front of every Canadian to make sure we learn and we know about organ donation every day.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my hon. colleague. He is the shadow minister for health on the Conservative side. His guidance, his help, his wisdom and his direction helped me a lot to navigate this bill through. I am thankful for both his effort and his team's effort.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague for her speech at the second reading stage, as well as for reminding me about Quebec. As a family, we benefited in 2003 when we got a last-minute organ transplant from Quebec. I say that with a lot of pride, and I say that because I am very thankful for that opportunity. Quebec showed us the right example at the right time and will continue to do so.”
“Mr. Speaker, I also thank the hon. member for his help and co-operation. The minister and the minister's team were so helpful in getting this common-sense bill through. It is about Canadians. It is about helping every Canadian. My family had to live through this for 20 years, and we know how much of a difference that makes. The bottom line here is that when we work together, we can make the impossible possible. This why we are here tonight.”
“It is in this spirit that I put this bill forward, and I am grateful for the opportunity. As this is the last time I get to rise on my bill, I want to thank everyone again for their incredible support and encouragement. It truly means a lot to me and those awaiting a life-saving transplant. I know there have been discussions about this bill in the past. I am thankful for the support. I welcome continuing working on these efforts in the Senate to make this a reality.”
“Can members imagine if we could get this medal ready for presentation on the 30th anniversary next year? (1825) Next week, the deadline for taxes comes for Canadians across Canada. For that first time, in Alberta and British Columbia, tax filers will be able to indicate that they want to become an organ and tissue donor through their tax forms. This was made possible because of my former Conservative colleague Len Webber's efforts in 2021. When Ontario added the question to its tax forms in 2022, it resulted in 2.45 million people saying they wanted to be a donor. I expect a couple of million more Canadians will add their names in Alberta and British Columbia this year. We can all make a difference in the lives of others. We can all leave this place better than we found it, and we can all help our fellow Canadians.”
“The bill has returned from committee stage when it received a number of friendly amendments. The amendments proposed by the government enhance the bill, strengthen its objective and make the intentions of Parliament clear. I thank the President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada for his efforts to make this bill a reality. I also want to thank Terence Scheltema for his professional approach and hard work with great communication skills in working across party lines to get this bill to this stage. Terence showed unique skills in handling this private member's bill from the beginning, when this was an idea, to become a reality now. This is National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week across Canada. This designation made by Parliament was the result of the efforts of Liberal member of Parliament Dan McTeague in 1997, 29 years ago.”
“It has an impact on every part of the life of the parents and their families. All parents strive to treat their kids equally and give them all the same opportunities, but when someone in the family needs a transplant, it makes it so difficult. The days and weeks parents spend at the hospital with one child means they are not always there for the others. It is tough on everyone, but it has to be done. When the transplant comes, it is a new lease on life for the recipient and the family as a whole. Everyone gets to start living again. We need to bring that relief and joy to more families more often. This is why the living donor recognition medal is so important. It is to raise awareness and education, in the hopes that more people get those transplants sooner.”
“Families cannot take vacations together. Families cannot travel to other cities over the holidays to see relatives. Kids cannot join sports teams that play outside the city. In our case, Tyler could not visit his grandparents overseas for a decade, and we had to forget about overnight camps, out-of-town school trips or even sleepovers. There was constant fear that the call would come and we could not get there in time. In this situation, every night, parents go to bed making sure the phone is ready. Every morning, they wake up making sure that they did not miss a call. The accumulative stress is unimaginable. It determines where one works or if one accepts a job because travel may be involved. Parents must forget about a few glasses of wine at dinner because they may have to drive to the hospital.”
“This bill is jointly seconded by members from all provinces across Canada and demonstrates the need for life-saving transplants in all corners of this great nation. I have spoken about the importance of living donors many times, and I know others have too, but I want to make some remarks about how these life-saving transplants impact those around the recipients. When we waited for nine years for my son Tyler to get his transplant, it transformed our lives and his, and I know it was especially difficult for his brother. I know it is the same for thousands of other families awaiting that special phone call to say they have an organ to transplant. To ensure patients are available for a transplant, they must remain within an hour of the hospital at all times. This is much harder than it sounds. It is almost like house arrest.”
“I am extremely grateful to the following members of Parliament who graciously traded their coveted spots in the lineup so that I could move this debate up six weeks to this day. I thank the member for Cariboo—Prince George , the member for Lanark—Frontenac and the member for Newmarket—Aurora for making these critical trades with me. We now have the opportunity to get this bill to the Senate before the summer. Like donors, they received nothing in return for their gift except the knowledge that they did the right thing. They took action that will save a life and send a strong signal to those around them that organ and tissue donation is a significant and altruistic gift. I cannot thank them enough.”
“moved that the bill be read the third time and passed. Third reading He said: Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today for the final time in support of my private member's bill, Bill C-234 . When passed, this bill will pave the way for the creation of the living donor recognition medal within the Canadian honours system. This bill has been supported by all parties, and I am extremely grateful for the unanimous and strong support. I know there is significant interest in getting this initiative under way. The sooner we can get this bill to the Senate, the better. The good news is what we have heard tonight. I thank members for all the support on all the sides, especially the government side.”
“This is why we discuss it here in the chamber and in even greater detail at the committee stage. Hopefully we can make improvements. The goal is to serve the people of Canada and in this case, those who are suffering from sickle cell disease. I look forward to working together to improve Bill S-201 , and the day when sickle cell disease is something consigned to history.”
“I should point out that comparable health-related framework bills, such as the Federal Framework on Lyme Disease Act, call for the creation of guidelines or best practices instead of standards. Clinical standards are evidence-based recommendations produced by medical professional bodies that describe optimal care for specific conditions. They are advisory only and binding on no one. It is also unclear in the legislation who would establish these guidelines. I should also point out that Canada already has a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases bill. Bill S-201 focuses on one rare disease, so this framework may duplicate or contradict the existing bill. However, almost every piece of legislation we consider has flaws when it is first brought to the House.”
“It is common for those with the disease to develop serious issues with their skin, brain, bones, spleen, heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and even their eyes. The spleen is particularly susceptible, because of its narrow blood vessels and its basic job of clearing old red blood cells. If we can, through legislation, help alleviate suffering, then we should do so. There are some questions that will need to be dealt with as this bill moves forward. For example, the bill does not define the scope of universal neonatal screening, plus instituting and administering it would require provincial buy-in. A national framework that sets evidence-based national standards for diagnosis and treatment may create friction with provinces unless implemented collaboratively.”
“While not always the cause, it has been noted that pain crisis can be triggered by temperature changes, stress, dehydration and even living at high altitudes. Of course, any infection that normally causes a rise in the number of red blood cells triggers the disease as well. (1420) For most children with the disease, pain usually subsides between pain episodes. Nonetheless, many children with sickle cell anemia take penicillin every day to help the immune system, and they face a lifetime regimen of daily folic acid. For teens and adults, the pain is usually chronic, which can have a huge impact on the education, employment and mental health of sufferers. Due to the lack of oxygen to vital organs on a regular basis, sickle cell disease often begins to cause long-term damage to vital organs.”
“It causes chronic pain, organ damage, serious infections and a shortened life expectancy. Early detection is important for successful treatment. Sickle hemoglobin forms stiff rods within the red cell, which changes the cell's shape to something more like a crescent or sickle shape. This creates enormous problems. The sickle-shaped cells result in blockages because the cells are stiff and unable to pass through the vessels easily. These resulting blockages mean that the vital oxygen stops reaching the parts of the body that need it. What impact does this have on the person with the disease? A lack of oxygen results in attacks of sudden and severe pain throughout the body. It is a horrible condition. This pain occurs without warning and often results in hospitalization. The pain usually lasts five to seven days.”
“Sixth, it would provide measures to promote and support blood donation by every segment of the population and the creation of a diverse blood supply that allows for safe transfusions. Seventh, it would include an analysis respecting the implementation of a tax credit for individuals with sickle cell disease and their caregivers. Eighth, it would ensure the inclusion of sickle cell disease in the eligibility criteria for existing disability benefits. Finally, it would contain an analysis of the potential inclusion of treatments essential to sickle cell disease care in the public drug insurance plan. I think it is fair to say that the ambitions are big and that this is a very ambitious project. This inherited blood disorder affects a person's hemoglobin.”
“First, it would include measures to address the training, education, and diagnostic and treatment tool needs of health care professionals relating to sickle cell disease. Second, it would provide for the creation of a national research network to advance research, improve data collection and establish a national registry on sickle cell disease. Third, it would set evidence-based national standards for the diagnosis and treatment of sickle cell disease. Fourth, it would include measures to institute universal neonatal screening and postnatal diagnosis when necessary and the provision of results for affected individuals and organizations. Fifth, it would include measures to support public awareness campaigns on sickle cell disease and blood donation.”
“This flexibility and shape allow the cells to travel easily through blood vessels throughout the body. Today, an estimated 6,000 Canadians have sickle cell disease. They are among the millions of sufferers worldwide. There are 300,000 babies born annually with sickle cell disease, and that number is expected to be 400,000 by 2050. Five per cent of the world's population carries the gene. In 2006 and in 2010, the World Health Organization adopted two resolutions calling on countries to strengthen their responses to the disease. Canada made a start with the creation of the National Sickle Cell Awareness Day, on June 19. Now it is time to take it a step further. This bill calls on the Minister of Health to develop a national framework on sickle cell disease.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to discuss Bill S-201 , a national framework on sickle cell disease act. This is a disease that many have heard of, but few are aware of the details. Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia or drepanocytosis, is a group of red blood cell disorders. Those with the disease have abnormal hemoglobin. As members probably know, hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cells that carries vital oxygen throughout the human body. We know how important it is that tissues in the body receive a steady and life-sustaining supply of oxygen to work well. Hemoglobin takes the oxygen from the lungs to the parts of the body that need it. Normal cells are a disc shape, sort of like a doughnut. This shape allows the cells to be flexible.”
“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the hon. member for bringing this important bill to the House. I believe that the problem is going to grow even bigger in the next decades. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians may be faced with something like this. I have a technical question. Canada already has a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. Bill S-201 , which we are discussing today, focuses only on a single rare disease. Does the hon. member believe that this framework would contradict the existing law we have in place?”
“Mr. Speaker, I received petition e-7071 with 1,634 signatures. It is a petition regarding suspicious deaths abroad and autopsies, lack of advocacy and information for families, and jurisdiction when Canadians harm Canadians abroad. The citizens and residents of Canada who signed the petition call upon the House of Commons to introduce legislation, commonly referred to as “Kiara's law”, to require mandatory Canadian forensic autopsies in cases of suspicious death abroad; establish enhanced consular advocacy standards for victims and families; and amend the Criminal Code of Canada to affirm Canadian jurisdiction in cases that involve the harm or death of a Canadian by another Canadian outside Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I agree. I think we need tougher access to provide information. The laws have to protect Canadians first and foremost, and there is a way to do that without having to infringe on their rights.”