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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“If the bill were to become law, it would impose three requirements on the Minister of Foreign Affairs. First, it would require the minister to table major treaties along with an explanatory note in the House of Commons prior to ratification. That is already a policy and practice, but the bill would make such a tabling a legal requirement. Second, it would require that a committee of the House of Commons review the treaty and report back to the House prior to ratification. Third, the minister would be required to obtain the advice of the House prior to ratification.”
“An act to amend the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act regarding the prior review of treaties by Parliament does not increase transparency. Instead, it would restrict the power of the minister. The bill, should it become law, would constrain the royal prerogative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs by requiring a committee review and report back to the House and by requiring the advice of the House before ratification. This would, to put it simply, make it more difficult to ratify treaties. Is that something we want to do? Is that something we should be doing? I may not be a fan of the policies the government proposes. I may think it is mismanaging the affairs of the country, but I do not question its right to govern as it sees fit. It seems to me this is an attempt to remove that right.”
“Madam Speaker, former prime minister Stephen Harper established a new policy on the tabling and ratification of treaties through a ministerial statement in 2008. That policy remains in place under the current government. Under that policy, treaties are tabled in the House of Commons 21 sitting days before ratification by the minister. Treaties that require changes to domestic law go through an additional process before ratification, which is when the enabling legislation has passed in Parliament. This procedure has served Canada well. The Conservative Party supports the practice of ensuring that Parliament is fully informed and consulted before binding action is taken with regard to any major new international treaty. Transparency is something that the Canadian people expect of all of us. Bill C-228 , though, is not about transparency.”
“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.”
“I am prouder still to be a Canadian. It is a great honour to have been chosen by my fellow Canadians from all different backgrounds to represent them in the House. Recognizing my heritage, they have asked me to serve all Canadians and to affirm, as the Bill of Rights says, “that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions”. Next April, and every April thereafter, let us celebrate Arab heritage month and the contributions of Arab Canadians to this great country. Since the 1880s, Arab Canadians have been enriching our nation, adding their ideas, energy and values to make this the best country in the world.”
“We could introduce others to the richness of the language, the literature, the cinematography and the food of the Arab world. We do that already, but this would provide an opportunity to share on a wider scale. As such, let us, as a House, join together to support this bill. Let us declare Arab heritage month and let us celebrate the contributions of Arab Canadians to this great country. In making Canada their home, they have enriched us in too many ways to count. Who are the people whom we celebrate with this bill? They are employers and employees, doctors and nurses, athletes, singers, actors and audiences. They come from all walks of life and from every area of society, united by their heritage and a common identity as Canadians. I am proud of my Arab heritage, and I am happy to see the establishment of Arab heritage month.”
“It is no wonder that Canada has become the destination of choice for Arabs seeking a better life. The lack of freedom in parts of the Arab world is perhaps one of the reasons we need an Arab heritage month. Canadians need to be reminded that there is so much more to the history and culture of the Arab people than the negative portrayals found all too often in the news. The current political activities in the region do not always reflect the values of the Arab people, just as the actions of the Government of Canada do not always reflect the values of Canadians. Arab heritage month would be an opportunity for those of us with Arab roots to share the richness of our culture in a more deliberate way than is the case now.”
“As the Bill of Rights recognizes: In Canada there have existed and shall continue to exist without discrimination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion or sex, the following human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely, (a) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law; (b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law; (c) freedom of religion; (d) freedom of speech; (e) freedom of assembly and association; and (f) freedom of the press. (1730) Sadly, in many places of the world, including some Arab countries, some of those rights are not available to the citizens. There are places where none of them are.”
“We read: The Parliament of Canada [believes] that the Canadian nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and the position of the family in a society of free [people] and free institutions; It goes on: [and] also that [humans] and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of law....”
“Wanting to do better is one of the reasons the Arab people want to come here to be part of Canada. We come from a region where old rivalries, sometimes going back thousands of years, can hinder progress. Canada offers an opportunity for a fresh start, and Canadians' values are also Arab values. Looking at the Bill of Rights, upon which the later Charter of Rights and Freedoms is based, I see the values that founded Canadian society and that resonated with me as a new Canadian.”
“As the late John Diefenbaker, the 13th Prime Minister of Canada, reminded us upon the passage of the Bill of Rights in 1960: I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind. When one is a Canadian, no hyphen is needed. There are no second-class Canadians. It does not matter what their race or religious beliefs are. Their background does not define them; their character does. This is the Canadian ideal. As individuals and as a nation, we do not always live up to that, but when we fail, we try again. Always striving to do better, we learn from our mistakes.”
“Here, I have made my home and raised a family, and I am proud now to be able to give back by serving all Canadians in the House. I am proud of my heritage, my Arab background, but I am prouder to be Canadian. This means I will be pleased to celebrate April as Arab heritage month. I will celebrate the contributions of Arab culture and Arab people to Canadian society, but I will not allow myself to be defined by the hyphen that people use when they call me an Arab Canadian. When I became a Canadian citizen, I made a choice to become fully part of this country. I did not make a partial commitment; I went all in. Like most Arabs, I love the land of my birth. Who I am has been shaped by that heritage, but my present and my future are found in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise to offer my support for Bill S-227 , the Arab heritage month act. There are more than a million Canadians of Arab descent. They are found in every province and territory. Each one has a different story of how they or their ancestors came to this country. No matter where they came from originally, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Jordan or any of a dozen other countries, one of the things we will find that Arab Canadians have in common is that they came seeking a better life. Another thing they have in common is their desire to give back to Canada. I am one of these million Canadians of Arab descent. As so many have, I came to this country as an immigrant, escaping the dangers of war and economic upheaval.”
“Mr. Speaker, congratulations to the hon. member for York South—Weston—Etobicoke for sponsoring this bill in the House. What message would he like to give to Canadian society on behalf of the Arab community, which has been in this beautiful country for nearly 160 years?”
“Mr. Speaker, in A Christmas Carol , Dickens wrote, “Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts”. Under the Liberals, it is millions who are in need. My constituent Enide says,“I can barely afford to eat, a lot of people are in the same situation and feel helpless.” In 2015 the Canadian grocery bill was $159 a week. After a decade of Liberal government it has doubled to $338 a week, which is $17,500 a year. The Prime Minister told us to judge him by Canadians' experience at the grocery store. Scrooge famously said, “I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry.” Why does that seem to be like a quote from the Prime Minister ?”
“Madam Speaker, we have been hearing the word “investment” for the last 10 years. There has been more debt and more money to service the debt. It seems as if the government does not want to listen to true numbers, whether they are coming from the PBO or coming from us and from others around the country. Unless we accept the reality of the last 10 years, including now, we will still be going in the same direction: more debts, more debt service and more deficits for future Canadian generations to carry. If those are not enough warnings, we are in trouble.”
“Any wise person looking at the situation and thinking about what is going on will see that unless we change course, unless things take a different direction, and unless we at least admit we are in trouble and we start facing the issue as responsible people, we are asking for disaster, and that is what we have seen ahead of us.”
“Madam Speaker, there is a lot of bad news in the budget. One piece is the $78 billion of extra deficit, with $321 billion for the next five years. At any simple level of understanding, we know this has to be paid somehow by Canadian taxpayers and by future generations. My hon. colleague is correct; the lineups at the food banks are a huge concern. It is something we have not seen in our history. There is the need for housing and the need to at least carry out our day-to-day lives. There are also a number of bankruptcies in the country. All these are indications in front of us.”
“Madam Speaker, I have learned in life to compare myself to the people above me and ahead of me, not to the people behind me. The government has given us the same story over and over. It talks about the comparison to whatever, such as the comparison to the debt in so many years. All these numbers do not help Canadians with what they deal with on a daily basis. Millions of Canadians are lining up at food banks, and that should be of huge concern to the government, which does not seem to be the case. Canadians cannot afford to buy a home. Canadians cannot afford to even continue to have the standard of living we have always had. If those are not enough examples for the government to change course over how it does business, that means we are in deep trouble.”
“They need affordable homes and food. To do that, the Liberals need to end the hidden taxes, cut wasteful spending, open our country to opportunity and get rid of bureaucracy to build affordable homes. Is the Prime Minister willing to do the work, or to work with everybody, to support a positive, hopeful and affordable future for all Canadians? The question remains with the government and with the Prime Minister.”
“Government is not a business, and I do not expect it to be run like a business, but I do expect it to run with an understanding that today's decisions impact the future. This is taxpayer money that we are entrusted with, and we need to spend it wisely. Deficit spending that adds to the national debt with no plan or hope of repayment is not wise. The Conservatives asked for an affordable budget for an affordable life. Instead, they got reckless spending that would do nothing to make life better for the people of this country. On behalf of the Canadians whom the Liberals have priced out of food, homes and life, Conservatives will oppose this costly deficit budget that would gamble away Canada's future. Can this bill be fixed? Yes it can, if the Liberals are willing to listen to reason. Canadians need a boost to their take-home pay.”
“It is only a matter of time before our fiscal building and our nation crash. Canadians expect better from the current administration than more broken Liberal promises. It was not even a year ago that the former Liberal finance minister resigned rather than tell Canadians that the deficit would balloon to $62 billion and that the government had lost control of the finances of the nation. The Liberal Party turned to the current Prime Minister as a saviour, believing his reputation for sound fiscal management. Instead of a plan to get government finances in order, we have a plan to spend, spend, spend and a record deficit for a non-pandemic year. That is not a plan; it is a disaster. If I had run my business the way these Liberals run the country, I would have gone bankrupt almost immediately.”
“The unemployment rate is expected to be at 6.4% over the next five years and Canadians will still suffer from the effects of the job-killing industrial carbon tax. In the Gospel of Matthew, we are told the story of two men. There was a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain came down, the streams rose and the wind blew and beat against the house, yet the house did not fall because it had its foundations on the rock. What is true in home construction is also true in government spending. The Prime Minister and his minister of finance remind me of the other man in that biblical story, the foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell with a great crash. This budget implementation act would firmly build Canada's fiscal house on sand.”
“It is double what the previous administration was planning for. Numbers once considered to be unthinkable are introduced with a shrug. There is no plan to put our fiscal house in order. Canadians are going to be paying for Liberal boondoggles for generations to come. (1110) When I look at these numbers, I feel like I am living in a fairy tale. It is not one of those nice Disney fairy tale movies with a happy ending, but a Brothers Grimm tale where, at the end, people get eaten. The Liberals are telling us this is a Disney budget, but the numbers are pretty grim and, like most fairy tales, not believable. We can forget the fancy Liberal words and look at the reality: Bill C-15 does not have a happy ending. Under the Prime Minister , real GDP has grown by only 1.1% in 2025, which is the second-lowest growth in the G7.”
“Anyone who can do basic math would tell us that adding to the deficit and increasing the national debt means less money for health care and the other things Canadians need. Most people do not like paying taxes because they feel the government is just wasting that money. The attitude is understandable when we realize the Liberals are paying more in interest payments on their record debts than they collect through the goods and services tax. This means that every dollar the federal government collects through GST is going to paying off the Liberal debts. None of it is being used to help Canadians. Nothing in Bill C-15 can hide that fact and that reality. The Liberals are adding $321.7 billion to the federal debt over the next five years, more than twice the $154.4 billion the previous administration planned for the same period.”
“The Building Industry and Land Development Association has expressed deep disappointment and concern with the budget's response to the serious crisis impacting the housing sector in Canada's largest municipalities. It seems what once was a promise to deliver 500,000 new homes annually has now become a plan that will cost 100,000 jobs. How is that making things better for Canadians? The question and the answer are with the government. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister was talking about big plans to improve Canada's economy. He promised more investment. His budget reveals investment is collapsing, and Bill C-15 does nothing to help that. There is consistency here, though. As our health care system is strained and in need of help, once again, the federal government plans to spend more on debt interest than on health care transfers.”
“When the finance minister announced in his budget that the number had grown to $78 billion, it was just another broken Liberal promise. There have been so many that the Liberals do not even keep track. Instead of being lowered as promised, the debt-to-GDP ratio is rising and inflation is rising with it. The Prime Minister promised to spend less. Instead, he is spending a lot more. He is spending $90 billion, which is equal to $5,400 per household in more inflationary spending. The Prime Minister promised to help municipalities cut their homebuilding taxes in half, and this costly budget breaks that promise. Higher housing costs are the price of this Prime Minister.”
“What they have been given instead is an accounting flim-flam, another record deficit with no plan to pay the money back. We can let our great-grandchildren worry about that, as Canada's national debt has passed the once unfathomable $1-trillion mark and continues to grow at more than $4.5 million dollars every hour. In 10 years, the Liberals have more than doubled the national debt, and what do Canadians have to show for that? Obviously, there is nothing. Bill C-15 , budget 2025 implementation act, No. 1, will drive up the cost of living for every Canadian. Whether it is food, home, or anything else, Canadians will pay more. Just six months ago, the Prime Minister promised to keep the deficit at $62 billion.”
“Madam Speaker, the previous incarnation of the Liberal government was led by a man who believed that budgets somehow magically balance themselves. He clung religiously to that belief, even after 10 years of watching the deficit get bigger and bigger. No wonder he thought Canadians would forgive him if he did not think about fiscal policy. He obviously did not understand that the government deficit is a debt owed by the Canadian people. It does not magically vanish. It has to be repaid, or the government and the country go bankrupt. With a change at the top of the Liberal Party, Canadians were hoping to be able to look to Parliament for serious leadership. They voted for a government willing to meet and deal with the challenges our country faces.”
“Madam Speaker, I am presenting this petition, which has 600 signatures, on behalf of Falun Gong practitioners in China. They are suffering severe human rights abuses, including mass arbitrary detentions, torture, killing and forced organ harvesting on a large scale. The petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to publicly call on the Chinese regime to end its persecution of Falun Gong in China and end transnational oppression abroad, and to continue to impose sanctions on and pursue accountability against CCP officials and proxies responsible for these human rights violations.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government is the most expensive in Canadian history. The Liberals do not understand that every dollar the Prime Minister spends comes out of the pockets of Canadians, driving up the cost of everything. Year over year, food costs have increased 3.4% under the Liberals. Canadians are forced to go hungry to keep a roof over their heads. The Liberals had a chance to lower food costs for Canadians by scrapping the industrial carbon tax, but they chose to make food more expensive by increasing it, driving up the cost of fertilizer and farm equipment. It seems like the government does not care. Why will the Liberal government not make the common-sense changes needed to make food affordable in Canada again?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for his support. He brought other cases to my attention, and other organizations that are doing some good work. I am adding another chapter to that through the House; I am giving the House, all MPs in all parties, the opportunity to work together with all Canadians. For Canadians who are most in need of organs, the bill would facilitate that, make their lives easier and make the lives of people in their communities, their workplace and their families better. We can all be working together to achieve that.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the kind words and for the question. Absolutely, the nature and spirit of the bill is to recognize the heroes we do not even know about in Canada. Working with organizations across the country is very important, and I believe this will be done. My office and I will be reaching out to many more organizations that we know of, and I thank the member for highlighting some today so we can work together, because as I said, the initiative is a non-partisan one. It needs to continue to be like this because, at the end of the day, we are all Canadians. We have one goal: to help each other and to make sure that we set examples for others.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am not aware of any specific awards such as the one I am proposing. April is Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Month, which was created through the effort of some NGOs in their jobs, trying to bring awareness. I continue to help and to support their initiative; however, I believe we need to do more. We need to recognize and bring awareness to Canadians about how important it is to have more living donors so we can reduce the 4,700 cases, which, by the way, have been in the system since I introduced my first bill 10 years ago to establish an organ donor registry in Canada. The legislation did not make it through, but I am hopeful the bill before us will be a successful attempt to bring more awareness and make sure Canadians understand that it is an important thing. It would be recognized publicly.”
“As my colleague the member for Battlefords—Lloydminster—Meadow Lake stated simply, “Honouring living donors with a Living Donor Recognition Medal recognizes their courage and generosity, while helping to raise awareness and encourage more life-saving acts.” I will give my final words to my colleague the member for Charlottetown . He summed it up when he said, “Living organ donors are our unsung heroes. Their gift of life is the ultimate altruistic act and selfless gesture. The bravery and courage it takes to give a part of yourself to save another is worthy of the highest of recognitions and appreciation. Canada is truly fortunate to have individuals willing to make such contributions and the least we can do is appropriately thank them.” I agree wholeheartedly. Let us get it done and save more lives.”
“It aligns with Canada's tradition of honour, bravery and compassion, placing living donors alongside other honoured citizens. The medal has the potential to inspire and educate. By recognizing living donors, Canada could lead by example, reinforcing the importance of living donor donation and celebrating those who give the gift of life. The medal would be a tangible, non-monetary way to acknowledge their altruism, raising awareness about living donation and encouraging more Canadians to consider this life-saving act. I am confident all members will want to support the proposal, and I hope I can count on their strong support. Canadians will view this as a worthwhile and deserving recognition, and now it is up to us to make it happen.”
“Honouring their compassion and courage is the right thing to do.” In Canada, 4,700 individuals await life-saving organ transplants, with most relying on living donors, selfless individuals who donate all or part of an organ to save another's life. Three-quarters of people awaiting a transplant are in need of a kidney, and living donors are an option. The recognition would not only validate the donor's sacrifices but also spark vital conversation about organ donation, reducing the transplant waiting list and saving more lives. The proposal has garnered support in all parties for its simplicity and impact. A living donor recognition medal would serve as a powerful symbol of gratitude, ensuring that donors are thanked appropriately for saving the life of another.”
“This medal will honor those extraordinary Canadians whose generosity strengthens the bonds that make our communities resilient and compassionate.” The medal would provide the only official recognition and acknowledgement of critical and life-saving donations. It would be a legitimate, tangible and significant way a donor could be thanked in a non-monetary way. My colleague the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan understands this and the importance such an honour would have. He stated, “I am proud to support Bill C-234, which recognizes the incredible generosity of Canadians who become living organ donors. These men and women represent the best of who we are—people willing to make profound sacrifices to give others the gift of life.”
“Margarets , said it best when she said, “This legislation recognizes a simple truth: that the gift of life is among the greatest acts of service one human being can offer another. In honouring living organ donors, we'll celebrate a quiet heroism that saves lives and strengthens the fabric of our nation. ” We do not just have to take it from hon. members. There are also those on the front lines of our health care system. (1740) Our Liberal colleague the member for Winnipeg West is an emergency room doctor and knows about these issues first-hand. He stated, “By seconding Bill C-234, I want to highlight the profound impact living organ donors have on our communities. Each act of donation ripples beyond the recipient, bringing families, friends, and neighbours together in gratitude and hope.”
“By taking a lead in this, we further demonstrate our belief that this is the right thing to do. My Liberal friend, the member for Laval—Les Îles , also sees the opportunity for Canada to lead. He said, “It would be a source of pride to see Canada become only the second country to formally honour living donors. They are unsung heroes who fully deserve this recognition. Although Canada is a prosperous country with well-established health care infrastructure, this law reminds us that we are nothing without the generosity and dedication of others. Putting ourselves in someone else's shoes is a fundamental democratic act that must be emphasized and revalued.” My Liberal colleague, the member for South Shore—St.”
“She said, “I'm proud to support Bill C-234, which recognizes the truly stunning generosity of living organ donors in Canada. Their sacrifice saves lives and shows us all what it means to be a champion of our better nature. Let us celebrate their selfless courage and compassion as they inspire us all.” I could not agree more. My colleague, the member for Riding Mountain , also recognized the power that such a medal could have when he stated, “We need more organ donors in Canada. That's why I fully support Bill C-234 to create a living donor recognition medal. This award will increase awareness, recognize donors and help save lives.” If we do this, Canada will be only the second country in the world to add living donors to their national honour system.”
“By establishing the living donor recognition medal, Parliament is honouring these extraordinary individuals whose selflessness saves lives, strengthens families and reflects the very best of who we are as a country.” The leader of the NDP said, “Living organ donors embody the highest ideal of generosity, compassion and humanity. Establishing a national medal is a fitting tribute to their extraordinary contributions to the life of others and to our society as a whole.” The most important part of the bill is that this medal would raise awareness and discussion around living donations. It would encourage others to explore living donation and the power it holds. It will save more lives. My Liberal friend, the member for Humber River—Black Creek , understands this.”
“A national medal is a meaningful way to honour their extraordinary generosity and to remind us all of the power of selflessness in building a stronger, more compassionate country.” Living donors volunteer to give a part of their body to another person to save their life, and this selfless and altruistic gesture is worthy of significant recognition. We regularly recognize citizens for bravery, selfless acts and compassion toward their fellow citizens. It should be no different for living donors. The member for Don Valley West agrees. He stated, “Every day, Canadians waiting for organ transplants depend on the generosity and courage of donors.”
“I fully support Bill C-234, which would rightly honour living donors, recognizing the selfless gift of life they provide and the profound impact they have on our health care system and communities.” (1735) As I have mentioned in the House before, a transplant recipient once said to me, “I just don't feel that a thank you card is enough. I wish we could do a proper job of recognizing them.” My colleague for Calgary Centre knows that we need to do more. He stated, “These individuals give the gift of life, often quietly and without fanfare.”
“The member for Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay knows this. As she stated, “The choice to be an organ donor is done without reward, but the everyday Canadians who make this choice are choosing to save a life. Their courage deserves recognition, which is why I was proud to cosponsor my colleague's bill to establish a living donor recognition medal.” The leader of the Green Party spoke to their true motivation when she stated, “Every year, hundreds of Canadians respond with extraordinary compassion and courage to donate their organs to the thousands of Canadians awaiting life-saving organ transplants.”
“It transformed misery into freedom and restored a sense of normal life.” These donors stepped forward, took on risk and gave the gift of life. To me and those they saved, they are true heroes. The Liberal member for Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam stated, “Creating a living donor recognition medal is an important step to recognize those special Canadians who gave a piece of themselves so that others can live. Those who step forward, out of kindness and compassion, [to] show selflessness to help friends, family members and sometimes strangers, are Canada's unsung heroes. This medal recognizes their contribution to humanity.” Living donors are not paid and not allowed to be compensated for their donations, and this is a good thing. They have freely given what they can to save the life of another. It is a priceless gift.”
“As the Liberal member for Ottawa West—Nepean has stated, “This bill will give much-needed recognition to people who are the most deserving. Their heartwarming stories of selflessness are an inspiration.” My colleague from Long Range Mountains said, “I know a living donor, and I have seen first-hand the tremendous sacrifice it takes to give someone another lease on life. These heroes do not do it for recognition. They do it out of love and selflessness, but they deserve to be recognized for giving the ultimate gift: the gift of life.” She went on to say, “Someone we love actually received two kidneys, one from his brother and one from his sister. Life before the transplant was filled with exhaustion and limitations, but receiving a new kidney brought hope and energy back.”
“My bill, Bill C-234 , will recognize these remarkable individuals through the creation of the living donor recognition medal. I am immensely proud of the fact that the House has united behind this non-partisan effort. Today, I will be speaking to the bill, but I will also give a voice to my fellow colleagues from all parties who are not able to get a speaking opportunity today. This will demonstrate how broad and non-partisan this initiative truly is. The joint seconders of the bill come from all provinces in a strong voice of support. I have received support from members of all political parties, and I am extremely thankful for their support. It shows Canadians that we can unite to do the right thing when we set politics aside. We are all motivated by the selfless gifts these donors have given.”
“moved that Bill C-234, An Act respecting the establishment and award of a Living Donor Recognition Medal , be read the second time and referred to a committee. Bill C-234. Second reading He said: Mr. Speaker, a living donor is someone who donates all or part of an organ to save the life of a fellow Canadian. I am a living donor. On December 8, 2003, I donated part of my liver to save the life of my son Tyler, but I am not alone. Across Canada, there are hundreds of people alive today because someone bravely, generously and selflessly gave a part of their body to another person to save their life. Living donors exemplify the highest ideals of selflessness, yet Canada lacks a formal system to celebrate their contributions.”
“Mr. Speaker, it was an impressive speech by my hon. colleague. The budget will mean a $78-billion deficit. This money is going to be borrowed against future generations, to be paid by Canadians for the longest time we can ever imagine. What does the member think of the deficit? Should we go into a $78-billion deficit with a budget?”