Brad Vis
Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, British Columbia · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, the third petition I would like to present today is on nicotine pouches. This petition is being presented on behalf of small businesses, including convenience stores.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present today. The first is petition e-7198, which has 5,746 signatures. It calls upon the Minister of Fisheries to not remove the recreational access to chinook and coho salmon in the allotment of salmon allocation.”
“Mr. Speaker, earlier today, I asked a Liberal member a very simple question: Could he confirm or deny the rumours in British Columbia that, under the new security partnership between Canada and China and the government's desire to sell federal airport assets, Chinese companies would be able to buy those assets?”
“Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is with regard to the elimination of the federal apprenticeship incentive. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to reinstate the apprenticeship incentive grant for Red Seal trades, index it to inflation, link it to the successful completion of technical training…”
“Mr. Speaker, Bill C-30 contains proposed new provisions under the Privacy Act and the Canada Transportation Act to assess the full value of our publicly owned airports. Rumours in British Columbia dictate that part of the new security agreement with China would allow Chinese companies to buy airports in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour the life of Mel Zajac, a remarkable British Columbian whose compassion and generosity left an enduring imprint. Mel's life was marked by a profound tragedy that ultimately inspired a legacy of extraordinary philanthropy. In July 1986, he lost his son Mel Jr.”
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“It would not create the promised centralized one window for major project approvals. I will note, as a British Columbian, that it would not remove the internal trade barriers between provinces and territories for B.C. farmers, such as our wine growers, to sell their products, barrier-free, across our great nation, which needs to be pointed out. (1540) As I mentioned, we have no idea what the economic consequences of this bill would be. The Liberal platform, as I just outlined, said that, by breaking down internal trade barriers before July 1, there would be massive economic development in Canada and $5,000 more in the pocket of every Canadian. I am stating this point again because I do not believe that is the case.”
“However, when we look at the bill, there is a problem because the rhetoric in the Liberal platform does not match the reality in the legislation before us today. In fact, the bill would really do nothing to meet the expectations of what Canadians expected from Parliament. I will explain. Bill C-5 does not address any of the key promises made by the Liberal platform. It would not enforce mutual recognition across provinces and territories. It does not address and would not dismantle provincial trade barriers. It does not include any binding timelines or enforcement mechanisms. It does not establish “buy Canadian” procurement standards. It would not fund or prioritize infrastructure needed for free trade between the provinces and territories. It would not protect or support Canadian industries under foreign trade attacks.”
“It came up at the doorstep every day, especially, I will note, among baby boomers. The first page of the Liberal platform goes on to state that a government, led by the current Prime Minister, “has a plan to remove barriers to internal trade.” It goes on to states that the Liberals “will reduce internal trade costs by up to 15% and expand our economy by up to $200 billion, that is up to $5,000 for every Canadian.” In British Columbia, this was talked about a lot. It was actually a platform commitment to remove internal trade barriers to have free trade in Canada. It was a platform commitment shared with that of the Conservative Party of Canada. This brings us to the fourth sitting week of Parliament since the election, and today we are debating Bill C-5 , a free trade and labour mobility act.”
“To go back a few months, former prime minister Trudeau resigned and the Prime Minister was elected, by Liberal voters, to lead the Liberal Party of Canada. In April, the Liberal Party put forward a platform called “Canada Strong”, a plan to unite, secure, protect, build. The language in this platform is very important. In fact, it led to the Liberals winning the most seats in the House of Commons again. On page one, it states: America’s unjustified and reckless trade war threatens Canadian jobs, businesses, and our way of life. They are trying to weaken us so they can own us. In the face of this threat, we have a plan to build the strongest economy in the G7. I outline that point because there was a lot of fear in this election, and rightfully so, about what Canada's relationship would be like with the United States.”
“Mr. Speaker, while I have spoken many times in committee of the whole, while presenting petitions and when asking questions during question period, so far in this parliamentary session, I have not participated in Government Orders. To that end, I would like to thank the voters in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford for giving me an overwhelming majority to represent them in the people's House of Commons in the 45th Parliament. It is the honour of my professional career to be a hometown boy representing his community. I thank the people of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford. I thank my family for supporting me. I do not take this job lightly, and I will work tirelessly on their behalf. This was a different election.”
“Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on behalf of Seabird Island First Nation. On June 23, 2022, Bill C-28 received royal assent, which allowed for extreme intoxication to be used as a defence for violent crimes such as sexual assault, where a reasonable person would not have foreseen the risk of a violent loss of control. Residents are very concerned about this provision in the Criminal Code and are asking the Government of Canada to repeal it.”
“Mr. Speaker, today I table two petitions on behalf of voters in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford. The first is in respect to the prison needle exchange program. Drugs and drug paraphernalia are considered contraband in prison, yet the Liberal government is forcing our correctional officers to simply turn a blind eye and allow dangerous drugs to be used inside our prisons. These correctional officers are calling on the government to immediately cancel the prison needle exchange program, stop permitting the use of illicit drugs in Canadian prisons and focus on efforts related to recovery.”
“Mr. Speaker, while I appreciate the sentiment of the member from Mississauga, I am worried about the details in the legislation before us today. Can the member confirm if the breakdown of interprovincial trade barriers will allow B.C. wine producers to sell their goods, without any federal rules in place, to any other province or territory? Second, why has forestry been excluded from projects of national interest?”
“Mr. Speaker, during the election, the Prime Minister made many references to the legislation before the House today. The expectation in British Columbia is that after this bill is passed, British Columbian farmers will be able to sell their wine in every other province and territory in Canada. Can the leader of the House for the government state clearly today whether all trade barriers for the distribution of B.C. wine will be eliminated?”
“Mr. Speaker, small businesses fought for five years to receive the carbon tax rebate. Now that the money has been disbursed to small businesses across Canada, they are seeking clarification as to whether or not the Canada Revenue Agency will treat it as a taxable benefit. Can the Government of Canada clarify this today? Yes or no, are carbon tax rebates taxable?”
“Mr. Chair, is the minister aware that Abbotsford was impacted by floods in 2021, one of the most costly disasters in the history of Canada? Is the minister aware that in the fall economic statement of the previous Parliament, over $5 billion was allocated to disaster recovery efforts in the province of British Columbia?”
“Mr. Chair, does the minister acknowledge that CN Rail, CP Rail, an international airport, Southern Railway, a border crossing and Highway 1 are all present in Abbotsford and are critical to Canada's natural interests and the operation of our supply chains?”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of British Columbians who are facing repeated closures of hospital emergency rooms. In my riding, some of those closures took place during the Chilcotin landslides, on the hottest day in 2024 and on many days since. While hospital closures are regularly blamed on staffing shortages, delays in recognition of foreign-trained health care workers and a critical lack of housing supply are exacerbating the issue. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to work with provincial counterparts to ensure that foreign-trained health care workers are notified within 60 days of their eligibility to practise and to address the severe lack of available housing for such workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, petitioners in my riding of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford are concerned on behalf of small businesses, including convenience stores, and ask the government to remove the restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches. Many adult Canadians make use of nicotine pouches to help them quit tobacco-smoking by relieving cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Only allowing pharmacies to sell the product from behind the counter takes away the freedom of choice on where and how adults can access such products. Small businesses have a track record of selling age-restricted products, including nicotine replacement therapies. The petitioners call on the Minister of Health to remove the restrictions on the sale of nicotine pouches only to pharmacies and allow convenience stores to continue selling these products as they have always done in the past.”
“Single moms, families and small businesses cannot maintain proper finances without a budget. What makes the government think it can do differently?”
“Mr. Speaker, Conservatives are calling on the Prime Minister to table a budget as soon as possible. The Prime Minister platformed on making groceries more affordable for Canadians, yet they will spend $800 more on food this year. Food prices continue to rise, and I am referring only to essentials, such as beef, chicken, apples, white rice and infant formula. The Prime Minister 's first spending bill, the main estimates, would increase government spending by 8%, and the House has been clear that the Liberal deficit spending is driving this inflation. Inflation hurts us all. Hard-working Canadians are visiting food banks at record levels. Last year, Food Banks Canada reported an unprecedented level of two million visits in March alone. With no budget coming until this fall, Liberals will go over one year without a fiscal plan.”
“Amidst all the uncertainty and the major defence spending commitments, why has the government not committed to tabling a budget this spring, in this session, to give Canadians clarity?”
“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member for Spadina—Harbourfront on her first remarks in this House of Commons. We share one thing in common: We are both former parliamentary interns. I welcome her to the House of Commons. I would encourage her to use her voice in this chamber. The Liberal Party has a tradition of allowing the member for Winnipeg North to disproportionately take up all the time. Therefore, I encourage her to stand so that we hear less from the member for Winnipeg North. So far, the government has tabled Bill C-2 , Bill C-3 , Bill C-4 and Bill C-5 . Today we heard from the government that it is going to spend billions upon billions of dollars more on defence. We are also facing the reality that the Liberal budget misallocated over $20 billion in its fiscal projections on what the government would be collecting on tariffs.”
“Mr. Speaker, through you, I congratulate the member for Victoria. As the member knows, my riding of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford suffered one of the most devastating natural disasters in the history of Canada. Our major roadways were washed out. Sumas Prairie, the breadbasket of British Columbia, was flooded. It was turmoil. Since that natural disaster, the federal government has not come forward with any additional infrastructure dollars for Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley. Would the member agree that to support British Columbia's breadbasket, British Columbian food security and British Columbia's ability to transfer goods throughout all of Asia, Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley need additional infrastructure dollars to protect Canadian supply chains?”
“Mr. Speaker, small businesses are struggling with the complexity and obscurity of the customs notice. For a government program that was designed to help businesses, the CBSA is causing turmoil, costing time and money for many in manufacturing and its supply chains. On May 20, the department quietly issued an updated notice on its interpretation of the scope, narrowing the order. Why, in this time of uncertainty, should businesses be left to navigate costly and consequential red tape from the government? Does the government not understand that livelihoods and Canadian businesses are on the line?”
“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the member for Prescott—Russell—Cumberland on her maiden speech in the House of Commons. During the election, there was much consensus on the fact that Canada needs to build. We need to build energy infrastructure. We need to build more homes. We need to do a lot more than we have seen in the last 10 years. However, the Liberal candidate in my riding spoke about Liberal ridings' getting more. He said, in fact, that voting Liberal in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford would get the riding more federal dollars. I do not believe that is the case. I would like the member to clarify her vision for the allocation of infrastructure dollars. Should Liberal ridings get more than Conservative ridings, or should decisions be made on a needs-based approach?”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank the good people of Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford for re-electing me to the House. Today, I present a petition on behalf of constituents in my riding who are concerned about the transition from military to civilian life. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to drastically reduce red tape for our veterans and to improve the process of going from military life to civilian life.”