Danielle Martin · TranslatePolitics.ca

Oral Questions

Justice

2026-06-18

“I back the Minister of Justice. More control and power for government!”

Statements by Members

Multicultural Broadcasting

2026-06-12

“I want to cheer for a program that spends money in my riding. I'm in a safe seat where ethnic voters matter.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an institution that has helped tell and shape the stories of a multicultural Canada for 60 years, CHIN Radio. When founded in 1966 by the late Johnny Lombardi, who was a proud son of Italian immigrants, CHIN gave a voice to newcomers from around the world and helped pioneer multicultural broadcasting in Canada. Today, under the equally visionary leadership of his son, Lenny Lombardi, CHIN continues to build on that remarkable legacy, broadcasting to over 100 cultural communities in more than 50 languages. As Toronto prepares to celebrate the Taste of Little Italy festival this weekend, we honour the Lombardi family's lasting contributions. We thank Lenny, and everyone at CHIN Radio, on the 60th anniversary of a remarkable institution that has helped to build an inclusive, vibrant Canada. Grazie.

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Statements by Members

Red Shirt Day

2026-06-02

“I want the government to spend more money helping Canadians with disabilities. I'm proud my party expanded a program in the budget. More money for a program in my riding!”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow is Red Shirt Day for Accessibility. In recent weeks, both in my riding of University—Rosedale and in the work of the Standing Committee on Finance, we have heard from Canadians with disabilities and the organizations that support them. Too many Canadians with disabilities live in poverty. I was so pleased to see our government announce important improvements to the disability tax credit and to join the Secretary of State for the Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions at Community Living Toronto, an extraordinary organization in my riding, to highlight how we are simplifying the application process and making it easier for eligible Canadians to access supports. Along with Canada's disability benefit, these measures represent meaningful progress. I look forward to helping build on this work because I know our government is committed to a more inclusive and accessible Canada.

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Government Orders

Business of Supply

2026-05-26

“I'm just going to talk about other benefits and ignore the specific question about clean fuel rules.”

“People are happy the government spends to help them. They don't want big changes, just a government that gives them things when they need it.”

“I want to look responsible. Long-term problems don't matter. Just spend money on the problem right in front of us right now.”

“You're right, we must reduce taxes we control. But my party should spend lots of money too! Keep funding our big social programs. My voters love them. They help so many people. These programs are good for everyone, even voters in other ridings.”

“I'm listing good-sounding things our government did. Suspended a gas tax, sent payments to many people, cut other taxes, capped some bank fees. These help Canadians. None of it caused global problems. World events made things expensive, not us.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Kingston and the Islands. I am very pleased to rise today to call attention to our government's efforts to make life more affordable. Naturally, Canadians are living in a complex, unpredictable world. Unfortunately, in many ways, this world is also more expensive. In response, the government is staying focused on what it can control: building a strong Canadian economy, diversifying our foreign trade partners, ensuring responsible fiscal management and, of course, supporting Canadians. I am pleased that the opposition motion underscores that the government has taken action because, yes, we have taken action to help Canadians. We are working tirelessly to make life more affordable for them. Here is one very practical example. As we all know, ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has practically been at a standstill for several weeks. This has caused oil prices to spike, gas prices to soar and the price of other essential goods to increase not only here in Canada, but everywhere. Was it our government that started the war in Iran? Obviously, the answer is “no”. Did we take action to lower costs for Canadians? The answer is “yes”. Global conflicts and persistent supply disruptions in the Middle East are not things the government can control. What we can do, and what we are doing, is helping Canadians who are impacted by these conflicts. Since April 20, just over a month ago, the federal excise tax on gas has been suspended, and it will remain suspended until September 7. The suspension of this tax is expected to save Canadians up to an estimated $5.75 when filling up a 50-litre tank. It provides real savings for families, who will hopefully be able to travel across Canada this summer. It also lowers costs for truckers and businesses. It is expected that this measure will provide Canadians with over $2.4 billion in relief in 2026-27. By lowering the cost of gas and diesel at the pump, the government is taking meaningful action to support Canadians through these challenging times. At a cost of a little over $2 billion, we are doing it without putting the public purse at risk. I can give yet another example. Even before the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, the historic rise in tariffs plunged the economies, businesses and workers of several countries into uncertainty. Canada was no exception. Did Canada cause the global trade disruptions that sent the cost of essential goods skyrocketing? Of course not. Did we take action? The answer is yes. Earlier this year, to help Canadian families make ends meet, we launched the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit. This benefit is based on the GST credit, as we all know, and provides increased support to more than 12 million low- and modest-income Canadians. Next Friday, June 5, these 12 million Canadians will receive a one-time supplement payment equal to 50% of this year's annual GST credit. This measure alone will provide more than $3 billion in assistance to individuals and families in need. That is not all. Starting this July, low- and modest-income Canadians will receive higher quarterly payments. The benefit will be increased by 25% for five years, providing over $8 billion in additional support. In total, a family of four could receive up to almost $2,000 this year and approximately $1,400 per year over the next four years. That is real and meaningful support that will help cover the cost of groceries, bills and everyday expenses. However, that is not all. We also cut taxes for 22 million Canadians by reducing the lowest marginal personal income tax rate from 15% to 14%. This year, in 2026, that means savings of $420 per person or over $800 for a two-income family. We eliminated the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes at or under $1 million, which is a big deal in my riding of University—Rosedale, and we lowered the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. We made the national school food program permanent to give 400,000 children access to healthy meals and to help their parents save $800 a year in groceries. We have also taken concrete steps to make the banking system fairer and, above all, more affordable for Canadians. Since March, consumers can no longer be charged more than $10 in fees when there are non-sufficient funds in their personal account to cover a payment. Financial institutions can no longer charge more than one NSF fee in a period of two business days for the same account. Furthermore, and this is important, no NSF fees may be charged when the account shortfall is under $10. We will be starting automatic federal benefits this year that will reach up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians by the 2028 tax year. This will ensure that millions of low-income individuals across Canada can receive the assistance they are entitled to. In addition, in the spring economic update, we announced our intention to reduce the Canada pension plan base contribution rate from nearly 10% to 9.5% effective January 1 of next year. Our government is focusing on what we can control, such as building a stronger Canadian economy and helping Canadians who are struggling every day because of the cost of living. We will continue to shift from reliance to resilience, and we are doing all of this while maintaining a strong fiscal position. According to the spring economic update, the projected deficits are lower than anticipated in the 2025 budget. Is Canada responsible for the upheaval in the global economy? No. Is the government taking action to mitigate the consequences? Yes. We are building Canada strong for all, and I urge the members of the House to support our efforts.

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STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Arts in University—Rosedale

2026-05-25

“I'm filling time with kind words and promoting local arts in my riding.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, from local festivals to our country's biggest tourist attractions, the arts play a vital role in enriching the lives of all Canadians. University—Rosedale houses pillars of the arts like the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Gardiner Museum. Our writers and artists are hard at work: Mother Maggie Helwig won the prestigious Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for her incredible book Encampment; the King of Spain personally presented Margaret Atwood the Joan Margarit prize for her poetry at Victoria University; Clementine Dempsey-Hall has been shortlisted for a youth short story award; Tafelmusik honoured the work of women baroque composers; and the Heliconian Club, a local women's art association, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its hall. I am so grateful for the role they and all artists play in our communities.

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Private Members' Business

Criminal Code

2026-05-25

“I want to look like I support this bill. I talk a lot about how good it is. I also hint that our government's other bill C-14 is similar. I spend more time talking about C-14 than this bill. I'm filling time with kind words and saying nothing anyone could pin down later.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to speak to Bill S-233, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to assault against persons who provide health services and first responders. This bill would add an aggravating factor in the Criminal Code that applies to specific assault and assault-related offences when they are committed against first responders or persons who provide health care services. At the outset, as others have, I would like to thank my colleague in the Senate for bringing this bill forward, as well as the hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George, who introduced, as we have heard, a previous version of this legislation. Their work has provided all of us the opportunity to reflect on an important and, indeed, critical issue that affects people across this country. Every Canadian relies on the simple but essential promise that in a moment of crisis, help will come. When someone calls 911 in the face of a life-threatening emergency, they do so with the expectation that a first responder will arrive, whether that first responder be a firefighter, a paramedic or the Coast Guard. When a person or a loved one is seriously ill or injured, they rely on the presence of a health care professional who will provide care often, as we know, under the most difficult of circumstances. In Canada, first responders are there for us on our worst days. They run toward danger when others are told to stay back and provide care in uncertain and chaotic environments, and they do so not for recognition, but out of a deep commitment to serving their communities. For that, they deserve not only our gratitude, but our protection. I am very supportive of the objective of this bill, which is, broadly, to better protect first responders and health care workers. At the same time, we should also consider how Bill S-233 would interact with existing Criminal Code provisions, as well as additional proposed measures currently before Parliament. Members may recall that the concerns about violence against health care workers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the enactment of, among other measures, an aggravating factor at sentencing that applies when a person is being sentenced for an offence committed against a person who is providing health services in the performance of their duties. Aggravating factors serve an important role in the criminal sentencing process. When they are present and proven beyond a reasonable doubt, the offence may be found to be more serious or the offender's responsibility may be heightened. As a result, they can result in longer sentences. Bill S-233 seeks to add a new statutory aggravating factor to the Criminal Code to ensure that when an assault is committed against first responders and health care workers, it is explicitly recognized. I would note that this proposal is very similar to the aggravating factor that already exists in the Criminal Code, but it differs in two key respects. First, the bill would ensure that first responders who are not responding to a medical emergency are protected. As it currently stands, the existing aggravating factor applies broadly to people providing health services, which can include first responders if they are providing medical services. A first responder in a non-medical emergency may not fall within the scope of the current provision. For example, a firefighter who is responding to a fire but not providing medical services would not fall within the scope of the current aggravating factor. Second, the proposed approach in Bill S-233 would apply only to assault and some other assault-related offences, such as uttering threats, whereas the current aggravating factor, in contrast, applies to all offences in the Criminal Code. This is where the government's bill, Bill C-14, the bail and sentencing reform act, is stepping in. Bill C-14 proposes to expand the existing aggravating factor for offences against people providing health services to individuals or providing services as first responders. Importantly, as my colleague from Winnipeg South Centre noted in an earlier debate, it would take a broader approach than Bill S-233. Rather than applying only to certain assault-related offences, it would apply to all Criminal Code offences committed against first responders and health care workers. While the legal framework is important, I would like to turn to why this issue requires our attention. In this, I think we are all aligned in the House. We have heard directly from those on the front lines about the challenges they face. As the Minister of Justice has said, good ideas stem from conversations with Canadians about their lived realities in the positions we are aiming to protect. Those conversations paint a troubling picture. As my colleague from Winnipeg South Centre noted previously, the International Association of Fire Fighters, representing more than 350,000 firefighters and emergency medical workers across Canada and the United States, has called for stronger protections against threats and violence. Its data shows that violence is not an isolated occurrence but a reality that many first responders face with alarming frequency. Surveys have found that a significant proportion of firefighters have experienced violence while responding to emergencies, including both structure fires and medical calls. This problem is not limited to one profession, nor is it confined to one region. My colleague from Winnipeg South Centre also spoke about the unacceptable rates of violence faced by paramedics in Ottawa and in Peel Region. Just this month, I saw a news article about an individual who was charged for threatening to shoot paramedics responding to a call in Windsor. These experiences, in addition to the other challenging aspects of the work that first responders do, undoubtedly take a serious toll on them with respect to their physical and mental health, and on their communities. As one more of far too many examples of this, CBC News reported that between 2019 and 2025, more than 1,100 “Edmonton firefighters, paramedics and Edmonton Police Service...members have had to step away from [their work] due to psychological injuries”. These are deeply concerning realities. I would add that it goes without saying that in emergency situations, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death, any interference with the people providing assistance can have devastating consequences. No one who sets out to save lives should have to fear for their own. No one who begins a shift as a first responder or a health care worker should have to wonder whether they themselves will be the victim of a crime before the day is done. Our justice system must send a clear and unequivocal message that this violence will not be tolerated. We have a responsibility, as legislators, to respond. Bill S-233 represents an important contribution to that effort. Bill C-14 would offer a broader approach that may address some of the same concerns with respect to offences against first responders in a more comprehensive way. It will be for the House and committee to carefully study these proposals and determine the best path forward. I believe that the committee's work would be invaluable. It would allow us to hear from experts, stakeholders and the people on the front lines and examine how these measures would operate in practice and how they could best achieve the objective we all share. I look forward to the study of the bill in committee, and I am hopeful that, working together, we can move forward measures that would better protect first responders and health care workers across Canada.

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Government Orders

Spring Economic Update 2026 Implementation Act

2026-05-06

“I agree the climate is a big health problem. But I'm also saying: don't blame us. Everyone shares this problem. We all need to work on it.”

“Maybe if I say we need to talk, you won't notice I didn't promise to do anything. Ontario and Canada need to sit down and talk sometime. We'll see if I actually push for pharmacare later.”

“I want to cheer for our health care system. It's a moral victory that Canadians aren't bankrupted by medical costs. We should keep teaching the world this lesson. I'm filling time with nice words.”

“My party will spend a lot of money. That must be good for people's health.”

“I'm not going to answer the question about Bernie Sanders. Instead, I'll just say something nice about working together.”

“I'm here to support more government programs and spending, because that's what I think health means.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, across the country today, the most important conversations about health are not happening in doctors' offices. They are happening at kitchen tables, in workplaces and between neighbours on the sidewalk. They are conversations about making rent, about the cost of groceries, about finding work and about whether everything is going to be okay this week, this month or in this lifetime. These are, fundamentally, conversations about health. We often think about those conversations as conversations about the economy, as if those two things were not, in fact, one and the same. I have spent 20 years as a family doctor in my riding. I have had very important conversations with my patients in my examination room, yet I am certain that the most important conversation about my patients' health, my constituents' health and the health of every single Canadian is not any conversation I have had before. It is the one that we are having today and that we will be having tomorrow. It is one that will be ongoing in the House. It is the one that I came here to be a part of. I rise today as the new member of Parliament for University—Rosedale on the day that the House debates the spring economic update. I rise with my eyes wide open to the work that we have before us and the responsibility that we have all been given. I also take my seat with a clear sense of who has sat in the House before me. Physicians have been elected to our Parliament since well before Confederation. The very first physician elected to Parliament kept his medical bag under his seat in the House. I left my medical bag in Toronto, but my impulse to support the health of Canadians is the same as if I had brought it with me. I have joined this team because the health of the country is a bigger challenge than any one doctor can try to fix. The bigger medicine is right here, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to participate in that work. I thank the voters of University—Rosedale. They have entrusted me to be their voice, and I fully intend to continue to earn that trust every single day. I thank my partner and my daughter for their inspiration, encouragement and patience. There are also my parents. My mom is a francophone immigrant from Egypt who landed in Montreal, and my dad is an anglophone boy born into a Hamilton family that stretches back many generations. I thank them teaching me that there is no one way to be Canadian. Actually, I thank them for teaching me that the fact that there is no one way to be Canadian is precisely the thing that makes our country great. University—Rosedale is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. While I would never claim that it is the centre of the universe, in a very real sense, it reflects much of this country in 14 square kilometres. Yes, it is an urban riding in our biggest city, but 40% of my neighbours were born in another country. Many more come from another province. We have the largest university campus in Canada. We have one of the densest concentrations of hospitals on the continent. Our community is filled with the energy of Kensington Market, the Annex, Koreatown, Chinatown, Trinity-Bellwoods, Yorkville, Little Italy, Rosedale and so many more distinct neighbourhoods. We have a vibrant urban indigenous community doing incredible work at places like the Native Canadian Centre at 16 Spadina Road. That street name, I would like to mention, is an anglicization of the Anishinabe word ishspadina. University—Rosedale is a riding that contains Canada's past, its present and its future. The document before the House is the spring economic update. Economic health is health, period. Of course, part of a country's health is determined by what happens inside hospitals and doctors' offices, but more is determined elsewhere, by whether we can access an education, whether our child has eaten breakfast, whether the air we breathe is clean, whether the streets we walk are safe, whether there is a job in our future and whether there is a future in our job. Therefore, housing policy is health policy. The Canada child benefit is health policy. Access to food is health policy. Apprenticeship training, community safety, innovation and investments in infrastructure are all health policies. This is what I have learned in my 20 years treating Canadians: The best medicine, the one that does the most good for most people, is not medicine at all. It is a stable address; a meal at school every day; a good job with a good salary; and the social programs that this country has built and must have the courage to protect. That is what 24,000 of my constituents using the Canadian dental care plan are asking for. That is what 50,000 of them benefiting from our GST credit are asking for. That is what every person under 35 in my riding who rents instead of owns, because for them the dream of home ownership is exactly that, just a dream, is asking for. The Prime Minister said that this government's goal is to build Canada strong. A stronger Canada is a healthier Canada. That is what I see in the spring economic update: the expansion of the national school food program, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, GST relief for first-time homebuyers and investments in community safety. Each of these measures is a brick. Together, we will build a strong wall that will protect the promise of a strong and healthy Canada. Speaking of building with bricks, I want to spend a moment on affordable housing, because it is among the most powerful upstream health interventions any government can make. Since their peak, home prices in this country are down 20%. Rents are down 9%. Those numbers are not abstractions in University—Rosedale. They represent a multi-generational family that gets to keep its duplex in Little Portugal, a graduate student who can afford their first apartment in the Annex or a new Canadian who does not have to leave the downtown core to raise their children. Still, there is much more work to be done. We are just getting started. The late Senator Hugh Segal, one of the most thoughtful Canadians of his generation, used to speak of what he called the two essential freedoms: “freedom from fear and freedom from want.” He believed that any country worth its name owed both of them to its people. He was right. That is what the word “progressive” means to me. It is a commitment to equitable and decent public services and a growing and fair economy. It is values and value in the same breath, at the same time, every single time. This spring economic update is both a “freedom from fear” and a “freedom from want” document. It speaks to diversifying our trade partners and building the supply chains we will need when the next external shock arrives, and there will be one. As the Prime Minister has said, “we [must] take the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.” That is not only economic insurance; it is ensuring the strength and health of a country that intends to be around for a very long time. The purpose of growing and protecting our economy is not so that it looks good on paper. The purpose of our economy is people, supporting them and creating the conditions for them to achieve their fullest potential. It is taking the world as it is, yes, and also working to move it closer to the world we want it to be. To me, that is what we mean when we speak of a Canada strong for all. To my new colleagues on every side of the House, I will bring to this work the skills of every good family physician, which I have learned in two decades of medicine and leadership. They are listening and building relationships while holding the unshakable conviction that the purpose of any institution, whether it is a hospital or Parliament, is to show up for real people in the hardest moments of their lives. Members can count me in for that for the spring economic update and all the work ahead.

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Oral Questions

Housing

2026-04-28

“The government should spend more money on housing programs.”

“I'm going to ignore that my party's policies haven't really fixed the housing crisis and just say things are getting better!”