Melissa Lantsman

In response to a question from Sébastien Lemire

“Past money sent to the provinces did not build more homes or lower prices. The government still cannot tell us how many homes this 1.7 billion dollars will build. Does my colleague know how many homes this bill will actually build?”

“Mr. Speaker, the story is the same, same and not different with this bill and all of the other money that has flowed through provinces where housing starts did not increase and the price has not gone down. In fact, it has gone up. Earlier today, we asked the Minister of Housing how many houses the $1.7 billion would build. We even asked the parliamentary secretary, who had a slightly better answer than the minister, but there is still no answer at all about how many houses the $1.7 billion of taxpayers’ money would build. I ask my hon. colleague if he knows how many houses the $1.7 billion the House is being asked to approve right now will build.”

“We should keep debating this bill. The minister has not answered how many homes his 1.7-billion-dollar plan will actually build.”

“Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about process from the minister and in the House as to why this bill should be closed for debate. However, what we and the industry have not heard from the minister is how many homes the $1.7 billion that he wants to spend of taxpayer dollars is going to build. He has not answered that question, which is why we should continue to debate this.”

“Canadians are going hungry and seniors cannot afford homes. The government will not answer questions about this. When will the government change the bad policies that caused these problems?”

“Mr. Speaker, for the last 45 minutes, Canadians watching at home have known that this is not answer period. The Liberals do not have a single answer, and the ministers are out of their depth. Some are reading off their cellphones, and the President of the Treasury Board is still flipping through his binder, looking for an answer to the question. This is serious. Canadians at home are going hungry. Seniors are living on the side of the highway because they cannot afford a home. When will the government reverse its disastrous policies that got us here in the first place?”

“A second police officer was killed this week while investigating shootings, including an attack on the U.S. consulate. What is the government doing to help the investigation and keep Canadians safe?”

“Mr. Speaker, we know, indeed, that it is a difficult time. We know that this is the second officer killed in the line of duty this week. That number is too high. Constable Pinizzotto was executing a warrant linked to several shootings, including one targeting the U.S. consulate in Toronto. With an attack on a diplomatic mission on Canadian soil, a police officer now dead and a suspect at large, can the minister please tell the House whether security agencies are engaged and what the government is specifically doing to support the investigation and keep Canadians from coast to coast safe?”

“The government let people connected to Iran's military into Canada and is reviewing thousands of visas. I want the minister to tell us how many of these people are here and if more than one has been deported.”

“Mr. Speaker, those ministers must know that if someone is inadmissible, they are not allowed into the country. The Minister of Immigration admitted to the House that her government let people with ties to the IRGC into this country and she admitted that thousands of visas have been or needed to be reviewed since the beginning of this year, but she will not admit how many people with ties to the IRGC are actually here. Can the minister stand up now, from her seat, and finally tell the House if more than one IRGC agent has been deported from this country?”

“The Prime Minister spends far too much public money on himself, his flights, and his office. When Canadian families are hurting because of the economy, he should cut his own spending.”

“Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the Liberals actually compared the salaries and offices and the economy-class flights of the Leader of the Opposition to the Prime Minister’s $835 on orange juice on one trip or the $3,800 he spent on chocolate mousse on a flight. That is on top of the $250 million he spends on his personal office. That is 30 times more than the Leader of the Opposition. While families are forced to tighten their belts because he is the only leader in the G20 that plunged us into a recession, should he not tighten his own?”

“Canadians do not feel safe, and the government has no real plan to stop violence and threats against Jewish people. I want the Prime Minister to take real action.”

“Mr. Speaker, that minister should ask anyone in Canada, or even the hundred Liberal donors who were in that room last night, if they feel safer today. The answer is no, because what we heard yesterday was hollow. It was reviewing previous reviews and studying studies on a crisis that the government presided over, funded and fuelled. That is not a plan. Nothing he said will stop the bullets from entering the member’s own synagogue or the genocidal slogans that are uttered in the streets every single day against Canadians. Will the Prime Minister finally stand up in the House and meet the moment he so spectacularly failed—”

“I want the House to recognize Shomrim Toronto. They are a volunteer safety group that worked with police and neighbours to find a missing young girl safely.”

“Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize an extraordinary demonstration of community strength right here in Canada. When a young girl went missing in north Toronto, Shomrim Toronto, a volunteer community safety and security organization, mobilized immediately. Shomrim coordinated its members alongside local law enforcement, community organizations and thousands of residents who answered the call without hesitation. They were strangers who dropped everything to help. The young girl was found safe, and we send our deepest thanks to everyone who helped. What unfolded over those first critical hours, days and weeks is a testament to their professionalism and compassion. They are ordinary people working around the clock for days and weeks. That is a testament to their professionalism. It is not just a supplement to public safety, but an essential pillar of it, and we should recognize that. Shomrim Toronto deserves the full recognition of the House. This year, it will receive a community heroes award. Those who know Shomrim’s value understand it is as sacred as the life and universe it helped save this time and every time before it.”

“We already have laws, and this bill will not stop the violence on our streets. The Prime Minister is doing nothing while synagogues are attacked and hate continues. I want to know what it will take for the government to finally act.”

“Mr. Speaker, we all know the laws exist. The member opposite knows full well that Bill C-9 and anything he mentioned would not have stopped a single thing that happened in the streets. We already know the Prime Minister will not act because he has not acted. In fact, he did not say a thing last week. More effigies will be hung, more firebombs will be thrown into synagogues and more Liberal MPs will pose for pictures with those who glorify terrorism. The question is not whether the government will finally call this a crisis. We know they will not. The question is how much more needs to happen in order for anybody to do anything.”

“Many of these people are still in Canada. I want the minister to tell me the number. Ask your officials sitting in front of you.”

“Mr. Chair, many of them are still in Canada. I am asking for just a number, minister. You must know this. Your officials are sitting in front of you. Ask them.”