MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Michael Coteau

Liberal Scarborough—Woburn 3 statements translated

Coteau consistently promotes his riding of Scarborough and works to draw attention to local issues and individuals. He pushes for specific actions like anti-hate legislation and a national framework on sickle cell disease, using pointed questions and emotional appeals to build support.

Government Orders

Government Business No. 13—Proceedings on Bill C‑22

2026-06-17

“I want to put the Conservatives on the spot to answer why they voted a certain way. It will make them look bad.”

Private Members' Business

National Framework on Sickle Cell Disease Act

2026-06-16

“I want this bill to pass. We should send it to committee. It's a chance to improve the system and help sick people. I'm telling a sad story to make you support my bill.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of the people of Scarborough—Woburn and on behalf of families and patients across this country, people who have suffered from sickle cell. It is a great honour to channel their voice here in this great chamber. We have heard a lot about paperwork. We have heard a lot about transparency. We have heard a lot about the mechanics of how government works. We have heard a lot about jurisdiction. I want to bring it back to the patient. I want to take a few moments to describe what a patient actually goes through when they are suffering from sickle cell. I am not sure if members know how it works, but a cell moves through a blood vessel. It goes into smaller parts of the blood vessel, and when it does not get through, it starts to build up and cause pain. When I talk to an actual patient of sickle cell and ask them to describe how that pain feels, they say it is a throbbing, sharp, stabbing pain. It almost feels like their bones are being broken. It feels like they are being crushed. This is how they describe it. Sometimes it is a few days to two-plus weeks of pain, where their bones feel like they are being crushed. That is, of course, in a very severe case. It takes sometimes weeks to recover. People are just exhausted, and it takes away several weeks of their lives, because of the pain. Historically, people who have suffered from sickle cell in this country and other countries around the world have been ignored. Sickle cell has been entangled with racism. There has been a lack of research applied to studying this particular disease and a lack of knowledge that doctors and people within the health care system have been provided. For people in Canada who have been waiting for services, when they go into an actual crisis, it is reported that they wait 25% longer, because the health care system cannot even identify, in many cases, what is wrong with them. This disease usually impacts people who have darker skin: people from the Middle East, people from the Caribbean, South Asians and people from Africa. As such, traditionally, it has been entangled with racism. The interesting thing is that there are actually solutions. There is a cure for sickle cell. Here we are today, in Canada, where there is a disease impacting several thousand people, that we know of, and there is a cure, yet there are people in our system, Canadians, who are living with this disease. It is very difficult for them to work and it is very difficult for them to live normal lives, and they go through pain that is just unbelievable. We have an opportunity here as members of Parliament, a unique opportunity. We have an opportunity to move this bill forward and send it to committee so we can discuss items like how we improve the system and how we look at the jurisdictional component. Of course the provinces and the territories are the ones that have jurisdiction over health care, but we have an opportunity as a House to provide leadership to help build a system right across this country to better the lives of so many Canadians. I want to thank every single member in the House for their words today. I do believe we are all on the same page, and that page is to make sure that we do everything we can as members of Parliament in the House to protect and better the lives of all Canadians.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗

Statements by Members

Scarborough Walk of Fame

2026-04-29

“I want to say nice things about these people from my riding. They did good things. We should cheer for them and be proud. This makes us look good.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, today I am so proud to rise to congratulate the newest inductees to the Scarborough Walk of Fame. This year's honourees are Trevor Godinho for arts and culture, Jesse Asido for business, Geetha Moorthy and John and Cathy Phillips for their community work, Andre De Grasse for his sports efforts, Stan Farrow and Dr. Malloy for education, and Fefe Dobson for entertainment. Each of these remarkable individuals has demonstrated excellence, leadership and a deep commitment to giving back. Their contributions have left a lasting and positive impact in our community. Scarborough is so proud of them. They reflect the best of our community and indeed the best of Canada. I thank all this year's recipients for inspiring us to dream bigger, to give back and to continue to build a stronger, more vibrant Scarborough.

View on ourcommons.ca ↗