Peter Fragiskatos

In response to a question from Michelle Rempel Garner

“We introduced our citizenship bill to follow an important court decision, and our committee worked well on it. The Conservatives opposed the main points of that bill. We know about the delays the member mentioned, and we are working on them. People should also look at the Conservative record on immigration.”

“Mr. Speaker, the government’s introduction of Bill C-3 last year was in response to a court decision, a very important court decision, and the committee responsible for immigration collaborated in a constructive way, I would say. I know the Conservatives opposed the fundamental tenets of that bill, but we did respond in a very good way to the court decision. The point raised by the member is one the government continues to be aware of and work on. Going forward, I would call attention to the Conservative record on this, not just with respect to Bill C-3, but in general on immigration. They are all over—”

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“I am honouring Gord Hume, who recently passed away at 76. He served London as a city councillor and helped rebuild our market, library, and arena.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to honour the incredible life of Gord Hume, a Londoner who passed away recently at the age of 76. Gord was born in Saskatoon. He came to London in 1980. He first worked in news media, but made his most lasting contributions to our community as a city councillor. He was elected in 1997, was on the council until 2010, and especially contributed, through the millennium committee formed in 1998, to the revitalization of the Covent Garden Market, to the revitalization of the Central Library and to what was then called the John Labatt Centre, but is now called the Canada Life Place. This is the home of the London Knights, which is a landmark in London, to say the least. Gord also worked as a novelist, producing a number of books, and wrote widely on municipal government. This was a true Londoner. This was a great Canadian. Our city is less because of his passing. Our city was great because of Gord and people like him.”

In response to a question from John Barlow

“Food Banks Canada asked for several things in its report, and our government is doing them. We created the groceries and essentials benefit, which 12 million Canadians now get. We are also building housing and infrastructure, and working to give Canadians cheaper energy options. I want the Conservatives to stop playing politics and work with us.”

“Mr. Speaker, if he is going to cite Food Banks Canada and its report, he should look at the recommendations. The recommendations are clear. The groceries and essentials benefit is something the organization called for. This government enacted it, and 12 million Canadians are now receiving it. The organization also called for, among other things, housing. We have a serious focus on housing and the building up of critical infrastructure. In particular, the report called for expanding energy options in this country so Canadians can have access to cheaper energy. I invite the Conservatives to put aside partisanship in the same way that Premier Ford has, in the same way that Premier Smith has, in the same way Stephen—”

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In response to a question from Pierre Poilievre

“The Conservatives cut services for veterans when they were in power. This purchasing decision was made through an open and clear process, and the member should keep that in mind.”

“Mr. Speaker, the member raises the question of veterans, ultimately. I would remind him of the Conservative record on veterans and the endless cuts we saw under Conservative leadership. We can leave that aside for a moment. The decision, as articulated yesterday, was taken through a transparent and open process. I leave that to the member to consider.”

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In response to a question from Laila Goodridge

“Conservatives offer no helpful ideas. They want to cut child care, dental care, and child benefits. Canadians face challenges, but our economy is strong. Businesses just promised $500 billion in new investment here, and foreign investment is at record highs.”

“Mr. Speaker, the member has an opportunity on the floor of the House of Commons to offer constructive ideas. I do not hear that on the opposite side, not from the member and not from any Conservative member. Yes, there are Canadians going through challenges. We should be there for them every step of the way. What do the Conservatives want to do? They want to get rid of the Canada child benefit, day care support and dental support, all these various benefits. However, let us take it out of the political realm and look to the private sector. At the investment summit, $500 billion of investment and financing was committed. We have seen the record foreign direct investment—”

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In response to a question from Pat Kelly

“If Conservatives will not listen to us, they should listen to their own leaders. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is working with our government to create jobs and build projects.”

“Mr. Speaker, I remind my Conservative colleagues, with great respect, of course, that if they do not want to listen to Liberals, I suppose that is fine. They can listen to Conservatives. Stephen Harper has already been mentioned. They should listen, especially, to Premier Danielle Smith. My colleague is from Alberta. Most members of the Conservative caucus are from Alberta. They ought to listen to the Conservative premier of that province, who is working constructively with this government to ensure that the country is building and to ensure that jobs are the focus, so we can ensure a future for our children.”

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In response to a question from Lianne Rood

“The member focuses on silly things like paper lids instead of real issues. Our Liberal policies focus on the economy, jobs, child care, and health care to build a better future for our kids.”

“Mr. Speaker, this member spent a half hour in a video going after Tim Hortons for converting to paper lids. Paper lids are her contribution to this discussion. She talks about Liberal policies. Liberal policies are squarely focused on the economy, on jobs, on youth, on child care, on dental care and on pharmacare. They are focused on making sure we have a prosperous environment and a prosperous society to give back to our kids.”

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“June is ALS Awareness Month. Over 4,000 Canadians live with ALS, a disease that slowly takes away a person's ability to walk, talk, and breathe. I want to recognize the people living with ALS, their families, and the researchers and groups working to help them.”

“Mr. Speaker, more than 4,000 Canadians live with ALS, and June is ALS Awareness Month. ALS has been called a rare disease, but that does not take away from the very real impacts it has on people who are living with it. ALS attacks the nerve cells that are responsible for movement; therefore, basic human functions such as walking, speaking, breathing and much more are impacted. While the effects are gradual, they are absolutely devastating. For the month of June, when we reflect on ALS and what it means for those living with it, we also celebrate the resilience of those who have this terrible disease. We also think of their family, their friends, their health care workers and of course the researchers. The researchers are doing so much, not only to bring awareness to ALS but also to provide hope. “Research”, of course, is another word for hope. I thank them. I thank the ALS Society of Canada and ALS Action Canada, two incredible advocacy organizations doing so much as well. We will continue this fight together.”

In response to a question from Michael Chong

“We trust border officers to keep Canadians safe. Canada lists the IRGC as a terrorist group. People who break the law are being targeted, and they can be deported.”

“Mr. Speaker, we continue to entrust law enforcement, in particular the men and women of the Canada Border Services Agency, to do what is necessary to keep Canadians safe. As I said before, since 2024, the IRGC has been recognized as a terrorist entity. Everything we do will be in accordance with public safety. Individuals who break the law are absolutely the focus of the government and the CBSA, and they can be deported.”

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In response to a question from Chris Malette

“This member does great work. Like all Liberal MPs, he pushed for the grocery benefit. Today, families of four are getting cheques of up to $533 to help with costs.”

“Madam Speaker, this member is doing outstanding work, first of all, on the committees for environment and for defence. He brings with him years of experience as a city councillor and as a journalist. He has been a pillar of his community. Of course, just like every Liberal MP, the member has advocated for the groceries and essentials benefit, a benefit that that will allocate up to $1,900 for a family of four. Today, cheques going out are up to the amount of $533 for a family of four. This is serious support for families because we believe in this country, and that is the approach we take.”

In response to a question from Ned Kuruc

“The Conservatives keep blocking changes to the justice system. Police chiefs and voters support these changes. Also, the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that a person's immigration status does not change their sentence.”

“Mr. Speaker, time and again throughout the parliamentary session, the Conservatives have stood in the way of genuine, real and historic criminal justice reform. They will continue to do so, I suppose, but they should listen to their constituents, who want to see real reform. They should review the comments of police chiefs across the country, who have spoken in favour of exactly what the government is doing on these issues. With respect to the issue of non-residents or non-citizens, he knows very well, or should, that in 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada made clear that courts, and justices in particular, can take note of the immigration status of an individual but that does not impact upon sentencing.”

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In response to a question from Anna Roberts

“We will not cut seniors' pensions like the Conservatives want to do. We are working with local and provincial governments to build more housing. Canada faces serious economic challenges from a trade war, but we will protect Canadians.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will say what we will not do for seniors. We will not propose, as our central seniors policy, cutting pensions, for which the Leader of the Opposition fought for 20‑plus years. Housing is a very legitimate issue to talk about. We need more housing. That is why the government is seized with exactly that objective, working with provincial and municipal governments toward that end. If we look at the headwinds facing the Canadian economy and the trade war that has been put upon us, we see that of course there are challenges. The hardships created will absolutely be there for Canadians day in and day out. Conservatives can propose ideas that will not work and will not be serious. We are a serious government. We are going to stand up for Canadians.”

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In response to a question from Burton Bailey

“Both parties have supported health care for refugee claimants since the 1950s. Claimants make up less than 1% of our population, and their health care costs less than 0.2% of our total health spending. We have a duty to help them.”

“Mr. Speaker, that was almost on cue. I guess the member did not have time to revise the question. There the Conservatives go again about refugee claimants. The members knows or should know that the interim federal health program has been in existence since the 1950s, supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Let us also continue with the facts. Refugee claimants comprise less than 1% of the total population. That program, the interim federal health program, makes up less than 0.2% of the total health care spending in Canada. We have an obligation to respond in a compassionate way and also in a responsible way.”

In response to a question from Rachael Thomas

“Our trade relationship with the United States and the world economy are in trouble. We need to work together to protect our future. The Prime Minister is doing that by finding new trade partners, supporting our natural resources, and building ways to sell them.”

“Mr. Speaker, as we know, Canada has been especially dependent on the relationship with the United States. That relationship is experiencing a rupture. The global economy is experiencing a rupture. The result is that, if we are going to be serious about these matters, we must work together to better this country. If they do not want to listen to the Liberals, that is fine; they should listen to Stephen Harper. We must work together to find ways to ensure our future and our children’s future. That is exactly what the Prime Minister is doing. Diversification is a priority. Building this country up, focusing on our resources and focusing on the infrastructure that will get our resources to market—”

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  “The global economy is more than a year into a profound rupture.”

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“I want to celebrate Arbour Glen Day Nursery in London, Ontario. It is turning 60 years old. I want to thank its staff and teachers for helping my daughter and many other local children.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the remarkable legacy and contributions of Arbour Glen Day Nursery, a child care centre in our community of London, Ontario, that will soon mark its 60th anniversary. I say it is remarkable because I speak from experience. Our daughter Ava took her first few steps there, formed her first friendships there and learned her first words there. What is true of Ava and our experience is true of so many other families and kids in London. This is a great place. It has been around for 60 years and for very good reason. It is because of the leadership, and it is because of the board, but it is especially because of the early childhood educators. I use those words very deliberately, as they are the teachers who help these kids day in and day out. With that, I wish the nursery another 60 years of incredible contributions and thank it for all the work that it has done. It matters. It has made a difference.”