Sameer Zuberi

In response to a question from Kevin Lamoureux

“I support this bill. The internet is dangerous for children, and this bill sets basic rules to stop the worst online harms. We should have passed these rules years ago.”

“Mr. Speaker, the member for Winnipeg North was referring to parents, and many of us here are parents. We care about raising our children, and we make sure that they are taken care of. We do not put our children into spaces where there is potential harm. However, we know, unfortunately, that online spaces can sometimes be the Wild West, and something that this bill is addressing is to put guardrails on the most egregious of behaviours. I would say, frankly, that this is long overdue. The fact we are actually legislating on this right now, today, after the Internet and things have been in existence for what is now running to decades, is something that we need to reflect on as a chamber. How is it possible we are so late in this? This is something we should have addressed a long time ago. Therefore, I am really happy that we are doing this now. We need to reflect on our tardiness in dealing with this situation.”

• Didn't answer
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Relevance 43 of 100

  None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

  See full analysis →
• Reasons given
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Reasoning 100 of 100

  This statement drew 4 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.

  See full analysis →

In response to a question from Elizabeth May

“The Green Party leader reminds us to treat each other with respect in this House. We should also have that respect in other spaces, and this bill tries to do that.”

“Mr. Speaker, the leader of the Green Party is always reminding us about best practices in this House, and I really appreciate that in the member opposite. She reminds us frequently about our comportment and decorum and to respect one another. That is something that we should be doing within this chamber and also in other spaces, as this bill is seeking to do.”

• Little substance
  ?

  Reply to a debate question

  Signal 35 of 100

  Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

  See full analysis →

“I want the House to pass this bill. It makes social media companies protect users, especially children, from serious online harms like sexual exploitation and harassment.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg North. I rise today to speak about Bill C-34, the safe social media act. One of the most important parts of my work is hearing directly from Pierrefonds—Dollard residents. Earlier this summer, I sat down with upwards of 200 residents during our annual coffee, cookies and conversation round tables. We spoke about many different things: the cost of living, the economy, the affordability crisis and the housing crisis, among many other things. We talked about the need for social media spaces to reflect the conduct we expect from one another in real life too. Residents told me that they want a safer social media environment. That is why our government has been working with stakeholders from across many different fields to make the digital world safer. Let me spend a moment on that idea, because that is the heart of Bill C-34. In our communities, we all live by shared expectations and values. We expect neighbours to treat one another with respect. We expect that someone who harasses a person in public will be held to account. These are the basic standards of decency that bind our society and that promote harmony. These concepts are also part of what makes Canada great, but somewhere along the way, some began to think that the online world operates by different rules. That is what we are here today to address. We need to be mindful that things that we would never tolerate on the streets should not become acceptable, but somehow that has been the case online. It should not be the case online or off-line. One’s behaviour online should ideally be consistent with how we expect one to act in real life and how we would expect ourselves to act in real life. That is the principle behind Bill C-34. It does not ask for anything new of Canadians. It just asks that our behaviour be more consistent. It asks that the standards that we already hold apply across spaces. I want to highlight the positive impacts that social media plays in our lives. The digital world gives us a sense of community and belonging. It is a powerful tool for sharing information. Many social justice movements and advocates utilize social media to share messages and raise awareness. This is critical, and we as parliamentarians utilize social media to share the good work we are doing within our constituencies and across this country. It is also utilized by our government to share the work that our government is doing: new trade deals, partnerships, new housing initiatives and the new ways we are building Canada strong. The social media world is now part of our daily life too. In 2025, 95% of Canadian adults had at least one social media account. Many of us here have multiple social media accounts. However, the same platforms that connect us can also be used to harm us. They can spread hate, misinformation and even harassment, and for our children, the consequences can be grave and severe. In 2024, police reported nearly 17,000 incidents involving online child sexual exploitation offences. That same year, police reported 368 incidents of sexual extortion involving victims 17 years of age or younger. In 2025, police reported over 3,000 incidents of non-consensual distribution of intimate images, and nearly 500 of those involved a victim who was 17 or younger. Behind each of these numbers is a child, a loved one, a family member and sometimes a life injured or even shattered. We are also seeing serious and growing youth mental health concerns. In the past decade, depression has doubled and anxiety has quadrupled within the demographic of Canadians aged 15 to 24. These phenomena are not limited to this demographic, though. We cannot pretend that the online environment plays no role. Let me be clear. Children are not the only ones struggling with the challenges due to harmful online behaviour; adults are not immune to these phenomena. As I mentioned earlier, we need to also recognize that digital platforms are designed to keep us engaged for long periods of time. Through features such as endless scrolling and personalized recommendations, we can spend hours on social media platforms. None of this happens by accident. These are choices made by people who build and operate these platforms. If the harm can be built in, the safety can be built in too. Canadians gave us a mandate to protect, including in online spaces, and that is exactly what we would be doing through Bill C-34. We would be making sure that social media services and AI chatbots are safe by design. Just as we are encouraging responsible behaviour online, we should not expect platforms to play this role without legislation such as this. We need to engender and support a healthier online environment. Bill C-34 has two main parts: enacting the digital safety act and enacting the digital safety commission act of Canada. The framework would focus on three core duties for social media services: the duty to act responsibly, the duty to protect children and the duty to make certain content inaccessible. The safe social media act is essential and would be a timely step that is necessary to promote a safe-by-design social media environment. We are also asking social media and chatbot service operators to disclose the steps they are taking to protect users from harmful content. We are focusing only on serious harm. We are not looking to impact everyday content or conversations. Under this bill, a new commission, the digital safety commission of Canada, will be established to regulate these services. It will consist of three to five full-time members to be appointed by the Governor in Council. The commission will be responsible for administering and enforcing the digital safety act. Within three months after the end of each fiscal year, it must submit a report on its activities to the minister, who will table that report in Parliament. Our government recognizes that transparency is essential to advancing digital safety. The commission will also be tasked with promoting digital safety in Canada. It will do so through research and education, in collaboration with experts and professionals. It will investigate complaints relating to content that sexually victimizes a child or revictimizes a survivor. It will also address intimate content communicated without consent and will ensure that operators of regulated services are transparent and accountable. This summer, as I said earlier, I met with 200 residents of Pierrefonds—Dollard. We discussed many topics, including the importance of ensuring that social media is a space where everyone can feel respected. We know that a community is built on respect and on the way we treat each other. These values should not stop just because we are online. Interactions on social media are now part of our daily lives. We must be able to find the same respect there that we want to see in real life. That is the spirit behind this bill. The work begins at the committee stage, where parliamentarians will be speaking to experts and stakeholders. I urge all members of the House to support this bill.”

• Reasons given
  ?

  Speech on a bill

  Reasoning 100 of 100

  This statement drew 3 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.

  See full analysis →

In response to a question from Mona Fortier

“I support this bill. It lets Canada punish foreign officials who harass and intimidate people living here. Sanctions stop human rights abusers, and this bill makes our laws stronger.”

“Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to speak in support of Bill C‑219. I also want to thank the member for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman for introducing this bill, as well as the members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development for their work. We are here today to talk, first off, about a new and important update around the sanctions regime. At the same time, we are honouring an important figure in world history, Sergei Magnitsky, who was a brave soul and brave person who stood up to tyrants, who stood up to those who were abusing rights. He gave his life for that at the age of 37. We know that he was imprisoned and suffered grave mistreatment. Even after he died at 37 years of age, he was tried, the reasons for which just boggle the mind. The man had already lost his life and he was tried after the fact. We are honouring Sergei Magnitsky, an important individual in world history. While thinking about his name, we can take his example and remember what he did. He challenged authority, he challenged injustice and he stood strong. That is what I would suggest we in this House all need to do. This bill is an improvement from one that was previously deposited in a previous Parliament, and a number of fixes have come about. Before I get to that, though, it is important to note that 60% of the sanctions that Canada has implemented have manifested within the last four years. These sanctions have touched on a number of different themes and different subjects. They include sanctions against Russian officials due to the unjustified occupation and war in Ukraine. They include sanctions against Chinese officials for what is happening within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. They include sanctions against West Bank settlers because of activities in the State of Palestine, West Bank. They include sanctions against the IRGC and Russian officials because of what the IRGC has done to its own people. There are others. These sanctions are an important signal to those who break international norms and abuse human rights and are a deterring mechanism so that anybody who abuses basic dignity and promotes grave violations knows they will face consequences. Canada has always stood up for human rights. Within the international community, we are looked upon as a leading voice and are looked upon as a country that promotes the rules-based order. Therefore, this update put forth by the member opposite is an important update and is salutary. It is important to note the people who have been working here in Canada and overseas on this. At the subcommittee on international human rights, we did a study on a particular aspect that relates to this legislation: transnational repression. We heard from a number of witnesses who themselves had been subject to transnational repression or were advocating on behalf of those who had been subject to transnational repression. They included Tibetans. They included Falun Gong and Falun Dafa advocates. They included Uyghurs. They included Hong Kongers, and others. We heard from those who have suffered repression from Iran’s government and Russia, just to name a few countries. All of those brave souls spoke about the different methods of transnational repression. They spoke about how they and their families were harassed and intimidated and how that happened both online and off-line, and said that anonymous people during important moments sought to intimidate and silence them. These people chose not to be silenced, though, like Sergei Magnitsky. They have shared how challenging it is to be working in an environment where there is transnational repression and how important it is for us, as a country, to confront it, respond to it and address it. There are a number of ways in which we address it. One way is through our intelligence agencies and the RCMP, which are fully monitoring what is happening and ensuring that foreign actors are not involved in transnational repression or foreign interference. There are reports that can be made to the police and to the RCMP. While they are not perfect, they exist and they are a method to address this issue. The updated legislation we are addressing today is another method, because it would allow for sanctions to be administered when individuals are propagating transnational repression, whatever its form, be it in person, online or in any way. I also want to speak about the importance of those who are raising their voice, not only here in Canada but overseas. Initially, when this legislation was deposited in the previous Parliament, it asked that we give details that would have compromised human rights defenders overseas. Thankfully, that has been fixed in this legislation by the foreign affairs committee. What happened is—”

“Our immigration system must balance order with compassion. We are helping 115,000 protected people who face danger back home stay here as permanent residents. I want the minister to explain how the budget will keep supporting refugees while keeping Canadians' trust.”

“Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak about Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s 2026-27 main estimates as a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. Canadians have asked us to bring balance to the immigration system while upholding the values of compassion and respect. To that effect, our committee has examined several important themes this parliamentary session. We have heard from government officials on the concrete progress they have made to bring balance and transparency to our immigration system and from frontline workers across our beautiful country about the unique regional challenges they are facing. We have heard from academics about ways to improve our immigration system and from deeply vulnerable communities that have come to Canada seeking safety and protection. We are living through a period of significant global change and, dare I say, turmoil. Presently, 120 million people are displaced from their homes because of climate change, conflict and persecution. Canada has a strong and proud humanitarian tradition. This reflects our values and our international obligations. We believe that everyone in need of protection deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. They deserve a chance to rebuild their lives. They deserve a chance to work, to study and to contribute to the Canadian family while here. In line with our latest humanitarian commitments regarding protected persons, we have announced a new initiative aimed at facilitating the transition to permanent residence. This initiative affects approximately 115,000 protected persons in Canada. These are particularly vulnerable individuals who have been recognized as needing protection. They have met very strict legal criteria. They cannot return to their countries of origin. If they were to return, it would mean persecution and a potential threat to their lives. These people are already contributing to communities across Canada. They are becoming neighbours, workers, students, volunteers, business leaders and members of the community—our community. They are helping to build the country we share. This initiative involving protected persons is also a matter of compassion. Many constituents in my riding, Pierrefonds—Dollard, have told me of the pain caused by family separation and the difficulty of reuniting with their loved ones. This measure will help to remedy these difficult situations. It is a good example of the necessary balance between compassion and the system’s capacity. We are restoring order to the system while continuing to protect those who need it most. We have seen in the last years how quickly humanitarian situations can evolve or devolve. We have been responding to a range of international crises and displacement situations; however, behind every crisis are countless human stories. Take the case of Sudan. The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the largest crisis in the world, with an estimated 13.6 million people uprooted by fighting and extreme violence. Community advocates have testified at the immigration committee about the Sudan family reunification program. Sudanese Canadians have sought to bring their family members to safety. They have also worked closely with IRCC and the international crisis response team to help restart biometric collection in Sudan, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the IOM. This is an example of what collaboration between government and advocates can achieve. Take the crisis in Gaza. It continues to be a nightmare, with staggering humanitarian needs. Palestinian Canadians who have loved ones in Gaza continue to endure heartache while trying to bring their family members to safety. Those who have found safety in Canada are deeply grateful. They have started to rebuild their lives but are still worrying about loved ones they have left behind. Canada’s humanitarian tradition is built on partnerships. We do not go at it alone; we rely on international partners, such as UNHCR and others, to help identify people in need of protection. One such example is the partnership in the special immigration program of motion M-62. It was created to resettle vulnerable Uyghur refugees here in Canada. The Uyghur people are facing mass arbitrary detention, forced separation of children from their parents, forced sterilization and forced labour. At the immigration committee, we have heard from officials about the progress made through the resettlement program. Advocates have also testified about the value of the program and the need for it to continue at an increased scale. I have met with vulnerable people who are Uyghur, Palestinian, Rohingya or Ukrainian, and many others, people who have been welcomed here to Canada with open hearts and compassion. They are deeply grateful to all Canadians for providing them with refuge and safety. Their stories are human stories that remind us about our best selves, of our duty to protect people in need and of what it means to be Canadian and to be a humanitarian. In our immigration system, we work in partnership with the provinces and territories, municipalities and local communities. This collaboration is essential to welcoming newcomers. We rely on settlement organizations that provide essential integration services, including language training, employment assistance and housing supports. We also rely on civil society organizations and volunteers. They help make Canada’s humanitarian tradition a daily reality for everyone. This collective effort is one of our strengths as Canadians. It is also important to remember the positive contributions made by newcomers to our communities. Immigrants contribute to our economy and help address labour shortages. They set up businesses. They build homes. They care for our sick and elderly. They also enrich our communities through their diverse backgrounds. Every generation of Canadians has been shaped by people from other places. These are people who arrived here with little to their names, people who worked hard to build a better life for their families. This story continues today. It continues in Pierrefonds—Dollard and across the country. Our government is committed to continuing to build an immigration system that is fair, sustainable and true to Canadian values. I thank the minister for being here today; for responding to the questions of all members, from both the governing party and the opposition parties, with respect to our immigration system; and for taking the time to provide thorough and accurate answers. With that, I will ask my own question. Can the Minister of Immigration share with us how these main estimates will continue to support our refugee and humanitarian immigration system while making sure that it reflects our values as Canadians, respects our international obligations and inspires confidence among Canadians for years to come?”