House of Commons Guest User House of Commons Guest User

Statement on Chamber Leadership Panels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, 

Small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy, and our chambers of commerce do incredible work serving and representing member businesses.  

This winter I had the opportunity to participate in two panels hosted by the Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and the Cloverdale Chamber of Commerce. The “Local Leadership Panel” is a wonderful initiative that connects businesses with representatives from all three levels of government and provides them with the chance to ask questions about government policies and other areas of concern. 

I am continuously grateful for the hard work of our Chambers of Commerce in representing the myriad of businesses operating in Cloverdale – Langley City. Cory and Scott – these events wouldn’t be possible without your dedication and leadership in improving our community. 

I want to take a moment and thank my co-panelists, for joining me in participating in the Local Leadership Panels. I also want to thank the business leaders who attended these panels, as well as the organizations and institutions that support our Chambers of Commerce and make these events possible. 

Thank you. 

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House of Commons Guest User House of Commons Guest User

Statement on Guru Nanak Food Bank

Mr. Speaker,

On July 1, 2020, the Guru Nanak Food Bank was born, serving residents of Surrey and Delta in my province of British Columbia.

Under the banner “Recognize All Human Race as One”, the Guru Nanak Food Bank provides essential food and assistance to those in need. The Food Bank is assisted by 69 youth volunteers aged 9 to 17 who have collectively contributed a staggering 11,569 hours of volunteer work during their summer break.

Guru Nanak Food Bank serves 16,000 people monthly, accounting for 320,000 pounds of food. Just last week, they distributed over 50,000 pounds of bananas to the community!

Guru Nanak Food Bank takes pride in providing these services to this community. These are among the many reasons I strongly support Guru Nanak Food Bank in their application for BC Food Bank membership. I am proud of the progress they have made over the last three years and look forward to continuing my support for this fantastic organization.

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RNNR Committee, Oct. 23 (Pt 1)

RNNR Filibuster Pt 1

I've had a lot of questions from constituents frustrated that the Sustainable Jobs Act is being held up by the Conservatives in committee. We are now entering the third week and it is STILL being filibustered by the Cons.

On Monday, October 23rd, I was disappointed to see Conservative Members of the Natural Resources Committee filibuster our witnesses, some of whom who took their time to fly to Ottawa to testify. Our committee had been discussing Canada’s Clean Energy response to the US Inflation Reduction Act, with witnesses from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Climate Institute, the Net-Zero Advisory Body, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Unifor Quebec, and the Canadian Labour Congress. I had some important questions I wanted to ask the Canadian Labour Congress and the Canadian Climate Institute, but I sadly never got the chance to speak due to the Conservative filibuster and antics.

I have one clip here that shows the motion the Conservatives moved, which had no relevance to the discussion at hand as its sole purpose was to disrupt Committee.

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House of Commons Guest User House of Commons Guest User

Statement about the National Trust for Canada

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,  

I rise in the House today to offer congratulations to the National Trust for Canada on their 50th anniversary Conference. Taking place in Ottawa right now at the Château Laurier, this year’s Conference theme is “Transforming Heritage”. 

The Conference has brought together over 700 heritage professionals, advocates, and industry leaders from across the country, and is being held in partnership with the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and the Indigenous Heritage Circle.  

The National Trust for Canada is the leading national charity dedicated to the conservation and use of Canada's historic places. Since its inception in 1973, the organization has powered a movement dedicated to preserving and revitalizing heritage buildings, landscapes, and communities for the benefit of people and the planet. 

I want to say a special thank you to Natalie Bull and Chris Wiebe from the National Trust. Their dedication to heritage shows through their hard work. They mobilized support for Bill C-23, which is key legislation for the protection of Canada’s national heritage. From conference attendees, I call on members of this House for the swift passage of C-23.  

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Statement about World Polio Day

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,  

Today I stand to recognize World Polio Day and the efforts of Rotary International. Over 700 Rotary clubs across Canada, including my club in Langley, carry the vision of a polio-free world and continue to work tirelessly toward this goal.  

Since 2006, the federal government has contributed over 200 million dollars to support polio eradication efforts. Unfortunately, the pandemic has caused millions of children to miss their polio vaccinations, resulting in outbreaks threatening this tremendous progress. Sustained action is critical to protect global health. If we stop now, we risk the paralysis of 200,000 children a year worldwide.  

Please join me today in marking World Polio Day by thanking all who contribute to eradicating polio in our local communities and internationally. Our work is not yet complete. We must remain steadfast in our support to end this terrible disease once and for all. 

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