Ernie Klassen

Courtenay—Alberni Madam Speaker, I welcome the opportunity to address the issues raised by my colleague, the hon. member for. Minister of Fisheries Fisheries and Oceans Canada is aware that many fish harvesters on the west coast are facing economic challenges. That is why, in February, theannounced two new objectives to guide the licensing reform work happening under the west coast commercial [more]

Madam Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting and strengthening the economies of our coastal communities. Fishing is an important part of many coastal communities on the west coast. This government is taking steps to actively work with first nations, harvesters, licence holders and processors to explore potential solutions that reflect the unique realities of the west coast. [more]

Mr. Speaker, for over 100 years, Alex House in my riding of South Surrey—White Rock has been dedicated to empowering people to build and nurture a strong, connected community by offering programs and services that support individuals and families at every stage of life, from early childhood education and youth programs to seniors' services, wellness initiatives and community outreach. This year [more]

Mr. Speaker, in Canada, educators are working to ensure that our schools are places where all students feel safe, respected and able to learn. Organizations, such as the ARC Foundation, support this effort through initiatives like SOGI 123, which provides educators with age-appropriate tools and resources to foster inclusive and respectful school environments. This helps schools strengthen [more]

Mr. Speaker, protecting the certainty and integrity of private property rights remains a fundamental priority for our government. That is precisely why we advance all viable legal arguments to protect private property. We do not agree with the B.C. Supreme Court's ruling, which is why the government appealed it back in September. Our government is fully committed to ensuring stability, certainty [more]

Mr. Speaker, it is also important to be very clear about the Musqueam agreements. These agreements do not impact private property. The agreements recognize the Musqueam's constitutionally protected aboriginal rights in the specific areas of stewardship and marine emergency management while creating a practical framework for collaboration between Canada and the first nations. These agreements [more]

Mr. Speaker, preserving the certainty and stability of private property is of utmost importance. This is why we will advance all viable legal arguments to protect private property. We believed then and we continue to believe now that those potentially affected by a decision of this magnitude deserve to be informed and heard. This is why, as far back as 2017, Canada argued before the court that [more]

Mr. Speaker, this motion misrepresents both the law and the government's position. It suggests that Canadians could lose their homes because of agreements with indigenous partners, and that is simply not true. Our government has been clear. We support protecting private property rights and we are actively defending them through the courts. At the same time, we will not support a partisan process [more]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my time today to speak about the recent agreements that Canada signed with the Musqueam nation. These agreements build on the Constitution Act, 1982, the direction provided by the courts over the last several decades and efforts of indigenous groups over many years to have their rights recognized and upheld by the Crown. To understand these agreements, it is [more]

I'll make a quick comment. I don't see why the witnesses can't be asked questions about the north, the west and the east coasts. Nobody is stopping anybody from talking about the west coast or the north coast. This isn't about reconciliation. We can talk about the entire country, as long as it relates to the subject matter that is identified as the study.