Debates of June 1st, 2007

Gurbax Malhi Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON

Mr. Speaker, since 2006, the refusal rate for temporary residence visas has been too high. This means many Canadian families are unable to have their relatives or friends from overseas attend funerals and weddings.

The government shows no compassion when it denies a daughter in India the chance to go to her father's funeral in Canada.

When will the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration take real action to improve the application process for temporary residence visas?

Ed Komarnicki Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, obviously we would not get into the specifics of any particular case, but I can say that the minister does use her discretion, whenever she is able, in a proper way.

We always look at issues of security and importance to the Canadian society. Whenever we can, we are generous and compassionate.

Gary Goodyear Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canadians elected our party because they wanted a government that would finally get tough on crime.

Despite all parties making such promises in the last election, it is only this party that is keeping those promises. Our approach is meant to be tough but balanced. It respects the rights of the accused, but does not allow those rights to take precedence over the community's rights to be safe.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada say how Bill C-9, the conditional sentencing bill, will help make our communities safer?

Rob Moore Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for all of his work on making Canada a safer place.

Despite Liberal efforts to gut the bill, Bill C-9 has received royal assent and comes into effect six months from now. On that day, criminals who commit serious personal injury offences will no longer get a Liberal get out of jail free card to serve their sentences in the comfort of their own homes. Instead, they will receive a Conservative go directly to jail card.

Canada's new government does not play games with violent criminals. We are committed to making our streets and communities safer and, as the Minister of Justice said, we are just getting started.

Paul Dewar Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, on democratic reform, the government keeps undermining a good idea by using cheap branding tricks.

Recently the Minister for Democratic Reform shamelessly used student interns as a backdrop for an announcement on electoral reform. Now this week in the House of Commons debate he used a third party validator, Apathy Is Boring, without its consent.

Did the minister have the permission of Apathy Is Boring to use it as a validator for his bill on electoral reform, yes or no?

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I was simply reading from a public statement that it made. If it is in the public realm and posted on its website, that is entirely acceptable.

The bottom line, and the most important part, is it said that it was a good bill, that it would enhance voter turnout and encourage more young people to vote. That is a good thing for democracy and for Canada.

Monique Guay Rivière-du-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I ask for the unanimous consent of this House to adopt the following motion:

That the government's notice of ways and means motion No. 13, tabled in the House by the Minister of Labour on December 8, 2006, be deemed adopted and that the bill listed on the order paper under “Introduction of Government Bills” and entitled “An Act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Wage Earner Protection Program Act and chapter 47 of the Statutes of Canada, 2005” be deemed to have been introduced in the House, deemed to have been read the first time and printed, deemed to have been read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported with the following amendment:

“That clause 32 of the bill be replaced by the following:

Paragraphs 67(1)(b) to (b.3) of the same statute, as enacted by subsection 57(1) of Chapter 47 of the Statutes of Canada 2005, are replaced by the following:

(b)any property that as against the bankrupt is exempt from execution or seizure under any laws applicable in the province within which the property is situated and within which the bankrupt resides;

(b.1) goods and services tax credit payments that are made in prescribed circumstances to the bankrupt and that are not property referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);

(b.2) prescribed payments relating to the essential needs of an individual that are made in prescribed circumstances to the bankrupt and that are not property referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);

(b.3) without restricting the generality of paragraph (b), property in a registered retirement savings plan or a registered retirement income fund, as those expressions are defined in the Income Tax Act, or in any prescribed plan, other than property contributed to any such plan or fund in the 12 months before the date of bankruptcy”,

deemed concurred in at the report stage as amended, and deemed read the third time and passed”.

Peter Van Loan Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, before we go further on this, while this does sound like we may be heading toward progress and while it does sound optimistic, I do not believe we have had an opportunity to consider all that was said. A lot of it was technical languages, and certainly we would deny unanimous consent until we have an opportunity to do that.

I think it would be in the interest of all the parties to sit down and achieve that unanimous consent.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

I take it there is no consent then, from that statement.

Tom Lukiwski Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions.

Greg Thompson New Brunswick Southwest, NB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (unauthorized recording of a movie).

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Peter Van Loan York—Simcoe, ON

moved that Bill S-6, An Act to amend the First Nations Land Management Act, be read the first time.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Wayne Easter Malpeque, PE

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition signed by over 600 petitioners.

As a result of recent events relating to friendly fire incidents in Afghanistan and because of the nature of these unfortunate incidents, the integrity, professionalism and reputation of members of the Canadian Forces has been called into question.

The petitioners call upon the Minister of National Defence and the Prime Minister to take immediate action to ensure that members of our Canadian Forces be given the full respect they deserve, that they are not treated as common criminals and that all efforts be made by the Canadian government to protect the reputation, livelihoods and mental health of those individuals when such incidents occur.