Debates of Nov. 26th, 2010

The Speaker Peter Milliken

There is no consent.

The hon. Minister of Natural Resources also has a point of order.

Christian Paradis Minister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, I want to let you know that during question period, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine misled the House by referring to a report on which I had been questioned last December. There was an investigation report, and I said at the time that it would be made public shortly.

The member is alleging today that this report had to do with the renovations to the West Block, which is completely false. I never said that in the House. The report was about the actions of an official at Public Works and Government Services Canada. The Leader of the Government in the House of Commons even said as much in response to previous questions, and the report has been posted on the Public Works and Government Services website.

Either the member is completely unaware of the facts or she simply did not do her homework. Gratuitous allegations like the ones she has made damage an institution for no reason, but more importantly, they mislead the House. She should immediately withdraw what she said.

Marcel Proulx Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to this point of order.

At the time, I was the member who questioned the Minister of Public Works and Government Services on behalf of the Liberal Party. I asked him about an internal investigation at Public Works and Government Services Canada and I also asked him whether there had been any interference in the awarding of the contract for the renovations to the north tower of the West Block. Those two issues were quite often dealt with together in my questions and in the responses from the Minister of Natural Resources, who was Minister of Public Works and Government Services at the time.

It was in response to one of my questions—and this can be checked in Hansard—that the minister said there would be a report. That should be checked in Hansard. I suggest my colleagues check that. I will also check it, and I think the minister should as well. Then we can talk about this again.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

I am sure there will be further submissions on this point. We will deal with it if necessary when other submissions have been made.

Jim Maloway Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by dozens of Canadians to end Canada's involvement in Afghanistan.

In May 2008, as the Speaker knows, Parliament passed a resolution to withdraw Canadian Forces by July 2011. The Prime Minister, with the agreement of the Liberal Party, broke his oft-repeated promise to honour the parliamentary motion. Furthermore, he refuses to put his new mission extension to a vote in Parliament.

Committing 1,000 soldiers to a training mission still presents a danger to the troops and an unnecessary expense when our country is faced with a $56 billion deficit. The military mission has cost Canadians more than $18 billion so far, money that could have been used to improve health care and seniors' pensions right here in Canada.

Polls show clearly that a majority of Canadians do not want Canada's military presence to continue after the scheduled removal date of July 2011.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Prime Minister to honour the will of Parliament and bring the troops home now.

Cathy McLeod Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from my riding of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

A number of citizens in that riding have concerns around child pornography, and they are suggesting some changes in the Criminal Code to reflect both mandatory minimum sentences and actually changing the wording to include “child sex and abuse materials”, significant changes to the Criminal Code to protect our children.

Malcolm Allen Welland, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by numerous folks across this country about banning asbestos.

In my earlier career I had the opportunity to represent the widow of a member of my union who had died of mesothelioma. His disease was caused by and attributed to asbestos in the workplace. We won that claim, but the gentleman had been dead for nine years. It took four years subsequent to his death to actually win that claim.

For the workers around the world who are exposed to asbestos, the petitioners are saying, “Let us ban it”. What they are also saying is that they understand the hardship the workers who are actually in the asbestos business and who are mining asbestos will face. We need a just transition for them, as well.

I present this petition on behalf of not only those workers who have had mesothelioma and have it today, but also for those who have passed and for those workers who are working in that industry who indeed deserve to have a just transition from what they do now to their next career.

Claude Gravelle Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to present a petition to ban asbestos. The petition is signed by dozens of people from right across Canada.

As we know, asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known. Canada remains one of the largest producers and exporters of asbestos. Canada spends millions subsidizing the asbestos industry.

The petitioners call for the ban of asbestos in all forms, the ending of all government subsidies of asbestos both in Canada and abroad, and that we stop blocking international health and safety conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos.

In my former career, I had the unfortunate opportunity of working with asbestos. I have regularly been tested in the past for asbestosism, so I know exactly what these petitioners are asking.

Tom Lukiwski Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

The Speaker Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?