Debates of Jan. 28th, 2013

Employment Insurance

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, from the beginning, the employment insurance system has required that claimants look for work. This is a system requirement.

We are helping these people much more than in the past to look for work, particularly if they are seasonal workers. If there is no work for them locally in areas related to their skills, however, the employment insurance system will be available as always.

Natural Resources

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is great to be back in this House after oral surgery for cancer.

Over the break I travelled to Kitimat and the route for the northern gateway pipeline. It is unthinkable to put B.C.'s gorgeous north coast at risk.

Will the minister finally admit that it is instead time to build an oil pipeline to the east, to bring employment and energy security to all of Canada?

[David Anderson, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, the northern gateway pipeline is being reviewed by an independent panel that will base its determination on science, not on partisanship. The review is an open process where interested parties, including aboriginal groups, can express their views.

The member across is a former member of the NDP. They seem to be insistent on injecting partisan politics into a regulatory process. We do not want that to happen.

It has been clear from the discussions over the Keystone pipeline that we need to diversify our exports as much as possible, and as soon as we can, while protecting the economy and the environment.

Business of the House

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to advise the House that Thursday, January 31, shall be the first allotted day.

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my duty pursuant to section 21 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act to lay upon the table a certified copy of the reports of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commissions for the provinces of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

These reports are referred permanently to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

International Trade

[Bob Dechert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income”, done at Hong Kong on November 11, 2012.

An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 365 petitions.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 35th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding membership of the committees of this House.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the report later this day.

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

[Romeo Saganash, NDP, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-469, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. Speaker, it is with honour and pride that I rise in this august assembly to introduce the government bill whose title you have just read out.

The Declaration was negotiated over a period of 23 years, with the participation of numerous representatives of indigenous peoples from every part of the world, speaking on behalf of 370 million aboriginals worldwide. It includes 46 provisions protecting their social, economic, cultural, spiritual, environmental and, particularly, political rights.

These are minimum standards set by the United Nations that I am asking this House to respect henceforth, in order to ensure the dignity, survival and well-being of all aboriginal peoples, including those of Canada.

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

An Act Respecting Democratic Constitutional Change

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-470, An Act respecting democratic constitutional change.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to introduce an NDP bill, seconded by the hon. member for Trois-Rivières, concerning democratic constitutional change.

This bill would replace the Clarity Act, which is a very limited interpretation of the Supreme Court's opinion on secession. Our bill, in contrast, is based more closely on the principles expressed by the court. The bill also reflects this House's recognition that Quebeckers constitute a nation within Canada.

This bill shows that the NDP is focused on the future. We are working to build a stronger Canada that recognizes and includes Quebec as an essential part of our federation.

We believe that a stronger Canada cannot be imposed, nor can it be achieved by divisive policies. This is our vision of democratic federalism.

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

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I think that if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion:

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Mr. MacKenzie (Oxford) for Mr. Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga); Mr. Menegakis (Richmond Hill) for Mr. Williamson (New Brunswick Southwest); and Mr. Scott (Toronto—Danforth) for Mr. Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine).

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

(Motion agreed to)

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move:

That the 35th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier today, be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent to propose the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

(Motion agreed to)

Shark Finning

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition calling on the Government of Canada to immediately legislate a ban on the importation of shark fin to Canada.

Apex predators such as sharks play a critical role in maintaining healthy, balanced ecosystems. The continuing practice of shark finning, which is the practice of removing the fins and discarding the remainder of the shark back into the sea, is having a devastating effect on shark species around the world. The practice of shark finning results in an estimated 73 million sharks a year being killed for their fins alone, and over one-third of all shark species are threatened with extinction as a result of shark finning. Measures must be taken to stop the global practice of shark finning and ensure the responsible conservation management of sharks.

Human Rights

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition from a number of Canadians today, which urges the Canadian government to condemn the Chinese communist regime's systematic murder of Falun Gong practitioners through forced live organ harvesting. These Falun Gong practitioners have largely been the most severely persecuted group in China since July 1999 for their spiritual belief in truth, compassion and forbearance. In 2006 allegations emerged of large-scale murder of Falun Gong practitioners for their organs. There is a lot of evidence that has been accumulated. I will not go through it. Democratic nations have a responsibility to condemn such atrocities.

Therefore, the petitioners request the Canadian government to condemn the Chinese Communist Party's crime of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners for their organs, and they call for the end to the persecution of the Falun Gong in China.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from my constituents of Kingston and the Islands, particularly young residents of Kingston and the Islands, who are very much concerned about the changes to the interim federal health program and the effects of this on pregnant women and their babies.

They ask the government to reconsider those changes so that extended health coverage is provided to pregnant women. They are very worried that the lack of primary maternal care could put the health of expecting mothers and their unborn children at risk.