Debates of Dec. 12th, 2014

The Environment

[Jean-François Larose, Forces et Démocratie, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, COSEWIC is recommending that belugas be considered an endangered species, but the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans says that we need to wait for consultations and analyses to be done.

Consultations with whom? Oil magnates? Who is going to conduct a more credible analysis than scientists? When will the minister smarten up and put belugas on the endangered species list?

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to protecting the environment. That is why we have launched a new national conservation plan that will enable Canadians to conserve and restore lands and waters, and enhance the connections between citizens and natural spaces.

We have also created two national marine conservation areas, three marine protected areas, three national wildlife areas, four national parks, and one historic site.

It is shameful that the opposition does not support the creation of national parks. We learned through the media, for example, that they even oppose the Rouge national park. It is shameful.

Presence in Gallery

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Paul Davis, Premier, and the Hon. Keith Hutchings, Minister of Municipal and Intergovernment Affairs and Registrar General for Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oral Questions

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I noted during question period that there were two instances when the government referred to the absence or presence of members in the House. I would like to remind members of long standing in the House that they cannot refer to the absence or presence of members.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I thank the hon. member for his intervention.

I do not recall the particular instances that he refers to, but we appreciate the advice and suggestion of the hon. member. I am sure that members will be cautious in avoiding those references in the future.

Government Response to Petitions

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 13 petitions.

Agriculture

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise today to table a petition regarding the rights of small-scale family farmers to preserve, exchange, and use seeds. The signatures were collected by Development and Peace, an organization that continues the important mission of promoting social justice. I am very pleased and honoured to present this petition on behalf of concerned Canadians, and I look forward to the government's response.

Iraq

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition in my hands from dozens of Canadians, who ask the government to increase, with the greatest possible urgency and sacrifice, Canadian efforts to help the Yazidi people, as well as Kurds, Chaldo-Assyrians, Mandaeans, Baha’i, Shabak, Turkmen, and other religious minorities under attack by ISIS.

Canada Post

[Hélène LeBlanc, NDP, LaSalle—Émard, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition regarding the reduction of Canada Post services.

The elimination of home mail delivery and the increase in the price of stamps will have a major impact on my riding of LaSalle—Émard, which is densely populated. The petitioners, hundreds of my constituents from LaSalle—Émard, are calling on Canada Post to explore other options and especially to keep home mail delivery services.

Agriculture

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to table, signed by a number of people in Regina, across Saskatchewan, and from other locations in the country, expressing concern about changes to the Seeds Act and issues related to plant breeders' rights. They call upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds.

Impaired Driving

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition, signed by citizens of the greater Vancouver area, who believe that our current impaired driving laws are too lenient and should be strengthened by the implementation of a new mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Mining Industry

[Jamie Nicholls, NDP, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present in the House a petition signed by my constituents calling on the Government of Canada to pass legislation to create an ombudsman for the corporate social responsibility of Canadian extractive corporations in developing countries.

Falun Gong

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition calls on Parliament to pass a resolution to establish measures to stop the Chinese Communist regime's crime of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners for their organs.

Impaired Driving

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on Parliament to change the charge of impaired driving causing death to the offence of vehicular manslaughter.

Canada Post

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition signed by hundreds of people from my riding, Brossard—La Prairie. The petitioners are calling on the government to reject Canada Post's plan for reduced service and to explore other options for updating the crown corporation's business plan.

I would like to thank all those who participated in the day of action and who continue to collect signatures for petitions.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

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

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, York—Simcoe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and I believe that you will find unanimous consent of the House to see the clock at 1:15 p.m.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-40, An Act respecting the Rouge National Urban Park, be read the third time and passed.

Rouge National Urban Park Act

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

It being 1:15 p.m., pursuant to an order made on Thursday, December 4, it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the third reading stage of the bill now before the House, Bill C-40.

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.