Bill C-59 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Investment Canada Act

This enactment amends the Investment Canada Act to provide for the review of foreign investments in Canada that could threaten national security. This enactment also provides that the Governor in Council may, by order, take any measures that the Governor in Council considers advisable to protect national security, such as prohibiting a non-Canadian from implementing an investment.

[Ryan Turnbull, Liberal, Whitby, ON]

Thanks.

Ms. Quaid, I'm going to start with you. I appreciated your opening remarks, and I appreciated specifically you outlining what pieces of Bill C-352 have overlap and remain as questions we can consider. Where I'm starting this conversation is that with Bill C-56, Bill C-59 and Bill C-19, to some degree, we've dealt with rounds of reforms to the Competition Act. We've had lots of debate about that. I think there are some very good steps forward.

Perhaps all of the panellists today have different opinions about different pieces of that, and I get that the legal community is not always going to agree. Neither are politicians. I think the debate is important.

I want to hone in on your comment because I found it a useful structure. You looked at clauses 3 and 4 as a package, although they're different. I think you said that you're not sure they are going to get the desired outcome.

Could you explain what you think the intended outcome was from listening to Mr. Singh's appearance? Then, could you explain specifically why the two changes being proposed to those clauses would not get the outcome that was intended?

Business of the House

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I see the hon. member across the way is displaying his charm once more.

I also think the hon. member understands clearly that the call for the election and, ultimately, if there is an election caused, it will be the opposition members who will have to take responsibility since they will be voting to dissolve Parliament and we will be voting to sustain Parliament in order to continue the work that I will now lay out.

This afternoon we will continue with the opposition motion.

On Friday we will call consideration of the Senate amendments to Bill C-37, the do not call bill; report stage and third reading of Bill S-36 respecting rough diamonds; report stage and third reading of Bill C-63, respecting the Canada Elections Act; and second reading of Bill C-44, the transport legislation.

We will return to this work on Monday, adding to the list the reference before second reading of Bill C-76, the citizenship and adoption bill; and second reading of Bill C-75, the public health agency legislation.

Tuesday and Thursday of next week shall be allotted days. There are some three dozen bills before the House or in committee on which the House I am sure will want to make progress in the next period of time. They will include the bill introduced yesterday to implement the 2005 tax cuts announced on November 14; Bill C-68, the Pacific gateway bill; Bill C-67, the surplus legislation; Bill C-61, the marine bill; Bill C-72, the DNA legislation; Bill C-46, the correctional services bill; Bill C-77, the citizenship prohibitions bill; Bill C-60, the copyright legislation; Bill C-73, the Telecom bill; Bill C-60 respecting drug impaired driving; Bill C-19, the competition legislation; Bill C-50 respecting cruelty to animals; Bill C-51, the judges legislation; Bill C-52, the fisheries bill; Bill C-59 respecting Investment Canada; Bills C-64 and C-65 amending the Criminal Code.

In addition, there are the supplementary estimates introduced in October that provide spending authority for a wide variety of services to the Canadian public and we the government would certainly like to see this passed.

Investment Canada Act

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, for Minister of Industry]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Investment Canada Act.

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