Bill C-316 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (incarceration)

This enactment amends the provisions of the Employment Insurance Act that allow for qualifying periods and benefit periods to be extended as the result of time spent by the claimant in a jail, penitentiary or other similar institution so that they apply only if the claimant is not found guilty of the offence for which he or she was being held or any other offence arising out of the same transaction.

Employment Insurance Act

[Claude Gravelle, NDP, Nickel Belt, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-423, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (labour dispute).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Hamilton Mountain for seconding my bill.

The bill to amend the Employment Insurance Act would help thousands of workers without proper insurance benefits. The federal government must support workers who lose their jobs and provide the right protection for those who suffer a job loss due to a labour dispute.

This bill would extend the qualifying period in the event of a labour dispute. It would make any person absent from work during a strike or lockout caused by a labour dispute eligible to receive employment insurance benefits and therefore be legally protected.

I strongly encourage all members to support this initiative and vote in favour of the bill.

Canada should remain committed to defend the rights of workers, while improving and increasing the access to employment insurance. To allow for those who have lost their jobs to recover their due rights is simply the right thing to do.

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

[John Weston, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, parliamentarians from all corners of the House have recently eclipsed the sometimes adversarial nature of the House by supporting the parliamentary fitness initiative.

Today we witnessed the first ever National Life Jacket and Swim Day on the Hill and the members for Etobicoke North and Sackville—Eastern Shore and others joined me in trying to bring about national health and fitness day, involving local governments across Canada.

To that end, I seek the unanimous support of the House for a motion to enable a fellow Conservative and me to swap positions in the order of precedence, specifically: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, the hon. member for Fundy Royal exchange positions in the list for the consideration of private members' bills with the hon. member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country.

[The Speaker, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House for this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

The House resumed from May 9 consideration of Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (incarceration), as reported (with amendment) from the committee.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at report stage of Bill C-316, under private members' business.

The question is on Motion No. 1. The vote on this motion also applies to Motions Nos. 2 to 5.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #221

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

I declare Motion No. 1 defeated, and I declare Motions No. 2 to 5 defeated as well.

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

moved that the bill be concurred in.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

yea.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

In my opinion, the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #222

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

I declare the motion carried.

When shall the bill be read a third time? By leave, now?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Dick Harris, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

On a point of order, the hon. Chief Government Whip.

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON]

Madam Speaker, if you seek it, I believe you would find agreement to apply the vote from the previous motion to the current motion, with the Conservatives voting yes.

[Nycole Turmel, NDP, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Madam Speaker, the NDP will be voting against this motion.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Madam Speaker, the Liberals will be voting no.

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Madam Speaker, the Bloc Québécois will vote against the motion.

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

Madam Speaker, I will be voting no.

[Peter Goldring, Independent, Edmonton East, AB]

Madam Speaker, I will be voting yes.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #223

[The Deputy Speaker, Denise Savoie]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)