Bill C-4 (Historical)

Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2

A second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures

Part 1 implements certain income tax measures proposed in the March 21, 2013 budget. Most notably, it
(a) increases the lifetime capital gains exemption to $800,000 and indexes the new limit to inflation;
(b) streamlines the process for pension plan administrators to refund a contribution made to a Registered Pension Plan as a result of a reasonable error;
(c) extends the reassessment period for reportable tax avoidance transactions and tax shelters when information returns are not filed properly and on time;
(d) phases out the federal Labour-Sponsored Venture Capital Corporations tax credit;
(e) ensures that derivative transactions cannot be used to convert fully taxable ordinary income into capital gains taxed at a lower rate;
(f) ensures that the tax consequences of disposing of a property cannot be avoided by entering into transactions that are economically equivalent to a disposition of the property;
(g) ensures that the tax attributes of trusts cannot be inappropriately transferred among arm’s length persons;
(h) responds to the Sommerer decision to restore the intended tax treatment with respect to non-resident trusts;
(i) expands eligibility for the accelerated capital cost allowance for clean energy generation equipment to include a broader range of biogas production equipment and equipment used to treat gases from waste;
(j) imposes a penalty in instances where information on tax preparers and billing arrangements is missing, incomplete or inaccurate on Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax incentive program claim forms;
(k) phases out the accelerated capital cost allowance for capital assets used in new mines and certain mine expansions, and reduces the deduction rate for pre-production mine development expenses;
(l) adjusts the five-year phase-out of the additional deduction for credit unions;
(m) eliminates unintended tax benefits in respect of two types of leveraged life insurance arrangements;
(n) clarifies the restricted farm loss rules and increases the restricted farm loss deduction limit;
(o) enhances corporate anti-loss trading rules to address planning that avoids those rules;
(p) extends, in certain circumstances, the reassessment period for taxpayers who have failed to correctly report income from a specified foreign property on their annual income tax return;
(q) extends the application of Canada’s thin capitalization rules to Canadian resident trusts and non-resident entities; and
(r) introduces new administrative monetary penalties and criminal offences to deter the use, possession, sale and development of electronic suppression of sales software that is designed to falsify records for the purpose of tax evasion.
Part 1 also implements other selected income tax measures. Most notably, it
(a) implements measures announced on July 25, 2012, including measures that
(i) relate to the taxation of specified investment flow-through entities, real estate investment trusts and publicly-traded corporations, and
(ii) respond to the Lewin decision;
(b) implements measures announced on December 21, 2012, including measures that relate to
(i) the computation of adjusted taxable income for the purposes of the alternative minimum tax,
(ii) the prohibited investment and advantage rules for registered plans, and
(iii) the corporate reorganization rules; and
(c) clarifies that information may be provided to the Department of Employment and Social Development for a program for temporary foreign workers.
Part 2 implements certain goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) measures proposed in the March 21, 2013 budget by
(a) introducing new administrative monetary penalties and criminal offences to deter the use, possession, sale and development of electronic suppression of sales software that is designed to falsify records for the purpose of tax evasion; and
(b) clarifying that the GST/HST provision, exempting supplies by a public sector body (PSB) of a property or a service if all or substantially all of the supplies of the property or service by the PSB are made for free, does not apply to supplies of paid parking.
Part 3 enacts and amends several Acts in order to implement various measures.
Division 1 of Part 3 amends the Employment Insurance Act to extend and expand a temporary measure to refund a portion of employer premiums for small businesses. It also amends that Act to modify the Employment Insurance premium rate-setting mechanism, including setting the 2015 and 2016 rates and requiring that the rate be set on a seven-year break-even basis by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission beginning with the 2017 rate. The Division repeals the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board Act and related provisions of other Acts. Lastly, it makes technical amendments to the Employment Insurance (Fishing) Regulations.
Division 2 of Part 3 amends the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the Bank Act and the Insurance Companies Act to remove the prohibition against federal and provincial Crown agents and federal and provincial government employees being directors of a federally regulated financial institution. It also amends the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada Act to remove the obligation of certain persons to give the Minister of Finance notice of their intent to borrow money from a federally regulated financial institution or from a corporation that has deposit insurance under the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation Act.
Division 3 of Part 3 amends the Trust and Loan Companies Act, the Bank Act, the Insurance Companies Act and the Cooperative Credit Associations Act to clarify the rules for certain indirect acquisitions of foreign financial institutions.
Division 4 of Part 3 amends the Criminal Code to update the definition “passport” in subsection 57(5) and also amends the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act to update the reference to the Minister in paragraph 11(1)(a).
Division 5 of Part 3 amends the Canada Labour Code to amend the definition of “danger” in subsection 122(1), to modify the refusal to work process, to remove all references to health and safety officers and to confer on the Minister of Labour their powers, duties and functions. It also makes consequential amendments to the National Energy Board Act, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act and the Non-smokers’ Health Act.
Division 6 of Part 3 amends the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act to change the name of the Department to the Department of Employment and Social Development and to reflect that name change in the title of that Act and of its responsible Minister. In addition, the Division amends Part 6 of that Act to extend that Minister’s powers with respect to certain Acts, programs and activities and to allow the Minister of Labour to administer or enforce electronically the Canada Labour Code. The Division also adds the title of a Minister to the Salaries Act. Finally, it makes consequential amendments to several other Acts to reflect the name change.
Division 7 of Part 3 authorizes Her Majesty in right of Canada to hold, dispose of or otherwise deal with the Dominion Coal Blocks in any manner.
Division 8 of Part 3 authorizes the amalgamation of four Crown corporations that own or operate international bridges and gives the resulting amalgamated corporation certain powers. It also makes consequential amendments and repeals certain Acts.
Division 9 of Part 3 amends the Financial Administration Act to provide that agent corporations designated by the Minister of Finance may, subject to any terms and conditions of the designation, pledge any securities or cash that they hold, or give deposits, as security for the payment or performance of obligations arising out of derivatives that they enter into or guarantee for the management of financial risks.
Division 10 of Part 3 amends the National Research Council Act to reduce the number of members of the National Research Council of Canada and to create the position of Chairperson of the Council.
Division 11 of Part 3 amends the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act to reduce the permanent number of members of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.
Division 12 of Part 3 amends the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act to allow for the appointment of up to three directors who are not residents of Canada.
Division 13 of Part 3 amends the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to extend to the whole Act the protection for communications that are subject to solicitor-client privilege and to provide that information disclosed by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada under subsection 65(1) of that Act may be used by a law enforcement agency referred to in that subsection only as evidence of a contravention of Part 1 of that Act.
Division 14 of Part 3 enacts the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund Act, which establishes the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Fund. The Division also repeals the Mackenzie Gas Project Impacts Act.
Division 15 of Part 3 amends the Conflict of Interest Act to allow the Governor in Council to designate a person or class of persons as public office holders and to designate a person who is a public office holder or a class of persons who are public office holders as reporting public office holders, for the purposes of that Act.
Division 16 of Part 3 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to establish a new regime that provides that a foreign national who wishes to apply for permanent residence as a member of a certain economic class may do so only if they have submitted an expression of interest to the Minister and have subsequently been issued an invitation to apply.
Division 17 of Part 3 modernizes the collective bargaining and recourse systems provided by the Public Service Labour Relations Act regime. It amends the dispute resolution process for collective bargaining by removing the choice of dispute resolution method and substituting conciliation, which involves the possibility of the use of a strike as the method by which the parties may resolve impasses. In those cases where 80% or more of the positions in a bargaining unit are considered necessary for providing an essential service, the dispute resolution mechanism is to be arbitration. The collective bargaining process is further streamlined through amendments to the provision dealing with essential services. The employer has the exclusive right to determine that a service is essential and the numbers of positions that will be required to provide that service. Bargaining agents are to be consulted as part of the essential services process. The collective bargaining process is also amended by extending the timeframe within which a notice to bargain collectively may be given before the expiry of a collective agreement or arbitral award.
In addition, the Division amends the factors that arbitration boards and public interest commissions must take into account when making awards or reports, respectively. It also amends the processes for the making of those awards and reports and removes the compensation analysis and research function from the mandate of the Public Service Labour Relations Board.
The Division streamlines the recourse process set out for grievances and complaints in Part 2 of the Public Service Labour Relations Act and for staffing complaints under the Public Service Employment Act.
The Division also establishes a single forum for employees to challenge decisions relating to discrimination in the public service. Grievances and complaints are to be heard by the Public Service Labour Relations Board under the grievance process set out in the Public Service Labour Relations Act. The process for the review of those grievances or complaints is to be the same as the one that currently exists under the Canadian Human Rights Act. However, grievances and complaints related specifically to staffing complaints are to be heard by the Public Service Staffing Tribunal. Grievances relating to discrimination are required to be submitted within one year or any longer period that the Public Service Labour Relations Board considers appropriate, to reflect what currently exists under the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Furthermore, the Division amends the grievance recourse process in several ways. With the sole exception of grievances relating to issues of discrimination, employees included in a bargaining unit may only present or refer an individual grievance to adjudication if they have the approval of and are represented by their bargaining agent. Also, the process as it relates to policy grievances is streamlined, including by defining more clearly an adjudicator’s remedial power when dealing with a policy grievance.
In addition, the Division provides for a clearer apportionment of the expenses of adjudication relating to the interpretation of a collective agreement. They are to be borne in equal parts by the employer and the bargaining agent. If a grievance relates to a deputy head’s direct authority, such as with respect to discipline, termination of employment or demotion, the expenses are to be borne in equal parts by the deputy head and the bargaining agent. The expenses of adjudication for employees who are not represented by a bargaining agent are to be borne by the Public Service Labour Relations Board.
Finally, the Division amends the recourse process for staffing complaints under the Public Service Employment Act by ensuring that the right to complain is triggered only in situations when more than one employee participates in an exercise to select employees that are to be laid off. And, candidates who are found not to meet the qualifications set by a deputy head may only complain with respect to their own assessment.
Division 18 of Part 3 establishes the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board to replace the Public Service Labour Relations Board and the Public Service Staffing Tribunal. The new Board will deal with matters that were previously dealt with by those former Boards under the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Public Service Employment Act, respectively, which will permit proceedings under those Acts to be consolidated.
Division 19 of Part 3 adds declaratory provisions to the Supreme Court Act, respecting the criteria for appointing judges to the Supreme Court of Canada.

(The House resumed at 12 noon)

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-4, A second act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures, as reported (without amendment) from the committee.

Speaker's Ruling

[The Deputy Speaker, Joe Comartin]

There are 284 motions in amendment standing on the notice paper for the report stage of Bill C-4.

Motions Nos. 1 to 284 will be grouped for debate and voted upon according to the voting pattern available at the table.

I will now put Motions Nos. 1 to 284 to the House.

Motions in Amendment

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

moved:

Motion No. 1

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 1.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the hon. member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 2

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 2.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

moved:

Motion No. 3

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 14.

Motion No. 4

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 59.

Motion No. 5

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 73.

Motion No. 6

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 80.

Motion No. 7

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 81.

Motion No. 8

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 113.

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

, seconded by the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, moved:

Motion No. 9

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 126.

Motion No. 10

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 127.

Motion No. 11

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 128.

Motion No. 12

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 129.

Motion No. 13

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 130.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

moved:

Motion No. 14

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 131.

[Louis Plamondon, Bloc, Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, QC]

, seconded by the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, moved:

Motion No. 15

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 132.

Motion No. 16

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 133.

Motion No. 17

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 134.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

moved:

Motion No. 18

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 137.

Motion No. 19

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 159.

Motion No. 20

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 160.

Motion No. 21

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 161.

Motion No. 22

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 162.

Motion No. 23

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 163.

Motion No. 24

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 164.

Motion No. 25

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 165.

Motion No. 26

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 166.

Motion No. 27

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 176.

Motion No. 28

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 177.

Motion No. 29

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 178.

Motion No. 30

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 179.

Motion No. 31

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 180.

Motion No. 32

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 181.

Motion No. 33

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 182.

Motion No. 34

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 183.

Motion No. 35

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 184.

Motion No. 36

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 185.

Motion No. 37

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 186.

Motion No. 38

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 187.

Motion No. 39

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 188.

Motion No. 40

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 189.

Motion No. 41

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 190.

Motion No. 42

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 191.

Motion No. 43

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 192.

Motion No. 44

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 193.

Motion No. 45

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 194.

Motion No. 46

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 195.

Motion No. 47

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 196.

Motion No. 48

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 197.

Motion No. 49

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 198.

Motion No. 50

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 199.

Motion No. 51

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 200.

Motion No. 52

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 201.

Motion No. 53

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 202.

Motion No. 54

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 203.

Motion No. 55

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 204.

Motion No. 56

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 205.

Motion No. 57

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 206.

Motion No. 58

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 207.

Motion No. 59

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 208.

Motion No. 60

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 209.

Motion No. 61

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 210.

Motion No. 62

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 215.

Motion No. 63

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 216.

Motion No. 64

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 217.

Motion No. 65

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 219.

Motion No. 66

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 220.

Motion No. 67

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 221.

Motion No. 68

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 222.

Motion No. 69

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 223.

Motion No. 70

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 224.

Motion No. 71

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 225.

Motion No. 72

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 226.

Motion No. 73

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 227.

Motion No. 74

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 228.

Motion No. 75

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 229.

Motion No. 76

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 230.

Motion No. 77

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 231.

Motion No. 78

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 232.

Motion No. 79

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 233.

Motion No. 80

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 234.

Motion No. 81

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 235.

Motion No. 82

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 236.

Motion No. 83

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 237.

Motion No. 84

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 238.

Motion No. 85

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 239.

Motion No. 86

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 240.

Motion No. 87

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 241.

Motion No. 88

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 242.

Motion No. 89

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 243.

Motion No. 90

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 244.

Motion No. 91

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 245.

Motion No. 92

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 246.

Motion No. 93

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 247.

Motion No. 94

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 248.

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

, seconded by the member for Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour, moved:

Motion No. 95

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 256.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

moved:

Motion No. 96

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 272.

Motion No. 97

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 276.

Motion No. 98

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 282.

Motion No. 99

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 283.

Motion No. 100

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 284.

Motion No. 101

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 285.

Motion No. 102

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 286.

Motion No. 103

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 287.

Motion No. 104

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 288.

Motion No. 105

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 289.

Motion No. 106

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 294.

Motion No. 107

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 295.

Motion No. 108

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 296.

Motion No. 109

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 297.

Motion No. 110

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 298.

Motion No. 111

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 299.

Motion No. 112

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 300.

Motion No. 113

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 301.

Motion No. 114

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 302.

Motion No. 115

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 303.

Motion No. 116

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 304.

Motion No. 117

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 305.

Motion No. 118

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 306.

Motion No. 119

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 307.

Motion No. 120

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 308.

Motion No. 121

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 309.

Motion No. 122

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 310.

Motion No. 123

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 311.

Motion No. 124

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 312.

Motion No. 125

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 313.

Motion No. 126

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 314.

Motion No. 127

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 315.

Motion No. 128

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 316.

Motion No. 129

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 317.

Motion No. 130

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 318.

Motion No. 131

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 319.

Motion No. 132

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 320.

Motion No. 133

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 321.

Motion No. 134

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 322.

Motion No. 135

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 323.

Motion No. 136

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 324.

Motion No. 137

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 325.

Motion No. 138

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 326.

Motion No. 139

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 327.

Motion No. 140

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 328.

Motion No. 141

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 329.

Motion No. 142

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 330.

Motion No. 143

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 331.

Motion No. 144

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 332.

Motion No. 145

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 333.

Motion No. 146

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 334.

Motion No. 147

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 335.

Motion No. 148

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 336.

Motion No. 149

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 337.

Motion No. 150

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 338.

Motion No. 151

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 339.

Motion No. 152

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 340.

Motion No. 153

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 341.

Motion No. 154

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 342.

Motion No. 155

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 343.

Motion No. 156

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 344.

Motion No. 157

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 345.

Motion No. 158

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 346.

Motion No. 159

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 347.

Motion No. 160

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 348.

Motion No. 161

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 349.

Motion No. 162

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 350.

Motion No. 163

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 351.

Motion No. 164

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 352.

Motion No. 165

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 353.

Motion No. 166

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 354.

Motion No. 167

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 355.

Motion No. 168

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 356.

Motion No. 169

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 357.

Motion No. 170

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 358.

Motion No. 171

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 359.

Motion No. 172

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 360.

Motion No. 173

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 361.

Motion No. 174

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 362.

Motion No. 175

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 363.

Motion No. 176

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 364.

Motion No. 177

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 365.

Motion No. 178

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 366.

Motion No. 179

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 367.

Motion No. 180

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 368.

Motion No. 181

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 369.

Motion No. 182

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 370.

Motion No. 183

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 371.

Motion No. 184

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 372.

Motion No. 185

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 373.

Motion No. 186

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 374.

Motion No. 187

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 375.

Motion No. 188

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 376.

Motion No. 189

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 377.

Motion No. 190

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 378.

Motion No. 191

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 379.

Motion No. 192

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 380.

Motion No. 193

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 381.

Motion No. 194

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 382.

Motion No. 195

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 383.

Motion No. 196

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 384.

Motion No. 197

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 385.

Motion No. 198

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 386.

Motion No. 199

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 387.

Motion No. 200

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 388.

Motion No. 201

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 389.

Motion No. 202

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 390.

Motion No. 203

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 391.

Motion No. 204

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 392.

Motion No. 205

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 393.

Motion No. 206

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 394.

Motion No. 207

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 395.

Motion No. 208

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 396.

Motion No. 209

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 397.

Motion No. 210

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 398.

Motion No. 211

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 399.

Motion No. 212

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 400.

Motion No. 213

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 401.

Motion No. 214

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 402.

Motion No. 215

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 403.

Motion No. 216

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 404.

Motion No. 217

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 405.

Motion No. 218

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 406.

Motion No. 219

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 407.

Motion No. 220

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 408.

Motion No. 221

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 409.

Motion No. 222

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 410.

Motion No. 223

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 411.

Motion No. 224

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 412.

Motion No. 225

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 413.

Motion No. 226

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 414.

Motion No. 227

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 415.

Motion No. 228

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 416.

Motion No. 229

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 417.

Motion No. 230

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 418.

Motion No. 231

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 419.

Motion No. 232

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 420.

Motion No. 233

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 421.

Motion No. 234

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 422.

Motion No. 235

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 423.

Motion No. 236

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 424.

Motion No. 237

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 425.

Motion No. 238

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 426.

Motion No. 239

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 427.

Motion No. 240

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 428.

Motion No. 241

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 429.

Motion No. 242

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 430.

Motion No. 243

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 431.

Motion No. 244

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 432.

Motion No. 245

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 433.

Motion No. 246

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 434.

Motion No. 247

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 435.

Motion No. 248

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 436.

Motion No. 249

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 437.

Motion No. 250

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 438.

Motion No. 251

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 439.

Motion No. 252

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 440.

Motion No. 253

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 441.

Motion No. 254

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 442.

Motion No. 255

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 443.

Motion No. 256

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 444.

Motion No. 257

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 445.

Motion No. 258

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 446.

Motion No. 259

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 447.

Motion No. 260

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 448.

Motion No. 261

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 449.

Motion No. 262

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 450.

Motion No. 263

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 451.

Motion No. 264

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 452.

Motion No. 265

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 453.

Motion No. 266

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 454.

Motion No. 267

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 455.

Motion No. 268

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 456.

Motion No. 269

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 457.

Motion No. 270

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 458.

Motion No. 271

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 459.

Motion No. 272

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 460.

Motion No. 273

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 461.

Motion No. 274

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 462.

Motion No. 275

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 463.

Motion No. 276

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 464.

Motion No. 277

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 465.

Motion No. 278

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 466.

Motion No. 279

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 467.

Motion No. 280

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 468.

Motion No. 281

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 469.

Motion No. 282

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 470.

Motion No. 283

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 471.

Motion No. 284

That Bill C-4 be amended by deleting Clause 472.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let me thank my colleague from Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques for seconding all of these changes.

Let us let Canadians know what all these amendments are in aid of. We are now debating Bill C-4, a second act to implement certain provisions of the budget, except that we are dealing with another attempt by the Conservatives to pull the wool over the eyes of Canadians. We want to slow the process down so that Canadians are not blindsided again with this omnibus legislation.

This is the fourth omnibus budget bill the government has brought in. Bill C-4 amends over 70 different pieces of legislation in over 300 pages. It follows on the heels of previous omnibus budget Bills C-38, C-45, and C-60. The bill contains entirely new laws: the Mackenzie gas project impacts fund act and the public service labour relations and employment board act. There are brand new acts within the bill.

Like its predecessor omnibus budget bills, this bill contains a wide variety of measures, many of which are not even in the budget and do not have any relationship to the budget. They are changes such as gutting health and safety protections for federal jurisdiction workers; cuts to reductions at the Veterans Review and Appeal Board; repealing the Canada Employment Insurance Financing Board; and changes to how we select Supreme Court judges.

These are not budget items, yet they are crammed into an omnibus bill, within a very short timeframe, to evade the scrutiny of Parliament. Canadians will not really have a full appreciation of the changes being made. It negates the opportunity of parliamentarians to hear a full range of witnesses, to engage in thorough examination, discussion, and debate about a bill, and to then propose reasoned amendments for improvements that would help make these laws better.

As we have seen in the past, because of the short timeframe, bills have been rushed through Parliament and passed, and then the government has had to go back and correct them after the fact because of mistakes it had made.

With this bill, as with all the other omnibus bills, Conservatives accepted not one amendment. They would not change even one comma. No one else has any good ideas. They would change nothing. In our discussions at committee, there were several amendments proposed. The NDP proposed 24. Other opposition parties proposed amendments. Not one change was accepted, as in the previous omnibus budget bills.

There was a time limit imposed on our study at committee. We had only two days of witnesses, including an hour with the minister, and there was a deadline of midnight. Everything we had not voted on in the bill was deemed passed, and if it was an amendment, it was deemed rejected. That certainly did not allow us much latitude for making changes or even for trying to slow down the parliamentary process and review.

Canadians are offended by this. We have heard from many Canadians who are getting the message about the lack of democracy in these omnibus budget bills. However, we also heard expert testimony.

The Canadian Bar Association testified at our committee during the two days of study. It said that “eschewing consultation and employing omnibus bills diminish the quality of our laws and the democratic process. We urge you to reconsider these practices”.

We completely agree.

We heard a variety of witnesses oppose the process of omnibus budget bills. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation agreed with us that this is a bad way to bring in legislation.

What it does is attach unpopular measures to popular measures and does not allow the separation of issues so that there can be good and thorough debate. It prevents separate votes on issues by lumping them all together. Obviously, it is less transparent and fundamentally less democratic. We believe that this evasion of parliamentary scrutiny is not worthy of the House.

Let me deal with the notion that this bill is in any way aiding the priorities of Canadians in terms of creating jobs and a stronger economy. In this bill, the Conservatives have failed to put forward significant job creation measures at a time when we are seeing stagnating incomes, stagnating wages, insecurity in the workplace, job insecurity, and all-time high household debt. This is at a time when we have a current account trade deficit of over $60 billion, which is a record for our country.

We believe that what the Conservative government ought to do is deal with the real challenges the economy is facing. Let me quote a couple of sources. The Conservatives may feel that they know better, but let us hear what the International Monetary Fund had to say:

...the IMF no longer views Canada as the growth engine of the G7 economies. While bettering the European members, Canadian growth is projected to play second fiddle to the U.S. in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Growth in “other advanced countries” not in the G7 club, such as the Scandinavian nations and Australia and New Zealand, are also projected to outperform Canada. Going forward, it predicts the Canadian economy will continue to be held back by high household debt levels and a cooling housing market.

That is the International Monetary Fund.

Business columnist David Olive wrote:

We know from the recent American and British experience with austerity chic that you cannot cut your way to prosperity. Indeed, sucking demand, or cash, out of an economy with cutbacks to government spending—including essential services and infrastructure upgrading—merely adds to the jobless lines and cuts household incomes. That, in turn, drives up social-spending costs related to mounting unemployment.

Clearly, the Conservative government is failing on the economy.

Let us hear from Paul Wells, from Maclean's, in his recent article, “Stephen Harper and the knowledge economy: perfect strangers”. He wrote:

...by the broadest measure of expenditure on research and development, Canada has fallen from 16th out of 41 comparable countries [since] the year Stephen Harper became prime minister...

The Conservative government is failing on so many counts to do the job on the economy, yet it has an omnibus budget bill that would cram in over 60 amendments to the Canada Labour Code. Anyone working anywhere in the federal jurisdiction, not just for the federal government but perhaps in the transportation sector, banking, telecommunications, interprovincial trucking, rail, ships, trains, or airlines, would be affected by this.

It would strip the powers of health and safety inspectors. They could inspect a workplace with a phone call. However, it would not be a qualified inspector; it would just be someone the minister appointed, who would not even have to be qualified.

There are so many regressive changes in this bill that attack the basic rights of people in the workplace. It is a colossal step backward. All Canadian workers should be very concerned about this legislation. It is a colossal step backward for Canadians.

New Democrats will not support the Conservatives' attempt to evade scrutiny by Parliament and Canadians. We oppose this budget and its implementation bills, unless it is revised to reflect the real priorities of Canadian families: creating quality, well-paid jobs; ensuring retirement security; fostering opportunities for young people; and making life for families more affordable.

I see that my time is up. I thank the House for the opportunity, and I welcome questions from my parliamentary colleagues.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, as the member has pointed out, it is important for us to recognize what the Prime Minister has done with previous bills. It is also important for us to recognize that never in the history of Canada have we seen so much incorporated into budget legislation. What is happening is that the government is using the back door of budget debate to pass massive amounts of legislation that should be stand-alone legislation.

Could the member comment on the fact that when stand-alone legislation is incorporated into what should be a budget debate, it takes away the opportunity for parliamentarians in this House to contribute fully to a debate on an entirely separate piece of legislation that should have come before the House? We are supposed to be doing this on behalf of all Canadians.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of debate recently about the rights of parliamentarians and what kind of autonomy and power we do or should have. I understand that there may even be some rumblings growing in the government caucus. I would urge my colleagues on the other side that if they want to assert their independence and truly represent the constituents who elected them to this place, then regardless of the content of this bill, they should stand in this place and vote against the process of these omnibus budget bills. They are fundamentally undermining our rights as parliamentarians and undermining the democratic right of Canadians to have adequate scrutiny of their legislation. I urge my colleagues on the other side to stand in their places and vote against this bill.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to assure the leader of the Green Party that the rumblings she is hearing are from my tummy. There are no other rumblings coming from the Conservative Party. We fully support this budget and what it does for Canadians.

Given all the great things this budget does for aboriginal people, homeless people, the environment, and the economy as a whole, why would the Green Party vote against all of these wonderful initiatives? Can the member answer that?