Bill C-585 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence)

This enactment amends the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act to adjust the national eligibility standard for social assistance to provide that no minimum period of residence may be required with respect to social assistance for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as for victims of human trafficking who receive temporary resident permits and certain other protected persons.

Bill C-43—Time Allocation Motion

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very curious about his definition of transparency. The bill is 460 pages long and amends dozens of laws, including some that have nothing to do with the budget

For example, not so long ago, the House was studying Bill C-585, which would have left refugees without a dime for months upon their arrival in Canada, which was not very encouraging. Furthermore, debate was cut short. The bill was withdrawn and, even though it has nothing to do with the budget, included in this budget implementation bill. Moreover, debate on the budget, and therefore on the bill, is being limited. Is that transparency? Is that his definition of transparency?

Motions in amendment

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the House recently studied the member for Pickering—Scarborough East's Bill C-585. The bill would have given the provinces permission to establish a minimum period of residence to obtain access to social assistance. Refugee claimants are very worried about this because they could end up getting no financial support while waiting for their claim to be processed.

It seems that the bill has been withdrawn. At any rate, the member did not show up, so the bill was dropped. Then, however, it was buried in the omnibus budget bill, and this is our only opportunity to talk about it. I would like to know what my colleague thinks of that.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act

[The Deputy Speaker, NDP, Joe Comartin]

The hon. member for Pickering—Scarborough East is not present to move the motion for second reading of Bill C-585, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence), as announced in today's notice paper. Pursuant to Standing Order 94, since this is the second time that this item is dealt with on the dates published by the order of precedence, the bill will be dropped from the order paper.

(On the Order: Private Members' Business)

April 14, 2014—Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of Bill C-585, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence)—Mr. Corneliu Chisu

[Rathika Sitsabaiesan, NDP, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Okay. Thank you.

Mr. MacDonald, did you have anything to add to that, or is it the same thing? Okay.

Clauses 172 and 173 were actually in a previous private member's bill, Bill C-585, which the government—I guess I can't say the government—kept on not being debated multiple times when it came up for debate. Now changes that are not really budgetary in nature are showing up in this omnibus budget bill.

Did your department provide any advice to the minister as to how to proceed to include these measures in Bill C-43, and if so, how long has CIC been involved in drafting clauses 172 and 173?

Citizenship and Immigration

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, under the Conservatives, Canada's reputation on the world stage is already suffering.

Canada has always been a welcoming country for immigrants and refugees, but the Conservatives are about to dramatically marginalize refugees by cutting their access to social assistance. They obviously have no morals.

When will the minister realize that Bill C-585 is a direct attack on human dignity?

[Alexandre Lavoie]

Next, Bill C-585 amends the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act so that, to receive the Canada social transfer, a province must not impose a minimum period of residence on victims of human trafficking who receive temporary resident permits and certain other protected persons in order to receive social assistance.

The bill does not concern a question that is outside federal jurisdiction. It does not clearly violate the Constitution Act. It does not concern a question that is substantially the same as one already voted on by the House of Commons. It does not concern a question that is currently on the order paper or notice paper.

Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act

[Corneliu Chisu, Conservative, Pickering—Scarborough East, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-585, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table my private members' bill, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act (period of residence). This enactment would amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act to adjust the national eligibility standard for social assistance to provide that no minimum period of residence may be required with respect to social assistance for Canadian citizens or permanent residents as well as for victims of human trafficking who receive temporary resident permits and certain other protected persons.

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