House of Commons Hansard #73 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was development.
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am happy to table, in both official languages, a number of orders in council recently made by the government.
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing order 36(8), I would also like to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 30th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on an amendment to the Standing Orders.
If the House consents, I intend to move concurrence in the report later today.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates regarding the very limited time that was allowed for consideration of the supplementary estimates B earlier this year.
If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the sixth report later this day.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-350, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (amounts not included in earnings).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today three bills on the employment insurance program. I want to thank the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
These bills are the result of cross-country consultations held in 1998 on the effectiveness of the employment insurance program. Several other bills will be introduced later on this same topic.
I hope the members of this Parliament will read these bills and support them. The current EI program does not meet the needs of Canadian workers. These bills will fix the shortcomings of the program.
The first bill I am introducing on employment insurance addresses the amounts not included in earnings. Pension benefits, vacation pay and severance pay will be excluded from earnings and therefore will not reduce the benefits payable to the beneficiaries.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-351, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (no interest payable by claimants on benefit repayments or penalties).
Mr. Speaker, this second bill is entitled an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (no interest payable by claimants on benefit repayments or penalties). Claimants may not be charged interest or any other penalty for the late payment of benefit repayments or of penalties assessed for violations of the act.
The reason behind this bill is that in 2001 the government passed a bill that imposed interest. Now, people who are EI claimants do not have the means to pay interest as well as the penalty or fine. It seems that the debt keeps growing and people can no longer pay it. That is why this will be a good bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-352, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (training entitlement).
Mr. Speaker, this bill will allow employees to receive, every year, up to five weeks of training directed at the development of their careers.
Once again, we must help people in their work. This bill will make it possible to train people so that they can keep their jobs. I believe it will be a benefit for all the working men and women of Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Bill Casey Conservative North Nova, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-353, an act to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Canada Pension Plan Regulations.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of Parliament, it is frustrating sometimes to have a constituent come in with a doctor's report that says the constituent is totally disabled and cannot work again, only to submit that application to Canada pension and have an official overrule the doctor who examined the patient. Often this official is not a doctor.
My bill would simply ensure that only a doctor at Canada pension can overrule another doctor's opinion.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Gerald Keddy Conservative South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-354, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of fishing property).
Mr. Speaker, this bill would amend the Income Tax Act involving the intergenerational transfer of fishing property. One of the great problems with the Income Tax Act as it exists regarding fishing property is the fact that people cannot pass their property and assets on to their family members, children and grandchildren.
The Income Tax Act was changed in relation to farm property in 1972 to facilitate the intergenerational transfer of farm properties within a family. This prevented the depopulation of rural Canada and allowed us to continue on with family farming businesses in this country.
This bill would do the same thing for fishing properties and prevent the depopulation of coastal Canada, and allow fishing families to keep their assets within their families and continue fishing.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-355, an act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (vehicle immobilizers).
Mr. Speaker, the bill would amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act to include vehicle immobilizers. We just received the press release from Transport Canada and the Minister of Transport stating that as of September 2007 this will be required as standard equipment. The problem is that it will permit the Canadian and European standards.
The European standard is an inferior standard that the Insurance Bureau of Canada is highly recommending against. When officials from Transport Canada spoke at the United Nations they also said that the European standard was inferior, which was why they were highly recommending the Canadian standard.
This bill would ensure we use the Canadian standard to protect Canadians.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, discussions have taken place among all parties and I believe that you will find unanimous consent for the following: that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Health, tabled in the House on Tuesday, March 22, be deemed to be concurred in without debate.
Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
Does the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?
Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among all parties and I believe you would find unanimous consent that the 30th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.
For the benefit of hon. members, this makes a technical adjustment to the French text of a previous report.
(Motion agreed to)
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to present a petition on behalf of some of my constituents of Prince George—Peace River, specifically some of the residents in the cities of Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and the smaller rural communities of Charlie Lake, Rose Prairie, Taylor, Baldonnel and Pink Mountain.
These petitioners, like so many thousands and hundreds of thousands before them from all across the nation, wish to draw to the attention of the House that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children. They note that the institution of marriage as being between a man and a woman is being challenged by the government's legislation, Bill C-38.
Therefore they call upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Roy Cullen Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. In the first one some 1,300 constituents ask Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
The second petition with some 600-odd signatures is asking Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Gurmant Grewal Conservative Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present several petitions signed by over 4,500 petitioners from all over Canada.
The petitioners are calling on Parliament to take every administrative and legislative measure necessary to protect and defend the freedom to wear turbans and the five Ks, the symbols of the Sikh religion.
Wearing a turban is part and parcel of the Sikh religious faith. It is contrary to the tenets of the Sikh faith to conceal or cover the turban or head with any kind of object, such as a cap, hat or helmet.
The petitioners pray that Sikh truck operators will be exempt from wearing hard hats and that Canada Labour Code, R.S.C. 1970, c. L-1 not adversely affect members of the Canadian Sikh community.
The petitioners also call upon Parliament to protect the religious practices of Sikhs in all areas of the Canada Labour Code.
Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Exploits, NL
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present to the House today a petition circulated by Ocean Net, a marine conservation group based in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of Parliament that they are advocating for zero tolerance for marine pollution. They are also calling on the government to strongly enforce its existing environmental legislation protecting marine environments. There are over 450 signatures from across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present two petitions today.
The first is from constituents in my riding who are concerned about the efforts of the government to overturn the centuries old definition of marriage.
There are more than 1,000 signatures of people requesting legislation that will uphold the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Russ Hiebert Conservative South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition was brought to me by amateur radio operators in my riding who are concerned about the longstanding problems with malicious radio frequency interference. As the petitioners point out, this is not only illegal, but it interferes with public safety.
They call on Parliament to ask the industry minister to enforce the Communications Act and stop this illegal activity once and for all.
Rahim Jaffer Conservative Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions I would like to present.
Two of the petitions have a number of names from the Edmonton area. The petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
Rahim Jaffer Conservative Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, the final petition deals with autism.
The petitioners call on Parliament to amend the Canada Health Act and corresponding regulations to include therapy for children with autism as a medically necessary treatment and require that all provinces provide or fund this essential treatment for autism, and also to contribute to the creation of academic chairs to a university in each province to deal with the treatment for autism.
Myron Thompson Conservative Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present three petitions all calling for the same thing. The petitioners are from the great riding of Wild Rose, from the towns of Canmore, Cochrane, Sundre, Olds, Didsbury, Carstairs and the mighty city of Airdrie. They are calling on the government to define marriage in federal law as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.
I would like to add these 1,000 signatures to the thousands more already tabled.