Debates of Oct. 17th, 2007

The Environment

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the truth is the government is ignoring the will of this House. The Prime Minister himself said that the Prime Minister has the moral responsibility to respect the will of the House.

Despite promises and motions adopted in this House, there is no public appointments commission, no seniors charter, no benefits for veterans and no parliamentary budget office.

I ask again, has the Prime Minister lost his moral responsibility to respect the votes in this House? When did he acquire such contempt for this place?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we have been abundantly clear that we have a moral responsibility to act on the global crisis that is global warming. We do not want to study this issue for another year. We do not want to put off action that is required.

Just this spring we began to act by regulating for the first time in Canadian history the big polluters to clean up their act. There are more initiatives on transportation, on energy efficiency and on energy conservation and programs so that Canadians themselves can help in this global effort.

We will not shirk our responsibilities. We are going to act.

Darfur

[Keith Martin, Liberal, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

Mr. Speaker, we know words will not save lives in Darfur; only action will. Mass murders and rapes continue. The situation is getting worse in that part of the Sudan.

The United Nations Secretary General has pleaded for the resources for troops and for air and ground transport. Without these assets, the mission will likely fail.

I have a simple question for the government. Will the government contribute to these assets for the UN, or will it turn its back and allow Darfur's agony to continue?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we are contributing. We are the fourth-largest contributor to the African Union. I think that is a significant contribution.

Furthermore, as a country, we strongly support the African Union and United Nations-led political process for Darfur which is to start soon, at the end of the month.

The Environment

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, St. Catharines, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since we are on the topic of the environment, over the last few months Canada has been at the forefront of international action on climate change, including the leadership shown by the Prime Minister at the G-8, at APEC and at the United Nations.

Last month Canada was part of a major international deal that involved countries like China to phase out harmful ozone-depleting chemicals.

Could the Minister of the Environment tell the House how Canada is once again showing real international leadership on the world stage to fight pollution?

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I note that today, three political parties asked questions on the environment, every party except for the official opposition.

Four weeks ago the world gathered in Montreal to tackle ozone-depleting substances. We built on the Montreal protocol, which was first negotiated in 1987 by the then prime minister, Brian Mulroney.

We were able to accelerate by 10 years the phase-out of these ozone-depleting substances, the worst being HCFC, which is a major and potent greenhouse gas.

This government is not talking about taking action on the environment; we are delivering the goods.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Her Excellency Jozefina Topalli, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Albania.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the recipients of the Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case, namely: Shari Graydon, Mildred Burns, Élaine Hémond, Wendy Robbins, Muriel Smith and Viviana Astudillo-Clavijo.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Privacy Commissioner

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Privacy Commissioner concerning the Privacy Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Round Table on the Environment and the Economy

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table, in accordance to paragraph 10(2)a) of the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, the response of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy to its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act.

This report is permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

House of Commons

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table a document entitled “Individual Member's Expenditures for the Fiscal Year 2006-2007”.

International Labour Organization

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Article 19 of the International Labour Organization’s Constitution, member States are required to bring recently adopted conventions and recommendations to the attention of the competent authorities.

Maritime Labour Convention

[Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Conservative, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table in this House two copies, in both official languages, of the report on the Maritime Labour Convention adopted by the International Labour Conference in February 2006.

Public Accounts

[James Moore, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I wish to table two copies, in both official languages, of the government's response to the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Chapter 5 of the November 2006 report of the Auditor General of Canada, “Relocating Members of the Canadian Forces, RCMP, and Federal Public Service”.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 17 petitions.

Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

[Colin Carrie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics entitled “Statutory Review of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)”, tabled in the House of Commons on May 2, 2007.

Aung San Suu Kyi

[Stephen Harper, Conservative, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, I understand there have been consultations among the parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the adoption of the following motion:

That,

Whereas Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's National League for Democracy, has been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize as one of the world's leading champions of peace, democracy and non-violence;

Whereas she has been repeatedly deprived of her liberty and contact with her family since July 1989 as retribution for her support for the cause of freedom, democracy, human rights and justice for the people of Burma;

Whereas she led the National League for Democracy to victory in multi-party democratic elections in 1990, the results of which were ignored by the military regime;

Whereas she remains one of the leading forces in the continuing struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma and a symbol of the desire of the people of Burma for political freedom;

Whereas recent events show that her desire for democracy and peace is deeply shared by the people of that country;

Whereas her long struggle to bring freedom and democracy to the people of Burma has made her the embodiment of these ideals and an inspiration to all of us;

Whereas Canada has previously acknowledged the contribution of other leading champions of human dignity, granting them honorary Canadian citizenship,

Therefore, this House resolves to bestow the title “Honorary Canadian Citizen” on Aung San Suu Kyi and requests that the people of Canada demonstrate their friendship and solidarity with Aung San Suu Kyi as an honorary citizen of Canada and, through her, to the people of Burma.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the right hon. Prime Minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

(Motion agreed to)