Debates of March 28th, 2007

Equalization Formula

[Bill Matthews, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is regrettable that events have transpired the way they have. I have literature here from the Prime Minister. I have letters and brochures that clearly illustrate what he said to Newfoundland and Labrador, and I have read the budget.

If I were to stand here in my place today and tell the people of Newfoundland and Labrador that the Prime Minister honoured his commitment, I would be lying to them. I am not prepared to do that.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Well, the hon. member is going to have trouble speaking in the House.

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 a group of distinguished Canadian artists, poets and writers who are here to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Canada Council for the Arts.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Motion No. 20

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I understand there is unanimous consent to proceed with a ways and means motion now rather than at the end of routine proceedings.

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

moved that a ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled on March 19, 2007, be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

On division.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Chief Electoral Officer of Canada

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the administration of the London North Centre and Repentigny by-elections held on November 27, 2006.

This document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Canadian Human Rights Commission

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I also have the honour to lay upon the table the 2006 annual report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(e), this document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement, signed December 1, 2006.

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 16 petitions.

Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement Act

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-51, An Act to give effect to the Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

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

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House a report from the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, concerning the parliamentary visit to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, held in Georgetown, Guyana, from January 7 to 13, 2007.

Natural Resources

[Lee Richardson, Conservative, Calgary Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources dealing with a question of privilege.

Canada Elections Act

[Michael Savage, Liberal, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-419, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (closed captioning).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce this bill that would amend the Canada Elections Act to compel all political parties to include closed captioning in their political ads during a federal election. This would apply to all television ads and political advertising on the Internet.

Hearing impaired Canadians do not have full access to the democratic process in the event of a federal election. That is a shame. We need to change that. In many provinces political parties agree to do closed captioning and in some provinces it is legislated. Federally it is not. It should be to ensure equality for hearing impaired Canadians.

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

Employment Insurance Act

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-420, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (special benefits).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the Employment Insurance Act regarding sick benefits to increase them from 15 weeks to 30 weeks.

This issue was brought to my attention by a woman in my community named Natalie Thomas who was recovering from breast cancer surgery and treatment. Although she had not fully recovered from the treatment she had been given, she was forced to return to work because her benefits had ended. This is entirely unacceptable.

People recovering from a serious illness should not have to be so worried about paying their bills that they are forced to return to work before they have fully recovered and are healthy.

Before this Parliament we now have eight private members' bills to extend employment insurance benefits and another 11 that would amend the act. Clearly, there is a problem with employment insurance, something that the government should get busy on and fix. Change is needed. I am pleased to introduce this bill and ask that all members of the House support it.

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

An Act to Amend Certain Acts in Relation to DNA Identification

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I think you will find unanimous consent for two different motions. The first motion is in relation to Bill C-18. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, Bill C-18, An Act to amend certain Acts in relation to DNA identification, be deemed to have been amended at the report stage as proposed in the report stage motion in the name of the Minister of Justice on today's Notice Paper, be deemed concurred in at report stage and amended and deemed read a third time and passed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons have the unanimous consent of the House to move this 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)