Debates of Feb. 13th, 2008

Aboriginal Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, we are delighted that the Liberals, since 2006, have decided that they would like to apologize.

As we know, our Conservative government is committed to delivering a respectful and meaningful apology to all former students of residential schools in Canada. In the throne speech, the Prime Minister committed to mark the launch of the truth and reconciliation commission with a statement of apology to help close this very sad chapter in Canadian history.

We are working with first nations to put together both the truth and reconciliation commission and the apology. It is long overdue. It never happened under the Liberal government.

Official Languages

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on Monday, at a speech in Edmonton, star Liberal candidate Justin Trudeau showed his true colours. His comment that Canadians who do not learn a second language are lazy is an insult to the 22 million unilingual anglophones and francophones in our country.

Can the Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity) comment on Mr. Trudeau's insulting remarks to over 68% of the Canadian population?

[Jason Kenney, Conservative, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)]

Mr. Speaker, I would call Justin Trudeau's remarks disgusting. They show a lack of tolerance towards unilingual Canadians.

Millions of Canadians would love to speak both official languages, but are, frankly, in many cases often too busy raising their families, working and running their businesses.

Mr. Trudeau, a child of privilege, should try to understand the real struggles of Canadians, many of whom do not have that as a realistic option: to learn and speak both languages. Both he and his party should apologize.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of a Canadian parliamentary delegation concerning its official visit to Malaysia from November 3 to 9, 2007.

Privacy Commissioner

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I also have the honour to lay upon the table the special report of the Privacy Commissioner concerning the examination of RCMP exempt data banks. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

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]

Pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to one petition.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Carol Skelton, Conservative, Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group representing its participation at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Economic Leadership Forum held at Whistler, British Columbia, November 15 to 17, 2007.

Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present to the House the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of House committees.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 11th report later this day.

Status of Women

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in relation to women and the court challenges program.

The court challenges program was relatively inexpensive but highly effective. It provided vulnerable women and minority groups with the right for equality.

Therefore, the Standing Committee on the Status of Women recommends that this government, which cancelled this very inexpensive but very effective program, reinstate the program to its funding and to its mandate.

I also have the pleasure to present the third report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in relation to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Canada was the lead on this declaration but through the Conservative government the declaration was denied and Canada voted against it. The committee recommends that the government endorse this declaration.

Canadian Multiculturalism Act

[Pierre Paquette, Bloc, Joliette, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-505, An Act to amend the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (non-application in Quebec).

Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill for first reading that is very important to Quebec, to the identity of our Quebec nation, and to all people around the world who will choose to live in the only nation in America whose common language is French.

Our bill proposes that the Canadian multiculturalism policy no longer apply in Quebec. Canada's House of Commons has recognized the Quebec Nation, so the National Assembly must be allowed to develop its cultural and identity policies according to Quebec's greater needs. Therefore, everyone in this House should recognize the importance of debating this legislative measure, which I have the pleasure of introducing for first reading in this House.

I would also like to thank the member for Rivière-du-Nord for supporting my bill.

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

Procedure and House Affairs

[Gary Goodyear, Conservative, Cambridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, with the consent of the House, I move that the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, tabled in the House today, be adopted.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. member for Cambridge have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The question is on 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)

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move, seconded by the hon. member for Skeena--Bulkley Valley:

That this House recognizes and honours the great contribution to science and the fight against climate change by the Canadian scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who were awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there is a reception that is going on this afternoon hosted by all parties, but the Conservative Party. I would like to put on the record for parliamentarians and Canadians that this is a very unfortunate moment because the government only today, in an act of damage control, has decided to bring this motion forward. It has not valued, nor recognized the work of the IPCC. I think it is a shameful moment for Canadians.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I am not sure the member for Ottawa South has raised a point of order.

The question is, does the Minister of the Environment have the unanimous consent of the House to propose 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)

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the House has just given its unanimous consent to a motion that came to us outside of the ordinary order of precedence. Yesterday, the chief government whip rejected such a practice. He said that it would create a bad precedent.

The precedent now seems to have been set, so in the same spirit of cooperation in the House, I wonder if there is now unanimous consent to adopt Motion No. 427, standing in the name of the hon. member for Davenport, which states:

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should designate September of each year as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.