Debates of June 18th, 2008

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 nine petitions.

Canada Health Infoway Inc.

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2006-07 annual report and the 2007-08 corporate business plan for Canada Health Infoway Inc.

Public Health Agency of Canada

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to table, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), in both official languages, the Chief Public Health Officer's “Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2008”.

Patented Medicine Prices Review Board

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), in both official languages, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board annual report for 2007.

Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am happy to table, in both official languages, the Assisted Human Reproduction Agency of Canada's reports on the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act for 2007-08.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research

[Steven Fletcher, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Health]

Finally, Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research 2007-08 annual reports on the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

Aboriginal Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2005-06 and 2006-07 annual reports on the state of Inuit culture and society in the Nunavut settlement area.

James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and Northeastern Quebec Agreement

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

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2003-04 and 2004-05 annual reports of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement and the Northeastern Quebec Agreement.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation for the Canadian Section of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas respecting its participation in the mission to the 38th regular session of the general assembly of the Organization of American States held in Medellin, Colombia from June 1 to 3, 2008.

A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as follows:

Mr. Speaker, her Excellency the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.

Accordingly the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber.

And being returned:

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to inform the House that when the House went up to the Senate chamber the Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty's name, the royal assent to the following bills:

Bill S-207, An Act to repeal legislation that has not come into force within ten years of receiving royal assent--Chapter 20

Bill C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Marine Act, the Canada Transportation Act, the Pilotage Act and other Acts in consequence--Chapter 21

Bill C-30, An Act to establish the Specific Claims Tribunal and to make consequential amendments to other Acts--Chapter 22

Bill C-292, An Act to implement the Kelowna Accord--Chapter 23

Bill C-58, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2009--Chapter 24

Bill C-59, An Act for granting to Her Majesty certain sums of money for the federal public administration for the financial year ending March 31, 2009--Chapter 25

Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Judges Act--Chapter 26

Bill C-287, An Act respecting a National Peacekeepers' Day--Chapter 27

Bill C-50, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 26, 2008 and to enact provisions to preserve the fiscal plan set out in that budget--Chapter 28

Bill C-60, An Act to amend the National Defence Act (court martial) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act--Chapter 29

Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act--Chapter 30

Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, as the chair of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan I have the honour to table, in both official languages, our first report.

Canadian Heritage

[Andy Scott, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on the dismantling of the CBC Radio Orchestra, CBC/Radio-Canada's commitment to classical music and the changes to CBC Radio 2.

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

[Tina Keeper, Liberal, Churchill, MB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-569, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and proud to introduce this legislation entitled, “An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”. This declaration was passed at the United Nations General Assembly on September 13, 2007, by an overwhelming majority of 144 to 4, with 11 abstentions.

Canadians join human rights supporters from across the globe in their disappointment that, for the first time ever, Canada has sought exemption from a human rights standard adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

Canada's national aboriginal and political leaders, including President Mary Simon of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, National Chief Phil Fontaine and President Clem Chartier of the Métis National Council, have joined in their support. President Chartier said:

By ignoring Indigenous rights to self-determination, Canada is sending a negative message to the world. Despite this, by standing united Aboriginal peoples are clearly determined to secure our right to self-determination as defined in international law....

It is, however, never too late for Canada to embrace the rights of indigenous peoples at home and around the world and support the UN declaration.

With this in mind, I encourage all parliamentarians to join me in this battle to help return Canada as a human rights champion and ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

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

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I wonder if you could ask for the unanimous consent of the House to return to presenting reports from committees as I would like to present a report from a committee.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Is there unanimous consent to revert to presenting reports from committees?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Excise Tax Act

[Shawn Murphy, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-570, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act (no GST on bicycles).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table in the House today my private member's bill that would remove GST from bicycles. I thank the hon. member for Vancouver Quadra for agreeing to second my bill, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act, no GST on bicycles.

Through this bill, the Government of Canada could provide support for Canadians looking to reduce their impact on the environment and the health care system.

By promoting bike use, communities can be strengthened through increased physical activity, reduced vehicle congestion and low emission levels. By biking, an individual in Canada can save 28.2 kilograms of carbon for every 100 kilometres travelled.

This bill is a small but important step for the government to support the health of Canadians and our environment.

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

Canada Shipping Act, 2001

[Catherine Bell, NDP, Vancouver Island North, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-571, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (prohibition against oil tankers in Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound).

Mr. Speaker, people on the north coast of British Columbia have recognized that Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and the Queen Charlotte Sound is a very narrow channel. There are very dangerous currents in that area and it is also a very culturally significant area abundant with fish and shellfish, for now, and we do not want to see that habitat destroyed by any kind of an oil spill if that were to happen.

There was an informal moratorium 35 years ago on banning oil tanker traffic in the inside passage known as Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. By introducing this bill today I would hope to formalize that moratorium by continuing the ban on oil tanker traffic in this area and ensure that our bays and inlets, as well as all the sea life, the birds, the fish and the shellfish in that area are protected for generations to come.

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

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Do we now have consent to revert to presenting committee reports?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Public Safety and National Security

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to the study of conductive energy weapon tasers.

[Joe Comartin, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would ask for the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion: That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: (a) call on General Motors to maintain production at the Oshawa truck plant throughout the term of the 2008-11 collective agreement with the Canadian auto workers; (b) insist that multinational auto manufacturers respect the principle of the Auto Pact requiring one vehicle to be manufactured in Canada for each vehicle they sell in Canada; and (c) adopt a green car strategy that would require auto makers to additionally allocate a proportional share of environmentally advanced vehicles and components to the Canadian production facilities.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.