Debates of Oct. 30th, 2009

Olympic Winter Games

[Nina Grewal, Conservative, Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today, the 2010 Olympic torch relay will commence in Victoria, British Columbia, where the torch landed this morning, and will make its way across Canada and back to Vancouver on February 12 for the opening ceremony.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage please tell the House more about the next 106 days of Olympic excitement?

[Dean Del Mastro, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians will get to experience the excitement of the Olympic torch as it travels over 45,000 kilometres from coast to coast to coast. The flame will visit more than 1,000 communities while engaging the entire country in the process.

Twelve thousand Canadians will have the opportunity to carry the torch as they celebrate with their fellow Canadians along the route. This represents an extraordinary occasion to unify the entire country, generating tremendous pride in our nation while truly celebrating the spirit of the games.

Canadians fortunate enough to carry the Olympic torch are as wonderful and diverse as the country itself, including Stanley Cup champion, Sidney Crosby, from Nova Scotia and graphic designer, Michael Theobald from my own—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Louis.

The Environment

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, levels of sulphate and salt in the Red River at the Manitoba-North Dakota border are higher than they should be. North Dakota plans to permanently ease the sulphate restrictions on the Devils Lake outlet and more than double the water the outlet pumps out of the lake into Canada.

Does the Minister of Foreign Affairs consider these actions by the United States to be a violation of the Boundary Waters Treaty?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)]

Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to be concerned about discharges of Devils Lake water. The outlet should remain closed until the scope of the risk is more fully understood and corresponding effective measures are taken and put in place.

As the hon. member knows, the International Joint Commission is leading a multi-year survey of fish pathogens and parasites in Devils Lake and the broader basin to better understand the risks associated with the outlet operations. It is expected that the study will be completed and the report known by 2010.

Foreign Affairs

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, Quebec's minister of international relations said that he had contacted the Canadian foreign affairs minister, urging him to act in the case of Nathalie Morin, a Quebec woman being held against her will in Saudi Arabia by an abusive spouse.

Will the government listen to the Quebec minister, who has ascertained that Nathalie Morin's case is more than a private family conflict?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has clearly stated that it is his wish that this matter be settled, and our government is doing everything we can to facilitate this.

Our priority is to ensure the well-being of the children while Nathalie and her husband resolve their dispute. We will continue to work with the Saudi authorities to ensure that the children, who are Saudi citizens, are a priority in this dispute.

However, let me say that Canada has twice facilitated Nathalie's return to Canada and both times she returned voluntarily to Saudi Arabia against our advice.

Fisheries

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a few months ago, the sockeye salmon run in the Fraser River in B.C. collapsed. Ninety per cent of the fish simply disappeared.

We saw, under a former Liberal government, the costs of ignoring the initial signs of a fishery collapse. That led to the near extinction of the Atlantic cod.

We have seen zero action from the current government, no response to the NDP action plan, no increased funding for salmon enhancement and monitoring, no move to close containment, no emergency summit with the stakeholders, no rescue package and no binding public inquiry.

The silence of the minister is worse than the silence on the Fraser River.

Will the minister take real action now?

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, it is a very serious situation with the sockeye salmon.

I wish he had noted as well, though, the record pink salmon returns this year and the chum return that is going on right now is also at record levels.

However, this is a serious situation that requires a serious response, something other than political grandstanding. The minister has been out there and has talked to all kinds of stakeholders. She is putting together her response. I think Canadians will be pleased by this and he should wait for that.

Justice

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, drug trafficking and drug production are, without a doubt, the most significant source of illegal money for organized crime groups. Our Conservative government has introduced legislation that would ensure mandatory jail time for serious drug offences that involve organized crime, violence or preying upon youth.

This bill has been passed by the members of this House. Could the parliamentary secretary for public safety please provide us with an update on the status of Bill C-15?

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kitchener Centre, who has a keen interest in this and has been very supportive.

Our government implored the Liberal leader to show leadership by instructing his Liberal senators to pass Bill C-15 before they recessed for the summer. His Liberal senators not only refused to pass the legislation but they prematurely adjourned debate and took a summer vacation. Now we hear rumblings that these same Liberal senators are doing the dirty work again by delaying our bill.

Drug producers and dealers who threaten the safety of our communities must face tougher penalties. Bill C-15 has been passed by members of this House. Let us get this passed in the Senate. Canadians deserve better.

Oral Questions

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, I was responding to a question from my colleague for Richmond—Arthabaska and I was underlining the support that our federal government was giving, the $10 million for the Levinoff-Colbex slaughterhouse. I mentioned that it was in that member's riding. What I meant to say was that it was in his province.

Auditor General

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the annual reports on the Access to Information and the Privacy Act of the Auditor General of Canada for the year 2008-09.

This document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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.

Immigration

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2009 annual report on immigration, and I do so on behalf of the minister.

Global Centre for Pluralism

[Rick Dykstra, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, also on behalf of the minister, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Global Centre for Pluralism's 2007-08 annual report, the Global Centre for Pluralism's 2008-09 annual report and the summary of the Global Centre for Pluralism's corporate plan for 2009.

Response to the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in R v. Shoker Act

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Criminal Code.

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

Air Passenger Bill of Rights

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, my petition calls for the adoption of Canada's first air passenger bill of rights.

Bill C-310 would provide compensation to air passengers flying with all Canadian carriers, including charters, anywhere they fly. The bill includes measures on compensation for overbooked flights, cancelled flights and unreasonable tarmac delays. The bill deals with late and misplaced baggage. The bill requires all-inclusive pricing by airline companies in their advertising.

The legislation is inspired by the European Union law that has been in place for four years, and since Air Canada is already operating under European laws for its flights in Europe, why should an Air Canada customer receive better treatment in Europe than in Canada.

The bill would ensure that passengers are kept informed of flight changes, whether they are delays or cancellations. The new rules must be posted at the airport and the airlines must inform passengers of their rights and process to file for compensation.

This bill is not meant to punish the airlines. If the airlines follow the rules, they would not need to pay $1 in compensation to passengers.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to support Bill C-310 that would introduce Canada's first air passenger bill of rights.

Canada Post

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from about 200 constituents calling upon the Government of Canada to maintain the moratorium on post office closures and to withdraw the legislation to legalize remailers.

The petition also calls upon the Government of Canada to instruct Canada Post to maintain, expand and improve postal services.

Animal Welfare

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I also have petition from over 400 of my constituents asking the Government of Canada to support a universal declaration on animal welfare because of scientific consensus and public acknowledgement that animals can feel pain and can suffer.

The petitioners want to see a prevention of animal cruelty and reduced animal suffering.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 328 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 328

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Beauséjour, NB]

What amounts were granted to small craft harbours in the Beauséjour riding from the year 2000 on, broken down by year and by project?

(Return tabled)