House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was drugs.
France Bonsant Bloc Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, in an attempt to convince Chinese authorities not to halt imports of Canadian canola afflicted with a parasite, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food stated that restricting canola imports would be useless, because Canadian canola is a Terminator type. That is not true, however, because Terminator technology has been banned since 2000.
Can the minister tell us why he made such statements that, in addition to being false, could harm field crop producers?
Jean-Pierre Blackburn ConservativeMinister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Agriculture)
Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about any measure that interferes with the export of any agricultural product, including canola. We are doubly concerned when the health of the export is not at issue.
In this case, we are talking and working with Chinese authorities as well as American authorities, which have had some problems with canola, to find a solution that will be good for our country.
Mike Lake ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, in answer to a question earlier from the member for Hull—Aylmer, it has been brought to my attention that I may have inadvertently, in my haste to list all the good things this government has done for the aerospace sector, used the term “$200” instead of “$200 million” in new investment for the strategic aerospace and defence initiative.
Let us be clear. The amount of new investment was $200 million.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, given that you are in the chair of the House at this propitious moment and given the fact that the colour of the chair is green, I wonder if you will take this opportunity to declare, indeed, that green is the colour and that we wish the Rider nation every success at the Grey Cup festival in Calgary this weekend.
The Deputy Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I am not sure there is a Standing Order that would permit the Speaker to declare that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are Canada's team, that it is a team held near and dear to the hearts of people in Saskatchewan and that I am sure members of the House and members all across Canada will wish the Riders well this weekend. I am not sure there is a Standing Order that would permit me to say that, so I am not sure I can intervene with this.
Denis Coderre Liberal Bourassa, QC
Mr. Speaker, there is a limit for partisanship. I believe Montreal is in order: Go Als, go.
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, I know we have a big game this weekend, but there is a matter that took place during question period of a more serious nature.
The member for Vancouver Quadra asked her question with respect to the construction of the pavilion at the Olympic site in British Columbia. During the response to that question, the member for Kings—Hants took the liberty, and I want to give him the opportunity to stand and correct the record, of referring to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the member for Peterborough, as “there's the pavilion”. That was his comment.
I know the banter and the discussion in the House sometimes gets heated up, but I think the good member for Kings—Hants would rise in his place, apologize and withdraw those remarks from question period.
Scott Brison Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, I apologize absolutely to the member for Peterborough. What I said was inappropriate, and I certainly hope he does not take this personally. I feel very badly about it. I am sorry to the member for Peterborough.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Cypress Hills—Grasslands Saskatchewan
Conservative
David Anderson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions.
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-60, An Act to implement the Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present to the House, in both official languages, the report from the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union regarding its attendance at the Conference for Chairpersons and Members of Parliamentary Bodies dealing with gender equality and a response to violence against women, December 2 to 4, 2008, Geneva, Switzerland.
Human Resources Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in relation to Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.
I also wish to thank all members of committee from both sides of the House for their hard work and their spirit of co-operation in getting this bill through committee.
Bob Rae Liberal Toronto Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the third report of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan.
The committee wishes to bring to the attention of the House its belief that a breach of privilege has occurred in the context of its study on the transfer of Afghan detainees.
Notice of MotionWays and MeansRoutine Proceedings
November 27th, 2009 / 12:05 p.m.
Prince George—Peace River B.C.
Conservative
Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1) I wish to table a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act. I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.
Jim Maloway NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, I present the largest petition I have seen in the House in a year.
The petitioners call for an independent judicial inquiry on the salmon crisis. Nine million sockeye salmon have disappeared during the summer's migration to the Fraser River, the lowest return in 50 years. This is a crisis similar in magnitude to the collapse of the Atlantic cod stocks, which devastated the east coast. It is dramatically affecting the way of life and the livelihood of west coast communities, first nations, recreational fishing, commercial fisheries and businesses.
It was determined that a factor in the Atlantic cod collapse was government suppression of scientific facts. The resulting closure of public fisheries and the loss of millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs in the commercial fishing industry is negatively impacting the B.C. economy with hardships and layoffs for many people directly and indirectly associated with wild salmon fishing and wilderness tourism.
It is unclear whether the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has fulfilled its obligations to effectively and responsibly manage this important resource and it is uncertain as to what meaningful action the department will undertake to ensure the long-term viability of all the salmon on the west coast.
The petitioners call upon the government to establish an independent judicial inquiry under the federal Inquiries Act that would fully explore the real facts and consult with scientists and stakeholders to determine what went wrong with this year's sockeye run.
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present three petitions from constituents. The first one is in regard to the long gun registry.
The petitioners point out that the long gun registry was originally budgeted to cost Canadians $2 million, but the price tag spiralled out of control to an estimated $2 billion a decade later. They point out that the registry has not saved one life since it was introduced.
They call upon the House of Commons to support legislation that would cancel the long gun registry and streamline the Firearms Act.
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in regard to medical benefits.
The petitioners point out that when a parent and caregiver of a child who has a life-threatening or serious illness like cancer must take care of the child full-time when the child falls ill and undergoes treatment like surgery, that parent or caregiver does not qualify for long-term medical EI insurance.
They call upon the House of Commons to enact specific legislation to improve additional medical EI benefits at least equal to maternity EI benefits.
Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the last petition from my constituents is in regard to life.
The residents of Canada draw attention to the fact that Canada is a country which respects life and includes in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that everyone has the right to life.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death.
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition that is 30 pages long and is signed by hundreds of Canadians from coast to coast.
The petitioners urgently call on the government to establish an independent judicial inquiry under the federal Inquiries Act that would fully explore all the facts, consult with scientists and stakeholders, determine what went wrong with this year's sockeye run and present a public report with binding solutions within six months.
Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present to the House in support of the universal declaration on animal welfare.
The residents of Vancouver Quadra and around the Lower Mainland draw to the attention of the House that there is a scientific consensus and public acknowledgement that animals can feel pain and suffer and that all efforts should be made to prevent animal cruelty and reduce animal suffering.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to support a universal declaration on animal welfare.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Cypress Hills—Grasslands Saskatchewan
Conservative
David Anderson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, a revised response to Question No. 433, originally answered on November 16, 2009 will be tabled today.
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Scarborough East, ON
With regard to the government’s handling of the Omar Khadr and Abousfian Abdelrazik cases, for each case: (b) what is the breakdown of all outside consultants hired for any purpose, including public relations, and the value of the associated contracts?
Question No. 433Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Niagara Falls Ontario
Conservative
Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the response to part (b) is revised as follows: The government contracted one outside consultant to work on the Abousfian Abdelrazik file. A total fee of $1,890.00 was paid for this service.
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.