House of Commons Hansard #13 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
John Cummins Conservative Delta—Richmond East, BC
Mr. Speaker, in Canada's economic action plan, the finance minister announced a new home renovations tax credit. This tax credit will allow Canadians who spend up to $10,000 on home renovations to get a 15% tax credit.
Could the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism tell us about the benefit for small and medium sized businesses and for Canadians?
Diane Ablonczy ConservativeMinister of State (Small Business and Tourism)
Mr. Speaker, the new home renovations tax credit is excellent news, both for homeowners and for small business across our country. This new tax credit has been warmly received. The IC Interior Design Group said, “It's been incredible”. A construction company said, “It is aimed at small business”.
This new home renovations tax credit is another example of how Canada's economic action plan will protect and create jobs in our communities.
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions and negotiations among all the parties and if you seek it I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, for the purpose of considering the supplementary estimates B, 2008-09, tabled in the House on Thursday, January 29, 2009, each standing committee to which supplementary estimates B were referred, shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the said estimates to the House not later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2009;
at 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government orders on Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings then in progress and, put, forthwith and successively, without debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of any opposition motion before the House, of any item for the restoration or reinstatement of any item in the said estimates, or any opposed item in the estimates and for the passage at all stages of any bill based thereon, provided that the Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall remain suspended until all such questions have been decided; that 24 hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates and motions, to concur in the supplementary estimates, to restore and reinstate any item in the estimates; and
that the business of supply for the remainder of the supply period ending March 26, 2009 continue to be conducted in accordance with Standing Order 81.
Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if the hon. minister could just repeat that.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I can put the motion to the House and read it again, if members want to hear it all again.
Is there unanimous consent to proceed with this motion?
Bill Casey Independent Cumberland—Colchester—Musquodoboit Valley, NS
Mr. Speaker, the chief government whip said that there were prior consultations with all the parties in opposition but I was not given prior notice of this motion. If the whip would like to come over and explain it to me, I would be glad to consider it and give it my approval.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
The question for the moment is whether there is consent and I presume that there is no consent at the moment. There will be further consultations, I am sure.
Gerry Ritz ConservativeMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I am pleased to present today the Canadian Wheat Board 2007-08 financial statements in both official languages.
I would also like to draw to the attention of the House a point of concern associated with the Wheat Board's contingency fund. This fund is intended to cover the risk involved in operating the producer payment options program. Page 38 of the report reads:
When other revenues (pricing damages) and program expenses (including net hedging results, interest and administration expenses) are accounted for, the programs generated a net loss of $89.5 million.
That loss this year is on top of the nearly $40 million the board lost in the same way in its programs last year. Clearly, the board has not learned from these mistakes and has compounded the problem, continuing on with the same risk management practices. All of these losses add to the contingency fund's deficit which has cost farmers $120 million.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of the Minister of Agriculture to present the annual report of an agency but it is not his duty to go on a political attack against the agency that he is supposed to be tabling the report on. It is his duty to present the report.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I must caution the minister that if he wants to make a statement , he can do so under statements by ministers. It appears that was what he was doing rather than just tabling. We are on tabling of documents and I would respectfully request that he table the document. It is not an opportunity to make a statement. If he wishes to make a statement, he does that under the other and then all parties get to reply, which is not the case in tabling of documents.
I do not know whether the minister has anything further to say at this point but I think he was getting beyond the tabling.
Gerry Ritz Conservative Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Speaker, I am tabling these documents for the Canadian Wheat Board on behalf of western Canadian farmers. They have asked me to point out these flaws in the program, and I am happy to do that.
Supplementary Estimates (B), 2008-09Routine Proceedings
Prince George—Peace River B.C.
Conservative
Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I wonder if we could return to my previous motion. I had the opportunity to discuss with the hon. member from Nova Scotia and he has graciously agreed to grant his consent to the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, for the purpose of considering the supplementary estimates B, 2008-09, tabled in the House on Thursday, January 29, 2009, each standing committee to which supplementary estimates B were referred, shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the said estimates to the House not later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2009;
at 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government orders on Thursday, February 12, 2009, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings then in progress and, put, forthwith and successively, without debate or amendment, every question necessary to dispose of any opposition motion before the House, of any item for the restoration or reinstatement of any item in the said estimates, or any opposed item in the estimates and for the passage at all stages of any bill based thereon, provided that the Standing Orders relating to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment shall remain suspended until all such questions have been decided; that 24 hours' written notice shall be given of a notice to oppose any item in the estimates and motions, to concur in the supplementary estimates, to restore and reinstate any item in the estimates; and
that the business of supply for the remainder of the supply period ending March 26, 2009 continue to be conducted in accordance with Standing Order 81.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?
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?
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation to the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association on its participation in the 35th annual meeting held in Quebec City from September 8 to 15, 2008.
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
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 delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation to the parliamentary mission to the country that will next hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union and the fourth part of the 2008 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Prague, Czech Republic and Strasbourg, France, September 25 to October 3.
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
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 delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation to the meeting of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region held in Ostersund, Sweden, November 6.
Joe Preston Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114 I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence on the fifth report later today.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources in relation to supplementary estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.
Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women concerning government action in support of abused women.
This report asks the federal government to take concrete action to support women and denounce their abuse in Canada and on the international stage.
Rodney Weston Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to supplementary estimates (B) for the year 2008-09.