House of Commons Hansard #10 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was corporations.
Maria Minna Liberal Beaches—East York, ON
Mr. Speaker, I think that the government is misleading the House. During oral questions government ministers continually referred to a bill that the opposition is not supporting and the bill has not even been tabled in the House. That is totally unacceptable and it is misleading this House.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I think the first comment about it was that the bill was about to be introduced or something, but I agree, the wording about tabling, I do not know how bills get tabled, they usually get introduced, so in my view, the use of the word is inappropriate. However, that seemed to be used on every which side. In any event, we will see what happens during routine proceedings. I am sure the hon. member for Beaches—East York will be watching routine proceedings with great interest.
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I would like to table several documents.
Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Italian Republic concerning Extradition”. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Exchange of Letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America amending Appendix 6 of Annex 300-B, Textiles and Apparel Goods, of the North American Free Trade Agreement between the Government of Canada, the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States”. As well, an explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, an agreement on social security between Canada and the Republic of Poland. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Canada-Brazil Framework Agreement for Cooperation on Science, Technology and InnovationRoutine Proceedings
Pontiac Québec
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, with leave of the House, and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) , I would like to table, in both official languages, the Framework Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil for Cooperation on Science, Technology and Innovation. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, Protocol V”. An explanatory memorandum is included in the treaty.
Canada-United States Agreement on the General Agreement on Trade in ServicesRoutine Proceedings
Pontiac Québec
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, with leave of the House, and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I would like to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Joint Letter from the United States of America and Canada, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Procedures for the implementation of Article XXI of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)” relating to the modifications proposed to the GATS Schedule (GATS/SC/90) of the United States of America to withdraw its commitment on gambling and betting services. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
Canada-Russia Nuclear Energy Cooperation AgreementRoutine Proceedings
Pontiac Québec
Conservative
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, still with leave of the House, and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I would like to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Exchange of Notes between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Russian Federation constituting an Additional Agreement to the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy”, done on November 20, 1989. An explanatory memorandum is also included with this treaty.
Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “Protocol of Amendments to the Convention on the International Hydrographic Organization”. An explanatory memorandum is included in the treaty.
Diane Finley Conservative Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-10, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009 and related fiscal measures.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Dean Del Mastro Conservative Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the reports of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group representing its participation at the National Governors Association 2008 annual meeting, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 11 to 14; the Pacific Northwest Economic Region 18th annual summit, Vancouver, British Columbia, July 20 to 24, 2008; and the Canadian-American Border Trade Alliance fall meeting held September 14 to 16, 2008, in Washington, D.C.
Joe Preston Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. In accordance with its order of reference of Thursday, January 29, the committee has considered vote 5b for the House of Commons under Parliament, of the supplementary estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009, and reports on the same.
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
moved for leave to introduce C-295, An Act to amend the Canada Pension Plan (episodic disability)
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to rise in the House to table, once again, a bill to protect individuals affected by an episodic disability. I wish to thank the member for Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor for supporting this bill, which will allow these individuals to qualify for benefits provided under the Canada Pension Plan.
An episodic disability is one related to, for example, a mental illness, diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV-AIDS, or sickle-cell anemia.
The bill that I am re-introducing will eliminate the systemic barriers that prevent people with episodic disabilities from integrating, in every sense of the word, into the labour force, the community and society.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Raymonde Folco Liberal Laval—Les Îles, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-296, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credits for dependants).
Mr. Speaker, today I am very pleased to be able to rise in the House to introduce a bill that would amend the Income Tax Act to help those who take care of families abroad by allowing them to benefit from the same tax credit as Canadians who have family in Canada. I would like to thank the member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca for seconding this bill, which will bring justice and equality to our Income Tax Act.
According to a 2008 report from Statistics Canada, in the two years after arriving in Canada, immigrants begin taking care of their family by sending anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000. Many of these newcomers have modest incomes. We are talking about after-tax dollars. The World Bank estimated that in 2005 $167 billion American was sent to developing countries.
I am asking for justice and equality in our laws for all Canadian citizens who are responsible for aging members of their family. Even if their family is overseas, they still have obligations and commitments.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-297, An Act to ensure accountability in respect of Canada’s obligations under international treaties.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Halifax for seconding the bill.
It is important that Canada not only say that it will have accountability but that it must have accountability. This bill would ensure that there is accountability on all international treaties that we sign onto. This is something that the government, when it was in opposition and, in fact, in government, said that it would do. It has not followed through on that and this would ensure that, if passed, it would follow through on its commitment.
It is about time we had accountability in all aspects of government and it would start, obviously, with international obligations.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Corporate Social Responsibility of Mining Corporations Outside Canada ActRoutine Proceedings
February 6th, 2009 / 12:15 p.m.
NDP
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-298, An Act respecting Corporate Social Responsibility for the Activities of Canadian Mining Corporations in Developing Countries.
Madam Speaker, again I thank my colleague from Halifax for seconding this bill.
This bill would ensure Canada had the same obligations overseas as it has here for all of its mining extractive industries, for things like labour law, human rights and environmental laws.
In the past, the government has said that it would act on this and it has the report on corporate social responsibility to actually engage in this area but it has sat on the minister's desk without any reply.
This bill would have Canada apply the ideas and the principles of corporate social responsibility for the extractive industries overseas. This applies to places like the Congo, for sure in Darfur and Sudan, and other places around the world.
I would love it if the government would please take my bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-299, An Act to prohibit the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in specified products and to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999.
Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Halifax for seconding this bill.
I actually introduced this bill in the last Parliament. The government adopted some of the facets of this bill that would prohibit and eliminate the use of bisphenol A in products. As we know, bisphenol A is a chromosome disrupter. It does affect human health, particularly the most vulnerable. This bill would eliminate bisphenol A in all products in Canada.
I want to push the government a little more on the adoption of this principle and look forward to this being adopted by this Parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON
Madam Speaker, I join with thousands of petitioners who have signed the war resisters support campaign. Canada has a moral duty to support all those brave soldiers who oppose the war.
This past Wednesday, U.S. war resister, Cliff Cornell, surrendered himself to U.S. border police after being ordered to leave Canada. He was promptly arrested. He is the second Iraq war resister to be held in Whatcom county jail. He follows Robin Long who was deported in July.
The House and the courts have already spoken in favour of allowing them to stay. The petitioners want to know why the Conservative government will not abide by the proud Canadian tradition and allow them to stay?
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Madam Speaker, I wish to present a petition in a continuing series of petitions signed by residents of the nation's capital concerning the matter of heavy trucks crossing the heart of our capital city through established communities. In particular, these petitioners ask the Government of Canada to instruct the National Capital Commission to proceed with a detailed assessment of an interprovincial bridge linking the Canotec Industrial Park to the Gatineau Airport, which is option seven of the first phase of the interprovincial crossings environmental assessment, a position shared by the Governments of Ontario and Quebec.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of 87 constituents from my riding of Halifax who are deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Gaza.
They call for an end to the fighting and for an opening of the borders to much needed aid. Further, they call upon Parliament to immediately restore aid to the region.
Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North, MB
Madam Speaker, I have documents here, including the signatures of 450 petitioners who would like to send a message to the government as soon as possible regarding its proposals to amend the Food and Drugs Act.
They want the government to hear their concerns now, before it reintroduces the bill that was known as Bill C-51. They are very concerned that this bill will hurt people's access to natural health products and not do the job when it comes to the safety of drugs.
They encourage the government to reconsider its proposition and to do the right thing by introducing meaningful legislation to ensure safety of food and drugs while not harming access to natural health products.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 and as certified by the clerk of petitions, I am pleased to present a petition forwarded to me by over 100 students from Cawthra Park Secondary School located in my riding of Mississauga South.
These students have expressed their concern about the periodic and substantial spiking in gasoline prices based on market pressures precipitated by speculators and not on the true cost of productions or refinery or distribution costs. They are concerned about the burden it places on not only ordinary Canadians, but also on our economy as a whole.
The petitioners, therefore, call upon Parliament to take all possible measures to moderate gasoline prices and the swings in prices in the best interest of all Canadians.
I would also like to congratulate these students from Cawthra Park Secondary School for expressing their views directly to the Parliament of Canada and I encourage our youth across the land to continue to have their voices heard at all levels of government.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission B.C.
Conservative
Randy Kamp ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker Ms. Denise Savoie
Is that agreed?