House of Commons Hansard #43 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was benefits.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Order.
It being 3:07 p.m., pursuant to order made Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin relating to the business of supply.
Call in the members.
The House resumed from April 21 consideration of the motion that Bill C-268, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years), be read the second time and referred to a committee.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Pursuant to order made on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-268 under private members' business.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I declare the motion carried.
Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee.)
The House resumed from April 3 consideration of the motion that Bill C-300, An Act respecting Corporate Accountability for the Activities of Mining, Oil or Gas in Developing Countries, be read the second time and referred to a committee.
Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries ActPrivate Members' Business
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Pursuant to order made on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-300 under private members' business.
Corporate Accountability of Mining, Oil and Gas Corporations in Developing Countries ActPrivate Members' Business
NDP
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
I declare the motion carried. Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
The House resumed from April 20 consideration of the motion that Bill C-291, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (coming into force of sections 110, 111 and 171), be read the second time and referred to a committee.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
Pursuant to order made Tuesday, April 21, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-291 under private members' business.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
I declare the motion carried. Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the House that, during the first vote, the one on the Bloc Québécois' opposition motion concerning the gun registry, the Conservative member for Essex made an inappropriate gesture, and I would like to ask you to take action. When the member for Essex stood to vote against the Bloc Québécois motion—as is his right—he made an inappropriate gesture: he imitated a handgun, a revolver, using his thumb and index finger. Many Bloc Québécois members saw him quite clearly. Consequently, I would ask the member for Essex to apologize for making that inappropriate gesture. Given that the vote was on the subject of whether to maintain the firearms registry, it was totally unacceptable.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
The Chair did not observe the gesture. I will give the member for Essex an opportunity to comment, or we can wait and review the video recording for this session.
Jeff Watson Conservative Essex, ON
Madam Speaker, for the benefit of the House, I was horsing around a bit with a colleague. It was certainly not intended at any member across the House or anyone else. There was no disrespect intended. It was not intended at hon. members across the House. In that sense, this is my explanation on that.
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Madam Speaker, when you look at the recording, you will see that he was pointing right at the leader of the Bloc Québécois, the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie. It was perfectly clear to those of us on this side of the House. We eagerly await your decision.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
I would like to inform the hon. member that I will take his comments under advisement and, this afternoon, I will comment on what can be heard and seen on the tape.
Scott Andrews Liberal Avalon, NL
Madam Speaker, I rise today on a personal question of privilege regarding the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.
I put Question No. 78 on the order paper and received a response back from the minister. The minister is misleading a member of the House of Commons. The Conservatives may find it acceptable to mislead the public, but to mislead a member of the House is something that should not be done. Therefore, I ask the Speaker to take this under advisement.
The minister gave an answer to the question that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans had no knowledge of a statement that was made. However, with a bit of research, we can see on the website, Marketwire, a statement by Fabian Manning. The heading was changed to the Conservative Party of Canada. However, if we go to the French version of the same statement, it is from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which is totally contrary to what the minister put in her response to my question. I will table this today.
If you find there is a prima facie case of privilege, Madam Speaker, I would be prepared to move an appropriate motion at that time, and I will table the documents.
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
After listening to the hon. member, it seems to me that this is more of a point of order. I will certainly review it and come back to the hon. member, but it does seem to be a question of debate as well.
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Carleton—Mississippi Mills Ontario
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Madam Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I believe you would find consent for the following travel motion. I move:
That, in relation to its study on the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada, six members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be authorized to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Moncton, New Brunswick and Montreal, Quebec, from May 10 to 14, 2009 and that the necessary staff accompany the committee;
That, in relation to its study on the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada, six members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be authorized to travel to Calgary, Alberta, to attend the Canadian Social Forum Conference, from May 20 to May 22, 2009 and that the necessary staff accompany the committee;
That, in relation to its study on the federal contribution to reducing poverty in Canada, six members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be authorized to travel to Toronto, Ontario, from June 1 to June 2, 2009 and that the necessary staff accompany the committee.
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
NDP
The Acting Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.