House of Commons Hansard #77 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was nahanni.

Topics

The House resumed from June 11 consideration of the motion.

Renewable EnergyPrivate Members' Business

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Pursuant to order made Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on Motion No. 295 under private members' business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #93

Renewable EnergyPrivate Members' Business

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

I declare the motion carried.

The House resumed from June 16 consideration of the motion that Bill C-309, An Act establishing the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Region of Northern Ontario, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Economic Development Agency of Canada For The Region of Northern Ontario ActPrivate Members' Business

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Pursuant to order made on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-309 under private members' business.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #94

Economic Development Agency of Canada For The Region of Northern Ontario ActPrivate Members' Business

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerPrivate Members' Business

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Pursuant to subsection 90(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present to the House the annual report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner in respect of the Conflict of Interest Act for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009.

Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Maritime TransportRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Pontiac Québec

Conservative

Lawrence Cannon ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, with leave of the House and pursuant to the standing orders, I would like to table, in both official languages, the agreement entitled “Protocol amending the Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China on Maritime Transport”, signed in Ottawa on May 6, 2009.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary 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 17 petitions.

Canada Post Corporation ActRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Merrifield Conservative Yellowhead, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-44, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act.

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

Immigration and Refugee Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeMinister of Citizenship

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-45, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

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

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the parliamentary mission to Sweden, the country that will hold the next presidency of the Council of the European Union, and the second part of the 2009 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Stockholm, Sweden, and Strasbourg, France, April 23-30.

National DefenceCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Maxime Bernier Conservative Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on National Defence entitled “Doing Well and Doing Better: Health Services provided to Canadian Forces with an Emphasis on Post-traumatic Stress Disorder”.

I would also like to thank the members of the committee for their excellent work.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources entitled, “Combining our Energies: Integrated Energy Systems for Canadian Communities”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the government respond to the report and the recommendations contained therein.

International TradeCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Lee Richardson Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on International Trade entitled, “An Examination of Selected Canada-U.S. Border Issues”.

I would like to particularly thank the committee at this time for a non-partisan visit to Washington. We met with congressmen to push Canada's position against buy American.

Government Operations and EstimatesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to its study on supplementary estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2010. I am pleased to report that the committee considered some of the votes referred to it and reports the same.

Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to its study on the federal government procurement processes and small and medium-sized enterprises.

HealthCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Joy Smith Conservative Kildonan—St. Paul, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-32, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act. The committee examined the bill and has decided to report it with amendments, and has ordered its reprint.

I wish to especially thank all members of the health committee for all their hard work, dedication and co-operation.

Veterans AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

David Sweet Conservative Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs entitled, “Shared Experiences: Comparison of Veterans Services Offered by Members of the Commonwealth and the G8”.

Canadian Football ActRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-423, An Act to support Canadian professional football.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my seconder, the member for Edmonton—Strathcona, a big fan of the Edmonton Eskimos.

As we all know, we are celebrating a century of the Grey Cup in Canada. Canadian professional football is like football nowhere else on the planet. It has older traditions dating back further than anywhere else on the planet. Our athletes in Canadian professional football have shown time and time again that they contribute to Canadian culture and the economy in local communities across the country.

Tonight the pre-season begins for the Canadian Football League. This bill would help to protect the CFL in perpetuity, making sure that fans not only for today and next year but a decade from now can enjoy Canadian professional football. We know that fans are lining up from British Columbia to Montreal and we hope soon they will also be able to see Canadian professional football in Ottawa and why not Quebec City or Halifax.

Unlike the NHL, where an American lawyer can decide whether Winnipeg or Hamilton gets a team, Canadian football is our game. Tonight the CFL begins. The NDP is supportive of the CFL.

If I can be permitted a final partisan note, I would like to say for 2009, go BC Lions.

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

Youth Criminal Justice ActRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-424, An Act to amend the Youth Criminal Justice Act (protection of the public).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from Ottawa—Vanier for seconding this bill.

This bill strives to fully implement all the federal recommendations stemming from the Nunn commission in Nova Scotia. It is in response to the tragic death of a Nova Scotia teaching assistant, who was killed in 2004 in a car crash by a repeat young offender. It encompasses all of the Nunn recommendations, including those that were ignored by the Conservative government.

I should emphasize the work of Mr. Justice Nunn. I also want to thank Hugh Wright, the lawyer for the family of Theresa McEvoy, for his invaluable assistance with drafting my bill.

In meeting with Halifax's police chief and other law enforcement officials, and at town hall meetings I have held with residents of my riding, it is clear that the changes I am bringing forward are necessary. I am sure my colleagues from Nova Scotia have heard the same thing from their constituents.

A senseless stabbing in my riding just a few short weeks ago also reminded me that we have to do a better job of dealing with young offenders.

I look forward to the input from all sides of the House on this bill. I hope everyone in this place recognizes that the changes my bill proposes for the Youth Criminal Justice Act would help make our streets and neighbourhoods safe for everyone.

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

Foreign Credentials Recognition ActRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-425, An Act respecting the recognition of foreign credentials.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from British Columbia for seconding this bill.

There is a problem in this country in that new Canadians and professionals who have arrived in Canada are not able to reach their full potential, not because they are not skilled, but because their foreign credentials are not recognized.

This bill would do three key things. It would require registration of all foreign credential practices throughout the country in order to coordinate what is going on in the provinces. All provinces would have to meet transparent objectives and partial assessments for foreign-trained professionals. It would establish a foreign credentials recognition fund to provide funding for provinces and municipalities to integrate foreign-trained professionals into the workplace. Finally, it would ensure accountability by asking the minister to report to Parliament on the progress of addressing this important challenge.

This is something we could do by opening up spaces right here in Ottawa in the public service to allow foreign-trained professionals to get that elusive Canadian experience they so desperately need to get further in their careers.

I want to thank the members of the immigrant community. This bill was written by them. It is from their input and it is why I am here today introducing the bill. I hope that the House will adopt this bill.

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

An Act Creating One of the World’s Largest National Park ReservesRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Prince George—Peace River B.C.

Conservative

Jay Hill ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, as usual, there have been countless discussions, negotiations and consultations among all the parties, and I think if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following two motions. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, when the House begins debate on the second reading motion of Bill C-38, an Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act to enlarge Nahanni National Park Reserve of Canada, one Member from each recognized party may speak for not more than ten minutes, after which the Bill shall be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a Committee of the Whole, deemed considered in Committee of the Whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.

An Act Creating One of the World’s Largest National Park ReservesRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?