House of Commons Hansard #78 of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was park.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Pursuant to paragraph 90(1)(a) 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 relation to the Conflict of Interest Code for members of the House of Commons for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009.
Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) of the House of Commons I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the treaties entitled “Convention on cyber crime” signed at Budapest on the November 23, 2001, and the “Additional Protocol to the Convention on cybercrime, concerning the criminalization of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems” signed at Strasbourg on January 28, 2003. An explanatory memorandum is attached to both treaties.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
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 four petitions.
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Technical Assistance for Law Enforcement in the 21st Century ActRoutine Proceedings
York—Simcoe Ontario
Conservative
Peter Van Loan ConservativeMinister of Public Safety
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-47, An Act regulating telecommunications facilities to support investigations.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, 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 NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its visit of the political committee subcommittee on transatlantic relations held in Zagreb, Croatia, March 25 to 27, 2009.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two reports.
Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its visit of the officers of the science and technology committee held in Warsaw, Poland, April 24, 2008
Second, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the meeting of the Ukraine NATO Interparliamentary Council held in Brussels, Belgium, May 5, 2008.
Anthony Rota Liberal Nipissing—Timiskaming, 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 NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its visit of the science and technology committee subcommittee on energy and environmental security held in Vienna, Austria and Geneva, Switzerland, April 27 to 30, 2009.
Access to Information, Privacy and EthicsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics entitled “The Access to Information Act: First Steps Towards Renewal”.
This report outlines the work that the committee has done with regard to potential changes to the Access to Information Act. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days of its presentation.
I would like to thank all hon. members who participated on the committee, permanent members and also those who participated in support of the committee. Our thanks as well to the House of Commons and Library of Parliament personnel, the clerk, the research analysts, translators, and other technical and support personnel who were invaluable in helping us to organize our hearings for this report and reports throughout this Parliament.
Rick Casson Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the hard-working Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan entitled “Report on Canada's Priority Number One in Afghanistan: Helping to Enhance the Afghan National Security Forces”.
Ed Fast Conservative Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to its study on impaired driving entitled “Ending Alcohol-Impaired Driving: A Common Approach”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure and honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food entitled “Beyond the Listeriosis Crisis: Strengthening the Food Safety System”.
Public Safety and National SecurityCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Garry Breitkreuz Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I too have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to the statutory review of the DNA Identification Act.
I would like to thank all members of the committee, the clerk, the research analysts and all those who had a part in this. I believe we have come up with an excellent report that would, when implemented, really improve public safety.
I would also like to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to the review of the findings and recommendations arising from the Iacobucci and O'Connor inquiries. I would like to note that the government has submitted a dissenting opinion because of concerns with part of the report. Again, I would like to thank all of those who had a part in putting out this report.
In relation to this second report, I want to raise a question of parliamentary privilege. Should I wait until the end of routine proceedings to do that?
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Yes.
Presenting reports from committees, the hon. member for Lévis—Bellechasse.
Steven Blaney Conservative Lévis—Bellechasse, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages.
This report is entitled “5,000 Bilingual Positions To Be Filled Every Year: The Role Of Postsecondary Institutions In Promoting Canada's Linguistic Duality”.
I simply want to remind members that Canada's public service is the largest employer, and that it offers very interesting career opportunities to young Canadians, particularly when it comes to bilingual language training.
I thank the committee members, the clerk and the analyst for their excellent work, and for the quality report that was produced and tabled in this House today.
Rodney Weston Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to the Atlantic lobster fishery entitled “The Canadian Lobster Fishery: Trapped in a Perfect Storm”.
Glenn Thibeault NDP Sudbury, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-426, An Act to amend the Bank Act and other Acts (cost of borrowing for credit cards).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today, seconded by my colleague from Thunder Bay—Rainy River, to introduce a bill that would provide relief to thousands of Canadians across the country who are being gouged in this economic recession by huge credit card interest rates.
This bill, entitled An Act to amend the Bank Act and other Acts (cost of borrowing for credit cards), would amend the Bank Act, the Cooperative Credit Associations Act, the Insurance Companies Act and the Trust and Loan Companies Act, to set the maximum rate that may be charged for the cost of borrowing in respect of credit cards, by no more than 5% of the current Bank of Canada target for the overnight rate.
The purpose of the bill is to finally bring some relief to the thousands of Canadians who are suffering from huge debt loads. We believe this rate to be fair and transparent, and it would allow companies to make a profit and stop consumers from being gouged.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-427, An Act respecting Grandparents Day.
Mr. Speaker, it is an absolute joy and wonder to be a grandparent. It gives me great pleasure to move, seconded by the member for Sudbury, the introduction of a bill that would make the second Sunday of September each year grandparents day.
As working parents are spending five more weeks working every year, grandparents are playing an increasingly nurturing role in family life and are a valuable link between generations.
This House passed a unanimous motion a few years ago but it has never adopted a bill or an act respecting grandparents day. We know that September is a busy period. Children go back to school and parents go back to work. So, it is a good time to pause and celebrate this intergenerational linkage, nurturing and learning.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Ruby Dhalla Liberal Brampton—Springdale, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-428, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirement).
Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour and pleasure that I introduce a bill to amend the Old Age Security Act, the residency requirement, with the support of the member for Toronto Centre.
This bill seeks to increase support to immigrant seniors and erase an inequality and discrimination that exists among seniors coming to Canada from certain countries, like China, the Caribbean, India, Africa and South America. Immigrant seniors from these countries have to wait 10 years for their old age security benefits versus three years for seniors from other countries.
The bill being brought forward today in this House is the result of the hard work of thousands of seniors across this country and organizations like the Old Age Benefits Forum and the Chinese Canadian National Council, which have advocated in the interest of fairness and equality.
This bill would help reduce the economic vulnerability that is faced by immigrant seniors and would ensure that all seniors, regardless of their country of origin, are treated as equals in Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Gérard Asselin Bloc Manicouagan, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-429, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today a bill to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act to promote the use of wood in the renovation and construction of federal buildings.
The current crisis in the forestry sector has been debated for a long time in this House. The bill I am introducing today, seconded by the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, is intended to promote sustainable development. Promoting the use of wood in public infrastructure projects would not only show a commitment to the forestry sector and its workers, but it would also show a commitment to the environment.
I thank my colleagues for considering this bill. The member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord and I are very hopeful that it will be passed in the near future.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among all parties, and I am therefore seeking the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice, on Friday, June 19, 2009, the House shall meet at 9 a.m. to consider Government Orders (Supply);
That during consideration of Government Orders on that day, no member shall speak for more than ten minutes, with a five minute period for questions and comments; and
That on that day only, in Standing Order 81(18), “6:30 p.m.” shall be read as “10:30 p.m.” and “10 a.m.” shall be read as “1 p.m.”
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Does the hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
There is a point of order from the hon. member for Vancouver East.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the government House leader said that he thinks there is unanimous consent, but I believe there was still some discussion back and forth in terms of the length of time for debate for the estimates, that it would be one full round. The time of 1 p.m. that he has given I think precludes that, so I am not sure we have unanimous consent at this point.