Debates of June 18th, 2009

Business of the House

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, that is unfortunate. I did not say that I thought we had unanimous consent. I asked that you seek it. There is a difference.

Pursuant to Standing Order 56.1, I move:

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 a.m.” and “10 p.m.” shall be read as “1 p.m.”

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Will those members who object to the motion please rise in their places?

And fewer than 25 members having risen:

The motion is adopted.

(Motion agreed to)

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have had consultations with all parties and ask that you seek unanimous consent so that I can remove my private member's bill, Bill C-202, which is the floor crossing bill.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. member have unanimous consent to remove the bill from the order paper?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Public Safety Officers Compensation Fund

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition concerning public safety officers.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that police officers and firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis in the execution of their duties, that employment benefits provided to them are often insufficient to compensate their families for those who are killed in the line of duty, that the public mourns a loss when one of them loses their life in the line of duty and wish to support in a tangible way the surviving families in their time of need.

The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to establish a fund known as the public safety officers compensation fund for the benefit of families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.

Mining Companies

[Meili Faille, Bloc, Vaudreuil—Soulanges, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition concerning the social responsibilities of mining companies. The petitioners are asking the government to urge the Secretary-General of the United Nations to develop an international mechanism for obtaining prior consent.

I hear concerns about mining companies on a regular basis. A young student, Mrs. Elsie Kolko-Koyura, is calling on the Canadian government to protect the environment and to force Canadian mining companies to do the same in their mining operations abroad. The documentary Mirage of El Dorado clearly illustrates the problem.

The Conservative government is dragging its feet on this issue. In the meantime, the citizens of the San Felix Valley in Chile are seeing their water sources contaminated, while several rivers are drying up. Many African countries are facing similar situations.

It is time to take action to ensure that future generations will enjoy a socially and ecologically sustainable environment.

Assistance for People with Disabilities

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present three petitions to the House.

The first petition is signed by many people in the Lower Mainland, pointing out that the current disability benefit programs do not recognize or accommodate the needs of people with episodic disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis.

They call on Parliament to ensure that EI sickness benefits are more flexible and would allow for partial benefits and part-time work for individuals with episodic disabilities, to make the disability tax credit a refundable benefit so persons with disabilities can have more income, and to allow spouses to claim the caregiver tax credit.

Falun Gong Practitioners

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition that I am pleased to present is signed by people in east Vancouver who are drawing to our attention that Chinese security agencies have conducted large scale arrests of Falun Gong adherents since January 2008, amounting to nearly 2,000 practitioners.

They urgently call on the Canadian government to rescue Suming Gao and Qianming Gao, to make a public statement and to pass a motion in the House to condemn the Chinese government for these crimes against humanity and urge the Chinese regime to end the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and release all practitioners immediately.

National Housing Strategy

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from residents in Vancouver who call for a national housing strategy and the swift passage of Bill C-304, which calls for a national housing strategy to increase the federal role in housing through investments and not-for-profit housing, housing for the homeless, and access to housing for those with different needs including seniors and persons with disability.

Firearms Registry

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present two petitions on behalf of constituents in my riding of Edmonton—Sherwood Park. These signatures were collected at local trade fairs in Sherwood Park and Fort Saskatchewan.

The first petition calls for the House of Commons to abolish the long gun registry.

Human Trafficking

[Tim Uppal, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls for members of the House of Commons to support Bill C-268, thereby increasing the punishments for human trafficking offences.

Electromagnetic Fields

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present to the House today a petition compiled by a gentleman by the name of Gerry Higgins from Norris Arm, who is a tenacious man, to say the least. He certainly has had a battle.

Several years ago, just around Christmas 2005, Mr. Higgins lost his wife to cancer. She was just 45 years old, and her name was Margaret. Since then he has been on a crusade.

He would like to present this petition, and I would like to do it on his behalf, that the Government of Canada undertake an independent study to determine the negative effects of electromagnetic fields on human health.

There is evidence to suggest that electromagnetic fields emanating from all types of transformers, substations and power lines located near residences can pose significant health risks to individuals and their families. Mr. Higgins is compelling the government, through this House, to complete an independent study.

I salute Mr. Higgins for bringing his petition to the House of Commons of Canada.

Assistance for People with Disabilities

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour to present this petition signed by dozens of individuals from Winnipeg, Manitoba who call on the government to support the efforts of people affected by multiple sclerosis and other chronic diseases and disabilities so they can remain part of the workforce and part of their own communities.

They point out that there are income security issues for people living with chronic disabilities. They call upon the government to address the shortcomings in many of our programs, and very specifically they ask the government to make employment insurance benefits more flexible so that people can work part-time. They call upon the government to make the disability tax credit refundable to help people with their income difficulties and to allow spouses to claim the caregiver tax credit.

Protection of Human Life

[Leon Benoit, Conservative, Vegreville—Wainwright, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition that calls for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death. The petitioners note that Canada is a country that respects human rights and that includes a right to life in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

They note as well that it has been 40 years, since May 14, 1969 when Parliament changed the law to permit abortion, and that since January 28, 1988 Canada has had no law to protect the lives of unborn children. They call upon Parliament to pass legislation for the protection of human life from the time of conception until natural death.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first is from rural people living around the city of Whitehorse, who note that CBC transmission is absolutely essential for them. They get weather reports, road reports, public service and emergency announcements. Maintaining the AM transmission, which is the only way for some of them to get transmission, is absolutely essential. They are calling on Parliament to maintain the AM transmission in Whitehorse, one of Canada's 14 capital cities, for the essential needs of people living in rural areas around Whitehorse.

The second petition is from a number of people living in the rural area around Whitehorse. They note that the lease on the AM transmission tower has expired and that CBC is going to take it down so that one of Canada's 14 capital cities would not have total CBC transmission. Because it is critical in the north, being one of the few ways to receive emergency messages related to health, life and work, they want Parliament to ensure, regardless of whether funds have to come from the local or the national CBC, that AM transmission continues permanently in the capital city of Whitehorse.

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today to present three petitions. I present the first petition on behalf of the hon. member for Windsor—Tecumseh. It has been signed by hundreds and hundreds of francophones from the Windsor area and southwestern Ontario. They are calling on the government to grant additional funding to the CBC, to be allocated specifically to French-language minorities in Canada.

As we all know, cuts have been made to CBEF, a radio station in the Windsor area. As a result, two-thirds of its reporters have lost their jobs. The station can no longer provide the service that the southwestern Ontario region deserves.

Collective Agreements and Pay Equity

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is signed by dozens from residents of Vancouver Island, Esquimalt, Victoria and Saanich calling on the government to support Motion No. 384, which rescinds the provisions in Bill C-10 that violate workers rights to collective bargaining, including arbitral awards and equal pay for work of equal value.

These hard-working civil servants are saying that the provisions of Bill C-10 attack public servants' right to strike and equal pay for work of equal value. They are asking Parliament to rescind them.

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my final petition contains hundreds of names, which are added to the thousands that have come to the House, asking the Parliament of Canada not to adopt the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement.

Falun Gong Practitioners

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present a petition signed by concerned British Columbians calling on the government of China to release Falun gong practitioners from detention and end their persecution.

Passport Office in Northeastern Ontario

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a great honour and privilege to stand in the House and represent the great people of Timmins—James Bay. There are hundreds of people from the Timmins and Kirkland Lake region who have signed this petition calling for a full walk-in passport service in northeastern Ontario.

I am sure many members are not aware that northeastern Ontario is the only region in the country without a walk-in passport service. There is service in northwestern Ontario and southern Ontario, but for a region that is dependent on mining and international exploration work, the need for passport turnaround is essential.

The petitioners are calling for a full walk-in passport service so that emergency passports can be received in the city of Timmins. Most members would recognize that is a completely reasonable suggestion being that Timmins is the centre of northeastern Ontario in terms of business, culture and all manner of other great things.

Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, this petition deals with the Canada-Colombia trade deal.

The petitioners call on Parliament to reject the Canada-Colombia trade deal until an independent human rights impact assessment is carried out, the resulting concerns addressed, and the agreement renegotiated along the principles of fair trade, which would take environmental and social impacts fully into account while genuinely respecting and enhancing labour rights and the rights of all affected parties. All trade agreements must be built upon the principles of fair trade which fundamentally respect social justice, human rights, labour rights and the environmental stewardship as a prerequisite to trade.

Canadians call upon Parliament assembled to stop the Canada-Colombia trade deal.

Birtukan Mideksa

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition. Many Canadians have joined the call to release Ms. Birtukan Mideksa from arbitrary imprisonment in Ethiopia.

The petitioners call on Parliament to pass private member's Motion No. 334, which requests that the government make use of every means at its disposal, in addition to working with its allies in the international community and at the United Nations, to exert maximum pressure on the Government of Ethiopia to immediately unconditionally release Ms. Mideksa and allow her to participate fully in her position as leader of a political party.

Ms. Mideksa is the president of the Unity for Democracy and Justice Party of Ethiopia. She has been held in prison by the Government of Ethiopia since December 2008 without charge for a politically motivated life sentence. Ms. Mideksa is a confirmed prisoner of conscience according to international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International. She was pardoned of all charges against her before being re-arrested for no reason.

It is time that this Parliament stepped in to help free this woman, who has done nothing wrong.

Assistance for People with Disabilities

[Peter Julian, NDP, Burnaby—New Westminster, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by hundreds of residents of British Columbia, from Chetwynd north to Kamloops, Burnaby, New Westminster and across the Lower Mainland.

These petitioners are concerned about the lack of supports for people with disabilities, particularly those who are victims of multiple sclerosis. They are calling upon Parliament to make employment insurance sickness benefits more flexible to allow for partial benefits, to make the disability tax credit a refundable benefit so people with disabilities can have more income, and to allow spouses to claim the caregiver tax credit.

MS is a very debilitating disease and it would be important to enact these changes so that people with MS in Canada are fully supported.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following question will be answered today: No. 167.