Debates of June 19th, 2009

Public Accounts

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I am pleased to table in the House of Commons the response of the government of Canada to the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Chapter 5—Managing the Delivery of Legal Services to Government—Department of Justice Canada”, of the May 2007 report of the Auditor General of Canada, tabled in the House on February 25, 2009.

This report was previously tabled as the 17th report in the second session of the 39th Parliament.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons and on behalf of the Government of Canada I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the recommendations contained in the first report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Military Health Care—National Defence”.

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister 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 treaty entitled “International Tropical Timber Agreement, 2006”, which was signed in Geneva on January 27, 2006.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary 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 14 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[France Bonsant, Bloc, Compton—Stanstead, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two reports to table.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) concerning its participation in the 119th IPU assembly and related meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 13 to 15, 2008, and of the Canadian Group of the IPU's participation at the conference entitled “Informing democracy: building capacity to meet parliamentarians’ information and knowledge needs” in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 16, 2008.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I would also like to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union concerning its participation in the annual 2008 session of the parliamentary conference on the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, from September 8 to 10, 2008.

[Ed Holder, Conservative, London West, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation of the Canadian section of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas, or FIPA, respecting its participation in a trade knowledge workshop and bilateral visit, held in Lima, Peru, from March 23 to 27, 2009.

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian delegations of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group concerning its participation in the Border Trade Alliance international conference--New Administration, New Border Policy, held in Washington, D.C., from April 19 to 21, 2009.

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development entitled, “Canada-U.S. Relations: Old Challenges, New Opportunities”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Public Accounts

[Shawn Murphy, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.

I am presenting the 17th report, “Chapter 1, National Security: Intelligence and Information Sharing of the 2009 Status Report of the Auditor General of Canada”.

The second is the 18th report on “Chapter 4, Managing Risks to Canada's Plant Resources--Canadian Food Inspection Agency” of the December 2008 Report of the Auditor General of Canada”.

Status of Women

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in relation to the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act.

Canadian Heritage

[Gary Schellenberger, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in relation to issues and challenges related to local television.

Purple Day Act

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-430, An Act respecting a day to increase public awareness about epilepsy.

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank my hon. colleague from Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca for seconding this bill. It is very appropriate to have a physician as the seconder as the bill deals with epilepsy.

On March 26, I was very pleased when so many members wore purple. I know the private member's bill I am introducing today will be received in that same spirit. This bill would declare March 26 Purple Day in recognition of epilepsy awareness.

Purple Day was founded in 2008 by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan, who lives in my riding of Halifax West. Purple Day is a grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide.

As I noted, on March 26 of this year people from around the globe, including members of the House, wore purple to spread the word about epilepsy. Epilepsy affects over 50 million people worldwide. That is more than multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's disease combined. This bill would enshrine March 26 in law as the day each year when we Canadians would wear purple to raise awareness of epilepsy.

This bill would not be possible without the efforts of Cassidy. I know I speak for all members of the House when I thank her for her leadership and courage in the fight to raise epilepsy awareness. I look forward to the passage of this bill and the celebration of Purple Day in Canada.

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

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act

[Paul Calandra, Conservative, Oak Ridges—Markham, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-431, An Act to change the name of the electoral district of Oak Ridges—Markham.

Madam Speaker, this is a simple bill. It changes the name of my riding to include the historical towns of King and Stouffville which were left out of the name of my riding when it was created in 2004. The two mayors and many citizens of both areas have long been calling for this change.

It is Canada's most beautiful riding. It is also Canada's largest riding in terms of population. The name, while recognizing the urban south of the riding, mainly Markham and Oak Ridges, ignored the important rural portion of the riding, which is Whitchurch, Stouffville and King. With this name change, it would make it easier for me and the two communities to market the communities throughout Canada and around the world.

I look forward to finally including King and Stouffville in the name of my great riding and being able to call it the great riding of Markham—Stouffville—Oak Ridges—King.

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

Motor Vehicle Safety Act

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-432, An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (brake pads).

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce this private member's bill on brake pads. The bill amends the Motor Vehicle Safety Act to protect the manufacturing or importation of brake pads for installation on passenger cars unless the brake pads meet the standard established by the recommended practice of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

It is imperative that after-market brake pads meet acceptable safety standards. I believe this bill is a step forward to address the problem of shoddy brake pads and I ask for the support of the House for this private member's bill.

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

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-433, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (appeals).

Madam Speaker, it is an honour to introduce this bill which takes a step toward ending the systemic discrimination against persons living with disabilities that now exists within our Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

I want to thank the member for Sault Ste. Marie for seconding the bill and also for his ongoing work in helping people with disabilities overcome such discrimination.

The act currently prohibits on a regular basis people living with disabilities to become immigrants. It suggests that those with disabilities impose some sort of excessive demand on our society which by its very nature is inherently discriminatory.

This bill simply says there should be an appeal for people living with a disability who have applied for immigration but have been turned down to appeal that decision and to prove that they have abilities that ought to be recognized and that in fact they will not pose an excessive demand on our society.

Even though Canada signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, applicants themselves are living with certain disabilities or family members with disabilities currently can be turned away without any appeal process. This bill allows for an appeal process that would give these applicants a chance to show that their abilities outweigh our prejudices.

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

Food and Drugs Act

[Joe Preston, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

moved that Bill S-208, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (clean drinking water), be read the first time.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Madam Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following travel motion. I move:

That, in relation to its study of high speed rail in Canada, 12 members of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities be authorized to travel to Washington, District of Columbia and New York City, New York, in September 2009 and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

(Motion agreed to)

Citizenship and Immigration

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Madam Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties on the following motion. I move:

That, at any time the House stands adjourned during June 2009 and the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has ready a report, when that report is deposited with the Clerk of the House, it shall be deemed to have been duly presented to the House.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

(Motion agreed to)

His Highness The Aga Khan

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

Madam Speaker, I have the distinct pleasure and privilege of rising to present the following motion. There have been consultations between all parties. I hope you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

THAT, Whereas His Highness the Aga Khan, leader of the worldwide Ismaili Muslim Community, is a beacon of humanitarianism, pluralism and tolerance throughout the world;

Whereas in addition to the spiritual leadership he provides to the worldwide Ismaili community, the Aga Khan is also actively involved in humanitarian and development projects throughout Asia and Africa;

Whereas Canadians are grateful for the Aga Khan's efforts in Afghanistan where today The Aga Khan Development Network is a vital partner in our efforts to secure and improve the lives of Afghan citizens;

Whereas Canada is proud to have partnered with the Aga Khan to build the Global Centre for Pluralism in Ottawa which will promote ethnic, cultural and religious tolerance in Canada and worldwide;

Whereas Canada has previously acknowledged the contributions of other leading champions of human dignity, by granting them honorary Canadian citizenship;

Therefore, this House resolves to bestow the title “honorary Canadian citizen” on His Highness the Aga Khan.