Debates of Sept. 30th, 2009

Identity Theft

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

Mr. Speaker, in fact the government has reintroduced a bill that would take aim at identity theft and would give police the tools they need to stop this activity before the damage is done. We know that organized crime and modern technology are changing the criminal landscape to make identity theft easier than ever. I have been calling on the opposition to expedite the passage of this bill. This is the second time we have introduced the bill. What is the problem with those people? Let us get Bill S-4 passed.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Dr. Sein Win, Leader of the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

House of Commons Calendar, 2010

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Pursuant to Standing Order 28(2)(b), I have the honour to lay upon the table the House of Commons calendar for the year 2010.

Oral Questions

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, in response to a question put by the member for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, the Minister of the Environment misled the House of Commons in his answer. He said that today, United States senators Kerry and Boxer tabled a greenhouse gas emissions bill with targets that were identical to the targets he claims were set out two years ago by the government. These fossil fuel emissions targets in the United States are 17% below 2005 levels by 2020. They are hard caps, in contradistinction to the minister's intensity targets, which are based on 2006 as a baseline year, and are 20% by 2020.

The minister continues to deliberately mislead the Canadian people. He must apologize once again.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

It sounds like a debate to me. Sometimes statements are made in the House with which hon. members disagree, but to suggest that that somehow constitutes a point of order puts the Chair in a position where the Chair has to decide on the accuracy of statements, which is totally beyond my competence.

In the circumstances, we will regard this as a matter for debate. The hon. member may want to have a discussion with the minister about the matter and maybe something will come of it in subsequent discussions in the House.

Notice of Motion

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour to table a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Softwood Lumber Products Export Charge Act, 2006.

I would ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(1) of the House of Commons and section 696.5 of the Criminal Code, I am tabling the annual report to Parliament in relation to applications of ministerial review, miscarriage of justice.

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of section 72 of the Access to Information Act and section 72 of the Privacy Act, I rise today to table the annual reports of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for the fiscal year 2008-09.

West Bank First Nations Self-government Agreement

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2006-07 annual report of the West Bank First Nations self-government agreement.

Indian Claims Commission

[Chuck Strahl, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2008-09 annual report of the Indian Claims Commission.

Canada-U.S. Border

[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 Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America, signed in Detroit on May 26, 2009.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

[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 Amendment of the Articles of Agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Board of Governors — Resolution No. 596, Part A).

Universal Postal Union

[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 Acts of the 24th Congress of the Universal Postal Union, signed in Geneva on August 12, 2008.

Convention Between Canada and the Hellenic Republic

[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 Convention Between Canada and the Hellenic Republic for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed in Athens on June 29, 2009.

Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Turkey

[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 Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Turkey for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed in Ottawa on July 14, 2009.

Economic Recovery Act (stimulus)

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-51, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on January 27, 2009 and to implement other measures.

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

Parliament of Canada Act

[Don Davies, NDP, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-446, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (members who cross the floor).

Mr. Speaker, three years ago, in Vancouver Kingsway, a member of Parliament was elected as a Liberal and crossed the floor to sit as a Conservative two weeks after that election.

Our citizens were outraged. They regarded this as an act of democratic betrayal. It rendered their votes meaningless. People from every political persuasion joined together to demand the restoration of their democratic rights. People like Mike Watkins, Jurgen Claudepierre and Shannon Steele worked tirelessly for this noble goal.

I am honoured to rise today to introduce a piece of legislation that serves to restore respect for democracy in our country.

This bill would require any member who crosses the floor to resign and run in a byelection. It would put the actions of a floor-crossing member to the test of the will of the voters of his or her constituency, where it properly belongs. In a time when voters are increasingly cynical, I believe this would go some way towards restoring confidence in our political system.

I hope that all members of this House put their partisan interests aside and support this law. It is good for our democracy. It is good for our country.

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

Department of Peace Act

[Bill Siksay, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-447, An Act to establish the Department of Peace.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table a private member's bill today that calls for the establishment of a department of peace as a full federal government department.

I would like to thank the member for Scarborough—Agincourt for seconding the bill.

The bill is based on the model developed by the Canadian department of peace initiative. This bill would establish a full, comprehensive department of peace as part of the infrastructure of the Canadian government, with its own minister, department and resources, and put peace at the centre of government rather than on the corner of a desk of another minister or other public servants.

There would be a voice dedicated to the promotion of peace at the cabinet table.

The department's mandate would be to promote a culture of peace and the non-violent resolution of conflict in Canada and around the world and to build institutions for long-term research policy and action for sustainable peace.

The bill would also establish a Canadian civilian peace service to further professionalize peace work by Canadians.

A similar youth peace service is also contemplated by the bill.

As the co-chairs of the Canadian department of peace initiative, Bill Bhaneja and Saul Arbess have noted that this bill is about the need to bring peace through peaceful means.

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

Canada Labour Code

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-448, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (minimum wage).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table my private member's bill, which is an act to amend the Canada Labour Code with regard to the minimum wage. It seeks to ensure that an employer shall pay to each employee a wage that is not less than $12 per hour.

At a time when the cost of food, medication and home heating is increasing at an alarming rate, it is essential that all those governed by the Canada Labour Code have wages that can feed a family.

With the impending 8% increase to B.C. and Ontario families caused by the Liberal-Conservative HST scheme, families need a living wage.

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

Free Public Transit for Seniors Act

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-449, An Act regarding free public transit for seniors.

Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a bill that would help seniors across Canada break free from their isolation. We know it is good to encourage seniors to live active social lives, and for them to break out of the isolation they may experience. We also know that it is difficult for many seniors in Canada to get around, and often public transportation is their only option.

I am tabling a bill to allow the Minister of Finance to make direct payments to a fund established to help the provinces, territories and municipalities offer seniors across Canada free local public transportation, outside peak hours.

I am calling on all the members of the House to support this bill and to ensure it is passed as quickly as possible.

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

Canada Post Corporation Act

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-450, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act (rural mail delivery).

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce this private member's bill. As everyone in the House knows, a current review of rural mailboxes across the country is going on because of a court order. As a result, a number of mailboxes in rural communities have had to be moved, some at great expense.

For example, I have a senior lady, in her 80s, in my riding who was asked to move her mailbox. She neither had the ability to do it herself nor to hire someone. This bill would simply change the act so that when a mailbox is ordered moved under the Canada Post Corporation Act it would cover the cost.

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

Canadian Neutron Centre

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first states that the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering has released a plan to build the Canadian Neutron Centre. They are calling upon Parliament to implement the plan for a national laboratory at Chalk River to replace the NRU.

Firearms Registry

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon Parliament to end the wasteful long gun registry and asks parliamentarians to vote in support of Bill C-391.

Animal Transportation Regulations

[Michelle Simson, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present two petitions today. The first is signed by a number of constituents of Scarborough Southwest and across Ontario. They are calling upon the House of Commons to strengthen the animal transportation regulations under the Health of Animals Act to be consistent with the findings of the EU's scientific committee on animals.