House of Commons Hansard #95 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was information.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Steve Peters, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Jim Abbott ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation
Mr. Speaker, during the course of today's question period, the member for Outremont's comments were completely reprehensible when he was asking about the member for North Vancouver. If he actually believes the comments are factual, he must make the comments outside of this House. We cannot use this chamber to say things that are factually inaccurate or slanderous.
The comments that the member for Outremont made were absolutely slanderous toward the actual actions of the member for North Vancouver. He must make those statements outside this House.
Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC
Mr. Speaker, the revelations of the CBC and the Globe and Mail make it clear that the Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board simply cannot continue in his role while this is under investigation. He has to step aside.
As you know, Mr. Speaker, it is a federal affidavit that indicates that the Credit Suisse for whom he made these transfers is believed to have facilitated the movement of funds offshore, the clients wanting to hide their investments and other income from the Canada Revenue Agency.
The parliamentary secretary authorized these transfers and as an experienced banker he knew exactly what he was doing and why. He is so far refusing to say how many of these transfers he approved to Switzerland or other tax havens.
Every time a government attacks the opposition instead of answering the questions, it is because it has no defence. I will be outside this House as requested. I want to know, is the member's colleague who is in question here going to be outside to say how many of these things he has approved and how many of these transfers to tax--
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
It is apparent that we are into a debate on facts which is not a matter of procedure and therefore, in my view, not a point of order.
Is the hon. member for Scarborough—Rouge River rising on a point of order?
Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON
On another point of order, Mr. Speaker, during question period, if my ears were not tricking me, the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, the parliamentary secretary answering for the government, appeared to use the name of a member of the House in the answer. Sometimes this will happen inadvertently, but in this case on behalf of the government he was reading a scripted answer and the name was mentioned.
I think at the very least the member, on behalf of the government, because the answer was scripted should provide an apology, and Mr. Speaker, you should ask the member for that apology on behalf of the government, unless there is another explanation.
John Baird ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the government, on behalf of the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, I want to offer our sincere apology to the member for using his last name in this chamber.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I did not raise the matter because I thought the member realized his error when I looked at him, but hon. members know that using another member's name in the House is out of order. They must refer to members by either their title as minister, parliamentary secretary or whatever, or by their constituency name. I would urge hon. members to show proper restraint in that regard so that our rules are complied with in every respect.
Greg Kerr ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2009-10 annual report of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, entitled “For Veterans and Good Governance”.
Dave MacKenzie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2009 annual report on the RCMP use of the law enforcement justification provisions. This report addresses the RCMP's use of specific provisions within the law enforcement justification regime, which is also set out in sections 25.(1) to 25.(4) of the Criminal Code. This report also documents the nature of the investigations in which these provisions were used.
Dave MacKenzie ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2009-10 annual report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator in accordance with section 192 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.
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 one petition.
Government Operations and EstimatesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, for the information of all members, copies in both official languages of the government's responses to motions from the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on G8 and G20 costs.
Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-590, An Act to designate the month of March as National Colorectal Cancer Month.
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today in the House to introduce a bill that would designate March of every year as national colorectal cancer month. I have introduced this bill in previous Parliaments. It is important to bring awareness to this disease, as it affects one in fourteen men and one in sixteen women. Too many Canadians die with this disease. If it is caught and treated early, people have a great chance of survival.
I urge all my colleagues in this House to assist in recognizing this important cause.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-591, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (home voting for seniors).
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to introduce a bill that would allow voters over 65 years of age to vote at home. If requested by a senior who might not otherwise be able to leave the home to vote, an election officer could assist a senior citizen in performing his or her most treasured civic duty.
I urge all my colleagues in the House to support this bill, and in doing so, recognize the importance of senior Canadians to our civic fabric.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-592, An Act respecting former Canadian Forces members.
Mr. Speaker, this being Veterans Week, it is an appropriate time to introduce one of the finest pieces of legislation the House has ever seen.
This enactment would require the Governor-in-Council to make regulations under the Department of Veterans Affairs Act to extend the health care benefits authorized by the regulations under the act to the former members of the Canadian Forces who meet military occupational classification requirements and who have been honourably discharged.
Our heroes in Canada serve while wearing the brave uniform. When they leave the military, in many cases they are cut off from the medical care they receive at their home bases and across the country under the federal government. Just because the uniform comes off, they should not lose access to that quality medical care. I would like this bill to be passed as soon as possible.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-593, An Act respecting a National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
Mr. Speaker, over 3,500 Canadians die by suicide every year. That means 10 people die by suicide every day. No community goes untouched by suicide, but we know that some communities are at higher risk, such as queer youth, Canada's elderly, teens and young adults, first nations, Inuit and remote communities.
I am proud to introduce this bill which calls for a pan-Canadian strategy for suicide prevention. I would like to thank our friend, Jack Hicks in Nunavut for his help in making this bill happen, and the member for Nickel Belt for offering to second the bill today.
I look forward to discussions with my colleagues across party lines about how we can support this bill through the House, because suicide prevention is all of our responsibility.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Carleton—Mississippi Mills Ontario
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I think you will find agreement for the following travel motions.
National DefenceCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Carleton—Mississippi Mills Ontario
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, I move:
That, in relation to its study on the next generation of fighter aircraft, six members of the Standing Committee on National Defence be authorized to travel to Fort Worth, Texas, in November, 2010 and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.
National DefenceCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Carleton—Mississippi Mills Ontario
Conservative
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, I move:
That, in relation to its study on Search and Rescue Response times, twelve members of the Standing Committee on National Defence be authorized to travel to St. John's and Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador and Greenwood and Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the Fall-Winter, 2010-2011 and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.