House of Commons Hansard #112 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was consultants.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
I have the honour to lay upon the table, pursuant to subsection 23(5) of the Auditor General Act, the report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons for the year 2010, with an addendum on environmental petitions from January 1 to June 30, 2010.
This document is referred permanently to the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development.
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 11 petitions.
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, 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 delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 18th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in the Republic of Singapore January 17-22, 2010.
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to the Supplementary Estimates (B) 2010-2011.
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2010-11, Votes 1b, 5b and 10b under Citizenship and Immigration.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2010-11.
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, I would like to designate Thursday, December 9, as the last allotted day for this supply period.
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, no member may speak for more than 10 minutes on the second reading motion of Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Does the hon. chief government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, my next motion is as follows. I move:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, a member from each recognized party may speak for not more than 20 minutes on the second reading motion of C-30, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, after which Bill C-30 shall be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a committee of the whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at the report stage and deemed read a third time and passed.
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
Does the hon. chief government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to bring forward the voices of the people of Thompson and northern Manitoba. Today, I would like to present petitions on their behalf calling for the federal government to stand up for Canadians and Canadian jobs.
On November 17, Vale announced devastating news that it was planning to shut down the smelter and refinery in Thompson. This announcement means the loss of over 600 jobs and will have a devastating impact on the community, the northern region and our province of Manitoba.
The people of Thompson are saying that the federal government must stand up for them. Not only did the government allow the foreign takeover by Vale, it also gave it a loan of $1 billion just over a month ago, this just weeks before such devastating news.
The people of Thompson and Manitoba are asking that the federal government look to the Canadian people and work with all stakeholders to save the 600 jobs and the Thompson Vale smelter and refinery.
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to present a petition in support of a national housing strategy from constituents of my riding and the surrounding areas.
The petitioners call for an increased federal role in housing through investments, not for profit housing, housing for the homeless, access to housing for those with different needs, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and sustainable and environmentally sound design standards.
The petitioners would like the government to create a national housing strategy as soon as possible.
Jim Maloway NDP Elmwood—Transcona, MB
Madam Speaker, I have a petition signed by dozens of Canadians who are demanding that Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan come to an end.
In May 2008, Parliament passed a resolution to withdraw Canadian Forces by July 2011. The Prime Minister, with agreement from the Liberal Party, broke his oft-repeated promise to honour the parliamentary motion and, furthermore, refuses to put to a parliamentary vote in the House.
Committing 1,000 soldiers to a training mission still presents a danger to our troops and an unnecessary expense when our country is faced with a $56 billion deficit. The military mission has cost Canadians about $18 billion so far, money that could have been used to improve health care and seniors' pensions right here in Canada.
Polls show that a clear majority of Canadians do not want Canada's military presence to continue after the scheduled removal date of July 2011.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Prime Minister to honour the will of Parliament and bring the troops home now.
Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition signed by several hundred workers who belong to local 1751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as well as other Air Canada employees. They are concerned about the future survival of Air Canada's operational and overhaul centres in Montreal, Mississauga and Winnipeg following their sale to Aveos, which owns a growing maintenance centre in El Salvador. They are worried that their jobs will be outsourced to El Salvador. They are therefore asking the government to ensure full compliance with the 1988 Air Canada Public Participation Act.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Madam Speaker, I have two petitions.
My first petition concerns Metrolinx and the use of diesel trains. A plan to establish a rail link from Pearson Airport to Union Station in downtown Toronto would result in an eight-fold expansion of diesel rail traffic, from 50 to over 400 trains per day in the Georgetown corridor, which cuts through west end neighbourhoods, in Parkdale High Park and in my neighbourhood.
This expansion would make this the busiest diesel rail corridor on the planet. Exhaust from diesel locomotives is a known danger to public health and has been linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, cancers and premature death. Diesel exhaust poses an especially potent danger to children and the elderly. Diesel trains are harmful to the environment and contribute to climate change. They are also heavy, loud and are disruptive to neighbourhoods and the local quality of life. Over 250,000 people live within one kilometre of this line.
Therefore, the petitioners are calling upon Parliament to ensure that the rail expansion in the Georgetown south rail corridor, including the air rail link be electrified from the outset and that there be no further expenditure on diesel technology.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Madam Speaker, the second petition is in support of the New Democrat's private member's Bill C-304, An Act to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for Canadians.
The petitioners support a national housing strategy that will, in consultation with first nations, harmonize the work of all levels of government to ensure secure, adequate, accessible and affordable housing for all Canadians.
The petitioners are calling for an increased federal role in housing through investment in not for profit housing, housing for the homeless, access to housing for those with different needs, including seniors and persons with disabilities, and sustainable and environmentally sound design standards for new housing that go beyond the one-time stimulus investment contained in this year's budget.