Debates of Oct. 17th, 2011

Board of Internal Economy

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to inform the House that Mr. Comartin, member of the electoral district of Windsor—Tecumseh, has been appointed a member of the Board of Internal Economy in place of Mr. Mulcair, member for the electoral district of Outremont, for the purposes and under the provisions of section 50 of the Parliament of Canada Act.

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 26(2) of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety for 2010-11.

Air Canada and Its Associates Act

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act.

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

Procedure and House Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of this House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the fifth report later this day.

Ukraine

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I believe you will find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion.

I move:

That a take-note debate on the subject of concerns regarding the ongoing erosion of democracy in Ukraine, including most recently the politically motivated and arbitrary prosecution and conviction of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko by Ukrainian authorities, take place, pursuant to Standing Order 53.1, on Tuesday, October 18, 2011.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

Egyptian Coptic Christians

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Coptic Christians in Egypt face persecution and discrimination. As the Arab spring unfolded in Egypt with people from all religious faiths joining together to overthrow the tyranny of Hosni Mubarak, the future looked brighter for Christians in Egypt. Unfortunately, under the new military government in Egypt, religious extremists seem to be able to carry out attacks on Christians and their churches with impunity. In the most recent attack, a Coptic church in upper Egypt was burned by religious extremists. When there was no reaction from the authorities, frustrated Copts gathered in Cairo's Maspero neighbourhood to protest the partial demolition of the church in Aswan province and call for the removal of the province's governor for failing to protect the church.

Army units fired on demonstrators with a resulting death toll of 25, most of whom were Copts, and scores were injured. Videos showed an armoured personnel carrier running people down. There could not have been a more callous expression of disregard by the Egyptian armed forces for the lives of Egyptian Christians.

Therefore, I am seeking unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That this House condemn the attacks on Egyptian Coptic Christians and their institutions; call on the Egyptian Government to ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks be brought to justice and bear the full weight of the law; and, ask the United Nations Human Rights Commission to investigate the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians and issue a report on its findings.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I will recognize the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs before I see if there is consent for this.

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the member's concern for this. Those of us in the government, joined by the New Democratic Party, are concerned that the resolution the member presented is not strong enough and would like to strengthen it. My colleague's motion should be amended to read as follows:

That this House stand in solidarity with those religious minorities around the world and strongly condemn the vicious attacks on Egyptian Coptic Christians and their institutions; call on the Egyptian Government to ensure that the perpetrators of the attacks be brought to justice and bear the full weight of the law; and, ask the United Nations Human Rights Commission to conduct an open and transparent investigation into the plight of Egyptian Coptic Christians and issue a public report on its findings.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Would the member for Scarborough—Agincourt like me to seek the consent of the House for his motion or will he withdraw his request in lieu of what the minister has just proposed?

[Jim Karygiannis, Liberal, Scarborough—Agincourt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think the minister is amending my motion and the amendment is fully acceptable. I would like to point out that this motion is seconded by my colleague from York West.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I am going to take it that the hon. member for Scarborough—Agincourt is withdrawing his motion.

[An hon. member]

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Given that there seems to be agreement for this, does the House give its unanimous consent for the motion by the member for Scarborough—Agincourt as amended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs? Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this fashion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

Procedure and House Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier today be concurred in.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member for Elgin—Middlesex—London have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.