Debates of March 2nd, 2011

Question Period

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Order, please. Hon. members know that taking photographs in the Chamber is contrary to the rules. There are designated photographers here. Members can come into the Chamber when the House is not sitting and take pictures of the windows, the chair or their seat if they wish to do so. However, when the House is sitting it is not allowed. I would urge the hon. member to delete the photographs from her Blackberry as she has indicated.

I would urge all other hon. members to refrain from taking pictures either of others taking pictures or anything else that is going on in the House.

[Joe Volpe, Liberal, Eglinton—Lawrence, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order arising out of question period and it is on a more serious note.

I first want to compliment the Prime Minister for having made the decision and the announcement to engage in humanitarian contributions in Libya for those suffering.

However, one of the things that he neglected to tell the House in making his announcement is whether that $5 million will be attached to contributions by private donors. If that is the case, could he let us know? We would be pleased to receive the information.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

It sounds like a supplementary question. I would urge the hon. member to wait until tomorrow's question period and ask it then.

Would the hon. member for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert also like to raise a point of order about question period?

[Carole Lavallée, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, having asked a question in the House and heard the response from the Minister of Canadian Heritage concerning arts and culture funding, which keeps decreasing, I would like to seek unanimous consent to table a document given to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage by the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage. This document shows that arts and culture funding dropped by $2.7 million, or 7%, in 2010-11. I would like unanimous consent to table the document that backs up what I am saying.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table this document?

[Some hon. members]

No.

Government of Canada and the European Space Agency Treaty

[Lawrence Cannon, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, under section 32(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Commons I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Cooperation Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the European Space Agency” done in Paris on December 15, 2010. An explanatory note is included.

Office of the Extractive Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first annual report on the activities of the Office of the Extractive Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor for the period from October 2009 to October 2010, which was prepared by the Extractive Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Counsellor.

Export Development Canada

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2011-2015 Corporate plan summary for Export Development Canada.

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 nine petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Russ Hiebert, Conservative, South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, three reports from the Canadian branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, one dealing with the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in September 2010, one dealing with the bilateral visit to the Seychelles in September 2010, and one dealing with the International Parliamentary Governance Seminar in November 2010.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Ottawa—Vanier, 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-Africa Parliamentary Association respecting its bilateral visits to Nigeria, Ghana and Togo, from January 16 to 22, 2011, less than a month and a half ago.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Maxime Ricard, the association's secretary, and Michael Dewing, our analyst, for enabling us to table this report so quickly. It deals with an issue that is still current: the situation in the Ivory Coast.

Public Safety and National Security

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to Bill C-17, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions).

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

Status of Women

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eleventh report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women concerning supplementary estimates (C) 2010-11.

In accordance with its order of reference of Tuesday, February 8, your committee has considered Vote 95c under Canadian Heritage of the supplementary estimates (C) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, and reports the same.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 26th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), this report contains a list of items added to the order of precedence that took place on Friday, February 11 under private members' business that should not be designated non-votable.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), this report is deemed concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

(Bill C-42. On the Order: Government Orders)

March 1, 2011--Third reading of Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act--Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities; and of the motion that this question be now put--Minister of State (Transport).

Strengthening the Aeronautics Act

[John Baird, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I believe you would find unanimous consent of the House for the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, the previous question to the motion for third reading of C-42, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act, be deemed withdrawn and that the question on the motion for third reading of the said bill be deemed put and a recorded division be deemed requested and deferred to the end of government orders today.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[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?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

(Motion agreed to, motion that this question be now put withdrawn)

Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act

[John Baird, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That, after no more than three further speakers from each recognized party have spoken on the second reading motion of Bill C-55, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act and the Pension Act, Bill C-55 shall be deemed read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs provided that any member rising to speak may indicate to the Speaker that he or she will be dividing his or her time with another member.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

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