Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2012

Forestry Industry

[André Bellavance, Bloc, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it was disrespectful of the Quebec lieutenant to describe the Government of Quebec as vindictive for defending the interests of its citizens in the areas of culture, justice and health. Yet, these interests were defended by the previous government, which was very federalist.

The minister is right about one thing: comparing the support provided to the Ontario automobile industry with that provided to the forestry industry is simplistic because the inaction of the minister and his government caused many Quebec forestry workers to lose their jobs.

In making such comments, does the minister realize that he is the vindictive one and that he has not been open to Quebec's legitimate demands?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we have always advocated open federalism. Since the Parti Québécois was elected on September 4, we have been saying that we are open to discussing economically promising initiatives. No doubt the hon. member is opposed to that because his one and only goal here is to separate Quebec from the rest of Canada. He is just trying to stir up trouble.

When we compare the support given to the forestry industry with that given to the automobile industry, over $4 billion was invested in the forestry along with over $17 billion in loan guarantees. Seeking out divisive issues, as the hon. member has been doing here since 2004, is not constructive—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North.

Foreign Investment

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it seems to be against the rules to ever say something good about another party but I will break that tradition of lockstep criticism today.

On October 18, I asked the Conservatives to block the Petronas deal. I was pleased to hear the very next day that the minister had, indeed, blocked that buyout. Hopefully, he will stay the course, stand up for Canadian energy security and block the China-Nexen takeover.

Will the minister accept my thanks?

[Christian Paradis, Conservative, Minister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)]

Mr. Speaker, yes, I always accept thanks. I must repeat that these transactions, Petronas, Nexen and other transactions, we scrutinize these transactions closely to ensure they provide a net benefit to Canada. We always make the decision in the best interests of Canadians.

Since the member is now independent, will he stand with us against the $21 billion of carbon tax and, if so, I will thank him?

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in just a moment, I will be seeking to table, in both official languages, a document that refers to the comments made by my friend across the way a moment ago.

I know the members opposite would never wish to lie in this place but the things they said just are not true. I want to help them out with the facts because they may have them wrong.

Equating a cap and trade system with a carbon tax is like apples and oranges: apples, a carbon tax down the way; oranges, cap and trade. To review, carbon taxes were proposed by them, cap and trade was proposed by us. The interesting thing is that the Prime Minister actually presented a similar cap and trade.

Therefore, the document I wish to offer up, in both official languages, is the Prime Minister's own speech from London in which he proposed a $46 billion cap and trade program for Canada.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table these documents?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

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)(b) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 70 petitions.

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

[Ed Komarnicki, Conservative, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in relation to Bill C-44, An act to amend the Canada Labour Code and the Employment Insurance Act and to make consequential amendments to the Income Tax Act and the income tax regulations.

The committee has considered the bill and has agreed to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Canada Shipping Act

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. The first petition has to do with an act to amend the Canada Shipping Act.

The residents of Canada draw the attention of the House of Commons to the fact that derelict and abandoned vessels pose an environmental risk and a navigation hazard and regulations must be made to establish measures to be taken for the removal, disposition or destruction by the appropriate authority.

The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-231, an act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (derelict vessels and wreck).

Poverty

[Jean Crowder, NDP, Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have to present has to do with Bill C-233, an act to eliminate poverty in Canada.

The petitioners indicate that a majority of provincial and territorial governments have adopted poverty reduction strategies but are limited in the extent they are able to reduce poverty in their jurisdiction without support from the federal government. Bill C-233 would require the federal government to develop and implement strategy for poverty elimination in consultation with the provincial, territorial, municipal and aboriginal governments, and with the civil society organizations.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to ensure the swift passage of Bill C-233, an act to eliminate poverty in Canada.

Motion No. 312

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition deals with a matter that has actually already been dealt with by the House, Motion No. 312. I regret that the petition was not received and processed in time but it is still important to present it.

Access to Medicines

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have received several petitions, mostly from constituents in my riding but also from some surrounding ridings, relating to Bill C-398, the private member's bill that continues the work of Bill C-393, which was dealt with in the last Parliament, on the subject of Canada's access to a medicines regime designed to provide medicines relating, in particular, to malaria, tuberculosis and HIV-AIDS for use in developing countries.

The Grandmothers' Advocacy Network is focusing on the need for these medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa and ask members of Parliament to support Bill C-398.

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition today from various people across Saskatchewan in places like Saskatoon, Bradwell, Clavet, Dundurn, Kinistin, Melfort, St. Brieux and others, who are expressing their concern about the government's decision to terminate the prairie shelterbelt program and, in particular, to sell off the federal tree farm at Indian Head, which has been a vital part of rural Saskatchewan and rural western Canada since it was first founded in 1901.

The petitioners are calling upon the government to change its position and to allow sufficient funding to continue to ensure that the Indian Head tree farm can continue in full operation.

Motion No. 312

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present nine petitions on the same subject from residents in my riding. They contain hundreds and hundreds of signatures from my riding on the subject of Motion No. 312. Unfortunately, they were not here in time but I am still pleased to be able to present them to the House on behalf of the constituents of Medicine Hat.

Taxation

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.

The first petition is from citizens in Manitoba, Ontario and Alberta who would like the establishment of a peace tax legislation by passing into law the conscientious objection act, which recognizes the right of conscientious objectors to not pay for the military but to apply that portion of their taxes that was to be used for military purposes toward peaceful non-military purposes within the powers of Parliament.

Animal Welfare

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from folks from Ontario, B.C. and Alberta, with over 450 names of people who support my Bill C-322.

Horses are ordinarily kept and treated as sport and companion animals and are not raised primarily as food processing animals. They are commonly administered drugs that are strictly prohibited from being used in the food chain.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to amend the Health of Animals Act and Meat Inspection Act to prohibit the importation or exportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption.

Rights of the Unborn

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have over a dozen petitions with hundreds of signatures on them, the majority of them being from Canadian women, who are calling upon the House of Commons to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

Housing

[Marie-Claude Morin, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour and pleasure to present a petition signed by people from all across Canada, from all age groups and social classes, who support a national housing strategy, as described in Bill C-400.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this petition regarding CCSVI.

The petitioners say that the Conservative Senators are refusing to hear from those who have MS. They cannot imagine a committee refusing to hear from a cancer patient, a heart patient or someone living in poverty. They are extremely disappointed that those living with MS and those who have been treated for CCSVI are being denied the opportunity to speak face-to-face with committee members. They question why Dr. Sandy McDonald, a well-known Canadian expert, is also being prevented from speaking. They want to know why the government is shutting down these important voices.

The petitioners call upon the Minister of Health to undertake phase III clinical trials on an urgent basis at multiple centres across Canada and to require follow-up care.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, again I present a petition on behalf of the many residents of Saskatoon who are opposed to the government's decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area in northwestern Ontario. The petitioners point out that closing this world-renowned freshwater science facility will jeopardize unique research and our understanding of human impacts on lakes, rivers and fish.

Telecommunications

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is on the cell phone freedom act. I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of residents of Montreal, Calgary, Kamloops, Edmonton and Ottawa in support of the cell phone freedom act to provide more customer choice and promote competition in the domestic wireless market.

The petitioners want to support my Bill C-343 so that Canadian consumers are no longer chained by anti-competitive network locks on their cellular phones.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Robert Aubin, NDP, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, today I am speaking on behalf of two groups of Canadians who want to make the government realize, if such a thing is even possible, how important it is to save leading-edge water research.

The Experimental Lakes Area is a unique, internationally renowned infrastructure designed for freshwater research and education. We must do whatever it takes to protect it.

[Francis Scarpaleggia, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions calling on the government to reverse its puzzling, unwise and lamentable decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area, which does government-directed research on water. I find it very odd that a government that claims to want to have a national water strategy would eliminate a federal water science facility such as this.