Debates of Nov. 28th, 2012

Foreign Affairs

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, let me at the outset acknowledge the leadership of my friend, the member for Don Valley West, on this issue.

We are disappointed with the Palestinian Authority's decision to bring the resolution forward. While we believe that the resolution will pass by a large margin, we are nonetheless going to vote against it and stand up for what we believe is right. Tomorrow, I will personally be in New York at the United Nations to speak to the issue and personally cast our vote against the resolution.

The position of the Government of Canada is shared by the Obama administration, which has very similar views to ours. We will continue to work with it and these two parties to get them back to the peace table to achieve true and lasting peace.

Housing

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

Mr. Speaker, as hundreds of families in Mauricie wait for the courts to rule on the pyrrhotite case, more and more people are suffering.

How can the Conservatives justify doing nothing to alleviate the suffering of families struggling with financial problems, marriage breakdowns and an increasing incidence of physical and mental health problems?

At least 1,000 families have had to cope with the trials and tribulations of pyrrhotite, and the list is getting longer.

Can the minister change federal standards for aggregates in concrete to ensure that no more tragedies of this kind occur?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Quebec has already announced plans with respect to provincial programs to provide financial assistance to homeowners dealing with pyrrhotite damage. I encourage the member opposite and his constituents to please contact the province with respect to that provincial program and to be directed to the SHQ.

Health

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

Mr. Speaker, northern reserves have experienced a huge epidemic of OxyContin addiction. Health professionals tell us that it is one of the most addictive substances ever created, but the Minister of Health has now approved the sale of a cheaper generic version of the drug.

We do not need more OxyContin; we need Suboxone treatment programs instead. Will the minister pull OxyContin and generics off the market and protect northern communities?

[Leona Aglukkaq, Conservative, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the prescribing of drugs is a provincial jurisdiction, so provincial health ministers and doctors have a major role in limiting the abuse.

The decisions on whether to approve a drug will be made by scientists based on their expert assessment of the science and safety. The opposition wants us to politically interfere in a scientific safety process.

We will stand up for the patients.

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my duty, pursuant to section 21 of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, to lay upon the table a certified copy of the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Nova Scotia.

This report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

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 seven petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, 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 NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the NATO spring session held in Tallinn, Estonia, May 25-28, 2012.

Government Operations and Estimates

[Pat Martin, NDP, Winnipeg Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to its study of the supplementary estimates (B) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development in relation to the situation in Syria.

National Defence

[James Bezan, Conservative, Selkirk—Interlake, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on National Defence in relation to supplementary estimates (B), 2012-13 under National Defence.

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 32nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House and I would like to move concurrence at this time.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

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

(Motion agreed to)

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I believe, if you seek it, you would find consent for the following motion. I move:

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows:

Hon. Dominic LeBlanc for Mr. Marc Garneau.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Judy Foote, Liberal, Random—Burin—St. George's, NL]

(Motion agreed to)

Access to Medicines

[Terence Young, Conservative, Oakville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I present petitions signed by concerned constituents from my riding of Oakville. They ask this House to pass Bill C-398 without significant amendment to facilitate the immediate and sustainable flow of life-saving generic medicines to developing countries. I am happy to present this petition for a response from our government.

Poverty

[Malcolm Allen, NDP, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition today signed by literally hundreds of members across my constituency in relation to Bill C-233.

The petitioners are supportive of that bill as we attempt to eradicate poverty in this country in a joint manner between the federal government and the provinces. It should be noted that these constituents are extremely proud to stand with us in support of Bill C-233.

Development and Peace

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I present two petitions signed by dozens of Canadians in my own riding of Guelph. They wish to express their displeasure with the March 2012 decision of the Canadian International Development Agency to drastically cut funding for programs of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace. The cuts will stop nearly $35 million in government support from being provided to Development and Peace programs, despite the program's success.

The petitioners call for Parliament to commit to contributing 0.7% of GDP to development assistance and to ensure that Canadian organizations for development and peace receive the funding they require.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Joyce Bateman, Conservative, Winnipeg South Centre, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present a number of petitions from the constituents of my riding of Winnipeg South Centre. A number of them are related to save ELA, Canada's leading freshwater research station.

The petitions contain hundreds of signatures.