Debates of Dec. 11th, 2012

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 21 petitions.

Safer Witnesses Act

[Vic Toews, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-51, An Act to amend the Witness Protection Program Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

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

Fair Rail Freight Service Act

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-52, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (administration, air and railway transportation and arbitration).

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

Veterans Affairs

[Greg Kerr, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in relation to its review of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, VRAB, activities.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Public Safety and National Security

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to Bill S-7, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Canada Evidence Act and the Security of Information Act.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Sex Selection

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to present a petition from my constituents, mainly from the town of Canora, who say that Canada is a nation that has long promoted the right to equal protection and equal benefit of the law, that preventing the birth of baby girls through sex selective abortions is an affront to dignity and the equality of women and girls and that sex selective abortions have denied millions of girls in Canada and throughout the world a chance to be born because they are girls.

The petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to condemn discrimination against girls through sex selective abortion and do all it can to prevent sex selective abortions from being carried out in Canada.

European Union

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today.

The first petition is from a group of Canadians who are very concerned about the government's discussions with the European Union in regard to a free trade agreement. The concern stems from the fact that they believe the European Union is seeking domestic changes that will limit our sub-federal governments, our provinces, to procure freely and openly in their own areas. They are also concerned about the impact on drug procurement plans.

The petitioners request that the federal government, the provinces and the territories immediately cease negotiations with the EU until all of these problems can be resolved.

Pensions

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition has to do with the change to the age of eligibility for old age security. Canadians want the age of eligibility returned to age 65.

Aboriginal Affairs

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to file this morning.

The first petition is signed by hundreds of people, particularly aboriginal people, all over Saskatchewan who are objecting to the provisions in Bill C-45 that directly impact upon first nations and aboriginal people.

The petitioners request that the Government of Canada set aside Bill C-45 until due consultation and informed consent is given by those who would be directly impacted by it.

Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second set of petitions, signed by literally thousands of people all over Saskatchewan, express deep concern about the government's funding cutbacks affecting the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site.

The petitioners call upon the government to reverse that decision, to maintain the commemorative integrity of the Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site and provide sufficient funding for this historic site, which is so important to the agricultural heritage of Saskatchewan, so that it can be properly maintained.

41st General Election

[Craig Scott, NDP, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by some 600 citizens who want to draw the attention of the House to the election fraud that occurred during the 2011 federal election about which we know more and more.

The petitioners point out that, due to fraudulent practices, election results have been affected. They request the Government of Canada and the Prime Minister to call an independent, fully empowered commission of inquiry, preferably a royal commission, alongside the Elections Canada investigation in order to determine exactly what happened.

I applaud Tara and Jonathan who worked hard to get all of these signatures, some 2,000 of them. They will also be presented by colleagues in other parties. This admirable grassroots initiative is raising awareness about an issue that speaks to the vulnerability of our democracy to the combined threat of communications technology and unscrupulous people.

The NDP remains committed to finding solutions to fraudulent election calls, like these petitioners.

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on the same subject in both official languages.

This petition asks the government to create a royal commission in order to determine whether the Canada Elections Act or other Canadian laws were violated during the 2011 election campaign and to protect the integrity of our electoral process.

What is key for these citizens is to know if the democratic right of some Canadians to vote was suppressed because some people mislead them on the day of the election.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first is with respect to side guards on large trucks.

The signatories to this petition call upon the Government of Canada to introduce a regulation under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act requiring side underrun guards for large trucks and trailers to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles.

Public Transit

[Matthew Kellway, NDP, Beaches—East York, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with respect to a national public transit strategy.

The signatories to this petition call upon the Government of Canada to provide a permanent investment plan to support public transit, to establish federal funding mechanisms for public transit and work with all levels of government to provide sustainable, predictable, long-term and adequate funding.

Pensions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present today signed by residents of Winnipeg North.

The petitioners are asking the government not to diminish, in any way, the importance and value of Canada's three major senior programs, the OAS, the GIS and the CPP, and to ultimately allow individuals the ability to retire at age 65 as opposed to increasing the age to 67.

Gatineau Park

[Paulina Ayala, NDP, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the petition that I am presenting pertains to the protection of Gatineau Park.

Gatineau Park is one of the most visited parks in Canada. It is home to approximately 90 endangered plant and 50 endangered animal species. The boundaries of Gatineau Park are not recognized in Canadian law. Sections of the park can be removed or sold without parliamentary review or approval.

The residents of Canada who signed the petition are calling on the House of Commons to adopt legislation that would give Gatineau Park the necessary legal protection to ensure its preservation for future generations.

Canada Revenue Agency

[Hoang Mai, NDP, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to table a petition signed by over 1,600 residents protesting the closure of the Whitehorse Canada Revenue Agency office. I would like to send special thanks to Carol Church for putting this petition together.

Cuts to CRA are affecting northern communities. Closure of the Whitehorse tax office will mean a thousand kilometre trip to the closest CRA point of contact. Seniors, young families and business owners depend on this office for assistance.

The NDP asks the federal government to reconsider its reckless cut. Unlike the Conservatives, we actually listen to Canadians' concerns. That is why Yukoners have entrusted us, the official opposition, with this important task instead of their MP.

41st General Election

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today, I have the honour to present a petition in co-operation with the hon. members for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville and Toronto—Danforth in a non-partisan way.

We have petitions from Canadians pertaining to the electoral fraud that occurred during the last election.

I have over 600 petitions here from the Toronto area. The petitioners are seeking a full independent investigation. Without making allegations as to who was behind it, we know something untoward occurred in 2011 and we want answers.

Gatineau Park

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition signed by about 100 Canadians who are calling for the adoption of legislation that would give Gatineau Park the necessary legal protection to ensure its preservation for future generations.

The Environment

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions to present today.

The first petition is from petitioners who are very concerned about climate change. They want to ensure that adaptation is also taken care of. Adaptation is not cost free but it yields benefits, so they are requesting the Government of Canada invest in resources and programs in modelling and in expertise of climate adaptation.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from citizens who are concerned about the cancelling of the Experimental Lakes program. They would like to have that reversed.

Pensions

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from citizens who are very concerned about the changes to the age of eligibility for old age security. They see that as a fundamental increase in inequity in our society.

The Environment

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Vancouver Quadra, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is from citizens who want to ensure that we do not have supertankers carrying oil off the coast of the north Pacific.

Public Transit

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition, which is very important to my riding, calls on the Government of Canada to enact a Canada public transit strategy. The petitioners believe it would benefit not only the environment but would lead to a huge improvement in the quality of life for Canadians who spend hours and hours sitting in their cars on their way to work and on their way home.

Motor Vehicle Safety

[Jinny Sims, NDP, Newton—North Delta, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition refers to safety, which I am surprised is taking so long.

The petitioners are asking us to harmonize our safety standards with ECE regulation No. 73, which requires side guards on all trucks and trailers in Europe. If we had that here it would add additional safeguards for cyclists.