House of Commons Hansard #89 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was literacy.
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, the member has done the right thing and apologized. This government has the utmost respect for our veterans and especially for those who dedicate their lives to each other.
How we can show real respect in the House to veterans is by supporting our budget initiatives. Every member of our government has supported, for the last six years, our increases in the investments in our veterans, and we will continue to do so.
Hélène LeBlanc NDP LaSalle—Émard, QC
Mr. Speaker, a number of climate research projects are in jeopardy, and major projects have been scrapped because the Conservatives did not keep their promise to invest $35 million in this scientific field. The Conservatives broke their promises, and the PEARL Arctic research lab will have to be shut down.
Why is the minister consigning decades of investment to the scrap heap and, in the process, sacrificing our reputation as a science leader? Will the government save PEARL?
Peter Kent ConservativeMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, budget 2011 did provide $35 million over five years to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, know by its acronym NSERC, to support climate change and atmospheric research at Canadian post-secondary institutions. This arm's-length body will determine where these scientific research projects will go over those five years in dispensing the $35 million.
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, the situation in Syria has hit a new low as the Assad regime continues to unleash violence against its own citizens and blocks the delivery of humanitarian aid from getting to those who need it the most.
Recently the Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that Canada would be considering new measures to bring pressure on the Assad regime. Would the minister please update the House on the latest steps taken by our government?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his interest in this regard.
I think all Canadians are appalled at the deteriorating situation in Syria. Today, for the sixth time, we increased the severity of our sanctions against the Syrian regime, to be some of the toughest in the world. Effective immediately, we have announced that all of our Canadian diplomats have left Damascus. The safety and security of Canadian personnel is our top priority and that is not a decision we took lightly.
We will continue to work with others, including the Arab League, to bring every diplomatic pressure to bear to ensure that the people of Syria are protected.
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Mr. Speaker, at a time when the government needs to take action on rail services, the Conservatives are cutting $200 million from VIA Rail, millions of dollars that could make travel safer, like installing the locomotive cab voice recorder, or the positive train control system, an advanced automatic brake system that would prevent deadly accidents. Instead of wasting billions on failed fighter jets, why will the government not invest in rail safety?
Denis Lebel ConservativeMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the victims of the tragic accident that happened some days ago.
Rail security is very important to our government, which is why we have taken strong action and delivered results.
Once Bill S-4 is adopted, we will have implemented 83% of the recommendations from the Rail Safety Act review panel, and our actions helped to decrease the numbers of rail accidents in 2007.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, we are all very concerned about the escalating tensions around Iran's nuclear intentions and the growing evidence that it may be developing nuclear capabilities. Canada must work as hard as possible to avoid conflict.
In this light, are we not concerned that our new trading partner, Sinopec in China, which is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, is undermining the sanctions?
John Baird ConservativeMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we are tremendously concerned about three things going on in Iran. Obviously the enrichment and the IEA report of its nuclear activities cause all of us substantial concern.
We are concerned about the deteriorating human rights record of the Iranian regime, and that is why Canada has led efforts at the United Nations to bring light to this huge problem. We are also concerned by the intervention that Iran takes in neighbouring countries supporting international terrorism.
We will work to take every diplomatic effort necessary, in concert with our allies and others, to ensure that Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Dag Terje Anderson, President of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Norway.
The House resumed from March 1 consideration of the motion that Bill C-23, An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, be read the second time and referred to a committee, and of the motion that this question be now put.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
It being 3.05 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the previous question at the second reading stage of Bill C-23.
Call in the members.
And the bells having rung:
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I declare the motion carried.
The next question is on the main motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Canada-Jordan Economic Growth and Prosperity ActGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
Agreed.
No.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
In my opinion the yeas have it.
And five or more members having risen:
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I declare the motion carried. Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on International Trade.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
Rick Dykstra ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the summary of the Global Centre for Pluralism's corporate plan for 2012.
Bernard Trottier Conservative Etobicoke—Lakeshore, 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 Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, respecting its participation in the parliamentary seminar, “Taking legislative action to end violence against women and girls” of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, held in Ouagadougou, from March 30 to April 1, 2011; the meeting of the Political Committee of the APF, held in Liège, Belgium, from May 1 to 5, 2011; the meeting of the Cooperation and Development Committee, and the meeting of the Parliamentary Network for the fight against HIV/AIDS of the APF, held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from May 23 to 27, 2011; and finally, the seminar on the roles of women in political, civil and family life, and on the APF's implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, held in Budapest, Hungary, from October 26 to 27, 2011.