House of Commons Hansard #129 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was workers.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary 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.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to its study of the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
Fisheries and OceansCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
York—Simcoe Ontario
Conservative
Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion:
That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, the remainder of the debate, pursuant to Standing Order 66, on the motion to concur in the First Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, presented on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, be deemed to have taken place and the motion be deemed agreed to on division.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
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?
On a point of order, the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to block this motion and I wish to give my consent, but I want to register that I am very unhappy that although I tried to speak to this issue, there just was not time in debate. However, I do not want to hold up the House, so I will consent.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House for this motion?
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by hundreds of Winnipeg residents who call upon the House of Commons to take note that as Canadians they are appalled by reports that Canadian mining, gas and oil companies are involved in human rights and environmental violations around the world. They are particularly embarrassed by the Canadian government's lack of action against such violations in the eastern Congo.
The petitioners argue that the standards for Canadian extractive companies are much less stringent outside of Canada than in Canada, which is a policy that disadvantages people who are already poor and under-represented with their own governments.
Therefore, the petitioners request that the House of Commons legislate that the standards for Canadian mining companies operating outside of Canada be the same as the standards they much reach when operating inside of Canada, which would include requiring the corporate social responsibility review process to be mandatory, not voluntary, and that Bill C-300 be reinvigorated to hold Canadian extractive companies to the standards of decency that Canadians expect of their government and of companies carrying the Canadian flag.
I am proud to table this petition on behalf of the constituents in my riding.
David Tilson Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by people from all over Canada who are concerned with the proposed megaquarry in Melancthon Township in Dufferin County. At over 2,300 acres, this quarry would be the largest open-pit quarry in Canada.
The petitioners are concerned with a great number of things. I will not list them all, but they are concerned that the megaquarry would delve more than 60 metres deep, which is more than 200 feet. It is well below the water table.
The petitioners ask that the Government of Canada conduct an environmental assessment under the authority of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act on the proposed Highland Companies' megaquarry development.
Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents in Kingston and the Islands.
The first petition calls on Parliament to amend section 223 of the Criminal Code so as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.
Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon the government to withdraw Bill C-31 because it is not fair to all refugees. It restricts appeals and gives too much discretion to the minister.
Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Madam Speaker, it is my honour to present this petition signed by my constituents, specifically those from Morin Heights.
The petition calls upon the government to declare May the month of awareness and education on environmental sensitivities and May 12 the environmental sensitivity day in Canada.
Colin Mayes Conservative Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Madam Speaker, today I rise to present a petition from my constituents of Okanagan--Shuswap.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to adopt legislation to recognize suicide as a public health issue. They are asking Parliament to provide guidelines for suicide prevention, promote collaborative and knowledge exchange regarding suicide, promote evidence-based solutions and define best practices for the prevention of suicide.
Judy Foote Liberal Random—Burin—St. George's, NL
Madam Speaker, I rise today to present a petition signed by 10,000 Canadians from coast to coast to coast. This petition has to do with the tragic death of Burton Winters in Labrador, something with which we are all familiar.
The petitioners call upon the federal government to commit to full-time and fully operational search and rescue services to be placed in Labrador.
Those of us who are familiar with Labrador know only too well the difficult terrain and the circumstances under which people can sometimes get lost. The reality is that this tragedy should never have happened. If search and rescue services were on the ground, if they had responded in the manner in which they should have responded, everyone who has signed this petition, all 10,000 people, fully believe that Burton Winters would be alive today.
The petitioners call upon the federal government to commit to full-time, fully operational search and rescue services in Labrador.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Speaker, I have a petition from a number of constituents who are calling on the government to end poverty among seniors.
Almost a year ago in the House I presented a motion calling on the government to improve guaranteed income supplement benefits so that seniors could be lifted out of poverty. Here we are a year later, and the government has done nothing but give us bogus pension plans and a threat to reduce the old age security--
The Deputy Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
I am sorry to interrupt the hon. member. The hon. Chief Government Whip is rising on a point of order.
Gordon O'Connor Conservative Carleton—Mississippi Mills, ON
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. People presenting petitions are not supposed to advocate for them and they are not supposed to comment on them. They are just supposed to read them.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
Is the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands rising on the same point of order?
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Yes, Madam Speaker. I just want to make sure I understand the rules clearly and what the hon. government whip has said.
I understand that we are not supposed to read petitions and that we are supposed to summarize them. I agree we are not supposed to make long speeches about them. I do not believe it is appropriate to read petitions.
The Deputy Speaker NDP Denise Savoie
I thank hon. members for their comments. Just to clarify, it is quite accurate that petitions should not be read verbatim. They should be summarized. The exercise is not to indicate either support or opposition, but simply to represent petitioners' ideas.
I would ask the hon. member for London—Fanshawe to complete her petition so that others can speak.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Madam Speaker, I will summarize the wishes of the people of Canada.
The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to make the appropriate investments in guaranteed income supplement to lift every senior out of poverty.
Nina Grewal Conservative Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today on behalf of the constituents of Fleetwood--Port Kells to present a petition signed by a number of residents of my riding.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to ensure the swift passage of Bill C-233, an act to eliminate poverty in Canada and develop and implement a strategy for poverty elimination.