Debates of Sept. 19th, 2012

Foreign Investment

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

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

We have two looming deadlines coming up. One is the proposed takeover of Nexen by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, and the other is to see the fine print of the deal that the Prime Minister signed with President Hu of China just this September 8, when he was in Russia.

Under such an investment deal, CNOOC may have more rights than Nexen did to challenge environmental laws.

When will we see the fine print of the investment deal and will we see it before the Nexen deal gets approved?

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

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, the proposed transaction of Nexen will be scrutinized very closely. Our job here is to ensure that it provides a net benefit for Canada. This is what we will do.

I want to reiterate that our policies will always ensure that this is good for the economy, job creation and will not hurt Canadian families, as is proposed by the other side of the House.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Mr. Brian Peckford, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Pursuant to the order made on Monday, September 17, the House will now resolve itself into the committee of the whole to welcome Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

I do now leave the chair for the House to go into committee of the whole.

(House in committee of the whole to recognize Canada’s 2012 Olympic Summer Games and Paralympic Games athletes, Mr. Andrew Scheer in the chair)

[And Canada’s 2012 Olympic and Paralympic athletes being present in the chamber:]

Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Athletes

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my pleasure today to welcome to the House of Commons athletes from Canada's Olympic and Paralympic teams who participated in the 2012 Summer Games in London: Zsofia Balazs, Peter Barry, Marie-Eve Beauchemin-Nadeau, Philippe Beaudry, Gabriel Bergen, Arjan Bhullar, Josh Binstock, Melissa Bishop, Tyler Bjorn, Elsabeth Black, Whitney Bogart, Isaac Bouckley, Aaron Brown, Jeremiah Brown, Alexandra Bruce, Ashley Brzozowicz, James Andrew Byrnes, David Calder, Katrina Cameron, Josh Cassidy, Candace Chapman, Samantha Cheverton, Custio Clayton, Ryan Cochrane, Karen Cockburn, Jared Connaughton, Rose Cossar, Jason Crone, Will Crothers, Patrice Dagenais, Mark de Jonge, Andrew Scott Dickens, Marco Dispaltro, Martine Dugrenier, Jason Dunkerley, John Dunkerley, David Eng, Roseline Filion, Paula Findlay, Emilie Fournel, Hugues Fournel, Charles Francis, Nathan Gafuik, Robyn Gayle, Robert Gibson, Christine Girard, Elizabeth Gleadle, Thomas David Gossland, Krista Guloien, Geoff Harris, Emilie Heymans, Andre Ho, Richard Hortness, Benoit Huot, Anthony Jacob, Morgan Jarvis, Lindsay Jennerich, Josh Karanja, Justin Karn, Savannah King, Amy Kneebone, Kaylyn Kyle, Audrey Lacrois, Étienne Lalonde-Turbide, Adam Lancia, Alexandra Landry, Karina LeBlanc, Stéphanie Leclair, Hunter Lowden, Heather MacLean, Rosannagh MacLennan, Élise Marcotte, Darcy Marquardt, Martha McCabe, Conlin McCabe, Melanie McCann, Virginia McLachlan, Erin McLeod, Tyler Miller, Victoria Moors, Summer Mortimer, Curtis Moss, Anastasiya Muntyanu, Marie-Eve Nault, Cory Niefer, Patricia Obee, Derek O'Farrell, Mark Oldershaw, Richard Peter, Monica Peterson, Brian Price, Martin Reader, Anjelika Reznik, Aurelie Rivard, Brittany Rogers, Reuben Daniel Ross, Sandra Sassine, Jody Schloss, Rachel Seaman, Young Sean, Christine Sinclair, Gavin Smellie, Oluseyi Smith, Mary Spencer, Michelle Stilwell, Alisha Tatham, Michael Tayler, Mark Tewksbury, Karine Thomas, Kelsey Titmarsh, David Tremblay, Antoine Valois-Fortier, Tera Van Beilen, Adam van Koeverden, Rachelle Viinberg, Zhen Wang, Damian Warner, Justyn Warner, Richard Weinberger, Sarah Wells, Tara Whitten, Lauren Wilkinson, Dylan Wykes and Emily Zurrer.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I know I speak on behalf of all members in this House and, indeed, all Canadians when I say how extremely proud we are of each and every one of you. Through hard work, sacrifice and determination, you have become truly world-class athletes and an inspiration to us all.

Young Canadians, including my own children, cheered for you and then pretended to be just like you in their own backyard Olympic Games across our country. As role models to our young athletes and our future Olympians and Paralympians, you have done us proud, representing the very best of what it means to be Canadian.

Today, we also have an opportunity to pay tribute to the men and women who support Canadian athletes. I am talking about the coaches, administrators, organizations like the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees and the athletes' families, whose love and moral support motivate them to push their limits.

On behalf of all members of Parliament, congratulations on your magnificent achievements and thank you for being such an inspiration to all Canadians.

The committee will rise and I will leave the chair.

It being 3.22 p.m., pursuant to an order made on Monday, September 17, the House will now proceed to routine proceedings.

Foreign Affairs

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaties entitled: Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the State of Israel for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment done at Tel Aviv on June 24, 2012; an agreement concerning the interpretation of Article 25 of the Convention between the Government of Canada and the Swiss Federal Council for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on Income and on capital done at Berne on May 5, 1997, as amended by the protocol done at Berne on October 22, 2010, done at Ottawa on June 28 and July 23, 2012; the Food Assistance Convention done at London on April 25, 2012; and the Final Acts of the World Radio Communication Conference of the International Telecommunication Union, WRC-12, done at Geneva on February 17, 2012.

An explanatory memorandum is included with each treaty.

Motion No. 12

[Gordon O'Connor, Conservative, Minister of State and Chief Government Whip]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, Ways and Means Motion No. 12, standing on the order paper, be deemed moved, the question be deemed put, and a recorded division be deemed requested and deferred to Wednesday, September 19, at the expiry of time provided for government orders.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does the chief government whip have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this 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.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

Rights of the Unborn

[Stephen Woodworth, Conservative, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will begin with a petition from a total of 217 constituents of mine from Kitchener Centre. There are actually over five petitions, all of them referencing section 223 of the Criminal Code.

The petitioners point out that the section says that a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st medical evidence. They call on the House of Commons to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human.

I have a petition to similar effect with several dozen signatures from the riding of Northumberland—Quinte West also calling on Parliament to recognize the principle that every human being has inherent worth and dignity.

I have two petitions from the riding of Etobicoke Centre, totalling almost 120 people from those ridings to the same effect.

Further, I have almost 100 signatures on a petition from the riding of Palliser, Saskatchewan, another 25 signatures from the riding of Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre and another 65 signatures in two petitions from the riding of Oxford.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I see quite a lot of members rising to present petitions so I will insist on very brief summaries so we can accommodate as many members as possible.

The hon. member for Beaches—East York.

Public Transit

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present a petition to the House today calling upon the Government of Canada to enact a public transit strategy.

The Environment

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure I table a petition in regard to saving an ELA area, one of Canada's leading freshwater research stations.

The petitioners recognize the importance of the ELA to the Government of Canada's mandate to study, preserve and protect the aquatic ecosystems.

Rights of the Unborn

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present.

The petitioners state that Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being says that a child does not become a human being until the moment of complete birth, contrary to 21st century medical evidence, and that Parliament has a solemn duty to reject any law that says that some human beings are not human.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons and Parliament to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law as human by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code.

These petitioners come from across Canada. I have a second petition from my own riding, another one from across Canada and a third one from my own riding.

Public Transit

[Dan Harris, NDP, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition today calling upon the government to enact a national public transit strategy, which would be of particular benefit to my riding.

Lyme Disease

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from my constituents asking Parliament to support Bill C-442 from my colleague, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands , the national Lyme disease strategy act.

Rights of the Unborn

[Ted Hsu, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition, mostly from constituents of Kingston and the Islands, calling upon Parliament to confirm that every human being is recognized as human by amending section 223 of the Criminal Code in such a way as to reflect 21st century medical evidence.

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I also have a petition signed by many of my constituents from Chestermere, Alberta. It is in support of Motion 312. It recognizes Canada's 400-year-old definition of a human being and calls for changes to section 223 of the Criminal Code moving it to reflect 21st century medical evidence.