House of Commons Hansard #153 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was support.

Topics

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. member for Scarborough—Guildwood.

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Mr. Speaker, I see that his subjects are already rising.

Since this is a new position for him, would he start by telling Rear-Admiral Smith that his opinion on whether or not the ombudsman's report is balanced is entirely irrelevant? Second, would he tell the rear-admiral that the ombudsman's job is to advocate for his troops? While he is at it, would he go to bat for the two vets who have lost--

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Order. The hon. Minister of National Defence.

National DefenceOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Central Nova Nova Scotia

Conservative

Peter MacKay ConservativeMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, an independent military ombudsman plays a very important role in moderating the interests of Canadian Forces personnel and providing impartial advice.

We support the office of the ombudsman the same way we support the MPCC, the same way we support the grievance board, as they work within their mandate and will continue to do so.

Our government, of course, has enormous respect for the men and women of the Canadian Forces. Unlike the member and his party who brought about a decade of darkness, we are bringing a decade of delivery.

PrivacyOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Charmaine Borg NDP Terrebonne—Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Privacy Commissioner has discovered that several popular Canadian websites are leaking personal information. Six of them have allegedly committed serious breaches of Canadians' privacy. Meanwhile, the Conservatives sound like a broken record. Privacy legislation in relation to commercial businesses should have been reviewed over a year ago. And Canadians have been waiting for anti-spam regulations for over two years now.

When will the Conservatives realize that this is the 21st century, that people no longer communicate by Morse code, and that Internet users need real protection?

PrivacyOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Mégantic—L'Érable Québec

Conservative

Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)

Mr. Speaker, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is ready to be introduced. As soon as the opposition is ready to move forward, we can introduce it and move ahead. We are ready when they are.

International AidOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are very concerned about the suffering and starvation of innocent children in the Sahel region of Africa. Almost 19 million people are affected by the food and nutrition crisis spanning a number of western African countries.

Would the Minister of International Cooperation please give the House an update on his recent work in the Sahel?

International AidOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Vaughan Ontario

Conservative

Julian Fantino ConservativeMinister of International Cooperation

Mr. Speaker, World Vision is using lunch bags to encourage Canadians to donate their lunch money to the crisis in the Sahel.

With Canada's support, 10 million people have received food assistance and 250,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition.

On August 7, our government launched the Sahel crisis matching fund and invested $10 million immediately to help those in need. Until September 30 we will match every dollar contributed to a registered Canadian charity responding to this crisis.

Quebec City ArmouryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives promised years ago to show us the plans for the future Quebec City Armoury, but we still have not seen anything.

The fire at the Quebec City Armoury occurred in April 2008. For four and a half years now, the Conservatives have been dragging their feet and hiding the plans and the cost of the reconstruction of the armoury.

Why is the Minister of Public Works refusing to share the plans and the cost of the reconstruction? When will the sod-turning ceremony take place?

Quebec City ArmouryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Edmonton—Spruce Grove Alberta

Conservative

Rona Ambrose ConservativeMinister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women

Mr. Speaker, our government is very proud to participate in the rehabilitation of the Grande-Allée Armoury. We are restoring a site that we know has shaped the history of Quebec City, but also of Canada. We are supporting local jobs in Quebec City and allowing people to enjoy the armoury for years to come.

Foreign TakeoversOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Independent

Bruce Hyer Independent Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister refused to attend the Beijing Olympics, accusing China of industrial sabotage and deplorable human rights. One of his ministers called China one of the world's worst violators of human rights. Now our PM would allow Chinese communists to scoop our key natural resources. Then, China bad; now, China good.

Will the Prime Minister stand up for democracy and Canadian control over strategic resources and say no to this reckless Nexen deal?

Foreign TakeoversOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Mégantic—L'Érable Québec

Conservative

Christian Paradis ConservativeMinister of Industry and Minister of State (Agriculture)

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, this transaction will be scrutinized very closely. We will work always in the best interests of Canada. We have put in place provisions that take care of national security interests. My colleague can rest assured that we will deal with this matter very carefully.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I would like to acknowledge for hon. members the 20th anniversary of CPAC, the Cable Public Affairs Channel.

Created in 1992 by a consortium of 27 Canadian cable companies, CPAC was given the core mandate to provide, at no cost to taxpayers, coverage of the proceedings of the House of Commons to millions of homes with cable subscriptions.

Since then, CPAC has expanded to provide continued unfiltered coverage of House of Commons proceedings and parliamentary committees, as well as a multitude of other public affairs activities across the country.

Today, CPAC plays such an important role in the political life of Canada that is truly difficult to imagine that such an essential service once did not exist.

We have with us today in the gallery the members of CPAC's board of directors. On behalf of all members, and indeed all Canadians, I would like to thank them and CPAC for their invaluable contribution to Canada's democratic process.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

You will have the opportunity to meet the members at the reception CPAC is hosting in the East Block courtyard later this afternoon.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst wishes to clarify what happened during question period.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Speaker, I thought you had a question for me, and I was ready to answer.

I have been in the House of Commons for 15 years. I was the party whip for 11 years. If anyone cares to look at the blues for that 11-year period, they will see that I used the word I used today many times, and it was never in violation of the Standing Orders before.

If I offended the Prime Minister, I withdraw the words “damned penny”.

Instead, these people will not have one red cent with which to pay their bills.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Sometimes these words are not helpful during the exchange in question period. The tone has as much to do with it as everything, so I appreciate the interjection.

State of Canada's ForestRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Cypress Hills—Grasslands Saskatchewan

Conservative

David Anderson ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, under the provision of Standing Order 32(2), it is my pleasure to table, in both official languages, the 2012 edition of the State of Canada's Forest annual report.

Foreign AffairsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary 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, three treaties.

The first is entitled “Protocol to the Agreement Between the Government Of Canada and the Government Of The People’s Republic Of China for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy”, done at Beijing on July 19.

The second is the entitled “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People's Republic of China for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments”, done at Vladivostok on September 9.

The third is entitled “Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Kingdom of Norway”, done at Ottawa on June 20.

A explanatory memorandum is included with each treaty.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Corneliu Chisu Conservative Pickering—Scarborough East, 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 delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation to the third part of the 2012 Ordinary Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, held in Strasbourg, France on June 25 to 29.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Élaine Michaud NDP Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association respecting its participation in the second round of the French legislative elections, held in Paris and Poitiers, France, from June 14 to 17, 2012.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Gord Brown Conservative Leeds—Grenville, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group.

The first is the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Conference held in Ottawa, Ontario, from May 6 to 8, 2012.

The second is the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the Western Governors’ Association Annual Meeting held in Cle Elum, Washington, from June 9 to 12, 2012.

Rights of the UnbornPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Rod Bruinooge Conservative Winnipeg South, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions that I would like present, including from Richmond Hill. Hundreds of constituents have asked Parliament to vote in favour of Motion No. 312 to look at when human life begins.

I also have more petitions from Ajax—Pickering on the same motion. The petitioners ask Parliament to consider looking at the 400-year-old definition of human life.

The final petition is from Kitchener—Waterloo on a similar front. The petitioners ask Parliament to vote in favour of Motion No. 312.