Debates of March 20th, 2013

Pensions

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

Mr. Speaker, in an ideal world the budget would help people, but in Conservative Ottawa, budgets are used to weaken retirement security and cut old age security. In Conservative Ottawa, Canadians are forced to work two years longer before they can retire. Expert after expert after expert has contradicted the government and said OAS is sustainable.

Will the Conservatives now abandon their reckless and punitive cuts, abandon their plan to force Canadians to work longer and restore the OAS eligibility to age 65?

[Diane Finley, Conservative, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development]

Mr. Speaker, we want to make sure that the old age security system is there for Canadians when they retire, not just now but also in the future. To make it sustainable, we are making changes that will not begin to take effect until at least 2023 because we want to make sure that OAS will be there for Canadians when they need it.

Official Languages

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, our government knows how important the French language is in Canada's history, and it shows this attachment day after day, here in Canada, within la Francophonie and around the world.

The Minister for La Francophonie recently met with the secretary general of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, as well as with his French counterpart, to reaffirm Canada's unwavering support for la Francophonie.

Could the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities touch on the importance of our government's commitment to la Francophonie?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, we recognize the essential role that la Francophonie plays in promoting the fourth most spoken language in the world. That is why Canada is one of the biggest contributors. That is also why the Prime Minister begins his speeches in French, no matter where he is.

Furthermore, in July 2012, we hosted the first French Language World Forum and the International Meeting of the Economic Francophonie, which were held in Quebec City.

We wish everyone an excellent International Day of La Francophonie.

Transportation

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

Mr. Speaker, local elected officials, individuals and businesses in my riding all want to move forward with the Montreal metro blue line extension. It is an infrastructure project that has strong support and is good for the local economy, but it will be hard to undertake without support from the federal government.

Despite the difficulty that the Minister of Transport is having agreeing with Quebec on funding for public transit on the Champlain Bridge, can he tell us if he is currently in discussions with Quebec and Montreal about the metro project?

[Denis Lebel, Conservative, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, to begin, there was a statement in that question that is completely untrue. The Quebec government was very clear on the federal government's role in the new bridge over the St. Lawrence and in its choice about public transit. Envelopes were given to the provinces, and the provinces made their own decisions.

Similarly, the metro is the responsibility of the City of Montreal and the Province of Quebec. Once again, the member wants us to manage their day-to-day work and make decisions for them. The federal government will continue to partner with the provinces and municipalities, but we will not replace them.

Official Languages

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, while today is the International Day of La Francophonie, this government has very little to celebrate. By justifying its refusal to apply Bill 101 to companies under federal jurisdiction based on a bogus report, making francophone public servants pay a high price for budget cuts and depriving Quebeckers of services in French, including emergency marine services and scientific libraries, the federal government is neglecting French and treating francophones like second-class citizens.

Will the Minister for La Francophonie do something and stop treating francophones like second-class citizens?

[James Moore, Conservative, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, those accusations are completely false.

Marie-France Kenny, president of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, said, and I quote: We salute the commitments and efforts of this government for the results that they've received in protecting Canada's official languages.

She said the commitments and efforts of this government for the results that we have received in protecting Canada's official languages should be saluted.

Canadian Human Rights Commission

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the 2012 annual report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(a), this document is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Aboriginal Healing Foundation

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation's 2012 report.

Tsawwassen First Nation

[Greg Rickford, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, in addition, under the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 2010-2011 Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement Implementation Report.

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 responses to 25 petitions.

Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in relation to the main estimates 2013-2014.

Status of Women

[Marie-Claude Morin, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women in relation to the main estimates 2013-2014.

Official Languages

[Michael Chong, Conservative, Wellington—Halton Hills, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages concerning the certificate of nomination of Graham Fraser to the position of Commissioner of Official Languages.

I note that the committee has examined the qualifications and competence of the nominee and has agreed that the nomination of Mr. Graham Fraser as Commissioner of Official Languages be concurred in. It was a vote all members of the committee, from all three parties, supported.

Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions Regulations

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-484, An Act Respecting the Amendment of the Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Coal-fired Generation of Electricity Regulations.

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of rising today to introduce this private member's bill to reduce greenhouse gases. It has been clearly established that emissions from coal-fired power plants are one of the most dangerous sources of greenhouse gases for the planet.

My private member's bill would work to improve and strengthen the weak regulations that have been put forward to deal with greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants.

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

Status of the Unborn

[Leon Benoit, Conservative, Vegreville—Wainwright, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of constituents. They note that Canada's definition of a child is a 400-year-old definition that defines a human being as becoming a human being only at the moment of complete birth.

They call upon Parliament to confirm that every human being is recognized by Canadian law by amending section 223 of our Criminal Code in a way the reflects 21st century science on this issue.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Frank Valeriote, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present eight petitions from hundreds of residents from all across Canada, from coast to coast to coast, including from my own riding of Guelph. They wish the government to respect the standing of Canada's Experimental Lakes Area as a unique, world-renowned facility for freshwater research and education, that it recognize how important the ELA is to our responsibilities to protect our aquatic ecosystems and that it continue to provide financial resources.

The facility is one of a kind, where acid rain and mercury poisoning were first researched and discovered. It is an essential institution providing public good to all Canadians.

Gender Identity

[Rob Anders, Conservative, Calgary West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to present, on behalf of thousands of people who sent these to my office, petitions in opposition to Bill C-279, otherwise known as “the bathroom bill”, that would give transgendered men access to women's public washroom facilities. These constituents feel that it is the duty of the House of Commons to protect and safeguard our children from any exposure and harm that would come from giving a man access to women's public washroom facilities. I present thousands of signatures on behalf of the riding in Calgary West, and I know that there are many others that have gone to other members in this place.

Multiple Sclerosis

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this month is National Brain Awareness Month. We need a national brain strategy. Canadians with MS want to know when patient accrual began for the CCSVI trials, how many patients have been recruited, how many centres have passed ethical review boards, what the milestones are and who is the person ultimately responsible for oversight of the trial. Is it the Minister of Health or someone else?

Petitioners are calling on the minister to consult experts actively engaged in diagnosis and treatment of CCSVI to undertake phase III clinical trials on an urgent basis and to require follow-up care.

Sex Selection

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition. After speaking at UBC, Simon Fraser University and Trinity Western University, we received a whack of petitions. They state that the CBC revealed that ultrasounds are being used in Canada to tell the sex of an unborn child so that if it is a girl, the pregnancy would be ended. Ninety-two per cent of Canadians condemn this. The fact is that our Conservative government has a strong position and we condemn the practice of sex selection. The petitioners ask that all members of Parliament support Motion No. 408 to condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex selection.

Immigration

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today calling on Parliament to offer an unequivocal, sincere and public apology to those home children and child migrants who died while being ashamed of their history and deprived of their families; the living yet elderly home children and child migrants who continue to bear the weight of their past; and the descendants of home children and child migrants who continue to feel the void passed down through generations while continuing to search out relatives lost as a result of a system that, in many instances, victimized them under the guise of protection.

Sex Selection

[Dave Van Kesteren, Conservative, Chatham-Kent—Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition here that calls on all members of Parliament to support Motion No. 408 and condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to present a petition from over 500 of my constituents who ask that members of the House condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination. The petitioners are asking that all members of Parliament support Motion No. 408 and condemn sex selection.

Experimental Lakes Area

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions.

The first is primarily signed by residents of Peterborough and Ajax, and like many other petitions presented today, the petitioners call on the government to change its wrong-headed decision to close the world-renowned Experimental Lakes Area and keep it open so scientific research and knowledge can be pursued.