Debates of March 6th, 2013

Arms Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, on March 18, critical negotiations will resume in New York within the United Nations on the arms trade treaty. I commend our government and thank the Prime Minister that our government has been supportive of this treaty but ask why we have taken the strange position that corruption should not be an essential criterion in deciding if an arms trade should go forward. We know from Transparency International that corruption is rife in the arms trade industry, and I ask the Prime Minister if we can change our position and work for a stronger treaty.

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member opposite for her thoughtful contribution on this issue. I can say that Canada has some of the highest global standards when it comes to the exports of munitions and that we do want to clamp down on corruption. We believe that any treaty negotiated should meet the high standards that Canada has already imposed.

We believe that after so many years of the wasteful, inefficient long gun registry, the last thing we want the United Nations to do is target law-abiding hunters and duck farmers.

[An hon. member]

Quack.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the five finalists for the 2013 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing: Marcello Di Cintio, Taras Grescoe, Noah Richler, Jeffrey Simpson and Peter Trent.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oral Questions

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Sydney—Victoria, NS]

Mr. Speaker, today in the House, the Minister of State for Finance stated that there were no submissions from this side for the upcoming budget. I have written a letter to the Minister of Finance on the priorities for Cape Breton. He has received it. Therefore, I ask the Minister of State for Finance to—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Order, please. It seems like a continuation of debate.

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, for the record, I meant the legitimate actions of duck hunters and farmers. However, the member for Richmond does inform me that her father was a duck farmer.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Thank you for sharing that.

[Peggy Nash, NDP, Parkdale—High Park, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent from the House to table, in both official languages, the submission from the NDP of our budget priorities made to the Minister of Finance some time back.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Commissioner of Official Languages

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, a certificate of nomination, with biographical notes, for the proposed appointment of Graham Fraser as Commissioner of Official Languages.

I request that the nomination be referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

While I am on my feet, I move:

That the House do now proceed to orders of the day.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #622

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the motion carried.

Message from the Senate

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

I have the honour to inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate informing the House that the Senate has passed the following bill to which the concurrence of the House is desired: Bill S-213, An Act respecting a national day of remembrance to honour Canadian veterans of the Korean War.

Bill C-42—Time Allocation Motion

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

moved:

That, in relation to C-42, An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the consideration of the third reading stage of the bill; and

that, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for government orders on the day allotted to the consideration at the third reading stage of said bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Pursuant to Standing Order 67(1), there will now be a 30-minute question period.

I would invite hon. members who wish to participate in the 30-question period to stay and participate in the debate, and we will proceed to that debate forthwith.

The hon. member for Saint-Lambert.