Debates of April 15th, 2013

Supreme Court

[Jean-François Fortin, Bloc, Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in 1982, Ottawa referred to a Supreme Court ruling in order to force a constitution on Quebec that it still refuses to sign to this day.

Last week we learned that the chief justice at the time provided the governments of Canada and Great Britain with privileged information about the court's deliberations.

This is a serious move that undermines the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's ruling and, accordingly, the legitimacy of forcing the Constitution on Quebec.

Will the Prime Minister show some statesmanship on such an important issue for Quebec and promise to release unredacted copies of all the documents that can shed light on these events?

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, unlike my colleague from the Bloc Québécois, we are not interested in rehashing old constitutional squabbles. That is clear.

I would like my colleague to know that the Supreme Court of Canada is currently trying to determine what happened in 1982 under the Trudeau Liberal government.

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, justice in a democracy requires the separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislative branch. A judge must not speak to any of the parties during the deliberations.

The revelations about Chief Justice Laskin's indiscretions shake the basic trust that people should have in the courts. This is so serious that the Supreme Court indicated that it would investigate the matter.

We must also shed light on the Privy Council's role in this scandal.

Will the Prime Minister accept how serious these revelations are and launch an independent public inquiry to determine what really happened and ensure that such a thing never happens again—

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The hon. Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism.

[Maxime Bernier, Conservative, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism)]

Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court said that it was looking into what happened in 1982. These issues involve a former Supreme Court justice who has since died and who was on the bench under the former Trudeau Liberal government.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the hon. Danny Soucy, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour for the province of New Brunswick.

Rehtaeh Parsons

[Robert Chisholm, NDP, Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties, and I would like to thank them for agreeing to rise to observe a moment of silence in honour of a constituent of mine, Rehtaeh Parsons, who recently passed away. I would add anyone else who has succumbed to victimization.

I thank all members of this House for accepting this opportunity to show that respect.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this fashion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

[A moment of silence observed]

Chief Electoral Officer

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada on the administration of the Toronto—Danforth byelection held on March 19, 2012, and the Calgary Centre, Durham and Victoria byelections held on November 26, 2012.

This document is deemed to be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

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)(e) this document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

It is my duty, pursuant to Section 23(2) of the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, to lay upon the table the report of the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, with an addendum dated March 12, 2013, which disposes of the objections raised by members of the House of Commons.

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 response to 180 petitions.

Sex Selection

[LaVar Payne, Conservative, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present another petition on behalf of the citizens of the Medicine Hat constituency urging that the House of Commons and all members of Parliament condemn sex selection gendercide.

Search and Rescue

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two petitions.

The petitioners urge the government to save the Kitsilano coast guard station. The petitioners say that the recent decision by the federal government to close the Kitsilano station is a grave mistake and that it will undoubtedly cost the lives of those in peril on the shores and waters near Vancouver Harbour.

The petitioners are urging the Government of Canada to rescind the decision and reinstate funding to maintain the coast guard station at Kitsilano.

Shark Finning

[Fin Donnelly, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is with regard to banning the importation of shark fins. The petitioners say that measures must be taken to stop the global practice of shark finning and to ensure the responsible conservation and management of sharks. They call upon the Government of Canada to immediately legislate a ban on the importation of shark fins to Canada.

Corrections

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from almost 500 people from my riding who ask the government to take note of expensive crime and punishment policies, which are being abandoned south of the border in the United States; to take note of the government's reliance on double-bunking, which creates a high-stress environment and makes work dangerous for staff and correctional officers; to take note of inadequate rehabilitation programs and the spending of dollars on increased numbers of prisoners without tracking outcomes, such as recidivism, and without spending on the root causes of crime.

The petitioners are calling on the government to adopt rational criminal justice policies and best practices, to not rely on double-bunking at correctional institutions to reduce costs and to increase public safety.

Health of Animals and Meat Inspection

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. The first, signed by hundreds of Canadians from Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, is offering support for my Bill C-322, An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption) thus prohibiting the importation or exportation of horses for slaughter for human consumption as well as horsemeat products for human consumption.

Animal Welfare

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have well over 600 names on a petition dealing with animal cruelty. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to work with the provinces to ensure that federal and provincial laws are constructed and enforced to ensure that those responsible for abusing, neglecting, torturing or otherwise harming animals are held appropriately accountable.

Human Trafficking

[Alex Atamanenko, NDP, British Columbia Southern Interior, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the third one is in support of Bill C-452, dealing with human trafficking, which includes crimes committed within Canada and in foreign countries. The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to support Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons).

[Maria Mourani, Bloc, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to table a petition calling on all members to support Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons), which I introduced recently and which is currently being examined by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

More than 100 people signed this petition, which calls for members to support the bill because sexual exploitation and trafficking in persons are serious crimes. The petition urges all members to ensure that this bill is read, amended and studied in committee as quickly as possible, before it returns to the House for third reading.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have with me a certified petition signed by 65 residents from my riding calling on the government to support Bill C-452, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (exploitation and trafficking in persons) in combatting human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

Chief Firearms Officers

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from petitioners who object to the patchwork of rules drafted and enforced by provincial and territorial chief firearms officers across the country. They are asking to replace the inconsistent chief firearms offices with a single civilian agency that is service-oriented.

Experimental Lakes Area

[Bruce Hyer, Independent, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, despite the fact that the Experimental Lakes Area funding has run out and it is now closed, petitions continue to roll into my office asking that the government reconsider and reverse the poorly thought out decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area and continue to provide staff and financial support for this important Canadian institution.