Debates of April 18th, 2013

Public Sector Integrity Commissioner

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

I have the honour, pursuant to section 38 of the Public Service Disclosure Protection Act, to lay upon the table the special report of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner concerning an investigation into a disclosure of wrongdoing.

This report is deemed permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.

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 five petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Gord Brown, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation at the following four meetings: the annual meeting with members of the U.S. Senate that was held in Washington, D.C., May 14 to 15, 2012; the fifth annual conference of the Southeastern United States-Canadian Provinces Alliance that was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, May 20 to 22, 2012; the National Governors Association annual meeting that was held in Williamsburg, Virginia, July 12 to 15, 2012; and the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance Conference that was held in Washington, D.C., September 23 to 25, 2012.

Justice and Human Rights

[Mike Wallace, Conservative, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill S-209, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (prize fights).

The committee has considered the bill and has agreed to report the bill back to the House without amendment.

Transport, Infrastructure and Communities

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

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the standing committee on Bill C-52, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (administration, air and railway transportation and arbitration).

Criminal Code

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-489, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (restrictions on offenders).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to introduce the safe at home bill. Canadian children should feel safe in their homes, especially if they have been a victim of a sexual assault.

In my riding of Langley, a sex offender was permitted to serve a house arrest right next door to his young victim. In another case, the sex offender served house arrest across the street from the young victim. In both cases, the poor victims lived in fear and were re-victimized every time they saw their attacker.

One mother asked me, “Why should we have to move from our home when we are the victims?” That is a good question.

This bill will amend the Criminal Code to require a bubble zone around the victim's home, and the sex offenders will not be able to knowingly be anywhere near the victim.

I look forward to working with all members of the House to ensure the passage of this very important bill.

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

Generic Medicines

[Chris Alexander, Conservative, Ajax—Pickering, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to present a petition on behalf of 38 Canadians from British Columbia calling upon the government to pass Bill C-398, without significant amendment, to facilitate the immediate flow of live-saving generic medicines to developing countries.

Canada Post

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of hundreds of Prince Edward Islanders concerned about changes being made by Canada Post to post offices across the country without adequate consultation, as is required under the Canada postal service charter.

As an example, one of these changes requires that letters being sent from Charlottetown to Summerside go through Halifax. Therefore, the petitioners are urging the Government of Canada to instruct Canada Post to halt its plans to downgrade public post offices and to consult with the public and others to develop a better process in this regard.

[Françoise Boivin, NDP, Gatineau, QC]

Mr. Speaker, along the same lines, we have just one post office in Gatineau. Apparently, there are supposed to be consultations regarding the closure of the only post office in Gatineau.

I rise here to present a petition signed by hundreds of people who strongly oppose the closure of the Racine Street post office.

Lyme Disease Strategy

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present four petitions, two each on the same topic.

The first two are on the subject of my own private member's bill, Bill C-442, calling for a national Lyme disease strategy.

The first set of petitioners are from Bedford and Stellarton in Nova Scotia; from Delta, Penticton, Victoria and Surrey in British Columbia; and from Burlington and Oakville in Ontario.

The second set of petitioners are from Chilliwack, Surrey and Langley in British Columbia, as well as from Saskatoon.

Across Canada, Lyme disease sufferers are hoping that all members of this House will come to agreement on a national Lyme disease strategy.

Foreign Investment

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with the matter of the opposition day motion today. We are looking at the Canada-China investment treaty.

Petitioners from Vancouver, Abbotsford, Surrey, White Rock, Maple Ridge, Burnaby and Victoria call upon this House to reject the Canada-China investment treaty and call upon the government not to ratify it.

Sex Selection

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition that is signed by people from my riding of Lambton—Kent—Middlesex and by people across the country.

It urges that the House condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination, and that Parliament needs to condemn this worst form of discrimination against females.

[Rob Merrifield, Conservative, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, on behalf of the people of my riding, a petition calling on the government not to allow inequality of women's and girls' rights by sex-selective abortions.

The petition calls on the government to abhor this and to stop it at every opportunity in the future.

Genetically Modified Alfalfa

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise as the member of Parliament for Kelowna—Lake Country to present a petition that was presented to me on April 12 in my constituency office by Heidi Osterman from True Food Foundation. She is a constituent of mine who has collected approximately 1,000 signatures from constituents and British Columbians calling on Parliament to impose a moratorium on the release of genetically modified alfalfa in order to allow a proper review of the impact on farmers in Canada.

Impaired Driving

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present two petitions.

In the first petition, petitioners are asking to see tougher laws in the implementation of a new mandatory minimum sentencing for persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They want to see the Criminal Code of Canada changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving to vehicular manslaughter.

Sex Selection

[Mark Warawa, Conservative, Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second deals with gender selection. It highlights that the CBC investigation on gender selection revealed that it is happening in Canada. Ninety-two per cent of Canadians are vehemently opposed to this, and they are asking Parliament to condemn sex selection.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, the following question will be answered today: No. 1209.

Question No. 1209

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

With regard to the changes made to the Fisheries Act in Bill C-38 and Bill C-45: (a) with which industry groups did the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) meet to consult on amendments to the Act; (b) what are the dates, locations, agendas of consultation sessions held with industry groups to discuss the amendments to the Act; (c) how much funding has DFO contributed to industry and civil society groups to engage on the amendments to the Act; and (d) how much funding has DFO allocated for engagement sessions in the 2012-2013 fiscal year?

[Keith Ashfield, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway]

Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, DFO, has engaged various partners and stakeholders since summer 2012. DFO officials have met with representatives of various industries, such as oil and gas, e.g., Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, Canadian Association of Pipeline Producers; mining, e.g., Mining Association of Canada; forestry, e.g., Forest Products Association of Canada; hydroelectric, e.g., Canadian Electricity Association, Canadian Hydropower Association; and agriculture and agrifood, e.g., Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canadian Federation of Agriculture.

The list includes the Canadian Gas Association, June 27 and July 9, 2012, teleconference, Ottawa; the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, June 27, July 17 and November 28, 2012 and January 30, 2013, teleconference, Ottawa, Calgary and Moncton; the Canadian Electricity Association, June 27, August 31 and November 13, 2012 and March 13, 2013, teleconference, Ottawa; the Canadian Hydropower Association, August 31 and November 13, 2012 and March 13, 2013, Ottawa; the Mining Association of Canada, June 27 and August 31, 2012, teleconference, Ottawa; the Forest Products Association of Canada, June 27, 2012, teleconference; the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, June 27, 2012 and January 31, 2013, teleconference, Calgary; the Canadian Nuclear Association, June 27 and December 14, 2012 and February 27, 2013, teleconference, Ottawa; Nalcor, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; Newfoundland Power, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; Rio Tinto, July 25 and October 4, 2012, St. John’s; Alderon Resources, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; Wabush Mines, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; Vale Inco, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; Kruger, July 25, 2012, St. John’s; British Columbia Hydro, June 27, 2012, teleconference; and Total E&P Canada, January 24, 2012, Ottawa.

With regard to (b), engagement sessions with industry, as well as other partners and stakeholders--e.g., provinces and territories, non-governmental organizations and aboriginal groups--started in June 2012 and are currently ongoing. These sessions have occurred across the country as well as through teleconference. The agendas for these meetings have been approximately the same: ensure comprehensive understanding of the changes to the Fisheries Act, flesh out the key concepts and gather information to assist in developing policy and regulations, identify and develop partnership opportunities and inform partners and stakeholders of implementation plans.

With regard to (c) and (d), DFO has spent approximately $100,000 in 2012-13 to undertake engagement sessions across the country. These costs are primarily associated with travel and translation. Included in this total is DFO financial support and participation in an NGO-organized workshop on October 30, 2012.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 1207, 1208, 1210, 1211 and 1212 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 1207

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

With regard to the Department of the Environment: (a) over the past six years, how many transactions involving land or buildings, works and infrastructure have been completed, broken down by (i) land, (ii) buildings, (iii) works and infrastructure, (iv) vehicles; (b) what is the total amount for (a) and for (a)(i), (a)(ii), (a)(iii), (a)(iv); (c) what are the criteria used by the department to determine whether to dispose of these non-financial assets; and (d) what are the actual savings between sale versus the government’s cost of maintaining each of these non-financial assets?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1208

[Mathieu Ravignat, NDP, Pontiac, QC]

With regard to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: (a) over the past six years, how many transactions involving land or buildings, works and infrastructure have been carried out, broken down by (i) land, (ii) buildings, (iii) works and infrastructure, (iv) vehicles; (b) what is the total amount for (a) and for (a)(i), (a)(ii), (a)(iii), (a)(iv); (c) what are the criteria used by the department to determine whether to dispose of these non-financial assets; and (d) what are the actual savings between sale versus the government’s cost of maintaining each of these non-financial assets?