House of Commons Hansard #236 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was anaphylaxis.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary 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.
Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 7th report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development entitled “Urban Conservation Practices in Canada”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
Nycole Turmel NDP Hull—Aylmer, QC
moved:
That, at the conclusion of today's debate on the opposition motion in the name of the Member for Nanaimo-Cowichan, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred to Tuesday, April 23, 2013, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders; and that the House then proceed to the consideration of Private Members' Business.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Does the hon. member for Hull—Aylmer have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have a large petition from a number of constituents from Saskatoon. They are calling on Parliament to demonstrate international responsibility by recommitting Canada to contributing 0.7% of GDP to overseas development assistance, to prioritize response funding to those NGOs Canadians support, and in the spirit of global solidarity, to grant in full the funding of $49.2 million requested by D&P over the next five years.
Ted Hsu Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from constituents in my riding of Kingston and the Islands, and particularly in the rural parts of my riding. It is about genetically modified alfalfa.
Petitioners are asking the government to call for a moratorium on the commercial distribution of genetically modified alfalfa until a proper review can be done to study the effects on trade and organic certification and to make sure that we have the tools we need to keep genetically modified and non-genetically modified alfalfa separate
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Nepean—Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to share with the House a petition from constituents who call for the prompt passage of the faster removal of foreign criminals act.
The signatories to the petition would like to see the passage of the faster removal of foreign criminals act in order to ensure that our streets are safer and that those who do not belong within the boundaries of Canadian borders are quickly removed with as little delay as possible.
Hélène Laverdière NDP Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC
Mr. Speaker, today, I have the great honour of presenting a petition signed by dozens of people across Quebec that emphasizes the important role that Canada can and must play in international development. These people have been affected by the recent cuts to CIDA's budget, and they are asking the Prime Minister to reverse these cuts and restore CIDA's budget.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure I rise to table a petition regarding the research done at the Experimental Lakes Area, which provides essential scientific knowledge. Since 1968, the ELA has been a global leader in conducting whole ecosystem experiments, which have been critical in shaping environmental policy and for understanding human impacts on lakes and fish.
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of residents of British Columbia and Alberta, I would like to present a petition today.
The petitioners note that Canada is a nation that has long promoted the right to equal protection and equal benefits of the law and that preventing the birth of baby girls through sex-selective abortion is an affront to the dignity and equality of women and girls. They also note that sex selective abortions have denied millions of girls in Canada and throughout the world the chance to be born, merely because they are girls.
The petitioners call upon the House of Commons to condemn the discrimination against girls through sex-selective abortion and do all it can to prevent sex-selective abortions from being carried out in Canada.
Bruce Hyer Independent Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, petitions continue to roll in from Winnipeg and across Canada on the topic of the Experimental Lakes Area.
These petitioners call upon parliamentarians to reverse the ill-advised decision to close the Experimental Lakes Area and to continue to finance the staff and provide financial support for this important Canadian scientific institution.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 1214, 1215, and 1216.
Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE
With regard to fines issued for violations of the Do Not Call List: (a) for Pecon Software Ltd. and their reported fine of $495,000, did the company seek a review of the fine and if there was a review, what was the total dollar value of the fine after it was reviewed, (i) did the company request a negotiated settlement of the fine and, if so, was a negotiated settlement reached and what was the total value of the negotiated settlement, (ii) what is the total dollar value of the fine that has been paid to date, (iii) has the company refused to pay the fine or reach a negotiated settlement; and (b) for Avaneesh Software and their reported fine of $12,000, did the company seek a review of the fine and if there was a review, what was the total dollar value of the fine after it was reviewed, (i) did the company request a negotiated settlement of the fine and, if so, was a negotiated settlement reached and what was the total value of the negotiated settlement, (ii) what is the total dollar value of the fine that has been paid to date, (iii) has the company refused to pay the fine or reach a negotiated settlement?
Question No. 1214Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.
Conservative
James Moore ConservativeMinister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, with respect to (a), the fine of $495,000 to Pecon Software Ltd., the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, CRTC, issued a notice of violation on October 2, 2012. In order to comply with international service requirements, the CRTC filed the documents with the Indian government’s Ministry of Law and Justice, the central authority for extrajudicial service of documents. The CRTC cannot proceed with these matters legally until Pecon Software Ltd. has been legally served. According to the Convention for Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, the Indian central authority is required to provide the CRTC with an affidavit attesting to the fact that they have legally served the documents to Pecon Software Ltd. The documents were received by the central authority in India on October 5, 2012.
The CRTC is now working with the Canadian High Commission in India to facilitate communications with the ministry and ensure the service of documents. Once the Indian ministry has attested to the fact that the documents have been served, Pecon Software Ltd. will have 30 days to pay the penalty or file representations with the CRTC.
With respect to (b) and the fine of $12,000 to Avaneesh Software, the CRTC issued a notice of violation on October 2, 2012, and Avaneesh Software accepted service of the notice and accompanying documents. Avaneesh has submitted representations as per subsection 72.07(2) of the Telecommunications Act, and a violation and review panel will be held to determine if the violations set forth in the notice of violation occurred and whether or not to uphold the administrative monetary penalty. The matter has yet to be reviewed.
Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS
With regard to the cancellation of the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) program and the government’s existing liability under the Memorandum of Agreement with the government of the Province of Ontario for remediation of the ELA site, in the event of a transfer of the ELA facilities to a suitable new operator: (a) has the government conducted a legal analysis of the implications of retaining or transferring its existing liability responsibilities for the ELA; (b) will the government execute a transfer of the ELA facility and research program, in accordance with its liability responsibilities; (c) will the government extend its support for the ELA, both facilities and staff, in the event that a transfer agreement is not in place by March 31, 2013; (d) will the government provide transitional office and administrative support for ELA staff; (e) will the government enable those researchers with ongoing programs to prepare for and execute their on-site research in the coming field season and, if so, how; and (f) will the government retain its liability in perpetuity and delay this expenditure or, if not, will the government gradually reduce its liability over a period of 10 to 20 years in order to facilitate a successful transfer?
Question No. 1215Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Fredericton New Brunswick
Conservative
Keith Ashfield ConservativeMinister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), Fisheries and Oceans Canada has sought legal advice as appropriate.
With regard to (b), discussions are ongoing with various interested parties, including the Province of Ontario, about the future of the Experimental Lakes Area.
With regard to (c) and (e), Fisheries and Oceans Canada is not planning to undertake a research program at the Experimental Lakes Area as of March 31, 2013. However, discussions are ongoing with interested parties about the future of the facility.
With regard to (d), staffing discussions are ongoing as the department continues to work with affected staff to find other suitable positions within the department.
With regard to (f), discussions are ongoing with the Province of Ontario about the Canada-Ontario memorandum of agreement. They include issues related to liability and remediation.
Dominic LeBlanc Liberal Beauséjour, NB
With regard to overseas tax evasion: (a) how much money has the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) identified as being hidden in overseas tax havens by Canadian individuals and corporations; (b) how much money does the CRA estimate as being hidden in overseas tax havens by Canadian individuals and corporations; and (c) how much money does the CRA estimate as having been lost in tax revenue through the use of overseas tax havens by Canadian individuals and corporations?
Question No. 1216Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Egmont P.E.I.
Conservative
Gail Shea ConservativeMinister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a) the CRA does not have information relating to the amount of money that has been hidden in offshore jurisdictions of concern by Canadian individuals and corporations. The CRA can, however, confirm that since 2006, it has conducted nearly 8,000 compliance actions and reassessed in excess of $4.5 billion in unpaid federal taxes through the aggressive international tax planning efforts.
With regard to (b), tax evasion and avoidance involving the abusive use of tax havens are major concerns for countries. By their very nature, tax evasion and tax avoidance are difficult to quantify, since they involve people or entities hiding money from the government. Accordingly, the CRA focuses its efforts in identifying and auditing abusive tax schemes and arrangements that use offshore jurisdictions to hide income. Knowing the methods people or entities are using enables the CRA to develop the tools to identify and combat aggressive tax planning, use of offshore jurisdictions or tax evasion by both Canadian individuals and corporations.
The money being hidden in overseas tax havens pertains to revenue that select taxpayers are not reporting or disclosing to the CRA. As this is revenue that is not being disclosed, the CRA cannot provide an accurate estimate. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and most OECD member nations have stated that there is no recognized or reliable methodology for such measurement.
For these reasons, the CRA therefore cannot provide the information in the manner requested.
With respect to (c), as mentioned in the response to part (b), the CRA does not have estimates of the lost tax revenue through the use of overseas tax havens that perhaps has not been declared by individuals or corporations. Due to the reasons stated above, the CRA therefore cannot provide the information in the manner requested.
Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 1213 and 1218 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.