House of Commons Hansard #251 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was terrorism.
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to a petition.
Foreign Affairs and International DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Mississauga—Erindale Ontario
Conservative
Bob Dechert ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled “Canada and the Arctic Council: An Agenda for Regional Leadership”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Foreign Affairs and International DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is the view of the official opposition members of the committee that primary consideration of the Arctic Council under two years of Canada's chairmanship should remain on the issues related to the mitigation and impacts of climate change on the Arctic environment, which are international and global in implication and can be more effectively tackled by multinational means and social development.
Economic development, while increasing in its importance, will only benefit from international agreement and understanding of these issues.
With regard to the third recommendation, the members of the official opposition who sit on the committee would prefer that the permanent aboriginal participants be funded by the Arctic Council rather than having to count on their respective countries for the funding.
Finally, the official opposition members of the committee regret that the minister responsible for the Arctic Council was unable to appear before the committee during the preparation of this report.
Given the importance of the minister's role as incoming council chair, and we congratulate her for it, and in the interest of all members for the successful Canadian chairmanship, we ask that the minister make an annual report to Parliament in each of the two years of the Canadian chairmanship.
Veterans AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Mississauga—Brampton South Ontario
Conservative
Eve Adams ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the tenth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in relation to Bill S-213, an act respecting a national day of remembrance to honour Canadian veterans of the Korean War.
The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report it back to the House without amendments.
James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Finance.
The report is entitled “Main Estimates 2013-14”.
Marc Garneau Liberal Westmount—Ville-Marie, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-510, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (mischief).
Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present my bill, which was previously supported by all parties at second reading but which died on the order paper when the last election was called. I am also pleased to have the bill seconded by my colleague from St. Paul's.
The proposed bill would modify section 430 of the Criminal Code and more specifically subsection 4.1 dealing with mischief caused to property. Previously subsection 4.1 dealt with mischief or vandalism to a building or structure primarily used for religious worship, “including a church, mosque, synagogue or temple”, or an object associated with religious worship and located on the property of the institution in question providing the mischief was motivated “by bias, prejudice or hate based on religion, race, colour or national or ethnic origin”.
The bill I am presenting would broaden the applicability of subsection 4.1 to include property used exclusively or principally by the same groups, such as an educational institution, including a school, daycare centre, college or university. It will also include property such as a community centre, playground, arena, sports centre or any institution with an administrative social, cultural, educational or sports function that is used by those same groups.
I am sure that this bill will be unanimously approved by all parties. I look forward to debating it at second reading.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Gordon O'Connor ConservativeMinister of State and Chief Government Whip
Mr. Speaker, I offer the following motion. I move:
That, notwithstanding any standing or special order or usual practice of the House, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, the House shall follow the schedule prescribed in the Standing Orders for a Monday, provided that the bells to call in the members, for any recorded division deferred to the end of the time provided for government orders, shall be sounded for not more than 15 minutes.
Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Business of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table two petitions. The first one will go to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. It is about Bill C-452, which amends the Criminal Code as it relates to human trafficking and exploitation.
According to 2007 figures released by the UN, the annual proceeds from criminal activities involving human trafficking are estimated at $32 billion. That is why many people have signed the petition to support Bill C-452.
Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls for the Canada Revenue Agency to send a printed copy of the tax return and benefits package through the mail. Many seniors in my riding have difficulty obtaining these documents, which they need to fulfill the legal obligations that Canadian citizens gladly comply with, with the possible exception of some senators.
Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition asking the House of Commons to formally condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination. The petitioners draw to our attention the fact that in Canada ultrasounds are being used to tell the sex of unborn children and parents are choosing to terminate the pregnancy if the unborn child is a girl. They ask all parties to condemn that.
Petitioners point to the fact that 92% of Canadians believe sex-selective pregnancy termination should be illegal. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada vehemently opposes sex selection. Millions of girls have been lost through sex-selective abortion, creating a global gender imbalance and causing girls to be trafficked into prostitution. Petitioners reiterate that Parliament should condemn this worst form of discrimination against females by condemning sex-selective abortions.
Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to submit four petitions, representing hundreds of British Columbians. The petitioners acknowledge that current impaired driving laws are too lenient, and in the interest of public safety they want to see tougher laws and the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentencing for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They also want the Criminal Code of Canada to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter.
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me today to present a petition from dozens and dozens of people from Gogama and Sturgeon Falls in my riding. The petition asks the Minister of Health and the House of Commons to pass Bill C-356, an act respecting a national dementia strategy.
As baby boomers are getting older and older, dementia is becoming a bigger problem in Canada. Petitioners are asking the government to do something about what is happening with dementia patients right now.
While I am on my feet, I would like to congratulate the member for Edmonton—Leduc for his statement today on dementia.
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure today to present three petitions in the House. The first one is from growers of organic foods and farmers in my riding, calling on the Government of Canada to impose a moratorium on the release of genetically modified alfalfa in order to allow for a proper review of the impact on farmers in Canada.
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on the Government of Canada to deal with the underlying regimes of the Communist Party of China and prevent the systematic murdering of Falun Gong practitioners for their organs, and to publicly call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
Ryan Leef Conservative Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, the final petition is from citizens of Nunavut and across Canada who are calling on parliamentarians to recognize the right of law-abiding seal hunters to participate in the Canadian seal hunt. The hunt provides subsistence and economic opportunities to coastal and indigenous communities across Canada. Therefore, they call upon Parliament to reject the European Union's application for observer status on the Arctic Council until such time as the European Union recognizes the right of Canadian seal hunters to participate in a lawful industry by completely lifting the seal product ban currently in place.
Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a handful of petitions with hundreds and hundreds of names on them, asking the House to condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination carried out because ultrasounds are being used in Canada to tell the sex of unborn children. They point out that sex selection has been condemned by all national political parties and that 92% of Canadians believe that sex-selective pregnancy termination should be illegal, and therefore Parliament needs to condemn this worst form of discrimination against females.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first one has come about as a result of CBC revealing that in Canada ultrasound is being used to determine the gender of an unborn baby, and in many cases the female babies are being aborted. Petitioners are calling on the House to condemn discrimination against females occurring through gender selection abortion.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, the second petition notes that Canada is the only western country in the world that has no law restricting abortion. Petitioners call upon Parliament to do as the Supreme Court has recommended, which is to put in place a law restricting abortion.
James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to present petitions on behalf of hundreds of Canadians who call upon the government and Parliament to enact tougher laws and implement new mandatory minimum sentences for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. The petitioners would also like to see the Criminal Code of Canada changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter.
Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 1268, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1276, 1280 and 1281.