House of Commons Hansard #269 of the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cigarettes.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Mississauga—Erindale Ontario
Conservative
Bob Dechert ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions.
International TradeCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
South Shore—St. Margaret's Nova Scotia
Conservative
Gerald Keddy ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on International Trade entitled “Report on an Economic Partnership Agreement Between Canada and Japan”.
Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following report on the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 12th winter meeting held in Vienna, Austria, February 21-22, 2013.
Bernard Trottier Conservative Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the reports of the Canadian delegation of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the meeting of the Political Committee of the APF, held in Rabat, Morocco, on April 10 and 11, 2013; and its participation at the meeting of the Executive Committee and at the first intersessional meeting of the Network of Women Parliamentarians of the APF, held in Dakar, Senegal, on April 25 and 26, 2013.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to our study of energy efficiency in government buildings, structures and public works. On behalf of the co-chairs of my committee and the committee members, we would like to recognize and pay tribute to the outstanding contribution and extraordinary support we received from our Library of Parliament research analysts, Lindsay McGlashan and Raphaelle Deraspe, and the very competent and capable stewardship of our clerk, Marc-Olivier Girard. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of tabling the supplementary report submitted by the New Democratic Party to the June 2013 report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on energy efficiency in buildings. Our report is entitled “Empowering Energy Efficiency”. Our objective in calling for this study by the committee was to showcase the potential for substantial savings to the public purse through strategic and dedicated up-front funding. We support the report, but we are making a number of additional recommendations, including legally prescribed targets, public reporting on energy savings and dedicated budget allocations for energy efficiency.
Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities.Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Conservative
Ed Komarnicki Conservative Souris—Moose Mountain, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities entitled “Exploring Employment Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill C-54, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the National Defence Act (mental disorder).
The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments
Christine Moore NDP Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-534, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Abitibi and Témiscamingue regions).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my navigable waters protection bill, which is seconded by my colleague from Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou. We represent neighbouring ridings, so he clearly has had the opportunity to visit my riding a number of times, and he knows the lakes and rivers in my riding well.
I would like to point out that there are more than 20,000 lakes and rivers in my region. It is impossible to count them all. We do not know the exact number, but we know that there are more than 20,000. I am asking that fewer than 50 of these lakes and rivers be added to the Navigable Waters Protection Act because they were mistakenly overlooked in the bad budget bill introduced by the Conservatives.
I would like to stress that the number of lakes and rivers I am asking to have added represents less than 0.25% of the lakes and rivers in my riding. I believe it is a very reasonable request. I would also like to state that these lakes and rivers have been navigated by aboriginal communities and truly are navigable waters. Many aboriginal people in various communities in my riding can speak to the past and future of these lakes.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-535, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Vallée-de-l’Or, Anishinabe Aki and Eeyou Istchee regions).
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak today to introduce Bill C-535, An Act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Vallée-de-l’Or, Anishinabe Aki and Eeyou Istchee regions). I want to thank my colleague from Abitibi—Témiscamingue for seconding the bill.
As everyone knows, in northern Quebec we are quite attached to our lakes and rivers. We know that we cannot take them for granted. They are an integral part of our lives: our work, our play, our economy, our social well-being, our history and our common future.
In the previous budget bills, the Conservatives took away the protection of these important sources of water and life. With this bill, I am proposing a way to start repairing the damage. I am calling on my colleagues from all parties to support this bill and to help us, as members of the official opposition, right the wrongs this government has done to us.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-536, an act to amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act (Trout Lake).
Mr. Speaker, it certainly is a pleasure for me to introduce this private members' bill today, which would amend the Navigable Waters Protection Act in order to protect Trout Lake in the beautiful community of North Bay, the gateway to northern Ontario.
I want to thank my colleague from Timmins—James Bay for seconding this motion.
There are some reasons I want to protect this lake. First, Samuel de Champlain, the famous explorer, paddled Trout Lake 400 years ago. It is historic. Also, the pristine waters are another source of the drinking water for the residents of North Bay. A natural gas pipeline that borders both sides of Trout Lake is being considered for a switch to bitumen, and that worries the people of North Bay.
Another reason I want to present this private member's bill is that, unfortunately, when the Conservatives changed the Navigable Waters Protection Act, they did not include North Bay and Trout Lake. As we know, Trout Lake, as I said a while ago, is the drinking-water source for the community of North Bay. I do not know where the MP for Nipissing—Timiskaming was when this decision was taken. However, I want to assure the people of North Bay that even though their MP, my good friend sitting over there, was not looking after their best interests, they do not have to worry, because the NDP will look after their interests.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, I actually have four petitions to present, all on the same topic, so let me just read it once.
The undersigned Canadians, the members of the Roman Catholic faith, feel that we have been negatively targeted, disproportionately misrepresented and have had one of our most sacred sacraments maliciously ridiculed by the CBC and/or its programming.
Recently, we were appalled by the CBC program This Hour Has 22 Minutes on which our most sacred sacrament, the Holy Communion, was the object of an offensive and disrespectful attack, an attack to the very core of our faith, the Holy Eucharist.
We draw to the attention of the House of Commons and the minister of the Crown that as taxpayers, as well as members of the Roman Catholic faith following the principles of Canadian values, we believe that we should not be forced to finance a crown corporation such as the CBC that acts in a discriminatory manner and disrespects our religion, or any religion.
Therefore, we ask the House of Commons to stop--
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
Order, please. I will just stop the hon. member there. He may know that he is not supposed to read the petition, just present it in a very succinct manner. We have many members rising, so I encourage members to be judicious with their time.
Glenn Thibeault NDP Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am rising to present three petitions, and I will be brief on each.
The first petition is signed by hundreds of constituents of my great city of Sudbury. The petitioners wish to protect consumers from gas-price gouging. They would like the Minister of Industry to act on this petition. They are calling for justice for one of my constituents, Paul Temelini, who has been fighting a case for 30 years.
Glenn Thibeault NDP Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, the other petition is asking the government to reverse cuts to the prison chaplain program.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise on behalf of the constituents of Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon to present three petitions.
The first petition calls for increased penalties for impaired driving.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is regarding cluster munitions.
Mark Strahl Conservative Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon, BC
Mr. Speaker, I also have hundreds of signatories to a petition calling on this House to condemn discrimination against females occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of presenting a petition signed by citizens of Manor Park, which is in the riding I have the privilege of representing in this House.
The petition calls on the House of Commons to encourage the government not to fund the proposed interprovincial crossing at Kettle Island.
Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by literally tens of thousands of Canadians who call upon the House of Commons and Parliament to recognize that asbestos is the greatest industrial killer the world has ever known. In fact, they point out that more Canadians now die from asbestos than all other industrial or occupational causes combined.
Therefore, these petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to ban asbestos in all its forms; to begin a nationwide abatement program for homeowners and property owners who may have asbestos in their properties; and to stop blocking international health and safety conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos, such as the Rotterdam Convention.
Rob Merrifield Conservative Yellowhead, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions from my riding of Yellowhead. They are all the same, so I will just describe one.
They are about the termination of sex-selected individuals who are females and say that pregnancy termination is abhorred by obstetricians and gynecologists across Canada as well as the majority of the people of Canada, 92% or more. The petitioners are calling on the House to act on this issue.
José Nunez-Melo NDP Laval, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege of presenting a petition signed by a number of my constituents, who are calling on the Conservative government to reverse its decision to abolish the 15% tax credit for savings invested in labour-sponsored funds.