Debates of Jan. 30th, 2014

Opposition Motion—Canadian Forces

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, while the member spoke about how the military changed her, I felt I wanted to applaud at that point. There are other people from the military, and all parties here, feel the same way. That sense of pride and appreciation for the military that she showed in her remarks is really commendable, and I want to say that at the beginning.

The member talked a fair bit about the difficulty of calling a government number, or even talking to an individual, and getting the response to go on the Internet or call another number. I came out of the farm movement. There were some very tough times in the eighties, and we had farm stress hotlines to prevent suicides. When those calls are made, when people are under stress, regardless of the occupation, and especially so in the military, there has to be a live person at the other end. There absolutely must be.

I ask if the hon. member could express more about the difficulty and the stress of being one of those individuals making a call for help and not getting an adequate response?

[Christine Moore, NDP, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is already hard enough to ask for help, to admit that you are not doing well and to talk about your experiences with another person face to face, even if that person has listened to others and understands military issues.

Now, imagine suffering that much. You are not even able to talk to someone in person, and when you call you hear, “For English, please press 1; Pour le français, appuyez sur le 2.” It is already hard enough. That does not make sense.

When people are in distress and are thinking about dying, they are rarely able to talk about what they went through with their spouse, for example. It is too hard and they do not want to make their loved ones sad by talking about their experiences.

It is ridiculous that we are not even able to ensure that someone will directly answer their call. The person in distress could hang up. They would have gathered their courage to phone, but as soon as they heard the recorded message, they would give up. They will no longer be able to talk and will hang up, and it may be too late to help ease their suffering.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

It being 5:15 p.m. it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the business of supply.

The question is on the motion.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

In my opinion, the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would request that the vote be deferred until Monday.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Accordingly, the recorded division is deferred until Monday at the end of government orders.

Order, please. I see the chief government whip rising on a point.

[John Duncan, Conservative, Vancouver Island North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would be content to see the clock at 5:30.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Is there unanimous consent to see the clock at 5:30?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

Suspension of Sitting

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Accordingly the House will stand suspended until 5:30 p.m.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 5:18 p.m.)

(The House resumed at 5:21 p.m.)

Sitting Resumed

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order, please. We will call orders of the day.

The House resumed from January 27 consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee, and of the motion that the question be now put.

Respect for Communities Act

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to get the opportunity to speak to Bill C-2. We are somewhat surprised that the bill has actually been called at this time, as we had anticipated that we would be into a recess. I understand if it is the will of the chamber to pass the bill.

I am not quite sure if I have already spoken to the bill at this stage. Would you get confirmation from the table, Mr. Speaker? I would not want to be speaking twice on this particular bill.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We will get confirmation for the hon. member for Winnipeg North, and we will take up that question momentarily.

Until we verify that, perhaps the hon. member would wish to continue his remarks.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Order, please. As it turns out, the hon. member's intuition was correct. Indeed, he has already had the opportunity to speak to the bill at this stage.

I see the hon. member for Halifax West rising.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to speak to the bill.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

We just called orders of the day. We are starting on Bill C-2. Between myself and the table, we are trying to get situated in terms of which party was next on the list on resuming debate.

Indeed, at this point on resuming debate, the next slot up is a Conservative slot, so we will resume debate with the next Conservative speaker.

This is Bill C-2 on the previous question. Accordingly, when we first recognized the hon. member for Winnipeg North, he had already spoken at this stage of the bill, so we will go to the next speaking slot, which is the Conservatives. Resuming debate, the hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia.

[David Wilks, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker—