House of Commons Hansard #122 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was prostitution.

Topics

Canadian Military Mission in IraqRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Does the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands have the unanimous consent of the House to respond to the Prime Minister's statement?

Canadian Military Mission in IraqRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Canadian Military Mission in IraqRoutine Proceedings

12:35 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, with that, let me convey my thanks to all members of the House for the rare unanimous consent to allow a member from an unrecognized party to respond, although I do stand here recognized as a member of Parliament for the Green Party.

I want to reflect very briefly on the fact that in June 2011, I was the only member of the House to vote against the continued bombardment of Libya, recognizing at the time, as I said in Debates, I was deeply troubled by the fact that among the rebel forces we were supporting was al Qaeda and there were warehouses full of arms that could easily end up in the hands of extremists and inadvertently fuel terrorism.

I do not stand here to say for one moment that I was right and all members were wrong. That is not my point at all. We were united in our concern as Canadians to do the right thing. However, in this region of the world, if there was ever proof for the adage that the road to hell was paved with good intentions, we have it in spades from the U.S. deciding it would be a bright idea to recruit a millionaire named Osama Bin Laden to take on the threat of the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, create al Qaeda, and hope that when they went through somehow Afghanistan could hold it together.

Then we went back into Afghanistan, and then we had the ongoing crisis of terrorist organizations. We had what happened in Libya.

In June 2011, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said, “Obviously no government can be worse than the Gadhafi regime”. I think the road to hell was paved with good intentions again in Libya because we meant well, but in turning down peace offers and peace talks and pursuing a bombardment we inadvertently increased the strength of terrorists.

I just wanted to add this one thought because I know we are all pressed for time and I appreciate the opportunity and the honour to speak with all members.

I completely support what the Prime Minister said. Canada cannot stand on the sidelines. In every single town hall meeting I had earlier in September, my constituents and residents of my communities opened by saying, “What do we do about this terrorist threat of ISIL? What about ISIS? It is horrific”. My response to them was this. We need to sign the arms trade treaty. We need to stem the flow of conventional arms to terrorists. We need to track the money. We need to find out who is fuelling these people. We need sensible plans. We need to make sure that there are not vast numbers, cohorts of unemployed young men, who feel alienated within their societies. If this is called practising sociology, consider me guilty of it. I call it thinking. We need to think.

I completely support all of the Prime Minister's intentions. We cannot allow these horrific crimes to go unanswered but we must make sure whatever we do does not make matters worse. That is why I hope we will have a fuller debate for more than just one day so that we can bring to bear the collective knowledge and wisdom of Canadians, every single one of us in this place representing constituents who want Canada to do the right thing. I do not think we are there yet.

Without disrespect to any of us, bombings have never ended an Islamic or any religious extremist terrorist threat. Time after time it has made matters worse. Let us try to look to the lessons of history before we go to war again.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

Joe Preston Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in relation to Motion No. 489, the election of the Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this week, be concurred in.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

moved that the third report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, presented on Thursday, November 28, 2013, be concurred in.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Is the House ready for the question?

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Question.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

On division.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

IraqPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is from Londoners, from both the Christian and Muslim communities, who are very upset, concerned and dismayed by the brutal arrival of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in northern Iraq, which has seen the further marginalization of Christians. In Mosul, all Christians were given an ultimatum to leave or face death or conversion. They have abandoned their homes. Those unable to leave for health reasons have been forced to convert.

These Canadians are calling on the Government of Canada to highlight the plight of Iraqi Christians, and use all diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to assist them in their plight. They are also calling on the Government of Canada to assist other like-minded governments and organizations engaged in this effort to stop the suffering of Iraqis, and to work with all governments and organizations currently engaged in humanitarian and diplomatic assistance.

PalestinePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in regard to the civilian casualties in Gaza.

The petitioners respectfully support the call by the UN human rights commission for an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate the conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories, and whether it has been conducted in accordance with international law, including the Geneva conventions.

Palestinians are still recovering from the carnage of 2008 and 2012, and ask all MPs to speak up about this issue.

Cigarette LitterPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present petitions signed by hundreds of students in my riding who are concerned about the toxic litter of cigarette butts in their community. They have launched a campaign to clean up the neighbourhood to make it clear of cigarette litter.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to provide guidance and support for all other levels of government to establish funding for the mandatory installation of cigarette butt disposal bins in high traffic areas and to address the issue by establishing comprehensive guidelines and a strategy for both intervention and prevention of the litter's toxic impacts on our environment, such as finding an alternative environmentally friendly way of disposing of this litter.

ProstitutionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:40 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present these petitions.

In view of the fact we now no longer have a law, or the law relating to prostitution has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, the petitioners are calling on the House to legislate that it is a criminal offence to purchase sex with a woman, a man or a child, and that it also be a criminal offence for pimps, madams and others to profit from the proceeds of the sex trade.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

Green

Bruce Hyer Green Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Mr. Speaker, this summer I got to paddle for a week through the islands, shoals and riptides of the west coast of B.C., so I can understand this petition signed by people from all over Canada.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to establish a permanent ban on crude oil tankers on the west coast to protect fisheries, tourism, coastal communities and natural ecosystems.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to present a petition that is signed by a number of people in Vancouver.

The petition draws our attention to the fact that Falun Gong practitioners have been the largest and most severely persecuted group in China since 1999 for their spiritual beliefs in truth, compassion, forbearance.

The petitioners also point out that Canadian investigators, David Matas and David Kilgour, a former member of Parliament, have compiled more than 50 pieces of evidence and concluded that the Chinese regime and its agencies have put to death a large number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience. They also tell us that democratic nations have a responsibility to condemn such atrocities.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to condemn these practices and to publicly call for an end to the persecution of the Falun Gong in China.

Multiple SclerosisPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, it has been almost five years since Canadians began travelling overseas for treatment for chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency, and almost five years since they have gone without follow-up care following treatment for CCSVI.

Canadians with MS are wondering when there might be an update on the government's clinical trials and when there might be an update on the government's MS registry.

The petitioners call upon the Minister of Health to undertake phase III clinical trials on an urgent basis in multiple centres across Canada and to require follow-up care.

AsbestosPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for this opportunity to introduce a petition signed by literally tens of thousands of Canadians, who call upon Parliament and the House of Commons here assembled to take note that asbestos is the greatest industrial killer that the world has ever known.

The petitioners further point out that more Canadians now die from asbestos than all other industrial and occupational causes combined. They point out that Canada has not banned asbestos and still allows it to be used in construction materials, textile products, and, shockingly, even in children's toys.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to ban asbestos in all of its forms, end all government subsidies to asbestos, both in Canada and abroad, and to stop blocking international health and safety conventions designed to protect workers from asbestos, such as the Rotterdam Convention.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

Is that agreed?

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:45 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

I wish to inform the House that because of the ministerial statement, government orders will be extended by 35 minutes.