House of Commons Hansard #123 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was isil.
Maria Mourani Independent Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, the 2014 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada states the following:
Working with communities, the Government is contributing to efforts to build prevention capacity...to impede the radicalization-to-violence process.
Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness stop with the rhetoric and tell us whether there is actually a radicalization-to-violence prevention program—such as the street gang prevention program—that includes a budget?
Steven Blaney ConservativeMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for her question.
Canada has a four-point strategy with respect to terrorist attacks: prevent, detect, deny and respond.
As for the measures in place to raise awareness among ethnic and cultural communities and reach out to them, I can provide the hon. member with two reports, namely the annual report and the 2014 Public Report on the Terrorist Threat to Canada. I could also send her the counter-terrorism strategy.
We have hundreds of examples of police forces reaching out to communities and engaging in community activities with the specific goal of getting to the root of the problem and dissuading individuals from committing terrorist acts.
Brent Rathgeber Independent Edmonton—St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, I support the Canada-Europe free trade agreement, but what I do not support is expensive photo ops, especially for trade agreements in danger of becoming unwound due to opposition by powerful players such as Germany.
Could the government advise the House as to how many tax dollars were used to host the lavish celebratory business reception in Toronto on September 26, and also to fly the two European officials from Toronto to Brussels on the Canadian Forces Airbus, which we now know was not even necessary and its acceptance may have actually violated the European Union's code of conduct?
Ed Fast ConservativeMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, I am not going to comment on internal German politics.
What I can say is that this is the most comprehensive trade agreement Canada has ever signed. Now that the legal text has been finalized and it has been released to the public, we want Canadian businesses to take advantage of that agreement now and position themselves.
In fact, I remind the member that it is this Conservative government that has substantially reduced the use and cost of government aircraft. I would also remind the member that President Barroso and President Van Rompuy are in fact the leaders of the largest consumer market in the world. It is no wonder that they would want to join our Prime Minister to promote that agreement to Canadian businesses.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members to the recent passing, on September 27, of Mr. Erik Spicer, former parliamentary librarian. Mr. Spicer served parliamentarians of both chambers for 34 years, under 8 prime ministers. He reported to 12 Speakers of the Senate and 10 Speakers of the House of Commons and was made an honorary officer of both Houses.
I am sure all hon. members will join me in offering the House's sincere condolences to Mr. Spicer's family.
Patricia Davidson Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from my constituents of Sarnia—Lambton calling on Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to decriminalize the selling of sexual services and criminalize the purchasing of sexual services, and also to provide support for those who desire to leave prostitution.
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the constituents of Davenport with a very serious petition regarding the fact that up to 50% of workers in Toronto cannot find a full-time, permanent job. They are relegated to jobs where they are working multiple part-time jobs, freelance, self-employed, on contract, without any access to pension benefits or job security.
These petitioners want action from the federal government. They want the government to support a national urban workers strategy.
Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON
Mr. Speaker, Alzheimer's disease is a critical health priority. Today, someone in Canada is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease once every five minutes, and the cost to the health care system is $15 billion. In 30 years, someone will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease once every two minutes, and the cost will be $153 billion.
The petitioners call for a national strategy for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, including, among other items, national objectives to improve the quality of life of those living with dementia, an annual report handed to Parliament regarding progress to meet those objectives and greater investment in dementia research.
Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by 2,000 residents of Montreal, principally in the riding of LaSalle—Émard, asking the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to reconsider the decision to deport the Fuh-Cham family of Montreal.
Mr. Fuh-Cham, his wife and three young children have been active community members in LaSalle, specifically the Saint Jean Brebeuf Church, for seven years. They are facing imminent deportation to Cameroon, where they face grave risk of persecution because of their Christian faith. In particular, the family fears the women and girls would be subjected to forced genital mutilation.
The undersigned in this petition are asking that the minister reconsider the deportation of the Fuh-Cham family scheduled for October 9, 2014, and allow them to remain in Canada where they can freely practise their religious beliefs and continue to contribute to Canadian society.
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions on behalf of my constituents.
The first is a petition asking for equal access to CCSVI treatment for Canadians living with multiple sclerosis.
These constituents want to encourage the federal government to work with the provinces and territories so that this treatment is swiftly accessible across the country.
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon the government to support the initiative of bringing injured Palestinian children from Gaza to Canada for treatment.
I want to thank my constituents. I am always honoured to represent their voices in the House.
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.
The first one is from the citizens of the Langley area of British Columbia who believe the current impaired driving laws are too lenient. They would like the Criminal Code to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death to vehicular manslaughter.
Alex Atamanenko NDP British Columbia Southern Interior, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from over 300 constituents in the Kootenay Boundary area who call upon Parliament to refrain from making any changes to the Seeds Act or the Plant Breeders' Rights Act through Bill C-18.
They call upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange and sell seeds.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions.
The first is from residents throughout Vancouver Island in many communities, including some within my own riding, calling for a legislated comprehensive ban on supertankers on the B.C. coast.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from residents of interior British Columbia calling on the government to establish stable, secure and predictable funding for our national public broadcaster, the CBC.
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, today I table a petition signed by residents of Winnipeg North calling on the government to take action in regard to health care, it being of utmost importance.
The petitioners are asking the government to commit to developing a new health care accord that would replace the old 2004 accord, which ultimately led to the highest level of financing of health care in Canada's history.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from Londoners, both Christian and Muslim, asking that the Government of Canada take action in a very positive way, and that the action take the form of humanitarian aid to governments and organizations that are determined to assist in stopping the current killing of Iraqi Christians in Iraq and Syria.
The petitioners are clear that they want diplomatic and humanitarian help from Canada for these desperate people.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present two petitions on behalf of constituents.
In the first, the petitioners are calling for tougher penalties for those who drive impaired. The petitioners are calling for a mandatory, minimum sentence for persons convicted of impaired driving causing death, as well as redefining impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter.
Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners note that over 92% of Canadians believe that sex selective pregnancy termination is wrong. The petitioners call on Parliament to condemn discrimination against females through gender selection pregnancy termination.
Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by residents of Boisbriand who are worried about Canada Post's decision to eliminate home delivery service to five million households. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to reject Canada Post's planned service reductions and explore other options for updating the crown corporation's business plan.
Bruce Hyer Green Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, I continue to get petitions from across Canada on the issue of missing persons and the DNA database. Although we have now established, in theory, a program to deal with this, it is not funded.
The petitioners are concerned that the program actually be funded and implemented for a missing persons index, a victims index and a national DNA database.
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of some of my constituents regarding the emergency order for the protection of greater sage grouse.
The petitioners state that Canadians enjoy, protect and respect a diversity of wildlife, habitat and natural resources, that ecosystems must remain flourishing, reproductive and harvestable, and that the emergency order for the protection of greater sage grouse will not effectively achieve its goal.
The petitioners are calling for a number of things, including rescinding the emergency protection order and replacing it with an order that encourages voluntary implementation and involvement with local landowners, land users and all stakeholders.
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, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.