House of Commons Hansard #147 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was farmers.

Topics

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

There is no consent.

Sex SelectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present two petitions.

The first is with regard sex selection. It says that the three deadliest words in the world are “it's a girl” and that through the practice of sex selection internationally, there are now over 200 million girls missing, making the world a very dangerous place. The society of gynaecologists has strongly condemed this practice. A recent poll said that 92% of Canadians are opposed to this, and they are asking Parliament to condemn this horrible form of discrimination against women and girls.

Impaired DrivingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition highlights, sadly, that 22-year-old Kassandra Kaulius was killed by a drunk driver. A group of people who have also lost loved ones to impaired drivers, called Families for Justice, believes that the current impaired driving laws are much too lenient.

They are calling for new mandatory minimum sentencing for people who have been convicted of impaired driving causing death.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Kennedy Stewart NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from over 400 constituents asking the government to immediately prohibit Kinder Morgan from building a new bitumen-based, export-only crude oil pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby.

There are many facts in this petition. I know that I am not allowed to read these verbatim, but perhaps I can express the sentiment through a letter I received from Jamie Antone, an eight-year-old member of the Squamish first nation, who is up at Burnaby Mountain. Jamie simply says:

I'm 8 years old. I'm a Squamish member. I say NO to the Kinder Morgan pipe[line]...because we only have one earth and need to take care of it.

Pan-Canadian Concussion StrategyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, concussions can deeply impact individuals psychologically, neuropsychologically, socially, and economically. Those living with this brain injury deserve comprehensive action and support.

The petitioners are calling on the government to enact a pan-Canadian concussion awareness week; a pan-Canadian strategy for prevention, diagnosis and management; and a centre of excellence for concussion research.

FirearmsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

LaVar Payne Conservative Medicine Hat, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present to the House from my constituents in Medicine Hat. They say that law-abiding Canadian citizens should be free to use firearms for recreational use and that the current ability of the RCMP and bureaucrats to make decisions on the spot regarding the classification of guns impedes the rights of law-abiding Canadians.

The petitioners are asking the House of Commons to fix that legislation so that bureaucrats can no longer have control over weapons classifications, to decriminalize firearms by eliminating sections 91 and 92 of the Criminal Code, and finally, to eliminate chief firearms officers and rescind firearms subsection 58(1).

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have risen a number of times in this House to table petitions similar to this one. It concerns the cuts to Canada Post. As members know, Canada Post is looking at eliminating door-to-door delivery. It means that there would be an impact on 8,000 jobs. These petitioners are also concerned about the fact that there has been an increase in postage and now less service. They are concerned about the impact this will have on elderly people, as well.

Most of these people are from Elliot Lake, which is a retirement community. I am pleased to table this petition in this House.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL

Mr. Speaker, this year the town of Horwood, in Newfoundland and Labrador, celebrates Come Home Year 2014.

I have a petition to present in this House of Commons regarding Canada Post. The reduction in services has caused great concern in many rural communities, especially in this particular community of Horwood. I have around 40 names from that one community. People are deeply concerned about the lack of postal services and the future reduction of services in that community.

Youth EmploymentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, about half of all workers in Toronto cannot access a full-time, stable job, and this particularly affects young people. The youth unemployment rate is twice the national average. We have graduates at home trying to find that first job in their trained profession and are unable to access that kind of job.

The petitioners who signed this petition are calling for a national urban worker strategy that would, among many things, increase enforcement and strengthen labour standards to prevent the exploitation of workers and unpaid interns.

Port of QuébecPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Annick Papillon NDP Québec, QC

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition today regarding the Quebec Port Authority entitled “For public consultation regarding the Port of Québec”.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to compel the Quebec Port Authority to hold public consultations with any individuals and organizations in the Quebec City region that will be affected by any current or future development projects, pursuant to the Canada Marine Act. This is important. This is about a public health and public safety issue that is crucial to Quebec City. I am honoured to present this petition containing hundreds of signatures.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to have heard the hon. member for Burnaby—New Westminster raise the issue of the current blockades at Kinder Morgan. I am bringing forward petitions from close to 800 people from Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and Quebec calling for a tanker ban to ensure that dilbit and crude oil tankers do not ply the west coast of British Columbia.

Genetically Modified OrganismsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I also bring forward a petition with signatures from Halifax and all the way to my riding to Salt Spring Island. The petitioners are calling for the current government to take action to ensure that genetically modified organisms are labelled so that Canadian consumers can make a choice.

Defined Benefit Pension PlansPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition concerning defined benefit pension plans. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to oppose any changes that will allow employers to break their promises regarding defined benefit pension plans and to not authorize the conversion of defined benefit plans into so-called shared risk plans, which would reduce the amount of pension benefits payable to retirees.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to improve retirement security for workers who have to use a company pension plan.

Mental HealthPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Peggy Nash NDP Parkdale—High Park, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have petitions from many dozens of petitioners from my community in Parkdale—High Park who are concerned about the issue of mental health, which affects one in five Canadians over their lifetimes. They are people of all ages, cultural backgrounds, income, and education levels. The stigma attached to mental health is often a barrier to their seeking and getting treatment and costs the Canadian economy up to $50 billion each year.

The petitioners want to make mental health a priority for Canada and want to see the Mental Health Commission's recommendations implemented by the government.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 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, if Questions Nos. 743, 744 and 745 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Question No. 743Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor, NL

With regard to the migration of the Elections Commissioner to the Director of Public Prosecutions: (a) what are the total costs which have been incurred, broken down by (i) department or agency, (ii) dollar cost, (iii) purpose, (iv) date; (b) what are the total additional costs anticipated, broken down by (i) department or agency, (ii) dollar cost, (iii) purpose, (iv) anticipated date; (c) what are the details of any correspondence, memos, notes, emails, or other communications in any way regarding the transition or move, broken down by (i) relevant file numbers, (ii) correspondence or file type, (iii) subject, (iv) date, (v) purpose, (vi) origin, (vii) intended destination, (viii) other officials copied or involved; and (d) what benefit does the government anticipate from these expenditures?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 744Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

With regard to government funding through Status of Women Canada: (a) what funds, grants, loans and loan guarantees has the government issued in the city of London and surrounding area since January 2011, including the 2014 Budget and up to today, and, in each case where applicable, what are (i) the names of the recipients, if they were groups or organisations, (ii) the monetary value of the payment made, (iii) the percentage of program funding covered by the payment received, (iv) the purpose of the funding; (b) were there any funds that were announced by the government or Status of Women Canada but were not disbursed; (c) what were the reasons for non-disbursement; (d) what oversight mechanism is in place to ensure funding is spent appropriately; (e) what were the criteria used to determine approved projects; (f) what reporting and auditing requirements are funding recipients responsible for; and (g) what organizations or individuals applications were denied funding?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 745Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON

With respect to the implementation of the recently passed Bill C-23: (a) what was the full itemized cost of implementing the Bill, particularly regarding the recent transfer of the Commissioner of Election Canada’s operations to the Director of Public Prosecutions; (b) what was the full itemized cost of implementing this move; and (c) what are the details regarding all briefing materials on the cost and logistics of this transfer?

(Return tabled)

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski Conservative Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

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

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

Is that agreed?