Debates of Feb. 7th, 2014

Agriculture and Agri-food

[Pierre Lemieux, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture]

Mr. Speaker, this virus does not pose a risk to human health or food safety. However, the virus is certainly a serious risk for the industry. That is why our government has announced that the CFIA will issue permits to authorize the administration of the iPED+ vaccine to pigs. The minister has asked the CFIA to work with the provinces and assist them if necessary.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Maria Mourani, Independent, Ahuntsic, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Ivonne Hernandez, a victim of domestic abuse, spoke out against her attacker.

He allegedly demanded that she keep quiet and threatened to have her deported. Ms. Hernandez does not have status in Canada. She has a Canadian child with her husband. After March 6, she could be deported and have her child taken away, because she dared to speak out against her abusive husband.

Will Canada protect this women, or will it send a message to all women without documentation that they are at the mercy of their abusive spouse?

[Roxanne James, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, while I cannot discuss the actual details of this particular case, as it is before the courts, I would like to inform the members of this House and the Canadian public that Canada Border Services Agency's officers are mandated to remove those who violate our Canadian laws.

Again, it is my understanding that this is before the courts, that there has been a decision made, but I cannot discuss those details at this time.

Mental Health Commission of Canada.

[Eve Adams, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 2012-2013 annual report of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

I am proud that the Government of Canada is able to support the commission's important work and I would like to acknowledge the achievements articulated within this year's annual report.

Bilingualism in Canada's Legislative Process

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we heard a question of privilege from an NDP member with respect to a briefing that the Privy Council Office gave to members on the fair elections bill.

I spoke to my assistants to find out all of the details. The question of privilege was related to the interpretation services that are generally provided. The NDP members claimed that the service was not available.

I learned that instead of having professional interpreters, the representatives of the Privy Council Office gave their presentation in both official languages. These public servants were bilingual; some were bilingual anglophones, while others were bilingual francophones. This ensured that they were able to provide all the information in both of our national languages.

For briefings given to MPs and the media, all of the information sheets, press releases and the bill itself were provided in both official languages. The minister's office did not receive any complaints from the people there. I will add that the presentation given to the media, immediately after the one for the MPs, was very well received by those who attended. Furthermore, the francophone journalists had positive comments. I would like to share the comments that were made publicly by these francophone journalists.

[Nathan Cullen, NDP, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, how interesting to hear from the minister. It is unbelievable. He was here. He heard all of the problems and lapses that were observed during that briefing. That is not an option, and the minister has to understand that. It is not optional even if someone might be able to speak English or French. The member clearly told the minister that some questions were asked in just one language and that the answers were given in just one language. Both francophones and anglophones observed that.

The minister said that the departmental officials were bilingual, so that makes everything okay. That is completely irresponsible. That is not an option for him. Frankly, this is not the first time the government has done this kind of thing.

MPs cannot do their work if they do not understand the language. There is confusion not only with respect to the briefing on this bill, but also about the bill itself, which is not written properly.

It is unbelievable that the minister thinks it is optional for him to give information to members here in the House of Commons. Imagine if the anglophones here were given a briefing entirely in French, with questions and answers in French, and imagine the minister saying that is okay, it is not a problem.

Some francophone journalists commented on it, and that is enough. It is unbelievable. This minister seems unable to understand the rules. This kind of thing is not optional.

I had hoped the minister would have a good answer for us, or maybe an apology or an explanation about problems getting interpreters for the briefing or some other kind of problem for members, but here he is saying that there was no problem. This minister does not believe in bilingualism in the House or in government. Judging from his bill, he does not believe in this country's democracy either.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

[Ray Boughen, Conservative, Palliser, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, entitled “Bill C-15, An Act to replace the Northwest Territories Act to implement certain provisions of the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement and to repeal or make amendments to the Territorial Lands Act, the Northwest Territories Waters Act, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, other Acts and certain orders and regulations”. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House of Commons with amendments.

Business of the House

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the various parties and I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, the hours of sitting and the order of business of the House on Thursday, February 27, 2014, shall be that of a Wednesday;

that the Address by His Highness the Aga Khan, to be delivered in the Chamber of the House of Commons at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2014, before Members of the Senate and the House of Commons, together with all introductory and related remarks, be printed as an appendix to the House of Commons Debates for that day and form part of the records of this House; and

that the media recording and transmission of such address, introductory and related remarks be authorized pursuant to established guidelines for such occasions.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Does then hon. government House leader have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

(Motion agreed to)

Impaired Driving

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today to present a petition on behalf of constituents and Canadians from Alberta regarding impaired driving causing death. These citizens want to see tougher laws and the implementation of new mandatory minimum sentences for those persons convicted of impaired driving causing death.

Ombudsman for Responsible Mining

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition. It calls for the creation of a legislated ombudsman mechanism for responsible mining.

VIA Rail

[Mike Sullivan, NDP, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of residents of New Brunswick, I present this petition to implore the Government of Canada to undertake all measures to reinstate daily round-trip VIA Rail passenger service between Montreal and Halifax through the cities of Campbellton, Bathurst, and Miramichi, New Brunswick. I note that this petition is presented in both official languages.

Impaired Driving

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege today to be kind of a pan-Canadian politician, as I think we all desire to be in this place, looking out for the good of all Canadians.

The first petition I present, like one that was previously presented, is with respect to the drunk driving laws. These petitioners from Nova Scotia indicate that the current impaired driving laws are too lenient. They want to see that changed and toughened up so that we have some new mandatory minimum sentences for persons convicted of impaired driving causing death. They want the Criminal Code to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death to vehicular manslaughter. They have some other good suggestions in their proposal as well.

It certainly is my privilege to present this good petition from citizens of Nova Scotia.

Sex Selection

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition from the other end of the country, Victoria, noting the fact that in our country sex selection is condemned by all of our national parties. The public is against it as well. The petitioners are offended by the fact that people can use an ultrasound to tell the sex of an unborn child and can terminate the pregnancy of that unborn child if it is a girl. They want a change in respect of that and a condemnation of that by all parties in the House.

Mr. Speaker, the last petition is similar, but it also specifically asks for a motion in the House, Motion No. 408, and it condemns sex selection when baby girls are aborted.

Mining Industry

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions.

The first is from people in my riding representing the agency Development and Peace. They are calling for legislation to create an ombudsman position to ensure that mining projects are conducted responsibly. Of course, they are concerned about the actions and behaviour of Canadian mining companies abroad.

Public Transit

[Sadia Groguhé, NDP, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition concerns the need for a national public transit strategy. There is an urgent need, and Canada is already lagging far behind.

Dementia

[Paul Dewar, NDP, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr.. Speaker, I am delighted today to be presenting petitions from many of my constituents and other residents in Ottawa regarding what is now a nationally urgent matter, and that is a national strategy for dementia.

They want Parliament to pass Bill C-356, which was presented by my colleague from Sudbury. The petitioners want this measure to be passed because we need to initiate a discussion about this terrible disease and have support from provinces by being coordinated with a national strategy by the Government of Canada.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Peter Braid, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities]

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

[The Speaker, Conservative, Andrew Scheer]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and other Acts and to make consequential amendments to certain Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.