House of Commons Hansard #75 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was police.

Topics

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

NDP

Pierre-Luc Dusseault NDP Sherbrooke, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to ask my Conservative colleague a question about Bill C-13.

I want to ask her a very specific question about why the Conservatives decided to include many things that are not necessarily related to cyberbullying. This bill on cyberbullying has been given a fine title. We are pleased that this bill was introduced and we are going to support it at second reading.

However, I want to know why the Conservatives incorporated things that have nothing to do with cyberbullying, such as the two-year sentence for stealing cable. Can my colleague tell me what exactly this has to do with cyberbullying? Why did the Conservatives decide, as they do in many cases, to include many other measures that are not necessarily related to the original purpose of the bill?

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, in our justice bills, and again in this one here, there has to be a significant deterrent for those people who commit cyberbullying, or bullying of any kind, quite honestly. We tend to think of cyberbullying, but it is also the person-on-person bullying, and we have heard examples of that in here not only today but from time to time. We believe on this side that there also have to be significant consequences for those who commit those acts as they have serious consequences for those who are being bullied.

Also, as part of that, I likely have spent more time talking about prevention and assistance in terms of education as I did about some of the penalties, but it has to work hand in hand. We need to have consequences and penalties, and we also need to make sure that we spend our time and resources in making prevention as big an issue as we can.

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue on the same line of questioning.

Listening to the member speak on the issue of cyberbullying, I was pleased with many of his comments. However, it seems to me that while the government wants to talk a great deal about cyberbullying, if we take a look at the legislation itself, we see that it deals with more issues than just cyberbullying. For example, it was cited in terms of cable theft.

If the government truly wanted to fixate on the issue of cyberbullying and allow for the debate and focus of public attention on that issue, then why would it not just have the bill deal specifically with cyberbullying?

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

1:45 p.m.

Conservative

Bev Shipley Conservative Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from across the way who, as we know, is very active on a daily basis in terms of debate, and I think that is great. He raises a number of issues, such as this one.

When we talk about cyberbullying and the Internet, if fraud is taking place, such as identity theft, or if one's correspondence with people is used by someone in an immoral or illegal way, that needs to be part of what we talk about in cyberbullying and needs to be part of what we talk about in Bill C-13.

I am pleased that the member asked that question because we want to make sure that we cover the bases as widely as we can. When the bill goes to committee, we will have another opportunity for input by witnesses. That discussion about weaknesses or concerns can be brought up and looked at in committee also.

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

1:50 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise today and talk to what I believe is a very important issue. The issue of cyberbullying is very real, it is tangible, and it happens every day. It affects the lives of thousands of Canadians throughout our great land. There is a responsibility for government to do its best to ensure that we have the tools that are necessary to make a difference. That is really what we in the Liberal Party want. We would like to see a comprehensive approach to dealing with the issue of cyberbullying. That is what is really important here.

The legislation is one part of it. The additional resources, ideas, budgets, and throne speeches are another part of it, where we see a government that wants to focus its attention on dealing with an issue that many Canadians are quite concerned about. They want the government to demonstrate leadership on such an important issue.

I listened to the member, and I posed a question specifically; I appreciated the frankness in the answer that he provided. However, the point is that we have before us a piece of legislation that deals with a number of changes. Some of those changes I do not think would do any service by being incorporated into the important issue of cyberbullying. We remember the old Bill C-30, which had some fairly significant implications regarding lawful access. The government gave assurances on that bill and it died on the order paper.

Why incorporate some of the things they have into this very important issue? It made reference to the cable industry and cable theft. I suspect that if we canvass the House we would find that there is a great deal of interest in the issue of cyberbullying today. It is nothing new. It has been there for many years. We can talk about the cyber.ca website, and I would recommend that people check it. People can draw fantastic information from it. We need to get more people educated about the process of bullying that takes place.

In 2005, legislation under former Prime Minister Paul Martin was proposed. We have had other members bring it forward. In particular I look to my colleague from Vancouver, the wonderful Liberal Party health critic, who has brought forward the issue of cyberbullying. This issue has been before us for a number of years, and it keeps growing in its seriousness and the importance for the House to take more action in dealing with it.

Today, we have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and a litany of other programs and applications through the Internet that are used as mechanisms to inflict hurt upon someone else. One cannot underestimate the tragedies that have been caused by the type of cyberbullying or harassment that is taking place every day.

When we look at this legislation in principle, I believe all members, but assuredly members of the Liberal caucus, are quite supportive of taking action that would assist us in dealing with that very important issue of cyberbullying.

However, Liberals want to go further than that. We want to challenge the government to look at refocusing some of its priorities. The member made reference to advertising commercials. There is a great deal of benefit in using advertising as a wonderful tool to educate our population, because not everyone listens to the 6 o'clock or 10 o'clock news. The member is right that purchasing advertising spots in sports and children's programming would be of great value.

Think of the hundreds of millions of dollars the government spends on advertising its budget, its economic program, or whatever we want to call it. It spends hundreds of millions of dollars on something of no real great value. It is a bunch of spin coming from the government on what it is doing. Why not use some of the hundreds of millions of dollars on good, solid programs that are going to make a difference, such as developing and paying for advertising in our multimedia world today to educate individuals about cyberspace? That is what we should be doing. We challenge the government of the day to be a bit more creative on that front.

We need to work with stakeholders. How can we develop a strategy to educate and encourage people to get a better understanding of such an important issue if we are not prepared to work with the different stakeholders in society? One example would be schools. In Manitoba, there is in excess of 200,000 students attending public school. What is being done to encourage some sort of programming that educates our young people? I do not want to have to rely on Facebook and independent thinking that takes place in a locked room where all sorts of mischievous behaviour could be occurring in terms of educating our young people. It has to be far broader than that. Schools, school divisions, and departments of education all need to play a role.

What about the private sector? We talk about harassment that takes place in the cyberworld. Vindictive attitudes and how quickly individuals attack potential victims by posting pictures or images or making statements on the Internet that have strong, profound negative impacts on people's lives are incredible. Only one level of government, the national government and the Prime Minister, has to realize just how important it is that it is set as a priority issue. Every day that goes by that the Conservative government chooses not to be more aggressively proactive on this issue, we are destroying lives because we allow it to continue to the degree at which it is moving forward today, at a very rapid pace.

Liberals welcome the idea of action, support action to deal with anti-bullying, and want more of a comprehensive, all-inclusive strategy that is going to change more than the criminal law. It is time that the Government of Canada starts working with stakeholders. We could make a much larger difference if the government became interested in doing that.

Protecting Canadians from Online Crime ActGovernment Orders

2 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

The time for government orders has expired. The five minutes of questions and comments for the hon. member for Winnipeg North will take place when this matter returns before the House, possibly following question period.

Earth DayStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to talk about events that were held across the country for Earth Day.

We all experienced, across Canada and in our home ridings, multiple celebrations, hundreds of them, involving thousands of volunteers, for the 44th Earth Day celebrated in North America.

I was proud to participate with my friend, the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North, in a great concert at the Italian Cultural Centre in Thunder Bay, involving folk legend Valdy, Sarah Harmer, and Rodney Brown.

Back in my home riding, in Sidney, we celebrated Art for an Oil-Free Coast, with Robert Bateman, one of Canada's most loved artists. School kids at Campus View Elementary School organized a great EarthFest. We also heard from Wade Davis, one of Canada's leading photographers and authors on the threats to the sacred headwaters. We marched in Victoria, at Creatively United for the Planet Society, on Saturday.

Together we can say for the 45th Earth Day, let us have accomplished what we need to do.

Sikh Heritage MonthStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Dechert Conservative Mississauga—Erindale, ON

Mr. Speaker, Sat Sri Akal. Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.

This past weekend, I had the pleasure to join almost 100,000 Sikhs at the 29th Annual Khalsa Day parade, in Toronto. People of the Sikh faith donned their traditional multicoloured robes to share their distinct culture, including music, prayers, and traditional foods, on the streets of Toronto.

With April being the first ever Sikh Heritage Month in Ontario, it is a good time for all of us to celebrate the many successes of the Sikh community in Canada and around the world.

While one organization has regrettably chosen to use its resources to fearmonger and spread hate by circulating a racist flyer to Brampton residents, I encourage all Canadians to take this month to reflect upon and celebrate the many contributions that Indo-Canadians have made to our vibrant communities.

Vimy RidgeStatements By Members

2 p.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC

Mr. Speaker, on April 9, I was privileged to attend a ceremony commemorating the 97th anniversary of the Battle for Vimy Ridge, the site in France where four Canadian regiments first fought together as a single force and won one of the great tactical victories of the Great War, unfortunately, at the cost of the lives of more than 3,600 Canadians on a single day.

We spent the following day visiting other memorials in Belgium, where Canadians also played a major role: Passchendaele; St. Julien; Essex Farm, where John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields; and the Menin Gate, in Ypres, where literally hundreds gather each evening for a last post ceremony.

I want to thank the Minister of Veterans Affairs for inviting opposition members to accompany him on this trip, thereby demonstrating that it is possible for us to rise above narrow partisanship in the service of Canadians.

Reading the more than 11,000 names, whose final resting place is unknown, on the monument at Vimy, or the names of nearly 7,000 Canadians, among the 54,000 names of the missing on Menin Gate in Ypres, one cannot help being reminded of the diversity of those who served Canada in World War I.

I remain grateful for the opportunity to represent Canada on this trip, not to glorify war but to honour sacrifice. Lest we forget

Don LlewellynStatements By Members

2 p.m.

Conservative

Earl Dreeshen Conservative Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, on April 10, lnnisfail lost one of its community builders, Don Llewellyn. Don 's father Lewis had once been lnnisfail's Mayor, and that dedication to community was passed down from father to son.

Since 1937, Llewellyn Electric has stood for service and commitment. As one of Don's customers, I can truly say that we always felt like family.

Don played for the lnnisfail Eagles hockey team for 12 years and remained part of this organization until his passing.

It was Don's love of water skiing that took him and his family to the world stage. His mentorship and love of the sport helped propel his sons Kreg and Jaret to become world champions and world record holders.

Don and his wife Christine continued to watch Jaret, wife Britta, and grandson Dorien, as they, to this day, continue to push the limits of water skiing supremacy.

Don was a role model in so many ways. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris and their loving family, as well as their countless friends. He will be missed.

Yom HashoahStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON

Mr. Speaker, Yom Hashoah is a day of profound reflection, not only for Jewish communities in Canada and around the world, but for all Canadians and all members of the human race.

Holocaust Remembrance Day provides the global community with an opportunity to remember the unthinkable evil of the Holocaust, to reject the hatred and inhumanity that fuelled it, as well as the indifference that allowed it to happen. It is the responsibility of all of us to ensure that this dark moment in human history is never forgotten.

Today, my Liberal colleague, the member for Mount Royal, is in Auschwitz to mark this solemn day of remembrance by lighting a memorial torch with the grandniece of Raoul Wallenberg, and to address the March of the Living.

Today I urge all Canadians to recommit that we will never allow such horrors to be repeated. We will not hate. In the words of Holocaust survivor and Noble Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness”.

Workers' Memorial DayStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Rick Dykstra Conservative St. Catharines, ON

Mr. Speaker, today is Workers’ Memorial Day, a national day of mourning designated for us to remember workers who were killed or injured on the job.

We must take this opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made in times past. We are fortunate to live in a time where workplace safety has been greatly improved and workers' deaths are much less common.

Those who built the Welland Canal were not so lucky. In my own riding, we are working to honour over 130 workers who perished during the construction of the Welland Canal, which was central to the development of our community. That is why I am co-chairing a community effort to build a monument that will honour the memories of those fallen workers. This will fulfill a promise that the federal government made in 1932. It was a promise that went unkept.

Today we pause to remember the sacrifices made by those men and women who literally built Canada. The best way to do that is by working to ensure that we have safer workplaces today, so that tragic accidents become a thing of the past.

ArmeniaStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Marston NDP Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON

Mr. Speaker, today we commemorate and honour those Armenians who perished in one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. We recall the horror, 99 years ago, when 1.5 million Armenians were massacred or marched to their deaths in the final days of the Ottoman Empire. We grieve for the lives lost and the suffering endured by those men, women, and children. We are joined in solemn commemoration by thousands here in Canada, and millions across the world.

The New Democratic Party has been consistent regarding the history of what occurred in 1915, and a full, frank, and just acknowledgment of the facts is vital for nations to heal going forward. Peoples and nations are stronger and build a foundation for a more just and tolerant future by acknowledging and reckoning the painful elements of the past.

As we recall the horror of Meds Yeghern, in doing so we remind ourselves of our shared commitment to ensuring that such dark chapters of human history are never repeated.

Fitness of CanadiansStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

John Weston Conservative West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise to invite members to join with our Minister of State for Sport and Canadian students from Glebe Collegiate to the Queen's Baton Relay on Parliament Hill today, hosted by MyCommonwealth, a youth-led organization that brings people under 30 together to be actively engaged in the Commonwealth.

The Queen's Baton Relay takes place before each Commonwealth Games, during which the baton visits 70 nations and territories and covers close to 190,000 kilometres over its 288-day journey. This year's games are in Glasgow, Scotland, and start on July 23.

Canada is a proud member of the Commonwealth. The very first Commonwealth Games were held right here in Canada, in Hamilton, Ontario. I support the games, along with other projects in which we in the House have been working to make Canada the fittest nation on earth, such as the parliamentary fitness initiative, in which members run, walk or swim together; Bike Day on the Hill; National Life Jacket and Swim Day on the Hill; and National Health and Fitness Day, this year on June 7, which has already been proclaimed by 84 cities across Canada.

Together, let us make Canada the fittest nation on earth.

Firearms RegistryStatements By Members

2:05 p.m.

Conservative

Larry Miller Conservative Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON

Mr. Speaker, Canadians want tough-on-crime measures that are effective, efficient, and make good common sense. They do not want half-baked schemes dreamed up by big government Liberals that do nothing to keep Canadians safe.

That is why we ended the wasteful and ineffective long gun registry. It did nothing to prevent a single crime. Here is proof. Since 2009, gun crime in Canada has decreased by more than 25%, despite the dire predictions of Liberal elite politicians like former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, who implied that hunters and farmers were responsible for all domestic violence.

We all know that in reality gun crimes are committed by bad guys and criminals who acquire guns illegally. A good guy with a gun is a law-abiding hunter, a sports shooter, or a farmer. It is about time that the leaders of the NDP and the Liberals quit their long-enduring harassment of these law-abiding Canadians.

I, for one, am a member of this group. We are not part of the problem; we are part of the solution.

Workers' Memorial DayStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

Megan Leslie NDP Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, Kyle Hickey died tragically of extensive burns at his Nova Scotia workplace. His mother said quite perfectly, “You go to work and you’re supposed to come home at the end of the day”.

In 1991, the House adopted an NDP private members' bill proclaiming April 28 as a national day of mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. First we mourn the dead, and then we fight for the living.

There is no such thing as a workplace accident. Every workplace death and injury is preventable. Since 2004, the criminal prosecution of employers for workplace injuries and fatalities has been possible. I am proud of the work that Alexa McDonough did in the House to ensure that this was possible, through the passage of the Westray Bill.

However, charges have been laid only once. As politicians, we need to make sure that health and safety laws are enforced and that violations are prosecuted vigorously. Unfortunately, the same Conservatives who talk about being tough on crime are soft on corporations responsible for workplace injuries and deaths.

Enough is enough. It is time for all of us who participate in making laws to commit to doing our part in ensuring that those laws are enforced.

Tragedy in CalgaryStatements By Members

April 28th, 2014 / 2:10 p.m.

Conservative

Joan Crockatt Conservative Calgary Centre, AB

Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago we experienced a horrific tragedy in Calgary, with the murders of five beloved young Calgarians. At a time when university students should have been celebrating the end of exams and the beginning of the holidays, Lawrence Hong, Joshua Hunter, Kaiti Perras, Zackariah Rathwell, and Jordan Segura were taken from us.

Like all Calgarians, I was absolutely devastated.

I am sure that all members of this House join me in offering our deep condolences to the families and friends of these remarkable young Canadians. Their loss is all of our loss. Kaiti's drive, Lawrence's volunteerism, Zack's charisma, Jordan's compassion and humour, and Josh's unique beat will always be remembered. Through direct actions in the community, these five gave so much of themselves.

Seeing our city gathered together to remember them over the last week is a testament to the lasting and positive effect that they have left on all of our lives. We will remember them.

Workers' Memorial DayStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

NDP

François Pilon NDP Laval—Les Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, today in the House, we mark the day of mourning for the hundreds of Canadians killed in the workplace. This memorial day has been designated in their honour. In 2012 alone, 211 Quebec workers lost their lives.

Before the people of Laval—Les Îles did me the honour of electing me to represent them in Parliament, I was involved with the union representing City of Laval workers. At the time, a worker lost his life. Therefore, I have seen firsthand the grief of families that lose a loved one.

We must work together to develop measures and solutions so that no more Canadians lose their lives when they are just trying to provide their families a roof over their heads and three meals a day.

In a country like Canada, this situation is unacceptable, and we must take action on behalf of our workers, their families and all Canadians.

Democratic ReformStatements By Members

2:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Carmichael Conservative Don Valley West, ON

Mr. Speaker, last week our government announced its support for fair and reasonable amendments to the fair elections act. Now, some critics are saying that these amendments would not go far enough.

I just returned from two weeks with my constituents, and I can tell members that Canadians find it reasonable to show ID when they go to vote. Things like buying alcohol and crossing the border require ID. In Ontario, to receive an OHIP card, one must present three pieces of identification to prove citizenship, residence, and identity.

According to last week's Ipsos poll, 87% of Canadians believe it is reasonable to “require someone to prove their identity and address before they are allowed to vote”.

Protecting the vote is our government's commitment to Canadians and, unlike the NDP which supports voting without any form of ID, we have listened to Canadians and are moving forward with the bill. It just makes sense.

Yom HaShoahStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Costas Menegakis Conservative Richmond Hill, ON

Mr. Speaker, today, on Yom HaShoah, we stand together with Jewish communities in Canada and around the world in remembering the millions of innocent men, women, and children murdered during one of the most horrific periods of human history.

Canadians from all backgrounds will be gathering to reflect on the horrors of the Shoah to pay tribute to the innocent victims and honour the brave survivors.

As the Prime Minister said in his Yom HaShoah statement:

Walking through Yad Vashem, I was struck by how the Shoah was so premeditated, so monstrous and so barbaric. I was reminded of the importance of Holocaust education and remembrance, as well as our responsibility to learn from the brave survivors to combat anti-Semitism in all its forms. [...] Yom HaShoah reminds us that the Holocaust must never be forgotten and that we must remain vigilant against all forms of prejudice and hatred to ensure that such unspeakable acts of inhumanity never happen again.

Workers' Memorial DayStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

Lawrence MacAulay Liberal Cardigan, PE

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize National Day of Mourning, also known as Workers' Memorial Day.

Begun in 1984 by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Canadian Labour Congress, this day has spread to over 80 countries.

I urge everyone to take a moment today to remember those who have lost their lives, been injured, or suffered illness due to workplace-related causes.

Sadly, more than 1,000 Canadians lose their lives at work every year.

On behalf of the Liberal Party, our critic, and our caucus, we pay our respects and honour all of those who have been directly harmed from workplace causes, as well as the many families and friends who have been affected.

More remains to be done to identify and prevent dangerous work situations before they occur, and we recommit to working with all Canadians to improve work environments across the country.

Workers' Memorial DayStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

NDP

Thomas Mulcair NDP Outremont, QC

Mr. Speaker, last Thursday was the first anniversary of the tragic building collapse at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, in which more than 1,100 people died, most of whom were women. In Canada, over 1,000 people fall victim to workplace accidents every year. Unfortunately, this number has been going up in the past 15 years.

In the decade since the House unanimously passed an NDP bill to make companies criminally responsible when a worker was killed or injured on the job, not a single charge has ever been laid. This is why the United Steelworkers and other labour groups have launched a campaign calling on all levels of government to understand that rigorous enforcement of the Criminal Code is necessary and that a workplace accident site where a death has taken place should be treated as a potential crime scene.

Today, as we mourn the loved ones we have lost, let us recommit to keeping our workers safe so that no more Canadians leave for work and never come home.

National Day of MourningStatements By Members

2:15 p.m.

Conservative

Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to mark the National Day of Mourning to honour workers who have been injured or killed on the job or suffer from work-related illness. This day reminds us of the undeniable importance of having and ensuring safe and healthy workplaces for Canadians.

We have made significant progress. From 2007 to 2011, the rate of disabling injuries in the federally-regulated sectors decreased by 22%.

Every life is precious, and each year across Canada, in both provincial and federally-regulated industries, close to 1,000 people lose their lives while working.

Together we can do better. That is why our government will continue to work to ensure that our most important resource, workers of all ages, have fair, safe and healthy workplaces.

Building and sustaining safe workplaces contributes to Canada's continued economic prosperity.

National Day of MourningStatements By Members

2:20 p.m.

Conservative

The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer

Following discussions among representatives of all parties in the House, I understand that there is an agreement to observe a moment of silence to commemorate the National Day of Mourning and to honour the memory of workers killed or injured at work.

I invite hon. members to rise.

[A moment of silence observed]

EmploymentOral Questions

2:20 p.m.

Outremont Québec

NDP

Thomas Mulcair NDPLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, when did the minister responsible first learn that there were serious problems with the temporary foreign worker program?