House of Commons Hansard #89 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was justice.

Topics

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I remember that episode quite well. We have seen backlash before. I have been here 10 years now and I have seen protests against certain measures, but not against bills before they are passed or while they are being debated in the House.

That one certainly caused a ruckus, and it did so electronically. I remember the campaign that was waged through social media at the time about snooping into people's private information. It was absolutely incredible. I had not seen anything like that in the House, and at that point I had been here for nine years.

I recall my colleague asked the question about how to handle situations in the House when the first part of bill looked at necessary matters that needed to be done very quickly and which would receive, if not unanimous, near unanimous consent of the House.

This is something for which they have argued. I remember that when I came here, we were in government and the Conservatives were in opposition. This is something that they pushed toward as a responsible way of creating legislation. They pushed toward taking out parts of the bill that could be passed quickly and could receive consent, things that had to be done in a timely fashion such as this, then go back and look at elements of the bill regarding privacy and the like. That way, we could engage in that and go clause-by-clause very quickly over elements of cyberbullying that we felt were necessary.

I find it very irresponsible for the Conservatives to behave this way when this is the type of legislation making that they professed to want before they became government.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:20 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for asking what I suppose might be a rhetorical question.

In a majority government, the Conservative Party has repudiated most of the positions of principle that it used to adopt in terms of opposing omnibus legislation or opposing the use of closure because it was anti-democratic. It has used closure and pushed through bills more than any administration in the history of Canada.

In this very critical issue of protecting private property, private information and privacy rights, would my hon. colleague not agree with me that, at this point, it is clear the Conservative administration in power has repudiated just about everything it ever stood for in opposition?

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:20 p.m.

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, where does one begin?

The hon. member has brought up a valid point, as we discussed earlier. As a matter of fact, my colleague from Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel made a good point. He said he was surprised this is not in the budget implementation bill as well.

It is a valid point, because we are seeing everything here being encapsulated. There were omnibus bills in the years before the Conservatives took power in 2006, but there was a general theme around this omnibus legislation. Now there seems to be the bill currently known as “madly off in all directions”, because it is everything that the Conservatives see and most of it was not even in their campaign promises.

My colleague is right in that sense, because at what point do they practise what they used to preach, especially for the period from 2000 to 2005? When I arrived here in 2004, there were some solid arguments as to why bills should be split and dealt with on an individual basis as stand-alone legislation.

Being from Atlantic Canada, the Minister of Justice argued vehemently to take the provisions and changes in the Atlantic accord out of the budget bill because they deserved to be in stand-alone legislation. All of his colleagues in Atlantic Canada mentioned that, but at least that provision in the Atlantic accord shared thematically with the budget, because it was about equalization.

Now we find things sandwiched into this legislation. It is the Neapolitan ice cream of legislation-making. Every flavour is in there. Every little element is in here, and for some reason we have to accept one part and then deny the other, even though they are vehemently opposed to each other.

There is a very important issue in the first part of the motion, so I support the motion simply because it is the responsible and right thing to do. It could be handled very quickly given the situation, the headlines, the editorials that we have witnessed over the past two years. If this is not responsible legislation-making, then I really do not know what is.

The right thing to do is split this legislation. The right thing to do is deal with this very important issue up front, right now, before we get to other matters, including privacy.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

It is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 38, to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Thunder Bay—Superior North, Natural Resources; and the hon. member for London—Fanshawe, Pensions.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

Kitchener—Waterloo Ontario

Conservative

Peter Braid ConservativeParliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Communities

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That the debate be now adjourned.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

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

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

All those opposed will please say nay.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4:25 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #143

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

5:05 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

I declare the motion carried.

Citizenship and ImmigrationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise on behalf of the residents of my riding of Davenport in the great city of Toronto to table a few petitions.

The first petition is from people in my riding and right across the city. The petitioners are calling on the government and on the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to grant ministerial relief to Oscar Vigil.

Mr. Vigil came to Canada from El Salvador in 2001. His wife and three children are now Canadian citizens, and we believe the government can do the right thing and keep this family together.

EmploymentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, my second petition pertains to the fact that just about half of all workers in Toronto cannot access a full-time, stable job. They need a national urban worker strategy. This petition speaks to that need.

Consumer ProtectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is in regard to the government saying it would end pay-to-pay fees. Those are the fees people are charged when they get their bills in the mail. There has been a move to eliminate this fee on some bills, but not on all.

The petitioners from my riding, most of them seniors living on Connolly, Symington, and Russett, want to see real action from the government on these pay-to-pay fees.

Consumer ProtectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Consumer ProtectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

The Deputy Speaker NDP Joe Comartin

Order. I know we have been away for a week and you want to resume long-term friendships, but would you do that outside the chamber so I can hear the petitions as they are presented.

The hon. member for Kitchener—Conestoga.

Volunteer Service MedalPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

Conservative

Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a number of petitions signed by people from the riding of Kitchener—Conestoga and the surrounding area in the region of Waterloo. The petitioners call on the government to introduce a new volunteer service medal to be known as the Governor General's volunteer medal to acknowledge and recognize volunteerism by Canadian troops.

DementiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Chris Charlton NDP Hamilton Mountain, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today with hundreds of signatures calling on the government to urgently implement a national dementia strategy. The petitioners know that Canada has a crisis looming in the number of people afflicted with dementia illnesses. It is a huge cost for health care budgets and a big challenge for caregivers. In fact, according to a new study commissioned by the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the number of Canadians living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia now stands at 747,000 and will double to 1.4 million by 2031.

As the petitioners point out, Canada's health care system is ill-equipped to deal with the staggering costs, which will skyrocket from $33 billion per year today to $293 billion per year by 2040. Additionally, the pressures on family caregivers are mounting. In 2011, family caregivers spent 444 million unpaid hours per year looking after someone with dementia, representing $11 billion in lost income and 222,760 lost full-time equivalent employees in the workforce. By 2040, they will be devoting a staggering 1.2 billion unpaid hours per year. It is clear that Canada needs a dementia plan now. Let me say that I share the petitioners' hope that our NDP Bill C-356 will be passed expeditiously.

Jericho Garrison LandsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:10 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions. The first is signed by hundreds of residents on the west side of Vancouver drawing the attention of the House to the issue of the Jericho Garrison Lands, which consist of 21 hectares of federally owned land with a mix of trees, green space, and historic buildings that are significant to the heritage and quality of life of the residents on the west side of Vancouver and the broader community.

The petitioners point out that there is a planned divestment of these lands as a “strategic disposal”, and they point out that the residents have not been adequately consulted about this, despite the fact that a court case has been launched asking that the residents be consulted about the use of these important lands. They call on the government to commit to a complete consultation and accommodation, particularly with the Francophone Education Authority.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition, signed by hundreds of residents, is about the possibility of Canada Post ending home delivery. The petitioners point out that the plan for reduced services includes the elimination of home delivery for five million households; that by agreeing to reduced services, the government is breaking its promise to better protect consumers; that some 8,000 Canada Post workers would stand to lose their jobs; and that this reduction in service could lead to the privatization of Canada Post, which is an essential public service.

Firearms ReclassificationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:15 p.m.

Conservative

Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am happy today to rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents who note that the classifications of firearms are made without adequate public consultation or public notice, and this erodes public confidence in the process. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to enforce the Firearms Act and regulations in an open, transparent, and fair manner that respects private property and full and adequate public consultation, including fair financial compensation and not confiscation, and that reflects our shared commitment to smaller government, lower taxes, and the enforcement of existing laws with enhanced freedom and individual responsibility.

Conflict MineralsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by Canadians from right across the country who want the government to pass Bill C-486, known as the conflict minerals act. They note that since 1988, over five million people have died in the conflict in eastern Congo and that by bringing in supervision and supply chain regulations for conflict minerals, this could help end the conflict. They want to see the government adopt Bill C-486.