House of Commons Hansard #195 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was information.

Topics

Statements by Minister of National Defence Regarding Military Contribution Against ISILPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC

Mr. Speaker, this is an incredibly important point of privilege. It is a very important issue because it goes to the heart of whether Canadians can trust the minister and the government with their serious responsibility around taking Canada into war. The Liberals believe it is simply not credible that the minister was inadvertently incorrectly briefed and did not know what he was saying. I think the timeline actually supports that.

It was already on the public record. U.S. General Dempsey had publicly congratulated two other countries for their use of precision missiles in Syria, before the statement was made by the minister, the statement that so conveniently alleged that Canada was asked to expand our bombing mission into Syria. I would ask the minister to table any documents supporting the fact that Canada was asked to enter that bombing mission in Syria based on, as he alleged, the fact that Canada was the only other country with precision missiles.

After the public record was corrected by a journalist that what the minister said was false, several days later the Chief of the Defence Staff wrote a letter to the Ottawa Citizen confirming the minister's story. I would like to ask the minister if he or his office requested that the Chief of the Defence Staff or the Chief of the Defence Staff's office send that letter to back up the minister.

Lastly, because it is so difficult to believe that the minister made a genuine mistake, and although he has apologized—and apologized while blaming the staff—a third request I have is that the minister table all—

Statements by Minister of National Defence Regarding Military Contribution Against ISILPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

Order. The matter before the House is a question of privilege. It is not debate or question period to the minister. If the hon. member would like the minister to table certain documents, she has ample opportunity in other fora in this place to do that. This discussion, specifically on a point of privilege, I think has proceeded and the facts are on the table. As I said, if the member would like to pose those questions to the minister, she will have opportunity to do that.

The hon. member for Vancouver Quadra.

Statements by Minister of National Defence Regarding Military Contribution Against ISILPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

1:10 p.m.

Liberal

Joyce Murray Liberal Vancouver Quadra, BC

Mr. Speaker, should the minister accept my request that he table his briefing notes, it would help the Speaker in making a determination about this point of privilege.

Statements by Minister of National Defence Regarding Military Contribution Against ISILPrivilegeRoutine Proceedings

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

The Chair thanks all hon. members for their input into this matter. As they might expect, the Speaker will consider all the facts and return to the House following the Easter break.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-42, An Act to amend the Firearms Act and the Criminal Code and to make a related amendment and a consequential amendment to other Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

There are two minutes remaining for the member for Macleod before the question will be put.

The hon. member for Macleod.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Barlow Conservative Macleod, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise today to speak to Bill C-42, the common sense firearms licensing act. This is a fantastic step forward for law-abiding firearms owners across Alberta and across Canada. I am proud to stand and support it.

On behalf of the law-abiding firearms owners in my riding of Macleod, I would like to thank the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for moving this important legislation forward. I would be remiss if I did not also thank the member for Yorkton—Melville. The member has carried this torch for years and has been standing up for law-abiding gun owners and eliminating needless red tape.

We have heard comments from many hunting and sport shooting groups across Canada that support this legislation. We have heard from the Canadian Police Association, which supports this legislation. I have heard from residents in southern Alberta who also support this legislation. They support it because it follows our Conservative government's views on firearms policies, policies that are safe and that should also be sensible.

Overall, the bill continues to focus on pursuing common sense firearms legislation, something that has been lacking for far too long.

Some have asked why these changes are being made now. The pundits seem to say that this bill is simply pandering in advance of an election. That could not be further from the truth. The bill is not about hobbies; it is about an important economic driver in our country. In fact, hunting and sport shooting is a billion dollar industry. It is also a way of life, both in rural Canada and urban communities. Millions of Canadians in all walks of life enjoy participating in these Canadian heritage activities. For them, this is not a so-called gun lobby; this is about enjoying a treasured part of life.

Some have asked why we are combining different licenses and giving new rights to possession-only license holders. Some have argued that the effect of this proposal would only be that one would be required to take a mandatory training course—

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

With apologies, it being 1:15 p.m., pursuant to an order made Wednesday, April 1 it is my duty to interrupt the proceedings and put forthwith every question necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the bill now before the House.

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

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

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

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

All those opposed will please say nay.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Pursuant to an order made on Thursday, February 26 the recorded division stands deferred until Monday, April 20, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

John Duncan Conservative Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, I think if you seek it, you would find agreement to see the clock at 1:30 p.m.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

Is that agreed?

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Common Sense Firearms Licensing ActGovernment Orders

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

The House will now proceed to the consideration of private members' business as listed on today's order paper.

(Bill C-644. On the Order: Private Members' Business)

December 8, 2014—Second reading of Bill C-644, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (failure to comply with a condition)—Mr. Jim Hillyer.

Criminal CodePrivate Members' Business

1:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Barry Devolin

The hon. member for Lethbridge is not present to move the order as announced in today's notice paper. Accordingly the item will be dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the order paper.

It being 1:18 p.m., pursuant to an order made Thursday, February 26 the House stands adjourned until Monday, April 20, at 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 1:18 p.m.)