House of Commons Hansard #209 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was illegal.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I have the honour, pursuant to section 66 of the Official Languages Act, to lay upon the table the annual report of the Commissioner of Official Languages covering the period from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015.
Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan
Conservative
Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to eight petitions.
Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation in the 23rd annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum, APPF, in Quito, Ecuador, January 11 to 15, 2015.
That conference is coming to Vancouver next January.
David Wilks Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-674, An Act to establish Addiction Recovery Week.
Mr. Speaker, I am humbled and honoured to stand in this place today to introduce an act to establish addiction recovery week. This bill would recognize the week commencing on the fourth Saturday of September as addiction recovery week.
As a person in long-term recovery, I say we must remove the stigma that is attached to addiction recovery and celebrate those who have taken the long road back to prosperity and a healthy life. This bill would be a significant step forward in doing just that.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Blaine Calkins Conservative Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to rise in the House today to present several petitions signed by hundreds of Albertans who are calling upon the government to implement new mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of impaired driving. The petitioners also want the Criminal Code of Canada to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death, as vehicular homicide.
Mathieu Ravignat NDP Pontiac, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition.
Hundreds of Canadians are calling on the government to reduce taxes on feminine hygiene products because many impoverished women cannot afford them. That would be a positive thing.
Garry Breitkreuz Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition today that sadly informs this House that Karmen Meyers and Lee Meyers, a brother and sister, were tragically killed 10 years apart by two separate drunk drivers who chose to drive while impaired. The Meyers family was devastated.
Families for Justice is a group of Canadians who have had a loved one killed by an impaired driver. They believe that Canada's impaired-driving laws are much too lenient. They want the crime to be called what it is: vehicular homicide. It is the number-one cause of criminal death in Canada. More than 1,200 Canadians are killed every year by drunk drivers. Families for Justice is calling for mandatory sentencing for vehicular homicide and for this Parliament to support Bill C-652, Kassandra's law.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition that is calling upon the Government of Canada to cease taxation on menstrual hygiene products. The paying of this tax contributes to the financial burden on Canadian households, particularly of women who are struggling financially. It is an essential product and we and the undersigned want the Government of Canada to extend a 0% GST rate to these important products.
Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC
Mr. Speaker, I too rise with petitions from people from across the country asking that there be a 0% GST rate on menstrual hygiene products.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two petitions.
The first is from residents primarily in my own riding but also from the Vancouver area. They are concerned about HIV-AIDS treatments being made available to everyone who needs them. We might have thought this was dealt with, but the petitioners point to a particular highly active antiretroviral drug therapy, a strategy known as “treatment as prevention”. The petitioners urge the House of Commons to recognize that this is an important aspect and to put forward a national AIDS strategy designed around treatment as prevention.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is related to the ongoing issue of marine protected areas: how we get them formed and how we take care of them once we create them. The petitioners call on the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to work with all relevant government branches to simplify communications and responsibilities.
Philip Toone NDP Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, QC
Mr. Speaker, today I also have the honour to present a petition against the sales tax on feminine hygiene products. Hundreds of people all across Canada are calling for this. We hope the government is listening.
Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join many of my colleagues from the NDP today as we rise to present our petitions from men and women across the country who have participated in a campaign to draw attention in the House, through petitions, to ceasing the taxation of menstrual hygiene products. As has been pointed out, these are essential products to Canadians and there is a disproportionate financial burden.
New Democrats are very happy to present these petitions today from right across the country. The signators of the petition I have are from Toronto. We think it is a very important campaign and hope this petition will be visible and accepted and that the GST will be zero for menstrual hygiene products.
The Speaker Conservative Andrew Scheer
I see many members rising, and there are only 10 minutes left for presenting petitions, so I will ask members to be mindful of their colleagues and provide very brief summaries.
The hon. member for Newton—North Delta.
Jinny Sims NDP Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, I also join my colleagues in presenting a petition calling for a 0% GST rate on menstrual hygiene products. This is a sexist tax and heavily burdens women.
Sadia Groguhé NDP Saint-Lambert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I wish to add my voice to those of my colleagues and present a petition to eliminate the sales tax on feminine hygiene products.
Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I too have a petition from men and women across Canada asking that the government remove the GST on menstrual hygiene products.
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to present a petition signed by people who believe that feminine hygiene products are necessities and therefore should not be taxed.
Andrew Cash NDP Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, I too rise to present a petition in support of eliminating the GST on menstrual hygiene products.
Mylène Freeman NDP Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues and the women and men from all over the country who have mobilized and are calling on the government to remove the federal sales tax on feminine hygiene products. The status quo is really unfair to women. It is a tax that targets only women, and we want it removed.
Réjean Genest NDP Shefford, QC
Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in calling on the government to stop taxing feminine hygiene products. This tax is a heavy burden for some households.
Paulina Ayala NDP Honoré-Mercier, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am also calling on the government to remove the GST from feminine hygiene products because we did not choose to have a menstrual cycle every month, so it is an unfair tax. These products are basic necessities.
Hoang Mai NDP Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise alongside my colleagues to present a petition signed by many Canadian men and women who want the government to eliminate the GST on menstrual hygiene products.
Ruth Ellen Brosseau NDP Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, I am also tabling a petition that asks the Government of Canada to cease taxation on menstrual hygiene products, because women face a disproportionate financial burden because of this tax.
I would like to congratulate everyone who is participating in this mobilization, and I hope the government will listen to them.
Jack Harris NDP St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, I too present a petition on behalf of Canadians seeking to cease the taxation of menstrual hygiene products. This is a disproportionate financial burden on women, and the petitioners feel there should be zero GST on menstrual hygiene products.