House of Commons Hansard #210 of the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was women.

Topics

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Blackstrap Saskatchewan

Conservative

Lynne Yelich ConservativeMinister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)

Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely false that Canada has not been there and working very hard. The emergency watch and response centre has worked tirelessly to reach out to Canadians in Nepal. If there are concerns, they can call the emergency watch and response centre at the 1-800 number: 1-800-387-3124.

On three separate occasions a C-17 was made available to evacuate the Canadian citizens who required assistance. We deployed additional consular staff. We have a dedicated staff that has worked around the clock to provide assistance to Canadians, and we have provided hundreds of emergency documents to assist in travelling. Consular operations were being run out of the Canadian consulate in New Delhi and assisted through help from the American embassy.

Social DevelopmentOral Questions

Noon

Independent

Manon Perreault Independent Montcalm, QC

Mr. Speaker, after dismantling a large part of the EI program paid for by workers, the government held back nearly $100 million intended for disability support, literacy and youth unemployment programs. These programs help the most vulnerable in our society.

Will the government finally commit to cutting back on the assistance it gives to multinational corporations and making our society fairer and more equal?

Social DevelopmentOral Questions

Noon

Nepean—Carleton Ontario

Conservative

Pierre Poilievre ConservativeMinister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, we have agreements with our provincial partners to create jobs for people with disabilities.

I am pleased to inform the House that these programs have created jobs for people who are struggling. Of course, we are trying to deliver these programs in the most cost-effective way possible for taxpayers and in a way that is most helpful to those in need. I am pleased to inform the House of Commons that we have met those two objectives.

International TradeOral Questions

Noon

Independent

André Bellavance Independent Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Mr. Speaker, the government's rhetoric regarding the negotiations for the trans-Pacific partnership is not reassuring anyone at all. In fact, farmers are so worried that the Quebec minister of agriculture, fisheries and food and the Ontario minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs had to write a letter to the federal minister of agriculture, asking him to honour the motion on supply management that I had unanimously adopted in 2005. Minister Pierre Paradis said this week that if it falls apart, it will be a disaster. He emphasized that the federal government is what poses the threat.

Will the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food commit to maintaining his previous position, which was to support the key pillars of this system, as Quebec and Ontario are calling on him to do?

International TradeOral Questions

Noon

Brampton—Springdale Ontario

Conservative

Parm Gill ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade

Mr. Speaker, our government will continue to promote Canadian trade interests across all sectors of our economy, including supply management. That has never prevented us from successfully completing other free trade agreements, such as free trade with Europe and South Korea.

We make no apologies for ensuring that any deal reached must be in Canada's best interest. As always, we will only sign a trade agreement if it significantly benefits Canadian businesses, workers and their families.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of two veterans of that war, Jacques Viger and André Rousseau.

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

Noon

Some hon. members

Bravo!

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Peter Julian NDP Burnaby—New Westminster, BC

Mr. Speaker, I would ask you to review the question period tapes from today and what you will find very clearly on the tapes is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons saying entirely inappropriate and unparliamentary things. It is not the first time he has been caught on audio or video saying inappropriate things. He needs to understand that when his microphone is on, everything he says, whether parliamentary or not, is actually broadcast into the audiotape.

I would ask that you review the tapes, Mr. Speaker, because the kind of insulting and degrading terms that he used today are simply unacceptable whether one is standing in the House or sitting behind a microphone. I would ask you to review the tapes and I am sure he will stand later and apologize for those comments.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure exactly what the member opposite is referring to, but if I did use any unparliamentary language, I unreservedly apologize. Of course, any reaction from my side was prompted by the antics of the member opposite, who continuously during question period keeps talking and interrupting speakers from our side.

If I did react inappropriately, I certainly apologize.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Acting Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I thank hon. members for their interventions.

Indeed, we will check them. I know there was some commentary today that was somewhat close to the line in terms of the usual decorum that one would expect in the House, but having said that, I will take this under advisement and get back to the House, if necessary.

Foreign AffairsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Etobicoke—Lakeshore Ontario

Conservative

Bernard Trottier ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for La Francophonie

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled, “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Chile on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters”, done at Puerto Natales on April 13, 2015. An explanatory memorandum is included with this treaty.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

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 responses to five petitions.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill C-35, an act to amend the Criminal Code (law enforcement animals, military animals and service animals).

The committee has studied the bill and has agreed to report it back to the House without amendment.

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to the study on the subject matter of Bill C-583, an act to amend the Criminal Code (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder).

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Justice and Human RightsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Françoise Boivin NDP Gatineau, QC

Mr. Speaker, indeed, in response to the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the official opposition is presenting a supplementary report regarding consideration of Bill C-583, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder).

I quickly want to thank all my committee colleagues, especially the hon. members for Nanaimo—Cowichan and for La Pointe-de-l'Île, who were responsible for this bill on behalf of the team.

Although we, along with the government, support the report, our main regret is that the bill introduced by the hon. member for Yukon was too watered down. We think it is a shame that the government persuaded that member to withdraw his bill, which would have represented a step forward and would really have been more effective than a report with extremely soft recommendations.

I would ask the government to pay particular attention to the recommendations submitted by the official opposition. These recommendations would move things forward much more quickly than the very simplistic recommendations made by the Conservative government members in the committee.

Philippine Heritage Month ActRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Adler Conservative York Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-675, An Act to designate the month of May as Philippine Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand in the House today to introduce this bill.

Canada is home to one of the largest Filipino diaspora communities in the world. Some 800,000 Filipinos currently call Canada home. I am proud that York Centre is home to one of Canada's largest Filipino communities.

Let us make every month of May Philippine heritage month. I certainly look forward to the support of every member of the House in supporting this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Railway Safety ActRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Denis Blanchette NDP Louis-Hébert, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-676, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act (maintenance of railway works).

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the Quebec City area, I am proud to introduce this bill, which contains two measures: a measure to recognize that a railway work that is designated as a historic place must be preserved in a way that enhances its beauty and historic character; and, more importantly, a measure that allows the government, in the case of default, to order the work to be done at the expense of the owner.

For 10 years, the Conservative government has been unable to have the Quebec Bridge painted. It has given the people of Quebec City a false impression by claiming that it has put $100 million on the table, but on condition that CN does its part, which CN is refusing to do because it has no obligation in that regard.

My bill would force CN to paint the Quebec Bridge, and the mayors of Quebec City and Lévis think it is a good idea.

Therefore, I invite all members of the House, especially government members, to work together and agree to quickly pass this simple, pragmatic and effective bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

AgriculturePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberal Wascana, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to file today, signed by many people from across the province of Saskatchewan, about the rights of farmers, particularly farmers of small farms.

The petitioners call upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange and sell their own seeds.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Laurin Liu NDP Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC

Mr. Speaker, I believe that on this NDP opposition day, this petition is especially relevant because we know that Canadians pay more than $336 million a year in GST on feminine hygiene products.

The people who signed this petition are calling on the government to pass the NDP's Bill C-282 in order to eliminate the GST on all feminine hygiene products.

Sex SelectionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.

The first petition is from quite a number of people from across my province.

The petitioners draw attention to the fact that a CBC documentary revealed that ultrasounds were being used in Canada to tell the sex of an unborn child so expectant parents could choose to terminate that pregnancy if the unborn child was a girl. They remind us that 92% of Canadians believe sex-selective pregnancy termination should be illegal and that gendercide has created a global gender imbalance, resulting in violence and the human trafficking of girls. The three deadliest words in the world are “It's a girl”.

The petitioners therefore want members of Parliament to condemn discrimination against girls occurring through sex-selective pregnancy termination.

ProstitutionPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Maurice Vellacott Conservative Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK

Mr. Speaker, the second petition draws attention to the fact that a high percentage of prostitutes are forced or coerced into the sex trade and trafficked.

The petitioners ask the House of Commons to legislate that it be a criminal offence to purchase sex with a woman, man or child, and that it be a criminal offence for pimps, madams and others to profit from the proceeds of the pernicious sex trade.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Niki Ashton NDP Churchill, MB

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in the House to present a petition that connects with our opposition day motion, a petition that was signed by thousands of Canadians, many Canadian women.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to cease taxation on menstrual hygiene products. These women and men across the country call for leadership from the federal government and a fundamental stand in support of equality, ensuring women are not penalized because of their need for products because we are women.

I submit this petition, sharing the hope of so many Canadians that the government will listen and take action now.

Autism Spectrum DisordersPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Kirsty Duncan Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition regarding autism spectrum disorders, ASDs.

These disorders are characterized by social and communication challenges, and a pattern of repetitive behaviours and interests. They are lifelong, affect development and life experience, and exert emotional and financial pressures on families.

The petitioners call on the government to work with the provinces and territories and stakeholders to develop a pan-Canadian strategy for autism spectrum disorder.

Mining IndustryPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first petition is on behalf of many constituents in my riding.

The petitioners call for the creation of a legislative ombudsman mechanism for responsible mining.

AgriculturePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

James Rajotte Conservative Edmonton—Leduc, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls upon Parliament and the Government of Canada to recognize the inherent rights of farmers derived from thousands of years of custom and tradition to save, reuse, select, exchange and sell their own seeds.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Raymond Côté NDP Beauport—Limoilou, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition signed by dozens of people who are calling on the government to remove the tax on feminine hygiene products.

I am pleased to present this petition because, when working in food banks, I realized that the more expensive this type of product is, the more inaccessible it is to people with limited means and the more difficult it is for them to make ends meet and fill their grocery carts.