House of Commons Hansard #97 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.
Scott Brison LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to table, in both official languages, the Public Accounts of Canada for 2015.
The Auditor General of Canada has provided an unqualified audit opinion on the Government of Canada's financial statements.
The Government of Canada is committed to sound financial management and to monitoring the use of public funds to enhance accountability and transparency.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by campers who stayed at Smugglers Cove RV Resort, in Picton, Ontario, which is located in the scenic riding of Bay of Quinte.
The petitioners call on the government to ensure that campgrounds with fewer than five full-time year-round employees would continue to be recognized and taxed as small businesses.
Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition in support of my private member's bill to strengthen the Fisheries Act, Bill C-228.
This petition is signed by Canadians from British Columbia and Newfoundland, proving that Canadians right across the country care about the health of our wild salmon. The petitioners are calling on the government to pass my bill, Bill C-228, which will come to a vote in the House in December, to #helpsavewildsalmon.
Kerry Diotte Conservative Edmonton Griesbach, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition relating to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The petitioners are calling on Parliament and the Government of Canada to establish measures to stop the mass murder of innocent people and the harvesting of their organs, to condemn the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, and to urge Chinese authorities to bring the leaders responsible for these crimes to justice.
Peter Van Loan Conservative York—Simcoe, ON
Mr. Speaker, as part of the government's war on history, neither Confederation nor history are included as permitted themes for the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
The petition that I present today has been organized by members of the Kings County historical society in New Brunswick. They have a unique connection to Confederation as one of the most prominent exhibits in their local museum is a quilt stitched together by a local Hampton area seamstress in 1864. This quilt is made from the gowns worn by the ladies to the balls held during the Charlottetown Conference that led to Confederation.
The petitioners call on the government to reverse the decision not to have Confederation as a theme of the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and to pay respect to Canada's history by making Confederation a theme of the 150th anniversary of Confederation.
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition. The petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to recognize that over 100,000 British home children, child migrants, were systematically relocated from their British homeland to Canada in order to indenture them as farm labourers and domestics as part of an unjust immigration policy.
The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to start a legacy that will educate Canadians on the home child issue of the past, and to remedy that with a public apology.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to present two petitions. The first is from many residents within my riding as well as from London, Ontario, calling for a national AIDS strategy, but specifically one that looks at the proven method of treatment as prevention.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is focused on small farms in the global south, particularly to protect small farmers and their right to collect, exchange, and save seeds.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
October 25th, 2016 / 10:05 a.m.
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric Generating FacilityRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I have received notice of a request for an emergency debate. I have read the letter from the hon. member for Manicouagan. I invite her to make some brief remarks.
Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric Generating FacilityRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I am requesting an emergency debate on the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric generating facility.
The project is an absolute fiasco, and the government has to make some big decisions about it very quickly. Parliament should participate in making the decision, but the usual rules do not provide for that.
The Inuit are worried about mercury pollution, which could contaminate fish. The site has been evacuated because of demonstrations, and an Inuit leader is on a hunger strike to shut down the project.
The government, which has a fiduciary obligation toward indigenous peoples and is responsible for the Fisheries Act, granted the necessary permits. The Inuit are now asking the government to suspend those permits to delay flooding of the area, which is scheduled to begin very soon.
There is more. The government is financially committed to the tune of $6.4 billion in the form of a loan guarantee, but Muskrat Falls is a fiasco. It is years behind schedule, and costs have spiralled out of control.
There is every indication that the federal loan guarantee will convert to direct participation, leaving taxpayers on the hook. Despite the initial estimate of $6.4 billion, costs have mushroomed and may reach or even exceed $15 billion. To date, Newfoundland and Labrador has spent all of the money Ottawa committed, but the project is far from complete.
The province is asking the federal government to increase its $6.4-billion contribution through a new loan guarantee, one that is much larger, if not unlimited. Once again, the government must respond very quickly, because Newfoundland and Labrador is running out of money.
A loan guarantee is not an expenditure, and Parliament does not have to vote on it as an appropriation.
The government could be exposing taxpayers to financial risk worth about $10 billion in the very near future, without the House having any say in the matter. There is no normal procedure under which I can submit this issue to the House.
The only avenue open to us is that of an emergency debate, which is the reason for my request, and I hope you respond positively, Mr. Speaker.
Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric Generating FacilityRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I appreciate the hon. member's intervention, and I thank her for it. Of course, these are important issues, but in my opinion, they do not meet the criteria required by the Standing Orders.
The member for Montcalm is rising on a point of order. I assume that it has nothing to do with the ruling I just gave regarding the request for an emergency debate, the ruling being that the request does not meet the criteria under the Standing Orders.
Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric Generating FacilityRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
Bloc
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, I did not understand your ruling, and more to the point, I did not hear any grounds. I heard only a statement. I would have liked to hear at least some grounds.
Muskrat Falls Hydroelectric Generating FacilityRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I presume the member has been here for previous requests for emergency debates in the past. He would have seen that it is up to the Speaker to indicate whether the request meets the criteria. As I have already indicated, the request does not meet the criteria. I suggest that the member read the standing order.
Bill Morneau LiberalMinister of Finance
moved that a ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2016, and other measures be concurred in.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
In my opinion the yeas have it.
And five or more members having risen:
Call in the members.