Debates of Oct. 26th, 2016

International Trade

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is, when we came into government a year ago, we discovered that the CETA deal was in deep trouble. Indeed, Europeans had real concerns about the investor-state dispute mechanisms. That is why we sat down with the Europeans and created a new ISDS approach that actually makes it the gold standard, makes it an extraordinarily progressive deal that Europe has happily signed on to. We are confident that in the coming days we will see a positive outcome for this historic deal.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

The first concerns the bilateral visit to Providentiales and Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos, and Georgetown, Guyana, from February 7 to February 14.

The second report concerns the International Parliamentary Conference on Energy, Sustainability and Development, held in London, United Kingdom, from March 14 to 17.

Finance

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Finance entitled “The Canada Revenue Agency, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion: Recommended Actions”.

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

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of tabling the dissenting opinion of the Conservative Party of Canada to the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Finance.

We are cautiously optimistic that the government can build on our strong record of combatting tax evasion. We are very concerned that the expenditures it plans on making will not provide the expected return on investment, and if these measures do not bear sufficient fruit and without “duty of care” provisions in place, a more robust CRA may begin to target ordinary Canadians and small business owners rather than the large corporations and high net-worth individuals evading taxes.

Canada Revenue Agency Act

[Len Webber, Conservative, Calgary Confederation, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-316, An Act to amend the Canada Revenue Agency Act (organ donors).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill that would assist the provinces in growing and maintaining their organ donor registries. Four thousand six hundred Canadians are currently awaiting a transplant, and we can help.

My bill would ask Canadians, on their annual tax return, if they consent to having their provincial or territorial government inform of their desire to be added to their organ donor registry. The bill would be a sensible, cost-effective way of using an existing and legally binding document to annually update organ donor registries throughout the country. It would respect provincial jurisdictions and utilize existing privacy and information-sharing agreements. It would have the potential to save many lives.

I want to thank the hon. member for Calgary Shepard for seconding my bill. I look forward to having support across all parties.

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

Hispanic Heritage Month Act

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Humber River—Black Creek, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-317, An Act to designate the month of October as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Mr. Speaker, this is truly a great honour on behalf of the Hispanic community, which has a population of well over 900,000 people who contribute an immense amount to the cultural vibrancy of our great country of Canada.

I would be thrilled if we could move forward between now and the next October so that October would be officially recognized as national Hispanic month.

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

Multiculturalism

[Thomas Mulcair, NDP, Outremont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, following discussions with all parties in the House, I hope you will find consent for the following motion. I move:

That the House join the 69,742 Canadian supporters of House of Commons e-petition (e-411) in condemning all forms of Islamophobia.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the other parties and if you seek it, I believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, following question period on Wednesday, November 2, 2016, the House resolve itself into a committee of the whole in order to welcome Canada's 2016 Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games athletes; that the Speaker be permitted to preside over the committee of the whole and make welcoming remarks on behalf of the House; and, when the proceedings of the committee have concluded, the committee shall rise.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

(Motion agreed to)

Religious Freedom

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the motion that was just adopted by the House, and given that tomorrow is International Religious Freedom Day, I would like to seek the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion. I move:

That, this House condemns all forms of persecution against all religious groups including Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Muslims.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

(Motion agreed to)

Seniors

[Alice Wong, Conservative, Richmond Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition to the House this afternoon regarding a national strategy for Canada's seniors.

The petitioners call upon the government to appoint a minister for seniors and to develop a national strategy for seniors.

[Kelly McCauley, Conservative, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague from Richmond Centre, I have the honour to present a petition calling on this Parliament to develop a national strategy for Canada's seniors.

Currently one in six Canadians is a senior. In the next 14 years, that number will rise to one in four, including myself. With an aging population of seniors outnumbering youth in Canada, this is a pressing and future need.

Parliament must listen to Canadians and appoint a minister of seniors and develop a national strategy for seniors.