House of Commons Hansard #101 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was housing.

Topics

ImmigrationRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Markham—Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

John McCallum LiberalMinister of Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I too would like to congratulate my colleague the international trade minister

ImmigrationRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I would like to remind ministers that this is not debate so it is not the time to congratulate, but rather it is the time to make a presentation of what they are tabling in the House.

ImmigrationRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

John McCallum Liberal Markham—Thornhill, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to subsection 94(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2016 annual report to Parliament on immigration.

Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

University—Rosedale Ontario

Liberal

Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of International Trade

Indian Residential School Reconciliation and Memorial Day ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Robert-Falcon Ouellette Liberal Winnipeg Centre, MB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-318, An Act to establish Indian Residential School Reconciliation and Memorial Day.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce an act to establish Indian residential school reconciliation and memorial day. I would like to thank Maeengan Linklater for helping to champion the bill's creation and member of Parliament Seamus O'Regan, the member of Parliament from Newfoundland, for seconding my bill.

My bill is designed to set aside June 2 to honour the survivors of the Indian residential school system and acknowledge Canada's colonial historical legacy of the Indian residential school system for what it is, an act of cultural genocide under the UN Convention of 1949.

I ask Parliament to support this legislation and work together, as a nation and a country, toward the revitalization of indigenous communities and to affirm the treaty relationship between Canadians and indigenous peoples.

Tapwe akwa khitwam.

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

Indian Residential School Reconciliation and Memorial Day ActRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I thank the hon. member and would remind him that we do not refer to members by personal names but rather by the names of our ridings or by ministerial titles and so forth.

National Sickle Cell Awareness Day ActRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Darren Fisher Liberal Dartmouth—Cole Harbour, NS

moved that Bill S-211, an act respecting National Sickle Cell Awareness Day, be read the first time.

I am very pleased to rise in this House to introduce Bill S-211, an act respecting National Sickle Cell Awareness Day, which, about two weeks ago, passed in the Senate unanimously and without amendment.

On September 29, my office met with Rugi Jalloh, president of the Sickle Cell Association of Nova Scotia, along with her delegation. Each of them had compelling and personal stories of how this disease has affected their health or the health of their family members.

People with sickle cell disease frequently experience extreme pain in their bones. One person we met with has a sister who is mostly bedridden and requires home care. Another person we met had lost two family members to this disease.

June 19 is recognized as World Sickle Cell Day by many organizations, including the World Health Organization. Bill S-211 seeks to add our voice to this important cause by marking June 19 as National Sickle Cell Awareness Day in Canada.

I ask that my colleagues on all sides of this House join with the Senate in the speedy passage of the bill.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Rail TransportationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on behalf of some constituents from Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, in the communities of Little Rapids, Serpent River, and Thessalon, and other individuals from Sault Ste. Marie, Hamilton, and Sudbury.

The petitioners call upon the government to reinstate the modest subsidy that supported this important piece of infrastructure for this part of northern Ontario.

They remind the government that 75% of the landowners along the line relied on passenger rail to reach their properties and that any roads the government claims can be used are industrial roads that are not maintained or monitored since they are not intended for public use.

In addition, they remind the government of the positive effect passenger services had on the Algoma economy and how its absence has create significant difficulties for the businesses up and down the line. They point out that the service was important to first nations accessing traditional land and that the failure to consult the first nations before cancelling the subsidy infringed on the right to consultation.

They add that the passenger train has been the only safe, affordable, all-season access into the Algoma wilderness for the last 100 years.

Small BusinessPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by campers who stayed at Smiths Bay campsite in Eganville, Ontario, which is located in the great riding of Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

The petitioners call upon the government to ensure that campgrounds with fewer than five full-time, year-round employees will continue to be recognized and taxed as small businesses.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, I want to present a petition signed by dozens of individuals asking the Canadian Parliament to establish measures to stop the Chinese regime's mass murder of innocent people for their organs; including, but not limited to: introducing Canadian legislation to ban organ tourism and criminalize those involved; taking every opportunity to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong; and urging the Chinese authorities to bring former leader Jiang Zemin and his cohorts to justice.

Physician-Assisted DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Ted Falk Conservative Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, I also have another petition, also signed by many individuals, asking the government to enshrine in the Criminal Code the protection of conscience for physicians and health care institutions from coercion or intimidation to provide or refer for physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Economic InequalitiesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet NDP Hochelaga, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have chosen to present this petition in the House today because we are talking about poverty in the debate on the bill introduced by my colleague from Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot.

This petition calls on the Government of Canada to do something to reduce economic inequality in Canada. For example, it calls on the federal government to implement a federal minimum wage of $15 an hour, ensure that large corporations pay their fair share of taxes, and put an end to unfair trade agreements that result in the loss of jobs and lower wages.

I think that this was the right day to present this petition, which has been signed by dozens of my constituents.

Physician-Assisted DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Mark Warawa Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition regarding the protection of conscience of physicians in Canada. It highlights that during the committee meetings on assisted suicide, the committee overwhelmingly heard that coercion, intimidation, and other forms of pressure intended to force physicians and health institutions to become parties to assisted suicide and euthanasia is a violation of fundamental freedom of conscience rights in Canada.

The petitioners are calling upon this Parliament to support Bill C-268 to enshrine in the Criminal Code the protection of conscience for physicians and health care institutions from coercion and intimidation.

PensionsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Yvonne Jones Liberal Labrador, NL

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present this petition on behalf of my constituents in Labrador, hundreds of people from the town of Wabush and Labrador West, who are calling upon the government today to ensure that pension plans for workers are guaranteed under CCAA, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. As members know, when Cliffs Natural Resources went bankrupt in Wabush, many workers ended up losing a large percentage of their pension plan, as they were not protected under that act. The company itself still earns revenues and profits in the United States even though it does not operate in Canada, yet Canadian workers have been left behind.

The petitioners are asking the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure the protection of these pension funds that workers worked hard for.

Fisheries and OceansPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Fin Donnelly NDP Port Moody—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table this petition calling on the government to save the endangered wild Atlantic salmon of the Avon River in Nova Scotia.

The petitioners are asking the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard to restore proper fish passage to the Avon River Causeway, which would assist with the recovery of the wild Atlantic salmon and other species and their critical habitat.

HealthPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting today two petitions: one from northern Alberta, Grimshaw, Alberta; and one from people from across Ontario. I am pleased to present these petitions.

The petitioners are concerned about the accessibility and impact of violent and degrading sexually explicit material online and the impact on public health, especially the well-being of women and girls. As such, these petitioners are calling on the House of Commons to adopt Motion No. 47.

HealthPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Stephen Fuhr Liberal Kelowna—Lake Country, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise to draw attention to petition e-440, which calls on Parliament to recognize May 15 as national DIPG awareness day, a step toward positive change for children with DIPG brainstem cancer. I wish to thank all those who supported this petition. This is for Caleb, Sevanah, and Ruby.

PovertyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Brigitte Sansoucy NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is with great appreciation that I, again today, table signatures in support of Bill C-245, which seeks to develop a national poverty reduction strategy.

Earlier today, we had the first hour of debate on this bill at second reading. The petitions in support of this bill keep coming in.

Foreign AffairsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Randall Garrison NDP Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present petition e-431, initiated by Tsewang Rinzin of Toronto. This petition calls on the Government of Canada to send at the earliest opportunity a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians and/or diplomats to China to ascertain the whereabouts and well-being of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, and to urge the Government of China to release the 11th Panchen Lama at the earliest opportunity.

The Panchen Lama is the second-highest ranking lama in Tibetan Buddhism after the Dalai Lama. The 11th Panchen Lama was declared as such on May 14, 1995. Three days later, he and his family disappeared and they have not been seen for 21 years.

I am pleased to be the sponsor of this petition, and I look forward to hearing from the government at the earliest opportunity in response.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to stand up in this flurry of petitions today to present two petitions.

The first petition is from my constituents of Shawnigan Lake who are asking for the federal government to step in and provide assistance for the contaminated soil dump.

SeniorsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Mr. Speaker, the next petition is one I have the honour to present as the NDP critic for seniors' issues. The petitioners are calling upon Parliament to appoint a minister for seniors and to develop a national strategy for seniors, given that this demographic is about to be a very large part of the population in the next two decades.

Impaired DrivingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Conservative

Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to present in the House two petitions urging the Government of Canada to recognize that current legislation governing impaired driving is too lenient and needs to be tougher.

The petitioners want harsher minimum sentences for those convicted of impaired driving causing death. They want individuals responsible for such deaths to be charged with vehicular homicide.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

Is that agreed?

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.