House of Commons Hansard #106 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Ivica Dacic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.
Marie-Claude Bibeau LiberalMinister of International Development and La Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa”, done at Paris on October 14, 1994. An explanatory memorandum is included with this treaty.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary 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 55 petitions.
Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by a number of Canadian citizens.
The petitioners draw the attention of the House to the dramatic demographic shift in Canada. Today, there are more seniors in Canada than youth under the age of 15. One in six Canadians is a senior, and in 14 years, one in four Canadians will be a senior.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to appoint a minister for seniors and to develop a national strategy for seniors.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, a petition from hundreds of Canada's wine producers, who are asking that the government remove the decades-old interim cellared in Canada exemption from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requirement. This is very important in terms of promoting Canada's brand of quality internationally.
This petition is supported by small and large producers alike and has seen support across party lines for this particular change.
Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege and honour today to present a petition from citizens of Canada, many from my riding of Don Valley West, who are calling upon the Government of Canada to create within the existing Sunnybrook veterans facility a centre for excellence for veterans care, including specialization in both physical and mental health, the latter including research and treatment for traumatic stress disorder and related issues for Canadian veterans, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP, and first responders.
This petition is the work of many citizens, and I am proud to be a part of this and to present it today.
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to rise in the House to present dozens of petitions calling for the mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods.
The petitioners have long been calling for GMO labelling, but Health Canada's approval of the sale of genetically modified salmon has heightened their concern. That is why they are calling for the mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods so that people can make informed decisions about what they are eating.
Kennedy Stewart NDP Burnaby South, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present to the House today signed by residents of Burnaby and across the Lower Mainland.
The petitioners are opposed to the construction of Kinder Morgan's new bitumen-based, export-only crude oil pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby. The petitioners draw to the House's attention that this pipeline is a danger to our local environment and is just a bad deal for British Columbia.
The government has been pushing for this pipeline, but I urge it to consider this petition before it makes its final decision.
Brigitte Sansoucy NDP Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions. The first petition is from residents throughout my riding as well as Vancouver.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to revise the Criminal Code to recognize that crimes against animals should be treated as more than crimes against property and to strengthen the language to close loopholes that allow abusers to escape penalty.
I will not get into the reasons, but it is important to look at animal cruelty issues in the same light as the fact that those who would abuse animals are also known by the police to later abuse people.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is an e-petition that focuses on the global crisis of the extinction of shark species.
The petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to limit the importation and sale of species of sharks and to put a reasonable limit on the number of sharks that can be imported into Canada.
Carol Hughes NDP Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise in this House on behalf of citizens of Sault Ste. Marie who have asked that I table a petition so that they can be heard on the issue of the Algoma passenger train, which has not been operating for a year.
Seventy-five per cent of the properties are within proximity of a rail line, and now the properties are inaccessible. There are no alternate ways to access them except for industrial roads that are not maintained, so therefore are not safe. The petitioners talk about the economic downturn that the Algoma district has incurred since then. They also indicate the impact that this has had on first nations and access to their traditional territories.
The petitioners ask that the Minister of Transport put the Algoma passenger train back in service in order to ensure the mission of Transport Canada to serve the public interest through promotion of a safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation system in Canada.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Questions Nos. 491, 494, 495, 499, 506, 511, 512, 517, and 518.
David Sweet Conservative Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON
With regard to the announcement made by the Minister of National Defence on August 26, 2016, that committed Canada to $450 000 000 and 600 troops for peacekeeping missions: (a) what evidence was used to determine (i) the total financial commitment to these missions, (ii) the total number of troops for deployment in these missions; (b) what ongoing missions were considered for possible deployment of Canadian troops; (c) during the consultation process, which individuals were consulted, broken down by (i) Canadian Armed Forces personnel, (ii) representatives of foreign governments, (iii) representatives of international organizations; (d) how were the individuals and organizations identified in (c) consulted; (e) what criteria has been established to determine which peacekeeping missions the Canadian Armed Forces will provide resources to; (f) what safety requirements for troops have been established to determine whether or not the Canadian Armed Forces will participate in a peacekeeping mission; (g) what are the terms of engagement that Canadian Armed Forces will be under if they are threatened or attacked by hostile forces; (h) has Burundi been considered as a potential location for a Canadian peace keeping mission; (i) what are the details of the chain of command that will determine the mission or missions that will be supported by Canadian troops; and (j) what are the details of any estimated costs that could be incurred by the Department of National Defence to support the training and implementation of peacekeeping missions?
Question No. 491Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Guildwood Ontario
Liberal
John McKay LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, with regard to the announcement made by the Minister of National Defence on August 26, 2016, no decision has been made on a deployment of the Canadian Armed Forces as part of United Nations peace support operations. The detailed information requested currently constitutes advice to ministers and is cabinet confidence.
The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces developed a variety of options for the government to consider for it to meet its commitment to renew Canada’s commitment to United Nations peace support operations. The indicative incremental cost estimate was based on costing methodology and planning assumptions. The development of these options involved extensive consultation within the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, with foreign governments, and with international organizations. Individuals and organizations were consulted via email, in person, video teleconference, and telephone.
As is standard practice, force protection and risk-mitigation issues will be determined based on mission-specific threats. Rules of engagement are always mission-specific and are resolved through a combination of United Nations mandates and Canadian legal processes, and are approved by the Chief of the Defence Staff.
In processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the Privacy Act and the principles set out in the Access to Information Act, and certain information has been withheld on the grounds that the information relates to national security, defence, and international affairs.
Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON
With regard to the trip to Sri Lanka taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in July, 2016: (a) who were the members of the Canadian delegation; (b) for each meeting attended by the Minister on the trip, what are the details, including, (i) date, (ii) attendees, (iii) location, (iv) topics discussed; and (c) what are the details of all costs associated with the trip, including the amount spent on (i) hotels, (ii) meals, (iii) air transportation, (iv) other transportation, (v) other expenses?
Question No. 494Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Saint-Laurent Québec
Liberal
Stéphane Dion LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), the members of the Canadian delegation were: (1) Mr. Stéphane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, (2) Mr. Julian Ovens, chief of staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, (3) Ms. Pascale Massot, political adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, (4) Ms. Chantal Gagnon, press attaché to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and (5) Mr. Frédéric Huot-Bolduc, visits officer, office of protocol, Global Affairs Canada.
With regard to (b), for information related to the trip to Sri Lanka taken by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in July 2016, please refer to the following documents: news release, “Minister Dion to visit Sri Lanka following successful visit to Lao People's Democratic Republic”, at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1104809; news release, “Minister Dion concludes successful visit to Sri Lanka”, at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1105999; and “Address by Minister Dion on the occasion of a joint press conference with Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Samaraweera”, at http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1105779.
With regard to (c), hotel accommodation costs at the hotel Taj Samudra were covered by the Sri Lankan government for four members of the delegation. The Government of Canada covered accommodation expenses for one member of the delegation for a three night stay in the amount of $510.70 Canadian. Meals cost $333.62 Canadian, for 3 days. Air transportation cost $28,279.28 Canadian. Other transportation costs were $962.92 Canadian, and other expenses $2,443.41 Canadian.
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
With regard to the appointment of Mary Jean McFall to the position of Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture: (a) how many meetings has she had with representatives from any organization that represents chicken, egg, or poultry farmers; and (b) what are the details of those meetings, including (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) name of organization(s) represented, (iv) titles of attendees, (v) topics discussed?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), two meetings were held. With regard to meeting no. 1, it was held on April 12, 2016, at 1341 Baseline Road, Ottawa, between the executive director of the Chicken Farmers of Canada, and the manager of trade and policy and the policy adviser in the minister’s office, on the topic of spent fowl.
With regard to meeting no. 2, it was held on April 22, 2016, via telephone from 1341 Baseline Road, Ottawa, and the senior vice-president of government and industry relations, on the topic of agriculture and international trade.
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
With regard to border crossing documentation, since October 19, 2015: what dollar amount is spent by the government for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility, broken down by country and crime, by (i) the Prime Minister, (ii) other Ministers, (iii) ministerial exempt staff, (iv) the Prime Minister's staff, (v) public servants?
Question No. 499Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan
Liberal
Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Mr. Speaker, with regard to Public Safety Canada, PS, specific details of expenses related to dollar amounts spent by the government for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility are not uniquely captured in PS’ financial system. Consequently, an extensive manual search would be required and this would not be possible to do within the given timeframe.
With regard to the Canada Border Services Agency, CBSA, since October 19, 2015, the CBSA has not incurred any expenses for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility.
With regard to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, CSIS, since October 19, 2015, CSIS has not incurred any expenses for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility.
With regard to the Correctional Service of Canada, CSC, specific details of expenses related to dollar amounts spent by the government for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility are not uniquely captured in CSC’s financial system. Consequently, an extensive manual search would be required and this would not be possible to do within the given timeframe.
With regard to the Parole Board of Canada, PBC, since October 19, 2015, the PBC has not incurred any expenses for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility.
With regard to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP, specific details of expenses related to dollar amounts spent by the government for the acquisition of waivers of ineligibility are not uniquely capture in the RCMP’s financial system. Consequently, an extensive manual search would be required and this would not be possible to do within the given timeframe.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
With regard to expenditures for the Prime Minister's Office and the Privy Council Office, both in Langevin Block and in Centre Block, broken down by building, since April 12, 2016: (a) what is the total amount spent on renovations and furniture; (b) what is the amount spent on purchasing new furniture, broken down by item and cost; (c) what is the amount spent on re-upholstering pre-existing furniture, broken down by item and cost; and (d) what other expenditures have been made with regards to renovations and furniture, broken down by item and cost?
Celina Caesar-Chavannes LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the Privy Council Office does not have record of expenditures for the Prime Minister’s Office or the Privy Council Office in Langevin Block or Centre Block from April 12, 2016, to September 26, 2016.
Alain Rayes Conservative Richmond—Arthabaska, QC
With regard to the federal government involvement in civil litigation resulting from the Liberal sponsorship program under the previous Chrétien government: (a) what civil court cases or other legal proceedings are currently still ongoing; (b) for each case currently ongoing, what are the details including plaintiff, defendant, case number, and stage of proceedings; (c) are there any cases which were ongoing as of November 4, 2015 but are no longer ongoing; and (d) if the answer to (c) is affirmative, what are the details of any such case including: (i) case name or number, (ii) plaintiff, (iii) defendant, (iv) outcome (verdict, agreement, or case was dropped), (v) if case was dropped, reason for dropping case, (vi) amount of money recovered from defendant, if applicable, (vii) date that the legal proceedings ceased to continue?