Debates of June 1st, 2016

International Trade

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, time is running out on a new softwood lumber deal, yet the Minister of Trade sees the 100-day deadline for a new deal as more of a checking-in period. No progress is being made, and the U.S. election is coming up. The government continues to tell Canadians to hang in there, which is unacceptable.

What do the Liberals have to say to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians employed in the forestry sector whose jobs are on the line, aside from to hang in there?

[David Lametti, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, we are working very hard to get a good deal for all of Canada on the softwood lumber file. The government recognizes the importance of the industry across Canada.

Officials from the USTR met with the Canadian team here in Ottawa last week. There is a subsequent meeting planned. The minister is engaged. The ambassador is engaged. We are going to get a deal that ensures stable access to the American market.

Democratic Reform

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, referendum is indeed a noun and like all nouns it has a definition. This one is found in the Referendum Act of 1992, which makes it clear that we can only hold a referendum in Canada—unless we go through the process of changing that act—on a constitutional matter. Changing our voting system is not a constitutional question.

I want to ask the Prime Minister if he agrees with me that it appears that our friends in the Conservative Party are not interested in a referendum or they would have looked at the act. They are interested in stopping Canadians from getting what we voted for as a majority, a fair voting system.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that electoral reform is an issue that matters to a number of Canadians, but few more so than those of us in the House who will be affected by it. That is why we have committed to working with Canadians and with members of the House.

We are committed to fulfilling our commitment to Canadians to ensure that the next election, in 2019, will not be done under first past the post.

Presence in the Gallery

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the Ladies Gallery of the participants of the 13th Canadian Parliamentary Seminar, organized by the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I have another recognition.

Almost 150 years ago, journalists took their seats for the first time in the reporters’ gallery of the original Centre Block, and the Parliamentary Press Gallery was born.

Today, press gallery members continue to have a place set aside in this chamber, and they perform an important democratic function.

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of two former hon. members of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery:

Helen Brimmell, nee Bannerman, was the third woman in history to become an official member of the gallery, in 1946. She was one of only two women reporting on the Hill at the time. She worked for The Canadian Press, The Royal Gazette in Bermuda, the Oshawa Times-Gazette, and the Guelph Mercury. Helen retired in 1990.

Bernard Dufresne joined the Parliamentary Press Gallery in 1954 as a young Canadian Press journalist. He worked here until 1960 and then returned from 1963 to 1965 as a correspondent for The Globe and Mail. He then became a minister's assistant in the government of the day before joining the public service until he retired in 1989.

[Some hon members]

Hear, hear!

[Phil McColeman, Conservative, Brantford—Brant, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I apologize for my outburst during question period. However, as the father of an intellectually disabled adult son, I find it reprehensible that the Minister of Democratic Institutions would use the disabled, insinuating—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The member is engaging in debate, as he knows. I appreciate the apology. The member cannot engage in debate as a point of order. This is debate.

Uighur Muslims in China

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

The Chair has notice of a request for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, as per my letter to you, pursuant to Standing Order 52, I request leave to make a motion to discuss actions the government can take to address the human rights situation facing Uighur Muslims in China, specifically in light of threats to religious liberty that this community may face during Ramadan, starting June 6.

The Uighur Muslim community living in the People's Republic of China faces significant human rights abuses. During Ramadan these abuses have included forcible prevention of people from engaging in this deeply important Muslim fast.

In 2015, the Chinese government banned civil servants, students, and teachers in the Xinjiang region, where most Uighurs live, from fasting during Ramadan. It also ordered restaurants to stay open. On January 1, new “Enforcement of Religious Affairs Regulations" came into effect in the region, with the professed goal of limiting the role of religion in “marriage, funerals, culture, the arts, and sports".

Again this year, counties have posted notices forbidding students and Communist Party members from participating in the Ramadan fast.

The Chinese government is paying attention to what we in Canada say and do not say on these issues. We in this House, the government, and you, Mr. Speaker, can make a difference for these suffering people by using this opportunity to discuss the role we can play in response to this situation.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

I thank the hon. member for his intervention, during which he set out reasons why he believes the matter is serious and deserves immediate attention.

However, in the present circumstances I do not think it meets the exigencies of the Standing Orders regarding emergency debates. The hon. member may wish to explore other options that may be available to him, either through upcoming opposition days or by other means.

Oral Questions

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I understand there was a little noise in the chamber toward the end of question period, and you may not have heard the question by the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands. I think if you do check the blues on it, you may find that it does not fall under the administration of government. The position of the Conservative Party is not something the Prime Minister has to answer for.

We are about to enter into tabling of documents, and during question period, the Prime Minister said that our party “a éliminé...le droit de vote”. I wonder if the government can table any evidence of anyone in Canada being disenfranchised.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

First of all, as the hon. member very well knows, the rules of relevance are not all that strict here. In fact, the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands's question was about the voting electoral system, which is within the responsibilities of the government.

Now we will hear from the hon. member for Montcalm on a point of order.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to statements we just heard during question period.

I am sure that if we ask—

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Would the member please start over because his microphone was not on when he started.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in light of the statements made during question period, I am sure that if you were to ask all parties in the House about membership of the electoral reform committee, people would give the Green Party and the Bloc Québécois the right to participate and vote.

I would like to move the following motion: “That the participation of the Bloc Québécois and the Green Party be governed by the same provisions governing all other members and include the right to vote”.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

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

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

There is no consent.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Parliamentary Delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Joint Meeting of the Defence and Security, Economics and Security, and Political committees and Officers of the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security and the Science and Technology Committee held in Brussels, Belgium, February 13 to 15, 2016; and at the Defence and Security Committee meeting held in Washington, DC, and Miami, Florida, United States of America, from January 26 to 29, 2016.

Public Accounts

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following two reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: the ninth report entitled “Report 4, Information Technology Shared Services, of the Fall 2015 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”; and the10th report entitled “Report 5, Canadian Armed Forces Housing, of the Fall 2015 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to these two reports.

Finance

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-15, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 22, 2016 and other measures.

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendment.

Income Tax Act

[David Tilson, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-280, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (golfing expenses).

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce my bill which would make green fees deductible as a business expense. We all know the old adage that says “more business gets done on the golf course than in the boardroom”. There is more to that than meets the eye.

As most members of the House already know, the golf industry in Canada is driven by small business owners. The people who own and run the local courses and employ thousands of Canadians contribute a tremendous amount to our economy.

It is acceptable for a business to deduct a portion of the costs of a Leafs game or a steak dinner as a expense when entertaining clients. It is only fair that a round of golf should be in the same category. The U.S. and the United Kingdom tax codes allow for this deduction. It is high time we allowed it in Canada as well.

I hope other hon. members will look favourably upon the bill.

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