Debates of Sept. 28th, 2016

Indigenous Affairs

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

That will conclude question period for today.

Global Affairs

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2014-15 progress report on Canada's action plan for the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions on women, peace, and security.

Canada Business Corporations Act

[Navdeep Bains, Liberal, Minister of Innovation]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-25, an act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Cooperatives Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, and the Competition Act.

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

Public Accounts

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled “Report 6—Canada Pension Plan Disability Program” 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 this report.

Health

[Bill Casey, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to Bill C-224, an act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (assistance — drug overdose).

The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report it back to the House without amendment.

Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day Act

[Kerry Diotte, Conservative, Edmonton Griesbach, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-306, an act to establish a Crimean Tatar Deportation (“Sürgünlik”) Memorial Day and to recognize the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the House to introduce my private member's bill, an act to establish a Crimean Tatar deportation (“Sürgünlik”) memorial day and to recognize the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide.

I believe this is a very important issue for my constituents in Edmonton Griesbach, for Canadians of Ukrainian heritage, and for all Canadians.

The bill condemns a very dark chapter in history and takes a principled stand in support of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. I sincerely hope all parliamentarians will support my bill.

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

Controlled Drugs and Substances Act

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-307, an act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (tamper resistance and abuse deterrence).

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to introduce my private member's bill that would help Canadians deal with the scourge of drug abuse that is confronting many communities in Canada.

I want to thank the seconder of the bill, the member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, who, as a registered nurse working in health care and from British Columbia, certainly understands the abuse occurring with respect to the fentanyl issues we face. Every day, media across Canada report deaths by fentanyl or other powerful opioids.

The cost to our society of drug abuse is unbelievably high. Drug abuse is killing and hurting too many Canadians, including the drug abusers, their families and their friends.

This bill proposes to allow for specifying controlled substances or classes of controlled substances that must have abuse-deterrent and/or tamper-resistant properties, and would expand the government's regulatory powers in that respect. It would allow Canada to take swift action to restrict the access and flow of specific controlled substances or classes of controlled substances that do not currently have ADFs or tamper-resistant properties.

It is a pleasure to have a private member's bill, and I know this one would help save lives.

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

Freedom of Speech

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this petition relates to the fate of Mary Wagner, who was a prisoner of conscience. These petitions come from almost 1,300 residents of the greater Toronto area, the large majority from the riding of Mississauga East—Cooksville.

The petitioners ask Parliament to amend the Criminal Code of Canada to prohibit the detention before trial or custodial sentencing of anyone accused solely of a non-violent offence consisting of the presence or the words of the accused occurring in the course of the free exercise of speech by the accused or the free exercise of conscience by the accused.

Phoenix Pay System

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a petition that is signed by roughly 100 members of my community who have been affected by the problems that the government has been experiencing with Phoenix pay system.

The petitioners express their frustration over the system and ask that the government remedy this as soon as possible. Believe it or not, there are still a number of people in my constituency who continue to be dogged by this problem. This petition goes to encouraging the government to remedy that as soon as possible.

Arva Flour Mill

[Bev Shipley, Conservative, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, we now have 7,000 or better petitions regarding the Arva Flour Mill. Every province in our great country has taken the side of small business and this family and giving it an opportunity to stay viable.

The petitioners ask that the Arva Flour Mill be exempt from the Canada Labour Code.

Justice

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present 10 more petitions today, including signatures from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, in support of passing Molly's law.

A Statistics Canada study shows that over 60,000 Canadian women were victims of domestic violence between 2004 and 2009. The Native Women's Association of Canada is fully endorsing Bill C-225, which would protect pregnant women and their preborn children, indicating that at least 18 of the missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls were pregnant.

Canadians know that a national strategy combatting violence against women will need this law included to be comprehensive in addressing violence against women.

Physician-Assisted Dying

[Ted Falk, Conservative, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I want to present a petition signed by residents of Manitoba, which contains a consistent request with respect to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that guarantees the freedom on conscience and the freedom of religion.

The petitioners ask that Parliament establish conscience protection for physicians and health care institutions.

Falun Gong

[Dave MacKenzie, Conservative, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition from many people in my riding.

Among other things, the petitioners request the government pass a resolution to establish measures to stop the Chinese Communist regime of the crime of systematically murdering Falun Gong practitioners for their organs and to publicly call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Public Safety

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by Canadians from Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The petitioners are concerned about the accessibility and the impacts of violent and degrading sexually explicit material online and the impacts to public health, especially the well-being of women and girls.

As such, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons to adopt my motion, Motion No. 47.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if revised response to Question No. 258, originally tabled on September 19, could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 258

[Larry Miller, Conservative, Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, ON]

With regard to relocation costs for exempt staff moving to Ottawa since October 19, 2015: (a) what is the total cost paid by the government for relocation services and hotel stays related to moving these staff to Ottawa; and (b) for each individual reimbursement, what is the (i) total payout, (ii) cost for moving services, (iii) cost for hotel stays?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.