Debates of Nov. 27th, 2017

Access to Information Act

[Joyce Murray, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board]

Madam Speaker, the Information Commissioner and the former Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics recommended that, subject to oversight by the commissioner, an enhanced act should give government institutions the authority to refuse to process frivolous or vexatious requests, which clog up the system.

The committee made amendments to give the commissioner the power to make the final decision about whether a request could be refused by a department.

Does the member opposite believe this was a step in the right direction for our access to information system?

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

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague from Vancouver Quadra for her very relevant question, but above all, for the quality of her French. I very much appreciate it.

Anyone who speaks in the official language that is not his or her mother tongue deserves our respect and our encouragement, especially the Minister of Finance. I have said this many times. Once again, it would be nice if he gave us some answers, but that is another story.

The member for Vancouver Quadra has a good point. I would like to remind her, however, of something I said earlier in my speech. We believe this does not go far enough.

We see this as regressive, and I am not trying to lecture anyone here. I was a journalist for 20 years, and I did my job to the best of my ability. I was not the best or the worst. I was pretty good, but I cannot say I was the Daniel Leblanc of my field. As everyone knows, he was the one who uncovered the Liberal sponsorship scandal.

Based on that information, we believe that this bill does not go far enough, and although we recognize that an important amendment has been made to the original bill, we still believe that the amendment does not go far enough.

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Madam Speaker, I have a question for the member, but I do not speak French.

First of all, I am delighted that the member brought up transit, because I would love to see the comparison of the billions upon billions we are putting into transit with this party, and I will maybe ask the environment minister to do that.

The member said we should go a bit further in some clauses. Could he name one clause and explain the wording he would like us to go farther on, especially with his experience as a journalist?

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

The hon. member for Louis-Saint-Laurent has the floor, but I will ask him to be brief.

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

Madam Speaker, I would like to say that I appreciate the fact that he said a few words in French.

With regard to public transit, I think that the government needs to do more to help those who use this mode of transportation. That does not preclude other investments in transport, but all of this must be done with an eye to balancing the budget.

To the member's other relevant question, as a former journalist I would say that these new measures that have been introduced would ultimately allow the government to accept or reject access to information requests regarding its own departments; it is like asking a judge to preside over their own case.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

I thank the member. He will have approximately six minutes for questions and comments the next time this bill is before the House.

The House resumed from November 23 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Finance Minister's Assets

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Carol Hughes]

It being 6:30 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Carleton relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #403

Business of Supply

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the motion lost.

The House resumed from November-22 consideration of the motion that Bill C-45, An Act respecting cannabis and to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Criminal Code and other Acts, be read the third time and passed, and of the amendment.

Cannabis Act

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-45.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #404

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the amendment defeated.

The next question is on the main motion.

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

No.

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And five or more members having risen:

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #405

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

The House resumed consideration of the motion.

National Security Act, 2017

[The Deputy Speaker, Bruce Stanton]

Pursuant to an order made on Thursday, November 23 the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #406