House of Commons Hansard #241 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was senate.

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(House in committee of the whole to recognize the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games athletes, Mr. Geoff Regan in the chair)

[And Canada's 2017 Special Olympic World Winter Games athletes being present in the chamber:]

Canada's 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games AthletesOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

It is my pleasure to welcome onto the floor of the chamber many of the athletes who competed in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria last March, led by the chef de mission and the 2017 honorary coach.

These athletes on the floor of the chamber and in the gallery have competed in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowshoeing, and speed skating.

Canadians from across the country are justly proud of you, and so are we. Like them, we appreciate the years of training and sacrifice, and the determination it takes to become a world-class athlete.

You are all champions. You are an inspiration to your fellow Canadians.

Today is also an opportunity to recognize coaches, mission staff, and Special Olympics Canada for their hard work and dedication. Many of them are sitting in the gallery, and I would ask them to stand.

Congratulations again, félicitations, thank you all for representing Canada so well in the Special Olympics, and good luck in your future endeavours:

Sara Albers, Chris Anderson, Adelina Bailey-Lopes, Alexia Barré, Emile Baz, Matthew Bedard, Donna Bilous, Ryan Blinn, Kirsten Bobbie, Robert BomBoir, Darren Boryskavich, Serge Boulianne, Ronald Brandt, Susan Brophy-Leblanc, Holly Burton, Ronald Cambridge, Julien Cardinal Moffet, Alyssa Chapman, Janet Charchuk, Dr Neil Cheeseman, Ernest Chua, Janet Collins, Matthew Cormier, Mark Cullen, Kyrren Dean, Sheldon Dean, Justin Dodge, Kevin Dooks, Sylvie Ducharme, Doug Dunk, Jack Fan, Chelsea Fidler, Matthew Fields, Robert Fougere, Michael Gilbert, Timothy Goodacre, Stephen Graham, Jacqueline Gravel, Adam Guthrie, Shane Haddad, Tyler Haddad, Sébastien Hamel-Bourdeau, Brianna Harris, Floressa Harris, Kristen Hudson, Maureen Hunter, Raymond Huson, Elijah Ilag, Christopher Innes, Darren Inouye, Jade Irvine, Jennifer Jackson, Darlene Jakubowski, Evan James, Dan Jamieson, Mark Jamieson, Rosie Laidler, Michael Langridge, Zane Lauritsen, Veronique LeBlanc, Nancy Leduc, Allison Libertini, Terry Livingstone, Adam Lloyd, Allison Love, Dennis Lynch, Darlene MacQuarrie, Benjamin Maeseele, Daniel Martin, Rachel Mathews, Sarah McCarthy, Tijana McCarthy, Sara McKelvie, Andrew McTaggart, Paul McTaggart, Tracey Melesko, Kelsey Mellan, Michael Milani, Jill Moore, Paige Norton, Valerie Nyhout, Alexander Pang, Renée Pelletier, Christine Peters, Roxana Podrasky, Juli Prokopchuk Brattan, Barb Prystai, Mario Richard, Jonathan Robbins, David Robertson, Elizabeth Roman, Hellaina Rothenberg, Michael Roy, Jamie Salé, Stéphanie Savard, Randy Scott, Patric Seeds, Olivier Séguin, Justin Sigal, Sandra Smith, Peter Snider, Katherine St Amand, Francis Stanley, Philip Ste-Marie, Elouise Stewart, Shane Stewart, Kailinda Stewart, Ron Struch, Michael Sumner, Marc Theriault, Erin Thom, Ben Tinholt, Paul Turner, JorDen Tyson, Garth Vickers, Lucie Villeneuve, James Walker, Susan Wang, David Whyne, Tony Wilkinson, David Wilkinson, Michael Wimbs, Elijah Wood, Katie Xu, Crystal Young, Joanne Zahaiko, Tracey Zwiers,

Canada's 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games AthletesOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Canada's 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games AthletesOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

All members are invited to a reception in room 237-C to meet our distinguished guests.

[And Canada's 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games athletes having left the Chamber:]

Canada's 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games AthletesOral Questions

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

The committee will rise and I will leave the Chair.

Foreign AffairsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Fredericton New Brunswick

Liberal

Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

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 “Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of China on Sharing and Return of Forfeited Assets”, done at Ottawa on September 22, 2016. An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine 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, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 10 petitions.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary delegation respecting its participation at the 38th Interparliamentary Meeting with the European Parliament's delegation responsible for the Relations with Canada, and the third part of the 2017 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Brussels, Belgium, and in Strasbourg, France. That was from June 21 to June 29, 2017.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the CPA, respecting its participation at the Executive Committee Meeting held in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from April 23 to 27, 2017.

Canadian HeritageCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, concerning Bill S-236, an act to recognize Charlottetown as the birthplace of Confederation.

Canadian HeritageCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in relation to Bill S-232, An Act respecting Canadian Jewish Heritage Month.

Transport, Infrastructure and CommunitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Ken Hardie Liberal Fleetwood—Port Kells, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the18th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, in relation to Bill C-48, An Act respecting the regulation of vessels that transport crude oil or persistent oil to or from ports or marine installations located along British Columbia's north coast. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with an amendment.

Government Operations and EstimatesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski Conservative Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, entitled, Supplementary Estimates (B) 2017-18: Vote 1b under Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation and Safety Board; Vote 1b under Privy Council Office; Vote 1b under Public Service Commission; Votes 1b and 5b under Shared Services Canada; and Votes 1b, 15b, and 20b under Treasury Board Secretariat.

Navigation Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Wayne Stetski NDP Kootenay—Columbia, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-360, An Act to amend the Navigation Protection Act (certain lakes and rivers in British Columbia).

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today to present this bill, Bill C-360, an act to amend the Navigation Protection Act regarding certain lakes and rivers in British Columbia. Canadians know that water and, of course, the great people we have in Canada are really our greatest assets. Water was how we first travelled around the country, using rivers and lakes. Water is one of the reasons people around the world look at us with a great deal of envy.

I am very proud today to present this bill, which would bring back into the Navigation Protection Act 12 lakes and 21 rivers from my riding of Kootenay—Columbia, which were excluded under the Conservative amendments to the act a number of years ago. One of the lakes that would be included is Columbia Lake, which is, of course, the source for the great Columbia River system, and 21 rivers, including the Flathead and Kicking Horse rivers.

I would like to see support from all members of Parliament, because we all know how important water is to being Canadian.

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

Orange Shirt Day: A Day for Truth and Reconciliation ActRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Murray Rankin NDP Victoria, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-386, An Act to establish Orange Shirt Day: A Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce my private member's bill that would recognize September 30 as orange shirt day in honour of residential school survivors and those who did not survive. I am deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues for this initiative.

The title comes from a story shared by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, who at six years of age had her orange shirt forcibly removed on her first day of residential school. Orange shirt day would acknowledge that Canada intended to assimilate indigenous children into colonial culture by depriving them of their clothing, their language, and contact with their families. It would also educate future generations about the importance of respect and the role that both indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians must play in reconciliation.

This bill responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. Generations of indigenous children endured tremendous pain and harm. Canadians must never forget this history and must strive to do better.

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

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition signed by 39 constituents of mine. They are calling the attention of the House to the fact that Canadians have not been given adequate time to be consulted and to provide feedback on the small business tax changes. They draw the attention of the House to family businesses that will suffer because essential retirement plans and rewards for the risk will be eliminated. Finally, they are asking the government to abandon the unfair tax proposals and defend Canadian businesses as the main driver of the Canadian economy.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present petitions today.

The first is from people in and around Calgary, submitted by Crista Keating, James Howe, and Sally Lewis.

These petitioners are concerned about recently proposed tax changes, as are many Canadians. They are concerned that the proposed changes will make it more difficult for small businesses and those struggling to make them a success. They are concerned the government has created a climate of instability and uncertainty for small businesses, and this has put millions of jobs at risk. The petitioners ask that the government recognize the risks in operating a small business and abandon its unfair tax changes.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a second petition today from hundreds of people in and around Calgary.

The petitioners are concerned about the way the Chinese government has dealt with Falun Gong practitioners. They are calling on Canada's government to condemn illegal arrests of Falun Gong practitioners, and more specifically, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Canadian Ms. Qian Sun.

TaxationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Len Webber Conservative Calgary Confederation, AB

Mr. Speaker, the third petition I am pleased to present is from dozens of Calgarians. This petition was submitted by my constituent Cindy Berg.

The petitioners ask that the government abandon its unfair tax changes. These petitioners are concerned about the negative effect it will have on small businesses and employment in Canada. These petitioners recognize that, when our small businesses are struggling, it has an effect on all of us.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, like my colleague from British Columbia, I have a petition in regard to navigable waters. As members may recall, the Conservative government stripped away environmental regulations that were covered by the Navigable Waters Protection Act, leaving hundreds of rivers and lakes vulnerable.

My community of London, Ontario, has asked that the Thames River be protected from unfair and unethical development. The petitioners ask that the Liberal government, which has failed to keep its promise to reinstate environmental protection, do so and support my Bill C-355, which commits the government to prioritizing the protection of the Thames River by amending the Navigation Protection Act.

Abandoned VesselsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise again to bring voices from Victoria, Nanaimo, and Ladysmith to this Parliament, given that the Liberals have blocked debate on my abandoned vessel legislation, Bill C-352. The petitioners urge Parliament to allow the bill to be debated in the House and to be deemed votable. This is based on the solutions in the proposed legislation to resolve the long-standing problem of abandoned vessels, having come directly from coastal communities. The petitioners cite fixing the vessel registry, creating a fee to assist with the cost of vessel disposal, supporting local marine salvage, and supporting recycling efforts.

With three hours left to vote today, I urge all members of Parliament to hear this petition.

AgriculturePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table a petition in the House today on behalf of residents from Hornby Island, Denman Island, and Courtenay.

The petitioners want to recognize the inherent rights of farmers derived from thousands of years of custom and tradition to save, reuse, select, and exchange all seeds. Further, the petitioners call upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise to present this petition today on the eve of the Prime Minister's trip to China.

Very appropriately, petitioners are asking the House to consider the plight of the practitioners of Falun Dafa and Falun Gong in China, and particularly of Canadian citizen Qian Sun, who was illegally kidnapped. The petitioners are hoping the Prime Minister will indeed raise the issues of human rights in his upcoming visit.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

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

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

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Mr. Anthony Rota

Is that agreed?