House of Commons Hansard #251 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was historic.

Topics

Commissioner of LobbyingRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Commissioner of LobbyingRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

Commissioner of LobbyingRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Waterloo Ontario

Liberal

Bardish Chagger LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

moved:

That, in accordance with section 81 of the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S.C., 1985 c. P-1, and pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(2), the House approve the appointment of Mario Dion as Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, for a term of seven years.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

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

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

An hon. member

On division.

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, on division we usually find out how people would like to vote. I was going to vote in favour of two of the commissioners and against one. Is that permissible?

Conflict of Interest and Ethics CommissionerRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

When it is accepted on division, normally what happens is the majority of the people accept it. Since we do not have a vote, I am afraid it is not expressed under these conditions.

Since all of you are leaving, if I could have your attention, please. I just want to wish everyone happy holidays. I hope all of you spend a lot of time with those who are close to you, those you love, and enjoy the time you can take. We will see you in the new year.

Treasury Board SecretariatRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Kings—Hants Nova Scotia

Liberal

Scott Brison LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the annual report to Parliament for the fiscal year 2016-17 entitled “Benefits and Costs of Significant Federal Regulations, and the Implementation of the One-for-One Rule”.

This report highlights the net benefit of important regulations made by the Governor in Council in 2016-17 and serves as a public report for the one-for-one rule, as required under the Red Tape Reduction Act.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 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 responses to eight petitions.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

December 13th, 2017 / 3:35 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 mission to the country that will next hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union and the fourth part of the 2017 session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria and Strasbourg, France, from October 4 to 13, 2017.

Merry Christmas, Skipper.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Geng Tan Liberal Don Valley North, 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 parliamentary delegation respecting its participation in the co-chairs annual visit to China of the Canada-China Legislative Association held in Kunming and Hainan, People's Republic of China, October 10 to 14, 2016.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Terry Sheehan Liberal Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports by the Canadian delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group. The first is respecting its participation at the 25th annual meeting of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, APPF, held in Fiji January 15 to 19, 2017.

The second is respecting its participation at the 38th general assembly of the ASEAN Interparliamentary Assembly, AIPA, held in the Philippines September 14 to 20, 2017.

Season's greetings to everyone.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Gord Brown Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON

Mr. Speaker, it has been a while since I have had the opportunity to present some reports from the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. As the former chair, I did that regularly, but on behalf of the current chair, the member for Malpeque, I have the honour today to rise in the House.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. The first report concerns the U.S. congressional visit held in Washington, D.C., the United States of America, from March 14 to 16 of 2016. That one is a little old.

The second report concerns the 55th annual meeting with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, in Washington, D.C., United States of America, from June 20 to 22, 2016.

Mr. Speaker, since this will be the last time I have an opportunity to rise in the House in 2017, I wish everyone here, and all of my constituents, a merry Christmas and happy new year.

Veterans AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Neil Ellis Liberal Bay of Quinte, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, entitled “Comparative Study of Services to Veterans in Other Jurisdictions”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish a merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and everyone in the House.

Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Mike Bossio Liberal Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in relation to Bill C-57, an act to amend the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

I would also like to wish you, Mr. Speaker, my fellow colleagues, and all my constituents back home a very merry Christmas and all the very best in 2018.

Industry, Science and TechnologyCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Dan Ruimy Liberal Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology entitled “Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation: Clarifications are in Order”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

To all the clerks, analysts, translators, support staff, and especially to Tonya and everyone in publications, I thank them for working so hard to deliver this report before the winter break.

I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a happy new year.

Citizenship and ImmigrationCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, entitled “Building an Inclusive Canada: Bringing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in Step with Modern Values”.

I would like to take a moment as well to thank the members of the committee for their very diligent and good work on the report. As well, particular thanks to Erica the clerk, Julie, and Madalina, and the translators, who worked around the clock this week to have it ready before the House rose.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Citizenship and ImmigrationCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Mr. Speaker, our dissenting report agrees with the finding that change absolutely must occur in relation to the excessive demand provision. However, it outlines that the committee report was issued with many crucial data points not being considered; that the minister was undertaking a provincial consultation process that provides a parallel policy option, as opposed to what is recommended in the report; that a majority of the provinces and territories did not participate in the study; and that the report's recommendations only reflect one of two policy options presented at committee.

Natural ResourcesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, entitled “Strategic Electricity Interties”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my fellow committee members who worked so hard to get this report done, and particular thanks to the staff, analysts, and the clerk, who made this all happen.

I would also like to say merry Christmas to all of my constituents in Etobicoke—Lakeshore, and to all of my colleagues in the House.

Access to Information, Privacy and EthicsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th and 11th reports of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

The 10th report is entitled “Protecting Canadians' Privacy at the U.S. Border”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

The 11th report is entitled “Certificate of Nomination of Mario Dion to the Position of Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner”.

Mr. Speaker, we would like to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas.

Public AccountsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Kevin Sorenson Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following six reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. I am pleased to be joined by my vice-chair today, the hon. member for Brossard—Saint-Lambert.

The 34th report entitled “Report 2, Customs Duties, from the 2017 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada-Part 1”; the 35th report entitled “Report 5, Temporary Foreign Worker Program, of the Spring 2017 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”; the 36th report entitled “Report 1, Management of Fraud Risk, of the Spring 2017 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”; the 37th report entitled “Special Examination Report-Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, of the Spring 2017 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”; the 38th report entitled “Report 6, Civil Aviation Infrastructure in the North, of the Spring 2017 Report of the Auditor General of Canada”; and the 39th report entitled “Special Examination Report-Defence Construction Canada, of the spring 2017 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to each of these six reports.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts adopted these six reports yesterday, all unanimously. I want to thank the members and the substitutes of our committee for their great work. These reports represent over 140 pages, in each official language, that were translated, formatted, and published by a small group of employees of the House, who worked diligently in record time to meet today's deadline.

I want to thank all the employees of the translation bureau, parliamentary publications, our committee analysts and the clerk, and many other assistants who made this miracle happen.

As well, to all Canadians and to my constituents, and to all members here, I want to wish all a very merry Christmas from my family to theirs. We hope they all have a very safe holiday, and come back in the new year refreshed and ready to do the right thing for all Canadians.

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-388, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (bestiality).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce an act to amend the Criminal Code, bestiality. On June 9, 2016, the Supreme Court ruled that the Criminal Code provisions around bestiality do not adequately define which sex acts with animals are prohibited.

Consequently, the Supreme Court upheld an acquittal of a British Columbia man who was charged with bestiality after compelling the family dog to sexually abuse his daughter. This case makes it obvious that a loophole for sex abusers to avoid conviction exists. This case highlights the need for updated legislation to keep both humans and animals safe. The current law is reflective of an archaic understanding of sex, and the change the bill seeks to make reflects the language of the Supreme Court ruling and, frankly, is a no-brainer.

The Liberals should have introduced legislation to correct this issue immediately after the ruling. Nearly a year and a half later, I hope that tabling this bill today will encourage the Prime Minister to stop dragging his feet, and to take action to make this common sense change.

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