Debates of June 16th, 2017

Infrastructure

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear and I have assured the House a number of times that the infrastructure bank and any projects undertaken by the infrastructure bank would have to abide by provincial and municipal rules. We respect local jurisdictions.

I am proud to say that this week we made a significant investment in the city of Montreal, supporting an REM project that will create 34,000 jobs in that region. That is the kind of investment we want to make to ensure that our municipalities have the right tools to grow their economies and create jobs.

[Michel Boudrias, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, not a single soul in Quebec supports the federal government on this. Not one expert agrees with the Liberals. The Quebec National Assembly is unanimous. Is that clear enough?

The Liberals do not have any friends in Quebec when it comes to Bill C-44. The entire agricultural industry is opposed to it. The government is on its own on this issue, with the exception of the 40 phantom MPs from Quebec who are being irresponsible about this.

Will someone on the other side of the House stand up, just once, and say that they will not allow Quebec to be at the mercy of bankers?

[Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities]

Mr. Speaker, let me assure the hon. member once again that we have a very strong working relationship with the Province of Quebec, and the bank would have to abide by all the rules that are in place in every province and municipality.

On top of that, the bank will work very closely with the provinces and municipalities to bring forward the projects our communities need. Thirty-four thousand jobs have been created under one project for the Province of Quebec. We are proud to be working with them. We are proud to support to them.

Indigenous Affairs

[Hunter Tootoo, Independent, Nunavut, NU]

Qujannamiik uqaqti. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the riding of Kanata—Carleton. I was happy to donate to the society's north of 60 project, which is a national initiative aimed at providing food, supplies, and other goods to northern communities, including five communities in Nunavut.

While Nunavummiut are thankful for such generosity, they are also eager to see what changes have been made to the nutrition north program. Can the minister update the House on when Nunavummiut can expect the changes to be made?

[Carolyn Bennett, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for his advocacy on this file.

It is completely unacceptable that so many northerners are still struggling to feed their families. I am pleased to announce that the findings from the nutrition north community engagement sessions are now available online. Our government is considering all the feedback received during the recent engagement and is collaborating with northern and indigenous organizations to update the program to be much more reflective of northerners' needs.

Together we can ensure that northern families have access to affordable, healthy food.

Democratic Institutions

[Andy Fillmore, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) , I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report “Cyber Threats To Canada's Democratic Process”.

Foreign Affairs

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 the first amendment to the Espoo Convention adopted with decision II/14 of the second session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention in Sophia, from February 26 to February 27 2001, and the second amendment to the Espoo Convention adopted with decision III/7 of the third session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Espoo Convention in Cavtat, from June 1 to June 4, 2004. An explanatory memorandum is included in this treaty.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 13 petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[David McGuinty, Liberal, Ottawa South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, a report of the Canadian Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union respecting its participation at the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and related meetings in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from April 1 to April 5, 2017.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

[MaryAnn Mihychuk, Liberal, Kildonan—St. Paul, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs in relation to Bill S-3, an act to amend the Indian Act in relation to the elimination of sex-based inequities in registration.

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

Public Safety and National Security

[Pam Damoff, Liberal, Oakville North—Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to Bill C-23, an act respecting the pre-clearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States.

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

Government Operations and Estimates

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates regarding the review of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

While I am on my feet, let me just say, on behalf of my entire committee, how proud I am of the work the members have done. Their foresight and their hard work has resulted in a report that I believe will encourage all public servants to come forward to report any government wrongdoing that they may have seen, and they will be able to do so in a safe environment, without fear of reprisal.

I congratulate the committee.

Liaison Committee

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

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to say, pursuant to Standing Order 107(3), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Liaison Committee, entitled “Committee Activities and Expenditures: April 1, 2016 - March 31, 2017”.

Citizenship and Immigration

[Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Liberal, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled “Starting Again: Improving Government Oversight of Immigration Consultants”.

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

House of Commons Calendar

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

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and if you seek it, you should find consent to adopt the following motion for the 2018 calendar of the House of Commons. I move:

That, notwithstanding Standing Order 28 or any other usual practice of the House, the following proposed calendar for the year 2018, referred to as Option H, be tabled and that the House adopt this calendar.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Bruce Stanton]

(Motion agreed to)

Autism

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Kanata—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present three petitions from the constituents of Kanata—Carleton.

The first petition calls on the government to develop a national autism strategy through consultations with all levels of government and stakeholders.

Electoral Reform

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Kanata—Carleton, ON]

The second petition, Mr. Speaker, asks the government to develop a fairer electoral system.

Unmarked Graves of Soldiers

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Kanata—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition was given to me by students of All Saints High School in Kanata, who are in Mrs. Kirtz's civics class.

The students call for the government to find a constructive path forward to help identify unmarked graves of soldiers who died during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

I am impressed by the level of engagement of these students, as they learn how our democracy and government function.

Organ Donation

[Kevin Waugh, Conservative, Saskatoon—Grasswood, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition in support of a private member's bill, Bill C-316. This sensible proposal has been brought forward by my colleague from Calgary Confederation.

The petitioners call on the House to improve the organ donation system in Canada by making the process to register as an organ donor much easier. This would be achieved by adding the simple question to our annual tax returns.

Currently, 90% of Canadians support organ donation, but only 25% are registered. Forty-six hundred Canadians are currently awaiting a life-saving transplant. We know that making the registration process easier would save more lives in our country.

Interprovincial Trade

[John Barlow, Conservative, Foothills, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition signed by Canadians across the country. This is the fourth petition I have submitted on this issue. It is a petition signed by craft brewers, distillers, and vineyard owners, as well as Canadians who enjoy the incredible craft beer, wines, and spirits we have across Canada.

This petitioners ask the Liberal government two things.

The first is to act as an intervenor in the Supreme Court case of Gerard Comeau, which will be happening later this year. The petitioners want the federal Liberal government to support Canadian free trade.

Second, the petitioners ask the Liberal government to work with the provinces to include alcohol as part of the Canadian free trade agreement in time for Canada Day in 2018.