House of Commons Hansard #329 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was c-77.
Karina Gould LiberalMinister of Democratic Institutions
Mr. Speaker, we agree with our colleagues across the way that there should not be any foreign interference. That is why I ask them to work with us at the procedure and House affairs committee to send Bill C-76 back to the House as soon as possible so we can pass the legislation to ensure that our elections are protected next election.
Let us work together. I hope my hon. colleagues across the way will get this done with us.
Simon Marcil Bloc Mirabel, QC
Mr. Speaker, a year ago almost to the day the House unanimously called on the government to ensure that there would be no breaches in supply management if a new NAFTA deal were reached.
Instead of telling the Americans that Parliament had agreed no concessions would be made, the government gave up its negotiating power, contradicted the House, reneged on its word and completely caved.
Knowing that Donald Trump's threats were nothing but hot air because Congress did not support tearing up NAFTA, why did the government once again sacrifice Quebec?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, we fully support our dairy producers, their families and their communities. It was a Liberal government that created the supply management system and it is a Liberal government that is preserving it.
This agreement will provide access to markets, but the most important thing is that the future of supply management is not in question.
Gabriel Ste-Marie Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, that is not the case for diafiltered milk.
In both the agreement with Europe and the TPP, Quebec's farmers were sacrificed to make gains for Canada. When Donald Trump withdrew from the TPP, the government did not renegotiate anything. It left the same breach in supply management. It told everyone not to worry about it and that the Americans would have to re-enter the TPP to have access to the concessions. The truth of the matter is that Quebec is paying three times: once for Europe, once for the TPP and once for NAFTA. After three strikes, we are out.
What good are the 40 Liberal MPs from Quebec when all they do is trample on Quebec's interests?
Chrystia Freeland LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, our government worked very hard to defend Canadians' interests. Our government defended our supply management system from the U.S. government's determined attempts to dismantle it. We were able to preserve, protect and defend our supply management system throughout the CETA, TPP and NAFTA negotiations.
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am sure all members of the House are aware that while the House is in session, they are not allowed to take pictures. I note that there has been at least one member of the New Democratic Party who has done so. I believe it has been posted. I just wanted to raise it as a point of order, and perhaps that individual would take down the picture if it is on social media.
Also, Mr. Speaker, perhaps you could just remind members that while we are in session, they are not supposed to be taking pictures with their smart phones.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I thank the hon. member for raising the point. Members should be aware that they are not allowed to take photographs in the House while it is in session. Certainly I would look very dimly on such activity, so I would encourage them to remove any such photographs.
Does the hon. member for Longueuil—Saint-Hubert wish to respond to this point of order?
Pierre Nantel NDP Longueuil—Saint-Hubert, QC
Mr. Speaker, I will take down the picture, but I have no regrets about drawing attention to the fact that dairy farmers in Quebec—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. Apparently, the hon. member does not want to obey the rules of the House of Commons. He should think about that and consider apologizing to me personally.
The hon. member for Montcalm on a point of order.
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a question of privilege. On September 26, 2017, the House unanimously adopted the following motion:
That the House reiterate its desire to fully preserve supply management during the NAFTA renegotiations.
Everyone knows that, yesterday, the government concluded a new agreement with the United States. By so doing, the government dismissed out of hand the unanimous will—
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Order. I must remind the hon. member for Montcalm that, according to the Standing Orders and practices of the House, prior notice of at least one hour must be given to raise a question of privilege. Since I have still not received any such notice, we must move on to other things for the time being. The hon. member will have the opportunity to raise his question of privilege later if he provides notice.
The hon. member for Montcalm on another point of order.
Luc Thériault Bloc Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, a question of privilege must be raised as soon as the breach occurs. I could not inform you a day or an hour in advance because I did not hear the government confirm what was reported in the media. Then I had to wait until question period to have the opportunity to rise today. It was therefore impossible to give an hour's notice. You are the guardian of parliamentarians' speaking time, and independent members get very little of that. It seems to me that you could at least wait until the end of my remarks, which are not even a minute long.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The hon. member has not given me any indication that it was something that occurred during question period. Perhaps it has to do with issues addressed during question period, but not something that occurred during that time. I understand that the matter is urgent to the member, but the rules and practices of the House require prior notice of at least one hour. I therefore maintain the same position.
Julie Dabrusin Liberal Toronto—Danforth, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, entitled “A Vision for Cultural Hubs and Districts in Canada”. This is an important step moving forward in building our cultural communities and cultural industries across our country.
Kevin Sorenson Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 50th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Report 7, Consular Services to Canadians Abroad—Global Affairs Canada, of the 2018 Spring Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition on the subject of human rights.
Human rights are routinely violated in the People's Republic of China, particularly of those who practise Falun Gong. These petitioners ask for the government to act and condemn the illegal arrest of a Canadian citizen, Sun Qian, for her practice of Falun Gong and call for her immediate release. She was illegally kidnapped in the People's Republic of China in February 2017.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. The first is a petition in support of postal banking because nearly two million Canadian desperately need an alternative to payday lenders because of the crippling lending rates that affect poor, marginalized, rural and indigenous communities. We have 3,800 Canada Post outlets already in existence in these rural areas, where there are few or no banks and credit unions. Moreover, Canada Post has infrastructure that could make a rapid transition to include postal banking.
The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to enact my motion, Motion No. 166, to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, my second petition is in regard to the affordability crisis Canadians are facing with housing and other costs in their daily lives. First and foremost, Canadians are indeed struggling with unaffordable housing, child care, precarious and unreliable work, and shrinking opportunities, particularly among our young. Household debt is at a terrible high and costs keep rising. Instead of helping people, the Liberal government has continued to invest in the wealthy and well-connected.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to invest in affordable housing now, not at some distant time, and to take concrete measures to address out-of-control housing markets, protect good-paying jobs and take actions that will support and benefit those who are struggling.
Eva Nassif Liberal Vimy, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present petition e-1540, initiated by Vladyslav Pashynskyy on behalf of members of the community of language professionals, students, colleagues and allies working in various fields.
They are seeking the government's help to improve working conditions for language professionals. This would be achieved through the creation of internships and jobs and by promoting respect for the profession from clients and employers.
This petition was launched in February 2018 and has more than 500 signatures.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, because bulk commercial anchorages anchored endlessly in the southern Salish Sea are risking oil spills, creating noise and light pollution, risking migratory bird species and herring spawn by dragging anchor, petitioners from across the region from Whistler, Pemberton, Vancouver, Qualicum, Ladysmith, Nanaimo and Gabriola urge the House not to establish new bulk commercial anchorages. These messages were reinforced at a round table I hosted with the MP for Cowichan—Malahat—Langford on Friday. Many many coastal communities are urging the House to take action.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to table a petition on behalf of Vancouver Islanders from Nanoose Bay, Parksville, Qualicum Beach and Coombs, who are seeing more and more plastic washing upon our shores and infecting the very marine species we rely on for our food security and to sustain ourselves.
I am honoured to table this petition. Petitioners are calling on the government to create regulations aimed at reducing plastic debris discharge, industrial use of microplastics; permanent, dedicated and annual funding for the cleanup of derelict fishing gear; community-led projects to clean up plastics and marine debris on our shores to mitigate the impact this plastic is having on our ecosystem; education and outreach campaigns on the root causes and negative environmental effects of plastic pollution; and most of all, to redesign the plastic economy. They are calling on the Government of Canada to adopt my motion, Motion No. M-151, to establish a national strategy to combat plastic pollution from entering our waterways.
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 at this time.
The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-77, an act to amend the National Defence Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee.