Debates of April 16th, 2018

Natural Resources

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources in relation to Bill C-354, An Act to amend the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act (use of wood). The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendment.

I would like to thank the committee members, the clerks, and the analysts for working so hard to make this happen, and in particular the member for South Okanagan—West Kootenay for introducing the bill and being so accommodating with the committee members.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add my condolences from the people of Yukon to the people of Humboldt. Northerners grieve with them at this time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 59th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I move that the 59th report be concurred in today.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

No.

Animal Welfare

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise today to present a petition that deals with the issue of animal testing.

The petitioners are from throughout the GTA, including Toronto, Mississauga, and Ajax. They ask the government to look at our current laws in relation to animal cruelty and compare them to what is done in the European Union, where half of the global cosmetic market exists and where they have prohibited the importation and sale of cosmetics that have been tested on animals. Norway, India, and Israel have acted similarly.

The petitioners call on the House to act to ensure that we ban the use of animal testing for the purpose of cosmetics.

Pharmacare

[Carol Hughes, NDP, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Mr. Speaker, before I start, the good people of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing share in the grief of Humboldt, Saskatchewan. Families, friends, and communities within my riding are really troubled by what happened. They wanted me to express their sincere condolences to the families, friends, and communities.

It is always a pleasure for me to rise and table a petition on behalf of the good people of Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing. This petition is signed by people from Elliot Lake who call for universal pharmacare in Canada.

The petitioners point out that one in five people are unable to fill their prescriptions due to financial reasons. They feel that people should not have to struggle to pay for the prescription drugs they need. They say that Canada is the only country in the world with a universal medicare system that does not include prescription drugs.

The petitioners also point out that the estimated savings are in the billions of dollars and add that a universal pharmacare program would be a wise investment. That is why they are calling on the government to work with the provinces on implementing such a program within the framework of our health care system.

The Environment

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, before I table this petition, I would also like to bring condolences from the people of Courtenay—Alberni to my colleague in the Conservative Party from Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, to her constituents, to the people of Humboldt, and to the people of Saskatchewan, from Vancouver Islanders, from our junior hockey team in the Alberni Valley, the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and the Oceanside Generals. People in our riding have put hockey sticks outside their doors and have been holding vigils throughout our communities to send strength and stand in solidarity.

Today, I table a petition that calls on the Government of Canada to support Motion No. 151 to create a national strategy to combat ocean plastics and to work with all levels of government to develop the strategy. It is an important issue to the people of coastal British Columbia.

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.

The first is from a number of citizens ask the Government of Canada to reinstate the Canadian volunteer service medal. As members know, it was a medal that was available for the volunteer work done by our veterans and troops until March 1947. The constituents who have signed this petition wish the government would consider bringing this medal back.

The petitioners call on the government to create and issue a new Canadian military volunteer service medal for Canadians in the regular forces, reserve military forces, cadet corps, and support staff, all who have completed 365 days of uninterrupted honourable duty in service of our country of Canada.

Pharmacare

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition calls upon the House to consider the needs of communities and members of those communities who do not have access to pharmaceuticals.

As members know, one in five people are unable to fill their prescriptions. People struggle to have the money to pay for prescription drugs. Canada is the only country with a universal medicare system that does not include prescription drugs in that system. We have estimated, and a number of very knowledgeable people have estimated, that we could save billions of dollars if we had a universal pharmacare system.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to actively work to lower prescription drug costs for all Canadians, to work with the provinces, and to implement a universal pharmacare system as part of our public health care program.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, if the government's response to Questions Nos. 1511 to 1560 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 1511

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

With regard to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) sections of departments, agencies, Crown corporations or other government entities, and broken down by each: (a) how many employees or full-time equivalents (FTEs) did each ATIP section have as of (i) January 1, 2016, (ii) January 1, 2018; and (b) how many employees or FTEs are assigned to process ATIP requests, if different than (a)(i) and (ii)?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1512

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary Forest Lawn, AB]

With regard to infrastructure funding: what amount has been actually delivered, as opposed to simply announced, in infrastructure funding between November 4, 2015, and February 12, 2018, broken down by riding?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1513

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

With regard to the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) administration of the Alberta government's new carbon tax rebates in the last calendar year: (a) what is the total number of rebate payments issued; (b) what is the total monetary amount of these rebates; (c) what is the total number of rebate payments issued to non-residents of Alberta; (d) what is the total monetary amount of rebates issued to non-residents; and (e) what is the total annual administrative cost for the CRA to manage this program for the provincial government?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1514

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

With regard to the livestreaming of events on government Facebook pages during the 2017 calendar year: (a) what is the complete list of events or announcements which were livestreamed on official government Facebook pages; and (b) how many views did each livestream have (i) live (not including views after the conclusion of the event), (ii) in total as of February 12, 2018?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1515

[Harold Albrecht, Conservative, Kitchener—Conestoga, ON]

With regard to the purchase of “likes” on Facebook by government departments, agencies, Crown Corporations, or other government entities since January 1, 2016: (a) what are the details of all such purchases, including (i) amount, (ii) date, (iii) number of “likes” purchased, (iv) title of page or post which received the likes; and (b) what is the total of all expenditures in (a)?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1516

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L'Érable, QC]

With regard to the development of Canada’s new Food Guide: (a) has Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada done any studies related to the impact of the Guide on various sectors of the agricultural industry; (b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, what are the details of the studies, including (i) findings, (ii) who conducted the study, (iii) website where findings are located; and (c) what specific role does the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food have in relation to the development of the new Food Guide?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1517

[Dean Allison, Conservative, Niagara West, ON]

With respect to Transport Canada’s Trade and Transportation Corridors Initiative (TTCI), and the 2 billion dollar commitment over 11 years for the National Trade Corridors Fund: (a) what are the details of all completed applications received for the National Trade Corridors Fund as of December 31, 2017, including (i) applicant, (ii) amount requested, (iii) project description, (iv) province or territory of applicant; and (b) what are the details of all pilot project applications for the 50 million dollar investment for transportation innovation, including (i) applicant, (ii) amount requested, (iii) project description, (iv) province or territory of applicant?