House of Commons Hansard #291 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was grain.

Topics

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.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 42 petitions.

International TradeCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on International Trade. It is a very hard-working committee. We are working hard not only for key stakeholders on trade around the world but for Canadians. I am very proud of our team.

Our report today is called “Multiculturalism: its Contribution to Canada's International Trade and Investment Activities”.

Public AccountsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Kevin Sorenson Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 45th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Oral Health Programs for First Nations and Inuit—Health Canada, of the Fall 2017 Reports of the Auditor General of Canada”.

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

Public Safety and National SecurityCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON

Mr. Speaker, several hundred witnesses later, and 50-plus amendments, 76 briefs, and over 70 hours worth of testimony, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 19th report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to Bill C-59, an act respecting national security matters. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments. This was a classic demonstration of how a parliamentary committee should operate.

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussion among the parties, and if you seek it I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion.

I move:

That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, when no Member rises to speak on the motion relating to Senate amendments to Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, or at 1pm this day, whichever comes first, every question necessary to dispose of the said stage of the said Bill shall be deemed put, and a recorded division deemed requested and that the division not be deferred.

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

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

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

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?

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Transportation Modernization ActRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

(Motion agreed to)

Criminal CodePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Rob Nicholson Conservative Niagara Falls, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting, I am sure, one of the largest petitions you perhaps have seen in this House. It is related to the government's attempt to repeal section 176 of the Criminal Code in Bill C-51. That is the section that protects members of the clergy and religious services. When the government decided that it was going to remove that completely from the Criminal Code, it caused a considerable amount of discomfort and outrage across this country.

I have a petition signed by over 8,000 people. They are petitioning the government to leave that section alone so that religious services and members who officiate at religious services have specific protections. I am proud to present this. The petition has been duly certified by the clerk of petitions.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present three petitions to the House today.

The first petition is on an important issue in my riding, and that is plastics. It is in support of Motion No. 151 on how we are going to address plastics. It is about regulations aimed at reducing plastic debris discharged from stormwater outfalls; industrial use of microplastics, including but not limited to microbeads, nurdles, fibrous microplastics, and fragments; and consumer and industrial use of single-use plastics, including but not limited to plastic bags, bottles, straws, tableware, etc.

This is an important issue in our riding. We live on the coast, and the petitioners want to make sure that we see a clean shoreline.

Canada PostPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on another important issue in my riding, which is making sure that Canada Post services are kept.

The petitioners ask that Canada Post make sure that the workers do not lose their jobs. Five million households will lose their door-to-door delivery over the next five years. The petitioners want to make sure that this does not happen, because the cuts will hurt seniors and disabled Canadians in particular.

Canada Post barely held any consultations, and the petitioners are very concerned about that as well. This petition has a lot of signatures from my riding. This is a big concern. We hope to see it addressed soon.

PornographyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC

Mr. Speaker, the third and last petition I will be presenting today is largely from citizens in Campbell River. The petitioners are asking the Minister of Public Safety to look at the harmful impact of pornography on the human mind and on public safety. They are asking the minister to remove all pornographic entertainment, including premium movie TV packages, from all Canadian federal penitentiaries.

CataloniaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present e-petition 1335. This is an issue I have not heard raised in this place as a petition.

The petitioners are very concerned about the ongoing issue of independence for the state Catalonia. Millions of Catalans have been peacefully demonstrating. There was a vote, as we all know, by Catalans. The petitioners are concerned about the brutal repression of demonstrators and call on the House of Commons to condemn violent acts of police against defenceless and peaceful civilians who are demonstrating to support how they cast their own ballots for a democratically elected Catalan government, independent of the State of Spain.

VIA RailPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today.

The first petition is from Canadians who believe that VIA Rail should have a management strategy. It does not have a long-term plan and direction approved by government, thus it can unilaterally end service on any given route that affects thousands of Canadians. If we have a management strategy, VIA can increase rail travel and reduce environmental and financial costs.

The petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to support my bill, Bill C-370, to establish a clear mandate for VIA Rail.

Banking ServicesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians in support of postal banking.

Nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders, whose crippling lending rates affect poor, marginalized, rural, and indigenous communities most. There are 3,800 Canada Post outlets already in rural areas, where there are few or no banks or credit unions.

Canada Post has the infrastructure and the ability to make rapid transactions, including postal banking. Therefore, the petitioners are asking the government to enact my Motion No. 166 to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

PharmacarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I table today another petition from constituents of Winnipeg North.

The petitioners want to bring to the attention of the Prime Minister and all members of this House how important it is that we have a national pharmacare program. They want to see changes made so that all Canadians have accessible, free prescribed medicines.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Is that agreed.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Leeds--Grenville--Thousand Islands--and Rideau LakesVacancyRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

It is my duty to inform the House that a vacancy has occurred in the representation in the House of Commons for the electoral district of Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes in the province of Ontario by reason of the passing of Gord Brown.

Pursuant to subsection 28(1) of the Parliament of Canada Act, the Speaker has addressed a warrant to the Acting Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill this vacancy.

Transportation Modernization ActGovernment Orders

May 3rd, 2018 / 10:10 a.m.

Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Marc Garneau LiberalMinister of Transport

moved:

That a message be sent to the Senate to acquaint their Honours that, in relation to Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and other Acts respecting transportation and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts, the House:

agrees with amendments 2, 7(a) and 10(b) made by the Senate;

respectfully disagrees with amendments 1(a)(i), 1(b), 5(a)(i), 5(b) because the issues raised by the amendments are addressed in the bill or by existing legislation;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 1(a)(ii) because this would affect the Minister’s ability to issue a decision on an application for a joint venture within the timelines set forth in the bill;

respectfully disagrees with amendments 3 and 4 because the passenger rights will be established in regulation by the Canada Transportation Agency, as opposed to the airlines, and will automatically be incorporated into an airline tariff for the benefit of the passenger, and furthermore, Bill C-49 does not preclude third party advocates from filing complaints on the content of terms and conditions of tariffs they find unreasonable;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 5(a)(ii) because Bill C-49 mandates new regulations that would specify carriers’ obligations or standards of treatment of passengers for any delays, including a tarmac delay, as well as specific obligations for tarmac delays of more than three hours;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 5(a)(iii) because further study and consultation with concerned parties, including the federal agencies responsible for official languages, the Official Languages Commissioner and the industry stakeholders are required to better understand the economic implications and competitiveness on the Canadian air sector;

proposes that amendment 6 be amended by replacing the text of subsection (1.01) and (1.1) with the following “(1.1) For the purpose of an investigation conducted under subsection (1), the Agency shall allow a company at least 20 days to file an answer and at least 10 days for a complainant to file a reply. (1.11) The Agency may, with the authorization of the Minister and subject to any terms and conditions that the Minister considers appropriate, of its own motion, conduct an investigation to determine whether a railway company is fulfilling its service obligations. The Agency shall conduct the investigation as expeditiously as possible and make its determination within 90 days after the investigation begins.”;

proposes that amendment 7(b) be amended by replacing the text with the following text “in Canada that is in the reasonable direction of the shipper`s traffic and its destination;”;

in order to keep the intent of the Senate amendment 7(b), proposes to add the following amendment to Clause 95, subsection (5), page 64, by replacing line 8 with the following “km of an interchange in Canada that is in the reasonable direction of the shipper`s traffic and its destination”;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 7(c) because shippers in the Maritimes will continue to have access to other shipper remedies in the Act;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 8 because the final offer arbitration is not intended to be a cost-based remedy but rather a commercially-based process to settle a dispute during a negotiation of a confidential commercial contract;

proposes that amendment 9 be amended by replacing the text of the amendment with the following text “59.1 (1) Schedule II to the Act is amended by replacing “Bean (except soybean) derivatives (flour, protein, isolates, fibre)” with “Bean (including soybean) derivatives (flour, protein, isolates, fibre)”. (2) Schedule II to the Act is amended by replacing “Beans (except soybeans), including faba beans, splits and screenings” with “Beans, including soybeans, faba beans, splits and screenings”. (3) Schedule II to the Act is amended by adding, in alphabetical order, “Meal, soybean”, “Meal, oil cake, soybean”, “Oil, soybean” and “Oil cake, soybean”.”;

respectfully disagrees with amendment 10(a) because it would significantly impact the ability of railways to ensure the safety of railway operations.

Transportation Modernization ActGovernment Orders

10:20 a.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would ask for leave to return to questions on the Order Paper.

Transportation Modernization ActGovernment Orders

10:20 a.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

Is that agreed?