Debates of May 9th, 2018

Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Athletes

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

[Members sang the national anthem]

[The Speaker, Liberal, Geoff Regan]

As we can see, some of the best things around here are unscripted.

Like other Canadians, we appreciate the years of training and sacrifice and the determination it takes to become a world-class athlete. You are all champions and an inspiration to your fellow Canadians. Thanks to your hard work, Canada finished the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games with a record number of medals.

Today is also an opportunity to recognize coaches, mission staff, and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees for their hard work and dedication. Many of them are sitting in the south gallery, and I would ask them to stand.

Congratulations again. Thank you all for representing Canada so well at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and good luck in your future endeavours.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Wayne Easter, Liberal, Malpeque, PE]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, four reports of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group.

The first report concerns the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance conference held in Ottawa, Ontario, from May 7 to 9, 2017.

The second report concerns the meeting with members of the United States House of Representatives held in Windsor, Ontario, from September 14 to 16, 2017.

The third report concerns the annual National Conference of the Council of State Governments held in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., from December 14 to 16, 2017.

The fourth report concerns the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association held in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., from February 23 to 25.

[Leona Alleslev, Liberal, Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34 I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Economic Relations and Science and Technology Committee, Ottawa, Ontario; Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; Resolute Bay, Nunavik, Canada; from September 11 to 15.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 13th report of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs concerning Bill C-262, An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The committee studied the bill and decided to report it to the House without amendment.

Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th and 15th reports of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

The 14th report is entitled “The Protection of Net Neutrality in Canada”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

The 15th report is entitled “Main Estimates 2018-19: Vote 1 under Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, Vote 1 under Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Vote 1 under Office of the Senate Ethics Officer, Vote 1 and 5 under Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners of Canada”.

Child Labour

[David Sweet, Conservative, Flamborough—Glanbrook, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present today signed by dozens of constituents.

The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to compel Canadian companies to publicly report on what they are doing to address child labour and modern slavery in global supply chains.

Natural Resources

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to table petitions and to help citizens' voices be heard in Parliament. Today I am tabling two petitions.

The first petition is from citizens who oppose the Kinder Morgan pipeline.

Eating Disorders

[Sheri Benson, NDP, Saskatoon West, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from citizens who request the Government of Canada initiate discussions with the provinces, ministers, and all stakeholders to develop a comprehensive pan-Canadian strategy for eating disorders.

Canada Post

[Richard Cannings, NDP, South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition in the House today from residents of the West Kootenay region of my riding. It is a petition in support of postal banking.

The petitioners point out that two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders; that 3,800 Canada Post outlets already exist in rural areas where there are few banks or credit unions; and that Canada Post already has the infrastructure to make a rapid transition to include postal banking.

The petitioners call on the government to enact Motion No. 166 to create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under the Canada Post Corporation.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to table petitions on behalf of my constituents from coastal British Columbia, calling on the government to create a national strategy to combat plastic pollution in our waterways.

The petitioners call on the government to address plastic pollution by regulating single-use plastics and banning polystyrene and the use of it in our waterways. They call on the government to fund beach cleanups and education around ocean plastics and plastics in our waterways. They call on the government to invest in education and redesign the plastic economy. They call on the government for producer responsibility as well.

I am honoured to table this petition on behalf of the B.C. coastal people.

International Trade

[Tracey Ramsey, NDP, Essex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to present a petition from petitioners across Canada. The petition is on NAFTA, which is of a timely nature.

The petitioners request that the Government of Canada, during the NAFTA renegotiations, make no more concessions to undermine our supply-managed systems. They demand the removal of ISDS provisions, the elimination of the energy proportionality provisions, that significant improvements to enhance the enforceability of the agreements on labour and environmental standards are made, and that the government resist further patent extensions and to ensure a fair intellectual property regime.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present.

The first petition is in regards to the Thames River. As members will recall, the previous government stripped environmental regulations covered in the Navigable Waters Act, leaving hundreds of rivers vulnerable, including the Thames River in London, Ontario.

The current government has promised, but failed, to reinstate the environmental protections that were gutted from the original act. Therefore, the petitioners call on the Government of Canada to support my bill, Bill C-355, which would commit the government to prioritize the protection of the Thames River by amending the Navigation Protection Act. Of course, this would extend to all lakes and rivers that we cherish.

Canada Post

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in support of postal banking. As has been stated, nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to payday lenders. They are predators in our neighbourhoods. Often it is the poor, marginalized, rural, and indigenous communities who suffer most.

Therefore, because there are 3,800 Canada Post outlets in rural areas not covered by banks and credit unions and Canada Post has an incredible infrastructure and could easily make the transition to include postal banking, the petitioners ask the Parliament of Canada to support Motion No. 166 and create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking to the benefit of all Canadians.

Animal Welfare

[Mark Gerretsen, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of 25 members of my community who call on the government to discard plans for a goat dairy prison farm at Joyceville Institution, to prevent the use of animals in prisoner rehabilitation programs except under sanctuary animal therapy models.

I would add that I find it extremely important to always represent my constituents and bring forward petitions as they present them to me. Unfortunately, with this petition, I would not particularly agree with the content of it, and my previous speeches in the House speak to that. However, I do see the need to ensure their voices are heard. As a result, I present this to the House today.

The Environment

[Sheila Malcolmson, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, there are more bulk carriers anchored in the Salish Sea than we have ever seen before. Therefore, today I table petitions in the House, which are a continuation of thousands of signatures we have received.

The petitioners call on the transport minister not to approve five new bulk anchorages proposed for Gabriola Island where I live. Five new anchorages, each for 300-metre freighters, risk oil spills, habitat destruction, and the jobs dependent on the sport fishing industry.

There are signatories from Abbotsford, Surrey, Fort McMurray, Saskatoon, Nanaimo, and Gabriola Island. We commend the petition to the transport minister.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if the government's response to Question Nos. 1595 to 1609 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Mr. Anthony Rota]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 1595

[Marilyn Gladu, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

With regard to costs related to the Development Finance Institute Canada (DFIC) Inc.: (a) what are the estimated start-up costs for the DFIC, broken down by type; and (b) what are the yearly projected operating costs, for each of the next five years starting in 2018-19?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1596

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

With regard to applications for the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs program: (a) how many applications were rejected due to a failure to sign the attestation; (b) what is the name and riding of each applicant in (a); (c) how many applicants were requested to re-submit their application, due to a failure to sign the attestation; (d) what is the name and riding of each applicant in (c); and (e) how many applicants in (c) actually did re-submit their application and were awarded funding?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 1597

[Bob Saroya, Conservative, Markham—Unionville, ON]

With regard to travel to India in February 2018 taken by the Prime Minister and other Ministers: (a) what are the details of all invoice or contracts received to date related to the trip including (i) vendor, (ii) amount, (iii) date, (iv) description of goods or services provided, (v) file number; and (b) what is the total amount spent on travel to and from India by the government in February 2018 including the amount spent on (i) government aircraft, (ii) commercial air travel, (iii) other travel, (iv) accommodations, (v) other expenditures?

(Return tabled)