House of Commons Hansard #315 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pricing.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I have the honour to lay upon the table, pursuant to section 38 of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act, the report of the Public Service Integrity Commissioner for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.
This report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Pursuant to subsection 79.2(2) of the Parliament of Canada Act, it is my duty to present to the House a report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer entitled “2017-18 Report on the Activities of the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer”.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Pursuant to section 28 of the Conflict of Interest Code for Members of the House of Commons, it is my duty to present to the House the report of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner on an inquiry in relation to the hon. member for Timmins—James Bay.
Matt DeCourcey LiberalParliamentary 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 “Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency” signed in Bonn on January 26, 2009.
An explanatory memorandum is included with the treaty.
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 10 petitions.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Implementation ActRoutine Proceedings
Saint-Maurice—Champlain Québec
Liberal
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of International Trade
¢moved for leave to introduce Bill C-79, An Act to implement the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership between Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mark Eyking Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Mr. Speaker, the House is very active this morning on trade. We are a trading nation, and it is good to see the minister tabling his report.
I have the honour to present the 11th report of the Standing Committee on International Trade, “Expanding Trade and Investment with Selected Asia-Pacific Countries: Report on a Fact-Finding Mission to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand”. These are known as the ASEAN countries. We returned from there. It is a huge market, with a fast-growing economy and young people. It is a market we should look at. I am glad that my colleague, the member for Mississauga East—Cooksville, is also here with me to present this report. I would recommend that all members read the report and try to visit these wonderful countries. It is a good way to expand trade and to get along with other countries.
Transport, Infrastructure and CommunitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
Judy Sgro Liberal Humber River—Black Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “Update on Infrastructure”.
I want to thank and congratulate all members of the transport committee for their great co-operation and the great work they all did.
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 65th 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 intend to move concurrence in the 65th report later today.
Karen Vecchio Conservative Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Women's Economic Security: Securing the Future of Canada's Economy”. This is a fantastic opportunity to do the study, with over 42 members of Parliament taking part in this. I would like to thank the member for Sarnia—Lambton, our former chair, who did an exceptional job. I would also like to give special thanks to our clerk, Kenza Gamassi, as well as Clare Annett, Dominique Montpetit, and Laura Munn-Rivard from the parliamentary information and research service. This is a very extensive study, and I believe that all parliamentarians and all Canadians will find some exceptional information on everything from pay equity to child care and what we can do for women when it comes to mentorship.
Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of tabling the party's dissenting report for the study on economic security completed by the Standing Committee on the Status of Women. As Conservatives, we know that there are many ways to be a successful woman and it is up to each woman herself to choose the path to her success, which is why economic choice is the greatest measure of equality and something that every government should strive for. Women deserve the freedom to work where they choose, be that on the farm, in the office, in the classroom, at home, et cetera. It is the woman's choice, and it is not up to the government to dictate this to her.
Women are strong and capable. They are able to make these decisions for themselves, and they are able to make them in conjunction with their family members. Autonomy must be granted; freedom must be protected; and choice must be respected. This is what women expect from every government, and this one is no exception, despite the fact that the Liberals think they can dictate these things to women in Canada.
The Prime Minister has said that poverty is sexist. In saying this, he has said that poverty disproportionately impacts women and impacts them in a very negative way. Here is the interesting thing. This is the same government that is imposing a carbon tax, and the carbon tax will impact the well-being of women. Let us consider in particular single mothers who are responsible for driving their children to sports practices, dance classes, school, et cetera. These women will now be paying an additional 11¢ per litre on the gasoline that they put in their vehicles in order to go to the places they need to go in order to be good moms. All of this feeds into their ability to economically support themselves and their families.
It is the government that is putting the carbon tax in place. Furthermore, we have asked the government how much the carbon tax is going to cost Canadian families. We would love to know how much it is going to cost a single mom who is working hard to raise her family. The government has hidden that information not only from us on this side of the House, but from all Canadians. Liberals are saying that this is good for Canada, but it is going to ruin lives. It is going to make life less affordable. It is going to prevent people from being able to pay their bills and do the things that are necessary for daily life. The government needs to do more to advance the economic security of women, instead of disadvantaging them.
I agree with the Prime Minister that poverty is sexist, and he is perpetuating it.
Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT
Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 65th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier today, be concurred in.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
John Brassard Conservative Barrie—Innisfil, ON
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise today to present a petition with numerous names on it. There are currently two bills before Parliament proposing to impede the trafficking of human organs obtained without consent or as a result of financial transactions, Bill C-350 in the House of Commons and Bill S-240 in the Senate. It gives me great pleasure to present this petition on behalf of those who signed it.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. The first is in support of Bill C-397, which would amend legislation that denies a spouse the pension of military personnel, members of Parliament, judges, employees, public servants, and RCMP if the marriage took place after age 60.
We know very well that spouses provide care, support, and love even after age 60. The petitioners are calling upon the Government of Canada to support my bill, Bill C-397, which would amend all legislation that denies surviving spouses pensions based on the time of their marriage, because even after 60, we can love.
Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON
Mr. Speaker, nearly two million Canadians desperately need an alternative to the predators at payday lenders' institutions. They charge crippling fees that affect the poor, marginalized, rural, and indigenous communities the most. We have 3,800 Canada Post outlets that already exist in rural and remote areas, where there are few or no banks. These outlets are perfectly capable of conducting financial transactions. The petitioners ask the Government of Canada to enact my motion, Motion No. 166, which would create a committee to study and propose a plan for postal banking under Canada Post Corporation.
The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan
I remind the hon. member for London—Fanshawe and others that while presenting petitions we do not present arguments. We present in brief and in a very summary form what the petitioners are seeking.
The hon. member for Oxford.
Dave MacKenzie Conservative Oxford, ON
Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to present this petition. Increasing concerns about international traffic in human organs removed from victims without consent have not yet led to a legal prohibition on Canadians who travel abroad. There are two bills, one before the House and one in the Senate, Bill C-350 and Bill S-240, and the petitioners request that they be passed as soon as possible to prohibit this. The petitioners are from across southwestern Ontario.
Sheila Malcolmson NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC
Mr. Speaker, at a time of unprecedented global awareness about the problem of marine plastics, and horrifying images of choked whales and snared sea-turtles, petitioners from Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Parksville, and Gabriola Island call on Parliament to support the motion of the New Democrat member for Courtenay—Alberni, Motion No. 151. They call for action on marine plastics, supplementing the citizen action to clean up beaches. Citizens are also calling for change, and specifically calling on the government to regulate use of single-use plastics, as well as provide permanent and ongoing funding to deal with marine debris such as ghost nets, which have been killing fish and marine mammals for decades. We commend the petition to the House.
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have five petitions to table, so I will do this as quickly as I can. The first petition is from 26 constituents of mine regarding the Income Tax Act. They are specifically petitioning the House of Commons, reminding it that up to 40% of persons with disabilities do not apply for disability tax credit. They are calling on the House to support Bill C-399, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, disability tax credit. They want to protect diabetics and patients with rare diseases so they are able to apply for the disability tax credit. They want to ensure that they receive the benefits they deserve and are entitled to.
Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on Bill C-350, which was introduced in the House.
The petitioners expressly call on Parliament to pass Bill C-350 and Senate Bill S-240. These bills propose to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in order to prohibit Canadians from travelling abroad to acquire organs obtained without consent or as a result of financial transactions, as well as to render any permanent resident or foreign national who has engaged in the heinous practice of human organ trafficking inadmissible to Canada.
This petition has been signed by Canadians across the country.