Debates of June 20th, 2018

Killer Whales

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honour to rise today to present to the House a petition that was developed by the students at Salt Spring Elementary School. They worked very hard to present a petition to the House calling for urgent action to protect the southern resident killer whales of the Salish Sea.

The petitioners point out that these whales will soon become extinct if we do not save them. They believe that the oceans protection plan is a good start, but that much more needs to be done to protect the southern resident killer whales.

The petitioners call on the government to take action to deal with disturbances from whale-watching operations and from other vessels that are operating in the vicinity of the southern resident killer whales, and to take urgent action to protect the whales from physical and acoustic disturbance.

Human Organ Trafficking

[Candice Bergen, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present petitions from individuals who are concerned about the international trafficking of human organs.

The petitioners ask us to please move quickly with legislation that will end this horrific practice.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions today.

The first petition has to do with myalgic encephalomyelitis. This disorder, which currently affects thousands of Canadians, is a devastating nervous system disorder for which there is no effective treatment and that is still little-known in the medical community. There is a lack of funding for research on this disorder.

The petition was signed by nearly 480 people from across Quebec who are calling for increased funding for research to develop treatments that are tailored and accessible to all those with this disorder.

Trans Mountain Pipeline

[Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet, NDP, Hochelaga, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition has to do with the purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which was obviously a shock to Canadians across the country. For example, in my riding of Hochelaga, which is quite far from British Columbia, the petition garnered 600 signatures in under three days.

These petitioners are calling on the Liberal government to reverse its decision to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline, adopt real measures to invest this money in green energy, and listen to the provinces, first nations, and all of the Canadians who oppose this pipeline.

Pharmacare

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to table yet another petition signed by residents of Winnipeg North. It is about the pharmacare program.

The petitioners want to see a national pharmacare system put into place for prescription medicine.

Justice

[Matt Jeneroux, Conservative, Edmonton Riverbend, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand here to present a petition.

We all hold the integrity of our children at the heart of every decision we make. A constituent of mine, Delphine Brooker, asked me to propose this petition on her behalf. She did the hard work in our community. Over 139 people signed this petition from our community alone.

The petitioners want us to focus on our children first in any decision we make here and in any proposed changes made to sexual offences involving children. We again hold our children as the top priority.

Seniors

[Brigitte Sansoucy, NDP, Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition regarding automatic registration for the guaranteed income supplement. Most of the petitioners are members of the Saint-Damase branch of the FADOQ.

The federal government announced that it was launching a process to automatically register seniors for the GIS, but that process will not apply to everyone who is eligible. It will not apply until they reach the age of 65. This is an important federal government program because it provides low-income seniors who collect old age security with extra income.

For these reasons, the petitioners are calling on the government to extend automatic registration for the GIS to all seniors.

Canada Summer Jobs Program

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition in which citizens and residents of Canada draw to the attention of the government section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which identifies, among other things, freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, and freedom of belief as fundamental freedoms.

The petitioners call upon the government to defend the freedom of conscience, thought, and belief, and withdraw the attestation requirement for applicants to the Canada summer jobs program.

Justice

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

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table a petition today on behalf of my constituents, who are members of the Knox United Church in Parksville and who support the Parksville-Qualicum Interfaith Kairo committee.

The petitioners call for recommended changes to the justice system so decision-makers, such as judges and juries, are, under all circumstances, are fully representative of the community affected by an alleged crime.

The Environment

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

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition from people who are in support of Motion No. 151.

The petitioners call on the government to create a national strategy to combat plastic pollution and create regulations aimed at reducing single-use plastics, plastic debris discharged from stormwater outfalls, permanent and dedicated annual funding for cleanup of derelict fishing gear, and education and outreach campaigns.

On behalf of the constituents of Courtenay—Alberni, Mr. Speaker, I want to wish you a wonderful summer. I wish the same to all the pages and staff on the Hill, and to my colleagues as well.

Canada Summer Jobs Program

[John Nater, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present a petition signed by many constituents in my riding of Perth—Wellington. The petitioners call on the Prime Minister to defend the constitutionally protected fundamental freedoms of Canadians, including freedom of conscience and religion, and to remove the attestation for participants in the Canada summer jobs program.

Public Transit

[Alexandre Boulerice, NDP, Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by over 1,000 people who support the reinstatement of the public transit tax credit, something that is really important to many people living in urban centres, such as Montreal. It is also important to people living on modest incomes, because it was often the only tax credit they were entitled to at the end of the year. It is very important to us and to the petitioners that it be reinstated.

Small Business

[Lisa Raitt, Conservative, Milton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to present two petitions, one with 9,772 signatures, the other one with 4,857 signatures, both of which call on the Minister of Finance and the Government of Canada to take care and ensure that any consultations on small business tax changes are done appropriately, with full power to ensure that they are done with diligence and respect for the complexity of the impact of taxation on Canadian business.

Myanmar

[Rachel Blaney, NDP, North Island—Powell River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour that I would like to table e-petition 1282 in the House of Commons. The Canadian rapporteur on Myanmar reported back to Canada on the horrific humanitarian conditions faced by the Rohingya people, where there is clear evidence to support that crimes against humanity have been committed. Alongside thousands of Canadians, we call on the government to make a commitment to support the Rohingya people and to pressure Myanmar to stop the violence and ensure that those responsible for violations are held to account.

Human Organ Trafficking

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this petition. There are two bills before Parliament proposing to impede the trafficking of human organs obtained without consent or as a result of a financial transaction: Bill C-350 in the House, and Bill S-240 in the Senate. Therefore, I am pleased to present these signatures from people mostly in the greater Toronto area urging the Parliament of Canada to move quickly on the proposed legislation to amend the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to prohibit such acts.

Vision Loss

[Cheryl Hardcastle, NDP, Windsor—Tecumseh, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise with probably the last piece of business we are going to have for the spring of 2018. I know that as we shutter this place and go home to our constituencies, all of us are going to be able to re-energize and have a very safe summer.

I am rising with a petition for the Government of Canada from concerned citizens who understand that vision loss is a public health problem that is increasing and that we need to have a national action plan. Therefore, the petitioners are calling for that kind of national framework, because the government has an important role in a coordinated response for prevention, for research, for therapy, for public education, and for treatment. Of course, that is the whole purpose of the petition. I congratulate these citizens on being so forthcoming in their care for other people.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first quickly thank the team over at the PCO who handle all these tablings, specifically the team in the Office for the Coordination of Parliamentary Returns, in particular Nicole, Paul, Claudette, and Martina, who have done a tremendous job of ensuring that we respond to all questions asked by members. I would add to that list Stephanie and Jevan.

The following questions will be answered today: Questions Nos. 1756 and 1814.

Question No. 1756

[Georgina Jolibois, NDP, Desnethé—Missinippi—Churchill River, SK]

With regard to the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resource Strategy, since fiscal year 2015-16: (a) which geographic areas has the government identified as “areas of high need, including rural and remote settings”; (b) how many healthcare workers have accepted employment in the areas identified in (a); (c) how many, broken down by number and percentage, of those healthcare workers identified in (b) were offered permanent, full-time employment; and (d) how many, broken down by number and percentage, of those identified in (b) were accepted by people who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit)?

[Bill Blair, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, the pan-Canadian health human resource strategy, HHRS, was a Health Canada funded initiative to help recruit and retain health care providers and promote optimal working conditions for them. Although funding for projects under the HHRS concluded in 2015-16, Health Canada continues to examine health workforce priority issues, including the planning, organization, and delivery of health services through the pan-Canadian committee on health workforce.

With regard to (a), although the Government of Canada provides financial support to the provinces and territories for health care services, the responsibility for matters related to the administration and delivery of the health workforce, including identifying areas of need and managing the supply and distribution of the health workforce, falls within provincial and territorial jurisdiction.

With regard to (b), Health Canada does not collect this data. Please refer to response (a).

With regard to (c), Health Canada does not collect this data. Please refer to response (a).

With regard to (d), Health Canada does not collect this data. Please refer to response (a).

Question No. 1814

[Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

With regard to the statement in the House of Commons by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on May 22, 2018, in relation to terrorist travellers under the previous government that “Not one was charged”: (a) prior to making the statement, was the Minister briefed by officials on the charges laid against Awso Peshdary, John Maguire and Khadar Khalib, in February 2015; (b) if the answer to (a) is affirmative, why did the Minster provide information to the House which was contrary to the information officials provided to him; and (c) if the answer to (a) is negative, why did the Department fail to provide the Minister with the pertinent information?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, on May 22, 2018, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness said in the House of Commons, “I would note that under the Harper government some 60 terrorist travellers returned to Canada. Not one was charged.”

Prior to November 4, 2015, no criminal charges were brought against any individual who returned to Canada after participating in terrorist activity.

Charges laid against Awso Peshdary were for actions taken on Canadian soil. John Maguire and Khadar Khalib were charged in absentia.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Furthermore, if the government's responses to Questions Nos. 1752 to 1755 and 1757 to 1762 could be made orders for return, these returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is it the pleasure of the House that the aforementioned questions be made orders for return and that they be tabled immediately?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 1752

[Earl Dreeshen, Conservative, Red Deer—Mountain View, AB]

With regard to concerns that individuals who have received a northern living allowance are reassessed by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) at a higher rate compared to the general population: (a) for the last year where statistics are available, what percentage of taxpayers were reassessed by CRA who (i) received a northern living allowance, (ii) did not receive a northern living allowance; and (b) what is the percentage of taxpayers who were reassessed, broken down by province or territory of residence?