Debates of June 8th, 2018

Marine Transportation

[Marilène Gill, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the only contact the people of La Romaine and Unamen Shipu on the north shore have with the rest of the continent is the ship Bella Desgagnés.

The government has known for years that the wharf in La Romaine is in a critical state, so critical that the ship was able to unload only a quarter of its cargo yesterday, cargo that was primarily perishable goods. Tomorrow it might not even be able to dock.

Time is of the essence, and the safety and security of the people of La Romaine and Unamen Shipu are at stake.

Will the Minister of Transport act quickly? What does he plan to do for the people of the lower north shore?

[Karen McCrimmon, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her question.

The residents of La Romaine on the lower north shore are our priority. The minister's office has reached out to the local representative, and we remain in contact with Relais Nordik on this file.

We will ensure that the necessary work is completed as quickly as possible to fix this situation.

Certificates of Nomination

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the certificate of nomination with biographical notes for the proposed appointment of Heather P. Lank as parliamentary librarian.

I request that this certificate of nomination and biographical notes be referred to the Standing Joint Committee on the Library of Parliament.

Export of Military Goods from Canada

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2017 Report on Exports of Military Goods from Canada, and the 2017 Annual Report to Parliament on the Administration of the Export and Import Permits Act.

Export Development Canada

[Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Canada Account Annual Report, 2016-17, prepared by Export Development Canada.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Darrell Samson, Liberal, Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook, NS]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports from the delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. The first report is respecting its participation at the Bureau Meeting and the 43rd Ordinary Session of the APF, held in Luxembourg, Luxembourg, from July 6 to 11, and the second is respecting its participation at the Bureau Meeting of the APF, held in Paris, France, from January 31 to February 2.

Veterans Affairs

[Neil Ellis, Liberal, Bay of Quinte, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the tenth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs entitled “Main Estimates 2018-19: Votes 1 and 5 under Department of Veterans Affairs, and Vote 1 under Veterans Review and Appeal Board”.

Public Accounts

[Kevin Sorenson, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 48th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled “Special Examination Report—National Capital Commission, of the 2017 Fall 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.

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 49th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled “Special Examination Report—Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, of the 2017 Fall 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.

Justice and Human Rights

[Murray Rankin, NDP, Victoria, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights entitled “Main Estimates 2018-19”.

Foreign Affairs and International Development

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development entitled “Main Estimates 2018-19: Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and L25 under Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Vote 1 under International Development Research Centre, Vote 1 under International Joint Commission (Canadian Section)”.

Environment and Sustainable Development

[Churence Rogers, Liberal, Bonavista—Burin—Trinity, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development entitled “Main Estimates 2018-19: Vote 1 under Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Votes 1, 5 and 10 under Department of the Environment and Votes 1 and 5 under Parks Canada Agency”.

Main Estimates 2018-19

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The following motion in the name of the hon. Leader of the Opposition was put on the Order Paper:

That pursuant to Standing Order 81(4)(b), consideration by the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates of all Votes under Treasury Board Secretariat in the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019, be extended beyond June 10, 2018.

(Motion agreed to)

Chief Electoral Officer

[Bardish Chagger, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

moved:

That, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(2) and in accordance with section 13 of the Canada Elections Act, S.C. 2000, c. 9, the House appoint Mr. Stéphane Perrault as Chief Electoral Officer for a term of ten years.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

On division.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

(Motion agreed to)

Firearms

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, law-abiding firearms owners have sent me a petition. They are tired of being treated as criminals and being targeted unfairly by government laws. We all know that criminals and gang members do not obey the already strict requirements that legal firearms owners face. The long-gun registry will do nothing to help solve the problem of gun and gang violence in Canada.

Therefore, I am tabling this petition today, signed by hundreds of firearms owners in our communities and calling on the government to take action to target gang violence and to stop attacking law-abiding firearms owners, sport shooters, hunters, and farmers.

Taxation

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Mr. Speaker, while I have the floor, I do have one other petition from small businesses, which are the backbone of our Canadian economy. Businesses provide opportunities for jobs, sponsor our local sports teams, and support our charities. These are all businesses that are doing some great things in our communities, and they deserve to have the support from the government and have an environment where they can thrive and have fewer government obstacles in their way.

Therefore, I table this petition calling on the government to respect all small businesses, to recognize that no small business, such as campgrounds, can be too small to be a small business, and to ensure that all small businesses are treated in the same way.

Children's Welfare

[Geng Tan, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition signed by Canadians who are calling on the Government of Canada to ensure that all children in Canada have a good start in life by addressing social and economic inequality. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to put children's best interests on the public agenda.

Catalonia

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

Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to present a petition signed by citizens from British Columbia regarding the events that occurred in Catalonia last fall and that continue to the present. They point out that the right to self-determination is a cardinal principle under the UN charter of human rights, and they ask the government to, among other things, condemn the violent police attacks on peaceful civilians exercising their right to vote during the October referendum, express its concern about the imprisonment of democratically elected representatives, advocate that a political solution is needed—and that would involve discussion among the parties—and support the will of the Catalonian people and their right to democratically decide their relationship with Spain.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from a number of residents from the Waterloo region. They point out that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms identifies, among other things, freedom of conscience, freedom of thought, and freedom of belief as fundamental freedoms. They are calling out the Liberal government on its proposed attestation requirement for the Canada summer jobs program, under which applicants would be compelled to hold the same views as the government, which would contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Therefore, they are calling on the Prime Minister to defend the freedom of conscience, thought, and belief and withdraw the attestation requirement for applicants to the Canada summer jobs program.

Status of Women

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

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

The first is signed by folks in Prince Edward Island on the occasion of the G7 summit coming up here in Quebec. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to invest in women in the poorest countries and they are calling on Canada to commit to a bold initiative at the G7 summit that enables at least 100 million women to learn, work, and increase their independence.

Canadian Heritage

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 25 Prince Edward Islanders, who point out the record of General Jeffery Amherst in the 1700s, whose ultimate goal was to exterminate all indigenous peoples. The petitioners feel that the consultations that were taken in connection with the removal of General Amherst's name from a historic national site in Prince Edward Island were inadequate, and they are calling on the Government of Canada to remove the name Fort Amherst from the national historic site of Canada located near Rocky Point, Prince Edward Island.

Employment

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition from my constituents who believe the current Liberal government's proposed attestation for the Canada summer jobs program, requiring applicants to hold the same views as the government, contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They are calling on the Prime Minister to defend the freedoms of conscience, thought, and belief and to withdraw the attestation.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 1672, 1675, 1678, 1681, 1683, and 1684.