Debates of Dec. 5th, 2019

Sitting Resumed

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Thank you, Prime Minister.

I recognize the leader of the official opposition.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and my party, I offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your election. You can count on my collaboration in your duties.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to rise in the House and on behalf of the Conservative caucus to congratulate you on your election.

As this is my first time rising in the 43rd Parliament, I would also like to congratulate each and every one of my 337 colleagues here in having respectively won the right and the responsibility of representing their constituents in the House. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Regina—Qu'Appelle for their continued confidence in me to be their elected representative.

I will not repeat the words of the Prime Minister, but I too would like to congratulate the other candidates who ran for Speaker. They all acquitted themselves with dignity and grace, and gave members of the House a difficult choice in voting. I thank them for their participation, and I again thank the member for Halifax West for presiding over the previous Parliament with such great ability.

The Speaker must serve the House first. It is the Speaker's responsibility to ensure that all members can exercise their rights and privileges in the House. The Speaker's authority comes from all members, and that allows the House to function properly.

Mr. Speaker, the robes you will put back on, having had a set from the previous Parliament, are symbols of a few things: the neutral colours of black and white to denote your detachment from party affiliation, the old-style Queen's council robes and wig bag are a sign of the unbreaking traditions that are the foundation of parliamentary practice.

Mr. Speaker, you will represent the collective rights and responsibilities of members while you are in the chair, but you will also represent our Parliament in several ways around the world. I have great confidence that you will do so with the dignity and professionalism that being the Speaker of a G7 country warrants.

Many people have run for Speaker in the past, and many of the formulas the Speaker reads at various times in this place come from a very famous Speaker, William Lenthall, who was Speaker in 1640. He had a very famous quote. When the king demanded to know the whereabouts of certain members of Parliament who had committed treason, he replied, “May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here, and I humbly beg Your Majesty's pardon that I cannot give any other answer than this to what Your Majesty is pleased to demand of me.”

While William Lenthall was Speaker in 1640, he presided over what became known as “the long Parliament”. That Parliament lasted over 10 years. Thankfully, here in Canada we do not have to worry about that anymore. With the results of the last election, Mr. Speaker, you may well be presiding over a short Parliament, but you can count on our co-operation on one thing: Regardless of the length of this Parliament, the Conservative Party will do its best to make sure that it is a productive Parliament on behalf of the Canadians we serve.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you and offer congratulations to your wife, Chantal. I did not realize you are the first Speaker of Italian origin, so cent'anni.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to thank the hon. Leader of the Opposition, and I will translate, for any of you who are wondering what he toasted. He did not want the 10 years, but he said “cent'anni”, which means 100 years.

The hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

[Yves-François Blanchet, Bloc, Beloeil—Chambly, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you will not be surprised to hear that I want to mark this moment as my first time ever speaking in the House. This is a tremendous honour for me, and I will surely cherish this memory for the rest of my days.

I want to start by expressing my immense gratitude to the voters of Beloeil—Chambly for putting their trust in me, as well as to the voters of Quebec for putting their trust in the biggest delegation of Bloc Québécois members since the 2008 election. I am deeply grateful to the voters of Quebec. We fully understand the nuances of the mandate we have been given.

Naturally, I want to extend my heartiest congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker. We had a chance to talk briefly over the past few days. I already know, especially after hearing your speech, that you are richly endowed with all the dignity that the position calls for and that you will also command the respect of all members, including the Bloc Québécois MPs, as I can assure you right from the start.

On our side, we are committed to ensuring that our work is conducted at all times with dignity and with respect for the institutions and our colleagues, with whom I believe we may on occasion have a few differences of opinion. However, differences of opinion can never justify unacceptable or unkind behaviour towards voters, who have given a mandate to every one of the 338 people here. You can count on the Bloc Québécois' co-operation in that regard, and if you find it necessary to intervene, we will be attentive in every way.

Finally, I also want to say that we are committed to working in a positive manner and, naturally, to addressing issues with the interests of Quebec in mind, but not against the interests of Canada. In that spirit, we will have a positive attitude, in every respect, towards all our colleagues in the House. I would like to reiterate my heartfelt congratulations and thank you for listening.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I would like to thank the hon. member for Beloeil—Chambly.

I recognize the hon. member for Burnaby South.

[Jagmeet Singh, NDP, Burnaby South, BC]

Thank you so much, Mr. Speaker. On behalf of the New Democratic Party and its MPs, I would like to congratulate you. You have a very important role to play, and I am certain you will do it.

I congratulate all members in this House, as well as all Canadians who participated in the election. I congratulate them on having the opportunity and privilege to serve in this House.

I am truly honoured and humbled to again have the honour to serve the people of Burnaby South, and I want to thank them for continuing to put their confidence in me.

I would also like to thank all the other candidates and congratulate them on being nominated and participating.

Particularly, I want to thank the member for Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing for putting her name forward. I agree with the member about the importance of women being in positions of power. It would have been a beautiful thing to see her in this seat, but again, congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker.

I want to highlight the fact that Canadians sent a pretty powerful message in this election by sending us here in a minority government. A lot of responsibility will fall on your shoulders, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that in a minority government all voices are heard and all voices are respected. While Canadians sent a message of a minority government, they also sent a message that they want us to work together, but not just for any purpose. They want Parliament to work for people, because those at the top have had too powerful a voice for far too long.

I call on you, Mr. Speaker, to ensure that the people have a voice in this chamber, that the people of Canada are who we work for. I congratulate you on your election and congratulate all members on returning. I look forward to working in this minority government and making sure that the government serves the will and the needs of the people who brought us here.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I want to thank the hon. member for Burnaby South for his kind words.

The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

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

Mr. Speaker, this is my first time calling you that, and I want to congratulate you.

I would also like to congratulate all my colleagues.

It is an honour for me to have the opportunity to speak in the beginning of our first hours in the 43rd Parliament. I want to begin by acknowledging that every single day we will meet on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin peoples. To them, we all say meegwetch for patience and tolerance and hospitality and let us hope that is one of the issues on which we can agree and make progress in this Parliament toward true reconciliation.

I also want to thank the voters of Saanich—Gulf Islands. It is indeed an honour to stand here representing such an extraordinary place and such deeply engaged citizens as live in Saanich—Gulf Islands. Permit me as well specifically to thank the voters of Fredericton and the voters of Nanaimo—Ladysmith that I no longer sit alone in a corner over there, but with three in a corner over here. It is extremely exciting progress.

Now I would like to talk about respect, about discipline in the House of Commons, about our dignity and about the rights that the Speaker of the House must safeguard for us.

As the hon. leader of the official opposition has pointed out, the job of the Speaker is to protect the rights of every single member of Parliament. In this place, in Westminster parliamentary democracy, all members of Parliament are equal. The Prime Minister is seen as first among equals. We turn to the Speaker to protect those rights and protect our essential equality.

The biggest threat to our equality as individual members of Parliament is the political party system, which increasingly imposes itself on the traditions of Westminister parliamentary democracy. Some members may know this and for those new members of Parliament who may not know, we are the only parliament in the Westminister democratic tradition where the choice of who speaks has been voluntarily ceded by many Speakers to party whips. In every other Westminister parliamentary tradition and House, it is the Speaker only who decides which member of Parliament may be acknowledged to have the floor of this place.

I would hope that we could work together to ensure that we push back the partisanship that gets in our way and find ways, human to human, each to each, with respect and dignity and may I say, love, and find ways to work together. We do it always recognizing that it is you, Mr. Speaker, who protects our right to speak, to speak our minds and to speak on behalf of our ridings and our constituents, not with pre-prepared messages from party whips behind the doors. We are here as equals. We have a right to speak.

I ask all parties to join in an effort to recognize that the problem of heckling, lack of discipline and lack of respect does not come because we cannot control ourselves.

We, as individuals, are not the source of the problem. The problem arises from the fact that politics is ruled by partisanship. I would love to see all my colleagues urge their caucus and their whip to let us behave the way we ought to behave.

As the Speaker has already said, let us act in this place in the way we want our children, our nieces, our nephews and our grandchildren to see us on television.

To you, Mr. Speaker, my most sincere congratulations. Thank you.

Again to my friend from Halifax West, I thank him for the years he has put in as Speaker. He did a wonderful job.

Let us hope for the best in the 43rd Parliament, that we find ways to work together.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

As the hon. member's humble servant, I thank the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have the honour to inform the House that I have received the following message:

Rideau Hall

Ottawa

November 28, 2019

Mr. Speaker,

I have the honour to inform you that Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada will arrive at the Senate of Canada Building at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, the 5th day of December, 2019.

When it has been indicated that all is in readiness, Her Excellency will proceed to the Chamber of the Senate to formally open the First Session of the Forty-Third Parliament of Canada.

Yours sincerely,

Assunta Di Lorenzo

Secretary to the Governor General and Herald Chancellor

Sitting Suspended

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

The sitting is suspended until 2:30 p.m., at which time the House will proceed to the Senate where Her Excellency will open the first session of the 43rd Parliament.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 1:09 p.m.)

(The sitting of the House resumed at 3:02 p.m.)

A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as follows:

Mr. Speaker, it is the pleasure of Her Excellency the Governor General that this honourable House attend her immediately in the chamber of the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber:

And the House being returned to the Commons chamber:

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Order, please. I have the honour to report that, the House having attended on Her Excellency the Governor General in the Senate chamber, I informed Her Excellency that the choice of Speaker had fallen on me, and in your names and on your behalf, I made the usual claim for your privileges, which Her Excellency was pleased to confirm to you.

Oaths of Office

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-1, an act respecting the administration of oaths of office.

(Motions deemed adopted and bill read the first time)

Speech From The Throne

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have the honour to inform the House that when the House of Commons did attend Her Excellency the Governor General this day in the Senate chamber, Her Excellency was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament. To prevent mistakes I have obtained a copy, which is as follows:

Honourable Senators, members of the House of Commons, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to address this first session of Canada’s 43rd Parliament.

I would like to welcome the 98 new members of this assembly and to welcome back returning members.

Your predecessors first sat in Parliament in November 1867. Canada was barely five months old. On the scale of world history, we are still very young, yet much has happened in the world since then. We have matured, and we are here—strong and free. There has been no civil war, no foreign armies marching on our soil. There have been agreements and differences along the way, and lots of arguments, yes, most of them delivered with much eloquence in this very chamber.

There are many reasons for our stability. First, the millions of us, whether we are from here or chose to come and live here, share the same desire. We wish to live freely and in peace and harmony. This quest is a bedrock of our nation and informs almost everything we do. We may differ in many ways, yet we move forward as if we were one people, looking for equal opportunities and common ground. This is not by accident, but by choice. It is who we are.

And remember as well that our fortunes have relied often on the knowledge and the strategies of the indigenous peoples – what I call indigenous genius, which allowed this nation to thrive. Their deep understanding of our natural world, their intense sense of community, should continue to affect what we do here.

For the good of our communities and the future of our children,

Kkidji mkwènimaganiwiwatch missiwè anichinapèk achitch nigan abinoudjichak kè pimadiziwatch.

Reconciliation must continue.

The second bedrock of our stability is our parliamentary system. Your work is vital, because through it, we decide what we really want as a nation. The network of laws and traditions that define what it means to be Canadian safeguards our way of life and paves the way for the future we desire. Your role in the democratic process is a privilege and a responsibility. I know that you embrace it, respecting the wishes and protecting the rights of us all.

Because we serve every single Canadian. Canadians of all genders, faiths, languages, customs or skin colours, it is perhaps the most noble undertaking we are entrusted with.

And we share the same planet. We know that we are inextricably bound to the same space-time continuum and on board the same planetary spaceship. If we put our brains, our smarts, our altruistic capabilities together, we can do a lot of good. We can help improve the lives of people in our communities, diminish the gaps and inequities here and elsewhere, and have a better chance at tackling serious and pressing issues like climate change, poverty, inequalities and human rights, because global issues know no borders, no timeline and truly need our attention.

I am certain that by working together, no challenges are too big. I am convinced that anyone can rise to any occasion if they are willing to work with others to reach a higher goal and to do what is right for the common good.

This fall, Canadians went to the polls, and they returned a minority Parliament to Ottawa. This is the will of the people, and you have been chosen to act on it.

And so we open this 43rd Parliament with a call for unity in the pursuit of common goals and aspirations.

Here in this beautiful chamber, we recognize that Canada’s Senate is increasingly non-partisan, and measures will be taken to help it continue along that path. We are joined by the dedicated public servants who have vowed to work tirelessly on behalf of the people.

Canadians have sent a clear message: from young people to seniors, they want their parliamentarians to work together on the issues that matter most to them.

In this election, parliamentarians received a mandate from the people of Canada, which ministers will carry out. It is a mandate to fight climate change, strengthen the middle class, walk the road of reconciliation, keep Canadians safe and healthy, and position Canada for success in an uncertain world.

These are not simple tasks, but they are achievable if you stay focused on the people who sent you here: moms and dads, grandparents and students, new Canadians, business owners, and workers—people from all walks of life.

Every one of them expects their parliamentarians to get to work and deliver on a plan that moves our country forward for all Canadians, including women, members of visible and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ2 communities.

While your approaches may differ, you share the common belief that government should try, whenever possible, to make life better for Canadians.

That includes better health care and affordable housing; lower taxes for the middle class and those who need it most; investments in infrastructure, public transit, science and innovation; less gun violence, and a real plan to fight climate change while creating good, well-paying jobs.

These are but a few areas where this Parliament can make a real difference in the lives of Canadians.

And as much as they have instructed you to work together, Canadians have also spoken clearly about the importance of their regions and their local needs.

The government has heard Canadians’ concerns that the world is increasingly uncertain and that the economy is changing, and in this context, regional needs and differences really matter. Today’s regional economic concerns are both justified and important.

The government will work with provinces, territories, municipalities, indigenous groups, stakeholders, industry, and Canadians to find solutions.

With dialogue and cooperation, all regions of this country can overcome the challenges of today and realize their full potential in the modern economy.

As the government pursues an ambitious plan to move Canada forward, parliamentarians can draw inspiration from Canadians themselves. Canadians have elected you to do important work, and they model—in actions big and small—how you can be effective parliamentarians.

Neighbours helping neighbours.

Putting community first.

Finding common ground, forging bonds, and working together.

It is in that distinctly Canadian spirit of collaboration that the government and this Parliament will build on the progress of the last mandate and deliver a better Canada for all Canadians.

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE

Canada’s children and grandchildren will judge this generation by its action—or inaction—on the defining challenge of the time: climate change.

From forest fires and floods to ocean pollution and coastal erosion, Canadians are living the impact of climate change every day. The science is clear, and it has been for decades.

A clear majority of Canadians voted for ambitious climate action now, and this is what the government will deliver. It will continue to protect the environment and preserve Canada’s natural legacy, and it will do so in a way that grows the economy and makes life more affordable.

The government will set a target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. This goal is ambitious but necessary, for both environmental protection and economic growth.

The government will continue to lead in ensuring a price on pollution everywhere in this country, working with partners to further reduce emissions.

The government will also help to make energy-efficient homes more affordable and introduce measures to build clean, efficient, and affordable communities; make it easier for people to choose zero-emission vehicles; work to make clean, affordable power available in every Canadian community; work with businesses to make Canada the best place to start and grow a clean technology company; and provide help for people displaced by climate-related disasters.

The government will also act to preserve Canada’s natural legacy, protecting 25% of Canada’s land and 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025. Further, it will continue efforts to reduce plastic pollution, and use nature-based solutions to fight climate change—including planting two billion trees to clean the air and make our communities greener.

And while the government takes strong action to fight climate change, it will also work just as hard to get Canadian resources to new markets and offer unwavering support to the hard-working women and men in Canada’s natural resources sectors, many of whom have faced tough times recently.

STRENGTHENING THE MIDDLE CLASS

Canada’s experience proves that economic growth is the surest way to maintain a good quality of life for citizens.

Over the past four years, Canada has seen tremendous growth, and through it all, the government has worked to ensure that all Canadians benefit from Canada’s economic success—cutting taxes, reducing poverty and creating over a million jobs.

And in this new mandate, the government will provide even greater support to the middle class and to the most vulnerable Canadians by pursuing tax fairness, continuing to invest in people and growing the economy.

As its first act, the government will cut taxes for all but the wealthiest Canadians, giving more money to middle-class families and those who need it most.

The government will also act on housing. After drastically reducing poverty across the country in the last mandate, the government will continue its crucial investments in affordable housing. It will also make it easier for more people to buy their first home.

The government will give families more time and money to help raise their kids and make before- and after-school care more accessible and affordable. It will cut the cost of cellular and wireless services by 25%. It will strengthen the pensions that so many seniors rely on and increase the federal minimum wage.

Understanding that an educated Canada is a successful Canada, the government will give more support to students, be they new graduates struggling with loan repayment or be they heading back to school mid-career to learn new skills.

The government will also continue delivering on an economic agenda that will grow a modern Canadian economy.

This means moving forward with the new NAFTA to maintain a strong and integrated North American economy. On this and other trade agreements, those in the supply management sectors will be fully and fairly compensated, with many farmers in the dairy sector receiving their first cheques this month.

To ensure fairness for all in the new digital space, the government will review the rules currently in place.

The government will remove additional barriers to domestic and international trade for businesses and farmers, continue with ambitious investments in infrastructure and reduce red tape so that it is easier to create and run a start-up or small business.

And the government will pursue a responsible fiscal plan to keep the economy strong and growing.

WALKING THE ROAD OF RECONCILIATION

Every single person in Canada deserves a real and fair chance at success—and that must include indigenous people.

In 2015, the government promised a new relationship with indigenous peoples—one that would help deliver a better quality of life for their families and communities.

Real progress has been made over the past four years, including the elimination of 87 long-term drinking water advisories, equity in funding for first nations K-12 education, the passage of historic legislation to protect indigenous languages and affirm indigenous jurisdiction over child and family services, and the completion of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

But we know there is still much work to do.

Reconciliation with indigenous people remains a core priority for this government, and it will continue to move forward as a partner on the journey of reconciliation. Indeed, when indigenous people experience better outcomes, all Canadians benefit.

Among other things, the government will take action to codevelop and introduce legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the first year of the new mandate, continue the work of eliminating all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by 2021 and ensure safe drinking water in first nations communities. It will codevelop new legislation to ensure that indigenous people have access to high-quality, culturally relevant health care and mental health services and it will continue work to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action and the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ calls for justice, in partnership with first nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. The government will work with indigenous communities to close the infrastructure gap by 2030 and will continue to move forward together to ensure that indigenous peoples are in control of their own destiny and are making decisions about their communities. It will take new steps to ensure the government is living up to the spirit and intent of treaties, agreements, and other constructive arrangements made with indigenous peoples; ensure that indigenous people who were harmed under the discriminatory child welfare system are compensated in a way that is both fair and timely; and continue to invest in indigenous priorities, in collaboration with indigenous partners.

The path to reconciliation is long, but in its actions and interactions, the government will continue to walk it with first nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE AND HEALTHY

Wherever they live—in small rural communities or in big cities; in the foothills of the Rockies or the fishing villages along our coastlines; in the far north or along the Canada-U.S. border—all Canadians want to make Canada a better place for themselves, their children and their communities.

But there are challenges in making that better future a reality.

Year after year, headline after headline, Canadians have seen first-hand the devastating effects of gun violence. Too many lives have been lost, too many families shattered. It is time to show courage, and strengthen gun control.

The government will crack down on gun crime, banning military-style assault rifles and taking steps to introduce a buy-back program. Municipalities and communities that want to ban handguns will be able to do so, and the government will invest to help cities fight gang-related violence.

We are on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the horrific killing of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal, a day when all Canadians pause to remember and honour those women who were killed because of their gender. And we take stock of the harm that gender-based violence continues to do to Canadian society.

The government will take greater steps to address gender-based violence in Canada, building on the gender-based violence strategy and working with partners to develop a national action plan.

Ensuring a better quality of life for Canadians also involves putting the right support in place so that when people are sick, they can get the help they need.

The government will strengthen health care and work with the provinces and territories to make sure all Canadians get the high-quality care they deserve.

It will work with provinces, territories, health professionals and experts in industry and academia to make sure that all Canadians can access a primary care family doctor; partner with provinces, territories, and health professionals to introduce mental health standards in the workplace and to make sure that Canadians are able to get mental health care when they need it; and make it easier for people to get the help they need when it comes to opioids and substance abuse. Canadians have seen the widespread harm caused by opioid use in this country. More needs to be done, and more will be done.

Too often, Canadians who fall sick suffer twice: once from becoming ill, and again from financial hardship caused by the cost of their medications.

Given this reality, pharmacare is the key missing piece of universal health care in this country. The government will take steps to introduce and implement national pharmacare so that Canadians have the drug coverage they need.

Finally, the government will continue to recognize its solemn duty to those who choose to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces.

In the last mandate, the government invested more than $10 billion to deliver better outcomes for Canada’s veterans.

And in this new Parliament, the government will build on that work by improving mental health care supports and helping to ensure that every homeless veteran has a place to call home.

POSITIONING CANADA FOR SUCCESS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD

Canadians expect their leaders to stand up for the values and interests that are core to Canada’s prosperity and security—democracy, human rights, and respect for international law. Canadians expect the government to position Canada and Canadians for success in the world.

As Canada is a trading nation, the government will seek out opportunities for Canadian commerce, ingenuity, and enterprise.

As a coalition-builder, the government will build partnerships with like-minded countries to put Canada’s expertise to work on a global scale, in areas like the promotion of democracy and human rights, the fight against climate change and for environmental protection, and the development and ethical use of artificial intelligence.

As an ally, the government will contribute to multilateral efforts to make the world more safe, just, prosperous, and sustainable. The government will renew Canada’s commitment to NATO and United Nations peacekeeping. It will stand up for rules-based international order when that order is put in question, particularly when it comes to matters of trade and digital policy, and it will continue to ensure that Canada’s voice is present at the UN, notably on the UN Security Council.

Finally, as a compassionate partner, the government will provide targeted resources for international development assistance, including investments in education and gender equality. It will help the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people live better lives and become strong partners for Canada in turn.

Parliamentarians, Canadians are counting on you to fight climate change, strengthen the middle class, walk the road of reconciliation, keep Canadians safe and healthy and position Canada for success in an uncertain world.

And with goodwill, humility and a willingness to collaborate, you can do just that. You can raise the bar on what politics is like in this country. After all, the government knows it needs to work with other parliamentarians to deliver results.

The mandate of this recent election is a starting point, not the final word. The government is open to new ideas from all parliamentarians, stakeholders, public servants, and Canadians. Ideas like universal dental care are worth exploring, and I encourage Parliament to look into this.

Whether it’s fighting money laundering or making parental benefits tax-free, there are good ideas across parties, and this government is ready to learn from you and work with you in the years ahead.

Some believe that minority governments are incapable of getting things done, but Canada’s history tells us otherwise.

Canada’s Parliament is one of the most enduring and vital institutions in the democratic world. It has delivered a tremendous way of life for the Canadian people—through crisis and prosperity, through majority and minority governments.

On December 31, 1966, Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson welcomed Canada’s centennial new year and lit the centennial flame in front of the Parliament Buildings for the first time. In his remarks he said:

“Tonight we begin a new chapter in our country’s story. Let the record of that chapter be one of co-operation and not conflict; of dedication and not division; of service, not self; of what we can give, not what we can get. Let us work together as Canadians to make our country worthy of its honoured past and certain of its proud future.”

In this 43rd Parliament, you will disagree on many things, but you will agree on a great many more. Focus on your shared purpose: making life better for the people you serve.

Never forget that it is an honour to sit in this Parliament. Prove to Canadians that you are worthy holders of these seats and worthy stewards of this place.

Members of the House of Commons: you will be asked to appropriate the funds to carry out the services and expenditures authorized by Parliament.

Honourable members of the Senate and members of the House of Commons: as you carry out your duties and exercise your responsibilities, may you be guided by Divine Providence.

[Justin Trudeau, Liberal, Prime Minister]

moved:

That the speech of Her Excellency, delivered this day from the Throne to the two Houses of Parliament, be taken into consideration later this day.

(Motion agreed to)

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I wish to inform the House that, pursuant to Standing Order 55(1), and at the request of the Government, the Chair has ordered the printing of a special order paper giving notice of a government motion. I now lay upon the table the relevant document.

Board of Internal Economy

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

I have the honour to inform the House that the following members have been appointed as members of the Board of Internal Economy for the purposes and under the provisions of the Parliament of Canada Act, subsection 50(2): Hon. Dominic LeBlanc and Hon. Pablo Rodriguez, members of the Queen's Privy Council; Hon. Mark Holland and Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, representatives of the government caucus; Hon. Candice Bergen and Hon. Mark Strahl, representatives of the Conservative Party caucus; Ms. Claude DeBellefeuille, representative of the Bloc Québécois party caucus; and Mr. Peter Julian, representative of the New Democratic Party caucus.

Business of Supply

[Jean-Yves Duclos, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That the Business of Supply be considered at the next sitting of the House.

(Motion agreed to)

While I have the floor, having been a page here myself in 1984, I am very pleased to welcome the new cohort of pages. I want to thank them in advance for the work they will be doing and the important services they will be providing to the House.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

It is my duty to inform the House that a total of one day will be alotted to the supply period ending December 10, 2019.

A message from Her Excellency the Governor General transmitting supplementary estimates (A) for the year ending March 31, 2020, was presented by the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Speaker to the House.

Business of the House

[Pablo Rodriguez, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties, and if you seek it, I believe that you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That,

a) notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, until Tuesday, December 10, 2019,

i. Standing Order 81(5) be replaced with the following:

Supplementary estimates shall be deemed referred to a committee of the whole House immediately after they are presented in the House. A committee of the whole shall consider and shall report, or shall be deemed to have reported, the same back to the House not later than one sitting day before the final sitting or the last allotted day in the current period.

On a day appointed by a minister of the crown, consideration of the supplementary estimates shall be taken up by a committee of the whole at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment, for a period of time not exceeding four hours.

During the time provided for consideration of estimates, no member shall be recognized for more than 15 minutes at a time and the member shall not speak in debate for more than 10 minutes during that period.

The fifteen minutes may be used both for debate and for posing questions to the minister of the crown or a parliamentary secretary acting on behalf of the minister. When the member is recognized, he or she shall indicate how the 15 minutes is to be apportioned.

At the conclusion of the time provided for the consideration of the business pursuant to this section, the committee shall rise, the estimates shall be deemed reported and the House shall immediately adjourn to the next sitting day.”;

(ii) Standing Order 81(14)(a) be amended by replacing the words “to restore or reinstate any item in the estimates” with the following:

“twenty-four hours' written notice shall be given to restore or reinstate any item in the estimates”;

(iii) Standing Order 54(1) be amended by adding the following:

“Notice respecting a motion to restore or reinstate any item in the Supplementary Estimates (A) for the financial year ending March 31, 2020, shall be laid on the table, or filed with the Clerk, within four hours after the completion of consideration of said supplementary estimates in committee of the whole and be printed in the Notice Paper of that day.”;

b) notwithstanding Standing Order 83.1, the Standing Committee on Finance be authorized to present its report on the pre-budget consultations no later than February 28, 2020;

c) notwithstanding the provisions of any Standing Order, for the duration of this session, when a recorded division is to be held on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, except recorded divisions deferred to the conclusion of Oral Questions, the bells to call in the members shall be sounded for not more than 30 minutes;

d) on Thursday, December 5, 2019, the House continue to sit beyond the ordinary hour of daily adjournment until the debate has been adjourned on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne;

e) on Friday, December 6, 2019, the House shall meet at 9:30 a.m. to allow a member of each recognized party and a member from the Green Party to each make a statement not exceeding five minutes on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the events at École Polytechnique in Montreal after which the House shall observe a moment of silence and then proceed to the Orders of the Day.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.