Debates of Feb. 27th, 2019

Official Languages

[Denis Paradis, Liberal, Brome—Missisquoi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, entitled “Making the Most of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future”.

As we know, the Government of Canada launched the action plan for official languages in late March 2018. It is the Government of Canada's fourth five-year strategy for official languages. This $2.7-billion action plan is critical for our official language minority communities.

I want to thank my fellow committee members for their work, for staunchly defending the language rights of all Canadians, and for helping to promote linguistic duality in Canada.

I also want to thank our clerk, Christine Holke, and our analyst, Lucie Lecomte.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Natural Resources

[James Maloney, Liberal, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources, entitled “Insect Management in Canada's Forest Sector: Strengthening National Cooperation Against Current and Future Outbreaks”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[Shannon Stubbs, Conservative, Lakeland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, on behalf of my Conservative colleagues, the Conservative supplementary report to the study on forest pests that was recently completed by the natural resources committee.

Our report highlights the many challenges to Canada's forestry sector, including the uncertainty created by Bill C-68 and Bill C-69 for resource development and rural infrastructure, increased costs from the Liberal carbon tax and the new Liberal fuel standard. Committee members have heard repeatedly that Canadian lumber mills are being closed or idled and jobs are being moved to the United States.

During the study, the Liberal member for St. John's East also repeatedly suggested that there should be no action against the mountain pine beetle so that “nature will take its course”.

Conservatives agree with the executive director of the National Aboriginal Forestry Association, who said during the study that to tell the community that is sitting in the middle of what are basically matchsticks ready to go up that we shouldn't do anything would be “a recipe for loss of human life and devastation”.

Conservatives believe combatting and preventing forest pests like the mountain pine beatle and the spruce budworm are important federal responsibilities, just like the track record of the previous Conservative government that made unprecedented investments and took measures to fight foreign pests and successfully secured a softwood lumber deal to protect Canadian forestry producers and workers.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Larry Bagnell, Liberal, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 86th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The committee advises that pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the subcommittee on private members' business met to consider the order for the second reading of a private member's bill originating in the Senate and recommended that the item listed herein, which it has determined should not be designated non-votable, be considered by the House.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the report is deemed adopted.

Public Safety and National Security

[John McKay, Liberal, Scarborough—Guildwood, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, two reports from the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

They are the 31st report on the supplementary estimates (B), 2018-19, and the 32nd report on the interim estimates, 2019-20.

Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-432, An Act to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

Mr. Speaker, 22 years ago, I decided to pursue the great adventure of developing expertise in fighting financial crimes. I made a promise during my election campaign in 2015 to help victims by contributing to improving the outcome for those who might be affected by this type of scourge.

My contribution consists in introducing this bill to amend the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Competition Act

[Michel Picard, Liberal, Montarville, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-433, An Act to amend the Competition Act, the Criminal Code and the Inquiries Act.

Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for the authorities and police forces that work hard to help people dealing with this type of crime and fraud, and I hope to make a contribution by tabling this bill to amend the Competition At, the Criminal Code, and the Inquiries Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Falun Gong

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions I am tabling today on behalf of Canadians.

The first petition is from 495 signatories. They are drawing the attention of the Government of Canada to the illegal arrest of a Canadian citizen. Sun Qian, 51 years old, was illegally kidnapped in China on February 19, 2017, and has since then been detained at the Beijing detention centre, along with those practising Falun Gong. The petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to condemn the illegal arrest of a Canadian citizen for practising Falun Gong and it also calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Canadian citizen Sun Qian.

Vietnam

[Tom Kmiec, Conservative, Calgary Shepard, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is on behalf of over 670 Canadians. They are drawing the attention of the Government of Canada to the unjust targeting of Montagnard Highlanders, who practice Degar Protestantism, and the detention, torture and arrest for their religious and political beliefs in Vietnam. They are asking the Government of Canada to demand that the Vietnamese government end its abusive politics and practices as a way to safeguard minority rights, and to apply sanctions against Colonel Vu Van Lau and senior Colonel Pham Huu Truong, under the Sergei Magnitsky act.

Firearms

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present petitions signed by Canadians from the ridings of Cape Breton—Canso, Central Nova, Mississauga—Lakeshore, Guelph, Brampton North, Kanata—Carleton, Orléans and Glengarry—Prescott—Russell. They call on the House of Commons to respect the rights of law-abiding firearms owners and reject the Prime Minister's plan to waste taxpayer money by studying a ban on guns that are already banned.

Abortion

[Bradley Trost, Conservative, Saskatoon—University, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to introduce a petition from nearly 3,800 Canadians from across the country who note that Canada has been founded upon the principle of the rule of law and that section 7 of the charter guarantees the right to life of the person. Therefore, as citizens of Canada, they call upon the government to initiate a respectful debate in the House of Commons with the intent to form an all-party committee that will draft a bill governing the conduct of abortion in Canada, and that consideration of the bill be by a free vote in the House of Commons.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

[Scott Simms, Liberal, Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present this petition on behalf of many Canadians, primarily from Ontario. I would like to initially thank Dee Gordon for her work on this and for bringing it to this House. The petition is calling for a pan-Canadian strategy on autism spectrum disorder, ASD, a pervasive disorder that affects one person in 88 in this country. It is characterized by social and communication challenges and a pattern of repetitive behaviours and interests. ASD is lifelong and certainly is of great importance to many families with young children suffering from ASD.

Time Bank System

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to table two petitions signed by people in Don Valley North and across Canada.

The first petition is calling on the Government of Canada to introduce a time bank system as soon as possible. Time banks in other countries help address the physical, social and mental health needs of many seniors and persons with disabilities. Time banks offer a variety of services needed by many seniors, including friendly visits, phone chats, transportation, minor home repairs and tips on how to use a computer. All these things are aimed at combatting social isolation. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada and its National Seniors Council to support the creation of a Canadian time bank system as soon as possible in this country.

Chinatowns

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

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is calling on the Government of Canada to work with municipal and provincial governments to preserve historical Chinatowns nationwide. Chinatowns throughout Canada have played an essential role in the narrative of Asian immigration to Canada for generations, yet today, Canada's Chinatowns are facing increased gentrification and redevelopment, which is threatening the very existence of these historically significant traditional communities. Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to work with municipal and provincial partners to help preserve historically significant neighbourhoods like Chinatowns and to keep them from vanishing from urban centres across Canada.

Firearms

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of victims of crime and Canadians who understand that preventing firearms violence means taking illegal firearms off the streets, not the sport shooting equipment of people who lawfully own firearms, I am pleased to present a petition, signed by 38,697 people, asking the Prime Minister to scrap Bill C-71 as well as ensure that there is not a firearms ban on law-abiding firearms owners. This is a very reasonable petition. It is something the government needs to take into account, especially when it comes to ensuring that victims of crime are protected. Banning these tools will do nothing to protect these victims. I am more than proud to stand on behalf of law-abiding firearms owners and of victims of crime especially.

Needle Exchange Program

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

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition, signed by over 500 residents of Canada from western Canada, Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. These petitioners are pointing out to Parliament that the Liberal government has established a prison needle exchange program that will be implemented across Canada. The Union of Canadian Correctional Officers was not consulted on this plan, which puts its members and the Canadian public at risk. Our previous Conservative government passed the Drug-Free Prisons Act, which revokes parole for those who are caught using drugs behind bars. Under the new regulations, an inmate who is approved for the prison needle exchange program is not required to disclose this fact to the Parole Board. Therefore, the petitioners are calling on the Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Safety to end the prison needle exchange program and to implement measures that would increase the safety of correctional officers and our surrounding communities.

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 question will be answered today: No. 2272.

Question No. 2272

[Michael Barrett]

With regard to the Clerk of the Privy Council: did the Clerk have any discussions or interactions with the Prime Minister or his exempt staff, or other ministers or their exempt staff, regarding his appearance at the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights on February 21, 2019, prior to his appearance at the Committee, and, if so, what are the details of any such discussions or interactions, including (i) date, (ii) form, (iii) list of participants, (iv) summary?

[Peter Schiefke, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister (Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is no.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Furthermore, I would ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

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

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers also be allowed to stand.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, Liberal, Anthony Rota]

Is that agreed?