House of Commons Hansard #391 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was seniors.

Topics

Fisheries and OceansCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

6:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

All those opposed will please say nay.

Fisheries and OceansCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

6:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Fisheries and OceansCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

6:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The vote has been deferred until 3:55 p.m. tomorrow.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Chong Conservative Wellington—Halton Hills, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from my constituents in my riding of Wellington—Halton Hills to the government on the issue of climate change. They ask the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to increase the targets for Canada's greenhouse gas reductions and to charge an annual carbon fee increase to a more aggressive rate.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Scott Reid Conservative Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today. They are, however, on the same subject so I will just read the one.

The petitioners want to draw our attention to international trafficking in organs taken from people without their consent and ask that we support Bill C-350 in the House of Commons as well as Bill S-240 in the Senate. Presumably, they mean S-240, should it arrive here for us to vote upon.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Harold Albrecht Conservative Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition by Canadians pointing out that 18 years ago the Chinese Communist Party started a violent and illegal persecution against Falun Gong due to its popularity and the fact that it was not controlled by the state.

The petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to condemn the illegal arrest of Canadian citizens for practising Falun Gong and they are calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Canadian citizen, Sun Qian.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Phil McColeman Conservative Brantford—Brant, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from constituents that is actually similar or the same as my colleague has introduced. It states, “We, the undersigned residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following: Whereas increasing concerns about international trafficking in human organs removed from victims without consent have not yet led to legal prohibition on Canadians travelling abroad to acquire or receive such organs and, whereas there are currently two bills before Parliament proposing to impede the trafficking of human organs obtained without consent as a result of a financial transaction”. These are Bill C-350 in the House of Commons and Bill S-240 in the Senate.

It continues, “Therefore, we the undersigned, urge the Parliament of Canada to move quickly on the proposed legislation so as to demand the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to prohibit Canadians from travelling abroad to acquire human organs removed without consent or as a result of a financial transaction and to render inadmissible to Canada, any and all permanent residents or foreign nationals who have participated in this abhorrent trade in human organs.”

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Before we continue with petitions, I just want to remind the hon. members that when they are presenting a petition, it is not about reading the entire text but giving a synopsis in their own words. I am sure the hon. members are quite capable of this and they do a very good job normally.

Physician-Assisted DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, I too rise today to table a couple of petitions from Canadians from coast to coast to coast who are concerned and asking for the Government of Canada to establish conscience protection for physicians in health care institutions. The petitioners state that coercion, intimidation and other forms of pressure intended to force physicians in health institutions to become parties in assisted suicide or euthanasia are a violation of the fundamental freedom of conscience. Therefore, they call upon the Parliament of Canada to enshrine in the Criminal Code the protection of conscience for physicians in health care institutions from coercion or intimidation to provide, or refer for, assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Pay EquityPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, petitioners from my riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands wish this House to consider the fact that women in this country are still paid less than men for work of equal value and that women are still suffering from a lack of equity. They call on the House to enact legislation and policies to ensure pay equity and pay equality and that women in Canada get equal treatment.

Disability Tax CreditPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

Mr. Speaker, my first petition is from petitioners in my riding. They are supporting Bill C-399, which is my private member's bill offering more tax fairness for persons with disabilities. We know that 1.8 million Canadians suffer from a disability so the petitioners are drawing the attention of the House of Commons and the Government of Canada to this very important private member's bill.

International TradePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

The second petition is actually on the CPTPP. My petitioners from my riding came a little too late to provide it to me but it still is certified by Journals. I am tabling it on their behalf. The petitioners again are asking the Government of Canada to do everything possible in order to maximize the gain of Canadians in the CPTPP.

Eye Health and Vision CarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

NDP

Linda Duncan NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from Canadians who are concerned about the lack of action on eye health and vision care.

The petitioners are calling on the government to commit to acknowledging eye health and vision care as a growing public health issue, particularly with Canada's vulnerable populations of children, seniors, diabetics and indigenous people, through a national framework for action to promote eye health and vision care.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Conservative

Rachael Thomas Conservative Lethbridge, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition in the House today in regard to organ donation.

There are times when people leave Canada and go to a country abroad in order to receive an organ that has been illegally harvested from another individual in that country. We on this side of the House feel that this should not be permitted and that the individual who goes abroad to do that should face prosecution.

I am presenting a petition from people across this country who believe the same.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

I would remind the hon. member for Lethbridge that presenting petitions is not a time to present one's own opinions in the House, but simply to present a petition.

MyanmarPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Liberal

Pam Damoff Liberal Oakville North—Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from a number of residents in my riding of Oakville North--Burlington that deals with the crisis of the Rohingya in Myanmar.

Natural Health ProductsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Speaker, I proudly stand to present a petition to the government on natural health products.

All members of the House have constituents who rely on natural health products as an affordable and low-risk means of dealing with their health. Many Canadians rely on non-western and self-care products to maintain and improve their health.

The petitioners note that natural health products are an important part of our overall health care system but also that consumers have a right to know that their products are safe and properly labelled.

The petitioners call on the government to create a separate licensing category for self-care products to certify their safety and efficacy based on sound evidence and ensure that natural remedies remain accessible to all Canadians.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Conservative

Dave Van Kesteren Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I too have a petition to present today. There seems to be quite a theme across the country from those who are concerned about organs being taken without permission and in some cases under force, and those individuals that go abroad to receive those organs. There are currently two pieces of legislation that would put an end to that.

These petitioners would like to see us reflect that in the House as well.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a petition from residents of my riding and Canadians from coast to coast to coast who are calling once again on the Prime Minister to remove the attestation from the summer jobs grant program.

I would remind the House that section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms identifies, among other things, freedom of conscience, freedom of thought and freedom of belief as fundamental freedoms.

The petitioners call upon the Prime Minister to defend the freedoms of conscience, thought and belief and withdraw the attestation requirement for applicants to the summer jobs grant program.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Geoff Regan

It has been brought to my attention that the hon. member for Cariboo—Prince George has already presented a petition today, so to do the second one he would need to have the unanimous consent of the House. Is there unanimous consent?

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7:05 p.m.

Conservative

Peter Kent Conservative Thornhill, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition from constituents regarding their concern about the reprehensible international trade in organ harvesting. Very often individuals who are taken into custody extrajudicially have organs removed for those travelling from western nations to in effect buy those organs.

These constituents are urging the Parliament of Canada to deal urgently with Bill C-350 in the House of Commons and Bill S-240 in the Senate.

Rail TransportationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

7:05 p.m.

NDP

Robert Aubin NDP Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to this being the last time I rise to present a petition concerning the high-frequency train that is supposed to go to Trois-Rivières. My hope is that tomorrow, on budget day, the thousands of people who signed this petition will finally get an answer from the minister.

We know that this project has many benefits. It will reduce greenhouse gases, contribute to the economic development of the regions and expand tourism. There is no reason to ignore this project. That is why I am supporting this petition.