House of Commons Hansard #433 of the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debate.

Topics

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

6:55 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I would remind hon. members that shouting insults is not parliamentary. I am sure no members here tonight want to be pointed out so that their constituents know what they are saying in the House. I do not want to point them out to their constituents, but I want everyone to respect parliamentary language.

Questions and comments, the hon. member for North Okanagan—Shuswap

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

6:55 p.m.

Conservative

Mel Arnold Conservative North Okanagan—Shuswap, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is really disappointing to be here tonight. I happened to sit in on the committee when Bill C-69 was being studied clause by clause. I sat in that night until the late hours of the evening and watched the government decide to lump all of the amendments together and vote on them as an entire group, with no discussion on each amendment, clause by clause. It was absolutely disgusting. There were over 600 amendments proposed at that stage. Over 300 of them came from the government's own Liberal Party. It is truly a bill that was so poorly drafted it should have been thrown out at that time.

Now we see 229 amendments from the Senate. Most of them have been thrown out by the Liberal government. We have six premiers, representing over 60% of Canadians, who are opposed to this bill saying it should be thrown out. How can the minister stand there and say that the government has truly consulted with Canadians and actually listened to them when 60% are saying it should be thrown out?

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

6:55 p.m.

Liberal

Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, we have accepted a historic number of amendments from the Senate, 43%. Do members know what we are not going to accept? We are not going to accept amendments from Conservative politicians, written by oil lobbyists, who are trying to limit the consultation that is constitutionally required by indigenous peoples. We are not going to limit consultations by the public. We are not going to do something that I imagine would allow the provinces to veto projects in the federal jurisdiction.

We need to get this right, but we do not want to end up in court again. We need a better system, which is exactly what we are working on, so that we protect the environment and do what is required by law, which is to consult with indigenous peoples so good projects can go ahead in a timely way.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

Dan Albas Conservative Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister went to New York and spoke to some young graduates and said, “Respect people who don't look or think like you.” However, when a group of premiers do precisely that, and express concerns that the federal government is pushing into their provincial jurisdictions, he casts that aside and accuses them of being irresponsible game players against national unity.

I remember reading about the national energy program and the distain that westerners had toward eastern Canada. It took generations to be able to get on a level playing field where people felt that Ottawa was at least trying to be fair by being equally unfair to everyone. The current government is demonizing, and that pain is being felt not just in Alberta but in provinces where premiers are asking the government to stay out of their jurisdiction. Why the disdain? I understand the disdain on this side of the House. I understand the Liberals think they will get closure from here, but you will get no closure from the provinces that you are getting into, not one bit.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to remind the hon. members, although I understand they get passionate, to phrase their questions through the Speaker and not directly to the minister herself.

The hon. Minister of the Environment.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

Catherine McKenna Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, we have focused on projects that are in the federal jurisdiction. That is the whole point. We have worked with provinces so there is one project, one review. They said that they wanted us to align timelines with the provinces. We are working with the province the member is from to take action on climate change to also grow the economy. That is what we need to do. This is not about pitting provinces against each other. This is about figuring out a way to rebuild the public trust that was lost under the Harper government when he gutted environmental assessment laws without any consultation.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I sat patiently and listened to the member opposite pose a very interesting question, to say the least. It was very quiet and we could hear the question, even though we did not like the question. The minister stood up to answer the question and it was a constant heckle, much like the opposition members are doing right now. It is difficult at times to even hear the minister answer. I would ask that there be decorum on the other side.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to remind hon. members what the rules are in the House. When someone is speaking, we do not shout and we do not heckle. I want to remind everyone. I have mentioned it already. Let us see if we can stick to those rules.

The hon. opposition House leader.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Conservative

Candice Bergen Conservative Portage—Lisgar, MB

Mr. Speaker, here is what is happening. This is the most destructive bill to this country that has been proposed by any government and the debate has been shut down. Members of Parliament are not allowed to speak their constituents' concerns, so there has been a lot of heckling going on. I agree because Bill C-69 is the worst piece of legislation—

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Thank you for making that point.

The hon. member for Hull—Aylmer on a point of order.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

Greg Fergus Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

Mr. Speaker, I believe this point of order is in order because I have noticed that a number of members of Parliament are wearing what I believe would be considered to be props. The Speaker may want to make a ruling on that.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I am going to consult with my table officers to make sure that everything is in order.

I will read a passage from House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, on page 617 regarding displays, exhibits and props:

Speakers have consistently ruled that visual displays or demonstrations of any kind used by Members to illustrate their remarks or emphasize their positions are out of order. Similarly, props of any kind have always been found to be unacceptable in the Chamber. Members may hold notes in their hands, but they will be interrupted and reprimanded by the Speaker if they use papers, documents or other objects to illustrate their remarks.

I think that is the key sentence. It continues:

Exhibits have also been ruled inadmissible. During the “Flag Debate” in 1964, the Speaker had to remind Members on numerous occasions that the display of competing flag designs was not permissible. Small Canadian flags and desk flags have been disallowed. While political buttons and lapel pins have not been considered exhibits as long as they do not cause disorder, the Speaker has interrupted a division to request that certain Members remove “props” from their lapels.

My understanding of this is if the prop sends a message, it does interrupt and disrupt. I will rule that we cannot have the buttons if they have a message that disrupts the chamber.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

If there is someone else who finds that someone on the other side is wearing something disruptive, please bring it up as a point of order and we will rule on it.

It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings at this time and put forthwith the question on the motion now before the House.

The question is on the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

All those opposed will please say nay.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Motion that debate be not further adjournedImpact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7 p.m.

Liberal

The Assistant Deputy Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

In my opinion the nays have it.

And five or more members having risen:

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #1357

Impact Assessment ActGovernment Orders

7:45 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Bruce Stanton

I declare the motion carried.