House of Commons Hansard #14 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was medical.

Topics

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

This being a hybrid sitting of the House, for the sake of clarity, I will only ask for those who are opposed to the request to express their disagreement.

Accordingly, all those opposed to moving the motion please say nay. Hearing none, it is agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motions. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. Hearing no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

NDP

Lindsay Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

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

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be amended as follows: Mr. Daniel Blaikie, Elmwood—Transcona, for Ms. Rachel Blaney, North Island—Powell River, and that the name of Ms. Blaney, North Island—Powell River, be added to the list of associate members of the said committee.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

This being a hybrid sitting of the House, for the sake of clarity, I will only ask those who are opposed to moving the motion to express their disagreement.

Accordingly, all those opposed to moving the motion please say nay. Hearing none, it is agreed.

The House has heard the terms of the motions. All those opposed to the motion will please say nay. There being no dissenting voice, I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Rail Transportation SafetyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise on behalf of over 4,000 of my neighbours who are signatories to petition e-2731, which calls on the Government of Canada to refuse the approval of the proposed CN logistics hub in Milton.

The findings of the environmental assessment panel concluded inevitable and unprecedented adverse effects on human health and an increase in three no-threshold pollutants, unsafe at any level. The site has no direct highway access and it is a bad location for CN and Miltonians.

Within one kilometre of the proposed site, there are 34,000 residents, 12 schools, a hospital, two long-term care facilities, as well as a future college, a university campus. Milton recognizes the importance of economic development, but this is an industrial project and industrial projects belong in industrial areas, not residential ones. The health and safety of Halton residents should matter most.

Rail Transportation SafetyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I want to remind hon. members to keep it as concise as possible and just give the bare bones of the petition. It is a reminder for those who are standing now.

The hon. member for Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon.

TelecommunicationsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting three petitions.

The first one is on rural broadband. The petitioners in my riding acknowledge that the federal government has failed to improve rural broadband Internet services, especially in rural and indigenous communities. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the challenges these constituents face and they cannot wait until 2030, the government's timeline to get timely access to Internet services.

The petitioners in my riding are calling on the Government of Canada to get the money out today to support them and their livelihoods.

Afghan Minority CommunitiesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am presenting relates to the Sikh and Hindu minorities in Afghanistan.

The petitioners call upon the government to allow them to sponsor refugees privately, to support those minorities in Afghanistan who are suffering.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from my constituents on the ongoing challenges Uighur Muslims face in China.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to call out the Chinese Communist Party on its human rights abuses in China.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am also tabling three petitions today.

The first petition is with respect to the horrific human rights abuses being inflicted on Uighur Muslims in China.

The petitioners are very specific about calling for action in response to those events. They want to see the government use Magnitsky sanctions to hold those involved in these crimes responsible. This echoes the ask from a letter signed by over 100 faith leaders and human rights organizations today calling for genocide recognition and the imposition of Magnitsky sanctions, among other things.

Afghan Minority CommunitiesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with respect to the plight of Afghanistan's Sikh and Hindu minorities, who are very hard pressed.

The petitioners ask that the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship use the powers granted to him to create a special program to help persecuted minorities in Afghanistan receive direct sponsorship to come to Canada. I know that this is an initiative that has had the support of Conservatives, New Democrats and Greens, but so far no support from Liberal members.

The petitioners also call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to highlight the issues of persecution with his Afghan counterparts.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Mr. Speaker, the third and final petition is in support of Bill S-204, which would make it a criminal offence for a person to go abroad and receive an organ that had not been given voluntarily. The petitioners want to see us work together to pass this common-sense human rights legislation, which would save lives. We need to get it passed as soon as possible.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Eric Melillo Conservative Kenora, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today that would draw the attention of the House of Commons to the campaign of Uighur birth suppression by the Chinese Communist Party.

The signatories to this petition ask that the House of Commons formally acknowledge that Uighurs in China have been subject to genocide and to use Magnitsky sanctions in order to hold those who are committing those crimes to account.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK

Mr. Speaker, I too have the privilege of tabling a petition on behalf of Canadians calling on the House of Commons to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been and are being subjected to genocide, and to use the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law) and sanction those who are responsible for the heinous crimes being committed against the Uighur people.

Responsible EnterprisePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

NDP

Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB

Mr. Speaker, in 2018, the Liberal government announced that it would be creating an ombudsperson position with robust powers to keep companies accountable, but it never delivered on that promise. Before the office ever got off the ground, the Liberals gutted it of all of its power.

On behalf of over 6,000 Canadians who have signed this petition and the many individuals and organizations that have been fighting for over a decade, I am asking for an ombudsperson who is independent from government and big business; has the power to investigate, including the power to compel documents and testimony under oath from Canadians; and is committed to advancing human rights.

Canadians expect that Canadian corporations will play by the rules, regardless of where they work; and if they do not, the office of the ombudsperson for responsible enterprise will hold them to account. We need an ombudsperson who can do the job and we need it now.

TransportationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Bloc

Xavier Barsalou-Duval Bloc Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present petition e-2604, which has been signed by over 32,000 people in Quebec and across Canada. The petition basically calls on the federal government to do what it should have done six or seven months ago and require airlines to refund customers for services that were not delivered. Many consumer protection groups support this. Everyone hopes the government will listen to reason and comply.

TechnologyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Jennifer O'Connell Liberal Pickering—Uxbridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of my constituents who are very concerned with Huawei telecommunications and the impacts if it were to be allowed approvals here in Canada. The petitioners worry about the relationship with our Five Eyes allies. They also worry about our autonomy and the Chinese government's having access or using Huawei technology for intelligence gathering. The petitioners feel that Canada needs to ban Huawei's equipment and make sure that it is prevented from building in 5G networks in Canada.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege of presenting two petitions today.

In the first petition, the people who have signed it are looking for the government to do something about the genocide that is being carried out against the Uighur population in China. The Chinese Communist Party is using methods such as forced sterilization and abortion to drive birth suppression in the Uighur population. The petitioners are calling for the formal recognition of that genocide and for the Canadian government to use the Magnitsky law to bring action against the Chinese.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition people are calling for the government to work quickly to pass Bills S-240 and C-350 from a previous Parliament. The petitioners are looking forward to that bill being passed. The bill would make it illegal for Canadians to go overseas to get an organ that may have been harvested.

Public TransitPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, today, I am presenting petition no. 10619053, which speaks to the urgent issue of access to public transit. The petitioners note that the 10-year transit plan will end in 2027, and that there is a need for ongoing, sustainable, predictable funding to ensure that public transit is available to all Canadians.

EqualizationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Conservative

Tom Kmiec Conservative Calgary Shepard, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition on behalf of residents in my riding on equalization. They are drawing the attention of the House to the fact that, net, over $600 billion has left the province of Alberta since the 1960s. Petitioners are asking for a fair deal for Alberta and Albertans within Confederation.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Winnipeg North Manitoba

Liberal

Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this time.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Is that agreed?

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova ScotiaRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The Chair has notice of a request for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Courtenay—Alberni.

Lobster Fishery Dispute in Nova ScotiaRequest for Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

NDP

Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to propose an emergency debate on the urgent need for the federal government to address the domestic violence against the Mi'kmaq fishers in Nova Scotia and their constitutionally affirmed right to fish, as confirmed by the Marshall decision in 1999 to earn a moderate livelihood through fishing.

With increased incidents of domestic terrorism, I believe this meets the bar of Standing Order 52, section (6)(a) that the matter proposed be a “genuine emergency, calling for immediate and urgent consideration”. The debate is urgent and must take place tonight due to the government's inadequate response to this crisis.

As parliamentarians, we must take immediate action to protect the constitutionally enshrined rights of Mi'kmaq fishers and make sure they are kept safe from ongoing threats and acts of violence. We must ensure that the federal government is taking immediate action to provide justice for the Mi'kmaq victims of violence.

Lastly, we must make sure that the government is at the table, protecting the human rights of the Mi'kmaq people and their right to fish for a moderate livelihood, as was affirmed 21 years ago. The right was already determined in the Marshall case and the 1752 treaty.

Given the urgency for a peaceful and equitable resolution to this crisis, I believe it is important to hold an emergency debate in Parliament today.