House of Commons Hansard #31 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was content.

Topics

The House resumed from November 17 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Foreign Policy Toward ChinaBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

It being 3:16 p.m., pursuant to order made on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

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

Vote #23

Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:55 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:55 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, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 14 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Standing Committee on Public AccountsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:55 p.m.

Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Main Estimates 2020-21: Vote 1 under Office of the Auditor General”.

I also have the honour of tabling, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, entitled “Funding of the Office of the Auditor General”.

Trade and Foreign Investment Protection Agreements Transparency ActRoutine Proceedings

November 18th, 2020 / 3:55 p.m.

Green

Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-252, an act to provide for transparency in entering trade agreements and foreign investment protection agreements.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to table this private member's bill today. During the debate on NAFTA and the CUSMA trade agreement, the opposition Conservatives complained about the lack of transparency in the negotiations. When the Conservatives were in power, the opposition parties complained about the lack of transparency in the CETA and TPP negotiations. This Parliament is only able to debate the merits of a trade agreement after negotiations are complete and the agreement is signed.

This private member's bill, the trade and foreign investment protection agreements transparency act, is modelled on the European Union's process of transparent trade negotiations. The purpose of this act is to create a transparent consultation and assessment process to ensure that Canada's trade and foreign investment protection agreements reflect the values and interests of Canada as a whole, taking into account the perspectives of various groups, including local communities, civil society organizations and indigenous peoples; promote sustainable development and respect for the environment; and adhere to the principles of economic fairness, social justice and internationally recognized human rights.

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

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, today I have a number of petitions to present.

The first petition is from people across Canada who are calling on the government to focus in on the treatment of Uighurs in China. Particularly, they are calling for Magnitsky sanctions to be placed on the Chinese officials who are contributing to the Uighur persecution and for the Canadian government to recognize the treatment of Uighurs in China as genocide.

Medical Assistance in DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Canadians from across the country who are calling on the House of Commons to provide conscience protections for physicians, health care workers and institutions.

Health and Safety of Firearms OwnersPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is on behalf of Canadians from across the country who are seeking to support the health and safety of Canadian firearms owners. They recognize the importance of the ownership of firearms and the impact on hearing loss from the noise level with the use of firearms.

The petitioners are calling on the government to ensure that we can bring in useful tools to ensure that Canadians' health and safety is protected while using their firearms.

Palliative CarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is from Canadians from across Canada who are calling on the government to implement a national strategy on palliative care.

The petitioners are calling for Canada to ensure that all Canadians have access to palliative care and are comfortable in the time of their death. The Canadians who have signed the petition are hoping for a national strategy on palliative care.

TransportationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Todd Doherty Conservative Cariboo—Prince George, BC

Mr. Speaker, when COVID-19 shut down Canada earlier this year, we knew that the air transport industry would be among the worst impacted. What we did not know is that this government was going to do absolutely nothing to provide the Canadians employed in that industry any support.

Today, on behalf of the 14,645 Canadians who have signed the petition and the over 633,000 Canadians who depend on our air transport industry for their livelihoods, I am tabling a petition calling on the government to get back to work, show some leadership and come up with a plan to save our air transport industry.

It is time that this minister and this government get out of the lounge, into the cockpit and pilot our industry through this pandemic.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

Conservative

Rob Morrison Conservative Kootenay—Columbia, BC

Mr. Speaker, Canadians have asked that I present this petition.

The petitioners call on the government to formally recognize that Uighurs in China have been, and are, subject to genocide. As well, they are calling for the use of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act, the Magnitsky Act, to sanction those who are responsible for the heinous crimes being committed against the Uighur people.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4 p.m.

NDP

Richard Cannings NDP South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC

Mr. Speaker, I rise here today, again, to present a petition from young people in my riding of South Okanagan—West Kootenay and the neighbouring riding of Kootenay—Columbia.

The petitioners are concerned about climate change and point out that Canada's targets are inadequate, and action on those targets is even weaker. They want jobs that are sustainable and not for short-term gain at the expense of future generations.

The petitioners therefore ask the government to support their future with a detailed climate strategy with science-based targets, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and redirecting those funds to renewable energy systems, energy efficiency, low carbon transportation and job training.

Federal Child Support GuidelinesPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present. The first is an e-petition signed by 1,050 Canadians who are calling on the federal government to establish a committee to update the federal child support guidelines.

The petitioners note that the guidelines have not been updated since 1997, are based upon outdated assumptions that pick winners and losers, and do not bear the true costs of rearing a child, particularly for parents with less access and who have had more than one divorce.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition relates to international human organ trafficking.

The petitioners call upon the government to amend the Criminal Code, as well as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to prohibit Canadians from travelling abroad to acquire human organs removed without consent, and to deem inadmissible all permanent residents or foreign nationals involved in this egregious human rights abuse.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Mr. Speaker, the final petition is signed by 46 Canadians.

The petitioners wish to bring to this House's attention egregious human rights abuses being perpetrated by the Chinese communist regime against Uighur Muslims, including invasive surveillance, arbitrary detention, destruction of cultural sites, forced labour, and even forced human organ harvesting.

The petitioners call for the House to recognize that the Uighurs have been subjected to a genocide, and call on the government to impose Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible.

Human Organ HarvestingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON

Mr. Speaker, the petitioners call on the government to draw attention to the practice of trafficking in human organs. They are ripped out of the bodies of the victims without consent and sold for profit. Canadians are allowed to go abroad and buy these organs. There are two bills before Parliament, one here in the House of Commons and one before the Senate. The petitioners want Parliament to get on with it and get them passed.

Wild SalmonPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Green

Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to table e-petition 2776. The petitioners are concerned about the Canada pension plan investments of over $200 million in foreign open-net pen salmon farms. Open-net pen salmon farms contaminate wild salmon habitat with chemicals, parasites, viruses and diseases, all of which threaten the health of wild Pacific salmons runs. To protect their wild salmon populations, Washington state passed legislation banning PRV-infected farmed salmon in 2018. Divesting Canadians' pensions from PRV-infected salmon farms is an important step in protecting wild salmon. The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to request that the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board divest from open-net pen aquaculture investment opportunities, foreign-owned or otherwise.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today on two very serious subjects. One petition wants the government to formally recognize that the Uighurs in China have been and are being subject to genocide, use the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act and sanction those who are responsible for the heinous crimes being committed against the Uighur people.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Bob Zimmer Conservative Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is very similar to my colleague's from Ontario, raising concerns about international trafficking in human organs removed from victims without consent. These organs are being harvested and being sold. There is a group of many Canadians who are concerned about this issue as well.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Derek Sloan Conservative Hastings—Lennox and Addington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a similar petition to those raised by my two colleagues in relation to the concern that we have with international trafficking in human organs and harvesting that is done without the victim's consent, a truly grisly practice. There are two bills, Bill C-350 and Bill S-204, that address this. The petition is in relation to concerns the petitioners have with that practice.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Larry Bagnell Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This might be an appropriate time, given the presentation of one of the earlier petitions, to remind members that when they present a petition they should not express their view or give a personal speech related to the petition, just what is in the petition.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

The hon. member for Yukon has a very good point. I have reminded members before to try to keep it as concise as possible and just tell us what the petition is. It is not a time for debate. That will come later on if it ever hits the floor of the chamber.

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, the following questions will be answered today: Questions Nos. 102 to 104, 108, 111 and 114.