House of Commons Hansard #19 of the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was assault.
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister just said he was going to resolve this in the coming months. The forestry industry in B.C. is in crisis. Two dozen mills have closed down and 10,000 workers' jobs have been impacted. Now we have blockades. Fifty percent of the product goes to mills by rail.
The Prime Minister's weak leadership is going to lead to more layoffs and more hardship in my communities. When will the Prime Minister end the blockades?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are working every day to resolve this situation peacefully and rapidly. The concern is, if we were to take the forceful proposals by the Conservatives, we would actually extend the challenges faced by the Canadian economy by many months and possibly years.
We need to exhaust every effort to resolve this peacefully. That is the best way to support workers across this country, businesses and indeed Canadians who are worried about those layoffs.
Bernard Généreux Conservative Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, the Prime Minister told my colleague that it is illegal to block railways.
Can the Prime Minister tell us when he will direct his minister to enforce the law?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are doing everything we can to resolve this situation peacefully. We recognize that this is an extremely difficult situation for many Canadians facing layoffs. We will do everything we can to resolve this unacceptable situation rapidly.
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Mr. Speaker, today the Prime Minister talked about force, but the force that is required today is a strength of conviction from him to be a leader and put an end to this crisis, not the weak embarrassment that we have seen on display for the last two weeks. He must understand that enforcing the rule of law is his duty and that it is an inherent act of peace.
How long is he going to let this continue for? A week? A month? A year? Forever?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the job of the prime minister is to stand up for Canadians and protect them and their livelihoods today and well into the future. It is that that drives this government—
Justin Trudeau Liberal Papineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, the job of a prime minister is to stand up for Canadians today, tomorrow, next month and next year. That is what we are focused on, and that is why searching for a peaceful resolution to this situation is the right path forward.
Brenda Shanahan Liberal Châteauguay—Lacolle, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canada is deeply concerned about the suffering of the Venezuelan people and remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting democracy and human rights.
In response to the attacks by the Nicolas Maduro regime against the rights of Venezuelans, Canada imposed several series of targeted sanctions. We have condemned the systematic violations of human rights committed by the illegitimate Maduro regime.
Can the Prime Minister inform the House of the measures the government has taken to ensure international action in favour of the Venezuelan people and interim President Juan Guaidó?
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Chateauguay—Lacolle for her question and her hard work.
Last month, I met with interim President Juan Guaidó here in Ottawa. We congratulated the Venezuelan people for their continued tenacity in promoting democracy and human rights.
Tomorrow, we are proud to host the Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Lima Group. We will continue to push for fair elections in Venezuela. We encourage the international community to work together to address the humanitarian and democratic crisis inflicted by the illegitimate president, Nicolas Maduro.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, while the Liberals are failing to de-escalate the growing crisis across this country, they are creating another one for working people in my province. In Alberta alone, 19,000 people have lost their jobs in the last month.
Jason Kenney's policies and cuts are hurting Albertans, but so is the current government in its refusal to deliver on its promises.
Heather McPherson NDP Edmonton Strathcona, AB
Mr. Speaker, Jason Kenney's policies and cuts are hurting Albertans, but so is the government's refusal to deliver on its promises. The Liberals are failing on reconciliation. They are failing on the environment. They are failing on diversifying the economy and supporting Alberta workers.
Justin Trudeau LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, workers in Alberta have faced a very difficult few years. We are conscious of that. That is why we have worked to build the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which will allow access to new markets, something that Alberta has long asked for but was unable to be delivered by the previous government. On top of that, we have invested in significantly more infrastructure projects over the past five years than the Conservatives did over 10 years.
We will continue to invest in ways that benefit Alberta and indeed the entire country because when one part of the country is facing difficulties, Canadians stand with it. That is what we are doing with Alberta.
The House resumed from February 18 consideration of the motion.
Opposition Motion—Special Employment Insurance Sickness BenefitsBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Liberal
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
It being 3:10 p.m., pursuant to order made on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Beloeil—Chambly relating to the business of supply.
Call in the members.
The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota
I declare the motion carried.
I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, Government Orders will be extended by nine minutes.
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, three reports of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group.
The first report concerns the 72nd Annual Meeting of the Council of State Governments West, held in Big Sky, Montana, United States, from July 16 to 20, 2019.
The second report concerns the 74th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Legislative Conference of Council of State Governments, held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 21 to 24, 2019.
The third report concerns the 59th Annual Meeting & Regional Policy Forum of the Council of State Governments, Eastern Regional Conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., from July 28 to 31, 2019.
Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings
Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook Nova Scotia
Liberal
Darrell Samson LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, three reports of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, the APF.
The first report is respecting its participation at the meeting of the Cooperation and Development Committee of the APF, held in Cambodia, from May 3 to 5, 2019.
The second report is with respect to its participation at the meeting of the Political Committee of the APF, held in Djibouti, on March 5 and 6, 2019.
The third and final report is on its participation at the meeting of the Parliamentary Network on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria of the APF, held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on November 18 and 19, 2019.
Ruby Sahota Liberal Brampton North, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114 I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the second report later this day.
Majid Jowhari Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-207, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (presentence report).
Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour for me to rise today to reintroduce my private member's bill as the member of Parliament for Richmond Hill. The bill would amend paragraph 721(3)(a) of the Criminal Code. I would also like to thank the hon. member for Mississauga—Erin Mills for once again seconding the bill.
The bill would mandate that alongside such information as age, character, behaviour and willingness to make amends, information outlining mental health disorders and available mental health care programs for accused be provided in a pre-sentence report, unless otherwise specified. Access to such information is vital to ensuring that Canadians with histories of mental illness are afforded care, compassion and appropriate treatment throughout the process of their rehabilitation.
I urge all members of the House to support the bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Larry Maguire Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm or fishing corporation) .
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Income Tax Act regarding the transfer of small businesses or family farms or fishing corporations. This legislation would level the playing field for small businesses, family farms or fishing corporation owners when transferring their operation to a family member.
Currently, when a person sells his or her business to a family member, the difference between the sale price and the original purchase price is deemed to be a dividend. However, if this business is sold to a non-family member, it is considered a capital gain, which is taxed at a lower rate and allows the seller to use his or her lifetime capital gains exemption.
The bill would allow small businesses, family farms and fishing corporations the same tax rate when selling their operations to their family member as they would selling it to a third party.
I encourage all members to support this bill to promote sustainable small business succession, enhance opportunities for entrepreneurship and end the inequitable taxation of those transferring a small business, farm or fishing corporation to a family member.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)