House of Commons Hansard #76 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was committees.
Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements ActRoutine Proceedings
University—Rosedale Ontario
Liberal
Chrystia Freeland LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, to authorize certain payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and to amend another Act.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
John McKay Liberal Scarborough—Guildwood, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to the main estimates 2021-22, and reports the same.
On a personal note, I want to thank the clerk for saving the chair from impeachment.
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the following three reports of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts: the 14th report, entitled “Taxation of E-Commerce”; the 15th report, entitled “Public Accounts of Canada 2020”; and the 16th report, entitled ”Oversight of Government of Canada Advertising”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to each of these three reports.
Marilyn Gladu Conservative Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women”.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Maxime Blanchette-Joncas Bloc Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-281, An Act to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 (certificate of competency).
Mr. Speaker, this morning, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
This legislative measure will address head-on the labour shortage in the marine industry, which is a major concern. A foreign national who holds a diploma from a recognized school, such as the Institut maritime du Québec in Rimouski, will now also be able to benefit from the privileges that come with the certificate of competency and sail on the majestic St. Lawrence River.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Julian NDP New Westminster—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and in an effort to avoid yet another vote this evening, if you seek it, I believe you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: That the opposition motion scheduled for debate later today be amended in paragraph (b) by replacing the word “10 a.m.” with the following: “11 a.m.”
Canada Shipping ActRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker Anthony Rota
All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Town of Erin has been permitted to dump treated effluent into the West Credit River, which is one of the most ecologically sensitive areas in my riding. The West Credit River is one of the last pristine cold-water fisheries in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and is home to native brook trout. Belfountain is also part of the Niagara Escarpment, which has been declared a UNESCO World Biosphere reserve.
The petitioners call on the Government of Canada to implement a federal environmental impact assessment on this proposed waste treatment plant.
Scott Simms Liberal Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame, NL
Mr. Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of the mighty little town of Gander. The Gander and Area Chamber of Commerce, God love it, has been putting this petition together for quite some time. There are about 1,000 signatures on it.
This is in regard to one of the greatest little airports in the world. It is the Gander International Airport. In the 20th century, it was the most notable for being one of the largest airports around World War II. It was built for that reason. Of course, in this century, it became famous for welcoming all those stranded passengers on 9/11 and inspiring the great musical Come From Away. It is currently in financial trouble.
The petition calls on the Government of Canada to help it out in this time of need, as it is still, to this day, an essential service, not just for Central Newfoundland but the entire province, the east coast and, as we have proven, an international asset for aviation safety.
We call on the government to help Central Newfoundland, in particular, and the Gander International Airport. As Reg Wright, the CEO of the airport once said, it is the airport that was built for battle and now needs a bit of help.
Charlie Angus NDP Timmins—James Bay, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise with a petition from a group called Moms Stop the Harm, a group of mothers from across the country who have lost loved ones to the opioid crisis, a crisis that is causing devastation in all our communities across Canada.
The petitioners point out that the opioid crisis is one of the most deadly public health emergencies of our lifetime, with a death taking place every two hours and a death toll of over 15,400 in the past four years alone. As the overdose crisis rages, they call on the government to declare the overdose crisis a national public health emergency; to take steps to end those overdose deaths and overdose injuries; to immediately collaborate with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan; to ensure that any plan considers reforms that other countries have used, such as legalization, decriminalization and changes to flawed drug policies; and to ensure this emergency is taken seriously, with adequate funding and program supports.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am tabling two petitions today.
I am also tabling a petition regarding the opioid crisis. As members know, the opioid crisis is taking the lives of so many. They are preventable deaths, and the petitioners recognize that this crisis needs to be dealt with and the Canadian government needs to declare it a national health emergency.
The petitioners call for action. They call on the government to take steps to end overdose deaths and overdose injuries, and to immediately collaborate with provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive, pan-Canadian overdose action plan. They also want to ensure that the plan considers reforms that other countries have used, such as legal regulation of drugs to ensure safe supply, decriminalization for personal use and changes to the flawed drug policy and policing practices.
We want to ensure this emergency is taken seriously and met with adequate programming and supports. These lives matter. We can end the overdose crisis if we want.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, the other petition I am tabling is with respect to indigenous housing.
The petitioners recognize that over 80% of indigenous people live in urban, rural and northern communities and that indigenous peoples are 11 times more likely to use a homeless shelter. They recognize that the 2017 National Housing Strategy did not include any specific funding, strategies or policies for urban or rural indigenous housing, even though the mandate letter from the minister specifically outlined such a strategy.
The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association and its indigenous caucus have put forward a number of suggestions for the government to act on. This includes for the government to develop a “For Indigenous, By Indigenous” national housing centre; to increase the supply of stable, safe, affordable housing by building 73,000 new units of housing for urban, rural and northern indigenous peoples; to support the tenants' well-being and long-term success with wraparound indigenous services; and to accelerate action on indigenous homelessness; and to focus on northern housing.
Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Winnipeg North Manitoba
Liberal
Kevin Lamoureux LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, if the government's revised response to Question No. 373, originally tabled on March 22, could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.
Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Bob Saroya Conservative Markham—Unionville, ON
With regard to illegal firearms entering Canada: what is the government’s estimate of the number of illegal firearms that have entered the country since 2016, broken down by year and by method of entry (air cargo shipments, land passenger vehicle smuggling, etc.)?
(Return tabled)
Kevin Lamoureux Liberal Winnipeg North, MB
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings
Government Response to Question No. 373—Speaker's RulingPoints of OrderRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker Bruce Stanton
Since the government just tabled a revised response to written Question No. 373, this concludes the point of order raised by the hon. member for Richmond—Arthabaska yesterday.
However, I would like to remind members that Standing Order 32(4) states that “Any document distributed in the House or laid before the House...shall be in both official languages.” That is a principle set out in the Constitution and the Official Languages Act.
I thank hon. members for their attention.
Opposition Motion—Instructions to the Standing Committee on Ethics and to the Standing Committee on National DefenceBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Conservative
Michael Barrett Conservative Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, ON
moved:
That, with a view to support the authority of committees in their important inquiries of public interest:
(a) regarding the study on questions of conflict of interest and lobbying in relation to pandemic spending by the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics,
(i) an order of the House do issue for due diligence reports, in the care, custody or control of the Privy Council Office, respecting the Canada Student Service Grant, and that these documents be deposited, in both official languages, with the Clerk of the Committee no later than Thursday, April 1, 2021,
(ii) Rick Theis, the Prime Minister's Director of Policy and Cabinet Affairs, be ordered to appear before the committee on Monday, March 29, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.,
(iii) Amitpal Singh, the Deputy Prime Minister's Policy Advisor, be ordered to appear before the committee on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.,
(iv) Ben Chin, the Prime Minister's Senior Advisor, be ordered to appear before the committee on Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 2:00 p.m.;
(b) regarding the study on addressing sexual misconduct issues in the Canadian Armed Forces by the Standing Committee on National Defence, Zita Astravas, formerly the Minister of National Defence's chief of staff and the Prime Minister's Director of Issues Management and currently the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness's chief of staff, be ordered to appear before the committee on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.;
(c) should the Prime Minister instead appear before the committees mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b), at any of the dates and times mentioned, for at least three hours, the witness otherwise scheduled to appear, and any other witnesses scheduled to appear before the same committee at a later time, be relieved of their obligation to appear pursuant to this order; and
(d) it be an instruction to the Chairs of the committees mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b) to convene televised meetings of their respective committee, at the dates and times mentioned, for at least three hours, for the purpose of receiving evidence from the individuals then ordered to appear or the Prime Minister, as the case may be, unless the individual has been relieved from attending under the provisions of paragraph (c), provided that the witnesses be required to appear until discharged by the committee.
Opposition Motion—Instructions to the Standing Committee on Ethics and to the Standing Committee on National DefenceBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Deputy Speaker Bruce Stanton
Since today is the final allotted day for the supply period ending March 26, 2021, the House will go through the usual procedures to consider and dispose of the supply bills. In view of recent practices, do hon. members agree that the bills be distributed now?
Opposition Motion—Instructions to the Standing Committee on Ethics and to the Standing Committee on National DefenceBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
Some hon. members
Agreed.