House of Commons Hansard #112 of the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was documents.

Topics

Documents Related to the Transfer of Ebola and Henipah Viruses to the Wuhan Institute of VirologyPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

These people deserve our applause.

I encourage everyone to call them for any problem, no matter how small, since they are there to help us.

The House resumed from June 3 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Action Toward Reconciliation with Indigenous PeoplesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Pursuant to order made on Monday, January 25, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the hon. member for Burnaby South relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

The question is on the motion.

May I dispense?

Opposition Motion—Action Toward Reconciliation with Indigenous PeoplesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Opposition Motion—Action Toward Reconciliation with Indigenous PeoplesBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

[Chair read text of motion to House]

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

Vote #131

Business of SupplyGovernment Orders

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderGovernment Orders

3:30 p.m.

Thunder Bay—Superior North Ontario

Liberal

Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my response in the House earlier.

In one of the questions that was posed to me, I was not as clear as I could have been. To clarify, I meant to say that unredacted documents regarding the National Microbiology Lab were provided to the NSICOP.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderGovernment Orders

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I thank the member for the clarification.

Documents Related to the Transfer of Ebola and Henipah Viruses to the Wuhan Institute of VirologyRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

Pursuant to order made on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, I wish to table, in both official languages, a letter I have received from the law clerk and parliamentary counsel regarding documents relating to the transfer of Ebola and Henipah viruses to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

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, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 19 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

FinanceCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Finance. It is in relation to Bill C-30, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on April 19, 2021 and other measures. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.

On behalf of the committee, I want to thank all involved and give a special shout-out to the Library of Parliament analysts, who went the extra mile in providing background information, briefing notes and analysis to all members. As well, I thank the research folks of all parties, who prepare their members with background information and questions from often very different perspectives. Finally, I thank the ministerial staff, who also offer advice from their point of view. It all adds up to better information, better legislation now and ideas for the future.

Forest IndustryPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Green

Paul Manly Green Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table two of the same petition today, which were initiated by constituents in Nanaimo—Ladysmith. The petitioners are really concerned about protecting British Columbia's endangered old-growth ecosystems from clear-cut logging. They know these old-growth forests provide immeasurable benefits in fighting climate change and in supporting biodiversity, as well as cultural, recreational and educational values. Over 160 people have been arrested trying to protect these forests.

The petitioners are calling upon the government to work with the Province of British Columbia and first nations to immediately halt the logging of endangered old-growth ecosystems, fund the long-term protection of old-growth ecosystems as a priority for Canada's climate action plan and reconciliation with indigenous people, support value-added forestry initiatives in partnership with first nations to ensure that Canada's forestry industry is sustainable and based on the harvesting of second- and third-growth forests, ban the export of raw logs and maximize the resources for local jobs.

The petitioners are also calling for a ban on the use of whole trees for wood pellet biofuel production, which is contrary to any climate action measures. It is really a horrible practice.

OpioidsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Conservative

Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting one petition on behalf of the constituents of Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon. The petitioners outline that every two hours there is a death from opioids in Canada. The opioid crisis is out of control.

The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to take steps to end the overdose deaths and injuries, provide supports for recovery and play a larger role in funding such supports.

DefibrillatorsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

NDP

Leah Gazan NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to present my very first petition, petition e-2317, initiated by one of my constituents in Winnipeg Centre, Mackenzie Campbell. In order to save lives in Canada, the petitioners call on the government to direct all departments, agencies and Crown corporations to install and maintain AEDs in all employee workplaces and in all areas where citizens access government services within and outside of Canada.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise and present three petitions.

The first petition is from folks across Canada who are deeply concerned about the treatment of the Falun Gong people. We have learned stories of organ harvesting and abuses by communist China. The petitioners are calling on the government to use Magnitsky sanctions against those responsible.

EthiopiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is in relation to the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The petitioners are calling on the Canadian government to immediately engage with the Eritrean and Ethiopian governments in order to come to a peaceful solution. Thousands of people have lost their lives and it is a tremendously deteriorating humanitarian situation, so the petitioners would deeply appreciate Canada's involvement in this.

EqualizationPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Mr. Speaker, the third and final petition is on behalf of folks in my home province of Alberta who are deeply concerned about the existing equalization formula of the fiscal stabilization program, which has not been changed in many years and has a cap of $170 per person. They are very concerned that the fiscal shock of the drop in oil price in 2014 has not been reflected in the economic formula and that the equalization unfairly disadvantages folks from Alberta.

Travel AdvisersPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Damien Kurek Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be able to present two petitions today on behalf of independent travel advisers in my constituency.

The petitioners would like this House to know that there are 12,000 independent travel advisers across Canada who have been largely without income for more than a year because of the implications of the COVID travel restrictions due to the pandemic. Many federal assistance programs such as CEBA, CERS, CEWS and the RRRF exclude the majority of these small business owners, leaving them to slip through the cracks.

The first of these two petitions ask the Government of Canada to provide sector-specific funding for independent travel advisers and extend the qualifications of the RRRF in urban areas to include sole proprietors.

The second petition I am presenting to the House today is very simple. These independent travel advisers are asking that the CRB for travel advisers be extended six months past the lifting of all travel advisories, as the income they specifically receive is 100% based on commission, and it takes approximately that long for them to start receiving those commissions.

EthiopiaPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Conservative

Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Mr. Speaker, today I have the privilege of presenting three petitions to the House.

The first petition is calling on the Government of Canada to respond to the violence in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Petitioners are asking the government to call for an end to the violence in the region and to help to ensure that the innocent victims of the violence are able to access humanitarian aid. Canada has a history of supporting democracy around the world, and in addition to calling for an end to the violence, we need to do our part to ensure the fairness and legitimacy of the democratic process in Ethiopia.

Falun GongPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I will present today calls on the government to use the Magnitsky act to sanction the perpetrators of the persecution and violence against the Falun Gong in China. There are credible reports of appalling human rights abuses against the Falun Gong, including forced organ harvesting.

The petitioners call attention to the former Chinese Communist Party leader, Jiang Zemin, and his cohorts whose eradication campaign against Falun Gong, including the extrajudicial torture and killing of Falun Gong practitioners in large numbers, has continued with impunity for the past 19 years. The Canadian government needs to recognize this and take action by freezing assets and barring entry into Canada.

Conversion TherapyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Tamara Jansen Conservative Cloverdale—Langley City, BC

Mr. Speaker, the final petition I will present today relates to Bill C-6. Just like every member of this House, these petitioners want to see conversion therapy banned. No Canadian should be subject to a harmful and degrading practice that seeks to change their sexuality against their will.

They also recognize, however, that the definition of conversion therapy used in Bill C-6 is a poorly written definition. The definition is not used by any medical body in the world, and it will cause this bill to ban not only the harmful practices we all want banned, but also the support that helps certain LGBTQ Canadians. As we debate this bill together today, let us not forget the countless people who have benefited from the type of support this bill will ban, and that they have asked us not to forget about them as we craft this legislation.

Conversion TherapyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. A few members have been giving their personal opinions on petitions. This member in particular went as far as to say that when we are debating this bill, we should consider x, y and z, which she brought up in her petition. We are not supposed to be referencing our own personal positions on petitions. We are supposed to just represent what is in the petition, the content of the petition.

I was wondering if you would like to weigh in on that, Mr. Speaker, to remind members of that rule when presenting petitions.

Conversion TherapyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Anthony Rota

I think the hon. member did an excellent job of reminding all hon. members.

I would also like to remind hon. members to be as concise as possible and give us the highlights of the petition, not proceed to debate it.

The hon. member for Peace River—Westlock.

Medical Assistance in DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:45 p.m.

Conservative

Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB

Mr. Speaker, I want to present a few petitions.

The first petition I am bringing to the attention of the House is signed by Canadians from across Canada. They are concerned with the Senate amendment to Bill C-7 that would allow Canadians with mental illness as their sole medical condition to access euthanasia.

The petitioners recognize that suicide is the leading cause of death for Canadians between the ages of 10 and 19. Therefore, they are calling on the government to reject the Senate amendments to prevent those struggling with mental illness from obtaining assisted death and to protect Canadians struggling with mental illness by facilitating treatment and recovery, not death.