House of Commons Hansard #71 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was journalists.

Topics

The EconomyOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Richard Lehoux Conservative Beauce, QC

Mr. Speaker, the price of gas in my riding has crept above $2 a litre.

Since I am in a rural riding, my constituents cannot use public transportation to get to work or activities. Unlike the Prime Minister and his ministers, ordinary Canadians do not have drivers. They have to pull out their wallets every time they go to the pumps.

This government is out of touch. When will it make changes to make gas more affordable for Canadians?

The EconomyOral Questions

Noon

Outremont Québec

Liberal

Rachel Bendayan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, my colleague knows very well that we need to combat climate change, which is why we put a tax on pollution.

I think it is worth pointing out the majority of Canadians receive more in rebates than they pay. I also want to remind my colleague that most of the taxes on gas are provincial, not federal, and we need to respect jurisdictions.

InfrastructureOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Dave Epp Conservative Chatham-Kent—Leamington, ON

Mr. Speaker, there was a failure of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority's Hydro One conduit project. Three independent engineering firms have confirmed that the failure was due to the lead engineer, CIMA, which was both the design engineer and the bridge consultant. We are told that CIMA was allowed to continue as the lead consultant on the failure review of which they were the subject.

Why were engineering reports ignored? Was there a conflict of interest? Why was no recourse sought for the taxpayer from CIMA?

InfrastructureOral Questions

Noon

Vimy Québec

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

Mr. Speaker, I will endeavour to get more information and will respond to the member in a quick manner.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Conservative

Michael Cooper Conservative St. Albert—Edmonton, AB

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research require Taiwanese funding applicants to falsely specify their nationality as “Taiwan, Province of China”. Taiwan is not a province of China; Taiwan is Taiwan.

Six months ago, I wrote to the Minister of Health and six months later this mislabelling continues. Why has the minister failed to intervene to stop this blatant mislabelling of Taiwan?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Québec Québec

Liberal

Jean-Yves Duclos LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I am very glad to receive this question from a member who is normally less interested in health. Obviously his interest in health will be followed up on, and I look forward to working with him on this particular matter.

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

Noon

Liberal

Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Speaker, Putin's war of aggression against Ukraine is a stark reminder that there is no room for complacency and that we must work with our allies to advance the cause of global peace and security.

This week, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is in Germany to participate in G7 and NATO meetings. Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs inform the House about our government's work to coordinate efforts across these critical forums?

Foreign AffairsOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Brampton East Ontario

Liberal

Maninder Sidhu LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Kitchener—Conestoga for his excellent work.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the G7 meetings to discuss the Russian invasion; ongoing peace and security issues in Africa, Asia and the Middle East; and the fight against climate change. In Berlin, the minister is also meeting with our NATO allies to discuss how best to align our efforts to support Ukraine.

Canada will tirelessly continue to support efforts to bring peace and stability in Ukraine and around the world.

Canada Border Services AgencyOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Alistair MacGregor NDP Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC

Mr. Speaker, the Canada Border Services Agency has reversed, without notice, a long-standing policy of servicing smaller ports across Canada. This is forcing visitors to travel longer distances and pay hundreds of dollars more in fuel to report at the limited remaining CBSA sites. This decision is having a significant negative impact on Canada's cruise businesses, which have been hit hard after two years of pandemic travel restrictions.

Will the minister reverse this decision before people pay the price?

Canada Border Services AgencyOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Oakville North—Burlington Ontario

Liberal

Pam Damoff LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety

Mr. Speaker, in the moments I had, I could not find the statistics, but I know that the number of border crossings being opened has increased significantly. We are working to ensure that we have border crossings open, because we recognize that there are economic impacts when these crossings are closed.

I am happy to work with the hon. member to ensure that we are aware of the exact problems he has, and I am happy to speak to him after question period.

Canada Border Services AgencyOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

That is all the time for question period this week.

The hon. government House leader.

Business of the HouseOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Ajax Ontario

Liberal

Mark Holland LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I request that the ordinary hour of daily adjournment for the next sitting be 12 midnight, pursuant to the order made on May 2, 2022.

Business of the HouseOral Questions

12:05 p.m.

Conservative

The Deputy Speaker Conservative Chris d'Entremont

Pursuant to order made on May 2, 2022, the minister's request to extend the said sitting is deemed adopted.

International TradeRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Halifax Nova Scotia

Liberal

Andy Fillmore LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the current policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Canada on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters”, done at London, March 18, 2022.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Mark Gerretsen LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (Senate)

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

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Hedy Fry Liberal Vancouver Centre, BC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following reports.

The first is the report of the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the autumn meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from October 3 to 6, 2018.

The second is the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 19th autumn meeting, by video conference, November 3-4, 2021.

The third is the report of the Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 2021 remote session, by video conference, from June 28 to July 6, 2021.

Finally, the last report is from the Canadian delegation of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation at the 21st winter meeting, by video conference, February 24-25, 2022.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Francis Drouin LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, two reports of the delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. The first report concerns its participation in the 40th Ministerial Conference of the Francophonie and working meetings held in Paris from March 14 to 18, 2022. The second report concerns its participation in the Conference of Branch Chairs of the APF America Region held by video conference on April 4, 2022.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Dane Lloyd Conservative Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this petition in support of Bill S-223. Bill S-223 seeks to combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking. It would make it a criminal offence for a person in Canada to go abroad and receive an organ that has been taken without the consent of the person who is donating the organ.

Bill S-223 has passed the Senate unanimously three times and it passed the House unanimously in 2019, but, shockingly, has not yet been made law. I look forward to the debate on this legislation.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Green

Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present a petition today that comes from a number of Canadians concerned for the health of our waterways.

They note that, with regard to fresh water within Canada, not dealing with the large issues of our oceans but looking at our internal waterways, our watersheds are significantly degraded by actions by industry. We need to pursue, as the petitioners claim, the Canada water agency; we need laws that protect water and laws that protect our watersheds, including ones that will support and enrich Canada's fisheries and our whole ecosystems that depend on healthy and sustainable water systems; and we need to bring our laws and our practices up to date to protect Canada's water.

We think we are a water-rich nation. We are not.

Children's RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Brendan Hanley Liberal Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition on behalf of 517 Canadians who are raising concerns about the impact of foreign donations on orphanages in low-income countries. Despite the best intentions of Canadians who donate or volunteer abroad at these orphanages, they may be undermining other nations' child protection systems, which leads to child rights violations.

As Canada has ratified the UNGA's Convention on the Rights of the Child, the petitioners, including some of my constituents, are asking that the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development study the issue and make recommendations to the House on how to address this issue.

Human Organ TraffickingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present this petition in support of Bill S-223 and my good friend and colleague from Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

Bill S-223 seeks to combat forced organ harvesting and trafficking. It would make it a criminal offence for a person to go abroad and receive an organ taken without the consent of the person giving the organ.

Bill S-223 has passed the Senate unanimously three times and it passed the House unanimously in 2019 in exactly the same form as the current bill. We will be debating Bill S-223 this afternoon, and I hope this Parliament will be the one to finally bring this bill into law.

I would like to thank the member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan for his advocacy.

Climate ChangePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present two petitions signed by constituents in Kitchener—Conestoga.

The first petition requests that the Government of Canada address the climate emergency by enacting just transition legislation that would reduce emissions by 60% below 2005 levels by 2030, end fossil fuel subsidies and create good, green jobs and more.

Human RightsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Liberal

Tim Louis Liberal Kitchener—Conestoga, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition requests that the Canadian government work to require companies to prevent adverse human rights impacts and environmental damages throughout their global operations.

The EnvironmentPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

NDP

Lisa Marie Barron NDP Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise today to present this petition on behalf of 1,110 Canadians calling for urgent action to protect interior Fraser River steelhead trout under the Species at Risk Act. The petitioners recognize that, with fewer and fewer steelhead in the Thompson and Chilcotin rivers this year, inaction will likely drive this vital species to extinction.

Petitioners are urging the government to listen to independent science, which has recommended that interior Fraser steelhead be listed under the Species at Risk Act and that DFO invest in real monitoring efforts to support this species. They are calling on the government to act now so that we can save and rebuild this incredible fish species.

Palliative CarePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

Tako Van Popta Conservative Langley—Aldergrove, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am submitting a petition signed by Canadians from across the country who are concerned with the lack of palliative care services in Canada. They are calling on the government to create a national strategy on palliative care and to work with provinces to create national standards for palliative care training.