Debates of Oct. 29th, 2024

Canadian Heritage

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I think that it has now been printed in both languages and submitted to the Table and the Chair in both languages. We will check.

The amendment to the amendment is in order.

It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings at this time to put forthwith the question on the motion now before the House.

The question is on the subamendment.

If a member participating in person wishes that the subamendment be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

[Damien Kurek, Conservative, Battle River—Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on this very important issue, I would ask for a recorded vote.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the division stands deferred until later this day at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Animal Welfare

[Julie Dabrusin, Liberal, Toronto—Danforth, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I am presenting a petition that has been organized by Mattie's Place. It is an organization that provides support and advocacy for homeless pets.

I am submitting a petition that has been signed by people, but there was also a petition that had been signed by companion animals in our community. They are asking for recognition of animal sentience because animals do feel joy, pain and fear. They have feelings, and they deserve to have their welfare better protected.

I would like to thank Mattie's Place for its advocacy and for its organization of this petition.

Freedom of Political Expression

[Arnold Viersen, Conservative, Peace River—Westlock, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition today signed by Canadians from across the country.

The petitioners call on the House of Commons to ensure that Canadians have the right to be protected against discrimination. Canadians can and do feel political discrimination, and it is a fundamental Canadian right to be politically active and vocal. It is in the best interests of Canadian democracy to protect public debate and the exchange of differing ideas.

The folks who have signed this petition are in support of Bill C-257, which seeks to add the protection of political discrimination to the Canadian Human Rights Act. The petitioners call on the House of Commons to adopt this bill quickly and to defend the rights of Canadians to peacefully express their political opinions.

Vancouver Island Lighthouses

[Gord Johns, NDP, Courtenay—Alberni, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table e-petition 5109, which has 1,239 signatories from the west coast.

The petitioners highlight that there are significant risks to hikers, aviators, and mariners in the Juan de Fuca Strait, British Columbia. They also note that the discretion and interventions of the lighthouse keepers along the coastline have resulted in the rescue of many stranded and injured individuals, which would have not been possible through automation, and that Fisheries and Oceans Canada did not consult with local communities, mariners, union representatives or first nations prior to announcing the destaffing of Pachena Point and Carmanah Point light stations on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The petitioners are calling on the federal government to, in the future, consult with relevant stakeholders and first nations regarding the impacts of the destaffing; conduct an independent cost and safety assessment of both lighthouses and come back with a plan to move forward in reinstating the lighthouses that were closed; work with union representatives and consult with labour, as was promised in the past; and consider alternative actions to preserve the safety of lighthouse keepers without destaffing their stations.

Conservatives and Liberals have abandoned coastal people and continue to close lighthouses, and constituents are demanding action—

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Order. This is petitions.

Health Care

[Elizabeth May, Green, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I am sharing without indicating my own views. It is an experience I share with many constituents, and it comes up in every single town hall meeting.

The petitioners are pointing to the family doctor shortage, pointing to the fact that nearly five million Canadians do not have access to their own health care provider. They are asking that the government and the House assembled work with provinces and territories to find a fair and holistic solution for this quite critical emergency, which is that we do not have access across Canada to reliable primary health providers.

The statistic in the petition is that there are 4.8 million Canadians who lack a family doctor.

Freedom of Political Expression

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the residents of Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo.

Today, I am presenting two petitions. The first petition is from Canadians who wish to support Bill C-257. They wish to have the definition of discrimination expanded to include political belief and activity as an enumerated grounds of discrimination.

Old Age Security

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I am presenting is signed by 102 people.

This petition is in reference to the poverty that a number of senior citizens are experiencing. The petitioners call on the Minister of Finance specifically to provide Canadian seniors aged 65 years and over a livable pension above the poverty line.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

[Lisa Marie Barron, NDP, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to table a petition submitted by Canadian firefighters that is addressing an urgent issue impacting the health and safety of firefighters across Canada.

This petition, sponsored by the member for New Westminster—Burnaby, calls for immediate action to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in firefighter gear and firefighting foam.

PFAS are man-made chemicals that are resistant to heat, water and oil, but their durability comes at a significant cost. Scientific evidence links these substances to severe health risks, including cancer, which is putting firefighters, who are already facing hazardous conditions, at greater risk. Research shows that PFAS can accumulate in the body, leading to serious health issues. Alarmingly, firefighters face a higher cancer risk than the general population. We must mitigate these risks by regulating what we can control in their working conditions. Several countries have restricted PFAS use. Canada must follow suit. Our firefighters deserve gear that is free from toxic chemicals.

Let us protect those who risk their lives for us. I thank the Speaker for providing me the space to present this petition.

Freedom of Political Expression

[Leslyn Lewis, Conservative, Haldimand—Norfolk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to present a petition signed by Canadians across this country, as well as residents of Haldimand—Norfolk. These petitioners believe the government should recognize that Canadians can and do suffer from political discrimination, and that Canadians should be rightfully protected from such discrimination, in recognition of their rights to be politically active and vocal. These petitioners believe that it is important to protect public debate and the open exchange of ideas if we are to uphold democracy in Canada.

As such, they are calling on the House of Commons to support Bill C-257, which seeks to add protection from discrimination on the basis of political belief or activity to the Canadian Human Rights Act, and to defend the rights of all Canadians to peacefully express their political opinions.

Government Priorities

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that some members, during petitions, have ventured into expressing their own personal opinions on subjects. I think it is important to remind members to be studiously careful as to only share the petitioners' views, not their own personal view.

With that in mind, I am tabling a petition that I received from my constituents, which asks the House to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime. Petitioners observe that, after eight years, it is clear that the Prime Minister is not worth the cost, the crime or the corruption. Further, petitioners note that the failed Prime Minister and his failed NDP-Liberal government have increased the cost of everything and have failed to take responsibility for their failures. Petitioners are also saying that crime, chaos, drugs and disorder are filling our streets due to the failed policies of the Prime Minister and his NDP-Liberal government.

Without sharing any of my own views on the subject, I want to note that petitioners are asking the House to axe the tax, build the home, fix the budget and stop the crime. Petitioners are further asking for an immediate—

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I appreciate the efforts that the hon. member's campaign manager put into the wording of the petition, but the member would know that he is not supposed to be reading a petition but to, in a very short way, be highlighting the essence of the petition.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

I would like to thank the hon. member for that. It seems as though we went offside when our friend from Courtenay—Alberni gave his presentation, too. This is just a reminder to summarize the petitions as best as members possibly can so we can present as many petitions during the time allotted to us.

The hon. member for Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan.

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do want to assure members that I was as surprised as anyone when this petition was sent to my office. I am but a servant of the people in this chamber, and if my constituents want me to petition the House to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime, I can assure all hon. members that I will do that, regardless of my own personal views on that subject.

As I was saying, in addition to asking the House to axe the tax, build the homes, fix the budget and stop the crime, petitioners would like an immediate non-confidence vote in this failed NDP-Liberal government to bring about a carbon tax election, in which case Canadians would be able to vote to end the carbon tax everywhere and for good.

I do commend this petition on axing the tax, building the homes, fixing the budget and stopping the crime to the consideration of the House. I would also encourage members in the future to follow my example of avoiding statements of personal opinions when they table a petition.

Freedom of Political Expression

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition that I am tabling is in support of a private member's bill that I have tabled in the House, Bill C-257. It is an important bill, according to petitioners, who say that Canadians have a right to be protected against discrimination and that Canadians can and do face political discrimination. Petitioners note that it is a fundamental right to be politically active and that discrimination on the basis of political views can limit people's ability to be actively involved in the political conversation.

Bill C-257 would add political belief and activity as prohibited grounds of discrimination within the Canadian Human Rights Act. Petitioners ask the House to support Bill C-257, which bans discrimination on the basis of political belief or activity. They want to see the House act to defend the rights of Canadians to peacefully express their political opinions.

Charitable Organizations

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, next I am tabling a petition that raises concerns about a 2021 election platform commitment from the Liberal Party to politicize charitable status.

In that election platform, the Liberals proposed to apply political criteria to the charitable status definition and to deny charitable status to organizations that disagree with the Liberal Party's position with respect to abortion.

The petitioners note that this would jeopardize the charitable status of hospitals, houses of worship, schools, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations that, for reasons of conscience, take the position they do on this issue. They note as well that this would be similar to the values test previously applied by the government to worthy applicants under the Canada summer jobs program. They note that charitable status determinations should be made in a politically neutral way that reflects an evaluation of the charitable activities of the organization, not of the personal convictions or values of those who run the organization.

The petitioners therefore want to see the House protect and preserve the application of charitable status rules on a politically and ideologically neutral basis, without discrimination, and to affirm the right of Canadians to freedom of expression.

Human Rights in India

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, next I am tabling a petition respecting concerns about religious freedom in India.

The petitioners draw attention to findings of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, reporting that various actors have sought to establish an explicit religious nationalism within India, contrary to India's secular and pluralistic foundations, and that this has posed a grave threat to India's religious minorities. They highlight a concerning increase in incidents targeting Christians in India. They also draw attention to threats to the Dalit community and the Muslim community specifically.

The petitioners therefore ask the House to ensure that any discussions or negotiations with India involve clear human rights provisions. They want to see sanctions against individuals who are guilty of extremist violence against religious minorities, as well as incitement, and also promotion of mutually respectful and beneficial human rights dialogue in this case.

Hong Kong

[Garnett Genuis, Conservative, Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition that I am tabling is regarding human rights in Hong Kong and applicable immigration provisions.

The petitioners note how many democracy activists in Hong Kong have been subject to arbitrary, politicized sentences, some of them under the national security law, but there have been many cases in which offences not under the national security law have nonetheless been used to target people who are involved in legitimate democracy advocacy. This creates problems when those individuals might be applying for immigration to Canada. They might be excluded on the basis of criminality even though they have not committed any crimes; they have simply been involved in pro-democracy, pro-freedom protests.

The petitioners therefore want to see the Government of Canada recognize the politicization of the judiciary in Hong Kong and its impact on the legitimacy and validity of criminal convictions. They want to see affirmation that national security law offences will be considered irrelevant and invalid in relation to prospective immigration to Canada. They further want to see a mechanism whereby Hong Kong people with pro-democracy movement-related convictions not under the national security law could also be deemed admissible to Canada, notwithstanding the criminality provisions. They want to see Canada work with other like-minded states to have similar such provisions.

I commend all these petitions to the consideration of my colleagues.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker, Conservative, Chris d'Entremont]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed from October 28 consideration of the motion, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Reference to Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I want to pick up on the issue of foreign interference, not to surprise anyone, because at the end of the day, time and time again the Conservatives are quiet. They come up with bogus rationales. The bottom line is that the leader of the Conservative Party is putting his self-interest and the Conservative Party ahead of the national interest and what is in the best interest of Canadians. He is doing that by refusing to get the security clearance.

There are all sorts of issues and concerns in regard to foreign interference. Why will the leader of the Conservative Party not get that clearance? Is there something in his background? Could the member clearly give an indication to the House, and through the House to Canadians, why the current leader of the Conservative Party does not want to get the security clearance and could he explain what he might be hiding?