The hon. member for Nunavut.
House of Commons Hansard #82 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was commissioner.
House of Commons Hansard #82 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was commissioner.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Financial Administration Act Second reading of Bill C-230. The bill C-230 proposes amending the Financial Administration Act to establish a public registry for federal debts of $1 million or more that are waived, written off, or forgiven for corporations, trusts, and partnerships. Proponents highlight the need for transparency and fairness, especially concerning large corporate entities. While Liberals commend the effort, they raise concerns about privacy, commercial sensitivities, and administrative burden, suggesting further review in committee. 7400 words, 1 hour.
Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation Act Second reading of Bill C-10. The bill seeks to establish a new, independent Commissioner for Modern Treaty Implementation to oversee the federal government's adherence to modern treaties with Indigenous nations. While the Liberal and Bloc parties support this, arguing it enhances accountability and transparency, the Conservative party opposes it, contending it creates unnecessary bureaucracy and duplicates existing oversight by the Auditor General without ensuring ministerial accountability or tangible results. 25800 words, 3 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Old Age Security Act First reading of Bill C-261. The bill amends the Old Age Security Act to increase the full pension amount, aiming to provide a dignified retirement for seniors starting at age 65, correcting what the Bloc MP calls an injustice. 200 words.
Foreign AffairsOral Questions
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
Uqaqtittiji, before the election, the Liberals planned to cut the Inuit child first initiative. When Inuit heard this, they spoke up by the thousands. Under pressure from Nunavut, the Liberals promised to extend the program. Since being elected, the Minister of Indigenous Services promised an announcement on the ICFI. Nine months later, far too many Inuit children are still being kept below the poverty level, and there has still been no announcement.
Will the minister finally act to help Inuit children, or should they feed themselves on her promises?
Mandy Gull-Masty LiberalMinister of Indigenous Services
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for being really consistent in representing her members.
The message has been clear to me that we need to respond. That is why we have been working with our partners and look forward to what the next step is going to be. I am sure the member will be pleased to see what that is going to be. I am looking forward to what the message will be when it comes out very shortly.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, when my colleague, the member for Nunavut, was asking her question, a page actually walked across the aisle in front of her. I just want to bring that to your attention and ask whether we could have the member repeat her question.
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I did not see it. There is activity in the House. We try to have the picture stay clear of people entering and exiting, but it is, above all, a Parliament with pages and support staff. I am afraid I will not be able to do that.
The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.
Elizabeth May Green Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, members of this place who are in unrecognized parties get a 35-second opportunity once a week. I take members at their word.
I wonder if it would not be appropriate, as we do for each other all the time, to ask for unanimous consent for the member for Nunavut to ask her question again.
Indigenous AffairsOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member did have a chance to ask her question. It was, I thought, a fairly pointed question and there was an answer delivered.
The House resumed from February 5 consideration of the motion.
Opposition Motion—Apology to Those Whose Land Was Expropriated in MirabelBusiness of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Mirabel relating to the business of supply.
Call in the members.
Business of SupplyGovernment Orders
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I declare the motion carried.
I wish to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, the time provided for Government Orders will be extended by 11 minutes.
Charles Sousa Liberal Mississauga—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on National Defence in relation to Bill C-11, an act to amend the National Defence Act and other acts. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.
James Maloney Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in relation to Bill C-14, an act to amend the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and the National Defence Act, regarding bail and sentencing. The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House with amendments.
Claude DeBellefeuille Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-261, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (amount of full pension).
Mr. Speaker, introducing a bill that directly affects the daily lives of our constituents is always an important moment in a parliamentarian's life. In my riding, as in many regions, a large proportion of the population is 65 years of age or older. In Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, it is about 20% of the population.
Everywhere I go, the message is the same: People can no longer make ends meet. No one should have to choose between rent, groceries and medication. No one should contribute their entire working life and then experience financial anxiety in retirement. As we know, the enhanced pension starts only at age 75. That decision has created a real injustice. Two people who have worked their entire lives do not have access to the same basic conditions, simply because of their age. I find that incomprehensible and deeply unfair.
I am proud to join my colleagues in correcting this inequality, recognizing the immense contribution of our seniors, and offering them what they deserve: a dignified retirement, starting at age 65.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table a petition on behalf of constituents in Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford who are seeking certainty for funding for the salmon enhancement program beyond the current budget end of March 31. The salmon enhancement program is a great educational tool in the province of B.C. that teaches biology and the salmon cycle to many youth. This program is administered by the Pacific Streamkeepers Federation to provide training to volunteers who protect the aquatic health, habitat status and stock assessments within their communities. They therefore call upon the Government of Canada to reconsider how the $544 million of cuts to DFO are administered, so as not to affect program spending specifically.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I am standing on behalf of individuals who are in support of MP Tamara Jansen's private member's bill, Bill C-218, an act to amend the Criminal Code with respect to medical assistance in dying. The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. However, petitioners say that it is treatable, recovery is possible, and experts agree it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. Expanding MAID in this way risks suggesting that some lives are beyond saving while many Canadians still struggle to access timely—
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. This is not to discredit my esteemed colleague on her petition, but she did mention a member of the House. Maybe it is best if she highlights the member's riding instead.
Medical Assistance in DyingPetitionsRoutine Proceedings
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
I thank the hon. member for that. I was going to correct the member afterwards, but it is Cloverdale—Langley City, instead of the name.
Also, I believe we have a lot of noise coming from the lobby outside. I think we will try to get to that, although it sounds like it is quieting down.
I will ask the member for Yorkton—Melville to quickly finalize her comments.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. He is absolutely correct on that point.
The Government of Canada intends to expand medical assistance in dying to individuals whose only medical condition is a mental illness. Mental illness is treatable, recovery is possible and experts agree that it is currently impossible to predict when a mental illness is truly irremediable. Petitioners have many reasons to suggest that this bill is not in the best interests of Canadians. Families and communities are concerned that people who could recover through treatment and support may instead lose their lives.
Bill C-218, the right to recover act, would amend the Criminal Code to ensure that mental illness alone is not considered a grievous and irremediable condition for the purpose of MAID. Therefore, these individuals are calling upon the Government of Canada to pass Bill C-218 to stop the expansion of MAID to those whose sole underlying medical condition is a mental illness.
Cathay Wagantall Conservative Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have one other petition.
Citizens across this nation have been very concerned about the direction Bill C-9 is going and have indicated that they are concerned that the Liberal-Bloc amendment to Bill C-9 could be used to criminalize passages from the Bible, the Quran, the Torah and other sacred texts. The state has no place in the religious texts or teachings of any faith community.
Freedom of expression and freedom of religion are fundamental rights that must be preserved. Therefore, these individuals call on the Liberal Government of Canada to protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share sacred texts, and prevent government overreach in matters of faith.
Gord Johns NDP Courtenay—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour today to table a petition on behalf of Vancouver Islanders and British Columbians. They highlight that wealth inequality in Canada is rising, with more Canadians struggling to afford the basics of life while corporate profits continue to break records. They highlight that austerity measures very often exasperate inequality. The federal government is planning austerity measures including a massive cut of $25 billion to the publicly funded jobs and programs that Canadians rely upon, and the federal government has and plans on further cutting taxes on the wealthy. They also highlight that climate change is worsening, causing Canadians to project $25 billion in losses each year, and a wealth tax could, as per the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, generate more than $32 billion in the first year alone.
Petitioners call on the House of Commons to reconsider the sweeping cuts to Canadian jobs and services and, lastly, to propose a bill to fund good-paying jobs, public services and the transition to a sustainable economy by making corporations and the wealthiest Canadians pay their fair share.
Connie Cody Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise on behalf of the citizens of Cambridge to table a petition to withdraw Bill C-9 and requesting that this government uphold and protect freedom of religion and freedom of speech, as these fundamental rights must be preserved.
Bill C-9 would allow the state to prosecute those who express deeply held religious beliefs the government finds offensive. Citizens ask to protect religious freedom, uphold the right to read and share sacred texts, and prevent government intrusion into faith.
Jenny Kwan NDP Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise to table a petition in support of Bill C-233, which would close the arms loophole. It is signed by residents of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and gathered by Palestinian Solidarity Thunder Bay. The group says that they requested to meet with the member for Thunder Bay—Superior North, hoping that she would table the petition, but could not get a meeting. Therefore, they have asked that I table their community's call for the House of Commons to enact legislation to close existing loopholes in Canada's arms export laws, including removing exemptions for the United States, strengthening oversight and reassuring that Canadian arms are never used to commit or facilitate human rights abuses.