Bruce Hyer

[Petitions, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, petitions continue to come in requesting that the government rethink its decision to not fund and staff the experimental lakes area due to the national and international importance of this institution for over 50 years.

[Canadian Museum of History Act, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Thunder Bay—Superior North will be voting yes.

[Day of the Honeybee, May 29th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, there is more than just honey that comes from honeybees.

One of every three bites of food eaten worldwide depends on pollinators, especially honeybees. Many crops rely completely on them. In Canada, over $2 billion a year in agricultural production depends on honeybees.

However, bees are dying and disappearing in record numbers. Pesticides, parasites and pathogens are killing one-third of all colonies each year, and it is getting worse. A threat to the honeybee is a threat to our food and to us all. Today is the day of the honeybee in 185 municipalities and 3 provinces, including Thunder Bay. I hope the members of this House will join me in supporting efforts to make May 29 our national day of the honeybee.

I invite Thunder Bay citizens to join me this Saturday for a day of honeybee celebrations at the Thunder Bay Country Market.

[Canadian Museum of History Act, May 28th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have a high regard for this minister in his sincere appreciation for the arts and his hard work for the arts. That has been clear to me many times.

I am scratching my head over this bill; I am undecided about it. So after those kudos to the minister, I really do want to learn more and hear more about this particular bill, because I am not yet persuaded that it is the right direction to go. I do not really understand the motivation. While I trust him, I am not sure that the bigger picture is healthy here.

I also just want to go on record as once again saying that the unbelievable number of closures on debates in this House just has to stop.

[Parliament of Canada Act, May 28th, 2013]

, seconded by the member for Vancouver Quadra, moved for leave to introduce Bill C-512, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (confidence motion).

He said: Mr. Speaker, in an ongoing attempt to make this House more functional and democratic, I rise to introduce a bill to end the abuse of the convention of confidence in this House.

This bill would curb the excessive power of the Prime Minister to declare any vote a matter of confidence and to play chicken with legislation. It would also mean that budget and money bills are no longer confidence motions by default.

Only a motion that explicitly stated “that this House has no confidence in the government” would trigger a government to fall.

It would allow for a 14-day cooling-off period to re-establish confidence before Parliament would be dissolved. It would also mean the government would actually have to abide by its own fixed election date legislation.

I hope this would lead to greater government accountability, more empowered MPs and more co-operative governance.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

[Technical Tax Amendments Act, 2012, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, as a small business person, I have been aware for 60 some-odd years, though recently it has changed a bit, that nothing is certain but death, taxes and time allocation motions by the Conservatives. I hope we get that list back down to just two.

I want to go on record as saying that as a small business person representing other small business people, I do not know yet how I will vote on this legislation. I really need more information and debate on it. I want to hear the opinions of others and I really hope this is one that we decide not to put time allocation on.

[Petitions, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I am surprised that petitions continue to roll in concerning the Experimental Lakes Area. People all across Canada, but in this case from Winnipeg, really hope that the government will reverse its decision and fund the Experimental Lakes Area for the important work it does in science.

[Telecommunications, May 27th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, months ago, I asked the minister to take action before the big three telecoms took over Canada's smaller players and the last sliver of the wireless market. Now we learn that Mobilicity is being swallowed by Telus. WIND and Public Mobile are up for sale too.

Their wireless strategy is failing, and we get soaring wireless costs. Will the minister reserve any new spectrum auction for new entrants only and block the sale of more wireless market share to the big three until we have some real competition?

[Petitions, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I continue to receive hundreds of petitions from residents of Winnipeg who are still hopeful that the government will reverse its decision and continue to fund the Experimental Lakes Area due to the important scientific function it has done for half a century and should do for another half a century.

[Committees of the House, May 24th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Ottawa Centre mentioned the need for leadership, and I agree. I would like to commend him on the leadership he is showing on this motion. Subject to thinking it through carefully, I intend to support it, and I hope that all the members of the House, from all parties, will take a serious look at it. It is very thoughtful and it makes sense to me. I congratulate him for submitting it.