John Duncan

[Committees of the House, December 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That in relation to its study on the Northwest Territories Devolution Act, seven members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development be authorized to travel to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, in the Winter of 2014, that the necessary staff accompany the Committee and that the Committee be authorized to televise its hearings.

(Motion agreed to)

[Committees of the House, December 6th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I have some motions for which I seek unanimous consent. These are consolidated travel motions for two different committees.

I move:

That, in relation to its studies on the benefits for Canada in joining the Pacific Alliance as a full member and on the benefits for Canada of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), six members of the Standing Committee on International Trade be authorized to travel to Santiago, Chile and Lima, Peru, in the Winter-Spring of 2014, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.

(Motion agreed to)

[Northwest Territories Devolution Act, December 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would seek consent to see the clock at 5:30 p.m.

[Northwest Territories Devolution Act, December 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer brief comment, both on the passing of Nelson Mandela and on the debate we are having today.

I have been in this place for a significant length of time. I was here when Canadian citizenship was conferred upon Nelson Mandela by unanimous consent in the House. That was a very proud moment for all of us.

I have many constituents who are originally from South Africa, some of whom knew Nelson Mandela through personal contact. He was a great man at every level. We have lost a very important person from our midst.

In terms of the bill that we are debating today, it is significant that the Government of the Northwest Territories has been seeking devolution for a long time. When I was the minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, this became very much a mission along with the Premier of the Northwest Territories at that time.

One of the things that became agreed upon was the need to get to implementation as early as possible. This is how the April 2014 date came along. Everything that this place can do to expedite getting to implementation in that time frame would be very helpful indeed.

That is just a simple comment.

[Petitions, December 5th, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, our job in this place is to present a petition, not to editorialize before each and every presentation of a petition, such as we just heard, and it is certainly not to endorse petitions.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I seek agreement to apply the vote. The Conservative members will vote no.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I seek agreement to apply the vote from the previous vote, with Conservative members voting no, with one additional member, the member for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, I seek agreement to apply the vote. Conservative members will vote no.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, we agree to apply the vote. Conservative members will be voting no.

[Economic Action Plan 2013 Act No. 2, December 3rd, 2013]

Mr. Speaker, Conservative members present will vote no.