Criminal Code  I just want to read a few quotes from the Senate debate because I found it quite interesting. The senators acknowledged that: Without Senator Pate's amendment to Bill C-51, we will have failed to capture the scope of consent laid out for us by the Supreme Court, supported by experts in the law of sexual assault in Canada. Feminist experts in sexual assault law have advised that inclusion of the word “unconscious” risks creating a false threshold for the capacity to consent.

Transport  This is to promote the safe and efficient navigation of vessels and protect the public interest and the environment. He is also one of the members who supported Bill C-262 and has acknowledged that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a part of international law that should be incorporated into Canadian law. I want to end with this.

Criminal Code  I want to acknowledge the member for Calgary Nose Hill, who brought forward a private member's bill on this issue, Bill C-388. In her drafting of Bill C-84, the Minister of Justice lifted Bill C-388 and included it. Therefore, that is an acknowledgement of the work the member for Calgary Nose Hill has done.

Elections Modernization Act  Bill C-33 languished for many months and then finally on April 30 of this year, Bill C-76 was brought in, which swallowed up Bill C-33 but added a whole bunch more. Then the sense of urgency came.

Agriculture committee  I had asked him at the time if he felt very optimistic. In summary, he basically said no, and then underlined that Bill C-49 was really needed. We did make an attempt to get the railway provisions of that bill sped through as quickly as possible. That being said, it's all done and dusted now. With respect to the interswitching provisions, have you noticed any improvements or is it too early to tell?

Agriculture committee  Pratte, in your opening remarks you noted that the reporting that is now mandated under Bill C-49 could use further refinement. Mr. Bishop, you also mentioned that you needed to see more details from railways on their planned minimums. Are these two related in terms of the more data you'd like to see?

Criminal Code  Speaker, my question is not so much about what is in the bill but what is missing from the bill. We have been waiting for two years for this, since Bill C-246 was defeated. I know that many Liberal and New Democrat MPs in previous Parliaments have tried to tackle the issue of animal cruelty. With respect, animal bestiality and animal fighting are the low-hanging fruit.

Criminal Code  Bill C-84 is welcomed, but I look at it as yet another missed opportunity where the justice minister, who is supposedly committed to this issue and has even made many statements in the media committing to it, lost the opportunity to put in provisions that not only New Democrats support but many Liberal members, including former justice minister Irwin Cotler have supported in the past.

Criminal Code  Therefore, we always have to look at the ways it might be interpreted. That being said, when I look at Bill C-84, a lot of my constituents, and these are constituents across the political spectrum, Conservatives, Liberals, New Democrats and Green Party members, are going to be disappointed with what is missing because of the very brutal case of animal cruelty in my riding.

Elections Modernization Act  Can the member explain to this House why his government failed to acknowledge that testimony and failed to act on those provisions within Bill C-76?

Agriculture committee  Now that we're half a year forward, is there anything that gives you hope from your point of view? Is there anything more we can do? I know we passed Bill C-49, but is there light on the horizon in this particular area?

Business of Supply  Right away I want to acknowledge the hard work of my friend and colleague the member for North Island—Powell River and her attempt earlier in this Parliament to put that into law through Bill C-325, which was unfortunately voted down by the Liberals. That bill would have basically enshrined the right to housing in the Canadian Bill of Rights. I know the Liberals at the time criticized it.

Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act  Lori and Jean worked together hand in glove to try to address this problem. Now let me turn to the efforts of Jean Crowder in the 41st Parliament. She introduced Bill C-231 in 2011. She saw a way to improve her bill, and it ultimately turned into Bill C-638, which had its opportunity for debate and a vote at second reading at the tail end of the 41st Parliament.

Impact Assessment Act  Everyone acknowledges that the oil sands will not stop production tomorrow, but we need to have a plan where we talk about the just transition of those workers to bring them with us into the new energy economy, so Canada is best placed for the 21st century. I also want to talk about the Liberals' vote for Bill C-262 last week and how little those commitments mean this week. The member for Edmonton Strathcona tried repeatedly, both at committee and now at report stage, to insert language into Bill C-69 that would live up to what Bill C-262 would do.

Export and Import Permits Act  I think everyone who looks to future generations knows that we owe them that at this moment in time. I will conclude there. I have appreciated this opportunity to speak to Bill C-57. I welcome questions and comments from my colleagues and friends.