OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD)

House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 NUMBER 091 2nd SESSION 41st PARLIAMENT Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer HOUSE OF COMMONS CANADA (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) COMMONS DEBATES May 28, 2014 DEBATES Edited Hansard * Table of Contents * Number 091 (Official Version) Official Report * Table of Contents * Number 091 (Official Version) Compte rendu officiel * Table des matières * Numéro 091 (Version officielle) 147 091 28 05 2014 2014/05/28 14:05:00 House of Commons Débats de la Chambre des communes House of Commons Debates 41 2

The House met at 2 p.m. Prayers

Statements by Members (1405) [ English ] The Speaker : It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Kootenay—Columbia . [ Members sang the national anthem ] STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS Statements by Members [ Translation ] Bloc Québécois Convention Mr. Jean-François Fortin (Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia, BQ) : Mr. Speaker, over three days last weekend, some 500 delegates from across Quebec met in the beautiful town of Rimouski, making this Bloc Québécois convention the biggest gathering of its kind in Quebec in 2014.

The delegates demonstrated how important Quebec's regions are to the Bloc Québécois and how much the party values their development and enhancement. Men and women of all ages worked hard to define the 20 basic principles that will guide the Bloc Québécois through to the 2015 election. Unlike the other parties in the House, the Bloc Québécois reaffirmed that it will never sacrifice Quebec's interests in the hopes of catering to the other Canadian provinces.

The delegates were able to attend an important debate between the two leadership candidates, and they used the event as an opportunity to put a spotlight on issues that are of concern to them. They are calling for a reversal of the decision to eliminate door-to-door mail delivery and demanding that no oil or gas transportation or development projects be approved at the expense of the environment or community safety. They are saying that the Quebec consensus must be vigorously defended. We will do it.

[ English ] Remember November 11 Association Mrs. Susan Truppe (London North Centre, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, in 2008 a group of Londoners came together to establish the Remember November 11 Association, dedicated to help honour our heroes by promoting more remembrance events and further strengthen our nation's commitment to remember our fallen heroes. Led by director Sean Wilson, the Remember November 11 Association has purchased 1.2 million poppies, which have been distributed to Legions and elementary and secondary schools across London-Middlesex.

This Saturday I, along with members of our community, will come together to plant poppies to pay tribute to our brave men and women, past and present, of the Canadian Armed Forces. Local companies have donated materials and equipment, and generous Londoners have given monetary donations to make this event possible. I encourage all Canadians to visit remembernovember11.com to learn more about this great initiative and to make a donation. Lest we forget.

Vancouver Coastal Health Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Vancouver Coastal Health is eliminating a number of primary care services at public health facilities in Vancouver, including several in my riding. These provide some of the most essential elements of care delivered by health professionals at places like the Evergreen and Mid-Main clinics. The services being shut down are models of preventive community-based health care. We know that multidisciplinary clinics promote better health outcomes and, when properly supported, provide the most efficient care.

This misguided and short-sighted decision will leave thousands of patients without regular access to a primary health care provider. It will cost us more in the long run and hurt patient health. It is a direct result of cuts to the Canada health transfer by Conservatives in Ottawa and poor management of our health care system by Liberals in British Columbia. Canadians want national and provincial governments that will support primary care and prevention and a strong public health care system.

I call on the Conservative government to immediately restore the funding necessary to keep these vital services available to citizens in Vancouver.

Highbury Canco Corporation Mr. Dave Van Kesteren (Chatham-Kent—Essex, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, on May 20 I received news that the H.J. Heinz Company had completed a business deal with the Highbury Canco Corporation to purchase the Heinz Company facility in Leamington. It only makes sense to have a co-packer in Canada, as Leamington is the tomato capital of Canada and our American counterparts are looking to the Canadian market for tomato juice.

Effective June 27, Highbury Canco will take over all aspects of the operation at the Leamington factory and will continue to manufacture some of Canada's favourite products, including Heinz Tomato juice, Heinz beans and Heinz canned pastas. Highbury Canco will keep the Leamington plant globally competitive and also looks to build the business by seeking out new opportunities to create or pack new products. Already, approximately 10 farmers have signed on to grow tomatoes for Highbury Canco, and it plans to hire 250 employees before resuming operations in June.

I take this opportunity to congratulate Highbury Canco and wish it every success in this endeavour. It is great for Canada and it is great for Leamington.

[ Translation ] Canada Post Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, the constant cuts to postal services in New Brunswick's rural areas are unacceptable. The Saint-Paul post office and, as councillor Gilles Cormier tells me, the one in Haute-Aboujagane will have reduced hours. The Conservatives keep attacking the rural areas and treating the people who live there like second-class citizens.

By reducing these services, the government is not only hurting local businesses but also limiting access to an essential service for many Canadians. [ English ] Cuts in places such as the Cape Tormentine post office are not only detrimental to the communities, which depend on postal service, but also to local employees who have seen their hours cut or, worse, eliminated. I call upon the Conservative government to not only reverse these cuts but to find other and better ways to modernize Canada Post. [ Translation ] The government must stop punishing people who live in rural areas across Canada.

[ English ] Troy's Run Foundation Mr. Bev Shipley (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, 27-year-old Troy Adams is the founder of Troy's Run Foundation, a volunteer-based organization focused upon creating a better lifestyle for brain injury survivors and their loved ones. Eleven years ago, Troy was in a serious car accident that resulted in brain injury. Among his many therapies, he found that running cleared his mind best, which motivated him to run across Canada in 2012 in establishing the Troy's Run Foundation. It was an honour for me to meet with him when got to Ottawa.

Troy is a role model and an inspiration for brain injury survivors. He speaks at schools, services groups, and charities. His focus is on hope, prevention, and education, which led to his Helmets for All campaign promoting bicycle and sports helmet safety. As June 1 is National Brain Injury Awareness Month, please join me in congratulating Troy because of the part he is doing to make life better for brain injury survivors.

(1410) Arts and Culture Mr. Tyrone Benskin (Jeanne-Le Ber, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, this month Montreal and the borough of Little Burgundy celebrated 75 years of the gift of music, a gift from their native son Oliver Jones. On May 11 I had the pleasure of presiding as master of ceremonies over a tribute to Dr. Jones given by the historic Union United Church for his years of devotion to the community of Little Burgundy. On May 20, Dr. Jones was named an honorary citizen of Montreal. He holds four honorary doctorates, has multiple Juno wins, and was named a Chevalier du Québec and to the Order of Canada.

He is an inspiration of musicians of all genres. He is a gifted man, a humble man and a man who demonstrates the power of music to bring people together. He is respected and adored throughout Quebec, Canada and, indeed, the world. On behalf of the House, I congratulate Oliver Jones on 75 years of bringing pride to the people of Little Burgundy and to Canadians from coast to coast to coast.

Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Barry Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it was 96 years ago today that the Republic of Azerbaijan was established as the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world. Among the most important accomplishments of that first republic was granting suffrage to women in 1919, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim nation to grant women political rights equal to men. Interestingly, that was the same year Canadian women got the vote, and years before British and American women gained the same. Alas, this independent Azerbaijani state did not last long.

Less than two years later, the Soviet Red Army rolled into Baku, and a free and democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was no more. This story does, however, ultimately have a happy ending. Shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Azerbaijan was re-established in 1991. Recently, Azerbaijan took the courageous step of joining Canada in support of UN resolution 262 that called on all nations, including Russia, to recognize the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

As chair of the Canada-Azerbaijan Friendship Group, I congratulate the Azeri people on this special day and wish the Republic of Azerbaijan a bright future.

Workplace Safety Mr. Brad Trost (Saskatoon—Humboldt, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, imagine how many work accidents could be avoided each year if people would just stop to ask for help instead of rushing ahead with the task at hand. That was the message of a work safety video entitled Just Ask , which placed first both in Saskatchewan and also nationally in a national safety video contest. Just Ask was produced by Humboldt Collegiate Institute students Dylan Pappenfoot, Logan Seipp, and Dylan Stadnyk. In the video, Stadnyk plays a worker crushed to death under a stack of heavy boxes he is trying to move down a staircase.

This video shows his worried mother hearing the bad news from a trauma surgeon and then cuts to Dylan safely moving the dolly down the same stairs after asking a co-worker for help. The Humboldt Collegiate Institute won double honours because its Just Ask video got the most votes nationally in the Fan Favourite category. By engaging high school youth in the production of this workplace safety video, the second annual “It's your Job!” video contest encourages students to think about safety in their workplace. Congratulations to the Humboldt Collegiate Institute and its creative students.

[ Translation ] Canada Post Mr. Pierre Jacob (Brome—Missisquoi, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, last December Canada Post announced that it was going to eliminate home mail delivery for millions of people. I have received thousands of letters and emails from unhappy people in my riding of Brome—Missisquoi , as well as several petitions. On May 10, almost 200 people took to the streets of Farnham to support postal workers. The people of Brome—Missisquoi are all telling me the same thing: they support the NDP, which is calling on the government to reject the plan to reduce services. Other avenues must be explored in order to modernize our crown corporation. Canada Post, we want to keep our services.

(1415) [ English ] Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Mrs. Nina Grewal (Fleetwood—Port Kells, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, last week I was happy to announce that our government is contributing $20 million to UNICEF for a birth registration project in sub-Saharan Africa. With our support, UNICEF will use innovative information and communication technologies to record births and deaths, ensuring that children can have access to basic services such as education and health care and are less susceptible to violence, exploitation, and trafficking.

Maternal, newborn, and child health is our government's top development priority, and the Prime Minister is opening a conference on this issue today in Toronto. We are providing $2.85 billion in funding between 2010 and 2015 under the Muskoka initiative to save the lives of women and children in developing countries. I am proud of our government's commitment to protecting the future of the children of sub-Saharan Africa.

Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, this week while the Prime Minister and his Conservative government host an international summit entitled Saving Every Woman, Every Child in Toronto, they are letting down women around the world and here at home. Aboriginal women in Canada face the highest levels of health insecurity in our country. This reality is linked to the higher levels of poverty and ever-present impacts of colonization. While indigenous communities try to effect change, the current government works against them.

In Manitoba, the strengthening families maternal child health initiative at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs has made a difference. In 2010, a health director stated that it is “...the first program that has effectively addressed the damage of residential schools and child welfare policies of the past”. It has trained nurses and home visitors. In 2011, it was acknowledged by the Health Council of Canada as a partnership model of best practice.

First nations like War Lake, Pimicikamak, and others have seen a difference, yet a few short weeks ago, Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch announced it is cutting the funding. Today I ask the Prime Minister to take leadership here at home and support programs like the SF-MCH in Manitoba.

Taxation Ms. Roxanne James (Scarborough Centre, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of our Prime Minister , Canadians have more money in their wallets, where it belongs. With the federal tax burden at its lowest level in 50 years, our historic tax relief has especially benefited Canada's middle-income earners. A new report just released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer says that our tax cuts “...greatly impact low-middle income earners...effectively resulting in a 4.0 per cent increase in after-tax income”.

Thanks to our government, the average family of four will save nearly $3,400 in taxes this year. The net worth of families is up over 44%, and even The New York Times says we have the richest middle class in the world. Unfortunately, the Liberal leader has no idea what it is like to be a middle-income earner. In fact, he even claims that a budget can balance itself. Despite what Liberal members call their own leader's “bozo eruption”, our Conservative government continues to take action that actually helps middle-income families and puts more money in their pockets, where it belongs.

Religious Intolerance Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, like all Canadians, I was deeply saddened by the death of a Canadian doctor, Mehdi Ali Qamar, who was murdered in Pakistan this past Monday. This murder happened as a result of religious intolerance. Dr. Qamar was an Ahmadi, and he is among a growing number of Ahmadis killed every year, for nothing more than their faith, at the hands of intolerant regimes and closed-minded dictators.

In fact, violence against religious communities in places like Pakistan is on the rise, and too often peaceful and devout individuals such as those in the Ahmadi community are subjects of the violence. Religious intolerance is cowardly and must never be tolerated. The Liberals stand against intolerance and are united in calls for acceptance of diversity and the establishment of human rights globally. Let us offer more than our prayers to Dr. Qamar's family. Now is the time for renewed pressure on world governments that tyrannize the faithful.

Let that— The Speaker : The hon. member for Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale .

(1420) Religious Intolerance Mr. David Sweet (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as my colleague just said, earlier this week a Canadian doctor, Mehdi Ali Qamar, was gunned down in Pakistan. It is believed that Mr. Qamar was murdered over his Ahmadi faith. This incident is a continuance of a pattern of violence and persecution against religious minorities in Pakistan. We all remember the assassination of Pakistan's minister of minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti. Religious freedom is an inherent right that must be protected.

Individuals everywhere should have the right to practise their faith in peace and security. The government of Pakistan must do more to ensure these religious minorities are protected and bring those who infringe upon this universal right to justice. On behalf of our government, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Qamar and assure them that Canadian consular officials will continue to provide assistance during this difficult time.

[ Translation ] Supreme Court of Canada Ms. Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the fiasco surrounding the appointment of Justice Nadon to the Supreme Court illustrates the Conservatives' contempt for Quebec. The Prime Minister thinks that judges from Quebec would be too progressive or too soft on criminals to sit on the country's highest court. By stubbornly appointing a federal judge and, moreover, one with little experience in civil law, the Prime Minister is telling us that he could not care less about Quebec's civil law tradition.

We already suspected this, though, since the Prime Minister once appointed a judge who was not fluent in French, which is another one of Quebec's fundamental characteristics. Yesterday Quebec's premier took the Conservative government to task. He does not like how Quebec is being treated. This morning, the Minister of Justice , looking pitiful, said that he would honour Quebec's wishes. He could have saved face if he had just listened to Quebec's advice from the beginning. Quebec has three seats on the country's highest court to ensure that its fundamental character is represented there.

Every time the Prime Minister tries to get around his obligations to Quebec and wipe away our differences, the NDP will stand in his way.

[ English ] Vanessa's Law Mr. Terence Young (Oakville, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Bill C-17 , Vanessa's law, would help identify potentially dangerous drugs and ensure the quick recall of unsafe drugs. It would require reporting of serious adverse drug reactions, so doctors and patients are aware of new risks, and it would introduce tough new fines for companies that put Canadians at risk. The Minister of Health has even declared that she is open to amendments to further strengthen this bill. I cannot believe that New Democrats have chosen to stonewall its passage.

They wasted hours yesterday talking about how important this bill is, but when asked to fast-track it, they simply refused. I pleaded with six NDP members yesterday in the House to request their House leader to get Bill C-17 to committee as soon as possible. Every one of them refused or ignored me entirely. This legislation would save lives. We need to get it passed. The NDP will have to answer to Canadian patients for this inexcusable delay. The NDP should stop playing political games with patient safety.

ORAL QUESTIONS Oral Questions [ English ] International Development Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is too bad that his House leader never called it in six months. [ Translation ] In developing countries, 800 women die every day from causes related to pregnancy, childbirth and unsafe abortions. Funding for reproductive medicine is key to putting an end to this tragedy. Nevertheless, the Conservatives refuse to give funding to groups that provide safe and legal medical procedures, even when those procedures are required because of war rape.

Why are the Conservatives refusing to fund these basic health care services for women, when they know that 800 women are dying every day? [ English ] Hon. John Baird (Minister of Foreign Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is important, and the Prime Minister deserves a significant amount of praise for the leadership he has demonstrated. We have got many other countries off the bench and into the game, providing a substantial amount of funding to support these mothers and support their young babies. Canadians can be very proud of our leadership initiatives. Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, even in their commitment to end forced marriages, the Conservatives have refused to help finance the United Nations population fund. Why? The UN population fund has long been the target of anti-choice activists for its efforts to provide family planning and promote reproductive health. Why are the Conservatives putting anti-choice politics ahead of promoting women's health in the poorest countries in the world, where 800 women a day die for lack of proper care?

(1425) Hon. Deepak Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and for International Human Rights, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister , under the Muskoka initiative on maternal, newborn, and child health, will save the lives of 1.3 million children and newborns, as well as more than 60,000 young mothers, so I do not know what the Leader of the Opposition is talking about. This is one of the best initiatives that has come from Canada. We are saving lives. We want the NDP to support us instead of stopping us— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker : Order, please. The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

[ Translation ] Employment Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, since the Liberal Party expanded the program in 2002, the number of temporary foreign workers in Canada has risen steadily, by 13% per year, under both the Liberal and Conservative governments. Today, as soon as an employer is unable to find a Canadian who will work for minimum wage, the Conservatives send him a temporary foreign worker. What message are the Conservatives sending to the 1.3 million unemployed Canadians? Hon.

Jason Kenney (Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, it is clear from his question that the Leader of the Opposition is mistaken as usual. Employers are required to offer any jobs that are available to Canadians first, and they must advertise those jobs at the average wage in Canada. If qualified Canadians do not respond to the ad, then employers can apply to the temporary foreign worker program.

We are going to make changes to the program to ensure that Canadians are given priority in the labour market and that the jobs are there for them when they want to apply. [ English ] Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have approved the use of temporary foreign workers at hotels, restaurants, gas stations, convenience stores, nurseries, truck stops, casinos, and ski lifts, all at minimum wage. If a company can hire temporary foreign workers at minimum wage for any job it wants, why would it ever pay a Canadian more than minimum wage?

This is a massive interference in the free market. Is that not in fact what the temporary foreign worker program is all about: keeping wages artificially low? Hon. Jason Kenney (Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to see that the Leader of the Opposition has been converted to free-market theory. I congratulate him. Who knows? He might actually change his position and start supporting tax cuts instead of tax increases.

Of the temporary foreign workers who are paid at minimum wage, 99% were in the seasonal agriculture worker program, which the NDP wants to keep, and the live-in caregiver program, for which we have since raised the prevailing wage rate. For the other 1%, the prevailing wage rate, the median, was actually at the minimum level in each province, but the vast majority are well above that.

Privacy Hon. Thomas Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, he should tell that to the 1.3 million Canadians looking for a job. Today Ontario's Privacy Commissioner added her voice to that of the Canadian Bar Association in accusing Conservatives of chipping away at Canadians' charter right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure. The commissioner is clear. Conservatives are trying to use new legislation on cyberbullying to push through a host of measures that would “invade the privacy of every Canadian”.

How can Conservatives possibly justify using a bill meant to protect children as political cover to pass vast new powers to spy on honest Canadians? Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, what the Leader of the Opposition has just said is not true. What we are doing is in fact passing laws that will enable police and law enforcement to protect children against online predators, to protect children from the type of abuse and humiliation and bullying we saw in the Rehtaeh Parsons case, the Amanda Todd case, and others.

When we heard from their parents, interestingly, what those parents said was “Pass this law. Protect our children.” That is what our government is doing.

[ Translation ] Employment Hon. John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Immigration . I have a blacklist issued by his department of employers who have maltreated temporary foreign workers. However, the list is empty. Can the Minister of Immigration explain why his department has been missing in action on this and why it is doing nothing to deal with the exploitation of temporary foreign workers?

(1430) Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as soon as an employer ends up on the list, it no longer has access to the temporary foreign worker program. It is as simple as that. The department of employment established this list in 2011 and began adding employers to it in December 2013. There are investigations currently under way. There is a moratorium, and we are taking measures to ensure that employers that end up on the list no longer receive labour market opinions. [ English ] Hon. John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, Lib.) : Mr.

Speaker, he just said that as soon as the employer does something bad to employees, he is on the list. He should know that there is no one on the list. That is the point. There is no one on the list. That is why the real immigration minister usually answers the questions. If that minister wants to answer the question, will he tell us, given that there are zero employers on the list who have maltreated employees, why this is? Is this not blanket evidence that they do not care when employees are maltreated? Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, the member opposite is plain wrong. There are employers on the list. Both departments are taking action to ensure that LMOs are denied to those employers. There are new investigations under way. There is a moratorium in place for a large number of LMOs under the low-skilled class, and we are proud of that record, because we take the rules seriously. We are cleaning up the Liberal mess started by them in 2002 when there was not even any ability to inquire or-- Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker : Order, please.

There are some members whose names appear later down on my list, but I am worried that they are going to run out of breath by then. I would ask them to come to order lest they be too tired to be recognized by the Speaker later on. The hon. member for Markham—Unionville. Hon. John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, he is addicted to this silly Conservative line about cleaning up a Liberal mess, which did not exist in those days. If we want to be more serious, this guy talks about employers on the list.

There are zero employers on any list for abuse of employees, so I would ask this minister, or if he does not know I will ask the real minister, can he name one employer on the list for abusing employee rights? Can either of the ministers answer that question? Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member opposite knows perfectly well that there are employers on the list who do not have access to the program.

He knows that there are further investigations under way, and he also knows that there was no list in their time in government, because they were indifferent to abuse. They brought exotic dancers to this country in the hundreds and thousands, without any scrutiny of what happened to them. It was atrocious, and we are going to continue cleaning up that mess.

[ Translation ] Ethics Ms. Ève Péclet (La Pointe-de-l'Île, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, in response to a question on the order paper, the NDP has obtained the most up-to-date information on the use of the government's Challenger aircraft by Conservative ministers. We can conclude that they use these aircraft— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! [ English ] The Speaker : Order, please. We have moved on to the next question. I will ask members to give the hon. member for La Pointe-de-l'Île their attention. The hon. member for La Pointe-de-l'Île. [ Translation ] Ms. Ève Péclet : Mr.

Speaker, as I was saying, we see that the Conservative ministers make rather liberal use of government aircraft. Over the past five years, such flights have cost us more than $4 million. The Minister of Justice , who returned from vacation on a military Challenger, has a $330,000 bill. When will they finally decide to limit their travel and to take commercial flights like everyone else?

(1435) Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the government has the greatest respect for Canadian taxpayers and has reduced use of the Challenger jet by 80%. [ English ] It is because we have the utmost respect for taxpayers that we reduced the use of Challenger jets by 80%. I contrast that to the NDP, which still has not accounted for some $3 million worth of taxpayers' money it used to open up illegal offices. It could make a start by returning that money to Canadian taxpayers. [ Translation ] Ms.

Ève Péclet (La Pointe-de-l'Île, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives continue to happily fly at taxpayers' expense, as did the Liberals before them. The other problem is that they are refusing to give us information about the identity of those travelling with the Prime Minister and his ministers. For example, previously we could find out that the Prime Minister regularly gave lifts to an important Conservative Party fundraiser. Now the rules seem to have changed suddenly, and we are no longer given that information. They obviously believe that those paying the bills may be asking too many questions.

Does the government have something to hide? [ English ] Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as I just said, this government has the utmost respect for Canadians taxpayers. That is why we have reduced the use of Challengers by 80% since we have come into office. The only people we are having trouble finding are the people who supposedly work in the NDP offices. We are not sure if they work in Quebec, in Montreal, or in Saskatchewan.

Apparently the Leader of the Opposition says they actually work in Ottawa, and apparently it is all the Clerk's fault. New Democrats should repay taxpayers the millions of dollars they use for illegal offices across this country to further their party's agenda. Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP) : We enjoyed the fiction show over there, Mr. Speaker, but let us talk about how the Conservatives preach belt-tightening for others while we find more evidence of Conservative ministers flying their friends around the country on the Challenger.

At least before, they used to declare who was flying on these trips, but now they say it is a state secret. When they hide the flight manifest, it means Canadians cannot tell whether it is government officials or cronies of the Conservative Party who are along for the ride. We know the Prime Minister 's buddy, Mark Kihn, used to ride shotgun on these airborne Cadillacs. Who else? What are they trying to hide? Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we have reduced the use of Challenger jets by some 80% since we took office in 2006.

It is because we have the utmost respect for Canadian taxpayers that we have done that, because we understand on this side of the House that leaving money in the pockets of hard-working Canadians is better than putting it in the hands of government. At the same time, New Democrats have to account for the fact that they wasted millions of taxpayers' dollars on potentially illegal offices across this country. They should show some leadership and return that money to Canadian taxpayers. Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, I would advise my hon. colleague from Markham that if he was worried about taxpayers, he would be talking to the Minister of Justice , who uses a Challenger jet as his own personal taxi service to Halifax on the weekend. Speaking of poor judgment, remember Bruce Carson, the convicted fraud artist who is now up on influence peddling charges? Canadians tried to figure out how this guy ever slipped through security checks. Mr. Carson tells us that the Prime Minister knew about his criminal record and invited him into the inner office anyway.

A simple question: why would the Prime Minister hire a convicted criminal to be his chief adviser? Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the only people who are in trouble right now are New Democrats, who have to account for the fact that they took millions of dollars of taxpayers' money to fund partisan political offices across this country. It is not just one person implicated in the NDP; it is the entire caucus, who actually participated in the scheme to rip off Canadian taxpayers. They should account for that.

They should stop blaming the Clerk of the House of Commons, whose reputation is the highest reputation, and be honest with Canadians. Repay the millions of dollars they took from Canadians illegally. [ Translation ] Mr. Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, last week the Charbonneau commission found that SNC-Lavalin's upper echelons are plagued by a culture of corruption and non-compliance. Arthur Porter and Senator Angus's schemes led to the biggest corruption fraud in the history of Canada.

However, the federal government continues to do business with SNC-Lavalin, awarding the company military and building maintenance contracts. When will the government look into the contracts awarded to SNC-Lavalin in the past?

(1440) Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, those are problems with municipal and provincial contracts. At the same time, it is very important that the commission continue its work. [ English ] If the Leader of the Opposition, 20 years ago, had had the courage to come forward with the fact that he was offered a bribe and had not actually hidden it for 17 years, I can only imagine the corruption we could have put a stop to if he had just had the courage, 20 years ago, to come forward, instead of hiding it for 17 years.

We will continue to put taxpayers first in everything we do on this side. [ Translation ] Mr. Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, give me a break. We are talking about contracts between SNC-Lavalin and the federal government. Last March, Public Works and Government Services Canada changed its procurement policies to avoid doing business with companies that have been found guilty of fraud or bribery. However, SNC-Lavalin executives and police told the Charbonneau commission that SNC-Lavalin had defrauded Quebec taxpayers and paid bribes to win the contract to build the McGill hospital centre.

SNC-Lavalin is now famous for its role in the biggest corruption fraud in the history of Canada. Can the government confirm that the new rules will apply to SNC-Lavalin? Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, once again, these problems do not involve the federal government. This commission is investigating provincial and municipal affairs. [ English ] At the same time, anybody who is found guilty should face the full force of the law. As you know, Mr.

Speaker, one of the first acts this government brought forward when it was elected was the Federal Accountability Act, which removed the influence of big money and big unions from federal contracting. We will continue to put taxpayers first by bringing in laws like that, which protect Canadian taxpayers.

[ Translation ] Justice Ms. Françoise Boivin (Gatineau, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, former Supreme Court justice John Major is shaking his head at the Conservative kerfuffle over the appointment of Justice Nadon. He is especially critical of the politicization of the process and the direct attack against the Chief Justice, who was only doing her job in warning the Prime Minister . Instead of attacking the Chief Justice, the Prime Minister should do some soul-searching. When will he admit that he alone is responsible for this fiasco? [ English ] Hon.

Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I notice that former Supreme Court Justice, Mr. Justice Major, has added his name to other former justices from the Supreme Court, Justice Binnie and Justice Charron, in disagreeing with the Supreme Court on eligibility. Of course, we also know that constitutional expert Peter Hogg disagreed. We sought advice and followed that advice, in fact. Of course, of all Federal Court judges themselves who had applied, some were listed on the eligibility list. The member opposite was part of that process.

We will support and follow the letter and the spirit of the Supreme Court. [ Translation ] Ms. Françoise Boivin (Gatineau, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, according to former justice Major, the Conservative kerfuffle is compounded by the fact that the Prime Minister once again has the wrong people around him. Justice Major says that the current Minister of Justice is a lightweight when it comes to justice. That explains why this appointment is such a fiasco. That is not very flattering. Why did the Conservatives not listen to Quebec's recommendations before appointing Justice Nadon? Hon.

Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I recently had a productive meeting with Quebec's justice minister, Ms. Vallée, and representatives of Quebec's legal community. As usual, we are consulting a wide range of stakeholders. We will not comment on rumours, speculation or comments made by former Supreme Court justices. We have been very clear: we will respect the spirit and the letter of the Supreme Court decision. Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, they do not listen to anyone, and that is the problem. [ English ] We have ever-changing stories from the Prime Minister and his Minister of Justice . When the decision of the Supreme Court came down, the Prime Minister claimed he was “very surprised” but this week he tells us he knew all along. The Conservatives have targeted Kevin Page, Sheila Fraser, Marc Mayrand and now even the Chief Justice. In short, any eminent Canadian who disagrees with them. Why has the Prime Minister gone so far out of his way to pick a fight with the Supreme Court of Canada?

(1445) Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, that is patently false. We have nothing but the utmost respect for the Supreme Court as well as all of the institutions of the country. That is why we want people with merit, people with judicial excellence, to fill the positions, particularly at the Supreme Court of Canada. We acted on the advice of legal experts, including former justices of the Supreme Court. We have listened to the Supreme Court's ruling with respect to eligibility specific to the province of Quebec. That is a new

interpretation from the original act. As the Prime Minister has said, we will respect the spirit and the letter of the Supreme Court's decision.

[ Translation ] Citizenship and Immigration Mr. Marc Garneau (Westmount—Ville-Marie, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, Bill C-24 opens a Pandora's box. It will give foreign courts the right to put the citizenship of Canadians in jeopardy, with no legislative guarantee that the process is fair. For example, how can the minister justify to members of Canada's Tamil community that their citizenship would be in jeopardy if they were found guilty in a Sri Lankan court? Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is absolutely wrong.

Our citizenship and immigration bill will strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship by tightening requirements. This means that new Canadians must reside in Canada, fulfill the citizenship criteria and live in accordance with Canada's values and laws. [ English ] Hon. Hedy Fry (Vancouver Centre, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, it is clear the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration has a problem getting his facts right. It was his— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker : Order. The hon. member for Vancouver Centre has the floor. Hon. Hedy Fry : Mr.

Speaker, it was his party that opposed every piece of LGBTTQ equality legislation brought forward by the last Liberal government, from amending the Canadian Human Rights Act all the way to gay marriage. Despite his assurances to use his power to make the WorldPride Human Rights Conference in Toronto a success, he still will not say if he will okay visitor visas for 10 Ugandan gay rights activists— The Speaker : Order. The hon. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : It is astonishing, Mr.

Speaker, that former ministers would stand in this place and ask the Minister of Immigration to give a decision in this place about individual immigration cases. That member knows very well that the authority is delegated to highly trained professionals around the world. She knew that when her party was in government. It is not a surprise that her party is not in government now, given that those members deny these things. We will continue to stand up for human rights around the world. We will continue to insist that governments in Uganda and elsewhere respect human rights regardless of sexual orientation.

We will use our immigration laws to make this conference a success. Hon. Carolyn Bennett (St. Paul's, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, for years the Ontario Liberal government has made it clear that it needs the federal government to raise the targets on the provincial nominee program. Unfortunately, the Conservative government continues to undermine Ontario's economic potential by limiting it to 2,500 applicants per year. Even Tim Hudak now says that Canada's immigration minister is being grossly unfair to Ontario.

Is the minister just incompetent, or can he explain why he has so stubbornly refused to help Ontario's economy? Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to answer that question because it gives me a chance to remind voters in Ontario that under the Liberal government before 2006, the number for the provincial nominee program from Ontario was zero. The program when we came into office brought 6,000 new Canadians to this country. This year it is bringing 46,000. We doubled the number for Ontario.

What shows disrespect to the taxpayers of Ontario is spending Ontario taxpayers' hard-earned dollars on failed and bogus refugee claimants. That is what is driving us crazy in Ontario. That is why we need a new— The Speaker : Order. We will move on to the hon. member for St. John's East.

(1450) National Defence Mr. Jack Harris (St. John's East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have faced sexual assault know that this issue requires an admission that we have a problem and an urgent response. So far, we have neither. Reports to the minister are three years behind, even though they are required by law, and they bury the numbers for sexual assault. The Chief of the Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson, said it will take one to two months even to find someone to lead an investigation.

When will the minister stop washing his hands and passing the buck to the military, take responsibility, and appoint an independent judicial inquiry? Hon. Rob Nicholson (Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, during our eight years, we have always taken responsibility in this area. Any of these allegations are truly disturbing. No member of the armed forces should ever be subject to this kind of disgusting behaviour. The Chief of the Defence Staff is going to be conducting a study of this, an investigation into this. This government has zero tolerance for that kind of behaviour. [ Translation ] Ms.

Christine Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, what is even more worrisome about the management of the allegations of sexual assault in the armed forces is the lack of leadership shown by successive Conservative defence ministers. The situation is even worse than we thought. The Department of National Defence is three years behind in reporting its crime statistics to Parliament. An external audit will not do. The minister needs to step up and stop passing the buck to the Chief of the Defence Staff.

When will he appear before the committee and appoint a judicial inquiry to look into these serious allegations? [ English ] Hon. Rob Nicholson (Minister of National Defence, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, as soon as we have the reports from the Judge Advocate General, of course, we will table them. This has been a priority throughout our years. We have stood up for those who have been victims of sexual assault. We never got support from the NDP. If the member and her party have changed their minds, let them stand up and start supporting our efforts to protect the innocent.

[ Translation ] The Environment Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives will stop at nothing to hide the impacts of climate change. After trying to muzzle scientists, now the Conservatives are saying that meteorologists at Environment Canada are not qualified to talk about climate change. If those who study weather patterns are not qualified to talk about climate change, then who is? [ English ] Hon. Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, our priority is to protect the environment while keeping the economy strong. We have made significant investments to begin Canada's transition to a clean energy economy and advance our climate change objectives. We have also recently launched a national conservation plan that promotes our government's strong legacy of conservation work and includes new investments to secure ecologically sensitive lands, and conserve marine and coastal areas. I am very proud to be part of a government that is getting results. Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, well, if the minister followed the news on her file, she would not have been caught off guard by that question. Here is something else that is in the news: climate change is real. While media cannot contact most government scientists, it does have 24-hour-a-day access to meteorologists, yet draconian government rules and fear of losing their jobs puts a gag on these meteorologists. They are avoiding talking about the crucial and scientific connection between weather patterns and climate change. When will the Prime Minister acknowledge that climate change is real and stop muzzling scientists? Hon.

Leona Aglukkaq (Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, that is absolutely ridiculous. Unlike the other side, I have chosen not to play politics with this when it comes to protecting the environment. I regularly meet with Canadians across the country to speak to them about the priorities of our government, which are important to them as well. On the other hand, the opposition will continue to play politics with this issue.

We will continue to meet with Canadians to discuss important issues of the environment.

Health Mr. Terence Young (Oakville, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, Bill C-17 has the support of every party in this House. When passed, it would empower the Minister of Health to, among other things, order dangerous drugs off the market without delay and require reporting of serious adverse drug reactions. This bill is, without exaggeration, a matter of life and death for Canadians who may suffer serious adverse drug reactions in the coming months. The minister has stated that she is open to amendments to further strengthen the bill.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs please tell us why this legislation has not yet been referred to the health committee?

(1455) Mr. Paul Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and for Intergovernmental Affairs, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I want to take just a moment to recognize and thank the member for Oakville for his tireless efforts on this and the obvious passion that he brings to this file. He is absolutely right, Bill C-17 has the support of all members of this House. Yesterday, shamefully, the NDP played partisan political games in delaying this before it could go to the health committee. The NDP members need to answer to those Canadians, the millions of Canadians who are waiting for this bill to be passed.

They have to stop playing partisan political games and work with us to make sure this bill gets passed. Let me assure the member, his family, and the millions of Canadians who are relying on this that this side of the House will do everything in our power to make sure this gets passed.

[ Translation ] Government Appointments Mr. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, when the Conservatives were accused of stacking Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, or ECBC, with their friends, they got rid of former CEO John Lynn. However, that still does not explain why Mr. Lynn hired four former Conservative candidates to work at ECBC. One of the people who was hired is the former chief of staff to the current Minister of Justice . Will the Minister of Justice agree to appear before the parliamentary committee with John Lynn regarding the hiring of Nancy Baker? [ English ] Hon.

Rob Moore (Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to ensuring we have a professional, independent, non-partisan public service. I can confirm that Mr. Lynn's appointment as CEO of ECBC was terminated as of yesterday. As standard practice, the Government of Canada does not provide a severance when an individual's appointment is terminated with cause. We take action on issues of accountability. The question is, when is his party going to take action for its abuse of taxpayers' dollars in running House of Commons offices as partisan units? Mr.

Ryan Cleary (St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is good to see that the minister has finally come clean on severance for John Lynn, there will not be any. It will be interesting to see if he actually qualifies for EI. No severance still does not answer the question of why John Lynn got the job in the first place. How about the Minister of Justice 's former chief of staff, Allan Murphy? How about Nancy Baker, who worked for the Minister of Justice before and after her sweet appointment?

Will the Minister of Justice 's friends continue to sit in their comfy positions, or will these jobs finally be open to a fair and competitive process? Hon. Rob Moore (Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the hon. members cannot seem to take yes for an answer. Mr. Lynn's appointment as CEO of Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation was terminated as of yesterday. There is no severance because there was termination with cause. This is as a result of the findings of an independent investigation undertaken by the board of directors of that corporation.

Why does the hon. member not talk to his own colleagues about accountability in repaying taxpayers' dollars that were misspent in a partisan nature?

International Trade Mr. Ryan Cleary (St. John's South—Mount Pearl, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, Conservatives have grossly mismanaged the Canada-EU trade deal. The only thing they have done well is hide the details from Canadians. They promised $280 million for Newfoundland and Labrador in compensation. I asked the minister some simple questions on the order paper, simple questions like What was the purpose of the money? What was it to be spent on? What conditions are on the funding? However, the President of the Treasury Board claimed cabinet secrecy, and he refused to answer the questions.

Canadians deserve transparency when it comes to trade deals. My question is simple. What are Conservatives trying to hide? Hon. Ed Fast (Minister of International Trade, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, our trade agreement with the European Union is a remarkable opportunity for Canadians to enjoy unprecedented market access to 500 million affluent consumers. It opens up a fish and seafood market worth $25 billion a year. It is the largest market of its kind in the world. We know that Atlantic Canadians will be major beneficiaries of these new market opportunities.

In the meantime, our discussions with Newfoundland and Labrador to assist them in transitioning out of minimum processing requirements are ongoing.

(1500) Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Minister of International Trade yet again refuses to come clean with Canadians about CETA. Since the staged signing ceremony last October, details have been hidden from Canadians, and the minister's timeline for an actual deal has been a moving target. Last November he said we would have a deal in two to three months. Again in February he said he expected a deal in one or two months. Now, the U.S.-EU talks are in full swing, and the Europeans have a new Parliament.

Given these factors, does the minister have a new CETA timeline he would like to share with the Canadian public? Hon. Ed Fast (Minister of International Trade, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House we do not emphasize the speed of the deal, we emphasize the quality of the deal. This agreement is an historic win for Canadians. It is expected to increase bilateral trade by over 20%. It is going to increase the number of jobs in Canada alone by somewhere in the order of 80,000.

It is pretty rich for the NDP members to get up in the House to talk about trade when they have never once stood in the House to support any of the trade deals Canada has signed. They have no credibility on trade.

Government Accountability Hon. Wayne Easter (Malpeque, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, it is increasingly evident that the Minister of Justice in his current and previous portfolios has left a trail of incompetence wherever he goes, including the disastrous F-35 procurement, using a search-and-rescue helicopter to winch himself out of a fishing camp, the botched appointment of Justice Nadon, and the smear job on the Chief Justice, but taking the cake is his hand-picked choice of his friend to lead ECBC, now fired for hiring the minister's lackeys without competition.

I ask the Prime Minister this: whatever happened to ministerial accountability in the government? Hon. Rob Moore (Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a former minister. He should know that ministers are not involved in the day-to-day hiring of staff, yet the members ask each day for us to engage in that. This is the same member who was asked to repay expenses on the house he claimed was his own which was not his own. I assume it was a glass house. He had to repay the money a couple of years ago. We take no lessons on accountability from that member.

The Speaker : The hon. member for York West— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker: Order, please. Members of the government will be able to answer the question once the member is finished putting it. We will allow her to do so. The hon. member for York West.

National Defence Hon. Judy Sgro (York West, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday Conservatives heard and accepted yet another excuse for systemic sexual harassment within the RCMP and national defence, a very serious issue. This makes years of Conservative foot-dragging, and in that time, thousands in uniform have been victimized. Worse yet, only a fraction were reported and fewer still were punished. The men and women of our forces and the RCMP have sworn to protect us, but today they are asking for our help.

If the minister is not up to the job, may I suggest that he move over and get someone else who will take over this very serious issue and deal with the men and women who are there to protect us who need our help? Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, this is coming from a party that completely ignored our military throughout its term. It was called a “decade of darkness”. We take any of these allegations very seriously. Our government ended house arrest for serious sexual assaults. We toughened the sentences for trafficking and importation of date-rape drugs.

We brought in mandatory sentencing for sexual offences against children. All of these were opposed by the Liberal Party. We need no lessons from the Liberal Party. This is our priority.

Infrastructure Mr. Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have removed the requirement that the gas tax funds be used for sustainable infrastructure, one of the few remaining federal programs fighting climate change. This is at a time when the mayor of Vancouver has said we need more, not less, federal funding to deal with climate change. Why are the Conservatives excluding basic necessities like roads from the Building Canada fund and turning a $21 billion program for green infrastructure into one that can be used to fill potholes or build gazebos?

(1505) Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the gas tax fund is totally dedicated to municipalities. The example the member gave is totally wrong. We are continuing to support the provinces and municipalities. We have signed agreements with many provinces and we hope the money will flow very quickly to the municipalities and the provinces and will continue to do so.

That is the biggest plan ever made in this country, and it is because of this great Prime Minister . [ Translation ] Ms. Marjolaine Boutin-Sweet (Hochelaga, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives changed the eligibility criteria for the Building Canada fund without consulting the municipalities. Now, they are asking the municipalities to do more with less and forcing them to choose between green projects and basic infrastructure needs. Jack Layton worked hard on the federal gas tax fund in order to contribute to sustainable development.

Will the minister make sure that the municipalities do not lose funding for green projects by restoring the eligibility criteria so that road and bridge projects once again fall under the Building Canada fund rather than the federal gas tax fund? Hon. Denis Lebel (Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, this party should not mislead people. It has voted against the country's infrastructure plans every time. People do not believe the NDP.

The excise tax on gasoline has been in place since 2006. As a former municipal politician, I know what I am talking about. We doubled the excise tax, indexed it and made it permanent. The NDP voted against that. We will take no lessons from the NDP.

[ English ] Taxation Mr. Randy Hoback (Prince Albert, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives pride themselves in cutting taxes. Indeed, our strong record of tax relief is saving the average family $3,400 a year. Recently the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed that our government has delivered significant tax relief for Canadians. While we are focused on creating savings for Canadians, the opposition is proposing risky, high-tax schemes that will threaten jobs and set working families back. Could the Minister of Finance update the House on what the Parliamentary Budget Officer said? Hon.

Joe Oliver (Minister of Finance, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Prince Albert for that very relevant question. The Parliamentary Budget Officer confirms that our government reduced taxes by $30 billion last year, benefiting low and middle-income families the most. Indeed, all families have benefited from our tax reduction program, increasing net worth by 44%. Unlike the opposition, we believe that Canadians should keep more of their own hard-earned money, and that is why we intend to introduce even more tax relief next year when the budget is balanced. Canadians can count on that.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Hon. Mark Eyking (Sydney—Victoria, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday I met with the Chicken Farmers of Canada, and they are very concerned that the government is undermining supply management. Last year, 97 million kilograms of chicken came in from the United States. The impact is 8,900 jobs and over $600 million lost. The chicken is coming in because the Conservatives changed the rules at the border. Why are the Conservatives not standing up for supply management? Hon. Gerry Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, CPC) : Mr.

Speaker, we have a very positive record working with farmers of all calibre across this great country, including the supply-managed sector. We continue to work with them on people who cheat at the border, cheese compositional standards, pizza kits, milk protein concentrates, and of course now we are working on spent fowl, issues that the Liberals never attacked when they were in government.

Housing Mr. Craig Scott (Toronto—Danforth, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the housing crisis in this country is severe, and according to a new Royal Bank report, it is only getting worse. In Toronto alone, over 90,000 families are on the waiting list for affordable housing. Thousands more are added every month. Liberals killed the national housing program and then Conservatives buried— Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker : Order. I am sitting right beside the member for Toronto—Danforth and I can barely hear him. I am going to ask members to come to order. The hon. member for Toronto—Danforth. Mr. Craig Scott : Mr.

Speaker, Liberals killed the national housing program and then Conservatives buried it, and it is Toronto families who are paying the price. Will the government reject the Liberal approach, stand with the NDP, and adopt the national housing program and strategy that Canada so badly needs? Hon. Candice Bergen (Minister of State (Social Development), CPC) : Mr. Speaker, what Canadians do not need are more bureaucrats sitting around in Ottawa telling them what they need and how to invest. What we have done is provide funding for the provinces through our investment in affordable housing.

Together with the provinces, together with municipalities, together with our partners, we have provided support to almost a million families and individuals. Every time we provide that support, New Democrats vote against it, so no, we are not interested in their strategy. We are interested in action.

(1510) Public Safety Mr. John Carmichael (Don Valley West, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, yesterday the courts slammed the door closed on two convicted murderers' attempts to get rich at the expense of taxpayers. These individuals were involved in the desecration of the Canadian flag as part of the so-called prisoner justice day. They even went so far as to accuse the former minister of public safety of misfeasance for saying that the actions of these prisoners were offensive, unacceptable, and dishonourable.

Can the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness tell the House what our government's position is on this matter? [ Translation ] Hon. Steven Blaney (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Don Valley West , who told us that the court has slammed the door shut on those who want to abuse taxpayers' money. [ English ] Of course we are pleased with this sensible decision made by the Ontario Superior Court yesterday. Our correctional system is about correcting criminal behaviour and rehabilitation.

It should not tolerate the desecration of Canadian symbols such as the maple leaf. We will continue to put criminals behind bars.

[ Translation ] Citizenship and Immigration Mr. Pierre Dionne Labelle (Rivière-du-Nord, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the Zamudio family has been living in Saint-Jérôme for almost four years and will be deported to Mexico by June 25 despite receiving repeated death threats from the drug cartel. A claim for refugee protection on humanitarian grounds was submitted to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration last October. As the safety of the four family members is at issue, can the minister tell us whether he has made a decision or can he commit to making a decision before the Zamudio family is deported? Hon.

Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, if I understood the question correctly, we are talking about Mr. Figueroa, who admitted to being a member of the Front Farabundo Martí de libération nationale. He fought against the government of El Salvador during that country's civil war. Although it is now the political party in power in El Salvador, the FMLN carried out terrorist acts when Mr. Figueroa was a member. Consequently, Mr. Figueroa cannot remain in Canada and he has been slapped with a deportation order. Everyone has the right to due process and Mr.

Figueroa made many applications and requests for judicial review. Once all avenues— [ English ] The Speaker : Order, please. The hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands.

International Trade Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP) : Mr. Speaker, the week of June 4 will begin with the 25th anniversary of one of the most horrific crackdowns on democracy and human rights in recent memory at Tiananmen Square. That same week ends, June 10, with an appeal by the very courageous small first nations band on Vancouver Island, the Hupacasath First Nation, challenging the Canada–China investment treaty.

I wonder if the Prime Minister would be willing to return the Canada–China investment treaty to hearings in this place, and particularly the very draconian 31-year lock-in if that treaty is ever ratified. Hon. Ed Fast (Minister of International Trade, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, the member should know that we do not comment on matters that are before the courts. What I can say is that this investment treaty sets out a clear set of rules under which investments are made. It also sets out a clear set of rules under which investment disputes are resolved.

Canadian investors have been asking for this agreement for a very long time. This is about protecting Canadians when they invest abroad. I can assure the member that this government has every intention of bringing this agreement into force.

Points of Order Oral Questions Points of Order Mr. Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, during question period, the Minister of International Trade mentioned, and we have already had to correct the Prime Minister on this, that the NDP never supported any trade deal. He will know that we supported the Jordan trade deal— The Speaker : That is a matter of debate, not a point of order. [ Translation ] Mr. Pierre Dionne Labelle : Mr. Speaker, in answer to my question, the minister mentioned a Mr. Figueroa.

My question was about the Zamudio family. [ English ] The Speaker : I suggest that he ask the question maybe at a different time. It is not a point of order. The hon. Minister of Justice is rising on what I hope is a point of order.

(1515) Hon. Peter MacKay (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a point of order. There were several allegations levelled against me about the use of government aircraft. It is public record that I have never used government aircraft for any— The Speaker : The minister is free to answer any question in the House during question period and he can certainly table information, but that did not sound like a point of order.

Private Members' Business Private Members' Business [ English ] Pan-Canadian Palliative and End-of-life Care Strategy Motion The House resumed from May 14 consideration of the motion and of the amendment. The Speaker : Pursuant to an order made on Tuesday, May 27, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recording division on the amendment to Motion No. 456.

(1520) (The House divided on the amendment, which was agreed to on the following division:) (Division No. 148) YEAS Members Ablonczy Adams Adler Aglukkaq Albas Albrecht Alexander Allen (Welland) Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Andrews Angus Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Atamanenko Aubin Baird Bélanger Bennett Benoit Benskin Bergen Bevington Bezan Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Blaney Block Boivin Borg Boughen Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Braid Brison Brosseau Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calandra Calkins Cannan Carmichael Caron Carrie Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Chisu Chong Choquette Christopherson Clarke Cleary Comartin Côté Crockatt Crowder Cullen Cuzner Daniel Davidson Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) Davies (Vancouver East) Day Dechert Devolin Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dreeshen Dubé Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Dykstra Easter Eyking Falk Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fletcher Freeland Freeman Fry Galipeau Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Gill Glover Godin Goguen Goodale Goodyear Gosal Gourde Gravelle Grewal Groguhé Harris (Scarborough Southwest) Harris (St.

John's East) Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer Hoback Holder Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob Jones Julian Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret'

s) Kellway Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lamoureux Lapointe Larose Latendresse Lauzon Lebel LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leef Leitch Lemieux Leslie Leung Liu Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney MacAulay MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen May Mayes McCallum McGuinty McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood) McLeod Menegakis Merrifield Miller Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nicholson Norlock Nunez-Melo Obhrai O'Connor Oliver O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Pacetti Payne Péclet Pilon Poilievre Preston Quach Rafferty Raitt Rajotte Rankin Rathgeber Ravignat Raynault Regan Reid Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Saxton Scarpaleggia Schellenberger Scott Seeback Sellah Sgro Shea Shipley Shory Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan Smith Sopuck Sorenson Stanton St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Storseth Strahl Sullivan Sweet Thibeault Tilson Toet Toone Tremblay Trost Trottier Truppe Turmel Uppal Valcourt Valeriote Van Kesteren Van Loan Vellacott Wallace Warawa Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Wong Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 262 NAYS Nil PAIRED Nil The Speaker : Amendment agreed to I declare the amendment carried.

The next question is on the main motion as amended. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Some hon. members: Agreed.

Some hon. members: No.

The Speaker: All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

Some hon. members: Yea.

The Speaker: All those opposed will please say nay.

Some hon. members: Nay.

The Speaker: In my opinion the yeas have it. And five or more members having risen:

(1530) (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:) (Division No. 149) YEAS Members Ablonczy Adams Adler Aglukkaq Albas Albrecht Alexander Allen (Welland) Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Andrews Angus Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Atamanenko Aubin Baird Bélanger Bennett Benoit Benskin Bergen Bevington Bezan Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Blaney Block Boivin Borg Boughen Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Braid Brison Brosseau Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calandra Calkins Cannan Carmichael Caron Carrie Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Chisu Chong Choquette Christopherson Clarke Cleary Comartin Côté Crockatt Crowder Cullen Cuzner Daniel Davidson Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) Davies (Vancouver East) Day Dechert Del Mastro Devolin Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dreeshen Dubé Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Dykstra Easter Eyking Falk Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fletcher Freeland Freeman Fry Galipeau Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Gill Glover Godin Goguen Goodale Goodyear Gosal Gourde Gravelle Grewal Groguhé Harris (Scarborough Southwest) Harris (St.

John's East) Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer Hoback Holder Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob James Jones Julian Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret'

s) Kellway Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lamoureux Lapointe Larose Latendresse Lauzon Lebel LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leef Leitch Lemieux Leslie Leung Liu Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney MacAulay MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen May Mayes McCallum McGuinty McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood) McLeod Menegakis Merrifield Miller Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nicholson Norlock Nunez-Melo Obhrai O'Connor Oliver O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Pacetti Payne Péclet Pilon Poilievre Preston Quach Rafferty Raitt Rajotte Rankin Rathgeber Ravignat Raynault Regan Reid Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Saxton Scarpaleggia Schellenberger Scott Seeback Sellah Sgro Shea Shipley Shory Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan Smith Sopuck Sorenson Stanton St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Storseth Strahl Sullivan Sweet Thibeault Tilson Toet Toone Tremblay Trost Trottier Truppe Turmel Uppal Valcourt Valeriote Van Kesteren Van Loan Vellacott Wallace Warawa Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Wong Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 264 NAYS Members Fortin -- 1 PAIRED Nil The Speaker : I declare the motion carried.

Motion agreed to

Marine Mammal Regulations The House resumed from May 15 consideration of the motion that Bill C-555,

an act respecting the Marine Mammal Regulations (seal fishery observation licence) , be read the second time and referred to a committee. Bill C-555. Second reading The Speaker : Pursuant to an order made on Tuesday, May 27, the house will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-555 under private members' business. The question is on the motion.

(1540) (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:) (Division No. 150) YEAS Members Ablonczy Adams Adler Aglukkaq Albas Albrecht Alexander Allen (Welland) Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Andrews Angus Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Aubin Baird Bélanger Bennett Benoit Benskin Bergen Bevington Bezan Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Blaney Block Boivin Borg Boughen Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Braid Brison Brosseau Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calandra Calkins Cannan Carmichael Caron Carrie Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Chisu Chong Choquette Christopherson Clarke Cleary Comartin Côté Crockatt Cullen Cuzner Daniel Davidson Day Dechert Del Mastro Devolin Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dreeshen Dubé Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Dykstra Easter Eyking Falk Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fletcher Fortin Freeland Freeman Galipeau Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Gill Glover Godin Goguen Goodale Goodyear Gosal Gourde Gravelle Grewal Groguhé Harris (Scarborough Southwest) Harris (St.

John's East) Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer Hoback Holder Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob James Jones Julian Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret'

s) Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lamoureux Lapointe Larose Latendresse Lauzon Lebel LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leef Leitch Lemieux Leslie Leung Liu Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney MacAulay MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen Mayes McCallum McGuinty McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood) McLeod Menegakis Merrifield Miller Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nicholson Norlock Nunez-Melo Obhrai O'Connor Oliver O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Pacetti Payne Péclet Pilon Poilievre Preston Quach Rafferty Raitt Rajotte Rankin Rathgeber Ravignat Raynault Regan Reid Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Saxton Scarpaleggia Schellenberger Scott Seeback Sellah Sgro Shea Shipley Shory Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan Smith Sopuck Sorenson Stanton St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Storseth Strahl Sullivan Sweet Thibeault Tilson Toet Toone Tremblay Trost Trottier Truppe Turmel Uppal Valcourt Valeriote Van Kesteren Van Loan Vellacott Wallace Warawa Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Wong Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 258 NAYS Members May -- 1 PAIRED Nil The Speaker : Motion agreed to I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. (Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

Former Canadian Forces Members Act The House resumed from May 16 consideration of the motion that Bill C-568,

An Act respecting former Canadian Forces members , be read the second time and referred to a committee. Bill C-568. Second reading The Speaker: Pursuant to an order made Tuesday, May 27, 2014, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion that Bill C-568,

An Act respecting former Canadian Forces members , be now read the second time and referred to a committee. (1545) (The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:) (Division No. 151) YEAS Members Allen (Welland) Andrews Angus Atamanenko Aubin Bélanger Bennett Benskin Bevington Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Boivin Borg Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Brison Brosseau Caron Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Choquette Christopherson Cleary Comartin Côté Crowder Cullen Cuzner Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) Day Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dubé Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Easter Eyking Fortin Freeland Freeman Fry Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Godin Goodale Gravelle Groguhé Harris (Scarborough Southwest) Harris (St.

John's East) Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob Jones Julian Lamoureux Lapointe Larose Latendresse LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leslie Liu MacAulay Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen May McCallum McGuinty McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood) Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nunez-Melo Pacetti Péclet Pilon Quach Rafferty Rankin Rathgeber Ravignat Raynault Regan Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Scarpaleggia Scott Sellah Sgro Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Sullivan Thibeault Toone Tremblay Turmel Valeriote -- 118 NAYS Members Ablonczy Adams Adler Aglukkaq Albas Albrecht Alexander Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Baird Benoit Bergen Bezan Blaney Block Boughen Braid Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calandra Calkins Cannan Carmichael Carrie Chisu Chong Clarke Crockatt Daniel Davidson Dechert Del Mastro Devolin Dreeshen Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Dykstra Falk Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fletcher Galipeau Gill Glover Goguen Goodyear Gosal Gourde Grewal Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer Hoback Holder James Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Keddy (South Shore—St.

Margaret'

s) Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lauzon Lebel Leef Leitch Lemieux Leung Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mayes McLeod Menegakis Merrifield Miller Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Nicholson Norlock Obhrai O'Connor Oliver O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Payne Poilievre Preston Raitt Rajotte Reid Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Saxton Schellenberger Seeback Shea Shipley Shory Smith Sopuck Sorenson Storseth Strahl Sweet Tilson Toet Trost Trottier Truppe Uppal Valcourt Van Kesteren Van Loan Vellacott Wallace Warawa Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Wong Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 144 PAIRED Nil The Speaker : Motion negatived I declare the motion defeated.

Corrections and Conditional Release Act Bill C-483. Third reading The House resumed from May 26 consideration of the motion that Bill C-483,

An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (escorted temporary absence) , be read the third time and passed. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : Pursuant to an order made on May 26, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division at the third reading stage of Bill C-483.

(1555) (The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:) (Division No. 152) YEAS Members Ablonczy Adams Adler Aglukkaq Albas Albrecht Alexander Allen (Welland) Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Andrews Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Atamanenko Aubin Baird Bélanger Bennett Benoit Benskin Bergen Bevington Bezan Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Blaney Block Boivin Borg Boughen Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Braid Brison Brosseau Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calandra Calkins Cannan Carmichael Caron Carrie Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Chisu Chong Choquette Christopherson Clarke Cleary Comartin Côté Crockatt Crowder Cullen Cuzner Daniel Davidson Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) Day Dechert Del Mastro Devolin Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dreeshen Dubé Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Dykstra Easter Eyking Falk Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fletcher Fortin Freeland Freeman Fry Galipeau Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Gill Glover Godin Goguen Goodale Goodyear Gosal Gourde Gravelle Grewal Groguhé Harris (Scarborough Southwest) Harris (St.

John's East) Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer Hoback Holder Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob James Jones Julian Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret'

s) Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lamoureux Lapointe Larose Latendresse Lauzon Lebel LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leef Leitch Lemieux Leslie Leung Liu Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney MacAulay MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen Mayes McCallum McGuinty McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood) McLeod Menegakis Merrifield Miller Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nicholson Norlock Nunez-Melo Obhrai O'Connor Oliver O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Pacetti Payne Péclet Pilon Poilievre Preston Quach Rafferty Raitt Rajotte Rankin Rathgeber Ravignat Raynault Regan Reid Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Saxton Scarpaleggia Schellenberger Scott Seeback Sellah Sgro Shea Shipley Shory Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan Smith Sopuck Sorenson St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Storseth Strahl Sullivan Sweet Thibeault Tilson Toet Toone Tremblay Trost Trottier Truppe Turmel Uppal Valcourt Valeriote Van Kesteren Van Loan Vellacott Wallace Warawa Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Wong Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 260 NAYS Members May -- 1 PAIRED Nil The Acting Speaker (Mr.

Bruce Stanton) : Motion agreed to I declare the motion carried. (Bill read the third time and passed)

[ Translation ] Divorce Act The House resumed from May 27 consideration of the motion that Bill C-560,

An Act to amend the Divorce Act (equal parenting) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts , be read the second time and referred to a committee. Bill C-560. Second reading The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : Order. Pursuant to an order made May 27, 2014, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at second reading stage of Bill C-560 under private members' business.

(1605) [ English ] (The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:) (Division No. 153) YEAS Members Ablonczy Adams Albrecht Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac) Allison Ambler Anders Anderson Armstrong Ashfield Aspin Benoit Boughen Brown (Leeds—Grenville) Brown (Barrie) Bruinooge Butt Calkins Cannan Carmichael Carrie Chong Clarke Crockatt Del Mastro Devolin Dreeshen Falk Fletcher Galipeau Grewal Harris (Cariboo—Prince George) Hawn Hayes Hiebert Hillyer James Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission) Kerr Komarnicki Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings) Lemieux Lizon Lobb Lukiwski Lunney May Mayes Merrifield Miller Norlock O'Connor O'Neill Gordon O'Toole Preston Rajotte Rathgeber Reid Schellenberger Seeback Shipley Smith Storseth Strahl Sweet Toet Trost Van Kesteren Vellacott Wallace Warkentin Watson Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country) Weston (Saint John) Wilks Williamson Woodworth Young (Oakville) Young (Vancouver South) Zimmer -- 80 NAYS Members Adler Aglukkaq Albas Alexander Allen (Welland) Andrews Atamanenko Aubin Baird Bélanger Bennett Benskin Bergen Bevington Bezan Blanchette Blanchette-Lamothe Blaney Block Boivin Borg Boutin-Sweet Brahmi Braid Brison Brosseau Calandra Caron Casey Cash Chicoine Chisholm Chisu Choquette Christopherson Cleary Comartin Côté Crowder Cullen Cuzner Daniel Davidson Davies (Vancouver Kingsway) Day Dechert Dewar Dion Dionne Labelle Donnelly Doré Lefebvre Dubé Duncan (Vancouver Island North) Duncan (Edmonton—Strathcona) Dusseault Dykstra Easter Eyking Fantino Fast Findlay (Delta—Richmond East) Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk) Fortin Freeland Freeman Fry Garneau Garrison Genest Genest-Jourdain Giguère Gill Glover Godin Goguen Goodale Goodyear Gosal Gourde Groguhé Harris (St.

John's East) Holder Hsu Hughes Hyer Jacob Jones Julian Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret'

s) Kenney (Calgary Southeast) Lamoureux Lapointe Latendresse Lauzon Lebel LeBlanc (Beauséjour) LeBlanc (LaSalle—Émard) Leef Leitch Leslie Leung Liu MacAulay MacKay (Central Nova) MacKenzie Maguire Mai Marston Martin Masse Mathyssen McCallum McGuinty McLeod Menegakis Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue) Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam) Moore (Fundy Royal) Morin (Laurentides—Labelle) Morin (Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot) Mulcair Nantel Nash Nicholls Nicholson Nunez-Melo Obhrai Oliver Payne Péclet Pilon Poilievre Quach Rafferty Raitt Rankin Ravignat Raynault Regan Rempel Richards Rickford Ritz Rousseau Saganash Sandhu Scarpaleggia Scott Sellah Sgro Shea Shory Simms (Bonavista—Gander—Grand Falls—Windsor) Sims (Newton—North Delta) Sitsabaiesan Sopuck Sorenson St-Denis Stewart Stoffer Sullivan Thibeault Tilson Toone Tremblay Trottier Truppe Turmel Uppal Valcourt Valeriote Van Loan Warawa Wong -- 174 PAIRED Nil The Acting Speaker (Mr.

Bruce Stanton) : I declare the motion defeated. Motion negatived

ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Routine Proceedings [ English ] Government Response to Petitions Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.

Certificates of Nomination Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 111.1(1), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a certificate of nomination, with biographical notes, for the proposed appointment of Daniel Therrien to the position of Privacy Commissioner. I request that the nomination be referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Interparliamentary Delegations Mr. Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the first part of the 2014 ordinary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg, France from January 27 to January 31.

Committees of the House Industry, Science and Technology Mr. David Sweet (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology in relation to the main estimates 2014-15.

Procedure and House Affairs Mr. Joe Preston (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. The committee advises that, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the subcommittee on private members' business met to consider the order for a second reading of the Senate public bill and recommends that the item listed herein, which has been determined should not be designated not votable, be considered by the House. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 91.1(2), the report is deemed adopted.

Health Mr. Ben Lobb (Huron—Bruce, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Health in relation to the main estimates 2014-15.

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Mr. Scott Armstrong (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “Opportunities for Aboriginal Persons in the Workforce”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[ Translation ] Government Operations and Estimates Mr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Sherbrooke, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on the supplementary estimates (A) 2014-15.

[ English ] Canadian Heritage Mr. Gordon Brown (Leeds—Grenville, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in relation to the main estimates 2014-15.

Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities Mr. Scott Armstrong (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, entitled “Main Estimates 2014-15”.

(1610) [ Translation ] Motor Vehicle Safety Act Mr. Hoang Mai (Brossard—La Prairie, NDP) Bill C-603. Introduction and first reading moved for leave to introduce Bill C-603,

An Act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (vehicle side guards) . He said: Mr. Speaker, there have already been too many deaths involving cyclists and heavy trucks. A simple and effective way of preventing serious injury and death is installing side guards on heavy trucks. Side guards protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles. It is quite simple: side guards save lives.

That is why I am very proud to continue the work done by Olivia Chow and introduce this bill in my name today. [ English ] There have been too many fatalities involving cyclists and heavy trucks across Canada. One of the simplest and most effective ways to save lives is to install side guards on heavy trucks. They prevent pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles. A few years ago, Olivia Chow first tabled this bill to make side guards mandatory.

Today, it is my honour to continue her work and to table this bill, which is also my first bill in the House. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Petitions Millenium Development Goals Hon. Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present today a petition signed by a number of people from various parts of the city of Regina, expressing their very strong support for the Millennium Development Goals and calling upon Canada to meet its commitment of directing 0.7% of the nation's gross national product toward official development assistance every year, and to reach that goal by 2015.

Divorce Act Mr. Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition from some 900 residents of my constituency. The undersigned citizens of Canada call on Parliament to amend the Divorce Act as in MP Maurice Vellacott 's bill, Bill C-560 , to require that equal parenting be treated as the rebuttable presumption in custody decisions, except in the cases of proven neglect or abuse. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : Just a reminder to hon. members to use the riding name of the member and not their actual name. Presenting petitions, the hon. member for Nickel Belt .

Dementia Mr. Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am quite pleased today to rise to present two petitions. One petition is calling on the Minister of Health and the House of Commons to pass my bill, Bill C-356 ,

an act respecting a national strategy for dementia. As members know, we have an epidemic right now of seniors who have dementia, and we would like the government to take action on this unfortunate illness.

Blood and Organ Donation Mr. Claude Gravelle (Nickel Belt, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, my second petition is from dozens of people from the Windsor area, asking the government that people's sexual preferences not be grounds for the instant refusal of the right to donate organs.

Agriculture Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present. The first one calls on Parliament to refrain from making any changes to the Seeds Act or to the Plant Breeders' Rights Act through Bill C-18,

an act to amend certain acts relating to agriculture and agri-food .

Canada Post Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the second petition concerns the reduction of Canada Post services. It calls on the Government of Canada to reject Canada Post's plan for reduced services and to explore other options for updating the crown corporation's business plans.

Food and Drugs Act Ms. Jean Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the third petition is calling on the House of Commons to amend the Food and Drugs Act for mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods.

(1615) [ Translation ] Canada Post Ms. Christine Moore (Abitibi—Témiscamingue, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present to the House a petition regarding the cuts to Canada Post's services. People in my riding are very concerned. They are worried about the negative impact these cuts will have on them. They are calling on the government to reject Canada Post's service reduction plan and explore other avenues for updating the crown corporation's business plan. I hope that the government will take this petition seriously, given my constituents' growing concern.

[ English ] The Environment Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present two petitions this afternoon. The first is from residents of Vancouver and other locations through the Lower Mainland. It calls on this place to make legislated what has been a moratorium on supertanker traffic on the British Columbia coast ever since 1972. The petitioners call for a tanker ban.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP) : Mr. Speaker, the second petition comes from residents throughout various parts of British Columbia. They are calling on the government to provide stable, secure, and predictable funding to our national public broadcaster, the CBC.

Science Ms. Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am happy to present a petition signed by dozens of community members in my riding of Parkdale—High Park. They are calling on the Government of Canada to create an independent science watchdog. The position of national science adviser was eliminated back in 2008, but it lacked independence from the government and it had limited capacity, only to advise the prime minister. Parliamentarians need sound information and expert advice on scientific matters to ensure policy decisions are based on the best scientific evidence available.

Therefore, these petitioners are calling on the government to support Bill C-558 , which would establish an independent parliamentary science officer.

[ Translation ] VIA Rail Mr. Philip Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition that has been signed by dozens of people who are calling for better VIA Rail service in eastern Canada, particularly in northern New Brunswick and where I come from, Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine. I would like to point out that VIA Rail has already announced that it will delay the resumption of VIA Rail services in the Gaspé, which belies the commitments the company made in the past. I hope that the government will put pressure on VIA Rail so that it improves service and delivers on its commitments, which would respond to the concerns set out in this petition.

[ English ] Citizenship and Immigration Mr. Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to stand in this place on behalf of the good people of Davenport in the great city of Toronto to present a couple of petitions. The first one is from very concerned residents, friends, and allies of Oscar Vigil, who came to Canada from El Salvador in 2001. He raised a family here. In fact, his wife and three children are now Canadian citizens. The government wants to send him back to El Salvador.

The petitioners request the Government of Canada and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to grant ministerial relief to Oscar Vigil and allow him to remain with his family in Canada as a permanent resident.

Urban Workers Mr. Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, more than half of workers in Toronto cannot access a stable, full-time job. They have part-time jobs, precarious work, and contract employment. This petition is from members of the riding of Davenport. They are calling on the government to support a national strategy for urban workers.

Consumer Protection Mr. Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, seniors and people on fixed incomes are still getting bills in the mail for which they are charged a pay-to-pay fee to get their bill in the mail. The government said it was going to eliminate these fees, but citizens are still getting these bills with fees attached. This petition calls on the government to stop the practice of pay-to-pay fees across Canada.

Lyme Disease Mr. Bruce Hyer (Thunder Bay—Superior North, GP) : Mr. Speaker, I have a petition regarding Bill C-442 , the national Lyme disease strategy act, brought by the member for Saanich—Gulf Islands , which would develop a national strategy to ensure the recognition, timely diagnosis, and effective treatment of Lyme disease in Canada. We have a large and growing number of citizens in Thunder Bay—Superior North who have Lyme disease, and unfortunately, it is increasing with climate change.

(1620) Railway Transportation Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House to raise attention on behalf of residents of Sault Ste. Marie, Aweres, Prince Township, Goulais River, and Hilton Beach, which are in the Conservative riding of Sault Ste. Marie . They are concerned about the subsidy removal for the Algoma Central Railway passenger rail service and the fact that there was no broad consultation; that it is impacting businesses, homes, and communities along the route; and that it is affecting their local economy, especially for small businesses.

They are asking the government to reinstate funding for the Algoma passenger rail service. I have to admit that the government did put a bit of funding back, but only for one year, and these residents remain concerned about that.

[ Translation ] The Senate Mr. Pierre Jacob (Brome—Missisquoi, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have here a petition signed by the people of Brome—Missisquoi. They are calling for the Senate to be abolished. This house of unelected representatives—who are not accountable to anyone, other than the party that appointed them—costs us $92 million a year. The petition states that senators represent no one except the party that appointed them. It must be abolished.

[ English ] Blood and Organ Donation Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I have petitions from all over Canada calling on the Government of Canada to review thoroughly and examine the policy on blood and organ donation in Canada. The petitioners ask that the sexual preferences of people not be an instant refusal of the right to donate. They point out that they understand that people should be pre-tested for any disease prior to being qualified to donate. They understand that there may be some high-risk activities.

What they object to is the automatic assumption that because of someone's sexual preference, they would be prima facie excluded from donating blood. They request that the Government of Canada return the right of any healthy Canadian to give the gift of blood, bone marrow, or other organs to those in need no matter the race, religion, or sexual preference of a person, because they believe that this right is universal to all people and is a very important right of citizenship.

[ Translation ] Dementia Mr. Jamie Nicholls (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to present three petitions to the House. The first petition is calling for a national strategy on Alzheimer's and dementia affecting seniors. This has an impact on many Canadians.

Public Transit Operators Mr. Jamie Nicholls (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the second petition is aimed at putting an end to violence against bus drivers, a problem that is not going away. We hope that a solution is found soon.

[ English ] The Senate Mr. Jamie Nicholls (Vaudreuil—Soulanges, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, the third petition is from residents of Vaudreuil—Soulanges, from towns such as Hudson and Saint-Lazare, who are asking that the House of Commons abolish the Senate. They are saying that it is an unelected chamber, it is unaccountable, and it has no place in our democracy.

Agriculture Mr. Craig Scott (Toronto—Danforth, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition entitled “The Right to Save Seeds”, sponsored by the National Farmers Union, on behalf of hundreds of residents of Toronto—Danforth. The petitioners call upon Parliament to refrain from making changes to the Seeds Act or the Plant Breeders' Rights Act through a bill that is currently before this House, Bill C-18 . They fear that it would further restrict farmers' rights and add to farmers' costs. They ask Parliament to enshrine instead of that part of the legislation the inalienable right of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds.

Questions on the Order Paper Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Motions for Papers

Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand. The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : Is that agreed? Some hon. members: Agreed.

(1625) Request for Emergency Debate Sexual Assault in the Canadian Armed Forces S. O. 52

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : The Chair has received notice of request for an emergency debate. I will acknowledge the hon. member for St. John's East. Mr. Jack Harris (St. John's East, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, as was pointed out, I did give notice to the Speaker of a request for an emergency debate under Standing Order 52(2). I am seeking leave to propose an emergency debate on the alarming reports of sexual assault in the Canadian Armed Forces.

There is an urgent need for an emergency debate to allow parliamentarians to address this crisis in a substantive way so that substantive action can be taken to determine the extent of the problem and much-needed steps can be taken to prevent future cases. I want to emphasize the fact that sometimes when emergency debates are proposed, it is suggested that there may be an opposition day on which the issue could be raised. However, there are no opposition days in the following weeks.

There are none on the planned agenda of the House, and an emergency debate may well be the only occasion we will have to debate such an important and urgent issue. It involves a serious matter: victims of sexual assault in the military. We have seen reports that as many as 1,700 assaults per year, or five a day, take place. People in the military need to have confidence that when anything like this happens, their complaints will be taken seriously, that it will not have a negative effect on their careers if they complain, and that the perpetrators will be handled properly and appropriately.

That seems to be a big problem. There is a potential significant loss of confidence that the current government is taking the matter seriously. We need a debate to allow members to talk about this issue and to discuss the possible ways of dealing with it. There is the fact that we do not have reports that are statutorily required and a whole series of serious issues that cannot be dealt with and answered properly in 35 seconds of question period. Therefore, there is a need for a substantive debate. If it does not happen by way of an emergency debate, it may not be debated until the fall.

These are the reasons it is an emergency. The seriousness of the issue, I think, speaks for itself. We are talking about victims of sexual assault, and there are reports in the media that they are being re-victimized within the military because of improper handling of these matters. This is a matter that has been ongoing for some time. There were reports of it 16 years ago. We have similar reports today. Something serious needs to be done. We need to debate the issue here in Parliament, and an emergency debate seems to be the best method of doing that right now.

Speaker’s Ruling

Speaker’s Ruling

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton) : I thank the hon. member for St. John's East for his interest in the subject and for his submission. We have taken the matter in hand, reviewed the proposal that the member submitted, and find that it does not actually meet the usual test or requirements that would compel an emergency debate in this case at this time, and so we will let that matter stand. Before we go to orders of the day, it is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 38, to inform the House that the questions to be raised tonight at the time of adjournment are as follows: the hon. member for Saanich—Gulf Islands, Canada-U.S. relations; and the hon. member for Trois-Rivières, housing.

Government Orders Government Orders [ Translation ] Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act Bill C-24—Time Allocation Motion Hon. Peter Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC) moved: Motion That, in relation to Bill C-24,

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts , not more than one further sitting day shall be allotted to the second reading stage of the Bill; and That, 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders on the day allotted to the consideration of the second reading stage of the said Bill, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this Order, and, in turn, every question necessary for the disposal of the said stage of the Bill shall be put forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment. (1630) [ English ] The Acting Speaker (Mr.

Bruce Stanton) : Pursuant to Standing Order 67.1, there will now be a 30-minute question period. As has been the case at other times where the House has considered these questions, we like to limit members' interventions to around a minute so that enough members will have the opportunity to participate. In addition, this is another reminder that the 30-minute question period is primarily intended for opposition members to question the government on the proposal that it has before the House. We will proceed with questions. The hon. opposition House leader. Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) : Mr.

Speaker, 65 times we have had closure and time allocation. That is the deplorable record of the government. Back when Conservatives were trying to replace the former corrupt Liberal government, they said they were going to do things differently. They were not going to ram bad legislation through the House but would actually take the time to consider amendments from the opposition. We all remember that. That is what the Conservatives used to say. [ Translation ] Now, a few years later, the government has a deplorable record: it has used closure and time allocation 65 times.

The public has a number of concerns about this controversial bill, which makes it even more deplorable that the government is doing this yet again. The government does not want to show openness in the House. It simply wants to impose its law, regardless of the consequences. We all know what kinds of consequences these controversial bills have. The bills are so badly botched that the government is forced to introduce new bills to fix the problems. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has systematically rejected bills introduced by this government. This has happened four times in the past few weeks.

My question for my colleague is very simple: why is the government imposing a closure and time allocation motion for the 65th time, especially on such a controversial bill? Hon. Chris Alexander (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, CPC) : Mr. Speaker, we are doing it because we have a responsibility to Canadians, a responsibility to do what we promised we would do. This overhaul of citizenship legislation has been on our agenda for years. We promised it during the last election campaign, in various throne speeches, particularly the most recent one, and in our budgets. Now it is time for action.

Canadians care deeply about their citizenship. They understand that it is very valuable and that problems in the existing law need to be fixed. The law was last updated in 1977 under Prime Minister Trudeau's Liberal government. Many problems, such as abuses and processing delays, have surfaced since then. If we do not take action and make this bill the law of the land, tens of thousands of permanent residents who want to become citizens will suffer. The opposition is not taking their interests into account. [ English ] Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.) : Mr.

Speaker, we have the government of the day that continues to want to use time allocation. It uses time allocation more than any other government in the history of Canada. It is abuse. It is so sad to see. We have that on the one hand. Then we have the official opposition, the New Democrats, who do not even want to sit in the evenings. They voted against having those extra hours so we could have more debate. We have legislation, such as the bill that is being proposed here, that generally needs to be debated extensively, and the government is trying to prevent that debate from taking place by bringing in closure.

Then we have New Democrats who, even though they agree with legislation, the simplest of legislation, want to invoke and pressure government to have time allocation. The question I have for the government House leader is this. Why are the NDP and the Conservatives unable to sit down with the Liberals and work out a legislative timeframe that would allow for adequate debate on the important pieces of legislation that Canadians need to see legitimately debated at second reading?

(1635) Hon. Chris Alexander : Mr. Speaker, there has been abuse. There has been a problem. Under our current Citizenship Act, last amended under a Liberal government in a thorough-going way in 1977, the door was open to people who claimed residence in this country, in relatively large numbers, but whose physical presence in the country was never checked. That is the kind of abuse Liberal governments left behind them, decade after decade, and this government is moving to correct, because Canadians attach importance to their citizenship. They want to see the rules followed. New Canadians want it.

Canadians who have achieved citizenship by descent want it. People aspiring to citizenship today, making the sacrifices to go through the “Discover Canada” guide and to learn our official languages to the level required, want these rules to be followed. That is what the bill would do. We have already had 36 hours of debate in this House. We will have many more hours of debate tonight, thanks to the willingness of this government to put its shoulder to the wheel and to work for the benefit of Canadians. That has allowed all sides of this bill to be considered. It has been pre-studied in committee.

We are making progress, and we will make more tonight. Mr. Mathieu Ravignat (Pontiac, NDP) : Mr. Speaker, my constituents are shocked. They are angry. I do not know why the current government does not buy an entire warehouse of duct tape and just tape every single mouth in this House. It is ridiculous that we are actually debating something so fundamental as what citizenship is and means in a modern democratic country. It is unbelievable. My Liberal friend should probably check the record. It has been very clear from the beginning. We said we had no problems with working.

The point is that they got into bed with the government in order to keep us from actually moving motions. How democratic is that? It is incredible. My question is the following. Is my hon. colleague, who I know is well intentioned and for whom I have a lot of respect, not capable of recognizing that something as fundamental as citizenship, something that concerns Canadians so much, here and abroad, should be properly discussed by this august chamber? Hon. Chris Alexander : Mr. Speaker, we strongly agree. It can and should be properly discussed. It has been discussed for dozens of hours.

It will be discussed for further hours, this evening. It will be considered carefully in committee. However, there is urgency to passing these measures, which we announced years ago in speeches from the throne and in budgets and for which Canadians sent us here with a strong mandate to bring into law, to bring into effect, because for us on this side who are in government it is very clear what Canadians' expectations are. Last year was the biggest year ever for applications to become citizens: 330,000-plus permanent residents applied to become citizens.

Our production of new citizens, of new awards of citizenship this year, has been unprecedent