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39th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals No. 75 Thursday, November 2, 2006 10:00 a.m.

Prayers

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— No. 391-0337 concerning transportation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-391-28-04;

— No. 391-0368 concerning immigration. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-391-3-13;

— No. 391-0435 concerning the sexual exploitation of minors. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-391-10-08.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster), from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented the Third Report of the Committee (Golden Nematode). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-94.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 21 and 24) was tabled.

Mr. Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster), from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (Main Estimates 2006-2007 — Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 under AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-95.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 25) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

— by , two concerning housing policy (Nos. 391-0571 and 391-0572);

— by , one concerning the sexual exploitation of minors (No. 391-0573) and one concerning the automobile industry (No. 391-0574);

— by , one concerning the Copyright Act (No. 391-0575) and one concerning the automobile industry (No. 391-0576);

— by , one concerning the automobile industry (No. 391-0577).

Questions on the Order Paper

Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) presented the answer to question Q-89 on the Order Paper.

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) presented the returns to the following questions made into Orders for Return:

Q-106 — — With regard to the Canadian presence in Afghanistan: (a) what is the goal of the Canadian presence in Afghanistan; (b) what is the strategy employed by the government; (c) what are the tactics that are being used; (d) who is the enemy; (e) what is the operational centre of gravity of the enemy; (f) does the government have a political strategy to attain its goal; (g) is terrorism the greatest security threat that Canada faces; (h) does the government consider that Canada is at war; (i) what is the condition that the government would consider to be “civil war”; (j) what does the government deem to be the nature of counter-insurgency warfare and does this condition exist in Afghanistan; (k) what Canadian Forces (CF) manuals deal with counter-insurgency; (l) what are the current rules of engagement for the CF in Afghanistan; (m) what has been the change in rules of engagement since Canada left Operation Enduring Freedom; (n) is the government aware of the presence of foreign fighters in Afghanistan who help the Taliban; (o) if there are foreign fighters where do they come from on the whole; (p) what is the opinion of the government regarding the security of the Afghan border with Pakistan; (q) what is the opinion of the government regarding Pakistani cooperation in achieving the objectives of the mission; (r) does the government have an opinion as to when the goals of the Canadian presence will be achieved; (s) when was the decision to deploy a combat mission to Kandahar made by the government; (t) how well are CF capabilities matched to the conditions in the southern region of Afghanistan and to counter insurgency; (u) what is the size and configuration of task forces available for use in Afghanistan through to February 2009; (v) what has been the effect of increased training throughout the forces on the capability of these task forces; (w) how has the training of new recruits been effected by the extension of the mission until 2009; (x) does the CF use dogs in combat missions; (y) what are the protocols used in relation to dogs and civilians and detainees respectively; (z) would Canadian lawyers be allowed to contact and represent detainees while they are held by CF and, if not, what legal authority or doctrine would justify this refusal; (aa) is the arrangement concerning detainees of December 18, 2005, still the current policy of the Department of National Defence following the handover of command to NATO; (bb) what reconstruction projects are underway in Kandahar province under the supervision of the CF; (cc) are there any plans to increase the size of the Provincial Reconstruction Team before 2009; (dd) what is the government position with regard to support by the government of Pakistan, particularly the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence for the Taliban; (ee) what is the length and nature of extra training that is provided for CF personnel going to Afghanistan; (ff) what is the number of enemy captured since the CF arrived in Kandahar; and (gg) has the CF engaged Al Qaeda fighters since moving to Kandahar? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-391-106.

Q-108 — — With regard to the Canadian presence in Afghanistan: (a) what is the allotment of money set aside in the fiscal framework for the remainder of the mission; (b) how does the mission effect the fiscal framework; (c) what new weapons systems have been purchased, or will be purchased for the remainder of the mission; (d) was there a M777 howitzer purchased for the mission in Kandahar and, if so, what was the cost of the system; (e) does the Canadian Forces use the Excalibur ordinance system developed by Raytheon and, if so, what is the unit cost per shell of the Excalibur ordinance system; (f) what is the added cost associated with the deployment of a leopard tank squadron; and (g) what are the project names and budgets, itemized by project, for each foreign aid project that Canada is financing in Afghanistan? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-391-108.

Business of Supply

The Order was read for the consideration of the Business of Supply.

Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), moved, — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately take the following steps to assist members and veterans of the Canadian Forces and their families:

1. amend Section 31 (1) of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act so that second spouses of CF members and veterans have access to pension rights upon the death of the Canadian Forces member or veteran;

2. extend the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) to all widows of all veterans, regardless of the time of death of the veteran and regardless of whether the veteran was in receipt of VIP services prior to his or her death;

3. increase the Survivor’s Pension Amount upon death of Canadian Forces retiree to 66% from the current amount of 50%;

4. eliminate the unfair reduction of Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) long term disability benefits from medically released members of the Canadian Forces; and

5. eliminate the deduction from annuity for retired and disabled CF members.

Debate arose thereon.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, at the conclusion of today's debate on the opposition motion in the name of the Member for Sackville—Eastern Shore, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put, a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, November 7, 2006, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

Statements By Members

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

Oral Questions

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to Oral Questions.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Order made Wednesday, November 1, 2006, Mr. Thompson (Minister of Veterans Affairs) made a statement in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 33(1).

Business of Supply

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), in relation to the Business of Supply.

The debate continued.

At 5:39 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(16), the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was deemed put on the motion and, pursuant to Order made earlier today, the recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, November 7, 2006, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

Ways and Means

Mr. Nicholson (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) laid upon the Table, — Notice of a Ways and Means motion to amend the Income Tax Act. (Ways and Means No. 10) — Sessional Paper No. 8570-391-13.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), at the request of Mr. Nicholson (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), an Order of the Day was designated for the consideration of this Ways and Means motion.

Private Members' Business

At 5:39 p.m., by unanimous consent, the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Wappel (Scarborough Southwest), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), — That Bill C-283, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (food labelling), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, November 8, 2006, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

Returns and Reports Deposited with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), a paper deposited with the Clerk of the House was laid upon the Table as follows:

— by — Report on the administration of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005, pursuant to the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, R.S. 1985, c. C-17, ss. 57 and 72. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-391-92-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on National Defence)

Petitions Filed with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were filed as follows:

— by , one concerning health care services (No. 391-0578) and one concerning marriage (No. 391-0579).

Adjournment Proceedings

At 6:39 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 38(1), the question “That this House do now adjourn” was deemed to have been proposed.

After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.

Adjournment

At 6:46 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).