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39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals No. 113 Monday, June 16, 2008 11:00 a.m.

Prayers

Private Members' Business

At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Paquette (Joliette), seconded by Mr. Gravel (Repentigny), — That Bill C-505, An Act to amend the Canadian Multiculturalism Act (non-application in Quebec), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, June 18, 2008, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

Interruption

At 11:57 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:01 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Government Orders

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on National Defence of Bill C-60, An Act to amend the National Defence Act (court martial) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act.

Mr. MacKay (Minister of National Defence), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of National Revenue), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on National Defence.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Order made Friday, June 13, 2008, the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

Pursuant to Order made Friday, June 13, 2008, Bill C-60, An Act to amend the National Defence Act (court martial) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, was deemed read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on National Defence.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), seconded by Mr. Hill (Secretary of State), — That Bill C-29, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (accountability with respect to loans), be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

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.

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mrs. Yelich (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— No. 392-0629 concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-5-12;

— No. 392-0631 concerning aboriginal affairs. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-4-05;

— Nos. 392-0668 to 392-0671 concerning prostitution. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-88-01.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Merrifield (Yellowhead), from the Standing Committee on Finance, presented the Ninth Report of the Committee (Bill C-219, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction for volunteer emergency service), with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-153.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 48 and 49) was tabled.

Mr. Murphy (Charlottetown), from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the 18th Report of the Committee, "Chapter 4, Canadian Agricultural Income Stabilization — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada of the May 2007 Report of the Auditor General of Canada". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-154.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 23 and 38) was tabled.

Mr. Allison (Niagara West—Glanbrook), from the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, presented the Eighth Report of the Committee, "Strengthening the Employment Insurance Premium Rate-Setting Process". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-155.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 27 to 29 and 31 to 35) was tabled.

Ms. Marleau (Sudbury), from the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee, "Passport Canada: A Model to be Reviewed". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-156.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 26, 32, 34 and 35) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Davies (Vancouver East), seconded by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North), Bill C-564, An Act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act (rights of bill holders), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. McDonough (Halifax), seconded by Mr. Dewar (Ottawa Centre), Bill C-565, An Act respecting Corporate Social Responsibility for the Activities of Canadian Mining Corporations in Developing Countries, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North), seconded by Ms. Davies (Vancouver East), Bill C-566, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act (cigarillos, cigars and pipe tobacco), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre), seconded by Ms. McDonough (Halifax), Bill C-567, An Act to amend the Pension Benefits Standards Act, 1985 (protection of the assets), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by , one concerning transportation (No. 392-0810);

— by , one concerning crimes of violence (No. 392-0811) and one concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act (No. 392-0812);

— by , one concerning immigration (No. 392-0813), one concerning federal programs (No. 392-0814) and one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 392-0815);

— by , one concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 392-0816);

— by , eight concerning the situation in Israel (Nos. 392-0817 to 392-0824);

— by , one concerning banks (No. 392-0825);

— by , one concerning the situation in Sudan (No. 392-0826);

— by , one concerning the Criminal Code of Canada (No. 392-0827);

— by , one concerning national parks (No. 392-0828) and one concerning service medals (No. 392-0829);

— by , one concerning the situation in Sudan (No. 392-0830);

— by , one concerning museums (No. 392-0831), one concerning the situation in Sudan (No. 392-0832) and one concerning prosperity partnership (No. 392-0833);

— by , one concerning the income tax system (No. 392-0834);

— by , one concerning sponsorships (No. 392-0835);

— by , one concerning the electoral system (No. 392-0836);

— by , one concerning the situation in Sudan (No. 392-0837).

Questions on the Order Paper

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mrs. Yelich (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development) presented the return to the following question made into an Order for Return:

Q-263 — — With regard to the pension claw backs alleged to be affecting both Canadian Forces (CF) veterans and retired members of the RCMP: (a) did the government ever make promises to CF personnel in 1965, 1968 or in 1971 that no person would receive less after the amalgamation of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and the Superannuation at age 65 and prior to superannuation reduction; (b) can the government confirm that public service members, who contributed to superannuation, prior to January 1, 1966 enjoy specific protections within the Superannuation Act with regard to their pensions; (c) is the same protection for public service members as discussed in (b), extended to CF veterans and retired members of the RCMP, or have these groups been excluded from this protection; (d) in the years following 1966, were superannuates awarded full and indexed CPP benefits despite having contributed for a very short time; (e) if it can be confirmed that there is not the same protection for CF Members and retired RCMP members that public service members currently enjoy within the Superannuation Act, is the government prepared to make the corrections required to make the law more equal for all three groups; (f) if the government is not prepared to make the corrections, why not; (g) how has the government acted to alleviate the concerns of retired CF Veterans and RCMP members who believe that their pensions have been clawed back because of the integration of the CPP with their pensions in 1966; (h) what steps has the government taken to explain or clarify their pension policies to specifically address the claw back concerns of CF veterans and retired RCMP members; (i) with regards to (f) what groups or veterans associations has the government communicated with in regards to the pension claw back issues, with the goal of addressing the concerns of these groups, from 2000 to the present day; (j) in 1966, when the CF and RCMP Superannuation plans were reportedly coordinated with the CPP, how were members of the CF and RCMP members notified or briefed on the effects or benefits of such a policy change on individual pensions; (k) what recommendations has the government considered, since 2000, to change the CPP-related reduction calculation contained in the three primary federal public sector pension plans, including the CF Superannuation Act and the RCMP Superannuation Act, to address the concerns of CF veterans and retired RCMP members that they are losing an amount of pension income because of current policy; (l) does the government intend to meet with national organizations representing veterans and retired RCMP members in 2008 to work on ways to reduce or alleviate their concerns about the alleged pension claw backs and, if so, when are meetings planned, and for what cities in Canada; and (m) how many messages have been received by the Minister of National Defence from veterans, requesting that he personally become involved in terminating the benefit reduction formula being allegedly applied to the pension annuities of the CF veterans and retired RCMP members? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-263.

Government Orders

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 5:30 p.m.

The Order was read for the consideration at report stage of Bill C-34, An Act to give effect to the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, as reported by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development without amendment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:

Group No. 1 — Motions Nos. 1 to 9.

Group No. 1

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 1, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 5.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 2, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 7.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 3, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 8.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 4, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 9.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 5, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 10.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 6, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 11.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 7, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 18.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 8, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 28.

Mr. Cummins (Delta—Richmond East), seconded by Mr. Hanger (Calgary Northeast), moved Motion No. 9, — That Bill C-34 be amended by deleting Clause 32.

Debate arose on the motions in Group No. 1.

The question was put on Motion No. 1 and it was negatived. Accordingly, Motions Nos. 2 and 6 were also negatived.

The question was put on Motion No. 3 and it was negatived. Accordingly, Motions Nos. 4 and 7 were also negatived.

The question was put on Motion No. 5 and it was negatived. Accordingly, Motions Nos. 8 and 9 were also negatived.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(9), Ms. Verner (Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages and Minister for La Francophonie) for Mr. Strahl (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Day (Minister of Public Safety), moved, — That the Bill be concurred in at report stage.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Accordingly, the Bill was concurred in at report stage and ordered for a third reading at the next sitting of the House.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), seconded by Mr. Hearn (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans), — That Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of , seconded by , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word "That" and substituting the following:

“Bill C-7, An Act to amend the Aeronautics Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be not now read a third time but that it be read a third time this day six months hence.”.

The debate continued.

Returns and Reports Deposited with the Clerk of the House

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

— by — Report of the Canada Post Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2007, pursuant to the Alternative Fuels Act, S.C. 1995, c. 20, s. 8. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-392-635-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development)

— by — Reports of the Canada Lands Company Limited for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-392-866-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

Adjournment Proceedings

At 6:30 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.

Accordingly, at 6:47 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).