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39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals No. 18 Friday, November 16, 2007 10:00 a.m.

Prayers

Government Orders

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. Strahl (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians), — That Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (verification of residence), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

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

Accordingly, Bill C-18, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (verification of residence), was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs of Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure).

Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), seconded by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Debate arose thereon.

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

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), seconded by Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), Bill C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Marine Act, the Canada Transportation Act, the Pilotage Act and other Acts in consequence, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Recommendation

(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to amend the Canada Marine Act, the Canada Transportation Act, the Pilotage Act and other Acts in consequence”.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Day (Minister of Public Safety), seconded by Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Masse (Windsor West), seconded by Ms. Savoie (Victoria), Bill C-476, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for gifts), 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. Silva (Davenport), seconded by Mr. Tonks (York South—Weston), Bill C-477, An Act to recognize Pedro da Silva as Canada’s first officially commissioned letter carrier, 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 the income tax system (No. 392-0111);

— by , one concerning literacy (No. 392-0112) and one concerning gun control (No. 392-0113);

— by , one concerning immigration (No. 392-0114).

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-42 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 Returns:

Q-20 — — For the fiscal years 2004–2005, 2005–2006, 2006–2007, 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec: (a) what is or was the total budget for grants and contributions; (b) what is or was the total amount of approved grants and contributions; and (c) for previous fiscal years, what was the total amount of grants and contributions awarded? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-20.

Q-21 — — With regard to the government's intention to harmonize regulations on pesticide residue limits for fruits and vegetables with those of the United States: (a) what evidence does the government have that shows that there will not be an increase in pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables; (b) what safeguards are in place to ensure that Canadians are not exposed to higher levels of pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables; (c) will independent and peer-review tests continue to be used to determine pesticide limits and the cumulative effect of the resulting residue on health and the environment; and (d) what are the implications to Canada's sovereign right to determine regulatory standards, affecting Canadian food security and food safety, in adopting foreign standards for regulations of pesticide residue limits? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-21.

Q-62 — — With regard to the land areas and persons who reside within the area covered by the Tsawwassen Territory as set in the Tsawwassen Final Agreement: (a) what is the number of persons who currently reside in the Territory; (b) how many persons reside in the Territory and how many of these persons are under the Indian Act members of the Tsawwassen Band in (i) each of the Gulf Islands, (ii) the City of Richmond, (iii) the City of Vancouver, (iv) the Municipality of Delta, (v) the City of White Rock, (vi) the City of Surrey, (vii) the City of Burnaby, (viii) the City of New Westminster, (ix) the City of Coquitlam, (x) the City of Port Coquitlam, (xi) Langley City, (xii) the Municipality of Pitt Meadows, (xiii) the Municipality of Maple Ridge, (xiv) the Township of Langley, (xv) the Greater Vancouver Regional District Electoral Area “A”; (c) what was the population of the Tsawwassen Indian Band on an annual basis from its establishment to December 31, 2006; (d) what were the land holdings, in hectares, of the Tsawwassen Indian Band on an annual basis from its establishment as a band to December 31, 2006; (e) if the Tsawwassen Indian Band landholdings were decreased in any year, for what reason did the decrease occur and what, if any, compensation or payment was provided to the Band; and (f) what other bands, tribes or aboriginal organizations have territorial claims that overlap Tsawwassen Territory? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-62.

Q-67 — — With respect to women working as prostitutes: (a) does the government have statistics on women working as prostitutes who have gone missing or have been murdered and, if so, how many have gone missing in Canada since 1999, and how many have been murdered in Canada since 2003; (b) what studies and reports have been carried out by the Department of Justice in relation to Canada's prostitution laws since 1999, and what are their findings and recommendations; (c) what recommendations from the Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws, as enumerated in the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, of the First Session of the 39th Parliament, does the government agree with; and (d) how much federal funding is allocated to programs and organizations that deliver exit strategies for women working in the sex trade and (i) what are those organizations, (ii) how much money do they receive per year? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-67.

Q-72 — — With regard to support and maintenance activities for the Cormorant Helicopters: (a) which companies are currently carrying out work on behalf of the government; (b) what is the value of the contracts signed with these companies; (c) what is the duration for each of these contracts; (d) have any contracts encountered any cost overruns and, if so, what has that overrun been; (e) has the government conducted a program review of any of these contracts and, if so, what was the outcome of this review; (f) is the government considering re-tendering or revising any service contracts for the Cormorant Helicopter; and (g) what are the cut off dates for any decision for re-tendering or revising service contracts? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-72.

Government Orders

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. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), — That Bill C-19, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Senate tenure), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration at report stage of Bill C-284, An Act to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act (Canada access grants), as reported by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities with amendments;

And of the motions in Group No. 1 (Motions Nos. 1 to 3).

Group No. 1

Motion No. 1 of Mr. Regan (Halifax West), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), — That Bill C-284 be amended by restoring the title as follows:

“An Act to amend the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act (Canada access grants)”

Motion No. 2 of Mr. Regan (Halifax West), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), — That Bill C-284 be amended by restoring clause 1 as follows:

“1. The Canada Student Financial Assistance Act is amended by adding the following after section 14:

CANADA ACCESS GRANTS

14.1 (1) The Minister, an appropriate authority or a body authorized by the Minister for a province, may make a Canada access grant to a qualifying student if the student

(a) has a permanent disability;

(b) meets the criteria set out in subsection 12(1); and

(2) To receive a grant under this section, a qualifying student shall provide, with the loan application, proof of their permanent disability in the form of

(a) a medical certificate;

(b) a psycho-educational assessment; or

(3) The amount of all grants made under this section to a qualifying student in a loan year shall not exceed the lesser of

(a) the qualifying student’s assessed need; and

(b) $2,000.

14.2 (1) The Minister, an appropriate authority or a body authorized by the Minister for a province, may make a Canada access grant to a qualifying student if the student

(a) meets the criteria set out in subsection 12(1);

(b) is enrolled as a full-time student in a program of studies of at least two years that leads to a degree, certificate or diploma at a designated educational institution;

(d) has never previously been enrolled in a program of studies; and

(e) is a person in respect of whom a national child benefit supplement, or a special allowance under the Children’s Special Allowances Act, is payable or would be payable if the person was less than eighteen years of age.

(2) The amount of a grant made under this section to a qualifying student in a loan year shall not exceed the least of

(a) the qualifying student’s assessed need;

(b) 50% of the student’s tuition; and

(3) In this section, “national child benefit supplement” means that portion of a child tax benefit determined under the description of C in subsection 122.61(1) of the Income Tax Act.

14.3 (1) The Minister shall pay to the appropriate authority or other body authorized by the Minister for a province the amount the authority or other body requires to make Canada access grants to qualifying students for a loan year under section 14.1 or 14.2.

(2) Each appropriate authority or other body shall provide to the Minister at the end of each loan year, or on request of the Minister during a loan year, an accounting of all grants made to qualifying students by that appropriate authority or other body during that loan year or other period identified by the Minister.

(3) An appropriate authority or other body shall repay to the Minister any money provided for a loan year that is not given as grants in accordance with section 14.1 or 14.2. The overpayment becomes a debt due to Her Majesty in right of Canada on the day after the last day of that loan year.”

Motion No. 3 of Mr. Regan (Halifax West), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), — That Bill C-284 be amended by restoring clause 2 as follows:

“2. Sections 40.01 to 40.03 of the Canada Student Financial Assistance Regulations are repealed.”

The debate continued on the motions in Group No. 1.

The question was put on Motion No. 1 and, pursuant to Standing Order 98(4), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, November 21, 2007, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

Adjournment

At 2:19 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).