;

House Publications

The Debates are the report—transcribed, edited, and corrected—of what is said in the House. The Journals are the official record of the decisions and other transactions of the House. The Order Paper and Notice Paper contains the listing of all items that may be brought forward on a particular sitting day, and notices for upcoming items.

For an advanced search, use Publication Search tool.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.

Previous day publication Next day publication

Bilingual view PDF


Tuesday, March 11, 2008 (No. 64)

Orders of the Day

Government Orders

Business of Supply

October 16, 2007 — The President of the Treasury Board — Consideration of the Business of Supply.

Supply period ending March 26, 2008 — maximum of 7 allotted days, pursuant to Standing Order 81(10)(a).

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 — 6th allotted day.

Opposition Motion

March 3, 2008 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately abandon the idea of creating a common securities regulator, since securities regulations fall under the legislative jurisdiction of Quebec and the provinces and because this initiative is unanimously condemned in Quebec.

Voting — not later than 15 minutes before the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, pursuant to Standing Order 81(16).

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 — 7th and final allotted day.

Opposition Motions

October 23, 2007 — — That the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be directed to investigate the actions of the Conservative Party of Canada during the 2006 election, in relation to which Elections Canada has refused to reimburse Conservative candidates for illegitimate election campaign expenses.

October 23, 2007 — — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice, Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

October 23, 2007 — — That this House calls on the government to announce now that the Canadian combat mission in Kandahar will end in February 2009 in order to facilitate a replacement, and begin discussions with NATO and the Government of Afghanistan on what non-combat role Canada can play afterwards to aid in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

October 23, 2007 — — That this House calls upon the government to recognize that any shortfall in meeting our 2012 Kyoto commitments would be a result of their decision to kill the previous government’s innovative Project Green plan, followed by 18 months of inaction, and the government must replace its weak approach with real action to create the momentum required for Canada to catch-up in the second phase of Kyoto.

October 23, 2007 — — That this House calls on the government to end 18 months of inaction in the fight against poverty in Canada by building on the good work of the previous Liberal government that funded such initiatives as the Canada Child Tax Benefit, affordable housing, literacy, the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative (SCPI) and the Working Income Tax Benefit.

October 23, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of this House, the government should bring forward legislation to implement the improvements to the Youth Criminal Justice Act recommended by the Honourable D. Merlin Nunn in his report of December 5, 2006, where those proposals fall within federal jurisdiction, and with particular focus on those proposals that ensure that repeat and violent young offenders can be detained pending prosecution.

October 24, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, Canada has to rebalance the mission in Afghanistan and immediately notify its NATO allies that the current mission will end in February 2009.

October 24, 2007 — — That the House reiterate how important it is for Canada to do everything in its power to meet its international commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, in particular by setting absolute greenhouse gas reduction targets to allow for a carbon exchange to be established in Montréal and by adopting a territorial approach.

October 24, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately put forward tangible measures, notably tax measures, to help those workers, businesses and regions affected by the crisis in the forestry and manufacturing sectors.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should implement, among others, the following measures to fight crime more effectively and make our communities safer:

1) abolish accelerated parole reviews, which make offenders eligible for parole after serving one sixth of their sentence;

2) amend section 127 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act to end the near-automatic nature of statutory release, and make statutory release subject to the merit principle and to the likelihood of rehabilitation;

3) expand the reverse onus for the proceeds of crime, once the court has made a finding of guilt, to include car theft, charging a criminal interest rate, procuring, robbery, fraud over $5,000, and making counterfeit money;

4) establish a fund to be used by the provinces to train Crown prosecutors specializing in trials relating to street gangs;

5) extend to one year the time limit of warrants obtained in relation to investigations in which tracking is carried out using the global positioning system (GPS), so that such warrants have the same duration as warrants relating to electronic eavesdropping;

6) prohibit the wearing of a symbol, sign or other representation that identifies an individual as a member of a criminal organization that has recognized as such by a court;

7) amend subsection 719(3) of the Criminal Code to provide that time spent in custody may, in all cases, be taken into account only as straight time; and that the term of imprisonment commences on the day on which the person is taken into custody; and

8) increase the budget of the National Crime Prevention Strategy by 5% a year over five years.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, any government initiative having a direct impact on Canadian telecommunications policy or Canadian broadcasting policy must be put to a vote in the House before being implemented.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should reconsider its decision to close 12 of the 16 Status of Women offices; restore the Court Challenges Program; amend the criteria for the Women’s Program to give groups engaging in research, defending rights or lobbying access to it; enact pay equity legislation; and eliminate the employment insurance provisions that are discriminatory for women, to ensure that the Prime Minister finally lives up to his promise of January 18, 2006, to support the human rights of women and to take concrete steps for Canada to live up to its commitments in this regard.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should undertake to make public the nature of discussions and conversations between Canada and officials of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership in order to make the Conservative government’s position on this clear and transparent, and undertake not to join the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership without a favourable vote in the House of Commons.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government of Canada invite countries to step up negotiations on post-Kyoto as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties to be held in Bali in early December, and that it should make a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% compared to 1990 levels by 2020.

November 1, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should give the Royal Recommendation to Bill C-269 in order to allow parliamentarians to vote democratically on the motion at third reading of this bill.

November 1, 2007 — — That the House urge the Governor in Council to obtain by means of a referendum, pursuant to section 3 of the Referendum Act, the opinion of the electors of Canada on whether the Senate should be abolished; and, that the referendum be held no later that October 19, 2009.

December 4, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should introduce specific measures, based on the comprehensive Liberal plan, to achieve, over the next five years, a 30% reduction in the number of Canadians living below the poverty line, including a 50% reduction in child poverty.

December 4, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should stand consistently against the death penalty as a matter of principle, both in Canada and around the world.

December 4, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the circumstances facing Canadian livestock producers are sufficiently serious as to constitute a crisis to which the government must respond in a tangible way, beyond existing programs, before the end of this year.

December 4, 2007 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government, in contrast to previous Liberal governments, is demonstrating a disappointing lack of international leadership, especially with regard to, but not limited to, climate change, Darfur, aid to Africa, the death penalty, its selective approach to human rights and its failure to understand the Geneva Convention.

December 4, 2007 — — That the House call upon the government to bring forward without delay constructive measures similar to those put forward by previous Liberal governments to address Canada`s growing economic vulnerabilities in areas including, but not limited to, livestock, forestry, automobiles, manufacturing, exports and tourism.

December 4, 2007 — — That, building on the Liberal “New Deal for Cities and Communities”, the House urge the government to provide immediate and significant incremental funding to address the growing crisis in our nation's infrastructure.

December 4, 2007 — — That the House call on the government to recognize the immediate and critical need to prevent the global climate from warming by more than 2°C; and to that end, further call on the government to follow the leadership of previous Liberal governments by accepting binding, absolute greenhouse gas limits at the upcoming United Nations Climate Conference in Bali.

December 4, 2007 — — That, in the opinioin of the House, the government should commit to extending by five years the Official Languages Action Plan by at least renewing all investments included in the 2003-2008 action plan, with cost of living adjustment, and by making new investments in the fields of culture, status of women, seniors, youth and international affairs.

January 29, 2008 — — That this House endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 13, 2007, and call upon the Parliament and government of Canada to implement fully the standards contained therein.

February 27, 2008 — — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should immediately seek to recover 2.1 million dollars from Brian Mulroney which he received from the government in 1997 based on misleading, false and incomplete information.

March 5, 2008 — — That, in the opinion of the House, this government’s budgetary policies have been marked by an unbalanced approach of corporate giveaways to the big banks and big polluters and have failed to address the priorities ordinary Canadians care about, such as health care, housing, infrastructure, manufacturing and forestry, climate change, child care, Aboriginals, women, seniors, poverty, and therefore, that this House has lost confidence in this government.

March 5, 2008 — — That the House note this government’s two years of inaction in the fight against poverty in Canada and failure to build on such initiatives as the Canada Child Tax Benefit, affordable housing, literacy, and the Supporting Communities Partnership Initiative and that for these and other reasons the House has lost confidence in this government.

March 5, 2008 — — That the House welcome the opening expressed by legislators and presidential candidates in the United States that the North American Free Trade Agreement should be re-examined with a view to ensuring respect of high environmental standards and basic workers' rights as well as the sovereignty and democratic accountability of the three partners, ensuring that working and middle-income families, and not only corporations, are the beneficiaries of increased trade and investment.

March 5, 2008 — — That, in the opinion of the House, this government has failed to introduce policies which will diminish the inequality between men and women, in particular by its refusal to provide adequate resources and policies governing child care; legal assistance; long-term care; home care; health care; support for women's equality-seeking groups; support for seniors; support for Aboriginal and minority women; pay equity; reform of employment insurance; support for preventing violence against women; public housing and transportation and other services so vital to the hard working women of this country, and therefore the House has lost confidence in this government.

Ways and Means

No. 7 — February 26, 2008 — — Consideration of a Ways and Means motion to amend the Income Tax Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-392-09, tabled on Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

No. 8 — February 26, 2008 — — Consideration of a Ways and Means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act relating to the goods and services tax and the harmonized sales tax (GST/HST). — Sessional Paper No. 8570-392-10, tabled on Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

No. 9 — February 26, 2008 — — Consideration of a Ways and Means motion to amend the Excise Act, 2001, the Excise Act and the Customs Tariff. — Sessional Paper No. 8570-392-11, tabled on Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

Government Bills (Commons)

C-4 — October 26, 2007 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities of Bill C-4, An Act to amend the Pilotage Act.

C-5^R — December 12, 2007 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-5, An Act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident, as reported by the Standing Committee on Natural Resources without amendment.

Committee Report — presented on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-35.

Report Stage motions — see “Report Stage of Bills” in today's Notice Paper.

C-7^R — November 2, 2007 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — 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.”.

C-13 — February 6, 2008 — — Resuming consideration of the amendments made by the Senate to Bill C-13, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (criminal procedure, language of the accused, sentencing and other amendments).

Senate Message — see Journals of Tuesday, January 29, 2008.

Text of motion — see “Motions Respecting Senate Amendments to Bills” in today’s Notice Paper.

C-14 — November 20, 2007 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — That Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

C-16^R — December 10, 2007 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (expanded voting opportunities) and to make a consequential amendment to the Referendum Act, as reported by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs with amendments.

Committee Report — presented on Monday, December 10, 2007, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-28.

C-19 — November 16, 2007 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — 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.

C-21 — February 4, 2008 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-21, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act, as reported by the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development with amendments.

Committee Report — presented on Monday, February 4, 2008, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-45.

C-22^R — February 13, 2008 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — That Bill C-22, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Democratic representation), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs;

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:

“this House decline to give second reading to Bill C-22, An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 (Democratic representation), because the Bill would reduce the political weight of the Quebec nation in the House of Commons in an unacceptable manner and does not provide that 25 percent of the elected members of the House of Commons must come from Quebec”.

C-23^R — February 11, 2008 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-23, An Act to amend the Canada Marine Act, the Canada Transportation Act, the Pilotage Act and other Acts in consequence, as reported by the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities with an amendment.

Committee Report — presented on Monday, February 11, 2008, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-51.

C-24 — November 16, 2007 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act (non-registration of firearms that are neither prohibited nor restricted).

C-26 — February 4, 2008 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — That Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

C-29 — February 14, 2008 — — Resuming consideration at report stage of Bill C-29, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (accountability with respect to loans), as deemed reported by a committee with amendments.

Resuming debate on the motions in Group No. 1.

Committee Report — presented on Tuesday, June 19, 2007, Sessional Paper No. 8510-391-289.

Report stage motions — see “Report Stage of Bills” in today's Notice Paper.

C-31^R — March 5, 2008 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Judges Act, as reported by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights without amendment.

Committee Report — presented on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-78.

C-32^R — November 29, 2007 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans of Bill C-32, An Act respecting the sustainable development of Canada's seacoast and inland fisheries.

C-33 — February 27, 2008 — — Consideration at report stage of Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, as reported by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food with amendments.

Committee Report — presented on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-68.

C-34^R — December 6, 2007 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Bill C-34, An Act to give effect to the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

C-36 — December 10, 2007 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities of Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Air Canada Public Participation Act.

C-39 — February 15, 2008 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — That Bill C-39, An Act to amend the Canada Grain Act, chapter 22 of the Statutes of Canada, 1998 and chapter 25 of the Statutes of Canada, 2004, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

C-43 — February 15, 2008 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security of Bill C-43, An Act to amend the Customs Act.

C-45^R — March 3, 2008 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on National Defence of Bill C-45, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

C-46^R — March 3, 2008 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food of Bill C-46, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act and chapter 17 of the Statutes of Canada, 1998.

C-47 — March 4, 2008 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development of Bill C-47, An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves.

Government Bills (Senate)

S-3 — March 7, 2008 — — Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security of Bill S-3, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions).

Government Business

No. 2 — February 8, 2008 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — That this House take note of the pre-budget consultations undertaken by the Standing Committee on Finance.

No. 4 — February 8, 2008 — — That,

whereas the House recognizes the important contribution and sacrifice of Canadian Forces and Canadian civilian personnel as part of the UN mandated, NATO-led mission deployed in Afghanistan at the request of the democratically elected government of Afghanistan;

whereas, as set out in the Speech from the Throne, the House does not believe that Canada should simply abandon the people of Afghanistan after February 2009; that Canada should build on its accomplishments and shift to accelerate the training of the Afghan army and police so that the government of Afghanistan can defend its own sovereignty and ensure that progress in Afghanistan is not lost and that our international commitments and reputation are upheld;

whereas in February 2002, the government took a decision to deploy 850 troops to Kandahar, the Canadian Forces have served in various capacities and locations in Afghanistan since that time and, on May 17, 2006, the House adopted a motion to support a two year extension of Canada’s deployment in Afghanistan;

whereas the House welcomes the Report of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan, chaired by John Manley, and recognizes the important contribution they have made;

whereas their Report establishes clearly that security is an essential condition of good governance and lasting development and that, for best effect, all three components of a comprehensive strategy — military, diplomatic and development — need to reinforce each other;

whereas the government accepts the analysis and recommendations of the Panel and is committed to taking action, including revamping Canada’s reconstruction and development efforts to give priority to direct, bilateral project assistance that addresses the immediate, practical needs of the Afghan people, especially in Kandahar province, as well as effective multi-year aid commitments with concrete objectives and assessments, and, further, to assert strong Canadian leadership to promote better coordination of the overall effort in Afghanistan by the international community, and, Afghan authorities;

whereas the results of progress in Afghanistan, including Canada’s military deployment, will be reviewed in 2011 (by which time the Afghanistan Compact will have concluded) and, in advance, the government will provide to the House an assessment and evaluation of progress, drawing on and consistent with the Panel’s recommendations regarding performance standards, results, benchmarks and timelines; and

whereas the ultimate aim of Canadian policy is to leave Afghanistan to Afghans, in a country that is better governed, more peaceful and more secure;

therefore, the House supports the continuation of Canada’s current responsibility for security in Kandahar beyond February 2009, to the end of 2011, in a manner fully consistent with the UN mandate on Afghanistan, but with increasing emphasis on training the Afghan National Security Forces expeditiously to take increasing responsibility for security in Kandahar and Afghanistan as a whole so that, as the Afghan National Security Forces gain capability, Canada’s combat role should be commensurately reduced, on condition that:

(a) Canada secure a partner that will provide a battle group of approximately 1000 to arrive and be operational no later than February 2009, to expand International Security Assistance Force’s security coverage in Kandahar;

(b) to better ensure the safety and effectiveness of the Canadian contingent, the government secure medium helicopter lift capacity and high performance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance before February 2009.

No. 5 — March 10, 2008 — Resuming consideration of the motion of , seconded by , — Whereas,

the House recognizes the important contribution and sacrifice of Canadian Forces and Canadian civilian personnel as part of the UN mandated, NATO-led mission deployed in Afghanistan at the request of the democratically elected government of Afghanistan;

the House believes that Canada must remain committed to the people of Afghanistan beyond February 2009;

the House takes note that in February 2002, the government took a decision to deploy 850 troops to Kandahar to join the international coalition that went to Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and that this deployment lasted for six months at which time the troops rotated out of Afghanistan and returned home;

the House takes note that in February 2003, the government took a decision that Canada would commit 2000 troops and lead for one year, starting in the summer of 2003, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul and at the end of the one-year commitment, Canada’s 2000 troop commitment was reduced to a 750-person reconnaissance unit as Canada’s NATO ally, Turkey, rotated into Kabul to replace Canada as the lead nation of the ISAF mission;

the House takes note that in August 2005, Canada assumed responsibility of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar province which included roughly 300 Canadian Forces personnel;

the House takes note that the government took a decision to commit a combat Battle Group of roughly 1200 troops to Kandahar for a period of one year, from February 2006 to February 2007;

the House takes note that in January 2006, the government participated in the London Conference on Afghanistan which resulted in the signing of the Afghanistan Compact which set out benchmarks and timelines until the end of 2010 for improving the security, the governance and the economic and social development of Afghanistan;

the House takes note that in May 2006, Parliament supported the government’s two year extension of Canada’s deployment of diplomatic, development, civilian police and military personnel in Afghanistan and the provision of funding and equipment for this extension;

the House welcomes the Report of the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan, chaired by the Honourable John Manley, and recognizes the important contribution its members have made;

the House takes note that it has long been a guiding principle of Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan that all three components of a comprehensive government strategy – defence, diplomacy and development – must reinforce each other and that the government must strike a balance between these components to be most effective;

the House takes note that the ultimate aim of Canadian policy is to leave Afghanistan to Afghans, in a country that is better governed, more peaceful and more secure and to create the necessary space and conditions to allow the Afghans themselves to achieve a political solution to the conflict; and

the House takes note that in order to achieve that aim, it is essential to assist the people of Afghanistan to have properly trained, equipped and paid members of the four pillars of their security apparatus: the army, the police, the judicial system and the correctional system;

therefore, it is the opinion of the House,

that Canada should continue a military presence in Kandahar beyond February 2009, to July 2011, in a manner fully consistent with the UN mandate on Afghanistan, and that the military mission should consist of:

(a) training the Afghan National Security Forces so that they can expeditiously take increasing responsibility for security in Kandahar and Afghanistan as a whole;

(b) providing security for reconstruction and development efforts in Kandahar;

that, consistent with this mandate, this extension of Canada’s military presence in Afghanistan is approved by this House expressly on the condition that:

(a) NATO secure a battle group of approximately 1000 to rotate into Kandahar (operational no later than February 2009);

(c) the government of Canada notify NATO that Canada will end its presence in Kandahar as of July 2011, and, as of that date, the redeployment of Canadian Forces troops out of Kandahar and their replacement by Afghan forces start as soon as possible, so that it will have been completed by December 2011;

that the government of Canada, together with our allies and the government of Afghanistan, must set firm targets and timelines for the training, equipping and paying of the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, the members of the judicial system and the members of the correctional system;

that Canada’s contribution to the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan should:

(a) be revamped and increased to strike a better balance between our military efforts and our development efforts in Afghanistan;

(b) focus on our traditional strengths as a nation, particularly through the development of sound judicial and correctional systems and strong political institutions on the ground in Afghanistan and the pursuit of a greater role for Canada in addressing the chronic fresh water shortages in the country;

(c) address the crippling issue of the narco-economy that consistently undermines progress in Afghanistan, through the pursuit of solutions that do not further alienate the goodwill of the local population;

(d) be held to a greater level of accountability and scrutiny so that the Canadian people can be sure that our development contributions are being spent effectively in Afghanistan;

that Canada should assert a stronger and more disciplined diplomatic position regarding Afghanistan and the regional players, including support for the naming of a special envoy to the region who could both ensure greater coherence in all diplomatic initiatives in the region and also press for greater coordination amongst our partners in the UN in the pursuit of common diplomatic goals in the region;

that the government should provide the public with franker and more frequent reporting on events in Afghanistan, offering more assessments of Canada’s role and giving greater emphasis to the diplomatic and reconstruction efforts as well as those of the military and, for greater clarity, the government should table in Parliament detailed reports on the progress of the mission in Afghanistan on a quarterly basis;

that the House of Commons should strike a special parliamentary committee on Afghanistan which would meet regularly with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and National Defence and senior officials, and that the House should authorize travel by the special committee to Afghanistan and the surrounding region so that the special committee can make frequent recommendations on the conduct and progress of our efforts in Afghanistan;

that, the special parliamentary committee on Afghanistan should review the laws and procedures governing the use of operational and national security exceptions for the withholding of information from Parliament, the Courts and the Canadian people with those responsible for administering those laws and procedures, to ensure that Canadians are being provided with ample information on the conduct and progress of the mission; and

that with respect to the transfer of Afghan detainees to Afghan authorities, the government must:

(a) commit to meeting the highest NATO and international standards with respect to protecting the rights of detainees, transferring only when it believes it can do so in keeping with Canada’s international obligations;

(b) pursue a NATO-wide solution to the question of detainees through diplomatic efforts that are rooted in the core Canadian values of respect for human rights and the dignity of all people;

(c) commit to a policy of greater transparency with respect to its policy on the taking of and transferring of detainees including a commitment to report on the results of reviews or inspections of Afghan prisons undertaken by Canadian officials; and

that the government must commit to improved interdepartmental coordination to achieve greater cross-government coherence and coordination of the government’s domestic management of our commitment to Afghanistan, including the creation of a full-time task force which is responsible directly to the Prime Minister to lead these efforts;

And of the amendment of , seconded by , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words from “Whereas” to “goals in the region;” and substituting the following:

“That the House call upon the government to begin preparations for the safe withdrawal of Canadian soldiers from the combat mission in Afghanistan with no further mission extensions;

that, in the opinion of the House, the government should engage in a robust diplomatic process to prepare the groundwork for a political solution, under explicit UN direction and authority, engaging both regional and local stakeholders, and ensuring the full respect for international human rights and humanitarian law;

that, in the opinion of the House, the government should maintain the current suspension on the transfer of Afghan detainees to Afghan authorities until substantial reforms of the prison system are undertaken;

that, in the opinion of the House, the government should provide effective and transparent development assistance under civilian direction consistent with the Afghanistan Compact;”

and by deleting all of the words following: “to ensure that Canadians are being provided with ample information on the conduct and progress of the mission”.

Subject to Special Order — see Journals of Thursday, March 6, 2008.

Concurrence in Committee Reports

No. 11 — March 5, 2008 — Deferred recorded division on the motion, — That the Second Report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development (extension of time to consider Bill C-377, An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsabilities in preventing dangerous climate change), presented on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, be concurred in.

Recorded division — deferred until Wednesday, March 12, 2008, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3).


^R Recommended by the Governor General

House Publications

Orders of the Day

Government Orders

Business of Supply

Ways and Means

Government Bills (Commons)

Government Bills (Senate)

Government Business

Concurrence in Committee Reports