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39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals No. 78 Monday, April 14, 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.

Mr. Bell (North Vancouver), seconded by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), moved, — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should respond specifically to the challenges faced by Canadians with rare diseases and disorders, and the initiative put forward by the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders by: (a) establishing the definition for serious rare disorders as those with a prevalence of less than 1 in 2000 Canadians; (b) examining the feasibility of a national “Chance for Life Fund” equivalent to 2% of the total annual public drug expenditure to be designated for therapies for rare disorders; (c) considering the establishment of a multi-stakeholder advisory body, including treaters and patients, to recommend treatment access for life-threatening or serious rare disorders, based on scientific standards and social values; (d) considering the establishment of centres of reference for specific rare disorders, comprised of national and international experts, who will develop criteria for treating patients based on scientific evidence and patient impact and provide on-going surveillance into the real-world safety and effectiveness of these treatments on individual and group basis; (e) considering options to provide incentives through orphan drug regulation and policy, to assure Canadian organizations and researchers are motivated to conduct research and development into treatments for rare and neglected disorders; (f) supporting internationally accepted standards for conduct of clinical trials in rare disorders appropriate for the challenges inherent to very small patient populations; (g) considering ensuring that Health Canada’s progressive licensing framework provide appropriate support to the design of clinical trials for very small patient populations and appropriate review of evidence submitted from these trials; and (h) reporting the progress accomplished to the House within six months. (Private Members' Business M-426)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Thompson (Minister of Veterans Affairs), — That Bill C-31, An Act to amend the Judges Act, 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), 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. 392-0433 concerning crimes of violence. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-56-03;

— No. 392-0456 concerning cruelty to animals. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-40-04.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), laid upon the Table, — Copy of an Exchange of Notes Between the Government of Canada and the Government of Japan Constituting an Agreement on Special Measures Concerning Supply Assistance Activities in Support of Counter-Terrorism Maritime Interdiction Activities. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-392-09.

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Day (Minister of Public Safety) for Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform), Bill C-53, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Mills (Red Deer), from the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, presented the Third Report of the Committee (inherent difficulties in the practice, procedure and rules of the House with respect to committees). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-99.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting Nos. 23 and 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 the Criminal Code of Canada (Nos. 392-0575 and 392-0576);

— by , one concerning the income tax system (No. 392-0577);

— by , one concerning the Criminal Code of Canada (No. 392-0578);

— by , one concerning aboriginal affairs (No. 392-0579);

— by , one concerning genetic engineering (No. 392-0580);

— by , one concerning student loans (No. 392-0581);

— by , one concerning federal programs (No. 392-0582).

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-213 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 return to the following question made into an Order for Return:

Q-214 — — With regard to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, what was the funding amount allocated, granted, contributed or loaned to each recipient through all of its various programs in each federal electoral district within the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in each of the years 2003 to 2007, inclusive? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-214.

Government Orders

The debate continued.

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

Accordingly, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada), seconded by Mr. Hill (Secretary of State), — That a message be sent to the Senate to acquaint their Honours that this House:

agrees with amendments numbered 2, 4, 5 and 6 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); but

disagrees with amendment numbered 1 because it would place an undue burden on judges and does not take into consideration provincial and territorial practices that are currently in place to ensure that accused persons are informed of their language rights; and

disagrees with amendment numbered 3 because the Minister of Justice would be unable to comply with the statutory duty imposed by the amendment as provinces and territories do not keep statistics to report on the operation of the language of trial provisions;

And of the amendment of , seconded by , — That the motion be amended by deleting the words “agrees with amendments numbered 2, 4, 5 and 6” and substituting therefore the words “agrees with amendments numbered 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6” and by deleting the paragraph commencing with the words “disagrees with amendment numbered 1”.

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 Mr. Toews (President of the Treasury Board) — Reports of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, pursuant to the Employment Equity Act, S.C. 1995, c. 44, sbs. 21(3). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-392-877-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

— by Mr. Toews (President of the Treasury Board) — Report on Human Resources Management in the Public Service of Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2006, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 12.4(1) and to the Public Service Employment Act, S.C. 2003, c. 22, ss. 12 "28" and 13. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-392-999-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

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 6:38 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).