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Friday, May 16, 2008 (No. 97)


Report Stage of Bills

Bill C-21
An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act

Notices of Motions

Motion No. 1 — May 13, 2008 — The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development — That Bill C-21, in Clause 1.1, be amended by replacing lines 6 to 20 on page 1 with the following:
“1.1 For greater certainty, the repeal of section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act shall not be construed so as to abrogate or derogate from the protection provided for existing aboriginal or treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada by the recognition and affirmation of those rights in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.”
Motion No. 2 — May 13, 2008 — The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development — That Bill C-21, in Clause 1.2, be amended by replacing line 3 on page 2 with the following:
“ests against collective rights and interests, to the extent that they are consistent with the principle of gender equality.”

Bill C-29
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (accountability with respect to loans)
Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:
Group No. 1 -- Motions Nos. 1 to 3.
Statement and selection by Speaker — see Debates of December 5, 2007.

Resuming Debate

Group No. 1
Motion No. 1 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 2 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 3 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 1 — February 14, 2008 — 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, in Clause 4, be amended by deleting lines 13 to 17 on page 2.
Motion No. 2 — February 14, 2008 — 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, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing lines 29 to 35 on page 4 with the following:
“case of a candidate, the selection date as defined in section 478.01 in the case of a nomination contestant, the end of the leadership contest in the case of a leadership contestant, and the end of the fiscal period during which the loan was made in the case of a registered party and registered association, is deemed to be a contribution of the”
Motion No. 3 — February 14, 2008 — 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, in Clause 5, be amended by replacing lines 32 to 35 on page 5 with the following:
“Officer shall inform the lender of his or her decision; furthermore, the candidate's registered association or, if there is no registered association, the registered party becomes liable for the unpaid amount as if the association or party had guaranteed the loan.”

Bill C-207
An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for new graduates working in designated regions)
Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:
Group No. 1 -- Motions Nos. 1 and 2.
Statement and selection by Speaker — see Debates of April 7, 2008.

Resuming Debate

Group No. 1
Motion No. 1 -- Question put separately.
Amendment to Motion No. 2 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 2 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 1 — April 7, 2008 — Mr. Bouchard (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord), seconded by Mr. Roy (Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia), — That Bill C-207 be amended by restoring the title as follows:
“An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for new graduates working in designated regions)”
Motion No. 2 — April 7, 2008 — Mr. Bouchard (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord), seconded by Mr. Roy (Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia), — That Bill C-207 be amended by restoring Clause 1 as follows:
“1. The Income Tax Act is amended by adding the following after section 118.7:
118.71 (1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.
“base period” means the first 52 weeks of the aggregate of all periods each of which is a period during which the individual
(a) holds qualifying employment; and
(b) ordinarily performs the duties of the qualifying employment at an establishment of the individual’s employer situated in a designated region or is ordinarily attached to such an establishment.
“designated educational institution” has the meaning assigned by subsection 118.6(1).
“designated region” has the meaning assigned by section 3 of the Regional Development Incentives Act.
“qualifying employment” means an office or employment that the individual begins to hold in the 24-month period that follows the date on which the individual successfully completes the courses and, where applicable, the internships leading to the awarding of a recognized diploma, or the date on which the individual is awarded a recognized diploma that is a master’s or doctoral degree under an educational program requiring the writing of an essay, dissertation or thesis, if
(a) the individual begins to perform the duties of the office or employment after January 1, 2007;
(b) at the time that the individual takes up the office or employment, the establishment of the individual’s employer at which the individual ordinarily performs the duties of that office or employment, or to which the individual is ordinarily attached, is situated in a designated region; and
(c) the knowledge and skills obtained during the individual’s training or educational program are related to the duties performed by the individual in connection with the office or employment.
“recognized diploma” means a degree, diploma or attestation awarded by a designated educational institution.
(2) For the purpose of computing the tax payable under this Part by an individual for a taxation year, there may be deducted an amount equal to the lesser of
(a) the amount that is 40% of the aggregate of all amounts each of which is the salary or wages of the individual for the year from qualifying employment and attributable to the individual’s base period; and
(b) the amount by which $8,000 exceeds the aggregate of all amounts each of which is an amount that the individual is deemed to have paid to the Receiver General under this section for a preceding taxation year.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(a), an individual who was resident in a designated region in Canada immediately before the individual’s death is deemed to be resident in a designated region in Canada at the end of December 31 of the year in which the individual died.”
Amendment to Motion No. 2 — April 7, 2008 — Mr. Crête (Montmagny—L'Islet—Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup), seconded by Mr. Laforest (Saint-Maurice—Champlain), — That the Motion proposing to restore Clause 1 of Bill C-207 be amended by deleting all the words in paragraphs 118.71(1) and (2) and substituting the following:
“118.71 (1) The definitions in this subsection apply in this section.
“base period” means the first 52 weeks of the aggregate of all periods each of which is a period during which the individual
(a) holds qualifying employment; and
(b) ordinarily performs the duties of the qualifying employment at an establishment of the individual’s employer situated in a designated region or is ordinarily attached to such an establishment.
“designated educational institution” has the meaning assigned by subsection 118.6(1).
“designated region” has the meaning assigned by section 3 of the Regional Development Incentives Act.
“qualifying employment” means an office or employment that the individual begins to hold in the 24-month period that follows the date on which the individual successfully completes the courses and, where applicable, the internships leading to the awarding of a recognized diploma, or the date on which the individual is awarded a recognized diploma that is a master’s or doctoral degree under an educational program requiring the writing of an essay, dissertation or thesis, if
(a) the individual begins to perform the duties of the office or employment after January 1, 2008;
(b) at the time that the individual takes up the office or employment, the establishment of the individual’s employer at which the individual ordinarily performs the duties of that office or employment, or to which the individual is ordinarily attached, is situated in a designated region; and
(c) the knowledge and skills obtained during the individual’s training or educational program are related to the duties performed by the individual in connection with the office or employment.
“recognized diploma” means a degree, diploma or attestation awarded by a designated educational institution.
(2) For the purpose of computing the tax payable under this Part by an individual for a taxation year, there may be deducted an amount equal to the lesser of
(a) the amount that is 40% of the aggregate of all amounts each of which is the salary or wages of the individual for the year from qualifying employment;
(b) $3,000; and
(c) the amount by which $8,000 exceeds the aggregate of all amounts each of which is an amount that the individual deducted under this section for the purpose of computing the tax payable, or that the individual is deemed to have paid to the Receiver General under this section for a preceding taxation year.”.

Bill C-265
An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (qualification for and entitlement to benefits)

Notices of Motions

Motion No. 1 — April 24, 2008 — Mr. Godin (Acadie—Bathurst) — That Bill C-265 be amended by deleting Clause 1.
Motion No. 2 — April 7, 2008 — Mr. Lessard (Chambly—Borduas) — That Bill C-265 be amended by restoring Clause 3 as follows:
“3. Subsections 7(1) to (5) of the Act are replaced by the following:
7. (1) An insured person qualifies if the person
(a) has had an interruption of earnings from employment; and
(b) has had during their qualifying period at least 360 hours of insurable employment.”
Motion No. 3 — April 7, 2008 — Mr. Lessard (Chambly—Borduas) — That Bill C-265 be amended by restoring Clause 4 as follows:
“4. Subsections 7.1(1) and (2) of the Act are replaced by the following:
7.1 (1) The number of hours that an insured person requires under section 7 to qualify for benefits is increased to
(a) 525 hours if the insured person accumulates one or more minor violations,
(b) 700 hours if the insured person accumulates one or more serious violations,
(c) 875 hours if the insured person accumulates one or more very serious violations, and
(d) 1050 hours if the insured person accumulates one or more subsequent violations
in the 260 weeks before making their initial claim for benefit.”

Bill C-377
An Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibilities in preventing dangerous climate change
Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:
Group No. 1 -- Motions Nos. 1 to 4.
Statement and selection by Speaker — see Debates of May 12, 2008.

Resuming Debate

Group No. 1
Motion No. 1 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 2 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 3 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 4 -- Question put separately.
Motion No. 1 — May 12, 2008 — Mr. Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), — That Bill C-377, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 15 on page 2 the following:
““greenhouse gases” means the following substances, as they appear on the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999:
(a) carbon dioxide, which has the molecular formula CO2;
(b) methane, which has the molecular formula CH4;
(c) nitrous oxide, which has the molecular formula N2O;
(d) hydrofluorocarbons that have the molecular formula CnHxF(2n+2-x) in which 0<n<6;
(e) the following perfluorocarbons:
(i) those that have the molecular formula CnF2n+2 in which 0<n<7, and
(ii) octafluorocyclobutane, which has the molecular formula C4F8; and
(f) sulphur hexafluoride, which has the molecular formula SF6.”
Motion No. 2 — May 12, 2008 — Mr. Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), — That Bill C-377, in Clause 13, be amended by replacing lines 28 to 43 on page 8 and lines 1 to 12 on page 9 with the following:
“the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy established by section 3 of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act shall perform the following with respect to the statement:
(a) undertake research and gather information and analyses on the statement in the context of sustainable development; and
(b) advise the Minister on issues that are within its purpose, as set out in section 4 of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act, including the following, to the extent that they are within that purpose:
(i) the likelihood that each of the proposed measures will achieve the emission reductions projected in the statement,
(ii) the likelihood that the proposed measures will enable Canada to meet its commitment under section 5 and meet the interim Canadian greenhouse gas emission targets referred to in section 6, and
(iii) any other matters that the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy considers relevant.
(2) The Minister shall
(a) within three days after receiving the advice referred to in paragraph (1)(b):
(i) publish it in any manner that the Minister considers appropriate, and
(ii) submit it to the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and the Speakers shall table it in their respective Houses on any of the first three days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the Speaker receives the advice; and
(b) within 10 days after receiving the advice, publish a notice in the Canada Gazette setting out how the advice was published and how a copy of the publication may be obtained.”
Motion No. 3 — May 12, 2008 — Mr. Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), — That Bill C-377 be amended by adding after line 12 on page 9 the following new clause:
“13.1 (1) At least once every two years after this Act comes into force, the Commissioner shall prepare a report that includes
(a) an analysis of Canada’s progress in implementing the measures proposed in the statement referred to in subsection 10(2);
(b) an analysis of Canada’s progress in meeting its commitment under section 5 and the interim Canadian greenhouse gas emission targets referred to in section 6; and
(c) any observations and recommendations on any matter that the Commissioner considers relevant.
(2) The Commissioner shall publish the report in any manner the Commissioner considers appropriate within the period referred to in subsection (1).
(3) The Commissioner shall submit the report to the Speaker of the House of Commons on or before the day it is published, and the Speaker shall table the report in the House on any of the first three days on which that House is sitting after the Speaker receives it.”
Motion No. 4 — May 12, 2008 — Mr. Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley), seconded by Mr. Layton (Toronto—Danforth), — That Bill C-377 be amended by adding after line 12 on page 9 the following new clause:
“NATIONAL ROUND TABLE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECONOMY
13.2 (1) Within 180 days after the Minister prepares the target plan under subsection 6(1) or prepares a revised target plan under subsection 6(2), the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy established by section 3 of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act shall perform the following with respect to the target plan or revised target plan:
(a) undertake research and gather information and analyses on the target plan or revised target plan in the context of sustainable development; and
(b) advise the Minister on issues that are within its purpose, as set out in section 4 of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Act, including the following, to the extent that they are within that purpose:
(i) the quality and completeness of the scientific, economic and technological evidence and analyses used to establish each target in the target plan or revised target plan, and
(ii) any other matters that the National Round Table considers relevant.
(2) The Minister shall
(a) within three days after receiving the advice referred to in paragraph (1)(b):
(i) publish it in any manner that the Minister considers appropriate, and
(ii) submit it to the Speakers of the Senate and the House of Commons and the Speakers shall table it in their respective Houses on any of the first three days on which that House is sitting after the day on which the Speaker receives the advice; and
(b) within 10 days after receiving the advice, publish a notice in the Canada Gazette setting out how the advice was published and how a copy of the publication may be obtained.”