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40th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals No. 3 Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:00 a.m.

Prayers

Daily Routine Of Business

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, for the purpose of considering the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne of the First Session of the 40th Parliament, Standing Order 50 be amended as follows:

Section (4) be replaced with the following:

“(4) On the third of the said days, if a subamendment be under consideration at fifteen minutes before the end of the time provided for the Address debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the proceedings and forthwith put the question on the said subamendment.”.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by , one concerning transportation (No. 401-0001);

— by , one concerning the Canadian Human Rights Act (No. 401-0002);

— by , one concerning the National Capital Commission (No. 401-0003);

— by , one concerning asbestos (No. 401-0004).

Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Hoeppner (Portage—Lisgar), seconded by Mr. Dechert (Mississauga—Erindale), — That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada:

To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY:

We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of Commons of Canada, in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.

The debate continued.

Mr. Dion (Saint-Laurent—Cartierville), seconded by Mr. Brison (Kings—Hants), moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by adding the following:

“and we urge Your Excellency’s advisors to respect the results of the election in which more than 60 percent of voters supported Members of Parliament in the opposition;

to bear in mind that people express their wishes as much through the opposition as through the government;

to recognize that Canadians rightfully expect the House of Commons they just elected to function in a less partisan, more constructive and collaborative manner, with the first responsibility for setting a better tone being that of the government which requires the government to be more forthcoming than it has been up to now; and

to that end, given the crucial nature of the up-coming economic and fiscal update, to provide representatives of opposition parties with a detailed briefing by appropriate senior officials at least three hours in advance of the public presentation of the update, so all Members of Parliament can be properly equipped to deal with the serious economic difficulties confronting Canadians”.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Duceppe (Laurier—Sainte-Marie), seconded by Mr. Paquette (Joliette), moved the following subamendment, — That the amendment be amended by adding after the words “in the opposition” the following:

“and that the House recognize that the Speech from the Throne is unanimously decried in Quebec because it reflects a Conservative ideology that was rejected by 78 percent of the Quebec nation on October 14 and that as a result the House denounce the fact that it does not respond to the consensus in Quebec respecting, for instance, the legislation on young offenders, the repatriation to Quebec of powers over culture and communications, the elimination of the federal spending power and the maintenance of the existing system of securities regulation”.

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.

Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Hoeppner (Portage—Lisgar), seconded by Mr. Dechert (Mississauga—Erindale), in relation to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne;

And of the amendment of , seconded by ;

And of the subamendment of , seconded by .

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 Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S. 1985, c. C-13, sbs. 26(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-401-38-01. (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 — Report of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act, R.S. 1985, c. 47 (4th Supp.), s. 42. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-401-553-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

— by — Reports of the Department of Canadian Heritage 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. 8561-401-849-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by — Report of the Canadian Dairy Commission, together with the Auditor General's Report, for the dairy year ended July 31, 2008, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 150(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-401-90-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

— by — Report of the Canadian Dairy Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Alternative Fuels Act, S.C. 1995, c. 20, s. 8. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-401-699-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development)

— by — Reports of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency 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. 8561-401-855-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2008-2009 to 2012-2013 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets of the Canadian Dairy Commission for the dairy year ending July 31, 2009, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-401-836-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

— by — Biennial Report of the Cree-Naskapi Commission for the year 2008, pursuant to the Cree-Naskapi (of Quebec) Act, S.C. 1984, c. 18, sbs. 171(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-401-801-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development)

Adjournment

At 6:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).