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

41st PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals No. 2 Thursday, October 17, 2013 10:00 a.m.

Prayers

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents

laid upon the Table, — Report of the Information Commissioner for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, pursuant to the Access to Information Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1, s. 38. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-412-734-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics)

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— Nos. 411-3763, 411-3792, 411-3868, 411-3964, 411-4014 to 411-4016, 411-4163, 411-4248 and 411-4255 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-1-01;

— Nos. 411-3766, 411-3890, 411-3965, 411-4017, 411-4143 and 411-4270 concerning the protection of the environment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-2-01;

— Nos. 411-3769 and 411-3853 concerning telecommunications. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-3-01;

— Nos. 411-3775, 411-3909, 411-3934, 411-4000 and 411-4103 concerning genetic engineering. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-4-01;

— No. 411-3786 concerning the Copyright Act. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-5-01;

— Nos. 411-3787, 411-3960, 411-4067 and 411-4189 to 411-4192 concerning the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-6-01;

— Nos. 411-3793, 411-3794, 411-3823, 411-3963, 411-4121 to 411-4127 and 411-4219 to 411-4221 concerning health care services. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-7-01;

— No. 411-3826 concerning the seal industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-8-01;

— Nos. 411-3859, 411-4012, 411-4024, 411-4027, 411-4082, 411-4088, 411-4089, 411-4235 and 411-4282 concerning environmental assessment and review. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-9-01;

— No. 411-3863 concerning the federal public service. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-10-01;

— Nos. 411-3865 to 411-3867, 411-3870, 411-3914, 411-4023, 411-4118, 411-4213 and 411-4254 concerning the fishing industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-11-01;

— Nos. 411-3869 and 411-3894 concerning the electoral system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-12-01;

— Nos. 411-3872, 411-3989, 411-4011 and 411-4154 concerning the democratic process. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-13-01;

— Nos. 411-3883, 411-4135 and 411-4211 concerning the income tax system. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-14-01;

— No. 411-3885 concerning immigration. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-15-01;

— Nos. 411-3886 and 411-4181 concerning bullying. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-16-01;

— Nos. 411-3896, 411-3897, 411-3938 to 411-3959, 411-4032, 411-4064, 411-4065, 411-4074 to 411-4078, 411-4093, 411-4136, 411-4156, 411-4157, 411-4196, 411-4197, 411-4256, 411-4258, 411-4279 and 411-4280 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-17-01;

— No. 411-3900 concerning the Canadian International Development Agency. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-18-01;

— Nos. 411-3901, 411-4155 and 411-4158 concerning China. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-19-01;

— Nos. 411-3917, 411-4019, 411-4068, 411-4099 and 411-4100 concerning world peace. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-20-01;

— Nos. 411-3919, 411-3990, 411-4087, 411-4236 and 411-4283 concerning international agreements. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-21-01;

— Nos. 411-3935 and 411-4194 concerning funding aid. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-22-01;

— Nos. 411-3937, 411-3968 and 411-4206 concerning the National Capital Commission. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-23-01;

— Nos. 411-3961, 411-4029, 411-4030, 411-4048, 411-4072, 411-4278 and 411-4288 concerning navigable waters. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-24-01;

— No. 411-3962 concerning poverty. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-25-01;

— No. 411-3967 concerning access to information. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-26-01;

— Nos. 411-3987, 411-4042, 411-4057 to 411-4061, 411-4085, 411-4086, 411-4109 to 411-4111, 411-4134 and 411-4233 concerning the Employment Insurance Program. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-27-01;

— Nos. 411-3988, 411-4070 and 411-4107 concerning the mining industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-28-01;

— Nos. 411-3991, 411-3996, 411-4112 to 411-4114, 411-4139, 411-4148 to 411-4150, 411-4180, 411-4182, 411-4198, 411-4218 and 411-4260 concerning landmines. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-29-01;

— No. 411-3998 concerning Burma. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-30-01;

— Nos. 411-3999, 411-4034, 411-4096, 411-4264 and 411-4266 concerning Old Age Security benefits. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-31-01;

— Nos. 411-4004 to 411-4010, 411-4080, 411-4084, 411-4130 to 411-4132, 411-4147 and 411-4151 to 411-4153 concerning budget measures. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-32-01;

— Nos. 411-4013, 411-4028, 411-4120 and 411-4284 concerning certain diseases. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-33-01;

— Nos. 411-4021, 411-4025, 411-4026, 411-4038, 411-4043, 411-4108, 411-4140 to 411-4142, 411-4179, 411-4184 and 411-4249 concerning foreign aid. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-34-01;

— Nos. 411-4031, 411-4044, 411-4047 and 411-4269 concerning transportation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-35-01;

— Nos. 411-4062 and 411-4277 concerning human rights in the Americas. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-36-01;

— Nos. 411-4063, 411-4069, 411-4079, 411-4098, 411-4162, 411-4232, 411-4234, 411-4285 and 411-4289 concerning national parks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-37-01;

— No. 411-4116 concerning banks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-38-01;

— Nos. 411-4128, 411-4129 and 411-4174 concerning the situation in Venezuela. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-39-01;

— No. 411-4144 concerning Bangladesh. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-40-01;

— No. 411-4146 concerning childhood development programs. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-41-01;

— No. 411-4173 concerning hazardous products. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-42-01;

— Nos. 411-4175 and 411-4193 concerning gasoline prices. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-43-01;

— Nos. 411-4183, 411-4207 and 411-4246 concerning asbestos. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-44-01;

— Nos. 411-4227 and 411-4263 concerning the Canada Pension Plan. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-45-01;

— Nos. 411-4259, 411-4261 and 411-4262 concerning sex selection. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-46-01;

— No. 411-4265 concerning prostitution. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-47-01;

— No. 411-4267 concerning cruelty to animals. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-48-01;

— No. 411-4268 concerning the agricultural industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-49-01;

— Nos. 411-4271 and 411-4286 concerning climate change. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-50-01;

— No. 411-4276 concerning petitions in the House of Commons. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-51-01;

— No. 411-4281 concerning the fur industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-412-52-01.

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Ambrose (Minister of Health), seconded by Mr. Duncan (Minister of State), Bill C-2, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, when Government Motion No. 1 is called, no Member shall speak for more than 10 minutes, with no question and comment period, provided that Members may divide their time with another Member; the Speaker shall not receive any amendments; and when no Member rises to speak or after 40 minutes of debate, whichever is earlier, the motion shall be deemed adopted on division.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, Statements by Ministers shall be taken up following Question Period today.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs be the committee designated for the purposes of section 20.1 of the Enhanced New Veterans Charter Act.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by , one concerning genetic engineering (No. 412-0002);

— by , one concerning the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (No. 412-0003);

— by , one concerning the protection of the environment (No. 412-0004).

Government Orders

Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) for Mr. Harper (Prime Minister), seconded by Mrs. Glover (Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages), moved, — That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty the Queen in the following words:

TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:

MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGN:

We, Your Majesty's loyal and dutiful subjects, the Commons of Canada in Parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our congratulations to Your Majesty on the birth of a Prince, a son to Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and assuring Your Majesty that this happy event affords the greatest joy and satisfaction to Your faithful Members of the House of Commons of Canada.

That the said Address be engrossed;

That a Message be sent to the Senate informing their Honours that this House has adopted the said Address and requesting their Honours to unite with this House in the said Address by filling up the blanks with the words “the Senate and”; and

That a Message of congratulations be sent by the Speaker, on behalf of this House, to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon the joyful occasion of the birth of a son to Their Royal Highnesses. (Government Business No. 1)

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Order made earlier today, the motion was deemed adopted on division.

Mr. Sorenson (Minister of State (Finance)) for Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mrs. Yelich (Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular)), moved, — That this House take note of the Canadian economy, and

(a) recognize that Canadians' top priority remains economic growth and job creation; and

(b) commend the government's economic record which includes the creation of more than one million net new jobs since July 2009, a banking system recognized as the safest and soundest in the world for the past six years, and the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio among G7 countries. (Government Business No. 3)

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Mulcair (Leader of the Opposition), seconded by Ms. Nash (Parkdale—High Park), moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after “job creation; and” and substituting the following:

“(b) condemn the Conservatives' economic record, which has resulted in over 1.3 million unemployed Canadians, drastic cuts to Employment Insurance, growing inequality and the dowloading of billions of dollars of costs to individuals and other levels of government; and

(c) call on the government to introduce a real plan to create high-quality jobs and combat stagnating wages, provide tax incentives targeted to hire young Canadians, improve retirement security through increased Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan benefits, and reduce credit card fees charged to small businesses and Canadian families.”.

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.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Paradis (Minister of International Development) made a statement.

Question of Privilege

A question of privilege having been raised by Mr. Scott (Toronto—Danforth), the Speaker ruled that there was a prima facie case of privilege;

Whereupon, , seconded by , moved, — That the matter of the question of privilege related to the dispute between Elections Canada and the Member for Selkirk-Interlake be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

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

Statement by the Speaker

The Speaker ruled on Government Business No. 2 and directed that (i) section (a) of Government Business No. 2, pertaining to the reinstatement of bills introduced by Ministers of the Crown in the previous Session, and (ii) all other sections of Government Business No. 2, be grouped for debate and voted on separately.

Government Orders

Mr. Van Loan (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded by Mr. Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), moved, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, for the purposes of facilitating and organizing the business of the House and its committees in the autumn of 2013,

(a) during the thirty sitting days following the adoption of this Order, whenever a Minister of the Crown, when proposing a motion for first reading of a public bill, states that the said bill is in the same form as a bill introduced by a Minister of the Crown in the previous Session, or that it is in the same form as a bill which had originated in the Senate and stood in the name of a Minister of the Crown in this House in the previous Session, if the Speaker is satisfied that the said bill is in the same form as at prorogation, notwithstanding Standing Order 71, the said bill shall be deemed in the current Session to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation of the previous Session;

(b) in order to bring full transparency and accountability to House of Commons spending, the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be instructed to: (i) conduct open and public hearings with a view to replace the Board of Internal Economy with an independent oversight body, (ii) invite the Auditor General, the Clerk and the Chief Financial Officer of the House of Commons to participate fully in these hearings, (iii) study the practices of provincial and territorial legislatures, as well as other jurisdictions and Westminster-style Parliaments in order to compare and contrast their administrative oversight, (iv) propose modifications to the Parliament of Canada Act, the Financial Administration Act, the Auditor General Act and any other acts as deemed necessary, (v) propose any necessary modifications to the administrative policies and practices of the House of Commons, (vi) examine the subject-matter of the motions, which had stood in the name of the Member for Papineau, placed on the Order Paper for the previous Session on June 10, 2013, and (vii) report its findings to the House no later than Monday, December 2, 2013, in order to have any proposed changes to expense disclosure and reporting in place for the beginning of the next fiscal year;

(c) when the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs meets pursuant to the order of reference set out in paragraph (b) of this Order, one Member who is not a member of a recognized party be allowed to participate in the hearings as a temporary, non-voting member of that Committee;

(d) the Clerk be authorized, if necessary, to convene a meeting of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs within 24 hours of the adoption of this Order;

(e) the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be instructed to study the Standing Orders and procedures of the House and its committees, including the proceedings on the debate held on Friday, February 17, 2012, pursuant to Standing Order 51;

(f) the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights be the committee designated for the purposes of section 533.1 of the Criminal Code;

(g) the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics be the committee designated for the purposes of section 67 of the Conflict of Interest Act;

(h) the order of reference to the Standing Committee on Finance, adopted in the previous Session as Private Member’s Motion M-315, shall be renewed, provided that the Committee shall report its findings to the House no later than Wednesday, December 11, 2013;

(i) a special committee be appointed, with the mandate to conduct hearings on the critical matter of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada, and to propose solutions to address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women across the country, and that, with respect to the committee, (i) it consist of twelve members which shall include seven members from the government party, four members from the Official Opposition and one member from the Liberal Party, (ii) the Chair and the Vice-Chairs shall be the same Chair and Vice-Chairs elected by the previous Session’s Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women, (iii) the routine motions respecting committee business adopted on March 26 and April 18, 2013, by the previous Session’s Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women shall be deemed adopted, provided that it may, by motion, vary or rescind their provisions at a later date, (iv) it have all of the powers of a Standing Committee as provided in the Standing Orders, as well as the power to travel, accompanied by the necessary staff, inside and outside of Canada, subject to the usual authorization from the House, (v) the members serving on the said committee be appointed by the Whip of each party depositing with the Clerk of the House a list of his or her party’s members of the committee within ten sitting days of the adoption of this Order, (vi) the quorum be seven members for any proceedings, provided that at least a member of the opposition and of the government party be present, (vii) membership substitutions be permitted to be made from time to time, if required, in the manner provided for in Standing Order 114(2), and (viii) it report its recommendations to the House no later than February 14, 2014;

(j) with respect to any order of reference created as a consequence of this Order, any evidence adduced by a committee in the previous Session shall be deemed to have been laid upon the Table in the present Session and referred to the appropriate committee;

(k) the reference to “September 30” in Standing Order 28(2)(b) shall be deemed, for the calendar year 2013, to read “November 8”;

(l) the reference to “the tenth sitting day before the last normal sitting day in December” in Standing Order 83.1 shall be deemed, for the calendar year 2013, to read “Wednesday, December 11, 2013”; and

(m) on Thursday, October 31, 2013, the hours of sitting and order of business of the House shall be that of a Friday, provided that (i) the time for filing of any notice be no later than 6:00 p.m., (ii) when the House adjourns it shall stand adjourned until Monday, November 4, 2013, and (iii) any recorded division in respect of a debatable motion requested on, or deferred to, October 31, 2013, shall be deemed to be deferred or further deferred, as the case may be, to the ordinary hour of daily adjournment on November 4, 2013. (Government Business No. 2)

Debate arose thereon.

Private Members' Business

At 5:39 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Wallace (Burlington), seconded by Mr. Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country), moved, — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should continue to: (a) recognize the long-term health risks and costs of obesity in Canada; (b) support, promote and fund organizations and individuals who are involved in the physical well-being of Canadians; and (c) make the reduction of obesity of Canadians a public health priority. (Private Members' Business M-425)

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.

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 — Amendments to the By-laws adopted by the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons on September 16, 2013, pursuant to the Parliament of Canada Act, R.S. 1985, c. P-1, sbs. 52.5(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8527-412-3.

— by — Reports of the Immigration and Refugee Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 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. 8561-412-548-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by — Reports of Citizenship and Immigration Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 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. 8561-412-585-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by — Reports of the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 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. 8561-412-954-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by — Report on transportation in Canada for the year 2012, pursuant to the Canada Transportation Act, S.C. 1996, c. 10, sbs. 52(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-412-79-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)

— by — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2012-2013 to 2016-2017 and of the Capital and Operating Budgets for 2012-2013 of the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-412-822-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)

— by — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2013-2017 and the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2013 of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-412-843-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)

— by — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2013-2017 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2013 of the Pacific Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-412-845-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)

— by — Reports of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013, 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. 8561-412-671-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

Adjournment

At 6:39 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).