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42nd PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals No. 147 Friday, February 24, 2017 10:00 a.m.

The Acting Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Rota (Nipissing—Timiskaming), Assistant Deputy Speaker and Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 8.

Prayer

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness), seconded by Mr. Carr (Minister of Natural Resources), — That Bill C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security;

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:

“the House decline to give second reading to Bill C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States, because it: (a) neglects to take into account the climate of uncertainty at the border following the discriminatory policies and executive orders of the Trump Administration; (b) does not address Canadians’ concerns about being interrogated, detained, and turned back at the border based on race, religion, travel history or birthplace as a result of policies that may contravene the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; (c) does nothing to ensure that Canadians’ right to privacy will be protected during searches of their online presence and electronic devices; and (d) violates Canadian sovereignty by increasing the powers of American preclearance officers on Canadian soil with respect to the carrying of firearms and by not properly defining a criminal liability framework.”.

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

Presenting Reports from Committees

Ms. Gladu (Sarnia—Lambton), from the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, presented the Sixth Report of the Committee (Bill C-309, An Act to establish Gender Equality Week, with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-421-154.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 48) was tabled.

Mr. Simms (Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame), from the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, presented the Sixth Report of the Committee, "Review of changes made in 2012 to the Fisheries Act: enhancing the protection of fish and fish habitat and the management of canadian fisheries". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-421-155.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 31 to 33 and 35 to 41) was tabled.

Mr. Simms (Coast of Bays—Central—Notre Dame), from the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, presented the Seventh Report of the Committee (Bill S-208, An Act respecting National Seal Products Day, without amendment). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-421-156.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 49) was tabled.

Ms. Mihychuk (Kildonan—St. Paul), from the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee, "Supplementary Estimates (C) 2016-17: Votes 1c and 10c under Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-421-157.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 47) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Saroya (Markham—Unionville), seconded by Mr. Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable), Bill C-338, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (punishment), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe), seconded by Mr. Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke), Bill C-339, An Act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act (death benefit), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by , one concerning ovarian cancer (No. 421-01171) and one concerning research and development (No. 421-01172);

— by , one concerning international development and aid (No. 421-01173);

— by , one concerning the protection of the environment (No. 421-01174) and one concerning housing policy (No. 421-01175);

— by , one concerning international development and aid (No. 421-01176).

Questions on the Order Paper

Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the supplementary returns to the following questions made into Orders for Return:

Q-604 — — With regard to the government’s planned legalization and regulation of marijuana, since November 4, 2015: (a) what are the details of any consultations or meetings which have been held with stakeholders, including (i) date, (ii) locations, (iii) attendees; (b) what are the details of any briefing notes or correspondence related to the meetings referred to in (a), including (i) title, (ii) date, (iii) sender, (iv) recipient, (v) subject matter, (vi) file number; (c) what is the content of any information provided to the Minister of Justice and her parliamentary secretaries by (i) the Department of Justice, (ii) the Department of Health, (iii) the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, (iv) the Department of Finance, (v) the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development; (d) has the Minister of Justice or her officials consulted other jurisdictions that have legalized marijuana; and (e) if the answer to (d) is in the affirmative, what are the details, including (i) jurisdictions consulted, (ii) findings for each consultation? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-604-01.

Q-612 — — With regard to consultation surveys posted on various government websites, broken down by individual survey: (a) what is the title and description of each survey; (b) what steps were taken to ensure that results were representative of the Canadian population as identified by Statistics Canada; (c) what controls are used to ensure that those responding to the survey are from Canada and not from another country; (d) what efforts have been made to prevent an individual from taking the same survey multiple times; (e) were any outside groups or organizations consulted in the development of any survey; (f) if the answer to (e) is affirmative, what are the names of all groups or organizations that were directly consulted in the development of the survey questions, broken down by survey; and (g) what is the total cost of each survey? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-612-01.

Q-633 — — With regard to credit cards issued to Ministers, Ministers of State and Parliamentary Secretaries: what expenses were charged to a government credit card, and not paid for by the government for the period of November 4, 2015, to September 23, 2016, including (i) the name of the vendor and the place of purchase, (ii) the date of the purchase, (iii) the value of the purchase, (iv) the due date of the statement, (v) the date on which the card holder provided reimbursement in full, (vi) the name of the card holder, (vii) the official job title of the card holder, (viii) the confirmation if that card holder is still an active holder of a government credit card? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-633-01.

Q-656 — — With regard to government sponsorship of the Open Dialogue Forum held in Ottawa on March 31, 2016, and April 1, 2016: (a) how much did the government spend to sponsor the event; (b) which government departments, agencies, or crown corporations sponsored the event; (c) which Ministers approved the sponsorships; and (d) what are the internal tracking or file numbers for the sponsorship contracts? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-656-01.

Q-670 — — With regard to travel taken by Ministers and their exempt staff to the constituencies of Kenora, Thunder Bay—Rainy River, Thunder Bay—Superior North, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Timmins—James Bay, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, Nickel Belt, Nipissing—Timiskaming, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Parry Sound—Muskoka, Mississauga—Malton between November 4, 2015, and November 30, 2016: (a) what are the details of all trips taken, including the (i) dates, (ii) amount spent, (iii) breakdown of expenses, (iv) details of any official meetings or government business conducted on the trips; and (b) what are the details of any briefing documents or dockets prepared in relation to the trips, including the (i) date, (ii) title or subject matter, (iii) department’s internal tracking number? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-670-01.

Q-675 — — With regard to briefing documents, memorandums or dockets prepared regarding a price on carbon or a carbon tax by any department, agency, Crown Corporation, or other government entity, since November 4, 2015: what is (i) the date, (ii) the title or subject matter, (iii) the department’s internal tracking number, (iv) the recipient? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-675-01.

Q-677 — — With regard to meetings between the government and the Cannabis Friendly Business Association, since November 4, 2015: what are the details of all meetings the government, including Ministers and their exempt staff Members, have had with the Association, including (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) attendees, (iv) topics discussed, (v) titles and file numbers of any related briefing notes or documents? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-677-01.

Q-679 — — With regard to government communications, for each announcement made by a minister or parliamentary secretary in the National Capital Region in a location other than the parliamentary precinct or the National Press Theatre, since November 4, 2015: (a) what was the (i) date, (ii) location, (iii) purpose or subject matter, (iv) name and portfolio of the minister or parliamentary secretary involved; and (b) what were the amounts and details of all expenses related to making each such announcement? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-679-01.

Q-681 — — With regard to private security expenditures by the government, broken down by department, agency, crown corporation, or other government entity, since November 4, 2015: what are the details of each such expenditure including (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) vendor, (iv) details of contract, including duration, (v) location where security was to be provided, (vi) whether the contract was competitive or sole-sourced? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-681-01.

Q-696 — — With regard to immigration to Canada, between November 4, 2015, and December 6, 2016: (a) how many economic class immigrants have been admitted to Canada; (b) how many family class immigrants have been admitted to Canada; (c) how many refugees have been admitted to Canada; (d) how many temporary student visas were issued and how many individuals were admitted to Canada on a temporary student visa; (e) how many temporary worker permits were issued and how many individuals were admitted to Canada on a temporary worker permit; (f) how many temporary visitor records were issued and how many individuals were admitted to Canada on a temporary visitor record; (g) how many temporary resident permits were issued; (h) how many temporary resident permits were approved by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; (i) for (a) to (h), what is the breakdown by source country by each class of migrant; (j) for applications for the categories enumerated in (a) to (h), how many individuals were found inadmissible under section 34 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (k) for applications for the categories enumerated in (a) to (h), how many individuals were found inadmissible under section 35 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (l) for applications for the categories enumerated in (a) to (h), how many individuals were found inadmissible under section 36 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; (m) for applications for the categories enumerated in (a) to (h), how many individuals were found inadmissible under section 37 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and (n) for applications for the categories enumerated in (a) to (h), how many individuals were found inadmissible under section 40 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-696-01.

Q-701 — — With regard to the government’s usage of collection agents, since November 4, 2015, and broken down by department, agency, and crown corporation: (a) how much has been spent on collection agents or agencies, including fees, commissions, salaries, recovery costs, and other expenses; (b) how many debts have been assigned to collection agents or agencies; (c) how many of the debts referred to in (b) have since been recovered in full; (d) how many of the debts referred to in (b) were (i) personal, (ii) corporate; (e) what is the total value of debts assigned to collection agents or agencies; (f) what is the total value of debts fully recovered to date by collection agents; and (g) what are the policies in place regarding fee structures paid to collection agents or agencies? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-701-01.

Q-703 — — With regard to materials prepared for ministerial exempt staff since November 4, 2015: for every briefing document, memorandum or docket prepared, what is (i) the date, (ii) the title or subject matter, (iii) the department’s internal tracking number, (iv) the recipient? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-421-703-01.

Government Orders

And of the amendment of , seconded by .

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Serré (Nickel Belt), seconded by Mr. Nault (Kenora), moved, — That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: (a) recognize that seniors, namely Canadians aged 65 or older, make up a demographic that requires ongoing attention from the government as the proportion of seniors relative to the Canadian population continues to grow (15% in 2015, 25% by 2035); (b) point out that it is working hard to help improve the lives of seniors, from restoring the age of eligibility for Old Age Security, to increasing the guaranteed income supplement for single seniors, to increasing benefits for couples living apart for reasons beyond their control and supporting affordable housing for seniors; (c) ask the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to study and report back to the House on important issues such as increasing income security for vulnerable seniors and ensuring quality of life and equality for all seniors via the development of a National Seniors Strategy; and (d) broaden the mandate of the National Seniors Council to allow it to undertake reviews and analysis on their own initiative and allow for a better representation of the diversity of experience and expertise on seniors, as well as to encourage it, following the study by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities referred to in (c), to provide advice on implementing a National Seniors’ Strategy. (Private Members' Business M-106)

Notices of Motions

Ms. Chagger (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) gave notice of the intention to move a motion at the next sitting of the House, pursuant to Standing Order 78(3), for the purpose of allotting a specified number of days or hours for the consideration and disposal of the second reading of Bill C-23, An Act respecting the preclearance of persons and goods in Canada and the United States.

Private Members' Business

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Serré (Nickel Belt), seconded by Mr. Nault (Kenora). (Private Members' Business M-106)

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 Acting Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Acting Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

— by — Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the Fourth Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, "Development Cooperation for a More Stable, Inclusive and Prosperous World: A Collective Ambition" (Sessional Paper No. 8510-421-106), presented to the House on Thursday, November 3, 2016. — Sessional Paper No. 8512-421-106.

— by — Orders in Council approving certain appointments made by the Governor General in Council, pursuant to Standing Order 110(1), as follows:

— P.C. 2017-61 and P.C. 2017-62. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-421-2-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

— P.C. 2017-8, P.C. 2017-9, P.C. 2017-93 and P.C. 2017-94. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-421-3-15. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage)

— P.C. 2017-67 and P.C. 2017-68. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-421-8-04. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development)

— P.C. 2017-11, P.C. 2017-12, P.C. 2017-13, P.C. 2017-14, P.C. 2017-15, P.C. 2017-16, P.C. 2017-17, P.C. 2017-18, P.C. 2017-19, P.C. 2017-20, P.C. 2017-21, P.C. 2017-22, P.C. 2017-23, P.C. 2017-24, P.C. 2017-25, P.C. 2017-26, P.C. 2017-27, P.C. 2017-28, P.C. 2017-29, P.C. 2017-30, P.C. 2017-31, P.C. 2017-32, P.C. 2017-33, P.C. 2017-34, P.C. 2017-35, P.C. 2017-36, P.C. 2017-37, P.C. 2017-38, P.C. 2017-39, P.C. 2017-40, P.C. 2017-41, P.C. 2017-42, P.C. 2017-43, P.C. 2017-44, P.C. 2017-45, P.C. 2017-46, P.C. 2017-47, P.C. 2017-48, P.C. 2017-49, P.C. 2017-50, P.C. 2017-51, P.C. 2017-52, P.C. 2017-53, P.C. 2017-54, P.C. 2017-55, P.C. 2017-56, P.C. 2017-57, P.C. 2017-58, P.C. 2017-59, P.C. 2017-63, P.C. 2017-64, P.C. 2017-65, P.C. 2017-66, P.C. 2017-69 and P.C. 2017-70. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-421-13-06. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

Adjournment

At 2:30 p.m., the Assistant Deputy Speaker adjourned the House until Monday, March 6, 2017, at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).