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43rd PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals No. 84 Tuesday, April 20, 2021 10:00 a.m.

Prayer

Daily Routine Of Business

Presenting Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Serré (Nickel Belt) presented the report of the Canadian Section of ParlAmericas (CPAM), 12th Gathering of ParlAmericas Gender Equality Network, Virtual Sessions, September 23 and October 2, 2020. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-432-74-03.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Calkins (Red Deer—Lacombe), seconded by Mrs. Stubbs (Lakeland), Bill C-289, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing), 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 foreign affairs (No. 432-00828);

— by , two concerning health (Nos. 432-00829 and 432-00832), one concerning public safety (No. 432-00830), one concerning justice (No. 432-00831) and one concerning foreign affairs (No. 432-00833);

— by , one concerning justice (No. 432-00834) and one concerning foreign affairs (No. 432-00835);

— by , one concerning foreign affairs (No. 432-00836);

— by , two concerning justice (Nos. 432-00837 and 432-00839) and one concerning foreign affairs (No. 432-00838).

Ways and Means

The House resumed the adjourned debate on the motion of Ms. Freeland (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mrs. Fortier (Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance), — That this House approve in general the budgetary policy of the government. (Ways and Means No. 2)

The debate continued.

Mr. Fast (Abbotsford), seconded by Mr. Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable), moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“given that the budget:

(a) adds over half a trillion dollars in new debt that can only be paid through higher job-killing taxes;

(b) contains over $100 billion for a re-election fund while doing nothing to secure the long-term prosperity of Canadians; and

(c) fails to rule out the introduction of capital gains taxes on the principal residences of Canadians, currently being studied by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, as a way to pay for the government’s spending;

the House demand that the Liberal government’s budget be revised in order to focus on accelerating the vaccination plan to end the dangerous third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and policies that will create jobs and stimulate economic growth.“.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Blanchet (Beloeil—Chambly), seconded by Mr. Ste-Marie (Joliette), moved the following subamendment, — That the amendment be amended by deleting paragraphs (a) and (b) and substituting the following:

“(a) does not include any increase to the Canada health transfers;

(b) abandons seniors between the ages of 65 and 75; and”,

and by adding after the words “economic growth” the following:

“, support health care systems by increasing the Canada health transfers to 35% of health care costs and contribute to the quality of life of seniors aged 65 and over by increasing Old Age Security as of age 65 and dropping the age for the one-time payment of $500 for the summer of 2021 to age 65.”.

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.

Ways and Means

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Ms. Freeland (Minister of Finance), seconded by Mrs. Fortier (Minister of Middle Class Prosperity and Associate Minister of Finance); (Ways and Means No. 2)

And of the amendment of Mr. Fast (Abbotsford), seconded by Mr. Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable);

And of the subamendment of Mr. Blanchet (Beloeil—Chambly), seconded by Mr. Ste-Marie (Joliette).

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 5:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Aboultaif (Edmonton Manning), seconded by Mr. Soroka (Yellowhead), moved, — That:

(a) in the opinion of the House, the government should recognize that,

(i) replacing oil and gas with more environmentally sustainable options is not technologically or economically feasible,

(ii) Canada’s energy needs require the use of oil and gas to heat Canadian homes, schools and hospitals, to propel vehicles, to bring food to Canadian tables, and to produce electricity,

(iii) Canadian oil and natural gas are produced with the highest environmental standards in the world, and domestic producers are global environmental leaders and responsible corporate citizens,

(iv) using Canadian resources creates Canadian jobs,

(v) First Nations involved in Canada’s oil and gas industry experience significant and profound positive economic effects, including higher rates of employment, higher incomes, and improved health and educational attainments,

(vi) tax revenue from the fossil fuel industry is an important contributor to the national treasury, facilitating transfer payments benefitting all Canadians and allowing Canada to afford the social programs all Canadians depend on; and

(b) the House recognize that,

(i) Canada’s oil and gas industry from Western to Atlantic Canada is essential to the well-being of the nation and should be celebrated,

(ii) tax and regulatory barriers limiting the responsible growth of Canada’s oil and gas industry should be removed. (Private Members' Business M-61)

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.

Messages from the Senate

Messages were received from the Senate as follows:

— ORDERED: That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint it of the following:

That the Senate unites with the House of Commons to present an humble Address to Her Majesty the Queen expressing the Senate's condolences following the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and its hopes that the expression of the high esteem in which His Royal Highness was held may comfort Her Majesty and the members of the Royal Family in their bereavement.

— ORDERED: That a message be sent to the House of Commons to acquaint that house that the Senate has adopted the following motion:

That, pursuant to subsection 5(1) of An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), S.C. 2021, c.2, a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and the House of Commons be appointed to review the provisions of the Criminal Code relating to medical assistance in dying and their application, including but not limited to issues relating to mature minors, advance requests, mental illness, the state of palliative care in Canada and the protection of Canadians with disabilities;

That, pursuant to subsection 5(2) of the Act, five members of the Senate and ten members of the House of Commons be members of the committee, with two chairs of which the House Joint Chair shall be from the governing party and the Senate Joint Chair shall be determined pursuant to rule 12-13(1) of the Rules of the Senate;

That, in addition to the joint chairs, there be one deputy chair from the Senate and three vice-chairs from the House;

That the five senators to be members of the committee be named after consultations and agreement between the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the leader or facilitator of any other recognized party or recognized parliamentary group in the Senate, by means of a notice signed by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and the leader or facilitator of any other recognized party or recognized parliamentary group in the Senate, and filed with the Clerk of the Senate no later than the end of the day on April 23, 2021, with the names of the senators named as members being recorded in the Journals of the Senate;

That, pursuant to subsection 5(3) of the Act, the quorum of the committee be eight members whenever a vote, resolution or other decision is taken, so long as both Houses are represented and that one member of the governing party in the House, one member from the opposition in the House and one member of the Senate are present;

That the Joint Chairs be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence and authorize the publication thereof, whenever six members are present, so long as both Houses are represented and that one member of the governing party in the House, one member from the opposition in the House and one member of the Senate are present;

That, notwithstanding any provisions of the Rules, previous orders or usual practice, and taking into account the exceptional circumstances of the current pandemic of COVID-19, until the end of the day on June 23, 2021:

1. the committee be authorized to hold hybrid meetings or meetings entirely by videoconference;

2. such meetings be considered, for all purposes, to be meetings of the committee, and senators taking part in such meetings be considered, for all purposes, to be present at the meeting;

3. that for greater certainty, when the committee holds a hybrid meeting or meets entirely by videoconference:

(a) all members of the committee participating count towards quorum;

(b) such meetings be considered to be occurring in the parliamentary precinct; and

(c) the committee be directed to approach in camera meetings with all necessary precaution, taking account of the risks to confidentiality inherent in such technologies; and

4. subject to variations that may be required by the circumstances, to participate in a hybrid meeting or a meeting entirely by videoconference senators must:

(a) use a desktop or laptop computer and headphones with integrated microphone provided by one or the other house for videoconferences;

(b) not use other devices such as personal tablets or smartphones;

(d) have their video on and broadcasting their image at all times; and

(e) leave the videoconference if they leave their seat;

That the committee have the power to sit during sittings and adjournments of the Senate;

That the committee have the power to report from time to time, to send for persons, papers and records, and to publish such papers and evidence as may be ordered by the committee;

That the committee have the power to retain the services of expert, professional, technical and clerical staff, including legal counsel;

That the committee have the power to authorize video and audio broadcasting of any or all its proceedings and that public proceedings be made available to the public via the Parliament of Canada’s websites;

That, pursuant to subsection 5(5) of the Act, the committee submit a final report of its review, including a statement of any recommended changes, to Parliament no later than one year after the day on which it commenced the review; and

That, pursuant to subsection 5(6) of the Act, following the tabling of the final report in both Houses, the committee shall expire.

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 6:58 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).