CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 126 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 22, 2007 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 7747 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 22, 2007 The House met at 10 a.m. COMPETITION ACT Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-414, An Act to amend the Competition Prayers Act and the Food and Drugs Act (child protection against advertising exploitation). ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS He said: Mr. Speaker, I introduce today a bill to amend the Competition Act and the Food and Drugs Act to provide child (1005) Ï protection against advertising exploitation. [Translation] FIRST NATIONS WATER MANAGEMENT What we see with children is an overload of commercials and Hon. Jim Prentice (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern advertising. Essentially, the bill would ban commercial advertising Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status or promotion of products such as fast foods, drugs, cosmetics, and Indians, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I devices aimed at children younger than 13. have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the Plan of Action for Drinking Water in First Nations Communities— The average Canadian child sees 350,000 commercials before Progress Report March 22, 2007. graduating from high school. That is an astonishing number. This type of bill has already been in place in Quebec. We have found that *** the bill in Quebec has led to 3.5 million to 8.1 million fewer fast COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE food meals being consumed by Quebec residents. ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PRIVACY AND ETHICS [Translation] Hon. Rob Nicholson (Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing This worked in Quebec to reduce junk food consumption. I hope Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the the House will support this bill. Government of Canada responses to the recommendations in the second report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Privacy and Ethics. *** *** [English] [English] GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of CANADA LABOUR CODE the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Mr. Mario Silva (Davenport, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Bill C-415, An Act to amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement government's response to three petitions. workers). *** He said: Mr. Speaker, after months of consultation with labour CRIMINAL CODE groups, I am pleased to stand today to introduce my private Hon. Rob Nicholson (Minister of Justice and Attorney member's bill, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code. The General of Canada, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill purpose of my bill is to ban replacement workers. C-48, An Act to amend the Criminal Code in order to implement the United Nations Convention against Corruption. My bill would prevent federally regulated employers from (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) employing replacement workers during strikes and lockouts. 7748 COMMONS DEBATES March 22, 2007 Routine Proceedings Furthermore, my bill would ensure clarity and protect essential That is exactly what Bill C-293 is all about. I am hoping for services for Canadians during labour disruptions because, in many support from all sides of the House, not only in debate tonight but on instances, the nature of the services provided by federally regulated the subsequent vote. workers are essential to protect the health and safety of Canadians. BANKRUPTCY It is our responsibility to protect the interests of all Canadians and it is important to have the words “essential services” in any bill Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I banning replacement workers. am pleased to table four petitions today on behalf of the hard- working families of Hamilton Mountain. I have been, and will continue to be, a strong advocate for Canadian workers and their rights. I encourage all members to These families are increasingly recognizing the existence of a support the bill. prosperity gap in Canada. They do not feel that they are benefiting from the economic growth they keep hearing about. Of course, they As members of the House and my constituency know, from my are right as we know and the numbers are backing them up. Not only time as a Toronto city councillor I have worked tirelessly for a fair is there a growing gap between the right and the poor but there is wage policy. During my time in Ottawa, I have demonstrated my also an alarming erosion of economic security for middle class belief that elected officials have an— families. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Ï (1010) To that end, hard-working families have talked to me about the over 200 commercial bankruptcies that are happening every week in The Speaker: I remind hon. members that the purpose of Canada, for a total of more than 10,000 bankruptcies a year. We allowing members to make a statement is to give a brief explanation know that this has a huge impact in Hamilton. as to the purpose of the bill. Many of these bankruptcies leave behind employees who are Hon. Gerry Byrne: He did that. owed back wages, benefits and pension contributions. It is estimated The Speaker: Yes he did and then I cut him off because he was that as much as $1.5 billion per year is left owing in back wages and going on a little long. benefits to employees. The brief summary is the important thing. We are always glad to These people have worked hard all their lives. They have played hear that, but we do not need to have a second reading speech at first by the rules and all they want from their government is a little bit of reading. It is not permitted. fairness. [Translation] To that end, the petitioners are calling upon Parliament to ensure expeditious passage of my bill, Bill C-270, which would ensure that workers would be first in line in the case of a commercial *** bankruptcy. [English] Ï (1015) PETITIONS EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Hon. John McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood, Lib.): Mr. my next petition again is on behalf of these same hard-working Speaker, as you may or may not know, my private member's bill families. We know that a decade after the major reforms to the will be the final hour of debate tonight. It is a bill with respect to employment insurance program were enacted, it is even more official development assistance. It is to take into account the difficult now to qualify and the benefits are less generous. alleviation of poverty for other citizens of this world, take into account the perspectives of the poor, and to meet our human rights EI has been repeatedly cut since its high point in the mid-1970s, obligations. most recently in the early 1990s, and today only about 4 out of every 10 unemployed workers collect regular EI benefits, down from 80% This bill has enjoyed wide support on both sides of the House. It in 1990. was at one time, in fact, supported by the Prime Minister. Over the course of this morning, 10,000 names will be deposited The NDP has introduced eight bills that target more than 12 on the floor of this House in support of this bill and other matters. elements of the EI Act, including the removal of the waiting period, the 66% benefit rate as well as the length of the benefit period. In the petition that I am tabling, the petitioners request that Parliament enact legislation to ensure that all Canadian development To that end, hard-working families in Hamilton are asking this assistance contributes to poverty reduction, takes into account the House to enact the legislation introduced by the NDP and reform the perspectives of the poor, and is consistent with Canada's human EI program, so that it will properly support working Canadians who rights obligations. are out of work. March 22, 2007 COMMONS DEBATES 7749 Routine Proceedings HOUSING Dame de Stanbridge, Mansonville, Northon, West Brome, Pike Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, River, Clarenceville, Stanbridge East, Frelighsburg, Saint-Armand my third petition, again on behalf of families in Hamilton Mountain, and Bedford. addresses the housing bill of rights that was introduced by the NDP It is clear that people in communities throughout the riding are in this House. concerned about this. We know that there are approximately 150,000 homeless people [English] in Canada and that does not include the many people in my JUSTICE community who are living in substandard, overcrowded and temporary housing. Mr. Rob Merrifield (Yellowhead, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a significant number of residents in my riding, I am presenting a Canada is now one of only two developed countries— petition to the House based on a terrible incident that happened, a The Speaker: Order, please. The hon. member seems to be brutal murder of a young man, Shane Rolston, who was brutally making speeches about each petition. I would urge her to give a attacked by five young individuals at a house party.