House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 001 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, December 3, 2015 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 1 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, December 3, 2015 [Translation] ELECTION OF SPEAKER FIRST SESSION—42ND PARLIAMENT The Presiding Officer (Mr. Louis Plamondon): Colleagues, this Ï (1310) is the third time that I have had the honour of taking the chair and I must confess that I am really beginning to enjoy it. Considering the [English] welcome you have just given me, I should have run for the position The 41st Parliament having been dissolved by proclamation on of Speaker, for goodness' sake. August 2, 2015, and writs having been issued and returned, a new Parliament was summoned to meet for the dispatch of business on From this prestigious chair, I would like to take a moment before Thursday, December 3, 2015, and did accordingly meet on that day. we begin the official ceremony and thank my constituents in the riding of Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, who have given me my tenth Thursday, December 3, 2015 consecutive term. I have been in this House for 31 years now. As I have said on many occasions, I am proud that I have had the best job This being the day on which Parliament was convoked by in the world for 31 years. proclamation of His Excellency the Governor General of Canada for the dispatch of business, and the members of the House being I would also like to acknowledge my family, my partner Manon, assembled: as well as my children, Lucie, Catherine and Steve, my partner's son, who have always supported my political career. In fact, one of my Marc Bosc, Acting Clerk of the House of Commons, read to the daughters is here today. House a letter from the Secretary to the Governor General informing him that the Deputy Governor General would proceed to the Senate I also want to congratulate each and every one of you, as well as chamber today at 1 p.m. to open the first session of the 42nd those running for the position of Speaker. You have all contributed to Parliament of Canada on the afternoon of Thursday, December 3, the development of our democracy, one of the most envied 2015, at Ottawa. democracies in the world. A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as We will now proceed to the election of the Speaker. Most of the follows: ceremony will take place in French, which will allow you the Honourable members of the House of Commons: opportunity to appreciate the work of the House of Commons It is the desire of the Right Honourable the Deputy to His Excellency the interpreters. Even if I were to proceed in English, you would still Governor General of Canada that this honourable House attend her immediately in need interpretation, so I will speak only briefly in English. the chamber of the Senate. The list of members who have withdrawn or who are ineligible as Accordingly, the House went up to the Senate chamber, where the candidates has been placed on each member's desk and is available at Speaker of the Senate said: the table. Honourable Members of the Senate, Members of the House of Commons, I have it in command to let you know that His Excellency the Governor General [English] of Canada does not see fit to declare the causes of his summoning the present Parliament of Canada until a Speaker of the House of Commons shall have been The list of candidates has been placed on each member's desk and chosen, according to law; but tomorrow, Friday, December 4, at 3:00 in the is also available at the table. afternoon, His Excellency will declare the causes of his calling this Parliament. [Translation] Ï (1335) [English] Before we continue, I would invite those members whose names are on the ballot and who do not wish to be considered for election to And the House being returned to the Commons chamber: kindly rise and inform the Chair accordingly. The Acting Clerk of the House: Honourable members, pursuant [English] to Standing Order 3, I invite Mr. Louis Plamondon, member for the electoral district of Bécancour—Nicolet—Saurel, to take the chair as Pursuant to Standing Order 3.1, the House must proceed to the the member presiding over the election of the Speaker. speeches of candidates for Speaker. 2 COMMONS DEBATES December 3, 2015 Election of Speaker [Translation] Here at home, we also need to think about making our work more accessible to Canadians. For example, perhaps our committees might Notwithstanding any Standing Order, any procedure or any consider holding meetings in various parts of the country, whether it practice adopted by this House, and to help the newly elected be in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal or Moncton. That members identify the candidates for the office of Speaker, I will would allow us to better connect with Canadians. recognize in alphabetical order each candidate by name and electoral district. Who am I to request the honour of becoming your Speaker? I have [English] been the member of Parliament for Brome-Missisquoi for 11 years. I was the minister for financial institutions and La Francophonie and When the last candidate to address the House completes his or her the minister of state for Latin America and Africa. speech, I will leave the chair for 30 minutes, after which members [English] will proceed to the election of the Speaker. [Translation] It was as a member of Parliament that I created an MP-to-MP student exchange summer work program. This co-operation among I will now call upon Denis Paradis, the hon. member for Brome— parliamentarians provided thousands of students with the opportu- Missisquoi, to address the House for not more than five minutes. nity to live and work in a different region of the country while Hon. Denis Paradis (Brome–Missisquoi, Lib.): My dear learning the other official language. colleagues, first of all I would like to congratulate all new and Why not once again see an MP from Gaspésie, for example, returning MPs. I would also like to thank the House of Commons exchange 10 students with an MP from Calgary? staff for the helpful orientation sessions. I am also a lawyer, and I was a president of the Quebec Bar I applaud the diversity of Canada's House of Commons. All of us association. I have always worked in Canada, and abroad, to uphold are here to voice our constituents' needs and concerns in this place. the values of democracy, human rights, and good governance. We must now continue to be passionate in our debates while being very respectful. [Translation] [English] I also co-wrote the rules of procedure for Quebec's administrative tribunals. The position of Speaker is based on three pillars. I will call the first pillar procedure and decorum. Canadians have entrusted each [English] person in this chamber, opposition and government, with the responsibility to work together to find the best way for our nation to I have always been in business. I also co-founded a law firm meet the challenges we face. However, we can only do this specializing in agricultural law, and I started a vineyard, which is effectively if we conduct our work with fundamental respect for one now the second largest in Quebec. another. In closing, the Speaker is many things: our referee, our Maintaining essential decorum will be a critical role for the next ambassador to other parliaments, and the protector of our rights Speaker. Canadians have been disappointed that question period and privileges. My door will always be open to all members. Inside, remains just that, question period. They expect a question and they will find a Speaker with an open mind and an open heart. answer period. [Translation] The second pillar is the administration of the House and its We are a big family. I want to forge the necessary ties of friendship services. The House has an annual budget of over $400 million. It is among us. I said friendship, not necessarily love. Do not worry. I will important to have someone with skills and experience to administer still continue to refer to all of you as “honourable members”. I would the House. like to preside over a Parliament in which all members work together in harmony. We also face increased security concerns in the House. Our mission is to protect the security of Parliament while at the same I want to tell you how proud I am to sit here in the House with all time allowing Canadians to continue to have access to Parliament. It of you. I ask you to support my bid. is their House. [English] We also face another very important challenge, the family The Presiding Officer (Mr. Louis Plamondon): I will now call challenge. MPs are younger, and so are their families. After all, upon Yasmin Ratansi, the hon. member for Don Valley East, to we are in 2015. This must be addressed. address the House for not more than five minutes. Ï (1340) Ï (1345) [Translation] [Translation] The third pillar is parliamentary diplomacy. Canada wants to have Ms. Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East, Lib.): Dear colleagues, a stronger voice on the international stage. We need to do more, both my name is Yasmin Ratansi, and I would like to have the honour of within Canada and abroad. We, as parliamentarians, need to become serving as the Speaker of the House of Commons.