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Core 1..140 Hansard (PRISM::Advent3b2 9.00) CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 141 Ï NUMBER 111 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, February 15, 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 6853 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, February 15, 2007 The House met at 10 a.m. She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce an act to amend the Holidays Act. This private member's bill seeks to declare February 15, Flag Day, a national statutory holiday. Prayers I think we should be celebrating the birthday of Canada's first very own flag that was first flown over Parliament Hill on February 15, 1965. What better way to celebrate than to declare Flag Day a ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS national statutory holiday. Ï (1005) February is one of the few months of the year that does not have a [English] national statutory holiday, something I hope to change with my Flag Day bill. Canada does not have a single day off between New Year's COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Day and Easter. Many comparable industrialized nations enjoy more FINANCE holidays year than we do. Hard-working Canadians need a mid- winter break. I think it is time we celebrated this special day with a Mr. Brian Pallister (Portage—Lisgar, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is national holiday. with mixed emotions, both honour and some regret, that I present today, in both official languages, two reports, the first being the 11th (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-253, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deductibility of RESP *** contributions). EXCISE TAX ACT This report was made necessary by the need to delay the Mr. James Lunney (Nanaimo—Alberni, CPC) moved for leave consideration of Bill C-253 and we are asking for an extension to do to introduce Bill C-404, An Act to amend the Excise Tax Act so because of all the urgent business, such as income trust (natural health products). discussions, that has been before the finance committee over the last number of weeks. He said: Mr. Speaker, this bill is a very short bill. It simply would [Translation] provide an exemption from the GST for natural health products, as defined in the regulations. Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Finance, I would just note that a survey from March 2005 indicated that relating to Bill C-305. 71% of Canadians have used NHPs, 77% of Canadians believe [English] NHPs can be used to promote health and 58% believe they can even be used to treat illness. The report deals with the exemption from taxation, 50% of United States social security payments to Canadians residents. Again, this The bill would simply help people who are promoting their own report was made necessary because of the ongoing incredible health by taking vitamins and using nutritional products. workload of the finance committee and the need for us to have an extension to deal with this until a later date. I note that the new food guide includes a recommendation of The Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(3)(a), two motions vitamin D to help with bone metabolism and calcium absorption. to concur in these two reports are deemed moved, the questions Vitamin D will even help in the mitigation of multiple sclerosis. deemed put and the recorded divisions deemed demanded and Folic acid is well-known for reducing the risk of cardiovascular deferred until Wednesday, February 21, immediately before the time disease. A simple supplement like chromium can help with blood provided for private members' business. sugar metabolism. HOLIDAYS ACT The bill would help Canadians, who are investing in their own Ms. Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP) moved for leave health, to accomplish that objective and would probably help the to introduce Bill C-403, An Act to amend the Holidays Act (Flag government accomplish its objective of reducing wait times because Day). people who are healthy will not be in the wait lines. 6854 COMMONS DEBATES February 15, 2007 Business of Supply I hope all members will find this an interesting bill and support CRIMINAL CODE this project to help all Canadians live a healthier life. Mrs. Patricia Davidson (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC): Mr. Speak- (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) er, it is my privilege today to present two petitions to the House. *** The first petition is from constituents in Sarnia—Lambton Ï (1010) requesting Parliament to consider restoring to the Criminal Code the prudence it held prior to 1968 by removing the words “after CHINA-TIBET DIALOGUE becoming a human being” from subsection 223(2). Ms. Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I REMEMBRANCE DAY am seeking unanimous consent from the House for the following motion. I move: That, in the opinion of the House, the government Mrs. Patricia Davidson (Sarnia—Lambton, CPC): Mr. Speak- should urge the government of the People's Republic of China and er, the second petition, signed by over 1,000 constituents, supports representatives of Tibet's government in exile, notwithstanding their Remembrance Day as a national holiday. differences on Tibet's historical relationship with China, to continue *** their dialogue in a forward looking manner that will lead to pragmatic solutions that respect the Chinese constitutional frame- QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER work, the territorial integrity of China and fulfill the aspirations of Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Tibetan people for a unified and genuinely autonomous Tibet. the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for The Speaker: Does the hon. member for Parkdale—High Park Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Question No. 169 will be have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion? answered today. Some hon. members: Agreed. [Text] Question No. 169—Ms. Jean Crowder: Some hon. members: No. What funds, grants, loans and loan guarantees has the government issued in the *** constituency of Nanaimo—Cowichan since February 6, 2006, including the 2006- 2007 Budget and up to today, and, in each case where applicable: (a) the department BUSINESS OF SUPPLY or agency responsible; (b) the program under which the payment was made; (c) the names of the recipients, if they were groups or organizations; (d) the monetary value Hon. Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, discussions of the payment made; and (e) the percentage of program funding covered by the have taken place in the usual manner between all the parties and I payment received? believe you would find consent for the following motion. I move: Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of That at the conclusion of today's debate on the opposition motion in the name of the the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for member from Etobicoke—Lakeshore, all questions necessary to dispose of this Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the Privy Council motion be deemed put, a recorded division deemed requested and deferred to 5:30 p. m. on Tuesday, February 20. Office has contacted all departments and agencies to ascertain whether they have the electronic capacity to search for and sort The Speaker: Does the hon. member for Wascana have the financial information such as funds, grants, loans and loan unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion? guarantees by federal electoral riding. The results of the survey Some hon. members: Agreed. indicate that the majority of departments and agencies do not have this capacity. A manual search would require an inordinate cost and The Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it length of time. For this reason, the government is not able to provide the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? a comprehensive answer to this question. Some hon. members: Agreed. [English] (Motion agreed to) Mr. Tom Lukiwski: Mr. Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand. *** The Speaker: Is that agreed? PETITIONS Some hon. members: Agreed. CANADA ELECTIONS ACT Mr. Mike Lake (Edmonton—Mill Woods—Beaumont, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of my GOVERNMENT ORDERS constituent, Mr. Jim Sexsmith, who has worked very hard to gather 43 signatures to support his petition to change the definition of Ï (1015) registered party from those which have had nominations confirmed [English] in 50 electoral districts to replacing 50 electoral districts with 231 electoral districts. BUSINESS OF SUPPLY I commend Mr. Sexsmith for his energy and passion on such OPPOSITION MOTION—GOVERNMENT POLICIES issues and for his service, dedication and concern for our country. Mr. Michael Ignatieff (Etobicoke—Lakeshore, Lib.) moved: February 15, 2007 COMMONS DEBATES 6855 Business of Supply That, in the opinion of this House, the government is failing to act in accordance with We on this side of the House have come to see that our differences the democratic and open values expected of its office by imposing a narrow minded, are our strengths, unlike the Conservatives who see differences as socially conservative ideology as reflected in its approach to the judicial appointment wedge issues to exploit. process to dramatically increase the influence of right-wing ideology in the judiciary, its refusal to honour Canada's international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol Ï (1020) including a refusal to act immediately to introduce regulations under the Canada Environmental Protection Act, its misconception that Canadians don’t want or need a [Translation] dramatic increase in child care spaces on a national basis, its budget spending cuts directed at aboriginal people and silencing advocacy work done on behalf of women and the most vulnerable Canadians even in the face of budget surpluses, its failure to Thanks to the Liberal governments in the 1990s, Canada has had a protect and promote linguistic and cultural diversity, and its undemocratic assault on budget surplus for a decade now.
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