CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 145 Ï NUMBER 112 Ï 3rd SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 6879 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, December 7, 2010 The House met at 10 a.m. [Translation] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATES Prayers Hon. John McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to the Supplementary Estimates ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS (B) 2010-2011. Ï (1000) [English] [English] CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION Mr. David Tilson (Dufferin—Caledon, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I COMMISSIONER OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in The Speaker: I have the honour to lay upon the table, pursuant to relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2010-11, Votes 1b, 5b subsection 23(5) of the Auditor General Act, the report of the and 10b under Citizenship and Immigration. Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to HEALTH the House of Commons for the year 2010, with an addendum on environmental petitions from January 1 to June 30, 2010. Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the [Translation] Standing Committee on Health in relation to the supplementary estimates (B), 2010-11. This document is referred permanently to the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development. *** Ï (1005) *** BUSINESS OF SUPPLY [English] Hon. Gordon O'Connor (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I would like to designate GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Thursday, December 9, as the last allotted day for this supply period. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, *** pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both SAFER RAILWAYS ACT official languages, the government's response to 11 petitions. Hon. Gordon O'Connor (Minister of State and Chief *** Government Whip, CPC): Mr. Speaker, there have been consulta- tions and I think you would find unanimous consent for the INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS following motion. I move: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, no Hon. Bryon Wilfert (Richmond Hill, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, member may speak for more than 10 minutes on the second reading motion of Bill pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to C-33, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. delegation of the Canada-China Legislative Association and the The Speaker: Does the hon. chief government whip have the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group respecting its participation unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion? in the 18th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in the Republic of Singapore January 17-22, 2010. Some hon. members: Agreed. 6880 COMMONS DEBATES December 7, 2010 Routine Proceedings The Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it The petitioners call for an increased federal role in housing the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? through investments, not for profit housing, housing for the homeless, access to housing for those with different needs, including Some hon. members: Agreed. seniors and persons with disabilities, and sustainable and envir- (Motion agreed to) onmentally sound design standards. *** The petitioners would like the government to create a national housing strategy as soon as possible. CRIMINAL CODE AFGHANISTAN Hon. Gordon O'Connor (Minister of State and Chief Government Whip, CPC): Mr. Speaker, my next motion is as Mr. Jim Maloway (Elmwood—Transcona, NDP): Madam follows. I move: Speaker, I have a petition signed by dozens of Canadians who are That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practices of the House, a member demanding that Canada's military involvement in Afghanistan come from each recognized party may speak for not more than 20 minutes on the second to an end. reading motion of C-30, An Act to amend the Criminal Code, after which Bill C-30 shall be deemed to have been read a second time and referred to a committee of the In May 2008, Parliament passed a resolution to withdraw whole, deemed considered in committee of the whole, deemed reported without Canadian Forces by July 2011. The Prime Minister, with agreement amendment, deemed concurred in at the report stage and deemed read a third time from the Liberal Party, broke his oft-repeated promise to honour the and passed. parliamentary motion and, furthermore, refuses to put to a The Speaker: Does the hon. chief government whip have the parliamentary vote in the House. unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion? Committing 1,000 soldiers to a training mission still presents a Some hon. members: Agreed. danger to our troops and an unnecessary expense when our country is faced with a $56 billion deficit. The military mission has cost The Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it Canadians about $18 billion so far, money that could have been used the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? to improve health care and seniors' pensions right here in Canada. Some hon. members: Agreed. Polls show that a clear majority of Canadians do not want (Motion agreed to) Canada's military presence to continue after the scheduled removal date of July 2011. *** Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Prime Minister to honour PETITIONS the will of Parliament and bring the troops home now. VALE INCO [Translation] Ms. Niki Ashton (Churchill, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is an honour AIR CANADA to bring forward the voices of the people of Thompson and northern Manitoba. Today, I would like to present petitions on their behalf Mr. Michel Guimond (Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute- calling for the federal government to stand up for Canadians and Côte-Nord, BQ): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition Canadian jobs. signed by several hundred workers who belong to local 1751 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, as On November 17, Vale announced devastating news that it was well as other Air Canada employees. They are concerned about the planning to shut down the smelter and refinery in Thompson. This future survival of Air Canada's operational and overhaul centres in announcement means the loss of over 600 jobs and will have a Montreal, Mississauga and Winnipeg following their sale to Aveos, devastating impact on the community, the northern region and our which owns a growing maintenance centre in El Salvador. They are province of Manitoba. worried that their jobs will be outsourced to El Salvador. They are therefore asking the government to ensure full compliance with the The people of Thompson are saying that the federal government 1988 Air Canada Public Participation Act. must stand up for them. Not only did the government allow the foreign takeover by Vale, it also gave it a loan of $1 billion just over Ï (1010) a month ago, this just weeks before such devastating news. [English] The people of Thompson and Manitoba are asking that the federal DIESEL TRAINS government look to the Canadian people and work with all Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Madam Speaker, I stakeholders to save the 600 jobs and the Thompson Vale smelter have two petitions. and refinery. My first petition concerns Metrolinx and the use of diesel trains. A HOUSING plan to establish a rail link from Pearson Airport to Union Station in Hon. Bryon Wilfert (Richmond Hill, Lib.): Madam Speaker, downtown Toronto would result in an eight-fold expansion of diesel pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to present a rail traffic, from 50 to over 400 trains per day in the Georgetown petition in support of a national housing strategy from constituents of corridor, which cuts through west end neighbourhoods, in Parkdale my riding and the surrounding areas. High Park and in my neighbourhood. December 7, 2010 COMMONS DEBATES 6881 Routine Proceedings This expansion would make this the busiest diesel rail corridor on phase, September 2013 to August 2015. Costs and timelines are the planet. Exhaust from diesel locomotives is a known danger to subject to change. public health and has been linked to cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, cancers and premature death. Diesel exhaust The first nation, in partnership with INAC, manages all aspects of poses an especially potent danger to children and the elderly. Diesel this project, including tendering and selecting contractors and trains are harmful to the environment and contribute to climate overseeing implementation. change. They are also heavy, loud and are disruptive to neighbour- In response to (b), the Attawapiskat First Nation Education hoods and the local quality of life. Over 250,000 people live within Authority, by way of a band council resolution, closed the one kilometre of this line. community’s elementary school on May 11, 2000, due to health Therefore, the petitioners are calling upon Parliament to ensure and safety concerns related to fuel contamination. INAC provided a that the rail expansion in the Georgetown south rail corridor, total of $3.26 million in funding to Attawapiskat First Nation over including the air rail link be electrified from the outset and that there fiscal years 2000-01 and 2001-02 for the purchase, mobilization, and be no further expenditure on diesel technology.