CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 145 Ï NUMBER 001 Ï 3rd SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Wednesday, March 3, 2010 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 1 HOUSE OF COMMONS Wednesday, March 3, 2010 The House met at 2 p.m. [Translation] I therefore lay the relevant document upon the table. Prayers *** Ï (1405) [English] The Speaker: We normally have the singing of the national OATHS OF OFFICE anthem, so perhaps we can all join in and sing together. [Members sang the national anthem] Right Hon. Stephen Harper (Prime Minister, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-1, An Act respecting the Administration of *** Oaths of Office, and sought the unanimous consent of the House to have the bill printed. OPENING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE 40TH PARLIAMENT The Speaker: The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion? The Parliament, which had been prorogued on December 30, 2009, met this day at Ottawa for the dispatch of business. The House met at 2:00 p.m., the Speaker in the chair. Some hon. members: Agreed. The Speaker read a communication from the Secretary to the Governor General announcing that Their Excellencies, the Governor (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) General and Jean-Daniel Lafond, would arrive at the Peace Tower at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, and that when it was indicated [English] that all was in readiness, Their Excellencies would proceed to the chamber of the Senate to formally open the third session of the 40th Parliament of Canada. Mr. Michael Ignatieff (Leader of the Opposition, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order relating to Bill C-1, which has just A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as been introduced in the House. By dealing with this bill as the first follows: order of business, the House is affirming an important principle. Mr. Speaker, it is the desire of Her Excellency the Governor General that this honourable House attend her immediately in the Senate chamber. [Translation] Accordingly the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber. This is an important constitutional principle: the government must And being returned to the Commons chamber: be accountable to the House of Commons for its actions, and not the other way around. *** Ï (1605) [English] ORDER PAPER The Speaker: I wish to inform the House that in accordance with the representation made by the government pursuant to Standing In this spirit I would like to seek unanimous consent to adopt a Order 55(1), I have caused to be published a special order paper motion that underscores the supremacy of the House of Commons giving notice of a government motion. and seeks common ground on the issue of prorogation. 2 COMMONS DEBATES March 3, 2010 Opening of Parliament I move that this House hereby establishes a special committee to back on their feet. As we begin to see modest improvements in be structured along the lines of the Standing Committee on growth and employment, the task before us today is to finish the Procedure and House Affairs, and having all the powers of a work begun last year. standing committee, to conduct an immediate examination into the issue of prorogation, to advise the House on the circumstances in Jobs and growth remain the top priority. Our Government will which it is appropriate, or inappropriate, for the Prime Minister to complete the second year of Canada’s Economic Action Plan— request that Parliament be prorogued, and to repair such necessary guided by extensive consultations with leaders in business, industry, changes to the Standing Orders or legislation, or both, and that the and everyday working people and their families—and make committee report to the House no later than April 15, 2010. refinements where necessary. Ï (1610) At the same time, Canada is poised to emerge from the recession The Speaker: Does the hon. Leader of the Opposition have the powered by one of the strongest economies in the industrialized unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion? world. Therefore, our attention must also encompass the new measures Canada needs for success in the modern economy. Some hon. members: Agreed. Some hon. members: No. This will require a return to fiscal balance, securing the strong budgetary position that distinguishes our country from so many *** others. SPEECH FROM THE THRONE While the task before us is great, the ingenuity, determination and The Speaker: I have the honour to inform the House that when compassion of Canadians are greater. We will ensure that Canada the House of Commons did attend Her Excellency the Governor remains the best place in the world to raise a family. We will General this day in the Senate chamber, Her Excellency was pleased continue to stand up for those who built this great country. And we to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament. To prevent mistakes will forge ahead in building a Canada that is strong and united in a I have obtained a copy, which is as follows: changing world. Honourable Senators, Members of the House of Commons, Getting the Job Done: Completing Canada’s Economic Action Ladies and gentlemen, Plan We are a country whose citizens do not turn back when confronted Canadians have confronted the challenges of the past year in the by obstacles, whatever they are, and never shrink from lending a same way they have always met adversity—with pragmatism, helping hand to the most disadvantaged, wherever they may be. resourcefulness and the spirit of partnership. Though the effects of the global recession have not fully faded, From the forest floor to the factory floor, Canadians have rallied in Canadians are demonstrating a spirit of generosity that is a harbinger the face of the global recession. Businesses have found new ways to of hope to the people of Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, adapt to tighter credit and weaker markets. Workers have shared their which has been shaken by a disaster of unprecedented scope. jobs to spare colleagues from layoff. Many Canadians, out of work The world we live in remains strong because of the ties of for the first time in their lives, have begun training for a new career. solidarity that we—women, men and young people—forge among And households across the country have adjusted their finances to ourselves and because of the care we show toward one another. account for new realities. As the Vancouver Winter Olympics and upcoming Paralympics Like Canadians themselves, governments across the country have remind us, there are also circumstances when festive hearts and the adapted their approaches and joined together in a concerted effort to sharing of a common humanity are our greatest hope. soften the impact of the recession. I know Canadians will continue to care, and that spirit of solidarity Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working. Tax cuts and will redefine their sense of sharing as efforts are made to support the enhanced Employment Insurance benefits are providing direct economic recovery. support to Canadians who paid into government programs over the years and now need help. We gather for a new session of Parliament at a time of both great uncertainty and great optimism. From coast to coast to coast, almost 16,000 projects are putting Uncertainty because Canadians still feel the lingering effects of a Canadians to work while laying the foundation for future prosperity. recession that was not of their making. Optimism because our These projects range from roads and bridges to colleges and country has weathered the storm better than most and because universities, from social housing to our cultural and heritage Canadians over the past year have shown the world as never before institutions. both our capacity to care and our capability to act. Communities and industries most affected by the downturn are The agenda our Government laid before Parliament just over one being supported. Businesses have begun hiring again, with the year ago is largely in place. Through Canada’s Economic Action economy adding more than 135,000 net new jobs since July 2009. Plan, our Government took decisive steps to protect incomes, create This has restored incomes, confidence and hope for the future for jobs, ease credit markets, and help workers and communities get families across the country. March 3, 2010 COMMONS DEBATES 3 Opening of Parliament But even as confidence returns to our economy, it would be a It will freeze departmental operating budgets, that is, the total mistake to declare that the recession is completely behind us. Too amount spent on salaries, administration and overhead. many Canadians still find themselves out of work and events beyond our borders could yet threaten a fragile recovery. It will launch a review of administrative services to improve their Our Government’s top priority is therefore to complete the second efficiency and eliminate duplication. year of Canada’s Economic Action Plan and to continue creating jobs and growth. Our Government will work with its partners in the provinces and territories to make certain that projects are completed It will aggressively review all departmental spending to ensure now and over the coming year, when the stimulus is most needed. value for money and tangible results. Our Government understands the real hardships experienced by Our Government will also eliminate unnecessary appointments to Canadian families affected by job loss. Recognizing that unemploy- federal agencies, boards, commissions and Crown corporations.