House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 Ï NUMBER 063 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 27, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 3915 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 27, 2014 The House met at 10 a.m. CRIMINAL CODE Hon. Steven Fletcher (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-581, An Act to amend the Prayers Criminal Code (physician-assisted death). He said: Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to have the opportunity to present what will be a historic piece of legislation. This legislation ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS would amend the Criminal Code to allow physicians to assist individuals at the end of life. It is a bill that would empower Ï (1005) individuals, competent adults, to make the best decisions for [Translation] themselves while at the same time protecting society's most vulnerable individuals. ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Mark Strahl (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, CPC): Mr. *** Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of various reports. CANADIAN COMMISSION ON PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED [English] DEATH Hon. Steven Fletcher (Charleswood—St. James—Assiniboia, They include the Maa-nulth First Nations final agreement CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-582, An Act to establish implementation report, 2011-2012; the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 the Canadian Commission on Physician-Assisted Death. annual reports of the Yukon land claims and self-government agreements; the Westbank First Nation self-government agreement He said: Mr. Speaker, given the profound impact the bill just and annual report on implementation, 2010-2011; and the 2011-2012 introduced would have, amending the Criminal Code to allow for Tsawwassen First Nation annual implementation report. physician-assisted death, it is felt that an act to establish the *** Canadian commission on physician-assisted death would allow for the collection of data such as vital statistics including sex, education, GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS and types of illnesses that would fall under the previous bill. It would Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of also create a commission that could provide suggestions and the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, recommendations to the government or to colleges of physicians pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both and surgeons as time goes on. official languages, the government's responses to 12 petitions. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) *** Mr. Blake Richards: Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House for the following motion. I move that the Standing COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be instructed to consider AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD the matter of accusations of the official opposition's improper use of House of Commons resources for partisan purposes and that the Mr. Bev Shipley (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC): Mr. Leader of the Opposition be ordered to appear as a witness at a Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the televised meeting of the committee to be held no later than May 16, first report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri- 2014. Food, in relation to its study of the Canada–European Union comprehensive economic and trade agreement, recognized as CETA, The Speaker: Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent and the effects of it on the Canadian agriculture sector. of the House to move this motion? Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the Some hon. members: Agreed. committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report. Some hon. members: No. 3916 COMMONS DEBATES March 27, 2014 Routine Proceedings USE OF HOUSE OF COMMONS RESOURCES Mines, Searchmont, Thessalon, and Wawa to present a petition. Hon. Khristinn Kellie Leitch (Minister of Labour and They are concerned that the train is about to leave their community Minister of Status of Women, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to and are asking the government to reinstate the federal funding that Standing Order 56.1, I move: allowed for the operations of the Algoma Central Railway. They indicate how difficult this will be on their communities and homes, That the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be instructed to consider the matter of accusations of the Official Opposition's improper use of House particularly on businesses, and especially the tourism business. of Commons resources for partisan purposes; and That the Leader of the Opposition be ordered to appear as a witness at a televised meeting of the committee to be held no later than May 16, 2014. Before the train leaves the station, they would like the government Ï (1010) to act on assisting with the funding for at least another year. They The Speaker: Will those members who object to the motion would greatly appreciate the support of the Conservative government please rise in their places? as opposed to seeing job loss in the riding in northern Ontario. And fewer than 25 members having risen: [Translation] The Speaker: Fewer than 25 members having risen, the motion is adopted. Mr. François Choquette (Drummond, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am (Motion agreed to) rising in the House today to present dozens of petitions concerning *** the cuts to VIA Rail, which my hon. colleague just mentioned. My constituents in Drummond are also affected by the cuts. The PETITIONS Drummondville station was automated last year, just a few months ANIMAL WELFARE ago. People have been very concerned since that happened. Service has deteriorated, and services for seniors and those with reduced Mr. John Rafferty (Thunder Bay—Rainy River, NDP): Mr. mobility are less readily available. Speaker, I have a petition in which the petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to recognize animals as sentient beings that can feel pain, to move animal cruelty crimes from the property Consequently, the signatories are calling on the government to section of the Criminal Code, and to strengthen the language of reverse the VIA Rail cuts that were announced in the 2013-14 federal animal cruelty law in order to close loopholes that allow estimates, and they are asking VIA Rail to cancel the measures abusers to escape penalty. announced in July 2013 regarding reduction in services at the DEMENTIA Drummondville station. Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by a number [English] of residents from the Waterloo region. The petitioners are calling on the Minister of Health and the House of Commons to pass Bill C-356, an act respecting a national strategy for dementia. CANADA POST HEALTH Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Mr. Scott Andrews (Avalon, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise to present today I rise to present a petition from many people in Winnipeg a petition from several hundred residents of Chapel Arm in my North who are concerned about health care in Canada. They are riding who are very upset about the closure and reduced hours of the calling upon the government to ensure that the Canada Health Act postal office. improves accountability on health care services that are deemed delivered. They are obviously very much concerned about the health care accord and how important it is that the federal government The petitioners call on the Government of Canada and Canada renegotiate and have a new health care pact for the next decade. Post to maintain, expand, and improve postal services and cease any AGRICULTURE proposal to reduce hours and diminish services to the residents of Chapel Arm in Newfoundland and Labrador. Mr. Pierre Lemieux (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions from Canadians who recognize the inherent rights of farmers to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell Ï (1015) seeds. They are calling upon Parliament to enshrine in legislation the inalienable rights of farmers and Canadians to save, reuse, select, exchange, and sell seeds. IMPAIRED DRIVING RAIL TRANSPORTATION Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, Mr. Bev Shipley (Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, CPC): Mr. NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on behalf of Canadian Speaker, I rise to present petitions that acknowledge the current citizens from Sault Ste. Marie, Richards Landing, Echo Bay, Bruce impaired driving laws are too lenient, in the interest of public safety. March 27, 2014 COMMONS DEBATES 3917 Routine Proceedings The petitioners are calling for tougher laws and implementation of since 1985; and (c) has there been any study done on developing a long-term solution new mandatory minimum sentences for impaired driving causing for the oil spill? death. They are also calling for the Criminal Code of Canada to be changed to redefine the offence of impaired driving causing death as vehicular manslaughter. Hon. Gail Shea (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, CPC): Mr. Speaker, with regard to (a), since the Manolis L sank in 1985, it HEALTH is the understanding of the Coast Guard that there have been two Ms. Joyce Murray (Vancouver Quadra, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I reports written regarding the sinking and potential oil leak: first, the am honoured to table a petition from the UBC School of Nursing “Investigation Report into the Circumstances Attending the students, UBC being in the riding of Vancouver Quadra. Grounding, Abandonment and Sinking of the Liberian Vessel ‘Manolis L.’ in Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland on January 17, The students wish to bring to the attention of the House their deep 1985”, undated, Transport Canada, marine casualty investigations; concern about the expiry of the 2004 health accord in March 2014.