House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 030 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 10, 2016 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 1671 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 10, 2016 The House met at 10 a.m. Ï (1005) [English] Prayer BAN ON SHARK FIN IMPORTATION ACT Mr. Fin Donnelly (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-251, An act to amend the Fisheries Act and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of Interna- tional and Interprovincial Trade Act (importation of shark fins). Ï (1000) [English] He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce Bill C-251, An act to amend the Fisheries Act and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act The Speaker: I have the honour to lay upon the table the 2015 (importation of shark fins). I would like to thank the member for annual report of the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Pursuant Drummond for seconding my bill. to Standing Order 108(3)(e), this document is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and This bill would prohibit the importation of shark fins into Canada Human Rights. and legally ban shark finning in Canadian waters. For those who are unaware, shark finning is the horrific practice of cutting the fins from *** living sharks and discarding the remaining shark at sea. The sharks [Translation] then drown, starve to death, or are eaten alive by other fish. It is a brutal practice. OFFICE OF THE CORRECTIONAL INVESTIGATOR Mr. Michel Picard (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of As top predators, sharks play a key role in maintaining ocean Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I health. Unfortunately, their populations are plummeting around the am pleased to table, in both official languages, the annual report of world. Scientists report that over 100 million sharks a year are being the Office of the Correctional Investigator for 2014-15 as required killed, primarily for their fins, shrinking the international shark under section 192 of the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, as population and driving dozens of shark species near extinction. well as Correctional Service Canada's response. *** The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that a quarter of all shark species are threatened with extinction as a result [English] of shark finning. Some populations have dropped by a stunning 99% COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE over the past 50 years. The best way to curb illegal finning is to stop the international trade in shark fins. TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES Hon. Judy A. Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek, Lib.): Mr. Canada can become a world leader in shark conservation and Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ocean stewardship by adopting this legislation that will protect second report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastruc- sharks. I hope that all members of this House will support the bill. ture and Communities in relation to the main estimates 2016-17. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) [Translation] AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD *** Mr. Pat Finnigan (Miramichi—Grand Lake, Lib.): Mr. NAVIGATION PROTECTION ACT Speaker, I am honoured to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food Mr. Alistair MacGregor (Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, concerning its study of the supplementary estimates for fiscal year NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-252, An Act to amend 2015-16. the Navigation Protection Act (Shawnigan Lake). 1672 COMMONS DEBATES March 10, 2016 Government Orders He said: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in the Some hon. members: Agreed. House to introduce this bill today. This bill adds Shawnigan Lake to the scheduled list of waters protected under the Navigation Protection Act. It is but a first small step in the much larger battle against GOVERNMENT ORDERS contamination of our water resources. It is outrageous that we are not effectively protecting marine wildlife, drinking water, and our watersheds from environmental degradation. [English] I want to let the community of Shawnigan know that I will CITIZENSHIP ACT continue to be an ally in the fight to protect water resources and preserve them for generations to come. The House resumed from March 9 consideration of the motion If I may, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the that Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make Shawnigan community's courageous fight against the contaminated consequential amendments to another Act, be read the second time soil dump in their watershed. I intend to be there with them for the and referred to a committee. long term. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Matt DeCourcey (Fredericton, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is certainly a pleasure to rise this morning to speak to an issue of great *** importance for the riding of Fredericton, for New Brunswick, and certainly for all of Canada. PETITIONS OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Canada is both diverse and inclusive. These characteristics are Mr. Garnett Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, wound into our identity. In fact, Canadians' respect for diversity of CPC): Mr. Speaker, over the last several months, I have had a neighbours in our communities, and our tendency to include others chance to travel across the country and speak to many people about who may not resemble us in appearance or in mind, is a hallmark of the importance of the Office of Religious Freedom. I have a petition the very best of Canada. signed by literally hundreds of Canadians, predominantly from the greater Toronto area, calling on the government to renew the office The government has and continues to demonstrate through its to continue to do its good work. actions that it will ensure that what it does reflects this type of DEMOCRATIC REFORM country, the very best of what we have to offer and the very best of what we can be. Mr. Richard Cannings (South Okanagan—West Kootenay, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from some of my constituents regarding their concerns about the present electoral Legislation to amend the Citizenship Act, which was introduced system in Canada and the fact that it does not result in a Parliament in the House last month, lays out changes that will provide greater that reflects the number of voters who cast ballots for each party. respect for diversity and inclusion, as well as flexibility for those They ask that the House undertake consultations across the country, who seek to contribute to our country and are trying to meet the and that after those consultations some form of proportional requirements of citizenship. representation be introduced in our electoral system. IMPAIRED DRIVING It will help immigrants obtain citizenship faster, help them contribute more fruitfully to our communities, and help us build a Mr. Gagan Sikand (Mississauga—Streetsville, Lib.): Mr. stronger socio-economic fabric in Canada. Speaker, Families for Justice is a group of Canadians who have had a loved one killed by an impaired driver. They believe that Canada's impaired driving laws are much too lenient. They want the Proposed changes in Bill C-6 would also repeal provisions of the crime to be called what it is, vehicular homicide. It is the number one Citizen Act that allow citizenship, the prime tenet and characteristic cause of criminal death in Canada. Over 1,200 Canadians are killed of what it means to be Canadian, to be revoked from dual citizens every year by a drunk driver. Canadians are calling for tougher laws who engage in certain acts against the national interests. These such as BillC-652, Kassandra's law. provisions will ensure that there is only one class of Canadian. *** Additional changes that are proposed will further enhance Ï (1010) program integrity and ensure that our immigration system reflects the fact that we are an accepting, welcoming, and caring nation. QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Fredericton is home to over 6,300 immigrants, who have arrived Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand. from over 60 countries. Of the over 600 permanent residents in Fredericton in 2012 alone, over 40% were opening new businesses The Speaker: Is that agreed? and contributing to the local and regional economy. March 10, 2016 COMMONS DEBATES 1673 Government Orders Immigrants invest their own money to be successful. They buy each day that a person is authorized to be in Canada as a temporary existing businesses. They start new businesses. They hire profes- resident, or as a protected person before they become a permanent sionals and employees. Other immigrants in the Fredericton region resident, it could be counted as a half day toward meeting the are specialized professionals who are needed in specific industries, requirement for citizenship. and international students who have come to our community and decided to make New Brunswick their home. Newcomers contribute so much to our communities. In the riding I have the honour to represent, the riding of [Translation] Fredericton, we boast of two world-class universities, which have a stellar history and reputation of recruiting high-calibre students to That is why the government encourages all immigrants to begin our community. The University of New Brunswick, Canada's most the process for full and permanent membership in Canadian society.