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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 074 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, June 16, 2016 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 4597 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, June 16, 2016 The House met at 10 a.m. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to Prayer table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions. Ï (1005) *** [Translation] ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE Hon. Ralph Goodale (Minister of Public Safety and Emer- The Speaker: I have the honour to inform the House that a gency Preparedness, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, message has been received from the Senate informing this House in both official languages, the 2015 annual report of the RCMP's use that the Senate has passed Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal of the law enforcement justification provisions. This report addresses Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical the RCMP's use of specified provisions within the law enforcement assistance in dying), with amendments to which the concurrence of justification regime, which is set out in section 25.1 to 25.4 of the this House is desired. Copies of the amendments are available at the Criminal Code. table. This report also documents the nature of the investigations in [English] which these provisions were used. Hon. Andrew Leslie: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. *** Should you consult with the other parties, I believe you will find [Translation] unanimous consent that notwithstanding any standing or special order or usual practice of the House, when orders of the day are ACT TO ESTABLISH THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND called later this day, a minister of the Crown be authorized to move INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS without notice a motion relating to Senate amendments to Bill C-14, AND TO MAKE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO an act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments CERTAIN ACTS to other acts, medical assistance in dying. Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the The Speaker: Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent Canadian Coast Guard, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill of the House to propose the motion? C-22, An Act to establish the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians and to make consequential amend- Some hon. members: Agreed. ments to certain Acts. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Some hon. members: No. *** [English] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS REPORTS FROM INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS [English] Mr. John Oliver (Oakville, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to INFORMATION COMMISSIONER OF CANADA Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in The Speaker: I have the honour, pursuant to Section 38 of the both official languages, the report of the Canadian delegation of the Access to Information Act, to lay upon the table the report of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participa- Information Commissioner for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. tion at the second part of the 2016 ordinary session of the Council of Europe and its mission to the next country to hold the rotating Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this document is deemed to presidency of the Council of the European Union held in Strasbourg, have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on France, and Bratislava, Republic of Slovakia, from April 18 to April Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. 28, 2016. 4598 COMMONS DEBATES June 16, 2016 Routine Proceedings COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE significance of that day. It would encourage citizen engagement, a PUBLIC ACCOUNTS celebration of our democracy, and education. It would encourage all citizens to use that day to contact any representative they wish, Hon. Kevin Sorenson (Battle River—Crowfoot, CPC): Mr. municipal, provincial, or federal, and make their views known to that Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the representative as a way of showing that democracy is about twelfth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, government by the people for the people. entitled “Public Accounts of Canada 2015”. I hope that all members of the House will join with me in Pursuant to Standing Order 109 the committee requests that the establishing such an important day, which we do not have now in the government table a comprehensive response to this report. country, to celebrate, respect, and enhance our democracy. ACCESS TO INFORMATION, PRIVACY AND ETHICS (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Blaine Calkins (Red Deer—Lacombe, CPC): Mr. Speaker, *** I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy CANADA ELECTIONS ACT and Ethics entitled “Review of the Access to Information Act”. Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) moved for leave This report was agreed to unanimously by all members of the to introduce Bill C-297, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act committee who worked together cordially and produced an excellent (voting hours). report. We are expecting comprehensive legislation from the government forthwith. He said: Mr. Speaker, once again I would like to thank my hon. colleague, the member for Courtenay—Alberni for seconding the Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the bill. government table a comprehensive response to this report. As all Canadians and this House know, we are about to embark on TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES a very important exercise in electoral reform. This gives us and all Hon. Judy A. Sgro (Humber River—Black Creek, Lib.): Mr. Canadians a chance to reflect on and discuss our democracy and our Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the democratic practices and make improvements. sixth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, entitled “An Update on Rail Safety”. This report What the bill would do is expand voting hours in British was intended to underscore the need for safety on Canada's rails. Columbia and across the country from 7:00 in the morning until 10:00 at night. The idea is to expand the opportunities for Canadians From Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, to Richmond, British Columbia, the on election day to cast their ballots. Research shows that, when polls committee heard the common theme that people and communities are closed at 7 p.m., as they are in B.C., or at 8 p.m., there are support commerce and recreational rail travel, but they do so with Canadians who work and cannot get to the polls. Therefore, by the expectation that it is safe and reliable. increasing the length of time on the day Canadians go to polls, we would increase voter turnout. That, after all, is the essence of The members of the committee submit the report with the hope democracy. that the recommendations will help to positively move the bar when it comes to safety on the rails. I also want to thank all the committee (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) members for their great work. *** Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the CANADA ELECTIONS ACT committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report. Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-298, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act *** (voting hours—Pacific time zone). Ï (1010) He said: Mr. Speaker, once again, I would like to thank my hon. GOVERNMENT AWARENESS DAY ACT colleague from Courtenay—Alberni for seconding the bill. Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP) moved for leave This bill emanates from constituents of mine in British Columbia to introduce Bill C-296, An Act respecting a Government Awareness who have pointed out that the current practice of having voting hours Day in British Columbia on election day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. is not He said: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce this optimal for encouraging voter turnout. The bill would make a slight bill, an act respecting government awareness day. I would like to adjustment to open the polls at 8 a.m. and go to 8 p.m. on the theory thank my hon. colleague, the hard-working and excellent member that there are far more Canadians who will go to vote after work and for Courtenay—Alberni for seconding the bill. are shut out at the polls because they get there after 7 p.m. than there are people who can get up and be at the polls from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The bill would have Parliament establish July 8 every year as government awareness day. The purpose would be that there be a This is another way to encourage democratic involvement, to day for Canadians to reflect on and celebrate our democracy. July 8 increase the rate of voter participation on election day. I hope all was the first day that Parliament ever sat in our country. That is the members of the House will join me in supporting the bill. June 16, 2016 COMMONS DEBATES 4599 Routine Proceedings (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) we separate out two different issues. There is the issue of the eligibility criteria, which has been fairly contentious in terms of [Translation] whether it should be terminal, whether it should simply repeat the Mr.