House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 006 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, December 10, 2015 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 203 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, December 10, 2015 The House met at 10 a.m. CRIMINAL CODE Mr. Jim Eglinski (Yellowhead, CPC) moved for leave to Prayer introduce Bill C-206, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (abuse of vulnerable persons). ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS He said: Mr. Speaker, as this is the first time I rise in the 42nd Parliament, I would like to congratulate all of my fellow members of Ï (1000) Parliament from across Canada, and you, sir, for being elected as our [Translation] Speaker. I would like to thank the constituents of my great riding for putting their support behind me to be their representative in Ottawa. OFFICE OF THE PRIVACY COMMISSIONER The Speaker: Pursuant to section 38 of the Privacy Act, I have the honour to lay upon the table the annual report of the Privacy I am pleased to stand in the House today to table my first private Commissioner for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2015. Pursuant to member's bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code on abuse of Standing Order 108(3)(h), this report is deemed permanently referred vulnerable persons. The bill would amend section 718.2 of the to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Criminal Code by making tougher penalties for an offender who Ethics. knows or reasonably should know that a person is an elder or other vulnerable person, and wilfully exploits or takes advantage of that *** person through financial, physical, sexual, or emotional abuse. [English] ALS MONTH ACT My private member's bill would bring further protection to seniors Mr. David Tilson (Dufferin—Caledon, CPC) moved for leave and other vulnerable persons to ensure that they may live in dignity to introduce Bill C-205, An Act to designate the month of June as and security and be free of exploitation. ALS Month. He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce a private In my 35 years in law enforcement, this is one of the worst member's bill that I had introduced in the past, which will designate segments of crime we have seen in this nation. It happens from sea to the month of June as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as sea to sea, where people take advantage of our seniors and ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, month. The bill will ensure that each vulnerable persons who are handicapped, etc. We need to make year the month of June shall be known as ALS month. sure that people who do these hideous types of crime pay a greater penalty. The intention of the bill is to raise awareness of this devastating condition. I have a personal connection to this scurrilous disease. I (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) lost my own father to ALS a number of years ago, so raising awareness and encouraging research are causes close to my heart. All members know that one of our own colleagues has recently *** been diagnosed with ALS, so this horrendous condition is now very close to every member of this chamber. Ï (1005) I hope all members will support this initiative. NATIONAL APPRECIATION DAY ACT Some hon. members: Hear, hear! (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC) moved for The Speaker: I think we can see from the reaction of members leave to introduce Bill C-207, An Act to establish National how mindful we all are of this horrible disease. Appreciation Day. 204 COMMONS DEBATES December 10, 2015 Routine Proceedings He said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce my private The Speaker: Does the hon. minister have the unanimous consent member's bill, seconded by the hon. member for Huron—Bruce. of the House to move the motion? This bill would establish a national appreciation day, which would designate the third day of March in each and every year as a day for Some hon. members: No. people in Canada to express their appreciation for those who run [English] toward danger, when others run in the opposite direction, and for the Hon. Dominic LeBlanc: Mr. Speaker, I will try this again on work of members of our Canadian Forces and emergency response another important subject, one that I know all parliamentarians care professionals, including police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. deeply about. It is a subject that the Supreme Court has asked this (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Parliament to deal with. *** There have been consultations with the parties, and again I believe that if you ask for unanimous consent you would find it for the CANADA EVIDENCE ACT following motion: Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, An Act to amend the Canada Evidence That a special joint committee of the Senate and House of Act (interpretation of numerical dates). Commons be appointed to review the report of the external panel on options for a legislative response to Carter v. Canada, and other He said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce my private relevant consultation activities and studies, to consult with member's bill, seconded by the hon. member for Huron—Bruce. Canadians, experts, and stakeholders, and make recommendations This bill would amend the Canada Evidence Act to direct courts on on the framework of a federal response on physician-assisted dying how to interpret a numerical date that is in dispute. that respects the Constitution, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) and the priorities of Canadians. *** That five members of the Senate and ten members of the House of Commons be members of the committee with two chairpersons, of CORRECTIONS AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE ACT which the House co-chair shall be from the governing party, and the Mr. Todd Doherty (Cariboo—Prince George, CPC) moved for Senate co-chair from the official opposition party, and that one leave to introduce Bill C-209, An Act to amend the Corrections and additional member of the third party be a member of the committee Conditional Release Act (high-profile offenders). without voting privileges. That the House of Commons membership be determined by the He said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to introduce my private whip of each party by depositing with the Clerk of the House a list of member's bill, seconded by the hon. member for Huron—Bruce. his or her party's members of the committee no later than five sitting This private member's bill would amend the Corrections and days after the adoption of this motion. Conditional Release Act to require Correctional Services Canada, in certain circumstances, to disclose details of the statutory release of a That changes in the membership of the committee on the part of high-profile offender by posting them on its website and to provide the House of Commons be effective immediately after a notification written notice of the disclosure of the information to the victim. This signed by the member acting as the chief whip of any recognized enactment would also provide community consultation relating to party has been filed with the clerk of that committee. the offender's release. That the committee be directed to consult broadly, take into (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) consideration consultations that have been undertaken on the issue, Ï (1010) examine relevant research studies and literature, and review models [Translation] being used or developed in other jurisdictions. Hon. Dominic LeBlanc: Mr. Speaker, I am an eternal optimist, That the committee have the power to sit during sittings and so I believe and hope that, if you seek the unanimous consent of the adjournments of the House. House for the following motion, you will find it: that, notwithstand- ing any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, the Standing That the committee have the power to report from time to time, to Committee on Finance may hold organizational meetings on send for persons, papers, and records, and to print such papers and December 10, 2015, and that the membership of the said committee evidence as may be ordered by the committee. shall be as follows: Hon. Wayne Easter, Raj Grewal, Steven That the committee have the power to retain the services of expert, MacKinnon, Jennifer O'Connell, Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Francesco professional, technical, and clerical staff, including legal counsel. Sorbara, Hon. Lisa Raitt, Ron Liepert, Phil McColeman and Guy Caron; that, during its consideration of proceedings pursuant to That the quorum of the committee be eight members whenever a Standing Order 83(1), the Standing Committee on Finance, together vote, resolution, or other decision is taken, so long as both Houses with any necessary staff, may travel within Canada and may and all officially recognized parties are represented, and that the joint authorize the broadcasting of its proceedings; and that, notwith- chairpersons be authorized to hold meetings, to receive evidence, standing the provisions of Standing Order 83(1), the Standing and authorize the printing thereof whenever six members are present, Committee on Finance be authorized to present its report on the pre- so long as both Houses and all officially recognized parties are budget consultations no later than February 5, 2016. represented. December 10, 2015 COMMONS DEBATES 205 Routine Proceedings That the committee have the power to appoint from its members Mr.