House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 Ï NUMBER 155 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, December 4, 2014 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 10165 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, December 4, 2014 The House met at 10 a.m. Rail Canada and making consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act. He said: Mr. Speaker, this bill would give parliamentarians far Prayers more control over the decisions made concerning VIA Rail. It would also allow for a partnership to be established with the communities and industries involved in VIA Rail service. This bill is designed to ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS create the legislative framework that VIA Rail has never had. Ï (1005) In the U.S., Amtrak was in rough shape without a legislative [English] framework. Now, with that framework, Amtrak is on the right track. This company serves far more communities than it used to. We hope GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS to learn from that and improve service in Canada. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, VIA Rail is in crisis. Ridership is down and many routes have pursuant to Standing Order 36 (8) I have the honour to table, in both been cancelled. It is time that Parliament took this seriously. Do we official languages, the government's response to seven petitions. really want passenger rail service in Canada? We must not forget that *** passenger rail service and the rail system built our country. We hope to maintain it for future generations. INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS Mr. Joe Preston (Elgin—Middlesex—London, CPC): Mr. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian Branch of the Commonwealth *** Parliamentary Association concerning a conference in London, UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF England, the International Parliamentary Conference Growth for INDIGENOUS PEOPLES ACT Development, November 18-20, 2014. Mr. Romeo Saganash (Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik— *** Eeyou, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-641, An Act [Translation] to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND ESTIMATES He said: Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege of Mr. Pierre-Luc Dusseault (Sherbrooke, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I introducing this bill to ensure that federal laws are in harmony with have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh the declaration. When the declaration was adopted in 2007, the report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Secretary-General of the United Nations called it the path of Estimates in relation to Bill C-21, An Act to control the reconciliation between states and indigenous peoples. Now more administrative burden that regulations impose on businesses. than ever, that is the path this country must take. [English] [English] The committee has studied the bill and has decided to report the bill back to the House without amendment. I am very honoured to stand here today to introduce the bill, an act to ensure that the laws of Canada are in harmony with the United *** Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. [Translation] When the declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly VIA RAIL CANADA ACT in 2007, Ban Ki-moon had qualified it as the path to reconciliation Mr. Philip Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine, NDP) between states and indigenous peoples. Indeed, more than ever, that moved for leave to introduce Bill C-640, An Act respecting VIA is the path we need to take in the House and in the country. 10166 COMMONS DEBATES December 4, 2014 Routine Proceedings (Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) SEX SELECTION *** Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by many CORRECTIONS AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE ACT Canadians pointing out that gendercide has created a global crisis of Mr. Rodney Weston (Saint John, CPC) moved for leave to gender imbalance, resulting in violence and the human trafficking of introduce Bill C-642, An Act to amend the Corrections and girls. The petitioners are calling upon members of Parliament to Conditional Release Act (high profile offender). condemn the discrimination of girls that is occurring through sex- selective pregnancy termination. He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce my very first private member's bill in this House. I feel confident that my colleagues will NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD DAY see the wisdom of these amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. The amendments are meant to address the Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP): Mr. concerns of any community that is home to a halfway house that Speaker, I rise to present two petitions today. The first petition calls houses high profile offenders after their release. upon the House of Commons to introduce a national sustainable seafood day. It calls upon the government to designate March 18 as In my riding of Saint John, a situation arose last year when three national sustainable seafood day. The petitioners are concerned such offenders were released to a halfway facility without warning to about overfishing and destructive fishing practices in Canada. the community. This prompted a wave of fear throughout the community that I am sure is not unique to Saint John, but it was SHARK FINNING nonetheless unsettling. Mr. Fin Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam, NDP): Mr. This bill asks that an offender's name and photograph be posted on Speaker, in the second petition, with thousands of signatures, the Correctional Service website, along with any previous convic- petitioners call upon the government to immediately adopt a ban on tions, date of release, destination, and any conditions attached to the the importation of shark fin to Canada. statutory release. The bill also requires that Correctional Service Canada provide CANADA POST communities with notice of the proposed release of any high profile Hon. Mark Eyking (Sydney—Victoria, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I offenders, hold public consultations with community representatives, rise to present a petition signed by hundreds of constituents in my including police, and take into account the views of the host riding concerning the reduction of Canada Post services. The petition community. calls upon the government to reverse these cuts to Canada Post and I look forward to hearing the views of my colleagues on these look instead for an option to fill the void, such as postal banking. proposed amendments to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. I also hope that it addresses the concerns raised by my HUMAN RIGHTS constituents in Saint John. Mr. Jack Harris (St. John's East, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have the (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) honour to present two petitions. *** The first petition is from a number of individuals in St. John's and PETITIONS other communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The petitioners SPECIES AT RISK ACT are calling upon the House of Commons and Parliament assembled to ensure that the Government of Canada takes action in allowing Mr. LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise individuals to have access to all different professions and not be today to present three petitions from constituents in my riding as limited by their physical appearance. The petitioners state that the well as that of my colleague, the member for Cypress Hills— citizens of Canada have a right to be accepted for their physical Grasslands, with respect to SARA, the Species at Risk Act. The appearance whether or not they exhibit body modifications, have petitioners request that the House of Commons rescind the Species at disabilities, or are minorities in the workplace. Risk Act and replace it with something that encourages voluntary implementation. Mr. Speaker, the second petition is also signed by a number of Ï (1010) individuals in St. John's and other communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. The petitioners state that Canada does not recognize PROTECTION OF SAGE GROUSE transpersons who identify as a particular gender without genital Mr. LaVar Payne (Medicine Hat, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the other reconstructive surgery or persons who identify as neither male nor petitions are with respect to the sage grouse. They are signed by female, and that the effects of denying correct gender markers to residents in my riding and in Cypress Hills—Grasslands. The transcitizens denies them the freedom to fully express who they are. petitioners are asking that the House of Commons rescind this Therefore, the petitioners call upon the House of Commons and strategy and replace it with something that ensures strategies are Parliament assembled to ensure the Government of Canada takes created with formal input from landowners. The same applies for the action to ensure equal rights for all citizens by allowing all citizens to third petition. identify truly to themselves. December 4, 2014 COMMONS DEBATES 10167 Speaker's Ruling EMPLOYMENT QUESTIONS PASSED AS ORDERS FOR RETURNS Mr. Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP): Mr. Speaker, about 50% Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of of all workers in Toronto cannot access a full-time, stable job. What the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, if does that mean? They are working part time, they are working Questions Nos. 755 and 761 could be made orders for returns, these freelance, they are self-employed, many are working for free as returns would be tabled immediately. unpaid interns, and they have no access to a workplace pension, benefits, or job security.