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House of Commons Debates VOLUME 146 Ï NUMBER 272 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, June 18, 2013 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 18505 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, June 18, 2013 The House met at 10 a.m. Ms. Michelle Rempel: Mr. Speaker, the bill has the unprece- dented support of parties across this House. It has the support of the environmental non-governmental organizational community, and it has the support of the Nova Scotia government. However, one of my Prayers colleagues, who purports to support the environment, is blocking the passage of the bill. I am outraged. The Speaker: That is a matter of debate, not a point of order. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS *** Ï (1005) PETITIONS [English] CRIMINAL CODE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mrs. Joy Smith (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of have a petition from several hundred people across Canada, calling the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on the government to request that Parliament amend the Criminal pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both Code to decriminalize the selling of sexual services and criminalize official languages, the government's response to three petitions. the purchasing of sexual services, and provide support to those who *** desire to leave prostitution. COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE The petitioners have said that the demand for commercial sex with women and children is the root cause of prostitution, and that ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT trafficking, child prostitution and violence toward women have Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. increased in countries where prostitution has been legalized. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, PENSIONS the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have four petitions. In accordance with its order of reference of Monday, June 10, 2013, your committee has considered Bill S-15, an act to amend the The first one is from people, mostly seniors, who are very Canada National Parks Act and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore concerned about the Conservative government making changes to Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act and to make the old age security program and changing the age of eligibility from consequential amendments to the Canada Shipping Act, 2001, and 65 years to 67 years. They are calling on the government to reverse agreed on Monday, June 17, 2013 to report it without amendment. that measure. Hon. Peter Van Loan: Mr. Speaker, there have been consulta- Ï (1010) tions among the parties and I am hopeful that you could find ANIMAL WELFARE unanimous consent for the following motion: Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the That Bill S-15, an act to amend the Canada National Parks Act second petition is from people who are very concerned about animal and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord rights. They note that animals are sentient beings capable of feeling Implementation Act and to make consequential amendments to the pain, that they are not property and that stray and wild animals are Canada Shipping Act, 2001 may be taken up at report stage later this not sufficiently protected by animal cruelty laws under the property day. section of the Criminal Code. The Speaker: Does the hon. government House leader have the Therefore, they are calling on the federal government to recognize unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion? animals as beings that can feel pain, to move animal cruelty crimes Some hon. members: Agreed. from the property section of the Criminal Code and to strengthen the language of federal animal cruelty laws in order to close loopholes Some hon. members: No. that allow abusers to escape penalty. 18506 COMMONS DEBATES June 18, 2013 Routine Proceedings THE ENVIRONMENT They are calling on the government to have a moratorium on genetically modified alfalfa until its study on farmers can be properly Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the done. third petition is from people in Oshawa who note that the Oshawa Port Authority is ruining the city's waterfront with a 12-storey CORRECTIONS ethanol plant that was rubber-stamped behind closed doors, and that the Oshawa Port Authority is ignoring the will of local residents, Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Oshawa city council, the mayor, and Durham regional council. last petition I have is from my constituents from Kingston and the Islands regarding corrections. They are calling on the government to cancel the approved FarmTech ethanol plant, halt all construction, publish all documents pertaining to the FarmTech long-term lease and other Oshawa Port They are calling on the federal government to adopt rational best Authority lease agreements, and start negotiating with the City of practices, including the avoidance of double-bunking in order to Oshawa for the divestment of the port to the municipality. reduce recidivism, to improve the rehabilitation of offenders, to improve public safety and to avoid wasting money. MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY CHIEF FIREARMS OFFICERS Ms. Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the fourth petition is from constituents in Toronto who note that a year Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC): and a half ago Jenna Morrison, a pregnant mom, died under the Mr. Speaker, the signatories on this petition range from Alberta, wheels of a heavy truck and that perhaps her death could have been Saskatchewan and Ontario, to Quebec. They are calling upon the prevented had the truck had side guards installed. federal government to replace the chief firearms officers from the provinces and territories with a single civilian agency that is service They are asking the Government of Canada to introduce oriented, so that federal law is applied evenly from coast to coast to regulations under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act requiring side coast. underrun guards for large trucks and trailers, to prevent cyclists and pedestrians from being pulled under the wheels of these vehicles. ONLINE PETITIONS THE ENVIRONMENT Mr. Kennedy Stewart (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I I am presenting a petition today regarding bringing online petitions have a number of petitions today. The first one is from my to the House of Commons. The constituents who have signed this constituents of Kingston and the Islands, and it concerns Bills C-38 petition say they believe the current paper petitioning system is and C-45, which gutted protection for ecosystems, especially around antiquated and inefficient. bodies of water. The petitioners would like the House of Commons to recognize The petitioners call on the government to recognize the online petitions as it recognizes paper petitions. This is similar to a importance of ecosystems to our well-being and prosperity, and motion that I brought forward in the House of Commons, and I hope they call on the federal government to restore federal statutory the government will take it seriously. protections for fish and other natural habitats. CLIMATE CHANGE VENEZUELA Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Mr. Wladyslaw Lizon (Mississauga East—Cooksville, CPC): second petition from my constituents of Kingston and the Islands Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by many Canadians residing in concerns climate change. The House might know that climate Ontario, many of them Venezuelan Canadians. They would like to change is partially responsible for the low water levels in the upper bring to the attention of this House the fact that since the last Great Lakes and that Canada has shown a lack of international presidential election in Venezuela, democratic, human and electoral leadership. rights have been shamefully violated. The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to show The petitioners are asking our government to take a strong stand international leadership in reaching agreements to keep the rise in and help to peacefully resolve the current crisis in Venezuela. average global temperatures to under two degrees, to take action domestically, to do its fair share and to measure progress through an [Translation] independent validator. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ALFALFA NAVIGABLE WATERS Mr. Ted Hsu (Kingston and the Islands, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP): there are two petitions from my constituents of Kingston and the Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by people from my riding, Islands concerning genetically modified alfalfa. The petitioners are Beauharnois—Salaberry. Bill C-45, which is now law, made changes concerned that the introduction of commercial genetically modified to the Navigable Waters Protection Act. As a result, only 62 rivers, alfalfa will affect non-GM farmers, organic farmers and may affect 97 lakes and three oceans will remain protected, while previously, international trade. that legislation protected all of Canada's waterways. June 18, 2013 COMMONS DEBATES 18507 Routine Proceedings Bill C-45 shifts the burden of responsibility onto citizens, groups INTERNATIONAL TRADE and municipalities, who now have to take project proponents to court themselves if their navigation rights are breached. The government Ms. Elizabeth May (Saanich—Gulf Islands, GP): Mr. Speaker, made it impossible for anyone to comment on the minister's the second petition is from residents of the Toronto area who are decisions or to hold public consultations on any projects proposed by calling upon the government to refuse to ratify the Canada-China proponents. investment treaty. This treaty would lock Canada in, and future The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to take governments, for a period of not less than 31 years after ratification.