CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 144 Ï NUMBER 118 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, November 26, 2009 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 7233 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, November 26, 2009 The House met at 10 a.m. report of the Standing Committee on Health concerning Bill C-6, An Act respecting the safety of consumer products. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the Prayers committee on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the committee recommends that the Standing Committee on Health report to the House its opinion that Bill C-6 is necessary to fill regulatory gaps and allow the government the power to issue recalls, and that the ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS current framework for product recalls does not allow for timely and Ï (1000) consistent action to protect Canadians. Due to the committee extending its hours in order to ensure the timely passage of Bill C-6, [English] as well as the House of Commons unanimously passing this KEEPING CANADIANS SAFE (INTERNATIONAL important piece of long-overdue legislation, this House should TRANSFER OF OFFENDERS) ACT strongly encourage members of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology to act responsibly and in the Hon. Peter Van Loan (Minister of Public Safety, CPC) moved interests of the safety and welfare of all Canadians to pass this for leave to introduce Bill C-59, An Act to amend the International crucial piece of legislation without delay. Transfer of Offenders Act. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) *** Ï (1005) *** REDRESS FOR VICTIMS OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMES INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS ACT Mr. Gordon Brown (Leeds—Grenville, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Hon. Irwin Cotler (Mount Royal, Lib.) moved for leave to pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the introduce Bill C-483, An Act to amend the State Immunity Act House, in both official languages, the following reports of the (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or torture). Canadian Delegation of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamen- tary Group respecting its participation at the Council of State He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table the Redress for Governments' 63rd Annual Meeting of the Southern Legislative Victims of International Crimes Act, which amends the State Conference held at Winston-Salem, North Carolina August 15-19, Immunity Act, in support of the foundational principle that victims 2009. I am happy to present this report. of torture and heinous international crimes deserve a right of redress against their criminal perpetrators. *** At present the exercise of such foundational rights is precluded by COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE the operation of the State Immunity Act, which immunizes foreign JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS states and their officials from civil suit. Mr. Ed Fast (Abbotsford, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour This legislation, the first of its kind ever, will allow Canadian to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing victims to sue the perpetrators of international crimes in Canadian Committee on Justice and Human Rights. courts. Simply put, our present legislation criminalizes torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, the most heinous acts In accordance with Standing Order 108(2) and the motion known to humankind, but does not allow for a civil remedy for the adopted in committee on Wednesday, November 25, 2009, the victims of such horrific acts. committee has considered the matter concerning a request for documents pertaining to Bill C-36, An Act to amend the Criminal Accordingly, this legislation will address the evils of such Code, and has agreed to report the matter to the House. international crimes that are now shielded by Canadian law, target the impunity of those states and officials that perpetrate these crimes, HEALTH remove the state immunity that operates to shield the perpetrators of Mrs. Joy Smith (Kildonan—St. Paul, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I such crimes, and allow Canadian victims to secure justice while have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh holding their perpetrators accountable. 7234 COMMONS DEBATES November 26, 2009 Routine Proceedings (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) management systems that have been put in place by Transport Canada. *** CRIMINAL CODE The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to initiate a Mr. Peter Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster, NDP) moved commission of inquiry headed by a superior court judge to conduct a for leave to introduce Bill C-484, An Act to amend the Criminal judicial review into Canada's state of national aviation safety and Code (cracking down on child pornography). government oversight of the aviation industry to be followed by further reviews at defined intervals. He said: Mr. Speaker, child pornography is nothing less than child abuse. This bill substantially increases the penalties for those who Ï (1010) are convicted of indictable offences involving this form of child abuse, for instance distribution of child pornography. It increases the punishment for making or distributing it from 10 to 14 years, VOLUNTEER SERVICE MEDAL increases the maximum penalty for possessing or accessing child pornography from five to ten years, and increases the penalty for all Mr. Mike Allen (Tobique—Mactaquac, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I other summary convictions to be a sentence of up to three years have a petition signed by a number of residents of Tobique— instead of 18 months. Mactaquac as well as the riding of Fredericton who are asking the government to issue a new Canadian volunteer service medal, called As the House well knows, Canada has the sad record of being the Governor General's volunteer service medal, for cadets, reserve second in the world for hosting child pornography, for hosting this forces and regular forces who have served since 1947 but who are result of child abuse. We have to crack down and that is why I am not eligible for the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for those who pushing forward this motion so that we can protect the children of served September 1939 to March 1947 or June 1950 to July 1953. this country. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) YOUNG OFFENDERS ACT *** Hon. Gurbax Malhi (Bramalea—Gore—Malton, Lib.): Mr. PARLIAMENTARY EMPLOYMENT AND STAFF Speaker, I rise today to present petitions on behalf of my constituents RELATIONS ACT who have been victims of violent crimes committed by young Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP) moved for offenders. leave to introduce Bill C-485, An Act to amend the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act (members' staff). In support of the family of 15-year-old Baden Willcocks who was She said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this bill to amend murdered on June 19, 2009, the petitioners call upon Parliament to the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act to ensure that implement the necessary changes to the Young Offenders Act for the staff of senators and members of the House of Commons, who serve benefit of the victims' families whose lives have been destroyed by those in the capacity of member, leader, House leader or whip, enjoy violent crime committed by young offenders. the benefit of being permitted, if they so choose, to organize a union, to belong to a union and to enjoy the benefits of collective HARMONIZED SALES TAX bargaining. These are rights and privileges that are considered fundamental in Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I modern democratic societies such as Canada. In fact, we work long have two petitions today. and hard to ensure that those rights are protected and advanced for all working people. I am pleased to table a petition today on behalf of hundreds of I hope that all members representing caucuses in the House of people in Hamilton Mountain who are outraged by the government's Commons will see fit to support the bill. It is a matter of simple intention to harmonize the sales tax with the PST in Ontario. Despite justice. the government's contention that the harmonization is a provincial (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) matter, the petitioners are keenly aware that Ontario would not have acted if it had not been for the $4.3 billion of taxpayers' money that *** the federal government offered to pay the province as an inducement for harmonization. Working families and seniors are already finding PETITIONS it difficult to make ends meet, and the additional 8% sales tax on AVIATION SAFETY everything from electricity to vitamins to haircuts is something they cannot afford. Mr. Dennis Bevington (Western Arctic, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from numerous Canadians across the country which states that the undersigned citizens of Canada draw attention of the The petitioners call on the government to demonstrate fair and House of Commons to the following. It contains a series of responsible leadership on taxation policy by withdrawing the $4.3 statements dealing with the problems surrounding the safety billion bribe and abandoning its plans for harmonizing the sales tax. November 26, 2009 COMMONS DEBATES 7235 Routine Proceedings CANADA-COLOMBIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT Ï (1015) Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present another petition signed by residents of my INTERNATIONAL PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION hometown of Hamilton who are opposed to the Canada-Colombia free trade agreement. The petitioners point out that Colombia has one of the worst human rights records in the western hemisphere, Mr. Brad Trost (Saskatoon—Humboldt, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I with dozens of labour activists and human rights advocates killed have the privilege to present a petition of behalf of probably a couple each year.