House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 059 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, May 19, 2016 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 3557 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, May 19, 2016 The House met at 10 a.m. [Translation] INCOME TAX ACT Prayer Mr. Guy Caron (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Bas- ques, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-274, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (transfer of small business or family farm ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS or fishing corporation). (1000) Ï He said: Mr. Speaker, my bill would end a blatantly unfair [English] situation that puts business people, farmers, and fishing vessel operators at a disadvantage when they want to pass their business on COMMISSIONER OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES to a child rather than a stranger. The difference is a big one. For a The Speaker: I have the honour, pursuant to section 66 of the million-dollar business, the difference can be around $200,000 from Official Languages Act, to lay upon the table the annual report of the a taxation perspective. For a $10-million farm, we are talking Commissioner of Official Languages, covering the period from April $2.2 million less if the owner sells it to a stranger rather than a family 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016. member. We have to do something about this. This bill is well thought out to avert any possibility of tax avoidance arising from [Translation] these amendments. I hope that the members of the House will support my bill at second reading. I am pleased to introduce this bill. Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(f), this report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) *** *** [English] Ï (1005) FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME Mr. Bill Blair (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of INCOME TAX ACT Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and on behalf of the Minister of Mr. Xavier Barsalou-Duval (Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes— Justice and Attorney General of Canada, I have the honour this Verchères, BQ) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-275, An Act to morning to table, in both official languages, the 2014-15 annual amend the Income Tax Act (business transfer). report of the federal ombudsman for victims of crime. *** He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House to introduce a bill seconded by my colleague from Manicouagan. The purpose of the COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE bill is to amend the Income Tax Act with respect to business INDIGENOUS AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS transfers. As we all know, the population in Canada and Quebec is aging. As a result, there are certain needs regarding the transfer of Mr. Andy Fillmore (Halifax, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the businesses that are becoming increasingly urgent and important. honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Unfortunately, under the existing rules, there is a certain tax Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, entitled unfairness that makes it disadvantageous in some cases for people to “Declaration of Health Emergency by First Nations Communities in transfer a business to their children or other family members. The Northern Ontario”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee purpose of this bill is to amend the act, specifically section 84(1), to requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this include the children and grandchildren of shareholders, so that they report. are not put at a disadvantage when family businesses are transferred. 3558 COMMONS DEBATES May 19, 2016 Privilege (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) democracy happen without the approval of the people in a referendum. [English] Ms. Karina Gould: Mr. Speaker, I hope you will find unanimous This is a very strong message from Canadians. I urge the Prime consent for the following motion. I move that, notwithstanding any Minister to take heed of this message from Canadians. standing order or usual practice of the House, the Journals and the Ï (1010) Debates for Wednesday, May 18, 2016, be revised to add the name of the member for Berthier—Maskinongé to the list of nays in The Speaker: I need to remind members that presenting petitions division No. 63. is not the time to engage in debate but to simply give a synopsis of what the petition is about. The Speaker: Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose the motion? The hon. member for Vancouver Kingsway. Some hon. members: Agreed. PALLIATIVE CARE Some hon. members: No. Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition to the House signed by many *** residents of Vancouver, with thanks to my hon. colleague from PETITIONS Langley—Aldergrove, calling for the House to proceed with a national strategy on palliative care. FREEDOM OF SPEECH Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. It notes that the House of Commons, in the last Parliament, Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions today. unanimously passed a motion calling on the House to create such a strategy. It also notes that in the recent Carter decision, the issue of The first is signed by 753 residents in my area and the surrounding physician-assisted dying cannot be separated from the need to create area. They point out that Canadians are deeply affected by the fate of a world-class global palliative care system for all Canadians, and it Mary Wagner, a prisoner of conscience, detained for the belief that calls on the House to get to work on that immediately. unborn children have the right to be born and live, and merely for speaking and praying for that intention. *** They are asking Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER prohibit the detention before trial for custodial sentencing of anyone Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the accused solely of a non-violent offence, and consisting of the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): presence of the words of the accused occurring in the course of the Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand. free exercise of speech, by the accused, or the free exercise of conscience by the accused. The Speaker: Is it agreed? PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DYING Some hon. members: Agreed. Mr. Harold Albrecht (Kitchener—Conestoga, CPC): Mr. *** Speaker, the second petition is again from a number of residents in my area. They are calling on the Government of Canada to draft PRIVILEGE legislation that would include adequate safeguards for vulnerable Canadians, especially those with mental health challenges, have REFERENCE TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND HOUSE clear conscience protection for health care workers and institutions, AFFAIRS and protect children and those under 18 from physician-assisted The House resumed consideration of the motion, and of the suicide. motion that this question be now put. DEMOCRATIC REFORM Hon. Rona Ambrose (Leader of the Opposition, CPC): Mr. Mr. Scott Reid (Lanark—Frontenac—Kingston, CPC): Mr. Speaker, as I begin, I would like to make a few comments about the Speaker, I have the privilege to present petition e-48. This was one air Egypt disaster. Our hearts obviously go out to all of the victims. of the electronic petitions following the introduction of this new We do understand from the news that there may have been a petitioning format. There are 14,237 Canadians who signed this Canadian on board. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families. petition. It was, at the time of its completion, the largest ever electronic petition under our new system, indicating a wave of I rise today in response to the question of privilege raised by my support for the proposal made. hon. colleague, the member for York—Simcoe in relation to the Prime Minister's behaviour last night. The proposal is that there should be no change to the electoral system without a referendum. The petitioners point out that in the Let me begin by saying that it is troubling that we are having this case of British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, New debate. What happened last night was very unsettling for everyone in Zealand, the United Kingdom, and other jurisdictions, it has always this chamber. It is troubling, but it is our duty to have this debate if been the case, and a tradition in our system, to ensure that no change we take seriously our obligations to uphold the respect for one to this fundamental way that we elect members and conduct our another required in this House to do our jobs. May 19, 2016 COMMONS DEBATES 3559 Privilege The Prime Minister's behaviour in the chamber last night was a seat like the rest of us for a vote to begin? I watched him. He had just violation of that respect. His behaviour was unbecoming of the entered the chamber a few seconds after I did. He was not here for leader who has the privilege, and let us never forget it is a privilege, very long when he strode across the aisle. bestowed on him by the people of Canada, to sit as Prime Minister in this place, just like every one of us has the privilege to sit in this I watched him as he grabbed the official opposition whip, my place. good friend, by the arm. I also watched him as he yelled something so out of line that I will not repeat it in the House.