House of Commons Debates VOLUME 147 Ï NUMBER 185 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 12, 2015 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 12015 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 12, 2015 The House met at 10 a.m. As an example, the railway companies should conduct risk assessments and route planning, and operate their trains at lower speeds where it is of risk to the public. In addition, we believe that the government should provide greater oversight to the railway Prayers companies and greater inspections. Mr. Larry Miller: Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise again to ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities in relation Ï (1005) to the supplementary estimates, 2014-15. [English] While I am up, I have the honour to present, in both official GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of Infrastructure and Communities in relation to the main estimates, the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, 2015-16. pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 10 petitions. NATIONAL DEFENCE *** Hon. Peter Kent (Thornhill, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on National Defence in relation to the Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC): supplementary estimates C, 2014-15. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian *** delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the Transatlantic Parliamentary Forum, held in [Translation] Washington D.C., the United States of America, December 2 to 3, 2013. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR CONCUSSION REDUCTION *** IN AMATEUR SPORTS ACT COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Mr. Matthew Dubé (Chambly—Borduas, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-658, An Act respecting the development of TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES a national strategy to reduce the incidence of concussions in amateur Mr. Larry Miller (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, CPC): Mr. sport. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure He said: Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce a bill to and Communities in relation to its study of the review of the reduce concussions. This bill is a major improvement over the Canadian transportation safety regime, transportation of dangerous previous version. goods and safety management systems. This bill calls on the Minister of Health to sit down with her Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the House of Commons provincial colleagues to adopt measures that will mitigate the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive scourge of concussions among young people. response to this report. Mr. Mike Sullivan (York South—Weston, NDP): Mr. Speaker, [English] while we on the opposition side do generally support the recommendations of the report, we have provided for the House a It is important that the federal government show leadership on this supplementary opinion, because we believe that there are a number file, and that the Minister of Health sit down with her provincial of recommendations that are not made or that are omitted, and that counterparts, which is what the bill asks, and puts into place there are number of recommendations that do not go far enough. measures that would help reduce concussions in amateur sports. 12016 COMMONS DEBATES March 12, 2015 Routine Proceedings As a former coach myself and as a fan of sports, it is important for The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bruce Stanton): I thank the chief parents and for young people to continue to enjoy all of the positive government whip for his intervention. benefits of sports in a safe environment. This bill goes a long way to taking the steps in the right direction. Just a reminder to all hon. members when presenting petitions. I [Translation] recognize the hon. member for Hamilton Mountain did put her remarks under the rubric of petitions and what the petitioners were I hope that my government colleagues will support this initiative. requesting. At the same time, brevity is important given that we only We all love sports, and we all want our young people to be safe. have 15 minutes to get all the petitions registered in that short time. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) To the degree that members can, keep remarks concise and *** remember that editorializing or providing one's own particular [English] comments on the petition is usually considered out of order. PETITIONS The hon. member for Hamilton Mountain. IMPAIRED DRIVING Mr. Mark Warawa (Langley, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am Ï (1010) saddened to inform the House that 25-year-old Danille Kerpan Ms. Chris Charlton: Mr. Speaker, for all of those reasons, the was tragically killed by a drunk driver, a driver who chose to drive petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to stop these while impaired. Danille's family was devastated by this. devastating cuts to our postal service and look instead for ways to Families for Justice is a group of Canadians who have also lost modernize operations. loved ones killed by an impaired driver. They believe that Canada's impaired driving laws are much too lenient. They want the crime to The Conservatives continue to find millions of dollars for their be called what it is, vehicular homicide. Vehicular homicide is the well-connected friends, it is time they found a way to keep the mail number one cause of criminal death in Canada. Over 1,200 coming to our doors. Canadians are killed every year by drunk drivers. IRANIAN CANADIANS Families for Justice is also calling for mandatory sentencing for vehicular homicide and for Parliament to support Bill C-652. Hon. John McCallum (Markham—Unionville, Lib.): Mr. CANADA POST Speaker, I am very pleased to present a petition signed by many constituents who expressed strong concern regarding the remarks by Ms. Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I the member for Willowdale on the subject of Iranian Canadians. This am pleased to rise in the House today to give voice to the frustration, petition is itself backed by an online petition, which is signed by and dare I say, anger felt by many of my constituents about the more than 2,400 Canadians. Conservative government's decision to cancel door-to-door mail delivery and install community mailboxes. MENTAL HEALTH Petitions continue to flood in, and I am pleased to be able to table 20 more today that were circulated at a recent public meeting Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims (Newton—North Delta, NDP): Mr. organized by municipal councillors to lend their support to our Speaker, I have three petitions to present today. campaign to save Canada Post. My federal NDP colleagues and I have been at the forefront of that fight since January of last year. We The first petition is from constituents in Surrey and Newton. all know that we cannot save a business by cutting services and raising prices. The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to create a ministry for people with disability and mental health issues. The petitioners are appalled that the Conservatives would allow Canada Post to eliminate home delivery for millions of customers, set up community mailboxes without taking residents' legitimate Of those with mental health issues, only one-third who need concerns into account, put thousands of employees out of work and services in Canada actually receive them. The petitioners feel that then have the gall to raise the price of stamps. creating a ministry for these people would build a healthier, harm- reduction solution that is much needed. Our postal service helps connect us, and these cuts will unfairly impact the most vulnerable in our society, including seniors and Like the petitioners, I too want to see real leadership on mental people with disabilities. health. For all of those reasons, the petitioners call upon the Government IMPAIRED DRIVING of Canada to stop these devastating cuts to our postal service— Hon. John Duncan: Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, this is Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims (Newton—North Delta, NDP): Mr. presenting petitions. This is not debate. All we heard was debate Speaker, the second petition is from my constituents in Newton— coming from the member. North Delta. March 12, 2015 COMMONS DEBATES 12017 Routine Proceedings The petitioners call upon the Government of Canada to change the Ï (1015) current drinking and driving laws. They want to implement mandatory minimum sentences for persons convicted of impaired QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER driving causing death. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of CHILD CARE the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims (Newton—North Delta, NDP): Mr. the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 958, 961, 978, Speaker, the third petition is also from my Newton—North Delta 996, 1001, 1002 and 1014. riding. The Speaker: Is that agreed? The petitioners call upon the government to increase the number of good quality and affordable child care spaces. Like the petitioners, Some hon. members: Agreed. I too feel that quality child care and early learning can be the foundation for lifelong success. [Text] Canada ranks last among comparable countries when it comes to Question No. 958—Mr. Don Davies: public spending on child care, which creates a shortage of space and increases child care costs by up to $2,000 per child.