CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 142 Ï NUMBER 084 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 5199 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, April 29, 2008 The House met at 10 a.m. prolonged debate of over 20 hours on clause 10, which led the committee to an impasse. Prayers As members will recall, the committee presented a report on April 14, 2008, arising from the debate on the bill, regarding inherent difficulties in the rules and procedures of the House. As a result of the impasse, the committee adopted a motion to the effect that the ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS title, the preamble, clauses 1, 2, 10, as amended, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of Bill C-377, an Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibility in Ï (1005) preventing dangerous climate change be deemed adopted, that the [English] bill as amended be deemed adopted, and that the chair report the bill GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS as amended to the House. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for I wish to note that as an indicator of the impasse, the report Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing contains in annex four supplementary opinions. Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 12 petitions. I wish to thank all members of the committee for their willingness to find a compromise, allowing the committee to proceed in its *** important work. [Translation] HUMAN PATHOGENS AND TOXINS ACT *** Hon. Christian Paradis (for the Minister of Health) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-54, An Act to promote safety and security DRINKING WATER QUALITY ACT with respect to human pathogens and toxins. Mr. Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior, (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-538, An Act to bring the *** Food and Drug Regulations in line with the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. [English] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE He said: Mr. Speaker, this is an act to bring the food and drug ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT regulations in line with the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality. It states that bottled water must conform to the same strict Mr. Bob Mills (Red Deer, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour standards as municipal tap water. Accordingly, bottled water should to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing be regulated by the same guidelines as municipal water in the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development in relation guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality. to Bill C-377, an Act to ensure Canada assumes its responsibility in preventing dangerous climate change. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Second, I have the pleasure to present the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. *** The report provides reasons for the committee not having completed its study of Bill C-377, an Act to ensure Canada assumes its [Translation] responsibility in preventing dangerous climate change. CANADA TRANSPORTATION ACT Mr. Speaker, the committee adopted clauses 3 to 9 with amendments, postponed clause 1, the preamble and the short title Mr. Thierry St-Cyr (Jeanne-Le Ber, BQ) moved for leave to pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), and stood clause 2. The committee introduce Bill C-539, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation was unable to vote on clauses 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 due to a Act (vibration and noise). 5200 COMMONS DEBATES April 29, 2008 Business of Supply He said: Mr. Speaker, I am introducing this bill to amend the GOVERNMENT BUSINESS Canada Transportation Act with respect to railway noise. Last session, the House of Commons came to an agreement in committee [Translation] on a text that would strengthen the Transportation Act. Unfortu- nately, the Senate did not agree with us and amendments were BUSINESS OF SUPPLY necessary in order to pass the bill before the end of the session. This bill would return the text to the form unanimously agreed upon by OPPOSITION MOTION—ELECTIONS CANADA the committee. Mr. Michel Guimond (Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute- (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Côte-Nord, BQ) moved: *** That the House express its full and complete confidence in Elections Canada and the Commissioner of Canada Elections. Ï (1010) He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise on behalf of my party, [English] the Bloc Québécois, to participate in the discussion about this very important motion. PETITIONS INCOME TRUSTS This motion is grounded first and foremost in democracy. Although this may seem quite ironic, the purpose of this motion is Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am for the House of Commons to spend today reiterating its confidence very pleased to present another income trust broken promise petition in an independent, impartial organization whose neutrality is above at the request of the member for Kelowna—Lake Country. The reproach. That may indeed seem ironic. petitioners would like to remind the Prime Minister that he promised never to tax income trusts, but he broke that promise by imposing a Why will we be talking about a motion that asks the House to 31.5% punitive tax which permanently wiped out over $25 billion of express its full confidence in Elections Canada and the elections the hard-earned retirement savings of over two million Canadians, commissioner? Because the party currently leading a minority particularly seniors. government, the Conservative Party, has given us reason to believe that it does not have faith in Elections Canada. The petitioners therefore call upon the Conservative minority government, first, to admit that the decision to tax income trusts was We know that free and fair elections are the basis for any based on flawed methodology and incorrect assumptions, as was democracy. In some countries, the people do not have opportunities demonstrated at the finance committee; second, to apologize to those to choose their elected officials democratically. Here in Quebec and who were unfairly harmed by this broken promise; and finally, to Canada, we do have that opportunity. Regardless of the party elected repeal the 31.5% tax on income trusts. or the member or candidate in whom the people place their trust, that person is elected democratically. Nobody in this House was elected UNBORN VICTIMS OF CRIME by citizens who went to the polls at gunpoint. We are legitimate. Mr. Ken Epp (Edmonton—Sherwood Park, CPC): Mr. All the same, the democratic process that takes place during our Speaker, a year ago, Aysun Sesen of Toronto was murdered and elections has to be overseen by an organization. We cannot let the her unborn child also lost its life. That family was deeply hurt government or the party in power, regardless of who they are, decide because the police could lay no charges in the death of the unborn how things are going to happen. We are responsible for keeping a child. The petitions that I am presenting today reflect that. These are close eye on the electoral process. mostly from Toronto, from her area, and they are from people who are asking Parliament to please enact legislation that would provide We know that the right to vote is not enough on its own. We need for a second offence when a pregnant woman is murdered and her rules in order to hold free, democratic elections. For example—and child also dies or is injured. this is with reference to the case currently before the courts—we need rules that govern contributions to political parties and that make *** it possible to prevent the electoral process from becoming hijacked by the money game. That means that parties have to play by rules QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER enforced by an independent organization. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Here is another example that is more directly linked to the motion Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be today. The rules that set limits on election spending are intended to allowed to stand. make sure that the candidate with the best chances of being elected is the one who is most in tune with the wishes of the public, not the one The Speaker: Is that agreed? who spends the most money to flood the country with partisan advertisements. In the Bloc Québécois, we feel that, in a democratic Some hon. members: Agreed. society, elections must not be bought. April 29, 2008 COMMONS DEBATES 5201 Business of Supply I went onto the Elections Canada website, which lists the to explain for me, Mr. Speaker, why there are only 67 election organization's values: a knowledgeable and professional workforce, reports by candidates, some of whom were elected as members and transparency, responsiveness to the needs of Canadians involved in some of whom have apparently been appointed as ministers. Why the electoral process, cohesiveness and consistency in administering are 67 Conservative election reports being challenged by Elections the Canada Elections Act, earning the public's trust, and finally, Canada? stewardship and accountability in how the democratic process is managed. I would point out that the election expense reports filed by the Ï (1015) Liberals, the Bloc and the NDP after the 2006 elections have resulted in refunds.