House of Commons Debates VOLUME 148 Ï NUMBER 089 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 42nd PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, October 6, 2016 Speaker: The Honourable Geoff Regan CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 5555 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, October 6, 2016 The House met at 10 a.m. [English] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Prayer FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Mr. Peter Fragiskatos (London North Centre, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the Ï (1005) third report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development entitled “An Opportunity for Global [English] Leadership: Canada and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda”. THE ENVIRONMENT Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Parliamentary Secretary to the Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lib.): Mr. committee requests that the government table a comprehensive Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate response to this report. Change, I have two documents to present to the House today. Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to present, in [Translation] both official languages, the 2016-2019 federal sustainable develop- ment strategy. PUBLIC SAFETY AND NATIONAL SECURITY *** COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Mr. Robert Oliphant (Don Valley West, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security in relation to Bill C-226, an act to amend the Criminal Code Mr. Jonathan Wilkinson (Parliamentary Secretary to the (offences in relation to conveyances) and the Criminal Records Act Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Lib.): Mr. and to make consequential amendments to other acts. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109 and Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the government's response to the second and unanimous report of the [English] Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. *** The committee has studied the bill and, pursuant to Standing Order 97.1(1), requests a 30-day extension to consider it. [Translation] CANADA PENSION PLAN [Translation] Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos (for the Minister of Finance) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Canada The Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 97.1 (3)(a), a motion to Pension Plan, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act and concur in the report is deemed moved, the question deemed put, and the Income Tax Act. a recorded division deemed demanded and deferred to Wednesday, October 19, immediately before the time provided for private (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) members' business. 5556 COMMONS DEBATES October 6, 2016 Orders of the Day children, indicating that at least 18 of the missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls were pregnant. *** [English] Canadians know that a national strategy combatting violence against women will need a law like this included to be PETITIONS comprehensive in addressing violence against women. IMPAIRED DRIVING Ï (1010) Mr. Earl Dreeshen (Red Deer—Mountain View, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions on behalf of Canadians DEMOCRATIC REFORM regarding impaired driving causing death. Families for Justice is a Mr. Pat Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I group of Canadians who have had a loved one killed by an impaired would like to present a petition from the constituents of Calgary driver. They believe that Canada's impaired driving laws are much Rocky Ridge, regarding the government's plan on electoral reform. too lenient and want the crime to be called what it is, vehicular Given that peer countries of Canada, such as New Zealand and the homicide. Canadians are calling for mandatory sentencing for United Kingdom, as well as Canadian provinces, have all consulted vehicular homicide and for Parliament to support Bill C-226, the the voters directly through a referendum on the question of proposed impaired driving act. changes to the electoral system, the constituents of Calgary Rocky [Translation] Ridge are concerned about this and believe that if changes to the HEALTH voting system are to be made, they can only be done with the consent of Canadians through a national referendum. Mr. Charlie Angus (Timmins—James Bay, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to present this petition from northern *** Ontarians about the shortage of federal health and safety inspectors in northern Ontario. Canada cut the number of inspectors from 151 QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER in 2006 to fewer than 67 now. Northern Ontario has a single officer covering the whole region. That person's work can be held up by just Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the one injury, illness, or absence. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand at this We are asking the Minister of Employment, Workforce Develop- time. ment and Labour to increase the number of federal health and safety inspectors in northern Ontario so that this important work can be The Speaker: Is that agreed? carried out at all times without interruption. [English] Some hon. members: Agreed. FALUN GONG Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have a number of signatures on a petition with respect to the Falun ORDERS OF THE DAY Gong issue. [English] Since July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party has launched an intensive, nationwide persecution campaign to eradicate the Falun STANDING ORDERS AND PROCEDURE Gong. Hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in forced labour camps, brainwashing centres, and prisons, Hon. Bardish Chagger (Leader of the Government in the where torture and abuse are routine, and thousands have died as a House of Commons, Lib.) moved: result. That this House take note of the Standing Orders and procedure of the House and The petitioners are looking to the House of Commons and its committees. parliamentarians to call for the end of the persecution of the Falun Hon. Larry Bagnell (Yukon, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am just going Gong, in a public way. to start out by explaining to the public watching TV, members here, JUSTICE the journalists, etc. what today's debate is all about. Mrs. Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville, CPC): Mr. Speak- Basically, all the mystifying procedures that happen here, the er, I present petitions, again today, in support of Cassie and Molly's various votes, who is on committee, and all this stuff, are handled by law. 159 standing orders that we as MPs create. The huge number of new A Statistics Canada study shows that more than 60,000 pregnant MPs—probably the highest number in history, in this Parliament— women were victims of domestic violence between 2004 and 2009 may find some of these procedures very mystifying, strange, or even in Canada. bizarre. Some of those come from England's House of Commons and were established before Canada was even created. Today is those The Native Women's Association of Canada is fully endorsing Bill members' chance to change the rules of the House. Are they most C-225, which would protect pregnant women and their preborn effective for doing the business of the nation? October 6, 2016 COMMONS DEBATES 5557 Orders of the Day One of the 159 standing orders is number 51, which mandates without any draconian measures by the opposition or the government today's debate. The Right Hon. Paul Martin wanted to give to get this work done. backbenchers and all MPs a chance to have a kick at the can in these procedures, so he put in the standing order that says that between the 60th and 90th days of a new Parliament, everyone gets a My fifth point is that in Congress, if members watch it, at times chance to have a take-note debate on the Standing Orders, which is there are two podiums and there is a person from each party at a what we're doing today. After this debate, all this information will go podium, and they are debating back and forth for a few minutes. In to the procedure and House affairs committee of the House to do this Parliament, we really get no chance to debate with each other. with what it will, and it can make recommendations to the We get a 10-minute speech, we only get to speak once, and except government on changes to the Standing Orders. for a question, there is really no ongoing debate. Ten minutes may be enough or not enough. One of the greatest speeches in history, the An example is that the last time we had this debate, on February Gettysburg address, just took barely more than two minutes. So are 17, 2012, one of the suggestions was electronic petitions, which are the speaking limits too long or too short? now a reality; so members can make a difference. On this side of the House, the present Prime Minister has the same philosophy as the Right Hon. Paul Martin: that this is not for the Ï (1015) government. Today, this is for backbenchers, for all MPs to express their ideas, so the government is not providing any input. The government has no idea what we as individual backbenchers are My sixth point is that the situation is totally different in going to say. I think it is going to be a very fun, non-partisan, committee. There members have unlimited chances to speak, instead creative brainstorming day to improve Canada's house of democracy of just once as in the House.