House of Commons Debates VOLUME 146 Ï NUMBER 172 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, October 30, 2012 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 11629 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, October 30, 2012 The House met at 10 a.m. Mr. Brian Masse: Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to move the following motion: That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, clauses 179 to 184 of schedule I, related to the construction of a bridge spanning the Prayers Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit, be removed from C-45, A second Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 29, 2012 and other measures, and do compose ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Bill C-47; that Bill C-47 be entitled “an act respecting a bridge spanning the Detroit River between Windsor and Detroit and other Ï (1005) works”; that Bill C-47 be deemed read a first time and be printed; [English] that the order for second reading of the said bill provide for the referral to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and PUBLIC ACCOUNTS OF CANADA Communities; that Bill C-45 retain the status on the order paper that Hon. Tony Clement (President of the Treasury Board and it had prior to the adoption of this order; that Bill C-45 be reprinted Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for as amended; and that the law clerk and the parliamentary counsel be Northern Ontario, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to table authorized to make any technical changes or corrections as may be today, in both official languages, the Public Accounts of Canada necessary to give effect to this motion. 2012. We are proposing this because the new bridge between Windsor The Government of Canada is committed to strong financial and Detroit has been a long process in evolution and included new management and reporting to ensure accountability and transpar- legislation that was passed under the International Bridges and ency. For the 14th consecutive year, the Auditor General of Canada Tunnels Act. That process has been defined and developed, and we has provided an unqualified audit opinion of the Government of want to make sure that it is consistent. Canada's financial statements and, indeed, the Government of Canada can be justifiably proud of this record. The Speaker: Does the hon. member for Windsor West have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion? *** Some hon. members: Agreed. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of Some hon. members: No. the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both *** official languages, the government's response to 59 petitions. PETITIONS *** PARKS CANADA BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE Ms. Megan Leslie (Halifax, NDP): Mr. Speaker, as you probably Hon. Gordon O'Connor (Minister of State and Chief know, there were recent cuts announced to Parks Canada. Some of Government Whip, CPC): Mr. Speaker, there have been consulta- those cuts will impact the Rideau Canal, which is a UNESCO world tions and I would ask for unanimous consent for the following heritage site, and the Trent-Severn Waterway. I have a petition in motion. I move: which the petitioners are asking Parks Canada not to reduce the That, pursuant to Standing Order 45, any deferred recorded division, scheduled to hours of operation or shorten the seasons of operation and to return take place on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, immediately before the time provided service to 2011 levels. for Private Members' Business pursuant to Standing Order 98, be deferred anew until Wednesday, October 31, 2012, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions. They are also asking for Parks Canada to receive the necessary The Speaker: Is that agreed? funding for both the Rideau Canal and Trent-Severn Waterway to return to 2011 operating hours and lengths of seasons in order for Some hon. members: Agreed. Canadians and visitors to safely enjoy these waterways. The (Motion agreed to) petitioners and I look forward to the minister's response. 11630 COMMONS DEBATES October 30, 2012 Routine Proceedings [Translation] Ï (1010) EXPERIMENTAL LAKES AREA Ms. Jinny Jogindera Sims (Newton—North Delta, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I have a petition on behalf of Canadians who are very Ms. Lise St-Denis (Saint-Maurice—Champlain, Lib.): Mr. concerned about Canada's Experimental Lakes Area. Speaker, today I wish to present five petitions signed by Canadians from several provinces who are calling on the government to reverse The petitioners are calling on the government to reverse the its decision to close down the Experimental Lakes Area, in order to decision to close the ELA research station and to continue to staff protect aquatic ecosystems. and provide financial resources to the ELA at current or higher levels of commitment. Need I add that that program has allowed scientists to gather data after monitoring fresh water in Canada and that the research Mrs. Carol Hughes (Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, conducted in the Experimental Lakes Area has earned international NDP): Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of a petition with respect to recognition? the Experimental Lakes Area as well. Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP): The petitioners indicate that since 1968 the Experimental Lakes Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present four petitions. Area has been the global leader in conducting whole ecosystem experiments. The petitioners are extremely concerned about these The first petition has to do with safeguarding the Experimental closures. They recognize the importance that this has played in Lakes Area. preserving and protecting aquatic ecosystems, and would like the government to reverse its decision to close the Experimental Lakes People from across Canada have signed this petition calling on the Area research station. The petitioners also ask that there be government to recognize the significant impact of the research done continued support for the staff and financial resources at the current there and to continue to fund that research and support scientists. or higher level. THE ENVIRONMENT CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP): Mr. Andrew Cash (Davenport, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I rise to Mr. Speaker, the second petition was signed by many Canadians who submit a petition on behalf of residents of Toronto, over 50% of oppose Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto protocol and who want whom were not born in Canada. to ensure that Canada has a clear plan to fight greenhouse gases. PENSIONS The petitioners continue to express serious concerns about Bill C-31 and, among other things, the dividing of refugees into tiers Ms. Anne Minh-Thu Quach (Beauharnois—Salaberry, NDP): based on their country of origin and unnecessarily punishing them as Mr. Speaker, I wish to present two more petitions signed by people a result. from my riding of Beauharnois—Salaberry. The petitioners want the government to continue funding old age security and to reconsider *** its decision to increase the age of eligibility from 65 to 67. These people want to continue enjoying the protection of the government. QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER [English] Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, HOUSE OF COMMONS the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 852, 858 and 872. Mr. Kevin Lamoureux (Winnipeg North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, at a time when there is a great need for attention to issues like bedside [Text] care, our old age supplement programs and increasing community policing, I have a petition from individuals asking the government to Question No. 852—Mr. Paul Dewar: rethink its argument that there is a need for additional members of With regard to the 29.2 million dollars in Strategic Review reductions assigned in Parliament here in the House of Commons. the 2012 Budget to Parks Canada for fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014- 2015: (a) what are the overall reductions for National Historic Sites (including The petitioners are asking the government to maintain the current historic canals, and federal funding in support of national historic sites not number of MPs at 308. administered by Parks Canada), federal heritage buildings, heritage railway stations, heritage lighthouses and historic places; (b) of the 638 full time equivalent (FTE) EXPERIMENTAL LAKES AREA position reductions announced by Parks Canada, how many will be taken from each of the program elements referred to in (a), and how many of those positions are in (i) Mr. John Rafferty (Thunder Bay—Rainy River, NDP): Mr. Parks Canada field units, (ii) service centres, (iii) the national office; (c) what are the specific impacts (expressed in dollar and FTE reductions) on each National Historic Speaker, I have a petition calling on the government to recognize the Site (including Historic Canals) administered by Parks Canada; (d) what are the importance of the Experimental Lakes Area and the government's specific impacts (expressed in dollar and FTE reductions) on support for (i) national mandate to study, preserve and protect aquatic ecosystems. historic sites not administered by Parks Canada, (ii) federal heritage buildings, (iii) heritage railway stations, (iv) heritage lighthouses, (v) historic places, including the The petitioners are also asking the government to continue to staff Canadian Register of Historic Places and Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada; and (e) what is the reduction in and provide financial resources to the Experimental Lakes Area at operating hours and other services to the public for each National Historic Site, the current or higher level of commitment.