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41st PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals

No. 107

Thursday, April 5, 2012

10:00 a.m.



The Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Stanton (Simcoe North), Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 8.

Prayers
Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Lebel (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities;

And of the motion of Mr. Toet (Elmwood—Transcona), seconded by Mr. Brown (Barrie), — That this question be now put.

The debate continued.

Statements By Members

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

Oral Questions

Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to Oral Questions.

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents
Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gourde (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services, for Official Languages and for the Economic Development Agency for the Regions of Quebec) laid upon the Table, — Document entitled "Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013: Acting for the Future — Mid-term Report". — Sessional Paper No. 8525-411-33.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— Nos. 411-0537, 411-0538, 411-0559, 411-0560, 411-0566, 411-0623 and 411-0634 concerning China. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-18-09;
— Nos. 411-0636, 411-0647 to 411-0650, 411-0655 to 411-0657, 411-0673, 411-0674, 411-0686 to 411-0690, 411-0703 and 411-0711 concerning abortion. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-61-04;
— No. 411-0644 concerning human trafficking. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-51-03;
— Nos. 411-0659, 411-0672 and 411-0699 concerning alcoholic beverages. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-58-03;
— Nos. 411-0677, 411-0685, 411-0695 and 411-0704 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-32-05.

Presenting Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. May (Saanich—Gulf Islands), seconded by Mr. Bellavance (Richmond—Arthabaska), Bill C-417, An Act to amend the Fish Inspection Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (importation and labelling of shark), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.


Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations and Understanding Labour Shortages: Addressing Barriers to Filling Low-Skilled Jobs, seven members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be authorized to travel to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Sydney and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Montreal, Quebec, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on Fixing the Skills Gap: Addressing Existing Labour Shortages in High Demand Occupations and Understanding Labour Shortages: Addressing Barriers to Filling Low-Skilled Jobs, seven members of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities be authorized to travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Calgary and Fort McMurray, Alberta, and Estevan, Saskatchewan, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its Briefing on the Situation in Ukraine, seven members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development be authorized to travel to Kiev, Kharkiv and Lvov, Ukraine, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on the Land-Use and Sustainable Economic Development, seven members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development be authorized to travel to Roberval, Quebec, Truro and Sydney, Nova Scotia, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on the Land-Use and Sustainable Economic Development, seven members of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development be authorized to travel to Westbank, Penticton and Osoyoos, British Columbia, and Saskatoon, Leask and North Battleford, Saskatchewan, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its study on Animal Products Supply Chain, seven members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food be authorized to travel to Guelph, Ontario, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its Study to Provide Recommendations Regarding the Development of a National Conservation Plan, six members of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development be authorized to travel to Halifax, Lunenburg and Prospect, Nova Scotia, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, in relation to its Study to Provide Recommendations Regarding the Development of a National Conservation Plan, six members of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development be authorized to travel to Nanaimo, Parksville, Port Alberni, Bowser and Vancouver, British Columbia, and Calgary, Olds and Longview, Alberta, in the spring of 2012, and that the necessary staff accompany the Committee.


Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

— by Mr. Braid (Kitchener—Waterloo), one concerning abortion (No. 411-0829);
— by Mr. Dewar (Ottawa Centre), one concerning human rights in Vietnam (No. 411-0830);
— by Mr. Strahl (Chilliwack—Fraser Canyon), two concerning abortion (Nos. 411-0831 and 411-0832) and one concerning the Criminal Code of Canada (No. 411-0833);
— by Mr. Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), one concerning transportation (No. 411-0834);
— by Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre), one concerning asbestos (No. 411-0835);
— by Ms. May (Saanich—Gulf Islands), one concerning the democratic process (No. 411-0836) and one concerning environmental assessment and review (No. 411-0837).

Questions on the Order Paper

Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answers to questions Q-475, Q-485 and Q-495 on the Order Paper.


Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the returns to the following questions made into Orders for Return:

Q-468 — Mr. Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso) — With regard to the Canada First Defence Strategy: (a) does the strategy include (i) acquisition of three strategic air transport aircraft and stationing them at CFB Trenton, (ii) doubling the size of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), (iii) acquisition of three armed naval heavy icebreakers, and stationing them in the area of Iqaluit, (iv) building a new civilian-military deepwater docking facility to accommodate the three armed naval heavy icebreakers mentioned in subquestion (iii), (v) establishing a new underwater sensor system, (vi) building a new army training centre in the area of Cambridge Bay, (vii) stationing new long-range unmanned aerial vehicle squadrons at both CFB Goose Bay and CFB Comox, (viii) stationing new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft in Yellowknife, (ix) increasing the size of the Canadian Rangers by 500 members, (x) establishing a 650-member regular forces battalion at CFB Comox, CFB Goose Bay, CFB Trenton, and CFB Bagotville respectively, (xi) adding 1,000 regular force and 750 reserve force personnel to the army in Quebec, (xii) establishing a territorial defence unit in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Saint John, St. John's, Halifax and the Niagara-Windsor corridor respectively, (xiii) recruiting 1,000 regular force personnel for the purpose of improving and enlarging the Atlantic fleet, (xiv) increasing the number of personnel in CFB Gagetown, (xv) stationing new aircraft and personnel at CFB Greenwood, (xvi) increasing the numbers of Pacific navy regular force personnel by about 500, (xvii) deploying new fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft at CFB Comox and CFB Winnipeg, (xviii) upgrading fighter aircraft at CFB Cold Lake; (b) what is the rationale for the inclusion or exclusion, from the Canada First Defence Strategy, of each of the items mentioned in subquestions (a)(i) to (a)(xviii); and (c) for each item mentioned in subquestions (a)(i) to (a)(xviii) that is not a part of the strategy, (i) has the government taken any steps to carry out or implement the item, (ii) if the government has not taken any such steps, does it intend to do so, (iii) if the government does intend to implement the item, when does it intend to do so? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-468.

Q-469 — Mr. Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso) — With regards to letters or electronic mail messages received by Ministers from Canadians since January 1, 2012, how many have been received: (a) by the Minister of Industry concerning copyright legislation; (b) by the Minister of Canadian Heritage concerning copyright legislation; and (c) by the Minister of Justice concerning “lawful access” legislation in general or Bill C-30, An Act to enact the Investigating and Preventing Criminal Electronic Communications Act and to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts, in particular? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-469.
Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Lebel (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities;

And of the motion of Mr. Toet (Elmwood—Transcona), seconded by Mr. Brown (Barrie), — That this question be now put.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to on division.

Pursuant to Standing Order 61(2), the question was put on the original motion and it was agreed to on division.

Accordingly, Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act, was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.


The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. MacKay (Minister of National Defence), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-15, An Act to amend the National Defence Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on National Defence.

The debate continued.

Mrs. Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke), seconded by Mr. Wallace (Burlington), moved, — That this question be now put.

Debate arose thereon.

Private Members' Business

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of Bill C-279, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression).

Mr. Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca), seconded by Mr. Morin (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord), moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Debate arose thereon.

Royal Assent

A message was received informing the Commons that on April 4, 2012, at 6:22 p.m., His Excellency the Governor General signified Royal Assent by written declaration to the following Bill:

Private Members' Business

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Garrison (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca), seconded by Mr. Morin (Chicoutimi—Le Fjord), — That Bill C-279, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code (gender identity and gender expression), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

The debate continued.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

Returns and Reports Deposited with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

— by Mr. Baird (Minister of Foreign Affairs) — Independent Review of the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act, pursuant to the Remote Sensing Space Systems Act, S.C. 2005, c. 45, sbs. 45.1(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-411-1062-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development)
— by Mr. Flaherty (Minister of Finance) — Report of the Governor of the Bank of Canada and Statement of Accounts, together with the Auditors' Report, for the year ended December 31, 2011, pursuant to the Bank of Canada Act, R.S. 1985, c. B-2, sbs. 30(3). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-411-65-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)
Petitions Filed with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were filed as follows:

— by Mr. Choquette (Drummond), one concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 411-0838);
— by Mr. Braid (Kitchener—Waterloo), one concerning immigration (No. 411-0839).
Adjournment

At 2:30 p.m., pursuant to Order made Friday, March 9, 2012, the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until Monday, April 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 28(2) and 24(1).