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44th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals No. 375 Monday, November 25, 2024 11:00 a.m.

Prayer

Question of Privilege

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Scheer (Regina—Qu'Appelle), seconded by Mr. Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable), — That the government's failure of fully providing documents, as ordered by the House on June 10, 2024, be hereby referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs;

And of the amendment, as amended, of Mr. Berthold (Mégantic—L'Érable), seconded by Mr. Perkins (South Shore—St. Margarets), — That the motion be amended by adding the following:

“provided that it be an instruction to the committee:

(a) that the following witnesses be ordered to appear before the committee, separately, for two hours each:

(i) the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry,

(ii) the Clerk of the Privy Council,

(iii) the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, who respected the order of the House and deposited unredacted documents,

(iv) Paul MacKinnon, the former Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet (Governance),

(v) the Auditor General of Canada,

(vi) the Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police,

(vii) the Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada,

(viii) the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel of the House of Commons,

(ix) the Acting President of Sustainable Development Technology Canada,

(x) a panel consisting of the Board of Sustainable Development Technology Canada; and

(b) that it report back to the House no later than the 30th sitting day following the adoption of this order.";

And of the subamendment of Mr. Kelly (Calgary Rocky Ridge), seconded by Mr. Falk (Provencher), — That the amendment be amended by adding the following:

“, except that the order for the committee to report back to the House within 30 sitting days shall be discharged if the Speaker has sooner laid upon the table a notice from the Law Clerk and Parliamentary Counsel confirming that all government institutions have fully complied with the order adopted on June 10, 2024, by depositing all of their responsive records in an unredacted form”.

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. Lamoureux (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid before the House, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— Nos. 441-02695, 441-02703, 441-02704 and 441-02706 concerning foreign affairs;

— No. 441-02696 concerning animals;

— Nos. 441-02697 and 441-02700 concerning parliament and politics;

— No. 441-02698 concerning employment and labour;

— Nos. 441-02699 and 441-02702 concerning justice;

— No. 441-02701 concerning civil and human rights;

— Nos. 441-02705 and 441-02707 concerning health;

— No. 441-02708 concerning transportation.

Statements by Ministers

Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Ms. Ien (Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth) made a statement.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Weiler (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country), from the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, presented the 18th report of the committee, "Appearance of the Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre". — Sessional Paper No. 8510-441-510.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 132) was tabled.

Motions

Mr. Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan), seconded by Mr. McCauley (Edmonton West), moved, — That the 37th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented on Friday, March 22, 2024, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 77)

Debate arose thereon.

Questions on the Order Paper

By unanimous consent, Mr. Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities) presented the answers to questions Q-3057, Q-3058 and Q-3068 on the Order Paper.

By unanimous consent and pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Bittle (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities) presented the returns to the following questions made into orders for return:

Q-3059 — — With regard to the Canadian Heraldic Authority's (CHA) issuance of coats of arms, emblems, and other insignia: (a) which departments, agencies, or government entities have commissioned something from the CHA since 2015; and (b) what are the details of each commission, including (i) the total cost, (ii) a breakdown of the spending (design, printing, calligraphy and any other relevant costs), (iii) the date of the commission, (iv) the purpose of the commission or event associated with the design, (v) the specific commission, court, organization, or subset within the department, agency or entity to which it was issued? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3059.

Q-3060 — — With regard to any federal government employees fired or terminated for cause since January 1, 2019, broken down by department or agency, and by year: (a) what was the total number of employees fired or terminated for cause; and (b) what is the breakdown of (a) by reason for termination? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3060.

Q-3061 — — With regard to expenditures on artwork by government departments and agencies since January 1, 2019, and broken down by year: (a) what was the total expenditure on artwork; (b) what was the total expenditure for the purchase of artwork; (c) what was the total expenditure for the rental of artwork; (d) what are the details of all contracts for the purchase of artwork, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) vendor, (iv) description of the artwork, (v) location where the artwork is displayed; and (e) what are the details of all contracts for the rental of artwork, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount, (iii) vendor, (iv) description of the artwork, (v) location where the artwork is displayed, (vi) time period of the rental, (vii) monthly or yearly cost? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3061.

Q-3062 — — With regard to the additional revenue received as a result of the GST, or GST portion of the HST where applicable, being charged on the carbon tax: (a) how much revenue did the government receive from the GST being charged on the carbon tax in the 2023-24 fiscal year; and (b) if the government does not have the data requested in (a), what is the government's best estimate, or what financial projections does it use for budgeting purposes, on the total amount of revenue collected from the carbon tax in 2023-24 that would have been subject to the GST or HST, in total and broken down by province or territory? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3062.

Q-3063 — — With regard to grants and contributions provided by the government, since January 1, 2016, and broken down by department or agency, for projects located in China: (a) what was the total value of such grants and contributions, broken down by year; and (b) what are the details of all such grants and contributions, including, for each, the (i) date, (ii) amount or value, (iii) recipient, (iv) project description, (v) city or region within China where the project is located, (vi) program under which the funding was provided, (vii) type of funding (grant, non-repayable loan, etc.)? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3063.

Q-3064 — — With regard to expenditures related to the cabinet retreat which took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from August 25 to 27, 2024, including expenses incurred by the Privy Council Office as well as by other departments or agencies, and including travel expenses incurred by ministers, ministerial staff, and others: (a) what are the total expenditures related to the retreat incurred to date; (b) what is the breakdown of the expenditures by type of expense (accommodation, hospitality, audio-visual, etc.); (c) what are the details of all expenditures in excess of $1,000, including, for each, the (i) amount, (ii) vendor, (iii) description of the goods or services provided; and (d) what are the details of all travel expenses incurred by ministers and their staff, broken down by individual, including, for each, the (i) title, (ii) amount spent on airfare, (iii) amount spent on other transportation, (iv) amount spent on accommodation, (v) hotel or venue name, (vi) amount spent on meals or per diems, (vii) other expenses, broken down by type? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3064.

Q-3065 — — With regard to government expenditures on "other furniture and fixtures including parts" (Treasury Board code 1246 or similar), since April 1, 2022, and broken down by fiscal year: (a) what was the total amount spent on such services, broken down by department, agency, or other government entity; and (b) what are the details of each expenditure, including the (i) date, (ii) vendor, (iii) amount, (iv) description of the services, (v) details of how the contract was awarded (sole-sourced or competitive bid)? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3065.

Q-3066 — — With regard to the CRA and small businesses which qualify for the small business deduction: what was the total amount paid by small businesses in federal corporate taxes, broken down by each of the last five fiscal years? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3066.

Q-3067 — — With regard to government expenditures on "office furniture and furnishings, including parts" (Treasury Board code 1231 or similar), since April 1, 2022, and broken down by fiscal year: (a) what was the total amount spent on such services, broken down by department, agency, or other government entity; and (b) what are the details of each expenditure, including the (i) date, (ii) vendor, (iii) amount, (iv) description of the services, (v) details of how the contract was awarded (sole-sourced or competitive bid)? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3067.

Q-3069 — — With regard to communication and meetings between the former Attorney General of Canada and the Chief Justice of Canada from January 2020 to June 2022, and the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) and the Chief Justice of Canada during the same period: (a) how many times did the Attorney General and Chief Justice communicate with each other; (b) how many times did the PMO and Chief Justice communicate with each other; (c) what are the details of each communication in (a) and (b), including, the (i) date, (ii) subject, (iii) names of the people included in the communication, (iv) type of communication (e.g. email, phone, text, memorandum, messaging software, video conference, in person meeting, fax); (d) how many meetings occurred between (i) the Attorney General and the Chief Justice, (ii) the PMO and the Chief Justice; and (e) what are the details for each meeting in (d), including the (i) date, (ii) time, (iii) location, (iv) purpose of the meeting, (v) topics discussed in the meeting, (vi) meeting attendees, (vii) outcome of the meeting? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-441-3069.

Motions

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan), seconded by Mr. McCauley (Edmonton West), — That the 37th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented on Friday, March 22, 2024, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 77)

The debate continued.

At 6:47 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 66(2), the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, November 26, 2024, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by Mr. Genuis (Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan), one concerning taxation (No. 441-02887), one concerning foreign affairs (No. 441-02888) and one concerning civil and human rights (No. 441-02889);

— by Mr. Gerretsen (Kingston and the Islands), one concerning media and telecommunications (No. 441-02890);

— by Mr. Albas (Central Okanagan—Similkameen—Nicola), one concerning foreign affairs (No. 441-02891);

— by Mr. Brock (Brantford—Brant), one concerning foreign affairs (No. 441-02892).

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 before the House as follows:

— by Ms. Anand (President of the Treasury Board) — Actuarial Report on the Pension Plan for the Public Service of Canada, as at March 31, 2023, and certification of assets of the Pension Plan, pursuant to the Public Pension Reporting Act, R.S., 1985, c. 13 (2nd Supp.), sbs. 9(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-441-221-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— by Ms. Anand (President of the Treasury Board) — Actuarial Report (including certification of assets) on the Public Service Death Benefit Account as at March 31, 2023, pursuant to the Public Service Superannuation Act, R.S., 1985, c. P-36, sbs. 59(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-441-222-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— by Mr. Miller (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship) — Report on activities of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, together with the Auditors' Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, pursuant to the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants Act, S.C. 2019, c. 29, s. 292 "15(2)". — Sessional Paper No. 8560-441-1396-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration)

Adjournment Proceedings

At 7:00 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 38(1), the question “That this House do now adjourn” was deemed to have been proposed.

After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.

Accordingly, at 7:27 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).