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39th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

Journals

No. 98

Monday, May 26, 2008

2:00 p.m.



Prayers
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. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— No. 392-0540 concerning cruelty to animals. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-40-06;
— No. 392-0553 concerning capital punishment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-85-01;
— No. 392-0564 concerning the agricultural industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-80-02;
— Nos. 392-0566, 392-0570 and 392-0608 concerning Afghanistan. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-18-04;
— No. 392-0567 concerning transportation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-11-08;
— No. 392-0568 concerning asbestos. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-27-05;
— Nos. 392-0572 and 392-0604 concerning sponsorships. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-86-01;
— No. 392-0586 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-58-07;
— Nos. 392-0593 and 392-0594 concerning Bangladesh. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-73-02;
— No. 392-0596 concerning federal programs. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-16-12;
— No. 392-0600 concerning national parks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-76-03;
— Nos. 392-0634, 392-0635, 392-0641, 392-0653, 392-0655 and 392-0656 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-26-15;
— Nos. 392-0639, 392-0640, 392-0682 and 392-0696 to 392-0698 concerning the Canada Labour Code. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-392-6-10.

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Day (Minister of Public Safety) for Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), seconded by Ms. Verner (Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages), Bill C-56, An Act to amend the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))
Her Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a measure entitled “An Act to amend the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992”.


Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Lee (Scarborough—Rouge River), from the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations, presented the Third Report of the Committee (procedure established by the Species at Risk Act). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-125.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 11) was tabled.


Mr. Lee (Scarborough—Rouge River), from the Standing Joint Committee on Scrutiny of Regulations, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (by-law making powers pursuant to the Indian Act). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-392-126.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 11) was tabled.


Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Wallace (Burlington), seconded by Mr. Dykstra (St. Catharines), Bill C-549, An Act respecting a day to honour Canada’s marine industry, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.


Presenting Petitions

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

— by Mr. Martin (Winnipeg Centre), one concerning asbestos (No. 392-0706);
— by Ms. Keeper (Churchill), two concerning aboriginal affairs (Nos. 392-0707 and 392-0708);
— by Ms. Nash (Parkdale—High Park), one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 392-0709);
— by Mrs. Mathyssen (London—Fanshawe), one concerning the Criminal Code of Canada (No. 392-0710), one concerning federal programs (No. 392-0711) and one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 392-0712);
— by Mr. Christopherson (Hamilton Centre), one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 392-0713).

Questions on the Order Paper

Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform) presented the answer to question Q-240 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 and Minister for Democratic Reform) presented the returns to the following questions made into Orders for Return:

Q-231 — Mr. Angus (Timmins—James Bay) — With respect to on-reserve educational facilities for First Nations in Canada: (a) what requests for capital building expenditure funding for the purposes of acquiring, building, expanding, improving or replacing educational facilities have been made from April 2000 to present; (b) which of these requests have been granted by the government and why; (c) which of these requests were denied and why; (d) what funds have been committed by the government for capital building expenditure for the purposes of acquiring, building, expanding, improving or replacing educational facilities on-reserve in each fiscal year from 2000-2001 to 2008-2009; (e) what projects are currently under way; (f) in each year since 2000, what projects have been delayed or postponed, and, if any, what were the justifications for and lengths of these delays; (g) what projects are slated to begin work in the 2008-2009 fiscal year; (h) what portion of the total cost of these projects is being funded by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) through capital building infrastructure; (i) how many projects included additional money from a First Nation to complete the construction or for the equipping of an educational facility; (j) what projects are slated to begin work beyond the 2008-2009 fiscal year; (k) how many communities with projects identified by INAC as priority capital projects have had letters of approval issued to them; (l) since 2000, what amounts from the "Community Infrastructure" line item have been reallocated either within INAC or to other government departments; (m) why was $109 million removed from the line item “Community Infrastructure” in the INAC Performance Report for the period ending March 31, 2007; (n) how has this reallocation of funds affected on-reserve educational facilities; and (o) how was this $109 million otherwise spent by the government? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-231.

Q-233 — Ms. McDonough (Halifax) — With respect to Canada's role and contributions to the United Nations (UN) and other international peace initiatives: (a) what is Canada's assessed contribution to the UN; (b) has Canada fully paid on its assessed UN contribution for the most recent financial year; (c) how much does Canada contribute in voluntary contributions to UN funds, programmes and agencies; (d) how do these voluntary contributions compare with other contributing nations; (e) is Canada a sponsor of international treaty negotiations and, if so, which ones; (f) what are Canada's current treaty priorities, in terms of support for new and ongoing treaty negotiations; (g) does the government have a formal system for monitoring its treaty compliance; (h) what contributions has Canada made to support UN humanitarian operations and peace initiatives in Somalia; (i) what new contributions did the government make to UN humanitarian operations and peace initiatives in Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Haiti in 2007; (j) what new contributions does the government intend to make to UN humanitarian operations and peace initiatives in Sudan, Somalia, DRC and Haiti in 2008; (k) what contributions did the government make to the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2007; (l) what contributions does the government intend to make to the UN Peacebuilding Commission in 2008; (m) what formal monitoring and evaluation systems are in place in the government to assess how Canadian financial contributions through UN humanitarian and development programmes and agencies are spent; and (n) what is the government doing to ensure Canada's compliance with UN Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-233.

Q-236 — Mr. Malhi (Bramalea—Gore—Malton) — With respect to the Department of Citizenship and Immigration: (a) what has been the total departmental spending on citizenship courts, divided by line item, for each of the last ten fiscal years (i) nationally, (ii) in each province and territory, (iii) in each of the following cities: Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario, Montréal, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia; (b) how many citizenship ceremonies were performed in each of the last ten fiscal years (i) nationally, (ii) in each province and territory, (iii) in each of the following cities: Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario, Montréal, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British Columbia; and (c) how many people became Canadian citizens in each of the last ten fiscal years, (i) nationally, (ii) in each province and territory, (iii) in each of the following cities: Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario, Montréal, Quebec, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, British-Columbia? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-236.

Q-237 — Mr. Angus (Timmins—James Bay) — With respect to budgets at the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) from 2003-2004 to 2007-2008: (a) what amount was budgeted to be spent by each provincial and territorial department in each fiscal year; (b) what amount of the total budgeted funds were returned to Treasury Board as unspent; (c) what incentives do provincial sections within INAC have to lower their spending below budgeted amounts; (d) how many INAC personnel received financial bonuses for their work in each fiscal year; (e) what were the amounts of each of these bonuses; and (f) what was the total amount spent by INAC on bonuses in each province and territory for each fiscal year? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-237.

Q-238 — Mr. Angus (Timmins—James Bay) — With respect to the impact that the government’s legislative crime initiatives will have on Canada’s correctional facilities: (a) what studies has the government done to assess the future need for increased inmate capacity; (b) according to studies and assessments done by, or on behalf of, the government, will there be a need for increased inmate capacity in Canada’s correctional system; (c) what plans are in place to have new prisons built in Canada; (d) where are new facilities to be located; (e) are there plans for future correctional facilities that do not have a location finalized at this point; (f) how does the government go about determining where correctional facilities will be located; (g) to what extent is there private sector involvement in the operations of Canada’s correctional facilities; (h) are there Canadian correctional facilities that are fully operated by the private sector and, if so, where and by whom are these facilities operated; and (i) has the government considered, done studies on, had studies commissioned on or consulted with other jurisdictions on expanding the role of the private sector in the operation of Canada’s correctional facilities? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-238.

Q-239 — Mr. Savage (Dartmouth—Cole Harbour) — With regard to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, for each year the Program has been in operation, broken down by province, what is: (a) the total number of workers admitted under the Program; (b) the average processing time for successful applications; (c) the total number of workers admitted under the Program for jobs in the oil and gas sector; and (d) the average processing time for workers admitted under the Program for jobs in the oil and gas sector? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-392-239.
Applications for Emergency Debate

Pursuant to Standing Order 52, Ms. Brunelle (Trois-Rivières) asked leave to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, prices of petroleum products.

The Speaker decided that the matter was proper to be discussed and, pursuant to Standing Order 52(9), directed that it be considered later today, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), seconded by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), — That Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. Bevington (Western Arctic), seconded by Ms. Savoie (Victoria), — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:
“Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food for the purpose of reconsidering Clause 2 with a view to making sure that both economic and environmental effects of introducing these regulations do not cause a negative impact on the environment or unduly influence commodity markets.”.

The debate continued.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, notwithstanding any Standing Order or usual practice of the House, during the debate tonight pursuant to Standing Order 52 and Private Members' Business, no quorum calls, requests for unanimous consent or dilatory motions shall be received by the Speaker.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food), seconded by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities), — That Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. Bevington (Western Arctic), seconded by Ms. Savoie (Victoria), — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:
“Bill C-33, An Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-food for the purpose of reconsidering Clause 2 with a view to making sure that both economic and environmental effects of introducing these regulations do not cause a negative impact on the environment or unduly influence commodity markets.”.

The debate continued.

Deferred Recorded Divisions

Government Orders

At 6:30 p.m., pursuant to Order made Friday, May 16, 2008, the House proceeded to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mr. Strahl (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development), seconded by Mr. Hill (Secretary of State), — That Bill C-34, An Act to give effect to the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

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

(Division No. 112 -- Vote no 112)
YEAS: 210, NAYS: 2

YEAS -- POUR

Abbott
Ablonczy
Albrecht
Alghabra
Allen
Allison
Ambrose
Anderson
André
Angus
Atamanenko
Bachand
Bagnell
Bains
Barnes
Batters
Bélanger
Bell (Vancouver Island North)
Bellavance
Bennett
Bevilacqua
Bevington
Bezan
Bigras
Black
Blackburn
Blaney
Boshcoff
Boucher
Bourgeois
Breitkreuz
Brown (Oakville)
Brown (Leeds—Grenville)
Brown (Barrie)
Bruinooge
Brunelle
Cannan (Kelowna—Lake Country)
Cardin
Carrier
Charlton
Chong
Chow
Christopherson
Clarke
Clement
Comartin
Comuzzi
Crête
Crowder
Cullen (Etobicoke North)
Cuzner
Davidson
Day

DeBellefeuille
Del Mastro
Deschamps
Devolin
Dhaliwal
Dosanjh
Doyle
Dryden
Duceppe
Dykstra
Easter
Emerson
Epp
Eyking
Fast
Finley
Fitzpatrick
Flaherty
Galipeau
Gaudet
Godfrey
Godin
Goldring
Goodale
Goodyear
Gourde
Grewal
Guarnieri
Guergis
Guimond
Hall Findlay
Harper
Harris
Harvey
Hearn
Hiebert
Hill
Hinton
Holland
Hubbard
Jaffer
Jean
Jennings
Julian
Kadis
Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's)
Keeper
Kenney (Calgary Southeast)
Khan
Komarnicki
Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings)
Laforest
Laframboise

Lake
Lalonde
Lauzon
Layton
Lebel
LeBlanc
Lee
Lemay
Lessard
Lukiwski
Lunn
Lussier
MacKay (Central Nova)
MacKenzie
Maloney
Marleau
Marston
Martin (Winnipeg Centre)
Martin (LaSalle—Émard)
Martin (Sault Ste. Marie)
Masse
Mathyssen
Mayes
McCallum
McGuinty
McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood)
Ménard (Hochelaga)
Ménard (Marc-Aurèle-Fortin)
Menzies
Merrifield
Miller
Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam)
Moore (Fundy Royal)
Mulcair
Murphy (Charlottetown)
Murray
Nash
Neville
Nicholson
Norlock
O'Connor
Obhrai
Oda
Ouellet
Paquette
Paradis
Patry
Pearson
Petit
Plamondon
Poilievre
Prentice
Priddy

Proulx
Redman
Regan
Reid
Richardson
Ritz
Rodriguez
Roy
Russell
Savage
Savoie
Scarpaleggia
Scott
Sgro
Shipley
Siksay
Silva
Skelton
Smith
Solberg
Sorenson
St. Amand
St. Denis
Steckle
Storseth
Strahl
Sweet
Szabo
Telegdi
Temelkovski
Thi Lac
Thibault (Rimouski-Neigette—Témiscouata—Les Basques)
Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest)
Tilson
Toews
Tonks
Trost
Tweed
Van Loan
Vellacott
Verner
Wallace
Warawa
Warkentin
Wasylycia-Leis
Watson
Williams
Wilson
Wrzesnewskyj
Yelich
Zed

Total: -- 210

NAYS -- CONTRE

Cummins

Hanger

Total: -- 2

PAIRED -- PAIRÉS

Asselin
Baird
Barbot
Benoit
Bernier
Blais
Bonsant
Bouchard
Calkins
Cannon (Pontiac)

Carrie
Casson
Demers
Faille
Fletcher
Freeman
Gagnon
Gallant
Gravel
Hawn

Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission)
Lemieux
Lévesque
Lunney
Malo
Manning
Mills
Mourani
Nadeau
Pallister

Perron
Picard
Preston
Rajotte
St-Cyr
St-Hilaire
Stanton
Vincent

Accordingly, Bill C-34, An Act to give effect to the Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Private Members' Business

At 6:59 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Bellavance (Richmond—Arthabaska), seconded by Mr. Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu—Nicolet—Bécancour), — That Bill C-445, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for loss of retirement income), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the motion and, pursuant to Standing Order 93(1), the recorded division was deferred until Wednesday, May 28, 2008, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business.

Emergency Debate

Pursuant to Standing Order 52(10), the House proceeded to the consideration of a motion to adjourn the House for the purpose of discussing an important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, prices of petroleum products.

Ms. Brunelle (Trois-Rivières), seconded by Mr. Gaudet (Montcalm), moved, — That this House do now adjourn.

Debate arose thereon.

At 11:57 p.m., the Speaker declared the motion adopted.

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 deemed laid upon the Table on Wednesday, May 21, 2008:

— by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) — Reports of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-392-878-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)
— by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) — Reports of the Parc Downsview Park Inc. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-392-919-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)
— by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) — Amended summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2007-2011 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2007 of VIA Rail Canada Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-392-803-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)

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

— by Mr. Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities) — Amended summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2005-2009 and Operating and Capital Budgets for 2005 of the Great Lakes Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-392-843-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities)
— by Mr. Lunn (Minister of Natural Resources) — Department of Natural Resources User Fees Proposal relating to Explosives Regulatory Division activities, pursuant to the User Fees Act, S.C. 2004, c. 6, sbs. 4(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8564-392-3-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources)
— by Mr. Ritz (Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board) — Reports of Farm Credit Canada for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-392-704-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)
Adjournment

At 11:57 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).