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41st PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals

No. 194

Friday, December 7, 2012

10:00 a.m.



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

Whereupon, Mr. Devolin (Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock), 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. 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;

And of the motion of Mrs. Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke), seconded by Mr. Wallace (Burlington), — 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. Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) laid upon the Table, — Copy of the Specific Annexes of the Protocol of Amendment to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Custom Procedures, and Explanatory Memorandum, dated June 26, 1999. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-411-52.

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Obhrai (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs) laid upon the Table, — Copy of the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Bulgaria and of the Administrative Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Implementation of the Agreement on Social Security between Canada and the Republic of Bulgaria, and Explanatory Memorandum, dated October 5, 2012. — Sessional Paper No. 8532-411-53.

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:

— No. 411-2200 concerning VIA Rail. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-113-02;
— Nos. 411-2215, 411-2224, 411-2228, 411-2229, 411-2233, 411-2246 to 411-2248, 411-2250, 411-2260 to 411-2265 and 411-2270 to 411-2272 concerning the protection of the environment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-12-14;
— Nos. 411-2241, 411-2350 and 411-2370 concerning health care services. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-21-27;
— Nos. 411-2273, 411-2373 and 411-2380 concerning immigration. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-20-19;
— No. 411-2317 concerning poverty. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-46-15;
— No. 411-2382 concerning certain diseases. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-98-07.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Ms. Brown (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the Eighth Report of the Committee (Supplementary Estimates (B), 2012-13 — Votes 1b, 5b, 10b, 15b, 30b, L35b, L40b and 45b under FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-411-162.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 59) was tabled.


Mr. Komarnicki (Souris—Moose Mountain), from the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, presented the Eighth Report of the Committee (Supplementary Estimates (B), 2012-13 — Votes 1b and 5b under HUMAN RESOURCES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-411-163.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 59) was tabled.


Mr. Tweed (Brandon—Souris), from the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, presented the Fifth Report of the Committee (Supplementary Estimates (B), 2012-13 — Votes 1b, 5b, 10b and 25b under AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-411-164.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 59) was tabled.


Motions

Mr. Dewar (Ottawa Centre), seconded by Ms. Laverdière (Laurier-Sainte-Marie), moved, — That the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 9)

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Calandra (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage), seconded by Mr. Daniel (Don Valley East), moved, — That the Honourable Member for Ajax—Pickering be now heard.

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

(Division No. 578 -- Vote no 578)
YEAS: 69, NAYS: 33

YEAS -- POUR

Adler
Alexander
Anderson
Baird
Bergen
Bernier
Boughen
Brown (Newmarket—Aurora)
Calandra
Carrie
Clement
Daniel
Duncan (Vancouver Island North)
Fantino
Fast
Finley (Haldimand—Norfolk)
Flaherty

Glover
Goguen
Goodyear
Gosal
Gourde
Grewal
Harris (Cariboo—Prince George)
Hayes
Hiebert
Jean
Kamp (Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge—Mission)
Keddy (South Shore—St. Margaret's)
Kenney (Calgary Southeast)
Komarnicki
Lake
Leef
Leitch

Lemieux
Lukiwski
MacKay (Central Nova)
Mayes
McLeod
Menegakis
Moore (Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam)
Obhrai
O'Connor
Oliver
O'Neill Gordon
Opitz
Paradis
Penashue
Poilievre
Rathgeber
Reid

Rempel
Richards
Rickford
Saxton
Schellenberger
Sopuck
Storseth
Sweet
Toews
Truppe
Tweed
Uppal
Van Loan
Vellacott
Weston (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country)
Wong
Woodworth
Zimmer

Total: -- 69

NAYS -- CONTRE

Allen (Welland)
Ashton
Bélanger
Blanchette-Lamothe
Boulerice
Brison
Coderre
Cotler

Crowder
Cuzner
Dewar
Dion
Easter
Genest-Jourdain
Harris (Scarborough Southwest)
Harris (St. John's East)

Hsu
Hyer
Larose
Laverdière
Liu
Marston
McKay (Scarborough—Guildwood)
Nicholls

Nunez-Melo
Pacetti
Perreault
Ravignat
Raynault
Scarpaleggia
Sims (Newton—North Delta)
Toone
Valeriote

Total: -- 33

PAIRED -- PAIRÉS

Nil--Aucun

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Dewar (Ottawa Centre), seconded by Ms. Laverdière (Laurier-Sainte-Marie), — That the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented on Wednesday, November 28, 2012, be concurred in. (Concurrence in Committee Reports No. 9)

The debate continued.

Mr. Alexander (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence), seconded by Mr. Richards (Wild Rose), moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

At 1:30 p.m., the Acting Speaker declared that the motion had lapsed.

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 consideration at report stage of Bill C-377, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (requirements for labour organizations), as reported by the Standing Committee on Finance without amendment.

Pursuant to Standing Order 76.1(5), the Speaker selected and grouped for debate the following motions:

Group No. 1 — Motions Nos. 1 to 5.

Group No. 1

Mr. Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso), seconded by Mr. Pacetti (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel), moved Motion No. 1, — That Bill C-377, in Clause 1, be amended by replacing line 20 on page 1 with the following:

“labour organization is a signatory and also includes activities associated with advice, commentary or advocacy provided by an employer organization in respect of labour relations activities, collective bargaining, employment standards, occupational health and safety, the regulation of trades, apprenticeship, the organization of work or any other workplace matter.”

Mr. Cuzner (Cape Breton—Canso), seconded by Mr. Pacetti (Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel), moved Motion No. 2, — That Bill C-377, in Clause 1, be amended

(a) by replacing line 8 on page 1 with the following:

““labour organization” includes

(a) a labour society

(b) by replacing line 14 on page 1 with the following:

“committee or joint board of such organizations; and

(b) an employer organization, whether or not it has responsibilities related to collective bargaining, such as a federation of employers, a contractors’ organization, a group that provides benefits to the employees of a member employer, a research agency involved in any type of research related to labour relations activities and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a corporate vehicle such as a society, corporation, foundation, joint council or board.”

Mr. Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale), seconded by Mr. Adler (York Centre), moved Motion No. 3, — That Bill C-377, in Clause 1, be amended by :

(a) replacing lines 1 to 7 on page 2 with the following:

“(2) Every labour organization and every labour trust shall, by way of electronic filing (as defined in subsection 150.1(1)) and within six months from the end of each fiscal period, file with the Minister an information return for the year, in prescribed form and containing prescribed information.

(3) The information return referred to”

(b) replacing lines 26 to 31 on page 2 with the following:

“assets — with all transactions and all disbursements, the cumulative value of which in respect of a particular payer or payee for the period is greater than $5,000, shown as separate entries along with the name of the payer and payee and setting out for each of those transactions and disbursements its purpose and description and the specific amount that has been paid or received, or that is to be paid or received, and including”

(c) replacing lines 33 to 35 on page 2 with the following:

“(ii) a statement of loans exceeding $250 receivable from officers, employees, members or businesses,”

(d) replacing line 4 on page 3 with the following:

“to officers, directors and trustees, to employees with compensation over $100,000 and to persons in positions of authority who would reasonably be expected to have, in the ordinary course, access to material information about the business, operations, assets or revenue of the labour organization or labour trust, including”

(e) replacing lines 11 to 14 on page 3 with the following:

“consideration provided,

(vii.1) a statement with a reasonable estimate of the percentage of time dedicated by persons referred to in subparagraph (vii) to each of political activities, lobbying activities and other non-labour relations activities,

(viii) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements to”

(f) replacing lines 22 to 25 on page 3 with the following:

“provided,

“(viii.1) a statement with a reasonable estimate of the percentage of time dedicated by persons referred to in subparagraph (viii) to each of political activities, lobbying activities and other non-labour relations activities,

(ix) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on”

(g) replacing lines 33 to 40 on page 3 with the following:

“(xiii) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on administration,

(xiv) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on general overhead,

(xv) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on organizing activities,

(xvi) statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on collective bargaining activities,”

(h) replacing lines 1 and 2 on page 4 with the following:

“(xix) a statement with the aggregate amount of disbursements on legal activities, excluding information protected by solicitor-client privilege,

(xix.1) a statement of disbursements (other than disbursements included in a statement referred to in any of subparagraphs (iv), (vii), (viii) and (ix) to (xix)) on all activities other than those that are primarily carried on for members of the labour organization or labour trust, excluding information protected by solicitor-client privilege, and”

(i) replacing lines 4 to 13 on page 4 with the following:

“(c) a statement for the fiscal period listing the sales of investments and fixed assets to, and the purchases of investments and fixed assets from, non-arm’s length parties, including for each property a description of the property and its cost, book value and sale price;

(d) a statement for the fiscal period listing all other transactions with non-arm’s length parties; and

(e) in the case of a labour organization or”

(j) replacing line 29 on page 4 with the following:

“contained in the information return”

(k) replacing lines 33 to 35 on page 4 with the following:

“Internet site in a searchable format.

(5) For greater certainty, a disbursement referred to in any of subparagraphs (3)(b)(viii) to (xx) includes a disbursement made through a third party or contractor.

(6) Subsection (2) does not apply to

(a) a labour-sponsored venture capital corporation; and

(b) a labour trust the activities and operations of which are limited exclusively to the administration, management or investments of a deferred profit sharing plan, an employee life and health trust, a group sickness or accident insurance plan, a group term life insurance policy, a private health services plan, a registered pension plan or a supplementary unemployment benefit plan.

(7) Subsection (3) does not require the reporting of

(a) information, regarding disbursements and transactions of, or the value of investments held by, a labour trust (other than a trust described in paragraph (6)(b)), that is limited exclusively to the direct expenditures or transactions by the labour trust in respect of a plan, trust or policy described in paragraph (6)(b);

(b) the address of a person in respect of whom paragraph (3)(b) applies; or

(c) the name of a payer or payee in respect of a statement referred to in any of subparagraphs (3)(b)(i), (v), (ix), (xiii) to (xvi) and (xix).”

Mr. Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale), seconded by Mr. Adler (York Centre), moved Motion No. 4, — That Bill C-377, in Clause 2, be amended by replacing line 5 on page 5 with the following:

“comply with that section, to a maximum of $25,000.”

Mr. Hiebert (South Surrey—White Rock—Cloverdale), seconded by Mr. Adler (York Centre), moved Motion No. 5, — That Bill C-377, in Clause 3, be amended by replacing lines 6 to 8 on page 5 with the following:

“3. This Act applies in respect of fiscal periods that begin after the day that is six months after the day on which this Act is assented to.”

Debate arose on the motions in Group No. 1.

Pursuant to Standing Order 98(2), 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. Flaherty (Minister of Finance) — Debt Management Report for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 49(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-411-205-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)
— by Mr. Kent (Minister of the Environment) — Report on the administration of the Species at Risk Act for the year 2011, pursuant to the Species at Risk Act, S.C. 2002, c. 29, s. 126. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-411-885-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development)
— by Mr. Komarnicki (Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities) — Report of the 2011 Centennial Flame Research Award, pursuant to the Centennial Flame Research Award Act, S.C. 1991, c. 17, sbs. 7(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-411-326-02.
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. Sweet (Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale), two concerning abortion (Nos. 411-2684 and 411-2685);
— by Mr. Toone (Gaspésie—Îles-de-la-Madeleine), one concerning national parks (No. 411-2686).
Adjournment

At 2:30 p.m., the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until Monday at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).