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41st PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION

Journals

No. 110

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

2:00 p.m.



Prayers
National Anthem
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) laid upon the Table, — Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the following petitions:

— No. 411-0637 concerning Old Age Security benefits. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-74-02;
— Nos. 411-0638 to 411-0642 concerning the federal public service. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-80-01;
— No. 411-0643 concerning health care services. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-21-11;
— No. 411-0645 concerning the situation in Sri Lanka. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-77-02;
— No. 411-0646 concerning climate change. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-34-10;
— No. 411-0652 concerning labour unions. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-81-01;
— No. 411-0653 concerning government spending. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-411-52-04.

Presenting Reports from Interparliamentary Delegations
Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Woodworth (Kitchener Centre) presented the report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the visit of the Mediterranean Special Group held in La Maddalena, Italy, on July 4 and 5, 2011, and its participation at the Joint Meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council, the Sub-Committee on NATO Partnerships and the Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance held in Kyiv, Ukraine, from July 5 to 7, 2011, and its participation at the meeting of the Sub-Committee on Democratic Governance and the visit of the Sub-Committee on Transatlantic Defence and Security Co-operation held in Rome, Italy, on July 6 and 7, 2011. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-50-06.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the International Conference on Benchmarking and Self-Assessment for Democratic Parliaments of the APF, held in Paris, France, on March 3 and 4, 2010. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-06.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the Meeting of the Parliamentary Network to Fight HIV/AIDS and at the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the APF, held in Casablanca and Marrakech, Morocco, from March 27 to 31, 2010. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-07.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the Parliamentary Seminar on "Democracy and Economic Good Governance: The Role of Parliament" of the APF, held in Cotonou, Benin, on November 10 and 11, 2010. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-08.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the Bureau meeting, the Conference of Branch Chairs of the Americas Region, the Steering Committee of the Network of Women Parliamentarians, the Education, Communication and Cultural Affairs Committee, and the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CIDEC) of the APF, held in Québec City, Québec, from January 30 to February 3, 2011. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-09.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the Meeting of the Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the APF, held in Clermont-Ferrand, France, on April 5 and 6, 2011. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-10.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Trottier (Etobicoke—Lakeshore) presented the report of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) respecting its participation at the meeting of the Political Committee of the APF, held in Lomé, Togo, from March 14 to 16, 2012. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-52-11.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Ms. Michaud (Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier) presented the report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association concerning its participation at the Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Canada-France Interparliamentary Association, held in Paris, France, on March 15 and 16, 2012. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-411-55-04.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Tweed (Brandon—Souris), from the Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, presented the Third Report of the Committee (Bill S-4, An Act to amend the Railway Safety Act and to make consequential amendments to the Canada Transportation Act, without amendment). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-411-82.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 32) was tabled.


Mr. Allison (Niagara West—Glanbrook), from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, presented the Second Report of the Committee (situation of North Korean Refugees in China). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-411-83.

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. 32) was tabled.


Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mrs. Mourani (Ahuntsic), seconded by Mr. Fortin (Haute-Gaspésie—La Mitis—Matane—Matapédia), Bill C-418, An Act respecting the extraterritorial activities of Canadian businesses and entities, establishing the Canadian Extraterritorial Activities Review Commission and making consequential amendments to other Acts, 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 Ms. Savoie (Victoria), two concerning navigable waters (Nos. 411-0856 and 411-0857);
— by Mr. Young (Oakville), one concerning telecommunications (No. 411-0858);
— by Ms. Foote (Random—Burin—St. George's), one concerning Old Age Security benefits (No. 411-0859);
— by Ms. Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), one concerning Old Age Security benefits (No. 411-0860);
— by Mr. Warawa (Langley), one concerning the Criminal Code of Canada (No. 411-0861);
— by Mr. Hsu (Kingston and the Islands), one concerning the democratic process (No. 411-0862);
— by Ms. Sims (Newton—North Delta), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0863);
— by Mr. Watson (Essex), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0864);
— by Ms. Duncan (Etobicoke North), one concerning health care services (No. 411-0865);
— by Ms. Davies (Vancouver East), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0866);
— by Mr. Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0867);
— by Ms. Murray (Vancouver Quadra), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0868);
— by Mr. Sandhu (Surrey North), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0869);
— by Mr. Donnelly (New Westminster—Coquitlam), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0870);
— by Mr. Lamoureux (Winnipeg North), one concerning transportation (No. 411-0871);
— by Mr. Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley), two concerning navigable waters (Nos. 411-0872 and 411-0873);
— by Ms. May (Saanich—Gulf Islands), one concerning environmental assessment and review (No. 411-0874) and one concerning immigration (No. 411-0875);
— by Ms. Crowder (Nanaimo—Cowichan), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0876);
— by Mr. Stewart (Burnaby—Douglas), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0877);
— by Mr. Julian (Burnaby—New Westminster), one concerning navigable waters (No. 411-0878);
— by Mr. Dewar (Ottawa Centre), one concerning immigration (No. 411-0879);
— by Ms. Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds—Dollard), one concerning Old Age Security benefits (No. 411-0880).

Questions on the Order Paper

Mr. Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answer to question Q-512 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-513 — Mr. Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte) — With regard to government procurement: (a) what are the particulars of all and any contracts for services provided to government, including all departments, agencies, and crown corporations, since January 1, 2006, by any of the following companies, (i) 3D Contact, (ii) Acrobat Research, (iii) Admin Public Affairs, (iv) ADMM Public Affairs, (v) Alberta Blue, (vi) Canadian Voter Contract, (vii) CFC Voter Contract, (viii) Collect Corp, (ix) CRT Data Systems, (x) Dimark Research, (xi) Direct 2 Client Telesystem, (xii) Electright, (xiii) Feedback Research Corp, (xiv) Front Porch Strategies, (xv) Gillcomm Solutions Centres, (xvi) Global Target Marketing Corp, (xvii) IVRnet, (xviii) J D Web Enterprises, (xix) JMCK Communications, (xx) KLJ Field Services, (xxi) KLR Vu Research, (xxii) Le Groupe CDO, (xxiii) Momentuum or Momentuum BPO or Momentum BPO, (xxiv) Polylogue Research, (xxv) Praxicus Public Strategies, (xxvi) Solus VB, (xxvii) TeleResearch, (xxviii) The Marketing Clinic, (xxix) Total Impact Communications, (xxx) Voicelink, (xxxi) Voter Trac or Voter Track, (xxxii) Western Opinion Research, (xxxiii) Winning Edge Consulting, (xxxiv) Xentel or Xentel DM; and (b) for answers to all sections of (a), (i) what is the time period covered by the contract, (ii) what is the nature or purpose of the service provided, (iii) what was the amount paid to the company for their services, (iv) was the contract awarded through a competitive bidding process or was it sole-sourced, (v) which government department, agency, board, or crown corporation entered into contract with the company, (vi) under which budgetary allocation was the company paid for the service provided, (vii) what is the associated file or reference number for each contract? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-513.

Q-514 — Mr. Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte) — With regard to the Atlantic Gateway and Trade Corridor Strategy: (a) what was the total amount approved by Parliament for the Strategy; (b) what Parliamentary votes approved those funds; (c) what is the description, nature, and location of each project approved; (d) what was the approval date of each project; (e) what was, or is anticipated to be, the total cost of each project; (f) what was the amount allocated by the government for each project under each respective program; (g) what was the amount allocated by the government for each project under any other funding program; (h) who were the funding partners at any other level of government, or the private sector, for each project; (i) what is the expected sunset date of the Strategy; (j) how much funding remains uncommitted; and (k) how much funding, if committed, has not actually been spent? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-514.

Q-515 — Mr. Byrne (Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte) — With regard to the Border Infrastructure Fund: (a) what was the total amount approved by Parliament for the Fund; (b) what Parliamentary votes approved those funds; (c) what is the description, nature, and location of each project approved; (d) what was the approval date of each project; (e) what was, or is anticipated to be, the total cost of each project; (f) what was the amount allocated by the government for each project under each respective program; (g) what was the amount allocated by the government for each project under any other funding program; (h) who were the funding partners at any other level of government, or the private sector, for each project; (i) what is the expected sunset date of the Fund; (j) how much funding remains uncommitted; and (k) how much funding, if committed, has not actually been spent? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-515.

Q-518 — Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore) — With regard to ex gratia payments related to the testing of herbicides: (a) what is the total number of applications received by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) since 2007 for the ex gratia payment related to the testing of unregistered United States (US) military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown in 1966 and 1967; (b) how many applications were received each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive; (c) for each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive, what is the number of individuals who received the ex gratia payment; (d) for each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive, what is the number of individuals who were denied the ex gratia payment; (e) for the persons mentioned in subquestion (d), on the basis of what criteria were they denied including (i) medical criteria, (ii) residency criteria, (iii) lack of supporting documentation, (iv) any other issues; (f) for each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive, how many primary caregivers received the ex gratia payment; (g) for each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive, how many primary caregiver applicants were denied the ex gratia payment; (h) how many primary caregivers who applied on behalf of a loved one were denied the ex-gratia payment, prior to the removal on February 6, 2006, of the requirement that the applicant must be alive; (i) out of those primary caregiver applicants originally denied as outlined in subquestion (h), how many subsequently (i) re-applied, (ii) were granted the ex gratia payment; (j) how many individuals who had previously applied for the ex gratia payment but were declined were contacted by VAC to discuss their application after December 22, 2010; (k) how many of the individuals in (j) were granted the ex gratia payment following this contact; (l) how many applications were received between December 22, 2010, and June 30, 2011, inclusive; (m) how many applications were received between June 30 and December 30, 2011, under the delayed/late application policy; (n) how many individuals were awarded compensation under the delayed/late application policy between June 30 and December 30, 2011; (o) what was the total expenditure of ex gratia payments issued under the delayed/late application policy from June 30 to December 30, 2011; (p) how many individuals were denied the ex-gratia payment under the delayed/late application policy from June 30 to December 30, 2011; (q) how many applications have been received by Veterans Affairs Canada after the authority to issue payments expired on December 30, 2011; (r) what is the total amount of money that was allocated for the Agent Orange ex gratia payment over the course of the program since 2007, broken down on an annual basis; (s) how much of the total amount of money allocated for the Agent Orange ex gratia payment since 2007 remained unspent each year from 2007 to 2011 inclusive; (t) if there were unspent funds as described in subquestion (s), for what reasons did funds remain unspent; (u) what is the breakdown of the annual spending by VAC from 2007 to 2011 inclusively as it relates to (i) the Agent Orange ex gratia payment to eligible individuals, (ii) administration costs, (iii) salary costs; (v) does the government have a plan to provide another ex gratia payment or similar program for those Canadians who may develop a medical condition related to the testing of unregistered US military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown in 1966 and 1967; and (w) does the government have any information as to how many Canadians who fell outside of the ex gratia payment timelines may still develop a medical condition related to the testing of unregistered US military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at CFB Gagetown in 1966 and 1967? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-518.

Q-519 — Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore) — With regard to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB), legislated by the Veterans Review and Appeal Board Act: (a) for each year from 2006 to 2012, what are the number of favourable and negative decisions made by each permanent and temporary member of the Board at the (i) review stage, (ii) appeal stage; (iii) reconsideration stage; (b) for each year from 2006 to 2012, what are the number of favourable and negative decisions made by the Board for all reviews, appeals, and reconsiderations; (c) has VRAB issued any directive to its board members on how many affirmative or negative decisions members can make in a year; (d) what is the status of VRAB's publishing of review and appeal decisions online; (e) does Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) frequently analyze the reasons why VRAB has overturned decisions made by VAC and, if yes, how frequently; (f) does VRAB frequently analyze the reasons why the Board overturns decisions made by VAC and communicate these decisions to VAC; (g) for each year from 2006 to 2012, how many compassionate awards have been issued; (h) does VRAB inform veterans that a compassionate award may be another avenue for veterans who have been denied at the review and appeal level and, if so, how; (i) does VRAB inform veterans that a “Reconsideration by the Minister” could be another avenue for veterans who have been denied at the review and appeal level and if so, how do they inform veterans; (j) for each year from 2006 to 2012, how many complaints has the Board received relating to disrespectful behaviour; (k) for each year from 2006 to 2012, how many complaints has the Board received on the length of time it takes to obtain a decision by the Board; and (l) for each year from 2006 to 2012, how many complaints has the Board received on other issues? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-519.

Q-520 — Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore) — With regard to the disability pensions awarded by Veterans Affairs Canada under the Pension Act and the lump sum payments issued by the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-Establishment and Compensation Act (New Veterans Charter): (a) what is the total number of disability pensions, broken down by type of service-related disability; (b) what is the total number of lump-sum payments, broken down by type of service-related disability; (c) what percentage of all disability pensions are issued for service-related disabilities as outlined in (a); (d) does Veterans Affairs Canada inform the Department of National Defence of the high incidence of certain occupational/service-related injuries and payments awarded by Veterans Affairs Canada per calendar year; (e) how many disability pensions under the Pensions Act have been awarded each year from 2006 inclusive to 2012, for (i) Agent Orange exposure, (ii) atomic veterans, including those who participated in nuclear weapons tests in the United States (US) and Chalk River decontamination efforts, (iii) exposure to asbestos, (iv) exposure to depleted uranium; (f) how many payments under the New Veterans Charter have been awarded each year from 2006 inclusive to 2012 for (i) Agent Orange exposure, (ii) atomic veterans, including those who participated in nuclear weapons tests in the US and Chalk River decontamination efforts, (iii) exposure to asbestos, (iv) exposure to depleted uranium; and (g) how many veterans under the New Veterans Charter have received the following benefits each year from 2006 inclusive to 2011 for (i) Earning Loss Benefit, (ii) Canadian Forces Income Support, (iii) Permanent Impairment Allowance, (iv) Supplementary Retirement Benefit? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-411-520.
Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Nicholson (Minister of Justice), seconded by Mr. O'Connor (Minister of State), — That Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (citizen's arrest and the defences of property and persons), be now read a third time and do pass.

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 5:33 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Brison (Kings—Hants), seconded by Ms. Murray (Vancouver Quadra), moved, — That the Standing Committee on Finance be instructed to undertake a study on income inequality in Canada and that this study include, but not be limited to, (i) a review of Canada’s federal and provincial systems of personal income taxation and income supports, (ii) an examination of best practices that reduce income inequality and improve GDP per capita, (iii) the identification of any significant gaps in the federal system of taxation and income support that contribute to income inequality, as well as any significant disincentives to paid work in the formal economy that may exist as part of a “welfare trap”, (iv) recommendations on how best to improve the equality of opportunity and prosperity for all Canadians; and that the Committee report its findings to the House within one year of the adoption of this motion. (Private Members' Business M-315)

Debate arose thereon.

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

Adjournment Proceedings

At 6:33 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 7:03 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).