SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 212

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
June 13, 2023 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 212 - Jun/13/23
The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:15:33 p.m.
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The hon. parliamentary secretary.
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Mr. Terry Sheehan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour, Lib.)
  • Jun/13/23 3:15:44 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, our government respects and has faith in the collective bargaining process. We believe the best deals are the ones that are made and reached at the bargaining table. The parties are negotiating with the help of a federal mediator right now. We have confidence in the parties' ability to work together to reach a deal as quickly as possible.
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Ms. Bonita Zarrillo (Port Moody—Coquitlam, NDP)
  • Jun/13/23 3:16:01 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, my office has been flooded with calls. Canadians expected to see the Canada disability bill arrive today because that is what the government said last week, but the Liberals are still stalling. They did not keep their promise. This benefit will bring relief to those who need it the most, the thousands of Canadians living in poverty with a disability. Will the Liberals finally keep their promise and adopt this new benefit before we rise for the summer to ensure Canadians get the urgent help they need?
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Mr. Irek Kusmierczyk (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Lib.)
  • Jun/13/23 3:16:36 p.m.
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  • Re: Bill C-22 
Mr. Speaker, in Canada, no person with a disability should live in poverty. That is why we are creating the Canada disability benefit and income supplement, which has the potential to seriously reduce poverty and increase financial security for hundreds of thousands of working-age persons with disabilities. In February, this House unanimously adopted Bill C-22, and Bill C-22 is now on the calendar for debate tomorrow. We are looking forward to getting this legislation past the finish line.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:17:24 p.m.
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That is all the time we have for Oral Questions today. The hon. member for Rivière-du-Nord on a point of order.
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Mr. Rhéal Éloi Fortin
  • Jun/13/23 3:17:56 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among the parties and I believe that if you seek it, you will find unanimous consent for the following motion: Whereas French is one of Canada's two official languages and the Constitution Act, 1982, enshrines the equality of both official languages within the Parliament of Canada; whereas documents tabled in the House of Commons and in committees must be made available to the members of those parliamentary bodies; the House therefore calls on the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency to suspend all business until the documents produced by the Public Order Emergency Commission chaired by the Hon. Paul Rouleau are translated and made available in both official languages to the members of the committee.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:18:43 p.m.
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All those opposed to the hon. member moving the motion will please say nay. An hon. member: Nay.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:19:16 p.m.
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The hon. member for Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo is rising on a point of order.
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Mr. Frank Caputo
  • Jun/13/23 3:19:35 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, the member for Kingston and the Islands just said something unparliamentary to me about having a thin skin and about being offended given what the Minister of Justice did, which was to threaten my professional future and threaten my legal reputation. This is not funny. He should be apologizing and withdrawing that comment forthwith.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:19:51 p.m.
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The hon. member for Kingston and the Islands.
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Mr. Mark Gerretsen
  • Jun/13/23 3:19:53 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I apologize for reflecting on the fact that the member has a thin skin.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:20:02 p.m.
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That is not an apology. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! The Speaker: Order. That is more of a mockery than an apology. I am going to ask the hon. member for Kingston and the Islands to apologize like he means it.
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Mr. Mark Gerretsen
  • Jun/13/23 3:20:20 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I apologize.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:20:25 p.m.
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It being 3:20 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, June 23, 2022, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion to concur in the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Call in the members.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:33:16 p.m.
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I declare the motion carried.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:33:35 p.m.
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The hon. member for Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d'Orléans—Charlevoix on a point of order.
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Mrs. Caroline Desbiens
  • Jun/13/23 3:33:41 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I honestly had an issue with my phone, which is defective. I am waiting for a replacement one. I was unable to vote remotely. I would like to ask for unanimous consent to apply my vote.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:33:56 p.m.
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Does the House agree with the member's proposal? It is agreed. The hon. member is therefore voting in favour of the motion.
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The Speaker
  • Jun/13/23 3:35:13 p.m.
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I am now ready to rule on the question of privilege raised on June 5 by the member for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes concerning the vacancy in the position of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. In his intervention, the member alleged that the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner had been hampered in conducting investigations by the government’s failure to appoint a new commissioner. By extension, the member contended that the ongoing vacancy impeded him and the House in the performance of their parliamentary duties. To support this assertion, he referenced proceedings in the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics, where officials from the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner indicated that they are limited in their ability to initiate or conclude investigations, until the position of commissioner is filled. As described at pages 239 to 241 of House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner is appointed by the Governor in Council, after consultations with the leaders of all recognized parties in the House. This appointment process is clearly defined in the Parliament of Canada Act. The House and its committees do play a role in the ratification process in accordance with Standing Order 111.1, but not in the initiation of the appointment process. This authority clearly belongs to the government by statute. The commissioner is an officer of this House who plays an important role in the administration of the conflict of interest regime prescribed by law and by our Standing Orders. It would, of course, serve the interests of all members to have the position filled promptly. As to whether the ongoing vacancy constitutes a prima facie question of privilege, it is a well-established practice that the Chair needs to be satisfied that the matter is raised in the House at the earliest opportunity, while clearly illustrating what breaches of privilege or contempts have occurred. House of Commons Procedure and Practice, third edition, states at page 145: The matter of privilege to be raised in the House must have recently occurred and must call for the immediate action of the House. Therefore, the Member must satisfy the Speaker that he or she is bringing the matter to the attention of the House as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the situation. When a Member has not fulfilled this important requirement, the Speaker has ruled that the matter is not a prima facie question of privilege. The Chair did not hear an explanation as to why this matter should take priority of debate now. The vacancy referenced has been an ongoing matter for some time. Therefore, I cannot find a prima facie question of privilege at this time. I thank members for their attention.
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The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)
  • Jun/13/23 3:41:30 p.m.
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I thank the hon. member for his information and will certainly take it into consideration with the other information that was previously provided.
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