House of Commons Hansard #15 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was deputy.

Topics

JusticeOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

The Speaker

I take it there is no supplementary.

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Canadian Heritage. As was pointed out last evening on the CBC news, in its red book the Liberal Party of Canada accused the previous government of deliberately undermining our institutions and argued that funding cuts to the CBC illustrated the Tories' failure to appreciate the importance of cultural development.

The minister undoubtedly recognizes this excerpt from the red book. Can he tell us whether he agrees with the position taken by his party?

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Laval West Québec

Liberal

Michel Dupuy LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, I am more interested in the future than in the past. It is precisely because of our concern for the future that we announced yesterday a number of initiatives to help fund the CBC's operations so that this great national institution can continue to adapt, flourish and serve Canadians from coast to coast.

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear the minister say that the red book is a thing of the past. Perhaps we will hear no more about it then. Does the minister still claim to be a friend of the CBC family, while preparing to implement the cuts decreed by the previous government, cuts which the Liberal Party strongly condemned when it was in opposition?

Canadian Broadcasting CorporationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Laval West Québec

Liberal

Michel Dupuy LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, the letter that I sent to the new president of the CBC yesterday contained more than just an announcement that the cuts decreed by the previous government would not be rescinded. First, we indicated clearly that we would do everything we could to ensure that the CBC continued to flourish in spite of the cuts.

Second, we agreed to a long-standing request from the corporation, namely that it be allowed to borrow money. In the past, this request had always been denied. Third, we indicated that we would look for other sources of funding which would help the CBC to flourish. Therefore, to view the announcements only in a negative light is unfair. The new president of the CBC acknowledged that there was also a positive side to our announcements.

The BudgetOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Reform

Bob Mills Reform Red Deer, AB

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.

Earlier this week the minister stated that virtually everybody at the pre-budget consultation conferences supported augmenting the revenue side.

Mr. Jason Kenney, national director of Canadian Taxpayers Federation and a great many other people have advised me that as participants at the Calgary conference, every workshop called for no increase in taxation. How does the minister explain this discrepancy?

The BudgetOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development -Quebec

Mr. Speaker, as I expressed very clearly at the workshops in Calgary and at the other three as well there are differences of opinion as is natural. My statement was that at virtually every conference there was tremendous support for building equity into the tax system.

If we take a look at the member's question, I would say that not only virtually every member at those conferences but virtually every Canadian would like to see the government augment its revenues. Certainly we do on this side of the House. We recognize the best way for that to happen is to get the economy going and Canadians back to work. That is why we were elected.

AgricultureOral Question Period

Noon

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of agriculture concerning a cattle disease known as BSE.

In the 1980s some 60 animals were imported into Canada from the United Kingdom and one of these animals died of BSE. There is some concern that this disease is still in the country. Will the minister now share with the House what his plans are in regard to this disease?

AgricultureOral Question Period

Noon

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for the question about a very serious issue in the Canadian cattle industry.

Canada's first case of BSE was diagnosed in December of last year in Alberta. The cow was originally imported from the United Kingdom in 1987. Continued access for Canadian cattle and products to international markets depends very heavily upon my department's commitment to undertake very stringent control measures with respect to BSE.

The department is following a procedure that will ensure there will be no animals remaining in Canada that could have had any contact with any source of BSE infection. That position is strongly supported by every major livestock organization in the country as well as by veterinarian professionals, trading officials and our international trading partners.

UnemploymentOral Question Period

Noon

NDP

Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

Once again we see the unemployment rates today have increased. In the 100 days the government has been in power we have seen two major promises made in the red book broken: first, the implementation of the North American free trade deal and, second, cruise missile testing.

On behalf of those 1.4 million Canadians without jobs, I ask the Deputy Prime Minister: Will the government bring in employment targets in its new budget so it can be held accountable for its budgetary and fiscal plans?

UnemploymentOral Question Period

Noon

Hamilton East Ontario

Liberal

Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, the preamble to the member's question is not correct. In fact the Liberal Party met its obligations very specifically to get certain amendments to the NAFTA. Those were achieved by the work of the Prime Minister.

If we are going to make statements in the House we should make sure we are on track. That being said, obviously the first priority of the government is job creation. We are disappointed that the figures are not better. We have a fiscal plan and a jobs plan on track.

Because the hon. member has a great deal of experience in this area, I know she is going to want to work collaboratively with the Minister of Human Resources Development. We do want to live up to our obligation to get Canadians back to work. That is why they have put their confidence in us and we intend to discharge it.

UnemploymentOral Question Period

Noon

The Speaker

I want to share some information with my colleagues. On a normal day we can get approximately 15 or 16 questioners on, but today was a particularly good day.

If I may make an observation both the questions and the answers proceeded very well and we had 19 questioners on today. This is the way the House should be going. With the co-operation of members I think we can make it work.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the second report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding changes in the membership of standing committees pursuant to Standing Order 104.

If the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in the report later this day.

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-8, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act (force).

Mr. Speaker, we put this bill before the House in order to make the amendment to the Criminal Code which has been referred to. We commend it to the House for its consideration.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development -Quebec

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-9, an act to amend the Income Tax Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am told that all I have to do is to stand and nod and not speak.

However since this is an historic day, this is the first bill I have introduced, I thought I would just tell members about it. It is an act to amend the Income Tax Act.

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

The Speaker

I would not want you to miss your chance at history.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

I move that the second report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

February 4th, 1994 / 12:05 p.m.

Liberal

George S. Rideout Liberal Moncton, NB

Mr. Speaker, as is my obligation under Standing Order 36, I present a petition dealing with language and referendum.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Devillers Liberal Simcoe North, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise under the Standing Orders of this House to present a petition on behalf of 35 of my constituents, requesting that a referendum be held on the question of official bilingualism in Canada.

The petitioners believe that we are spending way too much money on the official languages policy in this country. While I do not share their view, I have the honour of carrying out my

democratic duty by reporting to the House all the views expressed by my constituents.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present these petitions duly certified by the clerk of petitions on behalf of the constituents of Lambton-Middlesex and surrounding area.

The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to ban the sales of serial killer board games and serial killer cards and prevent any other such games, cards or material from being made available in Canada.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Is it agreed that all questions be allowed to stand?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

SupplyRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Dealing with the supply period, pursuant to Standing Order 81(8), it is my duty to inform the House that a total of nine days will be allotted for the supply period ending March 26, 1994.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, an act to amend the Department of National Revenue Act and to amend certain other acts in consequence thereof, be read the second time and referred to a committee.