Debates of March 22nd, 1995

Rail Strike

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

There is not unanimous consent.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I want to make it clear that while there is opposition on the opposition side of the House to the motion, it comes from the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP and not the Reform Party.

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, I asked for unanimous consent. I did not get unanimous consent. The point of order of the member for Kindersley-Lloydminster was not a point of order. The hon. member for Mackenzie, is this a comment on the unanimous consent which I sought?

[Vic Althouse, NDP, Mackenzie, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is a comment concerning the member for Kindersley-Lloydminster who is pretending to speak for the NDP. He does not.

Petitions

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great honour and pleasure that I rise pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present a petition regarding the parliamentary prayer in this House. The petition was originally signed by 20,593 people. The majority are from my riding of Saint John, New Brunswick, as well as from Newfoundland, Ontario, Saskatchewan, B.C., across this whole nation.

Due to various inaccuracies some were just certified today. I am presenting a petition signed by 15,268 names. I find the process to be a little questionable in that we decertify some petitions because of a lack of an-

[The Speaker]

I am sure the hon. member knows that we have a procedure in the House which is followed. This procedure was agreed to by the House of Commons. I would deem the petition to be presented by the hon. member and I accept it as such. I hope that the hon. member would keep her final comments very brief.

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

These petitions state that the opening prayer in the House of Commons should retain the traditional reference to Jesus Christ and that the traditional Lord's Prayer be reinstated at the closing of the opening prayer.

Therefore, the petitioners call on the House to close the prayer, "through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." They call on the House to act on this request. I wholeheartedly agree with the petitioners and would request-

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, last week I asked hon. members to refrain from saying whether they agree or disagree with a petition. That takes a little of the sting out of the petition for some members who may or may not want to agree with it. I would ask hon. members if they would please consider this when they are presenting petitions.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, question No. 142 will be answered today.

Question No. 142-

[Ted White, Reform, North Vancouver, BC]

What has the government determined to be the total number of immigrant families residing in Canada who, ( a ) continue to earn their living abroad in countries which do not have a tax treaty with Canada, ( b ) fail to report to Revenue Canada their total income from international sources and ( c ) file for the federal child tax benefit?

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Revenue Canada is working with the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to obtain information to facilitate the development of enforcement programs and to better focus client assistance and education programs so that new Canadians are aware of their obligations.

Revenue Canada's data bases do not at this time contain the information requested concerning immigrant families residing in Canada. Whether foreign source income is reported for Canadian income tax purposes would be determined through verification and audit programs.

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions For Papers

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the notice of motion for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Elsie Wayne, Progressive Conservative, Saint John, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, pursuant to Standing Order 39, I placed a question on the Order Paper on October 4, 1994. That was 172 days ago.

As the question required a detailed response, I did not request that I get the answer within the 45 days as the standing orders allow. However, it is my understanding that with all Order Paper questions the government tries to answer them within 45 days.

I am seeking information on the financial assistance provided to each federal riding in Atlantic Canada by ACOA. One hundred and seventy-two days is an unacceptable length of time to respond-

[The Speaker]

The hon. member has made her point. I request that notice be taken of the statement that the hon. member has made.

Maintenance Of Railway Operations Act, 1995

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that an agreement has been reached pursuant to Standing Order 78(2) with regard to an allocation of time to the second reading stage of Bill C-77.

Therefore, I move:

That in relation to Bill C-77, an act to provide for the maintenance of railway operations and subsidiary services, not more than one hour shall be allotted to the consideration of the second reading stage of the said bill and, at the end of that hour, any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted, if required for the purpose of this Order, and in turn every question necessary for the disposal of the second reading stage of the bill shall be put forthwith and successively without further debate or amendment.

[The Speaker]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Speaker]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.