Debates of April 19th, 1996

Douglas Young for the Minister of Transport

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-28, an act respecting certain agreements concerning the redevelopment and operation of Terminals 1 and 2 at Lester B. Pearson International Airport.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I wish to state that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-22 of the first session of the 35th Parliament at the time of prorogation. I therefore request that it be reinstated as provided in the special order adopted on March 4, 1996.

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

Jim Gouk Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent of the House for permission to ask the minister who just introduced the bill if in the name of democracy he would permit a single question on this subject.

Peter Milliken Kingston and the Islands, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-268, an act to amend the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Act.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to delete the section of the agriculture act which permits the governor in council to assign powers or duties to the minister of agriculture. These powers are currently used to create new agricultural programs.

The reports of the Auditor General of Canada tabled in the House in 1989 and in 1992 recommended that this power be deleted from the act. This bill carries out that purpose and will require the minister to come to the House if he seeks to establish a new agricultural program rather than create it on his own without the proper authority.

That is the purpose of the amendment to the act. It is a short and very simple act and I hope it will commend itself to all hon. members.

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

Peter Milliken Kingston and the Islands, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-269, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Parliament of Canada Act.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to ensure that when a vacancy occurs in the representation, a byelection shall be held within 80 days after the Speaker sends his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ.

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

Peter Milliken Kingston and the Islands, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-271, an act to amend the Public Service Employment Act (appeal procedures).

Mr. Speaker, in 1988 the Standing Joint Committee for Regulatory Scrutiny adopted a report which recommended changes in the regulations dealing with the way the Public Service Commission deals with appeals.

The report of the committee was apparently adopted by the House and a response was required from the government. The response came in the dying days of the session before the election in 1988 and the commission which reports to Parliament decided not to proceed with any of the recommendations.

Subsequently, the act has been amended in some areas but some other changes are contained in this bill. In view of the intransigence of the commission and in view of the other changes that were not adopted, I have proceeded with this bill again, as I had done so in the previous Parliament, in order to make it mandatory in the act that certain procedural safeguards recommended by the committee in that old Parliament be incorporated as part of the rules of the Public Service Commission.

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

Philippe Paré Louis-Hébert, QC

Mr. Speaker, since the issue was raised on several occasions in this House over the last two years, you are aware of the plight of a constituent of mine, Tran Trieu Quan, who has been imprisoned in Vietnam for over two years now.

What Mr. Tran has been going through has generated sympathy and compassion in the Quebec City region and throughout the province. The 4,540 petitioners who signed this second petition are asking Parliament to ensure the safety and release of Mr. Tran at the earliest opportunity.