Peter Adams, "Procedure And House Affairs" on Oct. 1st, 1997

Criminal Code
Routine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

Pierrette Venne Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-226, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of witnesses).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this bill, which I had also introduced in the last Parliament and which had received majority support at second reading.

Unfortunately, my bill died on the Order Paper due to the dissolution of Parliament and the election call. At the time, it had been referred to the Standing Committee on Justice.

The purpose of the bill is to amend the Criminal Code so that every person who testifies in proceedings relating to a sexual offence or assault, or in which the offender allegedly used, attempted to use or threatened to use violence, is afforded the same protection as witnesses under 14 years of age are currently afforded under the Criminal Code.

It would amend the Criminal Code so that an accused can no longer personally cross-examine a witness in such proceedings, unless the trial judge is of the opinion that it is necessary for the proper administration of justice. Therefore, this bill seeks to protect, under certain circumstances, the integrity and the safety of those who testify in criminal proceedings.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my bill will again get the support of the members of this House.

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

Procedure And House Affairs
Routine Proceedings

October 1st, 1997 / 3:35 p.m.

Peterborough
Ontario

Liberal

Peter Adams Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent I would move:

That the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be modified as follows:

John Solomon for Bill Blaikie

And that the following members be added to the list of associate members:

Michel Bellehumeur>René Laurin Bill Blaikie>Bill Matthews Michelle Dockrill>Réal Ménard Jay Hill>Suzanne Tremblay

Procedure And House Affairs
Routine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is there unanimous consent for the hon. member to move the motion?

Procedure And House Affairs
Routine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Procedure And House Affairs
Routine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

Procedure And House Affairs
Routine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Main Estimates, 1997-98
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Hull—Aylmer
Québec

Liberal

Marcel Massé President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 81, I move:

That the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, laid upon the Table on October 1, 1997, be referred to the several Standing Committees of the House, as follows:

The list of estimates referred to in this motion being long, I would ask that the House give its consent to have it printed in Hansard without being read.

Main Estimates, 1997-98
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is that agreed?

Main Estimates, 1997-98
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(1) to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

—Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, L20, L25, L30, 35, 40, 45 and 50

(2) to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

—Agriculture and Agri-Food, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15

(3) to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage

—Canadian Heritage, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, L20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140 and 145

(4) to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration

—Citizenship and Immigration, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15

(5) to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

—Environment, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15 —Privy Council, Vote 30

(6) to the Standing Committee on Finance

—Finance, Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, L25, 35 and 40 —National Revenue, Votes 1, 5, and 10

(7) to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

—Fisheries and Oceans, Votes 1, 5 and 10

(8) to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

—Foreign Affairs, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, L30, L35, 40, 45, 50 and 55

(10) to the Standing Committee on Health

—Health, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30

(11) to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Deveopment and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

—Human Resources Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35

(12) to the Standing Committee on Industry

—Industry, Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 and 120

(13) to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

—Justice, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 —Privy Council, Vote 40 —Solicitor General, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50

(14) to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs

—National Defence, Votes 1, 5 and 10 —Veterans Affairs, Votes 1, 5 and 10

(15) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Governmenrt Operations

—Canadian Heritage, Vote 135 —Governor General, Vote 1 —Natural Resources, Votes 1, 5, 10, L15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 —Parliament, Vote 1 —Privy Council, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 35 —Public Works and Government Services, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 —Treasury Board, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20

(16) to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

—Parliament, Vote 5 —Privy Council, Vote 20

(17) to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

—Finance, Vote 30

(18) to the Standing Committee on Transport

—Privy Council, Vote 15 —Transport, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40

(19) to the Standing Joint Committee on Library of Parliament

—Parliament, Vote 10

(20) to the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages

—Privy Council, Vote 25

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Liberal

Gurbax Malhi Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present five petitions, all of which are identical in form and content.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament amend the Criminal Code of Canada to set the age of consent at 18 years of age to provide protection from exploitation and abuse.

Petitions
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Reform

Philip Mayfield Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present a petition to the House of Commons signed by constituents of Cariboo—Chilcotin residing in Williams Lake, Ashcroft, 150-Mile House and Tatlayoko Lake.

My constituents call upon the government to enact legislation to wind down the Canadian pension plan and allow Canadians to contribute to mandatory RRSPs of their own choosing.

Petitions
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Bloc

Pauline Picard Drummond, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition on behalf of the people of my riding.

This petition reads as follows—I shall summarize because it is rather long:

“We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, wish to point out to the House of Commons as follows:

Whereas the federal government refuses to initiate a proper investigation into the events surrounding the tax free transfer to the United States of $2 billion from a family trust on December 23, 1991;

Consequently, we call upon Parliament to initiate a special independent inquiry with a mandate to cast light on the events surrounding the decision of December 23, 1991, and on the subsequent use of that tax loophole by other rich Canadian taxpayers”.

Petitions
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Reform

Gurmant Grewal Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege to present a petition on behalf of the people of my riding of Surrey Central.

The petition is signed by 25 people and calls on the federal government to recognize the fundamental right of individuals to pursue family life free from undue interference by the state, to recognize the fundamental right and responsibility of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, and to urge the legislative assemblies of the provinces to do likewise.

Questions On The Order Paper
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Peterborough
Ontario

Liberal

Peter Adams Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

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

Questions On The Order Paper
Routine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

Is that agreed?

Debates of Oct. 1st, 1997

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