House of Commons Hansard #149 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.

Topics

FisheriesOral Question Period

11:50 a.m.

Beauséjour New Brunswick

Liberal

Fernand Robichaud LiberalSecretary of State (Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the government and the department of fisheries feel quite confident that they are abiding by the laws of the nation when they establish such a fishery for that nation.

However, we sincerely deplore the tone of the hon. member and all members of the Reform Party whenever it comes to discussing aboriginal rights to fisheries. This is really deplorable. But fortunately for those nations the Government of Canada will continue on its present course.

Health CanadaOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Bloc

Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC

Mr. Speaker, in a ruling handed down yesterday by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, we learn that Health Canada is discriminating against its employees who belong to cultural minorities in its appointments to senior

positions. This ruling imposes quotas that Health Canada must respect from now on in order to correct this state of affairs.

Will the minister, or his representative, admit that if his government is being told today to promote employees who are members of cultural minorities to senior positions, it is primarily because of its failure or inability to keep its red book promises?

Health CanadaOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Eglinton—Lawrence Ontario

Liberal

Joe Volpe LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, that report refers to situations in 1992. The minister and the department have taken steps since then.

I remind the member exactly what has happened since then. The report already acknowledges that the minister has taken steps. First, he has taken a look at new guidelines for promotions, acting positions and training for supervisors and managers.

What has happened as a result? The member ought to acknowledge that the percentage of people who have come from those minorities, which he rightly defends in this instance, has risen to 5.9 per cent.

A true reflection of the matter is that we are, in the department, moving well beyond expectations that even the member might set.

ImmigrationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Reform

Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, the minister of immigration acknowledged that she had instructed Canadian immigration officers in Quebec to refuse entry to any immigrant who had not been approved by the Quebec government.

Today, it was announced that while Quebec receives 39 per cent of all the money that immigrant investors bring to Canada, only15 per cent of these immigrants choose to reside in Quebec.

Is the minister prepared to instruct immigration officers in the other provinces to refuse entry to immigrant investors accepted by the Quebec government because they choose to invest in Quebec but decide to reside in and use the services of other provinces?

ImmigrationOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Saint-Henri—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, I think the Reform Party member has problems understanding Canadians' mobility rights, which extend across the country. It is very clear that, when investors come to our country, they may choose to go to another Canadian province, like any Canadian.

We are proud of this right, which forms part of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. There is no question of changing this basic principle.

EmploymentOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Beryl Gaffney Liberal Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The government has announced that it will be making it easier for immigrants with high tech experience to enter Canada. The reason given is that there are too few Canadians qualified to fill these jobs.

Canadian university graduates are sitting idle. The government has a youth employment strategy. Should the education process not begin right here at home?

EmploymentOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her question. It is a very important one.

The government is totally committed to jobs being available to Canadians first. That makes a lot of sense. There is a great shortage of Canadian workers in the software industry. We lack, some people tell me, about 15,000 to 20,000 according to the industry.

We have had to conduct a pilot project as a short term solution. As a government, we are committed to making sure that the youth employment strategy will provide, in the future, young people with work experience and the right training in that industry.

In the meantime-

Radar HillOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Reform

Bill Gilmour Reform Comox—Alberni, BC

Mr. Speaker, while the Prime Minister was on his last trade mission to Asia, he took the liberty of renaming a local landmark in my riding. Our local landmark is known as Radar Hill.

Radar Hill was named for its prominence during World War II and has historical significance to British Columbians. It has now been renamed Kap'Yong Hill, a Korean name, and my constituents are furious.

The Prime Minister overstepped his authority. He failed to consult local residents. He ignored the recommendations of Parks Canada and, to my knowledge, has failed to receive the required agreement of the province of B.C.

Will the Prime Minister agree to a compromise put forward by Parks Canada, and reinstate the name of our local historical landmark, and establish a small memorial to Kap'Yong on the hill instead?

Radar HillOral Question Period

Noon

Hamilton East Ontario

Liberal

Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify, first of all, whether the member is speaking for the entire Reform Party when he announces the renaming of a Canadian monument in

respect of the Korean war service which was carried out by, among others, the Korean War Veterans Association of Canada, of which I happen to be an honorary member.

I know that Canadian Korean war veterans very much appreciate the attention of the Prime Minister to this issue. I am sure the Prime Minister and Parks Canada will do everything possible to ensure that everyone feels included.

I find it rather tragic that the member would decry respect for Korean war veterans, which was the intention of this monument.

Northern Cross Ltd.Oral Question Period

Noon

NDP

Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, my question is for whomever is responding for the minister of northern affairs or the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Northern Cross Ltd. is proposing to do resource development in northern Yukon. I would like to ask the government what consultation there has been regarding this application with the Old Crow Resource Council and what work has been done in the United States to clarify that in this area under discussion it does not constitute part of the area of the calving ground for the Porcupine caribou herd.

Northern Cross Ltd.Oral Question Period

Noon

Hamilton East Ontario

Liberal

Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government has a bilateral treaty with respect to the calving ground. I am sure that any activity we would want to follow very closely.

We will take the request of the hon. member and pursue it to ensure that the calving ground area is not endangered.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

March 21st, 1997 / noon

Fundy Royal New Brunswick

Liberal

Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 41 petitions.

Ways And MeansRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Scarborough East Ontario

Liberal

Doug Peters LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I wish to table a notice of ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 18, 1997.

I also wish to table a notice of ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act in accordance with the proposals set out in the attached notes and the accompanying publication.

I ask that an order of the day be designated for the consideration of each motion.

Tobacco LegislationRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Eglinton—Lawrence Ontario

Liberal

Joe Volpe LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am pleased to table, in both official languages, proposed tobacco access regulations, tobacco labelling and reporting regulations and tobacco seizure and restoration regulations with respect to Bill C-71.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Fundy Royal New Brunswick

Liberal

Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 61st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the guidelines with respect to conduct during question period in the House.

The committee unanimously recommends that a question be not ruled out of order on the sole basis that it anticipates orders of the day.

I also have the honour to present the 62nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding its order of reference from the House of Commons on Thursday, February 20, 1997, in relation to the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998 with regard to vote 20 under privy council Chief Electoral Officer.

The committee reports the same.

Canada Cooperatives ActRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Beauséjour New Brunswick

Liberal

Fernand Robichaud Liberalfor the Minister of Industry

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-91, an act respecting cooperatives.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the first time and ordered to be printed.)

Immigration ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal Liberal Vancouver South, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-392, an act to amend the Immigration Act (right of landing fee).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased and honoured to rise in the House today to introduce three private member's bills. Today I will be introducing a bill to amend the Income Tax Act which will allow for an increase in the small business deduction from its current threshold of $200,000 to $300,000.

I am introducing a bill to amend the Immigration Act to eliminate the right of landing fees.

I am introducing another bill to amend the Immigration Act to raise the age of dependent daughters and sons from 19 to 21 years of age.

I hope my colleagues will become familiar with these initiatives and that they will support them when they come before the House.

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

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal Liberal Vancouver South, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-393, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (business limit).

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

Immigration ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal Liberal Vancouver South, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-394, an act to amend the Immigration Act (dependent sons and daughters).

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by constituents in the national capital region who are calling on the House of Commons to ask the government to declare that Canada is indivisible.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege of presenting petitions on behalf of my electorate. In the first petition the petitioners request that Parliament change the law to make the purchasing of airbags optional when purchasing a new automobile or truck.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition in which the petitioners request that Parliament not increase the federal excise tax on gasoline.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to make our national highway system upgrading possible beginning in 1997.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to remove the federal sales tax from books, magazines and newspapers.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

NDP

Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present petitions containing hundreds of signatures from residents of Saskatchewan and Alberta who wish to draw to the attention of the House that as deeply concerned citizens, they believe the provocation defence as it is currently used in wife slaughter cases inappropriately and unjustly changes the focus of the criminal trial from the behaviour of the accused and his intention to murder to the behaviour of the victim.

These Canadians call on Parliament to review and change relevant provisions of the Criminal Code to ensure that men take responsibility for their violent behaviour toward women.