House of Commons Hansard #12 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was treaty.

Topics

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Bloc

René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC

Mr. Speaker, when I put my question to the Minister of Human Resources Development, she replied that my allegations were unfounded, that what I was saying was false. What I said was the complete truth, and I have here a letter that proves it.

I would ask for unanimous consent to table this document in the House.

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to table the document?

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC

Mr. Speaker, at the end of question period you mentioned a presence in the gallery from the Australian Senate. I would like to bring to the attention of the House the fact that the Australian Senate is elected.

Point Of OrderOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker

That is not a point of order, but I am sure it is a point of interest.

Municipal Grants ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel Québec

Liberal

Alfonso Gagliano LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-10, an act to amend the Municipal Grants Act.

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

Cape Breton Development Corporation Divestiture Authorization And Dissolution ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-11, an act to authorize the divestiture of the assets of, and to dissolve, the Cape Breton Development Corporation, to amend the Cape Breton Development Corporation Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

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

Employment Insurance ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-271, an act to amend that the Employment Insurance Act (self-employed persons).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to introduce this bill, which would allow self-employed persons to become eligible for employment insurance on a voluntary basis.

There have been a lot of changes in our society, in the labour market, and there are now a lot of self-employed workers, particularly women, who are living in difficult financial situations.

By making them eligible for employment insurance, the government would be contributing to stabilizing their level of income to enable them to take advantage of the economic growth in our society and, finally, to permit better distribution of wealth.

This is why I consider it important for self-employed people to be eligible for employment insurance on a voluntary basis.

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

Employment Insurance ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Bloc

Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-272, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (waiting period).

Mr. Speaker, in the present context with a surplus in the employment insurance fund of some $21 billion, this outmoded rule must be eliminated. It requires that an individual in the first weeks of unemployment have no income.

I believe the government is capable, with the plan we have and especially if it were to be managed independently by employers and employees, to ensure that people have benefits from their first day of unemployment. This is the purpose of this bill.

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

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-273, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to reintroduce my bill to repeal section 43 of the criminal code. This is the only section of the criminal code that is permissive in that it condones the use of force toward a child as a means of correction or discipline. The repeal of section 43 would make it clear that the use of physical force as a means of discipline is totally unacceptable and inappropriate for children and should not be sanctioned by law.

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

Bankruptcy And Insolvency ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-274, an act to amend the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (student Loan).

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present this bill in the House today. Its purpose is to reverse and stop the discrimination facing students who are now required to wait 10 years before they can declare bankruptcy. This new 10 year rule means that unlike other consumers who must wait two years to declare bankruptcy, students must face additional hardship and discrimination. The overwhelming majority of students do everything they can to repay student loans, but when bankruptcy becomes the only option the bill I am presenting today would ensure that students would get a fair deal and would not be discriminated against.

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

Employment Insurance ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Bloc

Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac—Mégantic, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-275, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act, 1999 (rate of benefits).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to amend the manner in which EI benefits are calculated.

If passed, this bill will eliminate from the calculation of benefits the many rules that decrease the amount to which claimants are entitled.

The purpose of the bill is to ensure that benefits truly represent 55% of income earned. In this way, we will be showing a little more compassion for workers who find themselves unemployed.

Since the EI fund surplus is now up to $21 billion, I hope that we will have the support of all parties in the House for this bill.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents and others I am happy to present a petition which expresses concern over the court decision in British Columbia which has made the possession of child pornography legal and concern that it is spreading across Canada. The petitioners are calling for the notwithstanding clause of the charter to be invoked. As the notwithstanding clause exists, it should be used to strike down this decision until the issue can be dealt with by the Parliament of Canada.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Brampton Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my pleasure to present to the House a petition duly certified by the clerk of petitions and signed by over 2,250 Canadians from many provinces.

Whereas Canadians from many diverse backgrounds have been affected by crimes against humanity throughout the 20th century, the petitioners pray that parliament will support the Recognition of Crimes Against Humanity Act, Bill C-224.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK

Mr. Speaker, I am sure I will surprise you. I have a petition to abolish the Senate, signed by a number of residents of the city of Saskatoon.

The petitioners are saying that the Senate is unelected, undemocratic and unaccountable, that it costs the country about $50 million per year and that it undermines the elected role of members of parliament of the House of Commons. Therefore they call upon parliament to undertake measures aimed at the abolition of the Senate.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the privilege to present to the House a petition with some 130 signatures of concerned citizens of my riding of Cambridge.

The petitioners are appalled at the existence of child pornography and are astounded by the legal determination that possession of such pornography is not criminal.

For this reason they call upon the Parliament of Canada to take measures to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a criminal offence and that police forces be directed to enforce this law for the protection of children.

I am fully supportive and on the side of the petitioners in my riding of Cambridge.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member knows that it is out of order to indicate support or opposition to a petition being presented in the House. I know that the hon. member for Cambridge would want to set a good example for all hon. members in that regard.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, I present a petition on behalf of 226 constituents of Saanich—Gulf Islands, which brings the total number of signatures to over 15,000 so far.

The petitioners request that parliament support private member's Bill C-237, known as Bill C-304, proposed by the member for Yorkton—Melville concerning the strengthening of property rights.

The protection of property rights is in the Canadian bill of rights. It specifically guarantees that every person has the right to the enjoyment of their property; the right not to be deprived of their property unless they are given a fair hearing, paid fairly, timely and impartially fixed compensation; and the right to appeal to the courts if their property rights have been infringed upon.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am honoured to present a petition signed by 1,000 residents of Bosanquet and Ipperwash Beach. They urge the government to complete the Camp Ipperwash army base transfer to the Kettle and Stoney Point first nations.

An agreement in principle was signed by the chief and minister of Indian affairs in June 1998 with little progress to date. Residents want this completed so that the native and non-native communities alike can build their community and their economy together.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting a petition in defence of marriage signed by petitioners in my constituency in the lower mainland.

They call on parliament to ensure that marriage as it has always been known and understood in Canada be preserved and protected.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Diane St-Jacques Progressive Conservative Shefford, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am submitting a 902 page petition signed by almost 22,500 people from throughout Canada.

The petitioners are calling on the Government of Canada to take the necessary action to eliminate the national debt, which, in their view, is the primary cause of taxes and widespread poverty, by the year 2000.

These citizens are also calling on the government to stop borrowing from financial institutions and to print the necessary money to pay down the debt, as it is empowered and obligated to do by the Canadian constitution.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present on behalf of Canadians a petition which states the 1998 and 1999 budgets increased the amount of income that can be earned on a tax-free basis, namely the basic personal amounts.

As a result of the past two budgets, 600,000 Canadians have been removed from the tax roles and $16.5 billion in tax relief have been provided over three years. Therefore the petitioners call upon parliament to further increase the basic personal amounts.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Cadman Reform Surrey North, BC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I present two petitions.

The first one contains 50 signatures from people either working or living in my riding. They ask the government to implement the decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on equal pay for work of equal value.