Debates of April 20th, 1999

Committees Of The House

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations.

In accordance with its order of reference of Monday, March 15, 1999 the committee has considered Bill C-66, an act to amend the National Housing Act and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act and to make a consequential amendment to another act, and agreed on Thursday, April 15, 1999 to report it without amendment.

In tabling this report I wish to thank all hon. members for their co-operation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 70th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the changes the committee is making to the list of criteria for the selection of votable items.

The committee believes that this simplified list of criteria, modified for the first time since the establishment of the guidelines in 1987, will provide greater assistance to members whose responsibility it is to select votable items.

This report would not have been possible without the energy and dedication of the present and past members of the subcommittee on Private Members' Business. I commend also the work of the committee members and hope this new list will facilitate the work of the subcommittee members.

I also have the honour to present the 71st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and I should like to move concurrence at this time.

[Ken Epp, Reform, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I need clarification. I was not paying close enough attention and I want to know which report number it is.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is the 71st report regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Petitions

[Peter Goldring, Reform, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, few finer examples of Canadian wartime success and magnificent effort can be found than in the annals of the battle of the Atlantic where merchant seamen sailed the enemy infested sea to keep allies supplied until the Atlantic war tide turned in 1943 toward victory.

Now, 50 years hence, merchant navy veterans are still held hostage to unresolved concerns. Merchant navy veterans are not seeking great wealth, only the respect and benefits given their—

[The Deputy Speaker]

Order, please. The presentation of petitions is not an opportunity for a speech, it is for a brief summary of the petition and I would urge the hon. member to come to the point.

I am sure the House appreciates his remarks, but it is contrary to the rules to make a speech during the presentation of petitions.

[Peter Goldring, Reform, Edmonton East, AB]

Mr. Speaker, these petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to enact legislation to accord the merchant navy veterans the specific recognition and benefits that have been denied since world war two.

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a petition from the Inuit community of Aupaluk, in Nunavik.

The petitioners state that there have been no housing starts by either federal or provincial governments in Nunavik in the past three years. At the present time, there are 16 to 20 people living in three bedroom dwellings.

The Inuit find the housing conditions at Nunavik extremely distressing. They consider the situation totally intolerable, because it contributes to the high incidence of tuberculosis, infectious diseases and social problems. At the end of October 1998, there was a shortage of 425 houses in Nunavik.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order No. 36, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of a number of Canadians, including those of my own riding of Mississauga South, on the subject of human rights.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that human rights abuses continue to be rampant around the world in countries such as Indonesia and Kosovo. They also acknowledge that Canada continues to be recognized as a champion of internationally recognized human rights.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon parliament to continue to speak out against human rights abuses and also to seek to bring to justice those responsible for such abuses.

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to present a petition signed by grandparents from across the country. They want the House of Commons to ask the government to amend the Divorce Act so that grandparents will be able to have access to their grandchildren in the event of the divorce of their own children without having to go to court.

[Eugène Bellemare, Liberal, Carleton—Gloucester, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my petition is in the same vein as that of my colleague from Ottawa Centre. It is a request to have the law amended so that grandparents can have access to their grandchildren when there is a divorce.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

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

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would be grateful if you would ask for unanimous consent to return to motions.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent to revert to motions?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 71st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your patience and the patience of members of the House. I would be grateful if you would seek unanimous consent to return to tabling of documents.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 25 petitions.