House of Commons Hansard #115 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.

Topics

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC

Mr. Speaker, recently the President of the Hellenic Republic visited Canada at the invitation of our government.

During his very successful visit the President discussed the Cyprus issue with both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Given the upcoming round of proximity talks in July, can the Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterate this government's position and tell us what we are doing to help secure a prosperous future and enduring peace for the people of Cyprus?

Foreign AffairsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Brome—Missisquoi Québec

Liberal

Denis Paradis LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, Canada supports the UN Security Council resolution calling for the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation on Cyprus.

Canada joined with the other G-8 members at last year's Cologne summit to invite the leaders of the two parties to comprehensive negotiations. We have advanced a de-mining initiative to the parties and offered to provide constitutional expertise. Canada is open to provide any other assistance it can to help resolve this longstanding question.

The G-8 has Cyprus on its agenda and will be closely monitoring developments in Geneva.

Business Of The HouseOral Question Period

June 15th, 2000 / 3 p.m.

Reform

Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC

Mr. Speaker, inquiring minds want to know what the minister has planned for the rest of the day, and I would like to wish him a reasonably good summer and a good rest because I think that when we come back in the fall, in whatever fashion, it could be kind of a heated little race on to the next stage of political life.

Could he let us know, when we come back on September 18, what would be the first order of business? What is the number one priority of the government?

Business Of The HouseOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I will not dwell at length on all the bills under consideration, largely because of the House's productivity in recent weeks, which is thanks to the co-operation of all parties.

This evening, when we deal with the supply bill, we will have concluded all the work on the agenda for this session.

Let me take this opportunity to thank all hon. members for their constructive approach in recent days which has produced the results that make it such that the House will be adjourning later today for the summer recess.

In particular, I want to pay tribute to all House leaders and whips of all parties in the House. Their contribution toward parliamentary democracy, notwithstanding our disagreements from time to time on policy issues, has been immense. I think that this is the kind of collaboration the Canadian people expect of all of us in this House.

If I were to address a short list of some of the bills to be addressed in the House, and not necessarily in the appropriate order, I would have to say: Bill C-14, respecting Manitoba claims; Bill C-8, respecting marine parks; Bill C-3, respecting youth justice; the bank bill; Bill C-31, respecting immigration; and Bill C-33, respecting species at risk. Those issues are all priorities for the government, and so of course will be the concerns that Canadians will bring to our attention this summer. All these things will be the subject of the immediate attention of the government when we return in the fall.

Business Of The HouseOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have a supplementary question for the government House leader.

I think I remember asking the government House leader about a year ago when legislation would be forthcoming to deal with the multiplicity of reproductive technologies that are available. He said at that time that something would be forthcoming. It is now many months later. Perhaps he could address that matter.

While I am on my feet, could he give us the assurance that after the House adjourns the Prime Minister will not be making a raft of appointments to the other place for various Liberal hacks and flacks that are needed to accomplish the government's agenda there?

Business Of The HouseOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, I will answer the second question first. It is certainly my hope that the Prime Minister, as I am sure he will, will fulfil his constitutional responsibility in ensuring that there are members to serve adequately and very well in the other House. I am certainly very confident that he will do so, but I will take the hon. member's suggestion as representation to ensure that the other House has a full complement of able Canadians to serve this country.

On the second point, there is not a bill on reproductive technologies presently on the order paper. The hon. member opposite will recognize that. I will discuss the issue with the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Health and others in an effort to bring such legislation to the floor of the House as soon as possible.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That as we will not be in the House of Commons on August 4, that the Speaker send an address to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother expressing the heartiest good wishes and congratulations of all members of the House of Commons on the occasion of her 100th birthday.

Mr. Speaker, we have a very special way in Canada of wishing people a very happy birthday, and it goes like this.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Does the hon. member for Saint John have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:05 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?

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, the House will forgive me if I do not sing. In fact, hon. members may thank me.

I would certainly like to make it clear that my colleagues and I in the New Democratic Party join with other members of the House in expressing best wishes to the Queen Mother on her 100th birthday.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

John O'Reilly Liberal Victoria—Haliburton, ON

Mr. Speaker, having been born on August 4, the Queen Mother's birthday, I want to thank the hon. member for Saint John for such a rousing rendition of wishing me a happy birthday along with the Queen Mother.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

I am sure that all hon. members join the hon. member for Saint John in that expression of good wishes.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Edmonton North Alberta

Reform

Deborah Grey ReformLeader of the Opposition

Mr. Speaker, I was born on July 1, which was Dominion Day back in the good old days when I was born. Of course, we celebrated the fact that we were the Dominion of Canada. We have the Scripture verse on the Peace Tower here that says “He shall have dominion from sea to sea”. That is an exciting part of history for me.

In our family we have loved the Queen Mom and we want to wish her a wonderful happy birthday on August 4.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to join in the expression of good wishes made earlier this day by the hon. member for Saint John in wishing Her Majesty the Queen Mother our very best wishes on her upcoming 100th birthday.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to revert to petitions under Routine Proceedings.

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Is there unanimous consent?

100Th Birthday Greetings To The Queen MotherOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table a petition containing 118 signatures. As union leaders, these petitioners represent 4,951 workers.

The petition reads as follows “In view of the many job losses in pulp and paper plants, already announced or still to come, the government should be developing financial assistance measures for older workers, such as the POWA program, in order to help these workers leave their jobs so that workers with less seniority can keep working, and job losses can be offset”.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, since we have this unexpected opportunity, courtesy of the unanimous consent of the House, to present petitions, I would like to present a great many petitions. The petitions are very similar to ones I have been presenting for a number of years having to do with the WTO.

The petitioners call upon parliament to secure binding and enforceable rules to protect human rights, core labour standards, cultural diversity and the environment before Canada negotiates any new trade and investment rules at the WTO or any other trade forum. They insist that health care, education and culture be completely carved out of WTO agreements. They refuse to accept any trade rules of the WTO that would include an investor state mechanism which would allow global corporations to sue and intimidate democratically elected governments, and they call for the elimination of this mechanism from the NAFTA.

The petitioners also want to reform the WTO to make it a much more open, inclusive and democratic organization.

Finally, they call for work to be done to build an alternative model of globalization, one designed to help citizens in Canada and around the world to achieve a stable rules based global economy that would protect the rights of workers and—

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Order, please. I hesitate to interrupt the hon. member for Winnipeg—Transcona, but the presentation of petitions is to be based on a succinct explanation of the petition. With all respect to the hon. member, this explanation is not succinct. It may have other virtues. I know the hon. member would want to comply with the rules.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

I would, Mr. Speaker, and for that reason I would just utter the last several words of the petition: “and ensure the ability of governments to act in the public interest”.