Debates of June 12th, 2001
House of Commons Hansard #77 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was private.
Topics
- Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Government Response To Petitions
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees Of The House
- Micro Credit Act
- Criminal Code
- Code Of Ethics For Ministers Act
- Shipbuilding Act, 2001
- Business Of The House
- Petitions
- Questions On The Order Paper
- Supply
- Points Of Order
- Supply
- Points Of Order
- Supply
- Abdul Gill
- Taxation
- Gary Norton
- Transportation
- Seniors Month
- Immigration
- The Middle East
- Maryse Carmichael
- Health Care
- Graduation
- International Union Of Elevator Constructors
- World Refugee Day
- Saint John Army Cadet Corps
- The Middle East
- Centre De La Nature De Laval
- House Of Commons
- Grants And Contributions
- Employment Insurance
- The Environment
- Government Of Canada
- Sustainable Development
- Justice
- Social Housing
- Justice
- Genetically Modified Organisms
- Natural Resources
- Infrastructure
- Human Rights
- Energy
- National Defence
- Government Contracts
- Criminal Code
- Crtc
- Summit Of The Americas
- Health
- Revenue Canada
- Rural Development
- Canadian Wheat Board
- Air Transport
- Presence In Gallery
- Nelson Mandela
- Presence In Gallery
- Supply
- Points Of Order
- Main Estimates, 2001-02
- Division No. 134
- Division No. 135
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:45 p.m.
Whitby—Ajax
Ontario
Liberal
Judi Longfield Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, all contracts awarded by the government not only to this firm but to every firm are done under treasury board rules. These contracts were awarded under various ministers over a six year period of time. I repeat, they were done in compliance with treasury board rules.
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Andy Burton Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, let me quote from the interview with Madame Tremblay:
—I know the minister...It's obvious that in that sense, it can be said that I have an advantage over others—
That seems to say it all right there. Why will the minister not release the information in these contracts? What is the government trying to hide?
Government Contracts
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Whitby—Ajax
Ontario
Liberal
Judi Longfield Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Labour
Mr. Speaker, a lot of people claim to be friends with the government. However, contracts awarded by the government are awarded under treasury board guidelines and the rules are followed.
Criminal Code
Oral Question Period
June 12th, 2001 / 2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, at the federal-provincial conference on the harmonization of legislation, Quebec's proposal to introduce ignition interlock systems for drivers who are repeat offenders received the support of 32 of the 33 provincial delegates.
Does the Minister of Justice intend to act on this proposal by introducing legislative amendments to the criminal code quickly to enable Quebec and all provinces to start up a program for an ignition interlock device for drunk drivers who could be repeat offenders?
Criminal Code
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, we are in receipt of and well aware of the resolution the hon. member speaks of.
My officials are working with Quebec and other provinces, and we hope to make amendments to the criminal code very soon to permit just that.
Criminal Code
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Bloc
Michel Bellehumeur Berthier—Montcalm, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is urgent.
Need I remind the minister that just about every week a child dies, men and women die, because of a repeat offender who could care less about the law?
For once, will the minister act like a minister and have her officials set to paper, in black and white, a bill that could be tabled this fall to fight these repeat offenders and enable the provinces that so desire to set up an ignition interlock device program for these alcoholics at the wheel? This is a serious question.
Criminal Code
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Edmonton West
Alberta
Liberal
Anne McLellan Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, as the hon. member knows, drunk driving is a severe problem in society. Too many people die tragically every year. The criminal code is one part of a concerted response to the problem of drunk driving.
As I have indicated to the hon. member, my officials are working with Quebec and others, and we hope to be able to come forward with an amendment to the criminal code as early as this fall.
Crtc
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Cheryl Gallant Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, democracy depends on a competitive and free news media. The decision by the CBC to pressure the CRTC to eliminate the competition for live coverage of Canadian events is an example of government agencies out of control.
For the sake of Canadians, will the minister ensure that Canadians will have a choice when it comes to live news coverage?
Crtc
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Hamilton East
Ontario
Liberal
Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will know that the CRTC has asked for public comment.
I happen to have the phone number of the CRTC here. It is 819-997-0313. I urge all who share the views of the hon. member to please call the CRTC today.
Crtc
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Cheryl Gallant Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Mr. Speaker, with only the CBC complaining, the CRTC has no right to be in the business of denying choice in news reporting.
Will the Prime Minister act now to ensure that interference with news reporting is stopped?
Crtc
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Hamilton East
Ontario
Liberal
Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage
Mr. Speaker, it is precisely that interference we are trying to avoid. I would urge the hon. member, who has expressed a view which I am sure is shared by thousands of her constituents, to take the time today to listen to the CRTC's call for public comment and call 819-997-0313 and please make her views known.
Summit Of The Americas
Oral Question Period
2:50 p.m.
Liberal
Tony Tirabassi Niagara Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, the most significant outcome of the summit of the Americas was the democracy clause and the commitment that foreign ministers would develop an inter-American democratic charter.
Recently foreign ministers from the hemisphere met in Costa Rica to discuss this issue. Could the Secretary of State for Latin America and Africa inform us what action was taken on the democratic charter?
Summit Of The Americas
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Edmonton Southeast
Alberta
Liberal
David Kilgour Secretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
Mr. Speaker, a little off subject, may I congratulate the hon. Secretary of State for Children and Youth for today obtaining an honorary doctorate of letters from Brock University.
The charter is moving. The OAS general assembly has considered the elements and 90 days from now—
Summit Of The Americas
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
The Speaker
The hon. member for Dauphin—Swan River.
Health
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Canadian Alliance
Inky Mark Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, less than nine months ago the health minister advised the department of immigration to screen all potential immigrants for HIV and hepatitis B. As of today that advice was rescinded and the Department of Health is now recommending that Canada admit HIV positive immigrants.
I would like to ask a question of the Minister of Health. Why the flip-flop? Are we putting the health of all Canadians at risk?