House of Commons Hansard #118 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was antarctic.

Topics

Business of the HouseGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-35, an act to amend the National Defence Act (remuneration of military judges), as reported (without amendment) from the committee.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Edmonton Southeast Alberta

Liberal

David Kilgour Liberalfor the Minister of National Defence

moved that the bill be concurred in.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to)

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Edmonton Southeast Alberta

Liberal

David Kilgour Liberalfor the Minister of National Defence

moved that the bill be read the third time and passed.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed)

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. We are very close to 11 o'clock and I know that on Bill C-35, one member was to have spoken and the bill did carry. I want to take the opportunity to thank members for doing that.

Perhaps if some members are ready, and I know many members wanted to make statements under Standing Order 31, the House could consider moving to statements by members for those members who are already in the Chamber and ready with their statements.

I know that at this time of year members want to make statements before they go home for the summer. Perhaps Mr. Speaker, you may want to check that out.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

I am more than happy to. I am in the hands of the House, of course. I wonder if we might not suspend for five minutes unless there is a plethora of statements ready. Does the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast wish to participate in this point of order?

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Reynolds Canadian Alliance West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Mr. Speaker, just to agree with what you were saying. We could suspend for five minutes and give our members a chance to be here. I know that these statements are extremely important and Canadians out there are waiting anxiously to hear them.

National Defence ActGovernment Orders

10:50 a.m.

The Speaker

I could not agree more. We will suspend for five minutes and resume at the call of the Chair.

(The sitting of the House was suspended at 10.53 a.m.)

(The House resumed at 11 a.m.)

Millennium ScholarshipsStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Yolande Thibeault Liberal Saint-Lambert, QC

Mr. Speaker, recently, the Millennium Scholarship Foundation selected 120 young Quebeckers to receive Excellence Awards.

I proudly bring to the House's attention that one of these prestigious awards went to Emmanuelle Denault-Lombart, a student from the riding of Saint-Lambert.

Receiving an award like this is a unique moment in a student's life. It is an excellent way to encourage and reward the academic accomplishments of our young people, the adults of tomorrow.

Again, bravo, Emmanuelle. Canada is rich in resources, including its young generation, of whom you are an outstanding member.

TransportationStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Jim Gouk Canadian Alliance Kootenay—Boundary—Okanagan, BC

Mr. Speaker, as the time for summer recess draws near, Parliament has once again managed to prove its own irrelevance. Standing committees are charged with the responsibility of scrutinizing estimates to determine if requested funds are justified, and if not, to reduce them. All too often this process is really a rubber stamp of whatever is requested.

This year, the transport committee did its job. It determined that VIA Rail had not needed all of its operating budget last year, yet was looking for an increase it could not justify to the committee. The committee reduced the requested amount.

The minister then came before the committee and attempted to brow beat and threaten members into changing their position without offering any justification for the increase. The committee stood firm. “No problem”, said the minister, “I will simply put the money back in and tell Liberals how they must vote”. The Liberals obeyed.

We have always known that voting is directed by the PMO. We now have proof that committees that are supposed to be masters of their own proceedings are ultimately subject to the same dictatorial process and Canadians will continue to pay out money that should have stayed in their own pockets.

Royal Canadian Air CadetsStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Nancy Karetak-Lindell Liberal Nunavut, NU

Mr. Speaker, this weekend seven members of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets 795 Squadron of Iqaluit will be participating in a citizenship trip to Ottawa. This will be the first time to Ottawa for some of these teens. They will also be taking part in several activities, including a full day at the National Aviation Museum and visits to the Canadian War Museum and the National War Memorial. This trip was made possible under the national cadet program under national defence and also with local support from the Royal Canadian Legion Iqaluit.

On behalf of my constituents of Nunavut, I congratulate the cadets and their instructors and wish them well on a very successful and highly informative weekend, including a tour of the Parliament Buildings on Monday.

Daniel BleauStatements By Members

11 a.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC

Mr. Speaker, today we wish to pay tribute to a friend, Daniel Bleau, who died in a fishing accident on June 7, at the foot of the Saint-Maurice falls north of La Tuque.

Daniel was the general manager of the Val D'Or regional airport from 1985 to 1990, and had also managed several other airports in Quebec. Recently, he was the assistant regional manager for eastern Canada programs with Transport Canada at Dorval.

Mr. Bleau was always personally involved in the communities where he worked. This senior public servant always saw his projects through to completion in an exemplary way.

We, his friends and colleagues in Canada and in Quebec, want to tell his children, Jean-Sébastien, Geneviève and François-Xavier Alexandre, his parents, Thérèse and Jean-Paul Bleau, his brothers and sisters, and his entire family that we will never forget how hard Daniel worked to make the world a better place.

Thank you, Daniel.

Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic ChoirStatements By Members

June 13th, 2003 / 11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I had the pleasure of listening to the Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic Children's Choir perform in the Centre Block rotunda on Parliament Hill. As anyone who heard them will attest, they sang like angels.

The Children's Choir was formed in 1986 and has been led by Director Carol Giesbrecht ever since. The Children's Choir introduces preteen children to the sounds and the experience of choral music and has been a resounding success, growing from 25 children to over 80 in its 17 year history. The choir has released a CD called “Songs of the Season”, which is a tribute to the hard work of Mrs. Shelagh Santi of the Parents Committee and the many volunteers who have contributed to the choir's success.

I wish to extend my thanks and appreciation to all the members of the Kitchener-Waterloo Children's Philharmonic Choir for sharing their outstanding gift with all of us.

International Plowing MatchStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Scott Reid Canadian Alliance Lanark—Carleton, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm personal invitation to all MPs and to Canadians from across the land to attend the premier agricultural exhibition of 2003.

This year Ontario's International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Show is being held in beautiful Lanark County, just a few minutes west of Ottawa, from September 17-21. The International Plowing Match is also known as Rural Expo, and it is a wonderful opportunity to experience Ontario's rural culture and rural heritage. Anyone lucky enough to attend will bask in the warmth of Lanark County hospitality.

Although there has been support from all levels of government, it is truly the hard work and dedication of 1,700 volunteers, led by Gord and Ann Munroe, that will ensure the success of this huge undertaking.

Lanark's International Plowing Match is a chance for rural Canadians to show city dwellers why we love country life so much. Come along, and love it too.

Millennium ScholarshipsStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Geoff Regan Liberal Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, the Millennium Scholarship Foundation provides some of the most prestigious awards available at high school graduations across the country. This year three students in my riding of Halifax West will be receiving millennium scholarships.

In recognition of their hard work and dedication to their studies, I am delighted to announce that Emily Archibald of Millwood High School, Erika Bateman of Sir John A. MacDonald High School and David Langille of Charles P. Allen High School will all be receiving millennium scholarships at their graduations later this month.

I look forward to presenting the awards in person in at least two of the ceremonies.

If our children are our future, as we are so often reminded in this place, then Nova Scotia's future is looking better all the time.

Good work and congratulations to all three.

Quebec National HolidayStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Bloc

Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC

Mr. Speaker, “Rêver bleu”, the theme of the Fête nationale du Québec, reflects the legitimate aspirations of Quebeckers to provide a platform for the seven million voices that make us unique on this continent.

A platform to tell you about my country. And my country is Quebec, with all its scrapes and bruises, its longing for a time that was and its tender hopes for the future.

My country is the sound of hearty laughter and an all-encompassing view of the world. It is the desire to be part of a community and to create a place where all can thrive.

My country is the lands cleared by our ancestors, shaped over time and reshaped through the dreams and energy of the young.

My country is a delight to the eye. From Îles-de-la-Madeleine to Abitibi, from Lac-Saint-Jean to the Laurentides, from Beauce to Ungava and Joliette to Charlevoix—all of Quebec invites you to join in the festivities.

TaxationStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Liberal

Joe Peschisolido Liberal Richmond, BC

Mr. Speaker, in April 1999 the federal government started requiring Canadian residents to report their foreign assets in an effort to reduce tax evasion. This is a laudable goal which unfortunately has resulted in negative unintended consequences.

Would-be investors feel this is an unnecessary breach of their privacy and some immigrant investors avoid compliance by changing from resident to non-resident status.

Studies have shown that the foreign asset disclosure rule has taken some $1 billion out of the B.C. economy by discouraging investment. Therefore I urge the Secretary of State for International Financial Institutions to review the foreign asset disclosure rule to encourage new business and new investment in British Columbia and indeed in all of Canada.

MarriageStatements By Members

11:05 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Gurmant Grewal Canadian Alliance Surrey Central, BC

Mr. Speaker, in a Canadian Alliance motion in 1999, this House, by a vote of 216 to 55, endorsed the traditional definition of marriage as a voluntary union between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.

Some people live together in a relationship outside of this definition. They deserve our respect and protection; they already have rights.

The issue of the definition of marriage should be dealt with by the Parliament of Canada, not by the courts. Let the people have their say through their members of Parliament to make the laws of this land. A few special interest groups or individuals should not be allowed to pull stunts and intimidate Parliament.

Marriage is an integral part of the family. Let us save it. Let us not forget, stronger families build a stronger nation.

Millennium ScholarshipsStatements By Members

11:10 a.m.

Liberal

Marlene Jennings Liberal Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, QC

Mr. Speaker, the Millennium Scholarship Foundation has recently announced the names of 120 young Quebeckers who are Millennium Excellence Award recipients for the 2003-04 academic year.

It is with great pleasure that I inform this House that two recipients of the millennium excellence awards are students at Lower Canada College, an institution located in my riding of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine.

Congratulations to Akil Alleyne and Alypervaez Harji for winning this award which attests to their dedication and enthusiasm for all forms of excellence.

These awards, created by the federal government, are given out to students who have excelled in high school, who have been active in their communities and who have demonstrated an interest for innovation.

In short, these young Canadians are our leaders for tomorrow.