Debates of Oct. 18th, 2004
House of Commons Hansard #10 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was industry.
Topics
- Resumption Of Debate On Address In Reply
- Canada Shipping Act
- International Interests in Mobile Equipment (aircraft equipment) Act
- Citizenship
- Gasoline Taxes
- Italian Society Principe di Piemonte
- Haiti
- Cole Harbour Place
- Tobacco Industry
- Junction Arts Festival
- La Terre de chez nous
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Foreign Aid
- Child Pornography
- Naval Appreciation Day
- Hibernia Project
- Tibet
- Fisheries and Oceans
- Historic Sites and Monuments
- National Defence
- Taxation
- The Environment
- National Defence
- Aerospace Industry
- Petro-Canada
- National Defence
- Sponsorship Program
- Agriculture
- Health
- Agriculture
- Refugees
- Broadcasting Industry
- The Environment
- Canada Post
- Tourism Industry
- Gasoline Prices
- Presence in Gallery
- Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply
- Criminal Code
- Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act
- Canada Shipping Act
- Ways and Means
- Criminal Code
- Louis Riel Act
- Canada Pension Plan
- Income Tax Act
- Canada Business Corporations Act
- Food and Drugs Act
- Canada Water Export Prohibition Act
- Canada Business Corporations Act
- Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act
- Referendum Act
- Business Development Bank of Canada Act
- Proportional Representation Review Act
- Labour Market Training Act
- Pension Ombudsman Act
- Energy Price Commission Act
- Questions on the Order Paper
- International Interests in Mobile Equipment (aircraft equipment) Act
Canada Post
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Pallister Portage—Lisgar, MB
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Ouellet spent $2 million on entertainment in just five years. That is about $1,500 for every working day and the minister's actions are not adequate. He says there is an audit underway, but it will not be a value for money audit. It will not be made public. Why not? Because the minister is in a position of conflict.
The fact is that the Minister of National Revenue is also the minister in charge of Canada Post. How can he pretend to be objective when he is both the auditor and the audited? How can he pretend to be objective when he is auditing himself?
Canada Post
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Markham—Unionville
Ontario
Liberal
John McCallum Minister of National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I can only characterize that line of thinking as somewhat far-fetched.
The point of the matter is that as minister responsible for Canada Post, I have been informed by Canada Post that an audit by the Canada Revenue Agency is about to take place surrounding the expenses of the office of the president over the last several years.
As minister responsible for revenue, privacy and income tax regulations prevent me from saying anything publicly about any audit, whether it is Mr. Ouellet or the hon. member, or anyone else.
Tourism Industry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Bloc
Robert Bouchard Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean region has been benefiting from the program to extend the tourist season since 2002. The agreement terminating December 10 is essential to the development of the region. In all, 180 jobs and 35 businesses depend on it.
Can the minister give us assurance today that this program that is so vital to the region of Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean will be renewed for another two-year period?
Tourism Industry
Oral Question Period
2:55 p.m.
Eglinton—Lawrence
Ontario
Liberal
Joe Volpe Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for raising this point. This was a pilot project, and we need to wait for the results. After that, decisions will be made on whether or not to continue it.
Gasoline Prices
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Liberal
Don Boudria Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.
In 2002 the industry committee proposed to bring amendments to the Competition Act in order to, among other things, level the playing field for independent gasoline retailers.
In view of the high gasoline prices to consumers right now, would the minister tell us what he intends to do to protect this vital sector of the industry to ensure that multinationals are not gouging consumers anymore than they are already?
Gasoline Prices
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Vancouver Kingsway
B.C.
Liberal
David Emerson Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, my department is reviewing possible revisions to the Competition Act. On May 4 of this year the Competition Bureau commenced an investigation into gasoline pricing in Canada.
It will, among other things, assess whether there has been a conspiracy to fix prices, and whether in fact there has been predatory pricing practices on the part of major oil companies. When that report is complete, the Competition Bureau will take appropriate action.
Presence in Gallery
Oral Question Period
October 18th, 2004 / 3 p.m.
The Speaker
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Longin Hieronim Pastusiak, President of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.
[The Speaker spoke in Polish]
Presence in Gallery
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
Presence in Gallery
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
The Speaker
I would also like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Michael de Jong, Minister of Forests for British Columbia.
Presence in Gallery
Oral Question Period
3 p.m.
Some hon. members
Hear, hear!
The House resumed from October 12 consideration of the motion for an Address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to her speech at the opening of the session, and of the amendment as amended.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply
Speech From The Throne
3 p.m.
The Speaker
It being 3 p.m., pursuant to the order made on Tuesday, October 5, 2004, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment as amended to the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
Call in the members.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply
Speech From The Throne
3 p.m.
Conservative
Jay Hill Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, there have been discussions between all the parties and I believe if you would seek it there would be unanimous consent for the official opposition's amendments to the throne speech.
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply
Speech From The Throne
3 p.m.
The Speaker
Is it agreed that the amendment, as amended, be carried?
Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply
Speech From The Throne
3 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
(Amendment, as amended, agreed to)