House of Commons Hansard #119 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was spending.

Topics

AgricultureOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Parry Sound—Muskoka Ontario

Liberal

Andy Mitchell LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, let me make it clear about the approach we are taking in science. We want to ensure that we put the maximum amount actually on the science and the least amount on overhead. Over the next while we will engage in a very public, open and transparent process by which we can determine how we can take maximum advantage of the investments we are making in science from this government.

International AidOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Bloc

Diane Bourgeois Bloc Terrebonne—Blainville, QC

Mr. Speaker, instead of drawing up plans for achieving the 0.7% objective for international aid, the Minister of Finance is questioning how serious the European Union's efforts toward that objective are.

Instead of hemming and hawing, when will the Minister of Finance announce his plan to enable Canada to achieve its international aid objective of 0.7% of GDP by 2015, rather than the present target year of 2035?

International AidOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, we have obviously indicated that we wish to reach the objective and we are prepared to make a timeline commitment when we are confident that Canada can in fact keep that promise.

I would note that we have in the meantime invested $3.4 billion in new foreign aid. We have invested $342 million in the fight against deadly diseases in Africa. We have been leading the world in debt relief, and in Bill C-48 there is an incremental $500 million which that party is proposing to vote against.

Natural ResourcesOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, the boreal forest is an integral part of our country's ecosystem. It is incumbent upon us to undertake every possible action to protect this magnificent forest. What are the minister and the ministry doing to ensure the sustainability of the boreal forest?

Natural ResourcesOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Avalon Newfoundland & Labrador

Liberal

R. John Efford LiberalMinister of Natural Resources

Mr. Speaker, in response to the hon. member's excellent question, in fact, not only is the boreal forest important to Canada, but it is very important to the world. My department is actively engaged with the industry, the provinces, the territories, academia and conservation organizations. We are going to continue these discussions to find ways to help the communities maintain the environmental sustainability of the boreal forest with good economy.

National DefenceOral Question Period

3 p.m.

NDP

Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Speaker, in 1997, the federal government transferred ownership of the Tracadie firing range to the Province of New Brunswick for conversion to ecological and tourism development. The people of Tracadie are now concerned because of the recent information on the use of toxic herbicides at Gagetown, New Brunswick.

My question is for the Minister of National Defence. Can he confirm, yes or no, that shells containing highly carcinogenic substances were used on the Tracadie-Sheila firing range, as well as toxic herbicides?

National DefenceOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Toronto Centre Ontario

Liberal

Bill Graham LiberalMinister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, as is the case with the use of agent orange and other practices by the department in the distant past, we are prepared to examine each case where products were used which caused problems and had harmful effects. We are, of course, concerned with the case of agent orange which, as I have said, was sprayed seven days a week for two years over Gagetown's lands. We will continue all our investigations on all our bases to determine whether other agents have been used.

JusticeOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Bloc

Paule Brunelle Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC

Mr. Speaker, according to the Montreal Gazette of June 13, the RCMP estimated in February 2004 that 800 people enter Canada annually to be sold, most of them in the sex trade. Traffic in human beings means their recruitment by some kind of intimidation or offer of payment by someone with authority over them, for purposes of exploitation.

What measures is the government taking to prevent this abomination of trafficking in people, trafficking in foreigners?

JusticeOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Mount Royal Québec

Liberal

Irwin Cotler LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, we have introduced a bill on this type of trafficking. We will fight both nationally and internationally in this regard.

I hope that all parties in the House will support this bill so that we can pass it in the near future.

JusticeOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker

The hon. member for Ahuntsic has given the Chair notice of a question of privilege. I will now hear from the hon. member for Ahuntsic.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC

Mr. Speaker, during debate on private members' business on Monday, May 9, the member for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord, while presenting examples during debate on his bill, Bill C-312, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act, appointment of returning officers, which we will be voting on tomorrow, made reference to my riding of Ahuntsic and stated that:

In another riding, it was discovered that the returning officer was the president of the Liberal association for the riding. It is time somebody woke up. This is Earth calling.

That is inappropriate language.

The returning officer is the president of the Liberal riding association in Ahuntsic.

This matter was only brought to my attention last Monday when the member for Calgary West, while referring to the May 9 presentation by the member for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord, stated:

In the member's last presentation he spoke about how even current presidents of Liberal riding associations have actually been appointed to be the returning officers in their ridings. He listed specifically my riding, the riding of Ahuntsic.

While I support the aim of the member opposite's motion, I have to repeat the remarks of my colleague from Gatineau in the same debate, “We must not get too carried away on this point. People's reputations are at stake”. This is something the opposition is continually forgetting.

Second, she said that even Mr. Kingsley, the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, had said, in his testimony before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, that he would, in the end, keep almost all of the incumbent returning officers if he had the authority to hire or dismiss them.

Mr. Speaker, I call on you to ask the member for Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord and the member for Calgary West to withdraw their comments, since they are totally erroneous.

Let me be clear. The facts are the Ahuntsic returning officer did not hold the position of riding president at the time of his nomination and therefore, by consequence, definitely did not hold the position at the time of his appointment.

Again we continue to malign reputations in the House without any consideration for the truth and only for political expediency. In fact, it has become the sport of choice of both the Bloc and the Conservatives.

As such, I respectfully request that the members for Montmorency--Charlevoix--Haute-Côte-Nord and Calgary West be asked to withdraw their specific comments which are untrue.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Guimond Bloc Charlevoix—Montmorency, QC

Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform my colleague—also for your benefit—that I withdraw those comments.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I thank the hon. member. I hope that will be the end of this matter. I believe the hon. member for Calgary West was merely citing the hon. member. Once he has read this he may want to add a few words later.

Federal Fiscal Forecasting, Processes and Systems ReportRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure today to table, in both official languages, copies of a report entitled “Review of Canadian Federal Fiscal Forecasting--Processes and Systems” presented to the government as promised by Dr. Tim O'Neill.

Aboriginal Healing FoundationRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Etobicoke North Ontario

Liberal

Roy Cullen LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a copy of the 2004 annual report of the Aboriginal Healing Foundation.

Certificates of NominationRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Beauséjour New Brunswick

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 110.(2) I have the honour to table a certificate of nomination with respect to the Canadian Polar Commission. This certificate stands referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Beauséjour New Brunswick

Liberal

Dominic LeBlanc LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the government's response to six petitions.

Investment Canada ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale Liberalfor Minister of Industry

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-59, An Act to amend the Investment Canada Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Copyright ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Jeanne-Le Ber Québec

Liberal

Liza Frulla LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage and Minister responsible for Status of Women

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-60, an act to amend the Copyright Act.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, two reports of the Canadian delegation of the Interparliamentary Forum of the Americas or FIPA.

The first one is on the meeting of the group of women parliamentarians at the Americas of FIPA held in Bridgetown, Barbados from March 20 to 22.

The second is on the fourth plenary session held in Brasilia, Brazil from May 19 to 21.

Fugitives from Justice in Other Countries ActRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-409, An Act respecting fugitives from justice in other countries who are in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this bill respects fugitives from justice who are currently residing in Canada. This enactment would require annual reports to be submitted by the Minister of Justice to Parliament on the extent, volume and progress of extradition cases and requests received by Canada each year. These reports would be referred to the appropriate standing committee in each House for consideration and report. The committee could then make a recommendation that a point of extradition law be referred to the Supreme Court of Canada for an opinion.

This is very much focused on accountability and ensuring that fugitives from justice residing inside our country's boundaries are treated in an expeditious and timely way as Minister likes to say.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-410, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sex crimes and violent crimes).

Mr. Speaker, again this is a bill very much in the public good aimed at amending the Criminal Code to preclude persons who have committed offences involving violence or sexual offences, which always include violence, from receiving conditional sentences under the Act. It is in keeping with the movement toward having a schedule list of offences for which conditional sentences would not apply.

I believe this is more than appropriate in the circumstances given the long lasting life sentence of victims in these circumstances.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Corrections and Conditional Release ActRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-411 an Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code (minimum security level of incarceration for first third of sentence).

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-411 would amend the Criminal Code to require a court, in passing a sentence of two years or more of imprisonment, to make an order specifying the minimum security level of the incarceration for the first third sentence.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-412, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (keeping child pornography in a manner that is not reasonably secure from access by others).

Mr. Speaker, this is again aimed very much at the protection of children and keeping pornography secure from all access.

The bill would amend the Criminal Code to make it an offence for a person in possession of child pornography, whether created by that person or obtained from another source, to allow or ensure that access by any other person or failing to take reasonable steps to prevent access by another person would be covered under the code.

It applies at all times, including a person who is accessing the materials. It is a strict liability type offence in keeping with the direction of the Criminal Code.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Survivor Education Benefits ActRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Conservative

Peter MacKay Conservative Central Nova, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-413, An Act respecting education benefits for spouses and children of certain deceased public safety officers.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bill I believe that would be considered a very compassionate one and one that I believe most Canadians and all members of Parliament should be quick to embrace.

It is an act respecting education benefits for spouses and children of certain deceased public safety officers. It would permit the minister, in most cases the Minister of Public Security and Emergency Preparedness, to grant an education benefit of a financial nature to a surviving spouse or children of public safety officers who die from injuries received or illnesses contracted in the discharge of their duties.

The bill is very much aimed at helping grieving widows, spouses and children of those killed in the line of duty. I would hope that all members would very much support this bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)