Debates of Oct. 28th, 1994

Social Programs

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for drawing attention to this very important question which deals with the allocation of scarce government resources.

I should point out that wealthy people currently receiving these benefits are doing so entirely legally. It is exactly that reason why the minister responsible for human resources has tabled the social security review for members to examine. It is exactly for that reason we are embarking upon a debate on these measures that we have inherited from the previous government.

I trust that other members of the House will also take part in this and make sure they follow the lead of the hon. member for Brant. I would add how important it is also to recognize that we should reject these constant demands from the opposition not to touch the tax system. If we accepted its demands we would be unable to make these changes which will free up scarce resources for people who need them most.

I would suggest that both with respect to the debate on social security and in the preparatory discussions for the budget we take full part in making sure the system is improved so scarce money goes where it should go.

Child Care

[Vic Althouse, NDP, Mackenzie, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development, to whom I sent notice yesterday.

Last summer the 11 ministers of agriculture set up a rural initiative to develop child care in the rural parts of Canada. That

budget will come from the human resources department which now has some $700 million for 150,000 child care spaces.

I wonder what proportion of that will go to rural areas. Will it use the Langruth, Manitoba model of delivering child care which is quite flexible and perfectly suited to rural needs?

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, there is a $720 million federal commitment not yet allocated on a provincial basis. The minister is looking at it and definitely, through negotiations, will answer the problem.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of a Chinese delegation led by Mr. Yue Qi-Feng, Governor of Heilongilang province.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Government Response To Petitions

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to seven petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Stan Keyes, Liberal, Hamilton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the privilege to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Transport. This is a report on Bill C-38 which was referred to the committee following first reading. It is the first bill under this new procedure to be reported back to the House.

While this bill is the first to follow this unprecedented process, I would draw to the House's attention the fact that the committee study of this bill was done with professionalism and serious effort which is the proud tradition of the transport committee and the hallmark of its members.

Petitions

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and pleasure to introduce a petition on behalf of the Canadian Vietnamese community.

This petition is signed by constituents throughout the Ottawa-Carleton region.

They are calling on the Government of Vietnam to deal with the issue of human rights in an expeditious fashion. They are also calling on the Government of Vietnam to respect their religious freedom.

I hope in the spirit of dialogue that the Government of Vietnam would take this as a representation from the Canadian-Vietnamese community.

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I also have two other petitions to table in accordance with Standing Order 36. They deal with the role of the Leader of the Opposition.

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two sets of petitions. The first petition says that whereas the majority of Canadians respect the sanctity of human life and whereas human life at the pre-born stage is not protected in Canadian society, therefore these petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from 121 petitioners who believe the privileges which society accords to heterosexual couples should not be extended to same sex relationships. They request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships.

[Jim Jordan, Liberal, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from many residents in my riding of Leeds-Grenville calling on Parliament to inform the Leader of the Opposition that he is not supporting the majority view of the residents of Leeds-Grenville when he is travelling to all parts of the world to promote the separation of Quebec from Canada.

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have five petitions to present today. In the first the petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend

the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act, or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions where the petitioners pray that Parliament will act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Val Meredith, Reform, Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the final two petitions pray that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and to make no changes in law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions today. The first petition is asking that Parliament continue to reject euthanasia and physician assisted suicide in Canada, that section 241 of the Criminal Code be vigorously enforced and that Parliament consider expanding palliative care that would be accessible to all dying persons in Canada.

[Morris Bodnar, Liberal, Saskatoon—Dundurn, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the other two petitions deal with the mining industry in Canada. In light of the mining industry being forced to look to new opportunities outside of Canada and in light of the Canadian mining industry having proposed a 10 point plan, it is requesting that Parliament take action to increase employment in this sector, promote exploration, rebuild Canada's mineral reserves, sustain mining communities and keep mining in Canada.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am presenting petitions that were recently collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly. One with 308 signatures deals with sexual orientation. The petitioners pray and request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homosexuality.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the next petition that was collected at the Waterloo Pentecostal Assembly deals with the issue of the sanctity of human life. The petitioners pray that Parliament ensure present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition collected by the Pentecostal Tabernacle dealing with abortion.

The petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise in the House today to present a petition signed by approximately 300 people of the Markham-Whitchurch-Stouffville riding.

The petitioners claim: "Their member has admitted to inexcusable behaviour. He intentionally misrepresented his credentials and his constituents have absolutely lost all respect for and confidence in their member to represent them".

The petitioners would like their member's indiscretions thoroughly investigated; and if found unfit to serve that his seat be declared vacant so that a byelection may be held.

[Margaret Bridgman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I rise to table a petition from residents of my constituency of Surrey North. The petition signed by 141 residents asks that the Parliament of Canada not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and to uphold the Supreme Court of Canada's decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide and/or euthanasia.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Alfonso Gagliano, Liberal, Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, Question No. 63 will be answered today.

Question No. 63-

[Pierre De Savoye, Bloc, Portneuf, QC]

What is the cost of the duplication and overlap pointed out by the Auditor General of Canada in his most recent report on page 471, paragraph 18.2 where he writes that "the development of seniors policy and programs is unco-ordinated and fragmented; some duplication and overlap result"?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister of Health]

In his 1993 report the Auditor General did not attach cost figures to the duplication and overlap mentioned in paragraph 18.2 on page 471.

Since the report's release, however, all key elements of the 1988 seniors' strategy have been consolidated into a single unit within Health Canada with an administrative cost saving of $250,000.