Debates of Oct. 3rd, 1994

Department Of National Defence

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of National Defence and Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, one of the problems we have in government is that there are from time to time disgruntled employees. In this case there was a leak from the department about certain renovations.

Those renovations to the executive suite of defence I believe can be fully justified. I will make all the documents available to the hon. member. I will table them in the House.

We have to keep some perspective here. It is not cheap to run a government. It requires that administrative measures be taken. In this case the expenses were fully justifiable.

Transport

[Dianne Brushett, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.

I know that all Canadians were shocked last week by the tragic sinking of the ferry Estonia and that they join me in extending our deepest sympathy to the families of those so tragically affected.

Could the minister give Canadians his assurance that our Canadian ferries are safe?

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that this is not a laughing matter.

I join with my colleague who has just expressed our deep sorrow and regret at the tragedy of the Estonia and therefore the question is quite appropriate.

I want to take this opportunity to convey to Canadians that our passenger ferries are absolutely safe. Since 1987 Canadian passenger ferries have been subjected to independent audits to ensure that safe operating procedures are followed.

I must also add that Canadian standards for inspection of ferries exceed those of international communities so that the Canadian public and this House can be assured that our ferries are safe.

[Vic Althouse, NDP, Mackenzie, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Minister of Transport and the Prime Minister, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

[The Speaker]

I am sure that the hon. member inadvertently made his first statement. We do not refer to the presence or absence of anyone in the House. Would he please put his question.

[Vic Althouse, NDP, Mackenzie, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the Western Grain Transportation Act was presented by a past Liberal government as a new balance between the needs for railway revenues and the legislative guarantees to farmers in the historic crow benefit.

The Minister of Transport has made cuts to the farmers' side of the equation and is proposing to stop the payments altogether.

What is the government proposing for the various lucrative formula induced revenues that the railways receive under that same legislation?

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member again does not have his facts straight. The minister has not made any statement as to the future of the WGTA. He has made a statement and has put in process the opportunity for all of the participants in the grain industry to take part in a debate in the consultation process regarding the future of that type of support to Canadian agriculture.

Firearms

[Jack Ramsay, Reform, Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in a judgment rendered on April 28, Judge Demetrick of the Alberta Provincial Court declared that portions of the definition of a firearm contained in the Criminal Code are so convoluted as to be legal fiction and twice removed from reality.

I ask the Minister of Justice to comment on Judge Demetrick's declaration and to tell us how such convoluted legislation can have any impact upon the criminal use of firearms.

[Russell MacLellan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice, when going across the country this summer to speak to groups concerned about these proposed changes to the firearm laws, assured the people with whom he spoke that he would undertake a review of what was Bill C-17 and the regulations to assure that the language and the intent of those laws and regulations were pertinent and of value. If they were not, if they were convoluted, he gave the assurance that he would either change the wording or remove the regulations altogether.

Taxation

[Yves Rocheleau, Bloc, Trois-Rivières, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry.

The Conseil du patronat du Québec is once again asking the Minister of Finance not to eliminate, next January 1, the federal tax deduction for money paid by Quebec businesses to finance health care with Quebec taxes on payroll.

Will the Minister of Finance urge his colleague to maintain this tax deduction, in compliance with the views expressed by the Minister of Finance himself, when he was in opposition?

[David Walker, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, all provinces are discussing this issue with the government and a decision will be made beforeJanuary 1.

Committees Of The House

[Roger Simmons, Liberal, Burin—St. George's, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Health.

Pursuant to Standing Orders 108(1) and 108(2), following consideration of the evidence received and the conclusion reached by the subcommittee, we have studied the process by which order in council appointments are reviewed by the health committee.

The committee has agreed that any such review should preferably involve referred nominations rather than appointments and should focus on the qualifications and competence of the individual, having taken into consideration any regional aspects important to Canadians.

The committee agreed to recommend that the House consider referring the issues raised in this report to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that although the Bloc Quebecois members sitting on the committee approved the report, they disagreed with the following statement: "It would be appropriate not to take into account the political allegiance of those appointed".

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 37th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership in standing committees. If the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in this report later this day.

Canada Post Corporation Act

[Andrew Telegdi, Liberal, Waterloo, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-278, an act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the bill is to provide for the establishment of a system allowing persons who do not wish to receive direct mail advertising or mailing of printed matter without further address than householder, box holder, occupant or resident to notify Canada Post Corporation accordingly; and that Canada Post respect the wishes of the home owner if they do not wish to receive junk mail, and that Canada Post comply accordingly.

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

Holidays Act

[Alex Shepherd, Liberal, Durham, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-279, an act respecting flag day.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce today a private member's bill, the subject of which is to recognize the third Monday of February of each year as flag day, a national holiday.

Previous attempts at recognizing this holiday have referred to the day as heritage day. However I believe flag day more appropriately reflects a symbol which unites us as a nation. This is a flag that is recognized throughout the world. The fact that 1995 will represent the 30th anniversary of our flag is one more reason to take this occasion to reflect on our traditions and customs.

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

Committees Of The House

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I think you would find consent of the House to dispense with reading of the 37th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

In that same spirit of consent I move, seconded by the hon. member for Cumberland-Colchester, that the 37th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Rex Crawford, Liberal, Kent, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to present this petition on behalf of my constituents who call upon the government to support the ethanol industry, and thus support farmers and rural communities in the dramatic creation of long term jobs.

This petition is in addition to the 10,000 names my colleagues and I have already presented on ethanol earlier this year.

[Rex Crawford, Liberal, Kent, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two other petitions, pursuant to Standing Order 36, signed by 76 of my constituents who call upon the government to amend the Criminal Code to extend protection to the unborn child.

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present. The first one has 200 signatures. These people comment on the fact that the hon. Leader of the Opposition has travelled to other parts of the world to promote the separation of Quebec from Canada.

These petitioners call upon Parliament to inform the Leader of the Opposition that he is not supporting the majority view of the residents of Ottawa Carleton when he is travelling to promote the separation of Quebec from Canada.

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is with regard to tobacco and the Hazardous Products Act. The petitioners believe that tobacco is a hazardous product

and that the exemption that it presently has under the Hazardous Products Act should be removed.

[Maria Minna, Liberal, Beaches—Woodbine, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition from 1,455 people across Canada with respect to the post office.

They cite that the Government of Canada has allowed that the Canadian postage stamp to be printed outside of Canada by another country. As petitioners they request that Parliament enact legislation against the Canadian postage stamp being printed outside of Canada.

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Kingsway, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition which is signed by hundreds of residents from across Canada.

[Translation]

This includes Quebec residents. The petitioners point out to the House that the Criminal Code, as it now reads, deprives terminally ill patients and people suffering from irreversible and debilitating disease of the right to choose freely and voluntarily to end their life with the help of a doctor. Consequently, they urge Parliament to amend the Criminal Code to ensure that all Canadians have the right to die with dignity.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition signed by residents of the town of Maple Creek in my constituency.

They petition Parliament to ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide are 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.

This is in addition to several petitions on this subject signed by hundreds of my constituents which I have previously submitted.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 it is my pleasure to present two petitions on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre today.

The first petition requests that the Government of Canada not amend the Human Rights Act to include the phrase sexual orientation. The petitioners are concerned about including the undefined phrase sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Refusing to define the statement leaves interpretation open to the courts, a very dangerous precedent to set.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a second petition on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre on the subject of euthanasia.

The petitioners request that current laws regarding active euthanasia be enforced.