Debates of Nov. 24th, 1994

The House resumed from November 23 consideration of the motion that Bill C-48, an act to establish the Department of Natural Resources and to amend related acts, be read the third time and passed.

Department Of Natural Resources Act

[The Speaker]

Pursuant to Standing Order 45(5)(a) the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-48, an act to establish the Department of Natural Resources and to amend related acts.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

I declare the motion carried.

(Bill read the third time and passed.)

Government Response To Petitions

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

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

Committees Of The House

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development dealing with Bill C-56, an Act to amend the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, reported with amendments.

Income Tax Act

[David Anderson, Liberal, for the Minister of Finance]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-59, an act to amend the Income Tax Act and the income tax application rules.

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

Grandparent Year Act

[Julian Reed, Liberal, Halton—Peel, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-291, an act respecting a national year of the grandparent.

Madam Speaker, the bill is designed to declare the year 1995 as the year of the grandparent to celebrate the value of grandparents in the Canadian family. Many of us who have had the privilege of having grandparents realize the pillars they are to children and grandchildren growing up.

We also realize that grandparents experience some difficulties in modern day life. They concern access to grandchildren when a divorce occurs and so on. It seems to me that 1995 could be correctly utilized as the year to raise the consciousness of all of us on the value they provide to the Canadian family.

I am honoured to present the bill to the House. I certainly hope it meets with some success in subsequent proceedings.

(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]

Madam Speaker, there have been discussions among the parties and I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That the Standing Committee on Finance be authorized to travel to Toronto on November 28 and 29, 1994, during its consideration of matters set forth in Standing Order 83(1);

That, on Monday, November 28, 1994 and, if necessary, on Wednesday, November 30, 1994, the business to be taken up under Government Orders shall be the following motion:

That this House take note of the opinions expressed by Canadians on the budget policy of the government and, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 83(1), authorize the Standing Committee on Finance to make a report or reports thereon no later than December 7, 1994.

And; that no later than the time of completion of consideration of Government Orders on November 30, 1994, every question necessary for the disposal of the said motion shall be put, forthwith and successively, without further debate or amendment.

(Motion agreed to.)

Private Members' Business

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

Madam Speaker, I think you would find unanimous consent of the House for the withdrawal of Item No. 16 listed on today's Order Paper under Private Members' Business, being the motion of Mr. Gauthier, now Senator Gauthier, who has left the House.

I think you would find consent to strike it from the order of precedence.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Jim Hart, Reform, Okanagan—Similkameen—Merritt, BC]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I rise today to present a petition from constituents of Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt. To date I have presented 898 signatures to a petition regarding further legislation on gun control.

There are legitimate reasons for people to own guns, including hunting, collecting and target shooting. Some people have actually distinguished themselves in Canada for their expertise in this particular area.

The petitioners are asking the Government of Canada to get tough on criminals and not to get tougher on law-abiding gun owners. Therefore they oppose any further legislation for firearms acquisition and possession. They call on the government to provide strict guidelines and mandatory sentencing for the use or possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime, and I agree with the petitioners.

[Nic Leblanc, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition signed by hundreds of residents from my riding of Longueuil. The petitioners disagree with the new training standards used by Canada Employment Centres and ask the Parliament to revise them and make sure they remain the way they were.

We disagree strongly with the new standards which impose: an increase in compulsory attendance at training from 24 to 30 hours; a reduction of credits given per training course from 25 to 22 hours; a reduction in the number of days you can miss from one and a quarter days to one day per five weeks; and the loss of school or school-related activities which were useful to relieve boredom and facilitate the adjustment to student and family life.

[Ronald J. Duhamel, Liberal, St. Boniface, MB]

Madam Speaker, this petition is about unnecessary violence and abuse on radio, television and in other forms of the media.

These petitioners have great concerns as to the impact on the Canadian population of abuse and violence in the media. They request that the CRTC regulate all forms of unnecessary abuse and violence. Parents point out that often what occurs there is counterproductive to what they are trying to do in raising their families. They point out that there have been some advances made and the CRTC is to be commended for some of the steps it has taken.

Not only do they want this to go on, they want more progress. They believe it is necessary for their children.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden, SK]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to stand in the House today, pursuant to Standing Order 36, to present a petition on behalf of constituents from Regina-Lumsden. This petition is signed as well by people from Saskatoon, Balcarres, Watrous, Esterhazy, Langenburg, Churchbridge, Carnduff, Kisbey and Carievale in Saskatchewan.

The passage of the drug patent legislation Bill C-91 has caused undue hardship on the consumers of prescription drugs, the sick and the elderly. Since this bill was passed the cost of prescription drugs has increased over 100 per cent, at the rate of 12 per cent per year since 1987. The petitioners are calling upon the government which in opposition supported the repeal of Bill C-91 to repeal the drug patent legislation now that it is in government.

Bill C-91 is creating a great deal of hardship not only on individual users of prescription drugs, but on health care plans and governments across the country. Health care plans spend about 17 per cent of their money on prescription drugs and hospitals.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

Madam Speaker, Question No. 80 will be answered today.

Question No. 80-

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

What is the number of charges that were laid under section 85 of the Criminal Code in 1991, 1992 and 1993 that were subsequently withdrawn without prosecution?

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

The exact numbers of charges laid or withdrawn in any specific year are not available because the statistical information is not compiled on a Canada-wide basis. The Minister of Justice has asked for a survey and study of the application of section 85. These will examine the frequency with which the section 85 offence is charged, as well as the disposition of those charges. When completed, this information will be released by the minister.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

The question as enumerated by the hon. parliamentary secretary has been answered.

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

I would ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Shall the remaining questions stand?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-57, an act to implement the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, as reported (with amendments) from the committee.

World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

We have a ruling on Bill C-57, an act to implement the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.

There are 10 motions in amendment standing on the notice paper for the report stage of Bill C-57, an act to implement the agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.

Motions Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7 will be grouped for debate but voted on separately.

Motion No. 3 will be debated and voted on separately. Motions Nos. 4 and 5 will be grouped for debate but voted on separately.

Motions Nos. 8, 9 and 10 will be debated and voted on separately.

I shall now propose Motions Nos. 1, 2, 6 and 7 to the House.

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

moved:

Motion No. 1

That Bill C-57 be amended by adding after line 11, on page 3, the following new Clauses:

"3.1 The Minister of International Trade shall establish a process for consultation with the provinces regarding

(a) implementation of the Agreement wherever implementation relates to a matter within provincial legislative jurisdiction; and

(b) any matter relating to trade dispute resolution under the Agreement;

(c) any economic matter of major international significance.

3.2 Notwithstanding any provision in this Act or in the Agreement, the Governor in Council or the Minister shall not, without prior agreement of the provinces,

(a) authorize any change to the Agreement in respect of allocation mechanisms for tariff quotas;

(b) establish or implement policies for selecting trade partners to receive access to the Canadian market.

3.3 In respect of subsidized exports, the Minister shall, in implementing the commitments made by Canada under the Agreement in respect of prices and quantities, have regard at all times to actions taken in the relevant areas by foreign competitors.

3.4 In respect of agricultural products imported beyond established tariff quotas at a time of shortage of such product in domestic markets, the Minister shall take such measures as may be required from time to time, including imposition of tariffs, to ensure that such products are not imported at prices lower than those prevailing for the same products in the domestic markets."

[Nic Leblanc, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

moved:

Motion No. 2

That Bill C-57 be amended by adding after line 11, on page 3, the following new Clause:

"3.1 Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or the Agreement, the Minister of International Trade shall each year lay before the House of Commons a report taking into account the priorities identified by the committee of the House of Commons that normally considers matters relating to external affairs concerning

(a) implementation of the Agreement in Canada;

(b) the trade obligations and commitments undertaken by Canada at the international level by the trading partners of major importance to Canada, especially the United States; and

(c) the impact of the Agreement on Canadian workers and companies."

[Len Taylor, NDP, The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK]

moved:

Motion No. 6

That Bill C-57, in Clause 13, be amended by adding after line 29, on page 5, the following:

"(2.1) The Minister shall consult with the appropriate House committee before any vote is taken by the Ministerial Conference or the General Council authorizing or approving any one or more of the following actions by WTO:

(a) the adoption of an interpretation of the Agreement or any other multilateral trade agreement to which Canada is a party;

(b) the amendment of the Agreement or any other multilateral trade agreement to which Canada is a party;

(c) the granting of a waiver of any obligation under the Agreement or any other multilateral trade agreement to which Canada is a party;

(d) the adoption of any amendment to the rules or procedures of the Ministerial Conference or the General Council;

(e) the accession of a state or separate customs territory to the Agreement; or

(f) the adoption of any other decision if the WTO action described in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f) would substantially affect the rights or obligations of Canada under the Agreement or any other multilateral trade agreement or would require a change of any law of Canada or of any province or territory in Canada.

(2.2) Not later than 30 days after the end of any calendar year in which the Ministerial Conference or the General Council authorizes or approves any WTO action described in subsection (2.1), the Minister shall submit a report to the appropriate House committee setting out

(a) the nature of the WTO action;

(b) the efforts made by the Minister to have the matter decided by consensus in accordance with paragraph (1) of Article IX of the Agreement and the results of those efforts;

(c) which WTO Members voted for and which voted against the WTO action;

(d) the rights or obligations of Canada that are affected by the WTO action and any law of Canada or of any province or territory in Canada that must be amended or repealed, for purposes of conforming with the WTO action; and

(e) the measures, if any, that the Minister intends to take in response to WTO action and if the Minister does not intend to take any measures, the reasons therefor.

(2.3) Where the World Trade Organization grants a waiver as described in paragraph (2.1)(c), the report under subsection (2.2) shall also describe the terms and conditions of the waiver and the rights and obligations of Canada that are affected by the waiver.

(2.4) Where the World Trade Organization approves an accession of a state or separate customs territory to the Agreement, the report under subsection (2.2) shall state whether Canada intends to invoke Article XIII of the Agreement.

(2.5) Promptly after submission of a report under subsection (2.2), the Minister shall consult with the appropriate House committee with respect to the report."

Motion No. 7

That Bill C-57, be amended by adding after line 36, on page 5, the following new Clause:

"13.1 The Minister shall, twice in each calendar year after the proclamation of this Act, report to Parliament on any negotiations that take place under Article III(2) of the Agreement, including negotiations that pertain to the labour, social and environmental dimensions of the multilateral trade relations of member states.