Debates of Nov. 24th, 1994

World Trade Organization Agreement Implementation Act

[Some hon. members]

Question.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

The question is on Motion No. 8, standing in the name of Mr. Paré. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

All those in favour will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

Pursuant to Standing Order 76, the recorded division on the proposed motion stands deferred.

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

moved:

Motion No. 9

That Bill C-57, in Clause 103, be amended:

(a) by replacing lines 31 to 33, on page 54, with the following:

"paragraph (d) and by adding the following after paragraph (e):"; and

(b) by replacing lines 41, on page 54, with the following:

"plies; or

(g) to restrict the importation of goods made, or containing components made in contravention of International Organization Conventions numbers 79, 90 and 138 regarding child labour."

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, if I am not mistaken, I have the unanimous consent of this House to move, seconded by the hon. member for The Battlefords-Meadow Lake:

That Motion No. 9 be amended by deleting the words:

"by children under the age of 16" and replacing these words by the following: "in contravention to International Law Association conventions Nos. 79, 90 and 138 concerning children's law".

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

If the hon. member for Terrebonne would be so kind as to assist the Chair by way of an explanation. Is consent requested to change the text immediately or rather to add an amendment to the motion?

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Indeed, Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure and emotion that I present this amendment to an amendment, because the way it was originally worded, proscribing-

[An hon. member]

That is not an amendment to an amendment.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

A change to an amendment-

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Then this is a motion to change the text, is it not?

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

That is correct, Mr. Speaker.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Does the member for The Battlefords-Meadow Lake care to comment on this? It is clear to the House then that in fact we are changing, modifying the text to the motion?

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

Yes, Mr. Speaker, that is as I understand it. We are changing the text of the motion in front of us today. It is with my full concurrence.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Finally now, if I could ask then, does the House give its unanimous consent to change the text of the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Terrebonne, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague pointed out, it is indeed in the best tradition of goodwill displayed on Thursdays, and I thank my colleague from the NDP for his support and good work ensuring this change could be made.

First, we are opposed to the original motion to amend that refers to restricting work done by children under the age of 16. The reason being that it could be somewhat prejudicial to certain persons. There are Liberal members who have told me: "This is great, but if little boy or little girl work with me on the farm, that does not necessarily constitute exploitation of child labour". If a paperboy or girl or anyone else has a craft, business or family activity, it is not necessarily exploitation.

One of the reasons for changing the text before us is that we understand that some children may want to gain work experience in extremely favourable conditions or students may wish to work in the field, so to speak, to increase their chances of

finding a better job later in their lives. But to restrict any work done or the importation of any components made by children under the age of 16 might, for one thing, make it obviously difficult to enforce the legislation, as well as be prejudicial to children who want to learn, who are simply interested in experiment with a new job.

I also move this amendment in a somewhat special context. As you know, National Child Day was celebrated last week. I was invited by a high school in my riding to attend a demonstration to remind international leaders of the commitments they made in writing only four years ago in New York at the UN international convention on children's rights.

They told me about some of the promises that were made. They quoted seven of the 24 promises. I will tell you about some of them in a moment. None of the promises-which dealt with child malnutrition, exploitation and conscription-even came close to being kept. None of the almost 150 countries, including Canada, that signed these promises showed the will and rigour to implement them.

The students at Paul-Arseneau high school who invited me asked me to mention it in this House. Since I was waiting for the opportunity-I also have a petition on this subject I should table in this House before long-with today's proposed amendment to this bill, I, as a member of Parliament, become the representative of these 1,200 students who have asked me and other parliamentarians who sign papers and make commitments to honour them. These promises were made four years ago.

I will repeat to you some of what a 12- or 13-year-old student told me: "Everyone knows that people sometimes forget things. It happens to us when we are taking exams. It can also happen to our government leaders. All of us here today-I remind you that there were 1,200 of them-want to help them remember. That is why we all signed a giant petition to remind the Prime Minister of Canada of the government's promises at the World Summit for Children that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York four years ago. All promises made should be kept. People should keep their word." And I think we are here to lead by example.

Message From The Senate

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Sorry to interrupt the hon. member.

I have the honour to inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate informing this House that the Senate has passed Bill C-50, an act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

Order. I have the honour to inform the House that a communication has been received as follows:

Government House Ottawa

November 24, 1994

Mr. Speaker:

I have the honour to inform you that the Honourable Charles Gonthier, Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, in his capacity as Deputy Governor General will proceed to the Senate chamber today, the 24th day of November, 1994 at 3.30 p.m., for the purpose of giving royal assent to certain bills.

Yours sincerely,

Judith A. LaRocque Secretary to the Governor General

A message was delivered by the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod as follows:

Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Deputy to the Governor General desires the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the chamber of the honourable the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker with the House went up to the Senate chamber.

And being returned:

I have the honour to inform the House that when the House went up to the Senate chamber, the Deputy Governor General was pleased to give, in Her Majesty's name, the Royal Assent to the following bills:

Bill C-25, An Act to amend the Canadian Petroleum Resources Act-Chapter 36.

Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Excise Act, the Customs Act and the Tobacco Sales to Young Persons Act-Chapter 37.

Bill C-49, An Act to amend the Department of Agriculture Act and to amend or repeal certain other Acts-Chapter 38.

Bill C-50, An Act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act-Chapter 39.

The House resumed consideration of the motion and of the amendment.