House of Commons Hansard #55 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was environment.
The EnvironmentRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
Order. I realize that, from time to time, there may be some friendly give and take between two members, but perhaps we could stick to the subject of this debate.
Réal Ménard Bloc Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your vigilance.
As for the St. Lawrence action plan, now pompously called St. Lawrence Vision 2000, this government is merely continuing the Conservative Party's policies. I do not think we can see this as meeting a commitment made by the Liberal Party.
Unfortunately, the budget brought down by the Minister of Finance, to which the minister refers with such enthusiasm, contains no funding for dealing with harbour sediment contamination, although according to the minister, the infrastructure program would be able to provide the necessary funds. If that were the case, we would be delighted. However, according to Le Soleil , and the minister has probably read this, one of the department's officials expressed some serious doubts about that possibility.
Although there have been many important announcements, it is clear that implementation is lagging, while the public's very legitimate expectations are increasing. Consider the case of chlorinated organic compounds, which include most pesticides-whose presence in our Great Lakes are a threat to the health of the people living in these densely populated areas, as was pointed out in the latest report of the International Joint Commission.
Furthermore, as was pointed out by the chairman of the Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development, the hon. member for Davenport, Canada has been postponing ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for nine years now, a convention that, if implemented, would contribute very substantially towards protecting the oceans, improving the fisheries and reducing the risk of pollution. So far, 57 countries have signed the convention, but 60 signatures are required to ratify it. Now that, Mr. Speaker, would be good news. That is something tangible the very energetic Minister of the Environment could have done.
Quebecers and Canadians have no illusions about the triumphant announcements made today by the Minister of the Environment. I am surprised that I am the one in this House who will
have to describe the serious problems facing Canadians, Quebecers and humanity.
Since the early 19th century, more than half of our tropical forests have disappeared. Only 40 per cent of the forests are still standing in Third World countries, and this dramatic situation has led to the extinction of 100 species daily. Desertification is a problem in more than 100 countries and it affects more than 800 million people.
One third of Asia's arable land is threatened by desertification, and 80 countries, with 40 per cent of the world's population, lack clean drinking water, and deteriorating water quality is a death sentence for millions of children. The global environmental situation has reached crisis proportions.
Instead of dealing at length with the qualifications of her Cabinet colleagues and the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Environment should have taken advantage of Earth Day celebrated today to bring the discussion to a higher level and inform us of the direction her government will take regarding solutions that will have to be put forward by Canada and other countries if we want to live in a community where environment meets the demands of the population, in particular those of young people who will inherit the outcome of the decisions we are taking today.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you and I want to say to the minister that we wish to be part of any initiative that she will propose to this House, but until now, concrete measures have been delayed for a long time and we pray St. Basile that legislative action will be taken as soon as possible.
The EnvironmentRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
I cannot help asking myself if the invitation of the minister is still on the table or on the ground, but anyway the issue is worth following.
Bill Gilmour Reform Comox—Alberni, BC
Mr. Speaker, as Earth Day is a positive day, I will keep my comments in a positive vein.
Earth Day is a time for all of us to look inward and examine what many of us take for granted, the planet on which we live.
I am pleased to see that we are on a path through the forest that leads toward a sustainable future and that we are addressing, although sometimes quite slowly, ways to prevent pollution thus ensuring a healthy planet for our children and our grandchildren.
The Brundtland commission's definition of sustainability: "Leaving our planet to our children in the same or better condition than the one that we inherited" should be the goal of each and every one of us. In order to achieve this goal we need to get into the regular habit of doing more with less.
Although I agree with the minister that government should be involved, I feel that it is more up to each and every one of us personally, not someone else, to do what is right. Only when we take responsibility and learn to live our everyday lives by conserving resources will we have achieved this goal of sustainability.
As I said earlier, we are still on the path in the forest. Sustainability is still some distance away. Only when we live each and every day as Earth Day will we have achieved that long awaited goal.
The EnvironmentRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
I wonder if I could seek unanimous consent of the House to allow the member for Regina-Lumsden to say a few words on behalf of the New Democratic Party. Is there unanimous consent?
John Solomon NDP Regina—Lumsden, SK
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to my colleagues in the House. It is my pleasure today to join with members of this House of Commons in celebrating Earth Day. First, I congratulate all those in Canada who are taking as a priority not only our country but our planet in terms of its environment.
I have met with many individuals and organizations in my constituency in the city of Regina who are taking an active role in their community to ensure that when they leave this earth as living persons, they leave it a better place in terms of environment and resources for their children.
I congratulate them on their efforts in terms of recycling programs and other approaches that they are taking, which I participate in as well. I recycle all of my glass, tins, plastics, newspapers, clothing and other things that I or my family consumes. I think it is important that all legislators consider following that example that, indeed, many of our children have set for us.
I agree with the government's priority of ensuring that we have an environmental plan in this country. I agree with its sentiment that we should leave this earth better than we found it because we are indeed caring for this earth on behalf of future generations. Nobody knows that more than parents who see their children growing through various stages of their lives and see some of the very difficult challenges that face our young people in today's economy and today's environment.
I have a little bit of a difference of opinion from the government. The Liberals in opposition spoke very loud in terms of opposing the green plan that was put forward by the former Conservative government. The catch words here are: Actions speak louder than words. Their action in opposition was that they opposed the green plan .Their action is government is that they are implementing the Conservative green plan. To me that is a flip-flop.
I do not believe the government is taking seriously its verbal commitments to ensuring we have a healthy and strong environment in this country. That is demonstrated very clearly by the fact that here we are into the end of April 1994, we have been sitting here for three months, and the government has yet to bring forward any major discussion opportunity in the House of Commons on our environment in Canada. There is no new green plan. It is implementing an old green plan that was not acceptable to the Liberals in opposition. Now they flip-flop in government and support the green plan. Actions speak louder than words.
The other action the government has undertaken is it appointed the NAFTA environment office to the city of Montreal which does not have an example of good environmental protection for its citizens. It has one of the worst records in Canada.
My sense is that actions speak louder than words. The Liberals are very, very wordy. They get up, talk and rant and rave about all sorts of wonderful things they are doing but they are not doing anything. Their actions prove the opposite.
On behalf of the New Democratic Party we will continue to ask the government to ensure that it does put the environment on the agenda and to ensure that Canada's environment is sustained for future generations.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees.
If the House gives its unanimous consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 17th report later this day.
Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-240, an act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act as well as the Criminal Code to provide for the detention of high risk violent offenders after the expiration of their sentences and to provide for the detention of sex offenders convicted of offences against children.
This bill will give the Correctional Service of Canada and the National Parole Board the power to refer the offender to the appropriate Attorney General for a dangerous offender hearing. Upon making a dangerous offender finding, a court could then make the following orders for the protection of society: First, custody for an indefinite period of time; second, custody for a definite period of time; and third, supervised release in the community for a period of 10 years.
The second aspect of this bill would eliminate the need to prove the serious harm criteria when dealing with high risk offenders who victimize children. The current requirement to prove serious harm is difficult in cases involving children as the actual harm to the child may not be evident for several years. A child's difficulty in clearly communicating the effect of a sexual crime makes serious harm very difficult to detect.
It is my pleasure to introduce this bill. I hope it is given great consideration as it is very important for the protection of society.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to.)
Dan McTeague Liberal Ontario, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition that has been signed by over 300 residents of Ontario riding and elsewhere concerning Frenchman's Bay.
The petitioners call on Parliament to urge the government to use its powers over navigation and shipping as outlined in section 92(10) of the Constitution Act and in the Federal Navigable Waters Protection Act to undertake dredging operations in Frenchman's Bay in order to correct the loss of draught both in the bay and in the channel entrance.
Due to a severe build-up of silt the draught in Frenchman's Bay has been dramatically reduced and now a serious threat is being posed to personal safety and to boats entering that channel.
Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition duly certified by the clerk of petitions on behalf of constituents.
The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to urge our government to constitute the appropriate representations to the El Salvadoran government to comply with the peace accords and human rights standard before their April 24 run-off election and thereafter.
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition from the Association québécoise des retraités , Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup section, expressing to the House the association's dismay over the numerous attacks which the Liberal government has launched on the incomes of retired persons, in particular its proposal to reform old age pensions and to abolish the universal age tax credit. I believe that the views of the senior citizens in my riding must be taken into account and I therefore wish to table this petition.
Shaughnessy Cohen Liberal Windsor—St. Clair, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour, pursuant to Standing Order 36, to present a petition requesting that the laws of Canada be amended to prohibit the importation, distribution, sale and manufacture of killer cards in law and to advise producers of killer cards that their product, if destined for Canada, will be seized and destroyed.
Bob Speller Liberal Haldimand—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise under Standing Order 36 to put forward petitions concerning killer cards.
I thank the minister for bringing to the attention of the House that he plans to introduce legislation in this area.
The numbers of petitions from places throughout my riding give support to him in getting rid of these killer cards.
Philip Mayfield Reform Cariboo—Chilcotin, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition from my constituents in 100-Mile House, British Columbia.
My constituents ask that Parliament not repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code and uphold the Supreme Court of Canada decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide, euthanasia.
This petition is presented with my concurrence.
Gordon Kirkby Liberal Prince Albert—Churchill River, SK
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty and pleasure to present a petition on behalf of a number of constituents of Prince Albert-Churchill River calling for the repeal of section 745 of the Criminal Code.
The petitioners strongly oppose this clause which allows convicted murderers serving mandatory life sentences of 25 years without parole to apply for parole after 15 years.
I urge all members to consider these views expressed by the residents of La Ronge, Buffalo Narrows, Smeaton, Shellbrook, Waskesiu, Holbein and Southend in my riding in northern Saskatchewan.
Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition, along with my colleague from the opposite side of the House, to repeal section 745 of the Criminal Code.
This section is called faint hope. It allows a convicted murderer sentenced to life without parole for 25 years to apply for parole after 15 years.
I support this petition. I feel that when a judge and jury make the determination that somebody should not have access to parole for 25 years it should be respected, and I support this petition 100 per cent.
Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty to present on behalf of the constituents of Lambton-Middlesex and area a petition which has been duly certified by the clerk of petitions.
It urges the Government of Canada to ban the sale of the serial killer board games and serial killer cards in order to protect innocent children.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by over 1,000 Canadians from several communities in a number of provinces.
The petitioners pray and call upon Parliament not to repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code and to uphold the Supreme Court of Canada decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide and euthanasia.
I wish to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to indicate to you and to the House that I fully concur with the views expressed in this petition.
Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of Lambton-Middlesex and area.
The petition has been duly certified by the clerk of petitions. It urges the government to amend the National Energy Board Act to provide authority to the National Energy Board toward intervener funding in cost to land owners who intervene in proceedings before the board on issues of public interest and relevant to the construction and operation of pipelines.
Fernand Robichaud LiberalSecretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs)
Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
Shall all questions stand?
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)
As agreed earlier today, the House will now proceed to the consideration of Private Members' Business as listed on today's Order Paper.