Debates of May 27th, 1994

National Library Act

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

I want to reassure the member that we will look into the matter.

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

Mr. Chairman, I have a question on subsection 13(4) of the act and the replacement of the $150 fine. In the case of corporations it is being increased to $25,000 if they do not send two books to the National Library.

The Reform Party has indicated over many months its position on young offenders, but it seems the government takes far more seriously a book publisher that does not send two books to the National Library than young offenders who roam our streets and commit crimes. The government has a draconian attitude when it comes to increasing fines to $25,000 in the case of sending two books to the National Library.

The speaker for the Reform Party mentioned that these books were now to be delivered free to the National Library and that there would be a savings of about $300,000 to $350,000 to the government. If it is a case of trying to raise some money, I am sure $25,000 fines to a few book publishers would raise that amount of money and more.

[An hon. member]

And reduce the debt.

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

They are suggesting that they want to reduce the debt. If they want business to hand them something for free and wield one mighty big stick worth $25,000 over its head to do so, it sends the wrong message to business. We want businesses to create jobs in the country. They are already handing $350,000 to government through the bill. I would suggest it should rethink the size of the fine it intends to impose.

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Chairman, my understanding is that proceedings were initiated in only one case which actually went to court.

I am a bit confused by what the hon. member is suggesting because the amendments we are proposing are meant to assist publishers. They do have provisions for recourse. I am pretty confident judges will take into consideration any financial burden we are asking these people to undertake.

The National Library of Canada, we have estimated, will have savings of over $1 million over the next five years with the proposed legislation. Does the hon. member not feel that we will be assisting Canadians by making sure they have a National Library that is the pride of the country?

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

Mr. Chairman, I am not suggesting the fact that the National Library gets two editions of every book published is not in the national interest. The point I was trying to make was that these books are being donated, not freely but by legislation. They are being donated by the book publishers of the country to the National Library and we are turning around and increasing the fine.

The parliamentary secretary already admitted there was only one particular case. Why are we increasing the fine from $150 to $25,000? We have heard about inflation but this is ridiculous.

This stick it is now going to hold over businesses if they do not send two books to the National Library is far too draconian. Therefore it should be scaled back if the government would like the co-operation of businesses to achieve its particular agenda.

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Chairman, the reason we have undertaken this specific initiative arises from the fact that when the act was first proposed in 1969 it became quickly obsolete as books exceeded the value of $50 or the fine of $150. We want to make sure that we do not have to revisit the issue every second week.

I am sure the hon. member will concede that there are matters of pressing importance. I have every confidence that the act will be interpreted in the spirit it is meant rather than in the exaggerated case suggested by the hon. member.

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

Mr. Chairman, if the parliamentary secretary is suggesting that the fines should be increased an exorbitant amount to take care of inflation over the next unknown number of years as the finance minister tries to keep his books balanced and inflation may get away on us, who knows when we will be back revisiting this point?

As I mentioned earlier I hope the government will apply the same attitude as it introduces other legislation, for example the Young Offenders Act, to ensure that fines and punishments will be equally severe to take care of it for the next number of years. Then we can be assured that we will not have to worry about crime on our streets as well as book publishers sending books to the National Library.

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I thank the hon. member for his editorial, but I am not sure it really furthers the debate today. My understanding is that the provisions are being supported by his party. In the spirit of co-operation perhaps we can proceed.

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Chairman, I reiterate that indeed the Reform Party supports the legislation in spirit. Given the concerns expressed by my colleague in the Reform Party, I would like to add that it is imperative assurances be given in the regulations that this will not cause significant or undue financial burden for the book publishing industry.

I have heard that term several times today from the hon. parliamentary secretary without many specifics. There is an expectation that when we go to committee we will be accepting on good faith the regulations that will go forward because we have supported the legislation in principle. However, if it is at all possible, the parliamentary secretary should be somewhat more specific when she makes the statement "undue financial burden" that indeed there will not be undue financial burden on our book publishing industry.

It is unfortunate the regulations were not tabled or at least addressed a little more fully in the debate this morning.

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I can assure the hon. member it is not our intention to cause undue hardship on the publishing industry. As I mentioned earlier, we have had widespread consultations with all major principals in the publishing industry and to date none have expressed undue concern.

Most people see this initiative as a positive step rather than a regressive one.

(Clause agreed to.)

(Clause 3 agreed to.)

(Title agreed to.)

(Bill reported, concurred in, and, by unanimous consent, read the third time and passed.)

Department Of Labour Act

[Allan Rock, Liberal, for the Minister of Human Resources Development]

moved that Bill C-30, an act to amend the Department of Labour Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-30, an act to amend the Department of Labour Act, proposes to reduce to 50 years the age at which fish plant workers affected by the Atlantic groundfish crisis may be entitled to income assistance payments under the Atlantic groundfish strategy.

When the government announced the Atlantic groundfish strategy last month the Minister of Human Resources Development and the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans stressed the importance of listening to Atlantic Canadians and their concerns.

We listened while developing the strategy. We will continue to listen to ensure that its evolution is focused, cost effective and meets the needs of those for whom it was designed.

The massive adjustment being faced by many people formerly involved in the groundfish industry demands a relevant, fair and flexible response from government that recognizes the specific situations of those most affected by sweeping changes to the industry.

A particular concern expressed by many Atlantic Canadians was the situation involving older fishermen and older fish plant workers who have made a significant contribution to an industry in decline and whose chances for new employment are in many cases not good.

The Atlantic groundfish strategy therefore includes as a vital component an older worker adjustment program for fishermen under the responsibility of fisheries and oceans and a similar program for fish plant workers under the responsibility of human resources development which I will be addressing today.

Like the other components of the strategy the emphasis is on pragmatic-

[The Speaker]

The hon. member will have the floor as soon as we resume debate.

It being 11 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(5) the House will now proceed to the consideration of Statements by Members pursuant to Standing Order 31.

Odawa Pow Wow

[Jack Iyerak Anawak, Liberal, Nunatsiaq, NT]

The Odawa Pow Wow starts today and continues through tomorrow and Sunday. This major event takes place at the Nepean Tent and Trailer Park. It is an experience not to be missed.

This year's pow wow, the 18th annual, promises to be one of the biggest ever. Four hundred singers and dancers from all over Canada and the United States are gathering. Over 60 vendors and crafts people are displaying their wares, including fine art, jewellery and clothing. Traditional Indian food is being served: corn soup, wild rice, bannock and buffalo.

The pow wow is a great celebration of joy and pride in Indian culture and tradition, a renewal and a strengthening of the spirit. It is an opportunity to renew acquaintances and to make new friends.

I encourage all members of the House, local residents and visitors to the national capital region to join the celebration. Come and share the spirit.

Tribute To Fernand Daoust

[Osvaldo Nunez, Bloc, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Fernand Daoust, that great Quebec labour leader, resigned as president of the FTQ, Quebec's largest labour congress, last December. He was the secretary general for 20 years and had been president for the past three years.

In February 1994, he became president of the board of directors of the FTQ solidarity fund.

Mr. Daoust is known for having redefined the ties of solidarity between Quebec and Canadian labour movements. In fact, the CLC convention held recently in Toronto ratified a landmark agreement under which the CLC acknowledged the FTQ as an autonomous entity.

Fernand Daoust, who always fought for social justice and the Quebec cause, make a profound impact on Quebec's recent history through his commitment and dedication and deserves our admiration and gratitude. Tomorrow, more than 1,000

members of the labour movement and people from all walks of life will pay tribute to Fernand Daoust.

Fernand, thank you for your tremendous contribution to Quebec society!

Immigration And Refugee Board

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, since taking over the job the immigration minister has boasted about his new process for hiring Immigration and Refugee Board members. However, it is time that the boasting stopped and accountability began.

Since this minister began making appointments, the acceptance rate for refugee claimants has skyrocketed. The definition of refugee has been expanded well beyond anything the United Nations intended. Canadians are all too clearly seeing the pattern of the IRB when it comes to overturning deportations.

The minister of immigration has heard the calls from across the country that the refugee board represent a real cross-section of Canadians. Instead, the minister has stacked his board with immigration lawyers and refugee advocates. It is time for a public scrutiny of the minister's appointments.

I call on the minister to have all prospective appointees screened before the standing committee on immigration. If there is a bias, let us get rid of it; if there is an agenda, let us expose it.

Canadians want a real balance and that means balancing the needs of migrants against the need for integrity of our borders. Let us start by ensuring that the right people guard the gates.

Canadian Parents For French

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute and congratulate an organization known as Canadian Parents for French, which is holding its eighth annual festival national de l'art oratoire in Ottawa this weekend.

Over the past few months over 55,000 students from all across Canada have been taking part in French language public speaking competitions across the country. The festival is the culmination of these events.

This weekend we will see representatives from all 10 provinces, including the territories, showcase their winning speeches, speeches delivered in a language other than their first language, that is, in French.

It is a great pleasure for me to salute this organization and the young people who have been involved in these competitions from the very beginning and will come here from all our provinces and territories.

This is an important event. I am delighted to see that so many young people in Canada want to learn French, and I challenge hon. members to do likewise.

The Family

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this year Canadians along with all members of the United Nations celebrate the International Year of the Family.

The family has undergone tremendous changes since the days following World War II. Attempts to define what is now the traditional family would be most difficult.

The changes the family unit have endured have made it all that more important. All of us have been affected by changes to the family. An aging population, dual income families, women in the workforce and divorce have forced us all to look at families in a different light.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the families of members of Parliament. Our absence away from home, the challenges and demands of our position and the pressures of office all take a toll on our families. They share the responsibility of our public service. We as parliamentarians owe them a debt of gratitude for their service and dedication to the work we do and this should never be forgotten.

Official Languages

[Ben Serré, Liberal, Timiskaming—French-River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to condemn the assumptions of the members of the Reform Party that bilingualism is not working in Canada and costs too much.

By challenging the Official Languages Act, the Reform Party is doing as much to destroy this country as the Bloc québécois. Their intolerance towards French-speaking Canadians merely fires the zeal of the separatists.

As a Franco-Ontarian member of Parliament, I think the comments made by the Reform Party are an insult to Francophones in this country. French Canadians outside Quebec play a vital role in the economic and social development of our country.

I am very proud to be a bilingual Canadian, and I intend to stand up for the principles of the Official Languages Act.

Quebec's Right To Self-Determination

[Bernard St-Laurent, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Mr. Speaker, once again yesterday, we saw how the federalist refrain is sung differently on the two sides of the Ottawa River. While the Prime Minister of Canada is denying the right of Quebecers to determine which country they wish to belong to, Daniel Johnson is acknowledging Quebec's right to self-determination.

Cautiously embracing the position of Mr. Jacques Parizeau, the Leader of the Opposition in the Quebec National Assembly, Premier Johnson stated that the first ones who must acknowledge Quebec sovereignty and independence are Quebecers themselves.

Mr. Johnson was merely repeating what all of Quebec's political leaders have been saying since the Quiet Revolution, namely that Quebecers are free to make their own choices. That is something on which all of Quebec agrees, Mr. Speaker.

Government Policy

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I recently was sent a letter by Mr. Jones of Chatham, Ontario who writes in part:

I am writing to say how glad I am that at least one member is willing to condemn the planned Theme Park in Shawinigan as just what it really is, blatant patronage.

Mr. Chrétien does not seem to get the message. The real reason the Conservatives were kicked out was because of patronage, appointments to the Senate, old buddies rewarded for life at our expense, and on and on. It appears to be just more of the same with Chrétien.

I guess we should consider ourselves lucky-

[The Speaker]

It would be better if we did not name members by name. Of course legitimate statements in the House are accepted and thus far I would rule that this statement could be controversial, but it is a statement. I would ask the hon. member not to mention any other member by name.

[Elwin Hermanson, Reform, Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I was quoting from Mr. Jones. Anyway, his letter goes on to say:

I have to wonder why money is spent on consultants if you just go ahead and do it anyway. The difference is that it is not their money but taxpayers' money and there is no limit to that.

Thank you for speaking up about this.

Here is one Canadian who is fed up with the successive governments that squander his hard earned tax money. Mr. Jones and all those like him can take some comfort in the fact that there is now a party in the House that understands-

[The Speaker]

The hon. member for Yukon.