House of Commons Hansard #99 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was transport.

Topics

Turbot FisheryOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

My colleagues, we should be very careful not to attribute motive of any kind, at least motive which is less than acceptable. I would ask that in the questions and in the answers that perhaps we carry a greater amount of respect one for the other.

Human RightsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Liberal

Sue Barnes Liberal London West, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice regarding discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Is it the intention of the government to introduce legislation to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to include freedom from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation as promised in the red book?

Human RightsOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, this government remains committed to exactly such an amendment and we will introduce a bill to that effect.

I should say in response to the member's question that in doing so we will not only fulfil a commitment and provide for a matter of fundamental justice, but we will also bring the federal statute into conformity with eight provincial human rights acts, some of which date back to 1977 on that topic. We will have the federal law conform with what the courts have in any event been reading into the act for many years.

In the view of this government it is about time that our federal statute reflect the reality in Canada.

Pneumonic PlagueOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

Grant Hill Reform Macleod, AB

Mr. Speaker, pneumonic plague has been a problem in India. Can the health minister tell us what she is doing to reassure Canadians?

Pneumonic PlagueOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Sudbury Ontario

Liberal

Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the hon. member's question and to inform the House of the steps that have been taken to respond to this issue.

Last Friday night I and my department issued a travel advisory to all Canadians pertaining to travel to India indicating that they should not travel in certain areas or that if they absolutely have to, they should see their doctor prior to leaving the country.

I have been meeting with my officials to make sure that we continue to be very vigilant and monitor what is happening. I have asked that all flights from India be met at international airports. There is an emergency response plan in place.

That being said, there is a very small risk to Canadians at this time. I have asked that a yellow card be issued to all international passengers on flights originating in India, and to ground personnel at airports in order that they may have the proper information to deal with this issue.

AidsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Reform

Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, we have the Minister of Health taking action on a disease that is treatable and not likely to spread in Canada. Canadians expect that.

However, I find it ironic that the minister of immigration has refused the Reform Party's repeated calls for HIV testing for immigrants, a disease that is fatal, invisible and costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to treat.

When will the minister of immigration stop treating HIV AIDS as a politically protected disease and put the health and safety of Canadians at the top of his priority list.

AidsOral Question Period

3 p.m.

York West Ontario

Liberal

Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, the health and safety of Canadians is already at the top of the list for all ministers and government departments. That is our first priority.

Second, the member of Parliament knows that after 18 years where the medical inadmissibility chapter of our process has not been touched that I have asked for a full review.

It is blatantly unfair and irresponsible for this member to simply select one element. The government will proceed with a full review in a comprehensive and factual way.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I wish to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Edward Roberts, Minister of Justice and the Hon. John Efford, Minister of Work Services and Transportation from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3 p.m.

Liberal

Bob Kilger Liberal Stormont—Dundas, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the joint parliamentary delegation's visit to Australia from June 26 to July 4, 1994.

This visit took us to four communities: Canberra, Longreach, Brisbane and Sydney. As guests of the Australian Senate and House of Representatives, we were provided with the opportunity to meet and discuss matters with numerous parliamentarians, many of whom were ministers, both at the federal and state levels. Our discussions covered a wide range of topics: international affairs, including APEC, GATT, NAFTA, UN peacekeeping, economic and taxation issues, including the GST, aboriginal affairs, federal-state relations and employment, agricultural and educational issues, just to name a few.

I know I speak for all the members of the delegation when I say that we felt as if we were still at home in Canada because of the numerous similarities between our two countries.

Let me conclude by drawing the House's attention to a recommendation put forward by an Australian counterpart, the hon. Andrew Peacock. Mr. Peacock felt very strongly that because Canada and Australia have so much in common and so many areas in which expertise can be shared and exchanged, some form of mechanism or association should be created to ensure that this type of exchange between Australian and Canadian parliamentarians takes place on a more frequent and regular basis.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish to express our gratitude to the Hon. Michael Beahan, President of the Senate and your counterpart, the Hon. Stephen Martin, Speaker of the House of Representatives for being such gracious hosts; Mrs. Carol Richardson, Australian Parliamentary Officer, who worked so hard and successfully on our program; and finally to Mr. Michael Berry, Canadian High Commissioner, and Mr. Gardiner Wilson, Canadian Deputy High Commissioner, who provided the delegation with much appreciated advice and support.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker

Now that is what I call a comprehensive and fine report.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with its responsibilities under the standing orders I am pleased to report to the House that the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs has studied private members' business and has reported that one motion and one bill should be made votable.

Accordingly, I have the honour to present the 33rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs which is deemed adopted when it is laid upon the Table.

I also have the honour to table the 34th report of the Committee on Procedure and House Affairs which deals with the allocation of rooms for the day for the presentation of the Auditor General's report for 1994.

If the House gives its consent, it is my intention to move concurrence in the 34th report later this day.

Endangered And Threatened Species ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-275, an act respecting the protection and rehabilitation of endangered and threatened species.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is to protect biodiversity. It is aimed at identifying, protecting and rehabilitating endangered and threatened species and is a step toward the overall protection of Canada's biodiversity.

In addition to identifying, protecting and rehabilitating flora and fauna in Canada when threatened or endangered by human activity, the Minister of the Environment would also have powers to develop and implement programs to restore the

populations of threatened and endangered species to self-sustain the numbers.

Combined with the Canada Wildlife Act, strengthened by amendments in June of this year, this bill is intended to help ensure the protection of Canada's biodiversity and to enhance the biodiversity convention adopted at the UN Conference on the Environment and Development held in Rio de Janiero in 1992.

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

Lester B. Pearson Day ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-276, an act respecting Lester B. Pearson Day.

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of tabling a private member's bill, the purpose of which is to honour the Right Hon. Lester B. Pearson for his contribution to Canada, the international community and world peacekeeping by designating the second Monday in February of each year as Lester B. Pearson Day.

I hope that all members will support this bill which aims to recognize a truly remarkable Canadian.

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

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in the 34th report of the committee. I believe there would also be consent to dispense with the reading of the report.

I move that the 34th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

moved:

That the members of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development and the required staff be authorized to travel to Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal, Akwesasne, Bathurst, Halifax, Vancouver, Edmonton and Winnipeg between October 17, 1994 and December 2, 1994.

(Motion agreed to.)

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

moved:

That a subcommittee of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be authorized to travel to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and Northwest Territories during the month of October 1994 to undertake a study of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation and that the necessary staff accompany the sub-committee.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Does the parliamentary secretary have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am proud to present a petition containing 2,600 signatures on behalf of the constituents of Wild Rose.

These petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection that is enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

I respectfully submit this petition on this day.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Jordan Liberal Leeds—Grenville, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a very extensive petition signed by hundreds of people from all across Ontario, including places like Kemptville, Vanier, Nepean and so forth.

The petitioners call on Parliament to recognize the public threat of dangerous offenders and to amend the Criminal Code to have such offenders detained indefinitely on warrant expiry, when it is believed they may cause serious physical or psychological harm or death of another person.

It is a pleasure for me to present this petition today.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions I would like to present under Standing Order 36.

Whereas the majority of Canadians believe that the privileges which society accords to heterosexual couples should not be extended to same sex relationships, and whereas societal approval including the extension of societal privileges would be given to same sex relationships if any amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act were to include the undefined phrase sexual orientation as a ground for discrimination, these people petition Parliament not to amend the Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in any way which would

tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibitive grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, my next petition to Parliament is with regard to abortion.

The petitioners pray that Parliament act immediately to extend protection to the unborn child by amending the Criminal Code to extend the same protection enjoyed by born human beings to unborn human beings.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, the next petition is with regard to euthanasia and concludes by saying that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow aiding or abetting suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK

Mr. Speaker, my final petition comes mainly from the constituents in the Stockholm area of my riding who have a concern regarding Saskatchewan's public libraries.

They would like to draw the attention of the House to the following: that the library book postal subsidy is necessary for the continued operation of interlending services among libraries and plays a vital role in the distribution of cultural materials; that cancellation of the subsidy or changes in the amount of the subsidy would result in severely hampering public access to information housed in libraries outside the resident's immediate area; that maintaining the subsidy is a more effective, more efficient use of public funds than any other alternative. Therefore your petitioners call upon Parliament to continue the library book postal subsidy and ensure that there be no further erosion in the resulting library book postal rate.