House of Commons Hansard #242 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was quebec.

Topics

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Mr. Speaker-

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

You have the floor.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

We will check up on what was said-

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

Order, please.

Dear colleague, this is neither a point of order nor a question of privilege, and I would like to leave it at this.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

May I ask a question, please?

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

I am prepared to hear you on another point of order, but not on this one. I recognize the hon. member for Roberval.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:15 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

I rise on a point of order to ask you, Mr. Speaker, since you are here to provide guidance, how, according to standard procedure, I should go about setting the record straight when a member puts words in my mouth that I never said.

I would like to know what to do, so that I can then raise my point of order, Mr. Speaker.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

The Speaker

Dear colleague, normally, what would happen is that you would simply rise on a point of order and state that you did not say any such thing. At any rate, I do not want to embark on a long discussion on this matter. So, if you wish to go on record in Hansard , I will allow that, but nothing more.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Gauthier Bloc Roberval, QC

Very well, Mr. Speaker, because I respect your decision, and it is truly for that reason that I will comply. For the record, I would just like to say that the words the hon. member for Madawaska-Victoria ascribed to me are incorrect. I never said that, plain and simple.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

The Speaker

We are entering debate and we do not want to go down that road. I have made a ruling. The hon. member wanted clarification. I told him how he could do this. I permitted him to make the one statement which he made. It is on the record and it is clear. I ruled on a point of order earlier and, colleagues, I wish you would accept that point of order.

I have ruled on the point of privilege by saying that it was not a point of privilege. I wish you would accept that. I would like to let this matter rest now where it is.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

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

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

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as federal minister responsible for co-operatives, I wish to take the opportunity today to recognize and salute National Co-Operative Week and International Credit Union Day in Canada.

Since pioneer times Canadians have found it beneficial to work together toward common goals. The co-operative movement springs from that community effort and involvement.

An important part of our economy, co-ops provide over 133,000 jobs and represent more than $140 billion in assets. Non-financial co-operatives have a volume of business of $20.7 billion. Together, caisse populaire and credit unions represent the fifth largest financial network in Canada.

This year is important for the international co-operative movement, as it marks the 100th anniversary of the International Co-operative Alliance. The ICA represents more than 753 million members from 90 countries. The conference held in Manchester in September was a major event for the international co-operative movement. Revised co-operation principles were adopted that will propel co-ops into the 21st century. In this respect, I think that it would be proper to pay special tribute to Ian MacPherson, from British Columbia, who spearheaded the process.

Co-operatives are an effective way of providing a wide range of goods and services to their members and to consumers. While many co-operatives operate in urban centres, they have been especially effective in developing businesses and creating employment in rural areas and small communities.

Through co-operation, many Canadians have established new businesses and expanded into new or unique ventures. For example, the Seaway Valley Farmers Energy Co-operative in eastern Ontario will produce ethanol from locally grown grains.

Involvement in co-operatives has helped many thousands of individuals learn new business and management skills which not only help them to manage their co-operatives but also gives them the skills to better manage their own enterprises and allows them to grow and expand.

I want to mention how committed our young people are to the co-operative approach. Students have started co-ops in their schools to provide services in areas such as savings, housing, school supplies and computing science and, in some instances, to create summer jobs for themselves.

[English]

I urge all members, in our deliberations today and on every other occasion, to consider the potential of co-operation as a tool to help the country to continue to be a nation that is innovative, dynamic and proud of its accomplishments.

From my home province of Saskatchewan in the west where our people demonstrate a high level of participation in co-operative organizations to Quebec, which also enjoys a high level of co-operative activity, the co-op movement is one very important bond of strength and unity.

I congratulate the Canadian co-operative movement on its achievements and wish it much success in the years to come.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Jean Landry Bloc Lotbinière, QC

Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect for all those who have contributed to the development of co-operatives that I want to emphasize the importance of National Co-Operative Week and of International Credit Union Day.

The co-op movement reflects the values of mutual help and solidarity which are dear to Quebecers and Canadians. In many regions, the co-op movement provided the solution to ensure an harmonious development geared to the needs of the local community. Agricultural co-operatives were among the first to support the economic development of our regions. They provided an efficient and economical tool to ensure that the required services were available for agricultural production. Co-operatives have played, and continue to play, an important role in job creation. They provide over 133,000 jobs to Canadians and Quebecers.

The co-op system has fully shown its usefulness. It is an important component of Quebec's economy. Just think of the strength of the caisses populaires Desjardins and of the dairy co-operatives. The co-op movement is based on a local community taking charge; by pooling its resources and working as a team, it can be very successful.

This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the International Co-operative Alliance. It is an opportunity to reflect on the

fact that, for decades now, people all over the world have believed in the virtues of the co-op movement and have worked hard to make these known to others.

I congratulate these people, I encourage them to keep up the good work, and I wish them the best of success in their future endeavours.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Reform

Elwin Hermanson Reform Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of my Reform colleagues with regard to National Co-Operative Week and International Credit Union Day.

The co-op movement has a long and proud tradition in my province of Saskatchewan. It has played a significant role in the development of the province, in our nation and lands beyond our borders.

I pause to reminisce for a minute. My father was involved in some of the early co-operative movements. In fact his membership number in the Western Credit and Savings Union in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was 152 which indicates some of the history and grassroots nature of the movement.

Like most people in the prairies, and perhaps across Canada, I belong to several co-operatives. Interestingly enough, one of the first meetings I had as a member of Parliament was with the credit union management, members and boards of directors in west central Saskatchewan. It was a very profitable meeting, indeed. They were concerned about federal issues that are dealt with by the Parliament of Canada and they were happy to meet with their MP.

The concept is simple and sensible. A group of consumers or producers ban together to strengthen their bargaining position in the buying and selling of products. When members are buying they increase their competitive edge and when they sell they lower their marketing costs.

Co-ops have had their ups and downs, their triumphs and failures, as do most business enterprises, but they have been most successful when they have stayed out of the world of politics and focused on doing business and doing it well. Co-ops are businesses, and their job is to do business effectively for their owners, who are the co-op members, ordinary people who buy and sell.

Today I extend my best wishes to the co-ops and credit unions of Canada and the world. This includes their members, their boards of directors, their employees and their millions of customers.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I seek unanimous consent of the House to speak on behalf of the NDP on this matter.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

The Speaker

Is that agreed?

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

NDP

Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with other colleagues in the House who spoke on behalf of their parties in congratulating the credit union movement and the co-op movement on the occasion of National Co-Operative Week and International Credit Union Day.

Needless to say, the New Democratic Party has political roots in the co-op movement, of which all members of the House will be aware. We are very pleased to be able to join in marking this week and this day.

It is important at a time when the language of competition is prevalent to remind ourselves that there is another way of looking at the world. It is a way of looking at the world that is rooted in a very Canadian way of doing things in the co-op movement.

Co-operation is also a good word. Whatever benefits may come from competition, and I would be the first to debate some of them, we ought to realize that co-operation is another way of doing things and one that has been represented very well in the country over the decades by the credit union movement and the co-op movement.

I call upon members of the House and the government to protect this tradition in everything they do. Various things are under attack from various places, whether it is the budget for co-op housing, the attack on the wheat board or various other things, all of which represent manifestations of this co-operative spirit in our political, social and economic history.

I am pleased to join with other colleagues on behalf of the NDP in marking this occasion. I hope we will keep in mind at all times the value of this tradition and the value of advancing it in every way we can.

National Co-Operative WeekRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

The Speaker

I received a note during question period about a point of order to be raised by the hon. member for Elk Island. With your permission, I would like to finish the routine business and before we get into the orders of the day I will hear the hon. member's point of order immediately thereafter.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

Francis Leblanc Liberal Cape Breton Highlands—Canso, NS

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association on the fourth annual meeting of the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, held in Ottawa from July 4 to July 8, 1995.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

John Harvard Liberal Winnipeg—St. James, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage in relation to its consideration of Bill C-93, an act to amend the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, the Income Tax Act and the Tax Court of Canada Act.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 91st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the list of members of the Joint Standing Committee of the Library of Parliament and associate members of standing committees. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move that the report be concurred in later today.

I also have the honour to present the 91st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the selection of votable items, in accordance with Standing Order 92.

This report is deemed adopted on presentation.

British Columbia Treaty Commission ActRoutine Proceedings

October 18th, 1995 / 3:35 p.m.

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario

Liberal

Ron Irwin LiberalMinister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-107, an act respecting the establishment of the British Columbia Treaty Commission.

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

Witness Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Tom Wappel Liberal Scarborough West, ON

Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to withdraw my private member's Bill C-206, an act to provide for the protection and relocation of witnesses.

Witness Protection ActRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

The Speaker

Is it agreed?