Debates of Nov. 22nd, 1995

Fisheries

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the fisheries minister said in the House this week that his new $50 million tax grab, which he calls access fees, will be applied in a fair and equitable manner. Reform profoundly disagrees with this intolerable tax, and now we find that native commercial fishermen will pay only half the access fee that non-natives pay.

Will the minister now admit this policy is essentially discriminatory at its core, commit here and now in the House to equality of treatment for all Canadians and stop treating non-native fishermen as second class citizens in their own country?

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the member, who comes from Prince Rupert and who has within his constituency both native and non-native fishermen, would not want to get up in the House and inadvertently or carelessly, which would not be in his nature, cause a division between the native community and the non-native community.

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay East, BC]

You are causing the division.

[Jim Silye, Reform, Calgary Centre, AB]

It is your rule.

[Brian Tobin, Liberal, Humber—St. Barbe—Baie Verte, NL]

I have a bad throat so you will have to be quiet if you want to hear the answer. I am not used to yelling.

As the hon. member knows, people with native backgrounds occupy 40 per cent of the commercial sector of the industry. Coming from Prince Rupert I am sure he knows that. The commercial fleet, the people who speak on behalf of the aboriginal fisheries, the sports sector, in fact all sectors, are attending a round table process. The purpose of this process is to bring the industry

together to produce a plan for the proper management of the fishery.

The process is not finished and until it is those kinds of conclusions cannot be drawn. We ought to let people who want to work together-

[The Speaker]

I would remind hon. members to address the Chair.

Justice

[Gary Pillitteri, Liberal, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, crime prevention has always been one of our major goals. We all know that in order to prevent crime it is necessary to respond to the underlying social costs of criminal behaviour. Access to education and training are the essential elements from crime prevention.

Therefore, what is the government planning to do to promote involvement in the justice system?

[Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Liberal, Secretary of State (Training and Youth)]

Mr. Speaker, the government is very concerned about community safety and security as it relates to young people.

We have set up a program that reaches across the country from the far west right into the Atlantic and up into the north. Fifteen communities across the country will benefit from this initiative. For example, one project announced in September is situated in the southern Ontario region. We expect to have 20 youth participate in this project once it is under way.

The government is working with all partners in order to better aid Canada's youth. In addition to that, human resources development is working with community partners and youth to improve public safety as a whole.

Presence In Gallery

[The Speaker]

I wish to draw members' attention to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Grich Gongpechara, First Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Thailand.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to

table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Saint-Denis, QC]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association, which represented Canada at the 41st annual session of the North Atlantic Assembly held in Turin, Italy, from October 5 to 9, 1995.

Committees Of The House

[Roger Simmons, Liberal, Burin—St. George's, NL]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour on behalf of the Standing Committee on Health to present its sixth report in accordance with its order of reference of November 1, 1995.

The committee has considered votes 1a, 5a, 10a, 20a and 25a under health in supplementary estimates (A) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996 and report the same.

A copy of the minutes of proceedings relating to the study is tabled.

[Raymond Bonin, Liberal, Nickel Belt, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on Bill C-107, an act respecting the establishment of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, and have agreed to report it without amendment.

Standing Committee On Finance

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I think you would find consent for the following motion. I move:

That the Standing Committee on Finance or any of its subcommittees be authorized to adjourn from place to place within Canada during the week commencing November 27, 1995 to hold prebudget consultations and that the necessary staff accompany the committee.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Madam Speaker, today I have two petitions to present on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre.

The first petition concerns section 745 of the Criminal Code. The petitioners request that Parliament repeal section 745 of the Criminal Code so that convicted murderers have to serve their full 25-year sentence behind bars.

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second group of petitioners request that the Government of Canada not amend the human rights act to include the phrase of sexual orientation.

The petitioners are concerned about including the undefined phrase of sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act. Refusing to define this statement leaves interpretation open to the courts, a very dangerous precedent to set.

Parliament has a responsibility to Canadians to ensure that legislation cannot be misinterpreted.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present a petition which is signed by a number of residents of my riding of Stormont-Dundas.

The petitioners call on Parliament to ensure that approximately 70 Cornwall jobs at the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority headquarters remain in Cornwall. They also emphasize that the city of Cornwall cannot afford any more economic losses of jobs in an already depressed area which has been hard hit by the closure of several industries.

Many other petitions were circulated locally. While not in the proper form for this House, they still request that the same consideration be given and that Parliament recognize the historical link between the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority and the city of Cornwall by keeping the head office and those jobs in the seaway city.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition which has been circulating all across Canada. The petition has been signed by a number of Canadians from Cambridge, Ontario.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that managing the family home and caring for preschool children is an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to our society.

They also state that the Income Tax Act discriminates against families that make the choice to provide care in the home to preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged.

The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families that decide to provide care in the home for preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions For Papers

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I ask that all notices of motions for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.