House of Commons Hansard #265 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was institutions.

Topics

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

All those in favour of the amendment will please say yea.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Yea.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

All those opposed will please say nay.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Nay.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members having risen:

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

Call in the members.

And the bells having rung:

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, a division on the question now before the House stands deferred until November 28 at the end of government business, at which time the bells to call in the members will be sounded for not more than 15 minutes.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

Liberal

Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON

Madam Speaker, in view of the time of the day which leaves very little time to commence a new order I suggest that we call it 6.30 p.m.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

Is there unanimous consent?

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActGovernment Orders

6:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActAdjournment Proceedings

6:10 p.m.

Bloc

Gilbert Fillion Bloc Chicoutimi, QC

Madam Speaker, on November 7, the Prime Minister announced that a ministerial committee had been set up to review the whole question of constitutional and administrative changes to the Canadian federation. It is strange though to set up such a committee, whose mandate and schedule remains unknown, even as we speak.

It is strange also that this committee is made up only of federal ministers, when everyone knows full well that the real decision makers in that regard are the provincial premiers. I for one believe that this committee was struck just for the Prime Minister's satisfaction, to give him something to say, or else to distract momentarily from the poor performance during the referendum.

How can this committee have any credibility when some of its members have gone out of their way to trample on Quebec. What can be said about the Minister of Justice, who was looking for legal means to prevent Quebecers from voting again on their future? And what about the fisheries minister who invited thousands of Canadians to act in violation of the Referendum Act? What about the Minister of Canadian Heritage who will not recognize that Quebecers are a nation? What about the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration who, when he was a member of the opposition in this House, voted against a government proposal which recognized, among other things, the distinct society in the Meech Lake Accord?

And what about the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs who, when answering the question I put to him on November 8 about the mandate of the committee, simply said, and I quote: "Our committee will also look at non constitutional measures, so as to not overlook any means to make our federation more effective"?

Yet, by giving such an answer, the minister admits his helplessness. The measures which will be considered are non constitutional measures. How can such measures come up to the expectations of the Quebecers? Again, it is a committee established to do away with the legitimate expectations of the Quebecers.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActAdjournment Proceedings

6:10 p.m.

Kitchener Ontario

Liberal

John English LiberalParliamentary Secretary to President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs

Madam Speaker, on November 8 the member for Chicoutimi asked the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs about the mandate of the cabinet committee on unity.

The minister replied that the committee was going to look at all the possibilities for constitutional and administrative changes in the federation.

The member further asked if the minister could inform the House whether the committee would look at options, such as a resolution to recognize Quebec's distinct character, as well as a bill on regional referendums.

The minister responded that the commitments made by the Prime Minister during the campaign concerning a distinct society and constitutional veto for Quebec will be fulfilled.

The initiatives announced today by the Prime Minister represent a ground breaking and effective way of achieving a major constitutional objective without reopening the Constitution, since Lucien Bouchard and the PQ government have stated clearly and repeatedly that they were not interested in constitutional change.

Our legislation on the right of veto ensures that we will not make any constitutional change Quebec does not want. We must not let the intransigence of Lucien Bouchard and of the Quebec government impede the adoption of non-constitutional changes, changes the people of Quebec and of other Canadian regions are looking forward to.

The results of the October 30 referendum have shown the clear desire of Quebecers to remain within Canada, a country that they have helped to build into the tolerant, compassionate society we know today.

At the same time, the referendum has signalled that Quebecers and many other Canadians are looking for changes within the federation that will make the government more responsive to the needs of Canadians.

Manganese Based Fuel Additives ActAdjournment Proceedings

6:10 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu)

Pursuant to Standing Order 38(5), the motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m. pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 6.17 p.m.)