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.
Bill Graham Liberal Rosedale, ON
Mr. Speaker, the government recently released figures about Canada's international trade.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for International Trade tell the House what these figures show about Canada's export performance and how it contributes to our economic growth and jobs for Canadians?
Mac Harb LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister for International Trade
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues I would like to pay tribute to the finest ever minister of trade and his staff on a job very well done.
Here are the facts. In 1995 to date Canadian exports were 20 per cent higher than for the same period in 1994. Our trade merchandise surplus for September alone was $2.9 billion. By September, Canada's year to date trade surplus with the United States was $5.7 billion, higher than for the same period in 1994. For every $1 billion, 10,000 jobs are being created in our economy.
Yves Rocheleau Bloc Trois-Rivières, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transport.
On November 3, American Airlines and Canadian International filed an application for antitrust immunity with the U.S. department of transport. Such immunity would allow the two companies to merge their operations and act as a single carrier for transborder flights.
Will the minister clearly tell the two carriers that merging their transborder operations is not acceptable to the Canadian government, because it violates the Open Skies Agreement by giving American Airlines privileged access to the three largest Canadian airports, thus jeopardizing the activities of Canadian carriers?
Douglas Young LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the application that the hon. member refers to is one that is being considered by the appropriate authorities in the United States.
The National Transportation Agency has the responsibility as it relates to any activities by the two airlines in Canada. It would be our intention that whichever direction those two airlines desire to take in terms of merging their operations, they will have to respect both the letter and the spirit of the law in Canada.
John Duncan Reform North Island—Powell River, BC
Mr. Speaker, the Nisga'a land claims negotiations in northwest British Columbia apparently include a Nass River aboriginal commercial fishery allocation.
This flies in the face of the five aboriginal fisheries cases currently being argued before the Supreme Court. The provincial aboriginal affairs minister in B.C. has stated that whatever the results of these cases, commercial fishing must not be entrenched in B.C. treaties.
What continues to motivate the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to promote inclusion of a racially based commercial fishery in B.C. treaties?
Brian Tobin LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, it is quite clear that the only thing that is racially based is the nature of the questions being asked in the House of Commons.
FisheriesOral Question Period
The Speaker
Both in the questions and in the answers sometimes we abut on what is parliamentarily acceptable. I would encourage all hon. members when asking questions and responding to be quite judicious in their questions and in their answers.
This concludes question period.
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 14 petitions.
Stan Keyes Liberal Hamilton West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Transport on Bill C-101, the Canada Transportation Act.
The primary aim of the bill is to encourage the revitalization of the rail industry by reducing the regulatory burden facing that sector.
The bill was referred to the committee after first reading, pursuant to Standing Order 73(1). This new procedure allowed members to participate more fully in the legislative process and make important and constructive amendments to the bill.
The committee acknowledges with gratitude the co-operation and support of all those who contributed to our study of Bill C-101. We extend our thanks to all the witnesses who appeared, as well as those who made written submissions and shared their knowledge and insight with us.
In the process of reviewing this bill, the committee heard 55 hours of testimony from 154 witnesses, representing 85 stakeholder groups and organizations.
I would like to give special thanks to the clerk of the committee, the researchers, interpreters and the support staff of the committees and parliamentary association's directorate. I would also like to thank my fellow committee members for patiently proceeding through hours of testimony in order to ensure the effective evaluation of Bill C-101.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 103rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership and associate membership of standing committees.
If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 103rd report later this day.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-359, an act to require the withdrawal of Canada from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is a mirror bill to legislation introduced in the United States congress by Peter De Fazio, a Democrat from Oregon and Senator Byron Dorgan from North Dakota.
It has support in the United States of 23 members of the house of representatives and a number of senators representing both political parties. Basically, it says that not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Government of Canada shall, pursuant to article 2205 of the agreement, notify the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States of the withdrawal of Canada from the North American Free Trade Agreement.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:
That the 103rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to.)
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition which has been circulating all across Canada. This petition has been signed by a number of Canadians from Etobicoke, 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 and the aged.
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to deposit a petition signed by some of my constituents, pursuant to Standing Order 36.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have several petitions to present today. One is asking that the current prohibitions against euthanasia or assisted suicide of any kind be upheld.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, another petition requests that Parliament enact provisions to protect human life before birth.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, a third petition asks that recognition by the crown of same sex relationships be withheld.
Margaret Bridgman Reform Surrey North, BC
Mr. Speaker, another petition prays for better recognition for witnesses in any witness protection program.
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
November 27th, 1995 / 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, question No. 244 will be answered today.
Question No. 244-
Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON
Since its inception 19 years ago, what has been the total cost of constructing, maintaining and repairing the Bruce II reactor at the Bruce nuclear generating station?
Anne McLellan LiberalMinister of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Canada and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited have not provided funding for the construction, maintenance and repair of the Bruce II reactor at the Bruce nuclear station. Ontario Hydro is responsible for the Bruce II reactor.
Peter Milliken Liberal Kingston and the Islands, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.