House of Commons Hansard #274 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was jobs.
Alfonso Gagliano LiberalSecretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the member for giving me the opportunity to say how our federal system works. The immigration accord between Quebec and Canada is proof that we can have agreements between provincial and federal governments to make this country work.
Concerning the other provinces, the minister is open for discussions. There are discussions going on and I am sure that when the minister returns to the House he will give a detailed answer to the member.
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Finance.
In the infamous red book there is a promise by those who were running for government that they would eliminate the GST. The Prime Minister last summer stated that in the February 1996 budget the government would outline a replacement for the GST. No mention was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Finance of GST reform in his finance minister's economic and fiscal update.
Is it still the intent of the Minister of Finance to tell the people of Canada how he is going to recommend eliminating the GST?
Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec
Mr. Speaker, the government's undertaking in terms of the GST is to obviously have a system that is fairer to consumers and which is easier to administer.
The government has stated that following the desires of Canadians it is our wish to harmonize and to have a single tax, a single base. We are in the course of discussing this with the provinces. Undoubtedly it will come up at the meeting of the federal-provincial finance ministers next week.
I would have been prepared to have discussed it in the fiscal statement. The purpose of the fiscal statement was to give an economic update on the state of the economy since the last budget which is why I did not deal with it and I was not questioned on the matter.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would like to draw to the attention of members the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Marcello Nunes de Alencar, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of the House a question asked earlier during question period by a member of the Reform Party, the member for Nanaimo-Cowichan, to the hon. Minister of National Revenue but in a different capacity.
Citation 412 of Beauchesne's states quite clearly in regard to such questions:
A question may not be asked of a Minister in another capacity, such as being responsible for a province-
The question was asked in contravention of our rules and it was allowed to be asked uninterrupted. I realized that afterward when another member rose to ask a question which was similarly against our rules and that member was ruled out of order.
I would want to report to the House and to suggest to Mr. Speaker that the question asked of the hon. Minister of National Revenue was equally out of order. Therefore it should have been indicated at that time so that all Canadians would know that the minister was unable to answer the question because of the rules of the House which specifically prevent him from doing so.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. government whip raises a perfectly valid point of order.
In listening to the question and not to whom it was directed, it dealt with an issue that is seizing the House right now, the government veto, and I thought it was proper for that time. The hon. government whip did note that on another occasion I declared another question out of order. Because it dealt with the veto and because the Deputy Prime Minister in her wisdom thought she would like to answer it, I permitted it. However I take this under advisement. I thank the hon. government whip for raising the matter.
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I too want to bring to the attention of the House a statement and an action by the member for North Vancouver before the Minister for Human Resources Development started speaking.
I believe you will find that the member for North Vancouver used unparliamentary language. In addition, citation 501 of Beauchesne's states:
Speakers have consistently ruled that it is improper to produce exhibits of any sort in the Chamber. Thus during the flag debate of 1964, the display of competing designs was prohibited. At other times boxes of cereal, detergent and milk powder have been ruled out of order.
Mr. Speaker, I think you will find and in fact I believe you observed that the member for North Vancouver produced a trophy of the rear part of a horse and presented it to the minister. At the same time he referred to the minister with the words referring to that part of the equine anatomy.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order. My colleagues, the first point the hon. member brought up is the use of props. I have asked hon. members on numerous occasions to please not use props. I have asked this of members on all sides of the House. We are equal in here. We are members of Parliament.
Once again I appeal to you that even though you quote from papers, there is no need to hold them up or shake them. I believe that our words stand on their own. I take the point and reiterate to the House, please do not use any props.
With regard to the other point about the horse, forgive me but I did not see the use of the prop and I did not hear the words used. With regard to the words, I will check Hansard and if it is necessary, I will get back to the House.
Ted White Reform North Vancouver, BC
Mr. Speaker, I felt it was a perfectly reasonable point of order I raised earlier. All I asked for was the judgment of the House under the circumstances-
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order. I am going to close this matter off right now. Are there any other points of order? There being no other points of order, we will proceed to the daily routine of business.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
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 two petitions.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 108th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding questions concerning the role of the Senate and its interference with Bill C-69, an act to provide for the establishment of the electoral boundaries commissions and the readjustment of electoral boundaries.
Judy Bethel Liberal Edmonton East, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Industry on Bill C-88, an act to implement the agreement on internal trade, with amendments.
Jean Payne Liberal St. John's West, NL
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans on Bill C-98, an act respecting the oceans of Canada. As vice-chair of the committee, I would like to extend my thanks to the members of the committee for their hard work in connection with this bill. It demonstrates the kind of co-operation we have received in this instance.
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 Winchester, 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 who 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 upon Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families who decide to provide care in the home for preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill, or the aged.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition has to do with fetal alcohol syndrome. This petition has been signed by a number of Canadians from Guelph, Ontario.
The petitioners would like to bring to the attention of the House that consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems or impair one's ability and specifically that fetal alcohol syndrome and other alcohol related birth defects are 100 per cent preventable by avoiding alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
The petitioners therefore pray and call upon Parliament to enact legislation to require health warning labels to be placed on the containers of all alcoholic beverages to caution expectant mothers and others of the risk associated with alcohol consumption.
Andy Mitchell Liberal Parry Sound—Muskoka, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present two petitions today, both on the same subject from constituents in my riding of Parry Sound-Muskoka.
My constituents call upon the government to change the Young Offenders Act and to strengthen certain provisions thereof.
Darrel Stinson Reform Okanagan—Shuswap, BC
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table two petitions today, both on the same subject concerning the taxation of native Indians. The petitioners also ask Parliament to halt land claim negotiations and ensure that one and the same law applies equally to all Canadians.
John Murphy Liberal Annapolis Valley—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present two petitions from my constituents of Annapolis Valley-Hants.
The first petition signed by 30 of my constituents deals with the government household moving service and the need to continue with a policy of dividing the furniture moving business between independent movers on an equitable basis.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to resolve to veto any proposed change to the tendering process of the Department of National Defence and to support the present system of tendering.
John Murphy Liberal Annapolis Valley—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is signed by 211 constituents calling upon Parliament to take steps to keep the synthetic bovine growth hormone out of Canada through legislating a moratorium or a stoppage of the BGH use and sale until the year 2000. These
constituents further call for an examination of the outstanding health and economic questions through an independent and transparent review.
Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I ask that the questions be allowed to stand.