House of Commons Hansard #150 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was public.
Art Eggleton LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, as I understand it, the hon. member has also had lively discussions on pension reform matters in the past. Certainly we are going through a discussion of the matter. As the Prime Minister indicated yesterday, there will be an announcement either during the budget or before the budget.
We will live up to our red book commitments with respect to pension reforms.
Warren Allmand Liberal Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Justice.
Two new hyperdestructive handgun bullets were recently developed in the United States. One is designed to do maximum damage to human tissue while the second can penetrate body armour. This rhino ammunition is designed to break into thousands of razor-like fragments when it hits flesh and death is almost instantaneous.
I want to ask the minister whether the import and sale of these bullets will be prohibited in Canada and whether the sale of all ammunition will be subject to control under his new legislation to be tabled next week?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, Canadians were horrified to read of the production and potential sale of these bullets in the United States.
That news story has seemed to solidify the vast majority opinion in this country that steps must be taken to ensure that in relation to firearms we do not go the way of the United States.
Ammunition of that description has already been prohibited. Order No. 10 of 1992 makes the import or sale of that ammunition unlawful.
The new registration system which the government proposes will permit the tracking of any such prohibited items and ensure that they do not come into Canada.
Ian McClelland Reform Edmonton Southwest, AB
Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Deputy Prime Minister.
The right of management to employ replacement workers balances the right of employees to withdraw their labour. The effect of tipping this balance through legislation in favour of employees will destroy the balance between management and labour.
Is it the intention of this government to drive business and investment out of Canada to jurisdictions without such legislation?
Sheila Copps LiberalDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, absolutely not.
René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Public Service Renewal. A week ago during a public debate, the minister admitted that between 10,000 and 12,000 federal public servants would lose their jobs in the Ottawa-Hull region, including 4,000 in the Outaouais, which represents more than one-third of the total cuts.
Could the minister explain why, as he was reported to have said in Le Droit , more than 33 per cent of these cuts will affect the Outaouais, which provides only 25 per cent of the federal public servants in the Ottawa-Hull region?
Marcel Massé LiberalPresident of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
Mr. Speaker, all the issues concerning the budget's impact on the public service have been dealt with from the outset by the President of the Treasury Board. I believe we have said many times that we will treat our public servants fairly.
That is exactly what transpires from the proposals released last week by the President of the Treasury Board. Both sides of the river will be treated fairly, there is no question about that.
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 59th report of the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs regarding the membership of the joint committee on the Library of Parliament.
With leave of the House, I intend to move for concurrence in the fifty-ninth report later this day.
Gordon Kirkby Liberal Prince Albert—Churchill River, SK
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development regarding Bill C-60, an act respecting the agreement between Her Majesty in right of Canada and the Pictou Landing Indian Band, without amendments.
Richard Bélisle Bloc La Prairie, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
This report deals with tax revenue and the resource companies allowance, following a dispute between the Department of National Revenue and Gulf with respect to the interpretation of certain tax deductions for the 1974 and 1975 taxation years. The Department of National Revenue issued a reassessment, which Gulf appealed. The court ruled in favour of Gulf. The government appealed the decision and lost in 1992. The government then sought leave to appeal, which the Supreme Court of Canada refused, and has continued to refuse since 1992.
Following the court decisions, 40 other companies in the resource sector sought a refund based on their tax returns since 1974. Negotiations are continuing between the government and these companies. The final amount of the refund, including accumulated interest, could reach two billion dollars. In order to offset this substantial risk of erosion of the tax base, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts is recommending a series of measures designed to avoid a repetition of the Gulf affair and to make possible a judicious assessment and management of the risks to the federal government.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-301, an act to amend the Criminal Code (violent crimes).
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to put forth this private member's bill to serve notice to those individuals in society who choose to continually victimize society; for those who wish to continue to commit violent offences on those who are innocent civilians.
This is a three strikes and you are out bill, which gives notice to those individuals who wish to do these things that if they commit three violent offences they are in for 25 years.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West, ON
Mr. Speaker, I move that the 59th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to.)
Warren Allmand Liberal Notre-Dame-De-Grâce, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by 33 residents from London, Ontario, whom I met recently. The petitioners point out that acts of discrimination against lesbian, gay and bisexual Canadians are an every day reality in all regions of Canada. This kind of discrimination is unacceptable in a country known for its commitment to human rights, equality and dignity for all citizens. Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Rex Crawford Liberal Kent, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise in the House pursuant to Standing Order 36 to present a petition with several hundred names on it.
The undersigned citizens of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following: that because the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act will provide certain groups with special status, rights and privileges; that because these special rights and privileges would be granted solely on the basis of sexual behaviour; that because inclusion will infringe on the historic rights of Canadians such as freedom of religion, conscience, expression and association; therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.
I support the petition.
Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac, QC
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36, from the Plessisville seniors club, one of the largest seniors clubs in my riding.
The vast majority of members of this club pray that Parliament will defer its intention to install voice mail systems to reply to inquiries from senior citizens. I myself did a test run this week, and it is very difficult for seniors.
I support totally the petitioners from the Plessisville seniors club.
Elwin Hermanson Reform Kindersley—Lloydminster, SK
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have two petitions to table. They are both regarding the Latimer case in Saskatchewan.
The petitioners want to draw to the attention of the House that Mr. Latimer was sentenced to life in prison for second degree murder with no chance for parole for 10 years. These petitioners request that Parliament grant Robert Latimer of Wilkie, Saskatchewan a pardon conditionally or unconditionally for his conviction of second degree murder in the death of Tracy Latimer, his daughter.
There are 1,672 signatures on these two petitions. The case is under appeal and I will reserve my comment until I find out what the results of that appeal are.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions which I would like to table this morning.
The first petition is against the serial killer board game. It is signed by 684 people, making a grand total of petitions in that regard of 119,440 which I have tabled thus far.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is with regard to the issue of assisted suicide, asking Parliament not to consider assisted suicide and euthanasia. It is signed by 102 people. This brings the total for this kind of petition to 22,963.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have another petition signed by a number of Canadians who are objecting to this House's having changed the prayer in Parliament.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have another petition in which people object to homosexual relationships.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, another petition wants a referendum on bilingualism.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
The next petition, Mr. Speaker, has to do with violent offenders.
I wish to table all these petitions this morning.
Gar Knutson Liberal Elgin—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition.
The petitioners are asking Parliament to act quickly to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and to adopt all necessary measures to recognize the full equality of same sex relationships and families in federal law.
I also have four petitions in which signatories are opposing any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.
Gar Knutson Liberal Elgin—Norfolk, ON
Mr. Speaker, the last petition requests a referendum on bilingualism.
Val Meredith Reform Surrey—White Rock—South Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions I would like to present this morning.
The first one is in recognition of volunteer firemen. These volunteer firemen protect our communities without any financial compensation. There is a deductible, a tax exemption of $500 that is recognized.
My petitioners are humbly praying that this tax exemption be raised from $500 to $1,000 because no change has been made in this tax exemption since 1980.
I would like to support this request from my petitioners for Parliament to pass legislation to recognize the contribution of the firefighters.