Debates of Feb. 22nd, 1995

Monetary Policy

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Deputy Prime Minister.

It is clear the government is prepared to break collective agreements with public servants and to block transfers to undermine social and health programs in the country. It is clear that we could get rid of a large number of civil servants and cut social programs and known governmental organizations but a 1 per cent to 2 per cent increase in the interest rate would wipe out any of those savings.

What is the Deputy Prime Minister's government prepared to do to finally address monetary policy and have the Bank of Canada really focus on keeping interest rates under control and below what they are now?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, we intend to do that on Monday.

Pearson International Airport

[Gurbax Malhi, Liberal, Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Solicitor General.

Scooping is the practice of unlicensed private drivers stealing business from hundreds of taxi cab and limousine drivers who are legally licensed to operate from Pearson International Airport.

Will the Solicitor General take measures to control this theft of an estimated $6.5 million in business and put an end to these airport pirates?

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, this difficult situation involves a matter of legal interpretation. I understand that the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Transport and their officials are working to find a solution. I hope it will be developed before too long.

I would be happy to work with them in arriving at this solution because I know how much distress is being caused by the situation outlined by my hon. friend.

Business Of The House

[Michel Gauthier, Bloc, Roberval, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleague, the government House leader, to indicate which legislation will be considered in the next few days.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to answer the question today because, as the House knows, our only business tomorrow will be to hear the President of the United States address a joint meeting of both Houses in this Chamber at three o'clock in the afternoon.

I might say also that the debate today will be on third reading of Bill C-37, the Young Offenders Act amendments. I have already said what we are going to be doing tomorrow.

On Friday the business will be second reading of Bill C-69, the electoral boundaries bill; followed if necessary by Bill C-37; followed by resumption of second reading debate of Bill C-69, the firearms bill.

On Monday morning of next week, the House will resume wherever it left off on Friday. However, as we already know, at 4.30 p.m. the Minister of Finance will make the annual budget presentation.

On Tuesday and Wednesday of next week the House will continue the budget debate.

On Thursday and Friday of next week the House will consider second reading of a bill respecting borrowing authority.

Points Of Order

[Len Taylor, NDP, The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday of last week the House will recall that I rose on a question of privilege to request that the House allow for additional printing of Bill C-68, the firearms legislation, again called for debate on Friday of this week.

I was told at that time that on Tuesday of this week a decision would be reached concerning the additional printing of copies of Bill C-68 for members of Parliament who require the bill to properly inform their constituents.

I have been informed informally that a decision has been reached. I have been told informally that decision means members of Parliament can have a measly 10 extra copies of the bill.

I would like to know if the House or a member of the government could confirm that in fact that decision has been reached and, if indeed the decision means 10 copies, I would like the opportunity to protest the decision to the House.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in my capacity as spokesperson for the Board of Internal Economy I wish to inform members of the House that the board has taken a decision to provide-I know it is a limited quantity-10 copies of the bill kit to all members of Parliament.

I must as well inform the House that bill kits are worth approximately $20 each. Even that small quantity, as the House appreciates, results in a considerable expenditure that could range in the area of $400 per member of Parliament. Therefore it is a very large expenditure for the House.

Finally, it is my understanding that the Library of Parliament traditionally publishes notes. These notes are available to members of Parliament. They are referred to as bill summaries, and when the summaries are prepared they can be photocopied by members. That is not expensive and they can be presented to all and sundry.

[Len Taylor, NDP, The Battlefords—Meadow Lake, SK]

Mr. Speaker, on that confirmation I wish to lodge a protest on behalf of many members of the House.

Nothing could be more important to the public than the opportunity to read the words that are contained in a bill before the House. I am not asking for the bill kits. I am asking for the opportunity to go to the printing office of the House of Commons to have a number of copies printed. This would not be the $22 that the board has determined this would cost.

It is imperative that all Canadians have access to the bills of the House. As a member of Parliament, I would like to supply my constituents with a bill presented in this Chamber.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Very briefly, Mr. Speaker, I should have mentioned that members can order extra copies through their operational budgets. I recognize this has limitations because it involves expenditures for each member of Parliament.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

I think the matter is quite clear to all members of the House.

I thank the hon. government whip for responding and I thank the hon. member for The Battlefords-Meadow Lake for bringing the issue back to the House following his original intervention some days ago.

At this point I would indicate to the House that if the member for The Battlefords-Meadow Lake wishes to choose another route to continue to raise this issue, I am sure as a well experienced parliamentarian he will find that mechanism and that route. For the time being the matter is deemed closed.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 certain petitions.

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the 62nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs in respect of the order of reference dated November 29, 1994 regarding the furniture, supplies and equipment in each hon. member's constituency office and House of Commons office.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 63rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of committees.

This report is in part consequent on the admission of the new members of the House of Commons today.

If the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in the 63rd report later this day.

Criminal Code

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough West, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-307, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Copyright Act (profit from authorship respecting a crime).

Mr. Speaker, my bill would amend the Criminal Code and the Copyright Act to prohibit a criminal from profiting by selling, authorizing or authoring the story of a crime.

If a person is convicted of an indictable offence under the Criminal Code, any moneys he or she may have made or may make in the future from the creation of a work based on the

crime would be deemed proceeds of crime subject to seizure by the crown.

Included would be moneys paid to the convicted person for the authorship of books, articles, screen plays, recordings, et cetera. Also covered would be moneys paid for the criminal's contribution to the creation of such a work, for example, getting paid to tell a story to a news program or the joint authorship of a book.

The bill further amends the Copyright Act to provide that the copyright in any work principally based on the crime where the work is created, prepared or published by or in collaboration with the convicted person becomes the property of the crown.

In countries that have signed the Berne convention on copyright, Canada could enforce its copyright ownership of the work, including preventing the sale and other distribution of the work and applying to seize any profits, the principle being a criminal should not receive a dime for committing a crime.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

Adm Agri-Industries Ltd. Operations Act

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Outremont, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-308, an act to provide the resumption of production activities at ADM Agri-Industries Ltd.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a bill entitled "an act to provide the resumption of production activities at ADM Agri-Industries Ltd". The objective of this bill is to resolve the labour conflict between ADM, formerly Ogilvie Flour Mills Ltd., and the national union of employees of Ogilvie Flour Mills Ltd.

The company and the union are presently engaged in bargaining to renew the collective agreement which expired on January 31, 1992 and applies to some 150 employees of the milling industry. Realizing that no agreement could be reached with the help of the arbitrator appointed by the Minister of Human Resources Development, the parties faced a strike or lockout.

Union members began the strike on June 6, 1994. A federal mediator met with the parties on several occasions to help them but, unfortunately, little progress was made. During that time, the company continued operating using replacement workers to carry out the work of bargaining unit members.

In tabling this bill today, I would like to put an end to this dispute and conflict.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Ray Speaker, Reform, Lethbridge]

Mr. Speaker, a point of order. I was going to introduce a private member's bill on behalf of the hon. member for Red Deer. I would like to proceed with it if I could.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

I would ask then for unanimous consent for the member for Lethbridge to introduce the bill on behalf of the member for Red Deer.

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Access To Information Act

[Ray Speaker, Reform, for Mr. Thompson]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-309, an act to amend the Access to Information Act (disclosure of results of public opinion polls).

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to introduce the bill on behalf of the member for Red Deer. This bill, an act to amend the Access to Information Act, which calls for the disclosure of results of public opinion polls, is a very important bill. It is important because it will demonstrate the commitment of Parliament to open government based on principles of accountability and transparency.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)

[Peter Milliken, Liberal, Kingston and the Islands, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I cannot find the bill on the Notice Paper. Has notice of introduction of this bill been given?

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger)]

I have received information from the Table that it might be Motion No. 28.

Procedure And House Affairs

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

Mr. Speaker, with the unanimous consent of the House, I wish to put several motions today.

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 63rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

Bill C-69

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

Mr. Speaker, I move, with the unanimous consent of the House:

That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 68(7)(a), when the order of the day is called for consideration of the second reading of Bill C-69, an act to provide for the establishment of the Electoral Boundaries Commissions and the readjustment of the electoral boundaries, a representative of each party or group in the House may make a statement of not more than 20 minutes in relation thereto before the question is put, provided that when the question is put it shall be deemed to have been carried on division.

(Motion agreed to.)

Foreign Affairs And International Trade

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

Mr. Speaker, I move, with the unanimous consent of the House:

That the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade be authorized to travel to Washington, D.C., from March 15 to 17, 1995, for the purpose of meeting officials from international financial institutions and other appropriate individuals as part of the Committee's examination of the upcoming Halifax G-7 Summit Agenda and, in particular, reforms to international financial institutions, and that the necessary staff do accompany the Committee.

(Motion agreed to.)