Debates of Feb. 8th, 1995

Privilege

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, I read some place over the holidays that I usually take some time to deliberate.

The hon. member did raise this point in November. At that time I invited him to come back with new information if he had it. I wonder if the House would again extend to me its patience. If necessary I will come back to the House on this matter of privilege.

Points Of Order

[Jack Frazer, Reform, Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order in accordance with Beauchesne's sixth edition, page 111, citation 374. In a Standing Order 31 statement yesterday the member for Brant attributed to me comments which I assume were taken from a media report. The media report had taken me out of context and completely misrepresented my position.

It is one thing to have erroneous comments in the media, but it is quite another to have it read into the official record of the House of Commons. I respectfully request that the reference to me in that statement be withdrawn.

[The Speaker]

The hon. member gave me notice that he was going to raise a point of order. I would like to review not only the "blues" but also the television tapes so I can ascertain precisely what was said and in what context. I will return to the House if it is necessary.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, you refused a question from the member for Saint-Hubert during question period. This question pertained to a matter which I will state, and I would then ask you why you refused it. This question dealt in part with appointments made by the government, thus pertaining to the role of government, and secondly, with the possible reasons for these appointments, pertaining therefore to the ethics of this government and of this Parliament. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister alike are to serve as guardians on matters of ethics, as was emphasized at the very beginning of this session.

So we are curious to know why this question was refused since, it would seem, such appointments and ethics are issues of government.

[The Speaker]

May I remind the hon. member that the Speaker does not normally have to state his reason for refusing a question, but I may say that it seemed to me at that moment, as I indicated, that this question did not pertain to the specific responsibilities of this minister of the government. I made that decision in good faith and I hope you will accept it as such.

[Gilles Duceppe, Bloc, Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC]

Mr. Speaker, would it be possible for us to meet so you might explain to us-

[The Speaker]

Certainly. If the hon. member or the hon. member who asked the question would like to discuss it with me, I will be pleased to meet with them in my chambers.

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 several 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 present the 58th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Government Operations.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 58th report later this day.

[Ron MacDonald, Liberal, Dartmouth, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans in relation to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.

The committee requests a response from the government pursuant to Standing Order 109. I have a very short comment.

The committee travelled to many points in western Canada including Edmonton, Hay River as well as places like Garden Hill. We heard from over 100 witnesses on this very important issue.

The committee report is an attempt to strike a balance between the conflicting needs of those who are served by the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, in order to assure those who feel that their interests are not being best served. They actually can aspire to success and those who are successful can continue to be so.

It is with a great deal of pleasure that I make this report from the fisheries committee to Parliament.

[Benoît Tremblay, Bloc, Rosemont, QC]

Mr. Speaker, allow me to mention that the hon. member for Gaspé, who is vice-chairman of the fisheries committee, was present each time the committee sat, went to all of the hearings in communities out west and was very active in the drafting of the report.

Since he is absent today because he is a member of the important committee on the draft bill on Quebec's sovereignty, I will present the Bloc Quebecois' dissenting opinion. Overall, the Bloc Quebecois agrees with the committee's report and agrees that responsibility for processing and marketing freshwater fish should be transferred to the provinces.

However, we have a problem with the conditions of the transfer. Since the committee recommends that responsibility be transferred, we think that now is not the time to change the rules on marketing freshwater fish, before even consulting the First Nations, the provinces and the territories which will be affected.

Therefore, given the difficulties fishermen in remote areas are experiencing, the Bloc Quebecois recommends that, at the first possible opportunity, the federal government jointly study with the provinces and the territories the possibility of granting special vending permits to remote communities throughout the transition period.

[Jim Peterson, Liberal, Willowdale, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the eleventh report of the Standing Committee on Finance, a report concerning Bill C-59, an act to amend the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax Application Rules, in both official languages. We will table it with two amendments.

I wish to thank all members of the committee for their hard work and co-operation.

Swearing In Of His Excellency The Governor General

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

Mr. Speaker, with the unanimous consent of the House and in accordance with custom, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Laurier-Sainte-Marie, that the speech of His Excellency the Governor General, the Right Hon. Roméo LeBlanc, together with the address of welcome made by the Prime Minister in the Senate Chamber on February 8, 1995, be printed an appendix to the official report of debates of the House of Commons, and form part of the permanent record of this Parliament.

(Motion agreed to.)

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, with leave of the House, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Laurier-Sainte-Marie, that the 58th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, laid upon the Table today, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

Division No. 146

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

Mr. Speaker, I think you would find unanimous consent pursuant to a conversation in this House on February 6 for the following motion:

That the Hansard and the Journals of the House of Commons be corrected to reflect that on December 13 on Bill C-226 the hon. member for Winnipeg North did vote on that bill and voted yea on the motion in question.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Jan Brown, Reform, Calgary Southeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise before this House on day three of this initiative to present petition number three, the second petition having been presented yesterday to the Clerk of the House.

These petitions are being presented on behalf of constituents who wish to halt the early release from prison of Robert Paul Thompson. April 11, 1995 is the date that has been set for his parole hearing.

The petitioners I represent are concerned about making our streets safer for our citizens. They are opposed to the current practice of early release of violent offenders prior to serving the full extent of their sentences.

The petitioners pray that our streets will be made safer for law-abiding citizens and the families of the victims of convicted murderers.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present four petitions from the riding of Prince George-Bulkley Valley all to do with the issue of euthanasia.

The petitioners pray that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no change to the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

The first petition is from the Mennonite Brethren, Nechako Community Church in Vanderhoof, B.C. The second petition dealing with euthanasia is also from Vanderhoof, B.C. The third and fourth petitions are from Prince George, B.C. I am pleased to say that I personally support all four of these petitions.

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of presenting two petitions from the citizens of Ottawa South, one of them signed by 55 members of the riding.

The first petition calls upon Parliament to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

[Sarkis Assadourian, Liberal, Don Valley North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition signed by 63 members of the community asks that the names of young offenders be released. It also asks that the age limit for young offenders be lowered to allow the punishment to meet the severity of the crime.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table four petitions on behalf of residents of my riding of Bruce-Grey.

Three of the petitions request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the human rights act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way that would indicate societal approval for same sex relationships or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase of sexual orientation.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the last petition requests that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide, or active or passive euthanasia.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to rise in the House and present two separate petitions signed by my constituents from Red Deer.

With respect to the first petition the citizens express their disapproval to the government regarding any privileges extended to same sex relationships.

Therefore, the petitioners humbly pray and request that Parliament not amend the human rights code, the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships and that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously.

[Bob Mills, Reform, Red Deer, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in the second petition the citizens express their sentiments and great concern with respect to the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to table three petitions from constituents of my riding.

The first petition was signed by 133 members of the Shaunavon Wildlife Association at their annual awards banquet. They state that gun control regulations in Canada are already excessive and without evident benefit. Therefore, they call upon us in Parliament to desist from passing additional restrictive legislation with respect to firearms or ammunition and to direct our attention to the apprehension and adequate punishment of those who criminally misuse firearms or other deadly weapons.

I heartily concur with that petition.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is also from constituents of mine, mostly in the Pangman, Truax and Ogema districts of Saskatchewan, requesting that the Canadian Wheat Board continue to be the sole marketing agency for export wheat and barley sales.