Debates of May 10th, 1995

Petitions

[Randy White, Reform, Fraser Valley West, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition asks 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 or of homosexuality, including amending the human rights code to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 36, I would like to present two petitions from the residents of my constituency.

The first petition is from residents of the Caslan-Boyle area. The petitioners ask that Parliament achieve a balanced budget through reductions in government spending rather than tax increases.

[Dave Chatters, Reform, Athabasca, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from residents of the community of Athabasca.

The petitioners ask that Parliament not amend the Canadian Human Rights Act or the charter of rights and freedoms in any way which would tend to indicate societal approval for same sex relationships or homosexuality, including amending the Canadian Human Rights Act to include in the prohibited grounds of discrimination the undefined phrase sexual orientation.

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present two petitions dealing with the firearms legislation, one with wording very similar to that of the petition presented by the hon. member for Yorkton-Melville.

The second petition calls on Parliament not to accept the justice minister's anti-firearms proposal and insists that he instead bring forward legislation to convict and punish criminals rather than the innocent.

[Jim Gouk, Reform, Kootenay West—Revelstoke, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition to present, again from the residents of Kootenay West-Revelstoke.

The petitioners call on the government to reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes.

I trust all members will keep that in mind when we vote this afternoon.

[Margaret Bridgman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present three petitions today.

Two of the petitions ask Parliament that in light of the murders of Melanie Carpenter, Pamela Cameron, Jesse Cadman and many others, to make the following changes in the criminal justice system: to rescind the mandatory release legislation where violent offenders are involved; to ensure all information about violent offenders, including prior offences and refusal to enrol in treatment programs is provided to those making decisions on release of parole; and to separate violent offenders from society until it can be proven they will not reoffend.

I concur with the petition.

[Margaret Bridgman, Reform, Surrey North, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the third petition is signed by 68 residents of Surrey and the surrounding area.

The petitioners request that Parliament reject the justice minister's gun control proposal and call on the minister instead to bring forward proposals which will enable the police and the courts to deal quickly and firmly with perpetrators of violent crimes of all types.

Questions On The Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, questions Nos. 162 and 165 will be answered today.

Question No. 162-

[Ed Harper, Reform, Simcoe Centre, ON]

What was the cost of the advertisement placed by the FBDB on pages 80 and 81 of the December 5, 1994, issue of MacLean's magazine, what are the criteria for the purchase of advertising by the FBDB, and how much money was spent on ( a ) magazine, ( b ) newspaper, ( c ) radio, and ( d ) television advertising by the FBDB in each year since 1988?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

There was no Federal Business Development Bank (FBDB) advertisement placed on pages 80 and 81 of the December 5, 1994 edition of Maclean's.

FBDB placed an advertisement on page 49 of the November 28 edition and on page 101 of the November 14 edition. Both were part of FBDB's national advertising campaign. The November 28 advertisement was free, i.e. , at not cost to the FBDB.

The regular price for an advertisement like the one full page, four colour, that appeared in the November 14 edition of Maclean's is $27,480. The actual cost to FBDB for that ad was $23,076, representing 19 per cent off the regular price.

It should be noted that FBDB advertising is entirely paid for by the bank, which operates on a full cost-recovery basis in its financial services.

In its last examination report to the FBDB 1993, the office of the auditor general noted that the bank lacked comprehensive plans for marketing its services. To address this concern and achieve its objectives related to the complementary lender role of the bank, the bank seeks the expertise of external experts to develop, co-ordinate and implement national advertising campaigns, in order to maximize its impact with target audiences and minimize its costs.

Therefore, the purpose of FBDB advertising is to accurately and timely inform as many small and medium sized businesses as possible and potential entrepreneurs of the availability and nature of the innovative financing and management products and services offered by FBDB.

FBDB national advertising is limited to print, media, such as magazines and newspapers. FBDB does not advertise on a national basis on radio or television.

A smaller annual budget is allocated to each of the bank's 78 branches nation wide for the placement of local advertising in their community. Branch managers typically use the most effective local print media for reaching small and medium sized businesses and promoting local financing and management services programs offered by the bank. Exceptionally, a very small proportion of local radio advertising may be used. No television is used.

As mentioned, there is no national advertising on radio and television and only print media are used. A specific breakdown, along the categories listed above, is not recorded. Total amounts spent during past fiscal years since 1988 are as follows:

Total amounts spent for fiscal year 1995 are not yet available.

Question No. 165-

[Art Hanger, Reform, Calgary Northeast, AB]

What were the acceptance versus rejection rates of each of the Immigration and Refugee Board regional hearing offices in December 1994 and January 1995 versus the same period a year earlier?

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

I would ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Darrel Stinson, Reform, Okanagan—Shuswap, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On April 26, 1994 I submitted Question No. 40 on the Order Paper regarding government grants to businesses. I asked for an answer within 45 days.

I will ask again. When will the government please give me an answer to this question?

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

Mr. Speaker, the government has been working assiduously on trying to get a response to the hon. member's question.

In fairness to the government-and I acknowledge that the delay has been significant in this case-the hon. member must be aware that the question asks for information from every government department. There has been real difficulty trying to determine which grants made to persons are grants to businesses. In the sense of the hon. member's question, he asks for grants to businesses. It is often difficult for departments to tell if a grant to an individual was a grant to that person's business or to the individual.

Given the complexity of the question and the numerous departments that have to be canvassed, the hon. member will have to exercise his usual patience and wait until the government gets the answer together.

Motions For Papers

[The Deputy Speaker]

I should inform the House that earlier today the only notice of motion for the production of papers on the Order Paper was withdrawn.

(Motion withdrawn)

Ways And Means

[Doug Peters, Liberal, Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)]

moved that the ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act and the Excise Act tabled in the House on April 25, 1995, be concurred in.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those in favour will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Deputy Speaker]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.