House of Commons Hansard #201 of the 35th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was trade.

Topics

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh.

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I am sure the hon. minister is going to get to his answer.

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Douglas Young Liberal Acadie—Bathurst, NB

Mr. Speaker, I can only say that had the member been tuned in, he would have known that the question has been raised in the House on a number of occasions by members of the Reform Party. As I indicated to them and as I want to advise my hon. colleague now, the decision to build highways in Nova Scotia is a decision of the Government of Nova Scotia. The report to which my hon. colleague refers is a report by the auditor general of Nova Scotia.

It is not unheard of and certainly no precedent for this government to be able to reallocate funds and to be flexible enough to recognize realities, whether that occurs in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick or in Nova Scotia. Under these agreements funds have been reallocated.

Any beef the hon. member has would be with the few colleagues he still has in Nova Scotia in the opposition there.

HighwaysOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

This brings to a close the question period. I do have a point of privilege from the hon. member for Prince Albert-Churchill River.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Gordon Kirkby Liberal Prince Albert—Churchill River, SK

Mr. Speaker, on Friday the member for North Island-Powell River made the following statement about me:

Mr. Speaker, the member for Prince Albert was adopted by binding aboriginal ceremony into the Bird family of the Montreal Lake Bank in a powwow about two years ago. Roy Bird, the chief of the band, is an important player in this family. The member for Prince Albert has been co-opted by the minister and is defending these negotiations with his adopted family.

Will the minister not agree that he has placed this member, knowingly or unknowingly, in a conflict of interest situation?

I have been accused by the hon. member from the Reform Party of being in a conflict of interest situation. I feel that these accusations have very serious moral and legal implications

impacting and affecting my ability to adequately function as a member of Parliament.

I would like to make very clear that even if this suggestion made by the hon. member were true, this is nothing more than an honour bestowed by a community upon an individual.

So that the Reform Party can understand what this type of ceremony would be about, it would be like receiving a citizen of the year award from the chamber of commerce. It would be like getting an Order of Canada from the Government of Canada.

I would suggest this would simply be an honour bestowed by a community upon an individual and is not grounds for any conflict. Even more important, this honour was never bestowed upon me in the first place. I wish to say I do not know where the hon. member would get such a statement.

Mr. Speaker, whether or not you view that my privileges have been violated, I would like the hon. member for North Island-Powell River to publicly withdraw the comments and apologize to the people of Canada for making statements that in some parts of the country damage positive race relations. This is the new politics promised by the Reform Party.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

The Speaker

Colleagues, this point of privilege rises out of one that was raised on Friday. At that time the hon. member was not here to defend himself and that is why I waited until today to hear what the hon. member had to say.

It would seem to me at first blush that this is not a point of privilege; it is surely a point of debate and clarification. Many times when these statements are made, they are made in good faith, and I have to believe that they are because hon. members are just that, hon. members.

I do not think the hon. member for North Island-Powell River is here today. If we could let this sit until tomorrow, I want to take a look at everything that was said. I want also to review the video. If it is necessary, I will come back to the House but at this point it would seem to me this is not a question of privilege.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

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 a number of petitions.

Business Development Bank Of Canada ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Industry

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-91, an act to continue the Federal Business Development Bank under the name Business Development Bank of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, on a point of order, I wish to inform the House that it is my intention to propose that this bill be referred to committee before second reading, pursuant to Standing Order 73(1).

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

Food And Drugs ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Sarkis Assadourian Liberal Don Valley North, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-325, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to introduce to the House today my private member's bill entitled an act to amend the Food and Drug Act, re lactose warning labels.

This bill amends the Food and Drugs Act by ensuring that any packaged food or drug that contains lactose and is intended to be sold and used by the public is packaged in containers labelled with a warning that it contains lactose and may be harmful to persons with lactose intolerance.

Lactose intolerance is a condition that affects one out of five Canadians, which is about six million of the population. I hope all members will take the time to carefully review this bill and come to the realization that the proper labelling of food containing lactose would certainly assist at least six million Canadians.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I wish to present a petition that has been circulated across Canada. This particular petition has been signed by a number of petitioners from the Oakville, Ontario area.

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 for 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.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty and honour to rise in the House to present a petition duly certified by the clerk of Petitions on behalf of 98 constituents of Saanich-Gulf Islands and surrounding area.

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.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dianne Brushett Liberal Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise in this House to present a petition with 263 signatures.

The petition is from residents of Cumberland-Colchester wishing this government not to force the departure of Mr. Richard Carroll of Stewiacke, Nova Scotia from this country unfairly into the United States.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Daphne Jennings Reform Mission—Coquitlam, BC

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition with another 125 names to add to petitions already presented to this House regarding grandparents rights and the rights of grandchildren. It is the wish of these petitioners that we address their problem and vote in nature with it.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Réginald Bélair Liberal Cochrane—Superior, ON

Mr. Speaker, it is my duty to present to this House a petition signed by 44 constituents from the town of Smooth Rock Falls who oppose the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act. They say that this inclusion will infringe upon the historic rights of Canadians such as the freedoms of religion, conscience, expression and association.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present a petition today from 385 British Columbian constituents many of whom are from my riding of New Westminster-Burnaby.

The petitioners make it known in their petition that they are overburdened with taxation due to high government spending. Therefore they pray and request that Parliament reduce government spending instead of increasing taxes and implement a taxpayer protection act to limit federal spending.

By presenting this petition, these petitioners have displayed their responsibility to help Canada get out of this fiscal crisis. I wish to concur with this petition.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Burnaby, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition today signed and started by a constituent of mine, Shelly Siwack of New Westminster.

Fifty-seven petitioners signed the petition in order to voice their opposition to Bill C-41 and urge members of the House of Commons to not give passage to the bill.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Jan Brown Reform Calgary Southeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present another petition in the course of action undertaken on behalf of constituents who wish to halt the early release from prison of Robert Paul Thompson.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Saint-Denis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I missed the time for presenting reports from committees. May I present the report now?

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

Is that agreed?

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Saint-Denis, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration in relation to order in council appointments.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Kingston and the Islands Ontario

Liberal

Peter Milliken LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

Is that agreed?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Request For Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

I am in receipt of a motion under Standing Order 52 from the hon. member for Burin-St. George's.