Debates of Oct. 21st, 1996

Asbestos

[Jean Chrétien, Liberal, Prime Minister]

Mr. Speaker, we are doing everything within our power to maintain the asbestos market. As I have just said, we are making representations at the highest levels possible. We cannot take decisions for the European community, but we are making representations at the highest levels.

It is my opinion that they are ill advised in not using this form of product, which can be used very easily if the necessary precautions are taken to protect the public from possible hazard.

It is, moreover, hard for me to bust my britches; I have a very sturdy belt.

Canadian Heritage

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, over the summer the heritage minister flew to Toronto and made a big show of a $200 million TV production fund. She seems to do that when she gives away a lot of taxpayers' money. Just two weeks ago, without a press release, without any fanfare at all, the minister doled out $5 million for the book publishing industry. We wonder if there is a connection.

We know she cannot responsibly spend the $200 million in this fiscal year. Where did she get the $5 million for the book publishing industry? Was it from the TV production fund?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, only a few moments ago his colleague questioned the government in terms of our job creation measures.

The member should underscore to the House that the $200 million cable television production fund, which is a partnership of

government and the private sector, will result in the investment of $650 million and the creation of 30,000 jobs in the fastest growing industry in Canada, that is, the cultural industry.

Rather than decrying the government measures to support cultural industries like the book publishing industry and the emerging television production industry, the Reform Party should engage in a real fresh start and congratulate us.

[Jim Abbott, Reform, Kootenay East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it was very notable of course that her answer did not contain any answer to the question. She will not answer any specific questions about her spending.

For example, take the $23 million for the free flags. It could not have come from the Canadian identity branch because it only has $50 million in total. Flags were only budgeted for $1 million.

She will not answer specific questions. She refuses to tell us where she got the taxpayers' money from for the flags or for this $5 million. If it was not from the TV production fund, where was it from?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy that the member once again mentioned the flag program.

Perhaps the member could speak to his colleague, the member for Simcoe Centre, who has just received a letter from a constituent of his, a member of the Reform Party who along with eight of his colleagues has quit the Reform Party because it refused to support the flag program in the riding of Simcoe Centre.

Endangered Species

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of the Environment.

There is great public concern about the steady extinction of species around the world. In Canada, this concern translates into massive support for legislation to protect endangered species.

Can the Minister of the Environment advise us when we will see the long awaited endangered species legislation in this House?

[Sergio Marchi, Liberal, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, let me thank the hon. member for Peterborough not only for the question but for his diligent work on this file and others before the environment and sustainable development committee.

As was mentioned last week at the international conservation congress in Montreal, this government for the first time will be putting before the House of Commons federal endangered species legislation in a couple of weeks. That speaks for the aspirations of Canadians in all parts of the country.

As I said, outside of complaining about the weather, this is the one file that elicits the most passionate response from both young and old alike.

Second, it is important to understand that we want a national framework and not a national patchwork. That is why it is equally important that all the provinces and two territories, along with the federal government, have agreed to a national accord to protect endangered species. The country and Canadians will get a national strategy which they and these species are entitled to.

Land Claims Agreements

[Audrey McLaughlin, NDP, Yukon, YT]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

Under the land claims agreements which have been signed by the federal government and entrenched by Parliament, there is a provision that when federal legislation affects the groups which come under those land claims they must be consulted. I have written to his colleague, the Minister of Justice, about this issue as well.

Can the minister tell the House what steps he and the Minister of Justice are taking to define what consultation is because it is causing a lot of confusion. I am afraid it will result in costly law cases if we do not have a definition of consultation under the land claims agreements.

[Ron Irwin, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, that is a good question.

As the hon. member is aware and is still celebrating, the Yukon is now represented by a new government and three of the members are aboriginal. They are very concerned that there be consultation with First Nations. I have talked to the new leader of the Yukon and I am prepared to sit down with him and develop a more proactive scheme than we had under the former government.

Presence In The Gallery

[The Speaker]

I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of Hon. Stan Shumacher, my brother Speaker from the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

House Of Commons

[The Speaker]

Colleagues, one of our own has been away a little while. I refer to the dean of the House of Commons-I can use his name-the Hon. Herb Gray. Please make him welcome.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Government Response To Petitions

[Paul Zed, 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 seven petitions.

Committees Of The House

[Lyle Vanclief, Liberal, Prince Edward—Hastings, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the second report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, which deals with Bill C-34, the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act. I am proud to report this bill with several amendments.

Canada Elections Act

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-63, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Referendum Act.

[The Speaker]

Herb, before you begin, in the name of all of your colleagues here we missed you. Welcome home.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the good wishes are very much appreciated. I will not say more than that, except that I am deeply touched by the good wishes, not only of members of the House but by people from all over our wonderful country.

I am really rising in connection with the question of when shall the bill be read a second time. I wish to rise on a point of order. Therefore, I am at your disposal in that regard.

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

[Herb Gray, Liberal, Windsor West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, 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).

Petitions

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first deals with taxation of the family and comes from Victoria, B.C.

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.

The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families who choose to provide care in the home for preschool children, the chronically ill, the aged or the disabled.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the second petition on labelling of alcoholic beverages comes from Stittsville, Ontario.

The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that the consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems or impair one's ability and, specifically, that fetal alcohol syndrome or other alcohol related birth defects are 100 per cent preventable by avoiding alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to enact legislation to require health warning labels to be placed on the containers of all alcoholic beverages to caution expectant mothers and others of the risks associated with alcohol consumption.

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to table a petition containing 76 signatures on behalf of petitioners in the community of Terrace in my riding.

The petition reads as follows: We the undersigned citizens of Canada draw the attention of the House to the following: whereas, the majority of Canadians believe that the justice system in Canada is not fair and the system does not demand that criminals pay for their crimes and, whereas we would like to see an end to plea bargaining and life sentences, therefore, your petitioners pray and request that Parliament recognize the need for change within the justice system to work to put the rights of the victim ahead of those of the criminal.

[John Finlay, Liberal, Oxford, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by 86 of my constituents who pray that Parliament enact Bill C-205, introduced by the hon. member for Scarborough West, at the earliest opportunity to provide in Canadian law that no criminal profits from committing a crime.

[Pauline Picard, Bloc, Drummond, QC]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my fellow citizens, I am happy to introduce a petition which reads as follows:

"We the undersigned citizens of Canada wish to draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following. Whereas the Senate consists of unelected members who are not accountable for their actions; whereas the annual budget of the Senate is $43 million; whereas the Senate refuses to be accountable for its expenditures to committees of the House of Commons; whereas the Senate does not fulfil its mandate to represent the regions; whereas the Senate duplicates the work done by members of the House of Commons; whereas it is necessary to ensure modern parliamentary institutions; and whereas the House is presently debating a motion proposing the abolition of the Senate; therefore, yours petitioners ask that Parliament take steps to abolish the Senate".