Debates of Oct. 24th, 1996

A message from His Excellency the Governor General transmitting Supplementary Estimates (A) for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997, was presented by the Hon. the President of the Treasury Board and read by the Speaker of the House.

Government Response To Petitions

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 36(8), I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's response to 14 petitions.

Supplementary Estimates (A), 1996-97

[Marcel Massé, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 81(5) and 81(6), I would like to table a motion to refer the estimates to the standing committees of the House.

Therefore, I move:

That Supplementary Estimates (A) for 1996-97 be referred to the several Standing Committees of the House as follows:

As there is a lengthy list attached to the motion, if it is agreeable to the House, I would ask that the list be printed in Hansard as if it had been read.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(1) to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

-Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Votes 1a, 5a, 15a, L30a, 35a, 40a, 45a and 50a

(2) to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

-Agriculture and Agri-Food, Votes 1a, 5a and 10a

(3) to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage

-Canadian Heritage, Votes 1a, 5a, 10a, 25a, 30a, 35a, 37a, 40a, 65a, 75a, 85a, 105a, 120a and 135a

(4) to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development

-Environment, Votes 1a, 10a and 15a

(5) to the Standing Committee on Finance

-Finance, Votes 21a and 35a

-National Revenue, Votes 1a and 5a

(6) to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans

-Fisheries and Oceans, Votes 1a and 5a

(7) to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade

-Foreign Affairs, Votes 1a, 5a, 15a, 20a and 31a

(8) to the Standing Committee on Government Operations

-Privy Council, Vote 1a

-Public Service Commission, Vote 130a

-Public Works and Government Services, Votes 2a, 15a, 16a, 17a, 18a, 19a, 25a and 36a

-Treasury Board, Votes 1a and 10a

(9) to the Standing Committee on Health

-Health, Votes 1a, 10a, 20a and 30a

(10) to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development

-Human Resources Development, Votes 1a, 10a, 15a and 25a

(11) to the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

-Justice, Vote 21a

(12) to the Standing Committee on Industry

-Industry, Votes 1a, 5a, 20a, 40a, 45a, 60a, 65a, 80a, 85a, 90a, 95a, 105a and 125a

(13) to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs

-Justice, Votes 1a, 15a, 20a, 30a, 35a and 40a

-Solicitor General, Votes 1a, 5a, 15a, 25a, 45a and 50a

(14) to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs

-Veterans Affairs, Votes 1a and 10a

(15) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources

-Natural Resources, Votes 20a and 27a

(16) to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts

-Finance, Vote 30a

(17) to the Standing Committee on Transport

-Transport, Votes 1a, 5a, 10a, 33a, 35a, 37a and 45a

(18) to the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages

-Privy Council, Vote 25a

(Motion agreed to.)

Committees Of The House

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I think you will find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That the Standing Committee on Government Operations be designated committee for the purposes of section 20 of the Seized Property Management Act.

There was previous discussion some months ago about this and this is the appropriate committee for the designation. I was wondering if we could have unanimous consent for this.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, York North, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present to this House two petitions. In the first the petitioners draw to the attention of the House that Canadians of all ages view our health care system as a defining element of Canadian society.

The petitioners therefore call on Parliament to continue to uphold the fundamental principles of the Canada Health Act so that public health care remains accessible, comprehensive, portable, universal and publicly administered.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, York North, ON]

Madam Speaker, in the second petition the petitioners draw to the attention of the House that the plight of endangered species in Canada is a national problem that continues to worsen and that there are compelling ecological, economic and ethical reasons to save Canada's irreplaceable wild species.

Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to enact enforceable legislation which will protect Canada's endangered species.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure on this day to see the blue ribbon honouring Canada's peacekeepers.

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present two petitions. The first concerns taxation of the family and it comes from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The petitioners 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 that provide care in the home for preschool children, the chronically ill, the aged or the disabled.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition comes from Kingston, Ontario and it concerns the labelling on alcoholic beverages.

The petitioners 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 and 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.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my duty to present three petitions to the House containing signatures of constituents from my riding of Stormont-Dundas.

In the first instance the petitioners call on Parliament to enact Bill C-205 at the earliest opportunity to provide in Canadian law that no criminal profits from committing a crime.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition contains signatures from members of the United Senior Citizens of Ontario who request that Parliament regulate the longstanding Canadian practice of marketing generic drugs in a size, shape and colour which is similar to that of brand name equivalents.

[Bob Kilger, Liberal, Stormont—Dundas, ON]

Madam Speaker, the final petition contains 150 pages of signatures from constituents of Stormont-Dundas.

The petitioners call on Parliament to amend legislation so that Bell Canada efforts to restructure local phone billing procedures will not disadvantage senior citizens, volunteer community organizations and citizens on fixed incomes.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, Question No. 25 will be answered today.

Question No. 25-

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

For each department, agency and crown corporation, how many employees, including parliamentary agents, governor in council appointees, armed forces personnel, and RCMP personnel, receive a living allowance for a second residence and/or a transportation allowance from the residence to the place of work where distance exceeds 40 km?

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

I am informed as follows: This question has been interpreted as those who reveive a living allowance and/or a transportation allowance for a period of one year or more as initially requested under Question Q-117, 35th Parliament, 1st Session: Living allowance: Twelve months or more; Transportation allowance: Over 40 km for one year or more.

The following information provided by several departments, agencies and crown corporations excludes the short term/temporary dual residence assistance. Please note that foreign posts are not included.

In the context of the above interpretation, other departments, agencies and crown corporations have no information on this subject.

Allowance

Living Transportation

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 10 4 Atomic Energy Control Board 1 8 Bank of Canada 1 1 Canada Council 1 None Canada Labour Relations Board 1 None Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation None 6 Canada Post Corporation Proprietary Information Canadian Dairy Commission 1 1 Canadian Heritage 7 34 Canadian International Trade Tribunal 2 2 Canadian Security Intelligence Service None 41 Canadian Space Agency 1 None Citizenship and Immigration 18 49 Correctional Service of Canada 13 6 Defence Construction Canada None 4 Environment Canada 4 1 Farm Credit Corporation None 3 Federal Office of Regional Development (Quebec) 1 None Fisheries and Oceans 5 None Health Canada 9 29 Human Resources Development Canada 13 1 Immigration and Refugee Board 3 None Indian and Northern Affairs Canada 9 2 Industry Canada 3 None National Defence 220 1691 National Film Board of Canada 1 None National Research Council Canada None 18 National Transportation Agency 1 None Natural Resources Canada 1 None Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages 1 None Public Service Commission 2 None Public Works and Government Services Canada 6 2 Revenue Canada 36 57 Royal Canadian Mounted Police 15 49 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada 1 None Statistics Canada 1 1 Transport Canada 42 24 Transportation Safety Board of Canada 1 None Treasury Board of Canada 1 None Veterans Affairs Canada 5 None VIA Rail Canada Inc. None 2 Western Economic Diversification Canada 1 None

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Madam Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Questions Passed As Orders For Return

[Paul Zed, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, if Question No. 26 could be made an Order for Return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 26-

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

What is the rank, position or title of each recipient of second residence allowance and/or transportation allowance from residence to place of work and, what is the cost per individual recipient and method of taxation of these benefits?

(Return tabled.)