House of Commons Hansard #102 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was property.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is the first time I have asked a question of the minister. It was refreshing to hear an answer that is logical from the Liberals. I do not know how to handle it.
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
Canadians are saying that they want crime prevention measures that will work and will make them feel safe on the streets again, and they want control of family decisions returned to the family.
When will the Liberal government finally quit talking and start doing what is right for Canada and Canadians? When will it begin to implement crime prevention measures that will work, that will return the control of the family to parents and will end the Liberal government's attempt to remove parents from Canadian families?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, for my part I am quite used to questions from this member and I know exactly how to deal with them.
Allan Rock Liberal Etobicoke Centre, ON
It is by responding with the logic which I hope he is becoming used to day by day.
It was this government that two and a half years ago created the National Crime Prevention Council. It was this government that two and a half years ago began plotting a national crime prevention strategy. Through our policies and through our legislation we have done everything possible to strengthen families to make sure children are brought up in the stable environments that the hon. member refers to.
I want to talk about a measure that was passed by this House just yesterday. Bill C-41 strengthens the process by which child support payments are determined and enforced in this country. Those measures are going to assist in the support of children when parents divide.
As the Minister of Finance has told the House, the money we derive from the change in the tax system on child support is being devoted to a doubling of the working income supplement which over the next five years will put more than $1 billion of additional revenue into the hands of 700,000 Canadian families, fully one-third of which are single parent families, and that is going to help children.
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, as a demonstration of the infinite tolerance and patience of the Bloc Quebecois, we will put a third question to the Minister of Human Resources Development today.
On November 7, referring to the request made by retired Singer employees, the Minister of Human Resources Development said the following:
I believe there is a problem due to the fact that the pension fund belonged to the Singer company that was transferred to the United States, which closed its doors here and has declared bankruptcy in the U.S.
Is this supposed to imply to retired Singer employees that the federal government will not acknowledge its responsibility unless it is able to recover the cost of doing so from the Singer company?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, the former Minister of Human Resources Development did in fact receive a letter from counsel for the retired Singer employees. We will release the government's response to counsel very shortly.
The Department of Human Resources Development and my predecessors have reviewed this case several times since 1993. However, I wanted to check personally some facts that go back to the period from 1947 to 1964.
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Mr. Speaker, the minister confirms that there was a case, but the problem here is that there is also a statute of limitation. As soon as that kicks in, the Singer employees will have to go to court, and their average age is 80. That is what we are trying to avoid. Time is of the essence.
Considering that between 1947 and 1962, the federal government was responsible for the pension plan, that there was a $700,000 surplus remaining in the plan at the end, and that the government allowed Singer to use that money, which was not allowed under the contract, I would like to ask the minister whether, aside from the trouble the government may have recovering these amounts, he will finally admit that the government must acknowledge its responsibility and act quickly on this case?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister of Human Resources Development
Mr. Speaker, we have been in touch with counsel for the retired Singer employees, and our lawyers are reviewing with them the implications of these contracts. As I pointed out before, we will give an answer as soon as possible, once our lawyers and counsellors have decided what they can do about this difficult case.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, Walter Beltran is serving a sentence for breaking and entering and possession of a narcotic. While in jail he compiled a list of 150 young girls and women in the Calgary area and systematically harassed them over the phone from his jail cell. The victims' families and other community members are shocked that Beltran could get away with this kind of terrorism and fear his pending release.
My question is for the immigration minister. Since Walter Beltran is not a Canadian citizen, will the minister ensure that this violent criminal is deported without delay?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, it is very clear-the legislation provides for it-that we will not allow individuals with a criminal record, who are not Canadian citizens, to remain in Canada.
Bill C-44, which was passed by this Parliament, was aimed at giving us the tools to do just that. To our total amazement, the Reform Party voted against it at the time.
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am still not clear whether or not the minister is going to deport this person. We are talking about a safety issue here.
This is an urgent matter. Beltran is to appear before an immigration adjudicator tomorrow who will decide if he is to be deported or released back into the community. Beltran's juvenile criminal record is as follows: possession of an unrestricted weapon, possession of heroin, intimidating witnesses, assault, and obstructing justice.
The people of Calgary want this person removed. Will the minister use section 44 of the Young Offenders Act, obtain Beltran's violent juvenile criminal record, declare him dangerous and have him deported so the people of Calgary will be at ease?
Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, the case is presently being reviewed by the courts. Let us not change the system and let it deal with such cases, and do not ask the minister to interfere while it is still before the courts.
Colleen Beaumier Liberal Brampton, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister for International Co-operation. After yesterday's debate it is quite clear that all members agree humanitarian aid to Zaire is crucial.
Will the minister tell me what role Canada will play and when will we get some details?
Don Boudria LiberalMinister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that Canada will be leading a high level, major donor meeting this Saturday in Geneva. I intend to chair the meeting on behalf of the Canadian government.
The purpose of this meeting is to co-ordinate humanitarian aid and to discuss the transitional nature of those Rwandans who are now leaving the refugee camps along the borders inside and outside Zaire in order to regain shelter within their own respective communes.
A number of donor countries have already announced their participation, including the United States, a number of European jurisdictions, Japan and Australia.
I am also pleased to inform the House that Rwanda will be represented by one of its cabinet ministers.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister and has to do with the Canada-Chile agreement that was signed yesterday.
The NDP regrets that the government did not take the opportunity to build into that agreement a mutually shared enforceable code with respect to labour and environment.
Has the government made any studies of who will be affected by this agreement? Will there be any adjustment programs like the Liberals called for in previous free trade agreements when the Tories were in power? Will there be adjustment programs and are there any studies? If there are not, will there be any studies so that we will know who will be hurt and how the government plans to help them?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the minister of trade who is in Toronto today with the Chilean delegation promoting major business investments in both countries, I can assure the hon. member that the agreement includes both a major side agreement on labour and one on environment that allows both countries to work out the basic standards that can be met.
A dispute settlement resolution system goes with it and there is a referral system. The agreement breaks new ground and establishes the fact that there can be a relationship between environment, trade and labour matters to encompass the whole notion of sustainable development.
We would be happy to send the hon.member a copy of those agreements.
The House resumed consideration of the motion in relation to the amendments made by the Senate to Bill C-42, an act to amend the Judges Act and to make consequential amendments to another act; and of the amendment.
Judges ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
Before question period an amendment to the amendment was moved by the member for Crowfoot. The subamendment stated:
That the amendment be amended by adding "and that this House respectfully requests that Their Honours respond to this message no later than June 19, 1997".
I took this subamendment under advisement. The purpose of the subamendment is to add to the amendment already before the House the words already quoted.
First, I would remind the House that when the Senate has amendments to a bill, and these are under consideration in the House, the debate must be strictly related to the amendments. This is specified in citation 742 of Beauchesne's sixth edition.
Second, the purpose of a subamendment is to alter the amendment and not to enlarge the scope of the amendment or to bring in a new element foreign to the amendment. I refer the House to citation 580 of Beauchesne.
As stated in Beauchesne's citation 553, the House can give an order only to itself, to us here. Were this subamendment adopted it would seem an order to the other place.
For all these reasons I rule that the subamendment proposed by the hon. member for Crowfoot is out of order.
Judges ActGovernment Orders
The Speaker
The question is on the amendment. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the amendment?