House of Commons Hansard #25 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was debt.
Stan Dromisky Liberal Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.
The Humane Society has indicated that in Canada the illegal profits of wildlife poaching rank third after drug and tobacco and liquor smuggling. Especially prominent is the smuggling of bear gall-bladders.
What measures has the government taken to curb this illicit smuggling of animals and animal parts?
Nick Discepola LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Solicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, the Humane Society's report did confirm the hon. member's question.
I reassure the hon. member the RCMP is working at the national level with Environment Canada, at the provincial and territorial levels with natural resource and enforcement agencies, and even at the international level with INTERPOL to ensure that we not only develop but implement a comprehensive enforcement program which takes into account the illegal smuggling of wildlife and endangered species. I reassure the hon. member that the illegal trade of bear parts forms a key element of that enforcement program.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Foreign Affairs. For more than four days, the Israeli army has been conducting air raids and artillery shelling in Lebanon. These actions are in line with the Israeli policy of retaliation against rocket fire from the Hezbollah militia stationed in South Lebanon. Unfortunately, these hostilities have already killed 29 people and wounded more than 120 others.
Can the minister tell us what is the Canadian government's position on the situation now prevailing in that region?
Lloyd Axworthy LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I issued a statement urging the parties to the dispute to use all restraint and to seek out the most effective ways of dealing with the situation, not through the use of force but
through the use of negotiation which is the very heart and soul of the whole peace process.
We will have an opportunity to address those questions directly next Monday when there will be a meeting of the group that came out of the Sharm el Sheikh meeting on the peace process where the Israeli and Arab countries will all be there and I will make similar representation.
Monte Solberg Reform Medicine Hat, AB
Mr. Speaker, it is déjà vu all over again. Seventy-nine years ago the government at the time promised that income tax would be a temporary measure, and we are still paying for that broken promise.
In 1993 the Liberals promised that under them the GST would become a temporary measure. Canadians are waiting for them to fulfil their promise.
Now the Liberals have turned around and instead of getting rid of the GST they want to integrate it. They want to make it something that Canadians are stuck with forever.
My question to the Deputy Prime Minister, who has made all kinds of pronouncements on this issue, is why are they breaking their promise? Why are they not getting rid of the GST as they said they would?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, the answer is not very complicated. The hon. member has only to read page 22 of the red book. We were talking about the harmonization of taxes, the sales tax in Canada. It will be done.
We are not worried about them because they will not be there for a long time.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Kingsway, BC
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister of fisheries on his B.C. fleet reduction policy, a policy that has been strongly condemned by fishers, coastal communities and the B.C. New Democrat government.
Why did the minister ignore the recommendations of the Cruickshank commission? Will the minister now agree to reconsider this policy, in particular the stackable area licensing, the totally inadequate amount of buyback and the absence of habitat protection and enhancement? Will the minister recognize that his policy will have a particularly devastating impact on small owner operators and on coastal communities in British Columbia?
Fred Mifflin LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, I have to tell the hon. member and reassure the House that the Pacific salmon revitalization plan stems from the Fraser report which led to the a consideration by 70 stakeholders in this industry and a report that made 27 recommendations. We took these recommendations and came up with a plan.
This industry has gone from $400 million to $200 million to $80 million to a possible loss of $10 million this year. The capacity has quadrupled. We are looking at areas where 40 per cent of fishermen lost money a couple of years ago. This year it is 60 per cent plus. This is a sick industry and this is a plan that is meant to revive it. It is tough medicine but like all tough medicine it is made to improve the health of the industry.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the minister responsible for government services.
The Department of Public Works and Government Services has been working hard to make direct deposit its standard method of making various payments to Canadians.
Can the minister tell the House if this initiative has actually saved money and if so, how much?
Diane Marleau LiberalMinister of Public Works and Government Services
Mr. Speaker, last year alone we saved approximately $28 million as a result of direct deposit. These are savings on postage, paper and on banking charges. In the last six months alone 1.7 million Canadians have agreed to join the direct deposit system.
While at this time 40 per cent of all payments by the federal government are made by direct deposit, it is our intention to increase that in the short term to at least 60 per cent for an annual savings of $44 million.
I encourage Canadians as much as possible to join others to help us save money and at the same time have a very reliable way of receiving payments.
Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments which were made by the government. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the standing committees, a list of which is attached.
Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to nine petitions presented during the first session.
Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, the membership and associate memberships of various standing committees. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 12th report at this time.
(Motion agreed to.)
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-260, an act to amend the Income Tax Act and the Canada pension plan (transfer of income to spouse).
Madam Speaker, 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 Tax Act and other legislation discriminates against families, particularly those that choose to provide direct parental care to preschool children. One aspect of this has to do with the extension of Canada pension benefits or service credits for those who choose to provide care in the home to their preschool children.
This bill therefore seeks to promote changes which would have the intent of extending Canada pension plan benefits or service credits to those who choose to provide care in the home to their preschool children.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Bob Ringma Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-261, an act to require a referendum on the restoration of the death penalty and to amend the Referendum Act.
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to introduce a private member's bill calling for a binding national referendum on reinstatement of capital punishment.
For too long, in fact forever, Canadians have been shut out of the debate process where this issue is concerned. Through the use of a referendum this bill would allow Canadians a say on whether the Criminal Code should be amended to include the death penalty as a sentencing option for persons who are convicted of first degree murder.
Critics will note on reading the bill that it does not ask them to vote for or against reinstatement of capital punishment. Instead it asks simply that MPs allow Canadians to make the final determination in this respect.
I also want to thank my constituents of Nanaimo-Cowichan. It was they who voted overwhelmingly by a margin of 919 to 104 for this initiative to be brought before the House which it is today. I believe this sentiment to be an accurate reflection of the support in rest of Canada for the bill. As such, and in closing, I ask colleagues on both sides of the House to support the bill when it comes before them. More important, I urge members of the subcommittee-
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Charitable And Non-Profit Organization Director Remuneration Disclosure ActRoutine Proceedings
Liberal
John Bryden Liberal Hamilton—Wentworth, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-262, an act to require charitable and non-profit organizations that receive public funds to declare the remuneration of the directors and senior officers.
Madam Speaker, this private member's bill would provide penalty for those not for profit organizations which fail to disclose the salary and benefits of their executive officers. This includes non-profit organizations as well as charities.
This is the type of accountability that the public is now demanding of those organizations which directly or indirectly receive taxpayers' funds.
This bill is in the same form that Bill C-224 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 35th Parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.)
Charitable And Non-Profit Organization Director Remuneration Disclosure ActRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)
The Chair is satisfied that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-224 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 35th Parliament.
Accordingly, pursuant to order made Monday, March 4, 1996, the bill is deemed to have been read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Madam Speaker, I have two petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36. The first is from Delta, B.C.
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. 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 on 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.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from Sarnia, Ontario.
The petitioners bring to the attention of the House that the consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health problems or impair one's ability and that, specifically, 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.
Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Madam Speaker, Question No. 11 will be answered today.
Question No. 11-
Elsie Wayne Progressive Conservative Saint John, NB
Did the Minister of International Cooperation speak to the employees of the Canadian International Development Agency on January 31, 1996, in the Palais des Congrès in Hull, and if so: ( a ) what was the total cost to the taxpayer, including: ( i ) rental of the facility; ( ii ) translation; ( iii ) audio visual expenses; and ( iv ) other costs; ( b ) where these costs charged to the office budget of the Minister, and if not, to which budget were these costs charged; ( c ) did a camera crew film the Minister's address, and if so: ( i ) for what reason was the Minister filmed; ( ii ) what was the name of the firm contracted to film the Minister's address; ( iii ) how many copies of the tape were made, and to whom were they given; and ( iv ) what was the total cost to the taxpayer, including production, editing and distribution?
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Papineau—Saint-Michel Québec
Liberal
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie
In so far as the Canadian International Development Agency is concerned, on January 31, 1996 an agency forum was convened by the president of CIDA with CIDA headquarters staff to introduce the Minister for International Cooperation with responsibility for CIDA, the Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew. As is the common practice when a new minister is appointed to any federal public service department, staff members were given the opportunity to hear the minister's views on pertinent issues and to meet with him afterwards.
The cost of this agency forum was $1,670, broken down as follows: room rental, $750; coffee, tea, juice and muffins, $920. There was no translation provided, as these staff meetings are conducted in both official languages.
The costs were charged to CIDA's communications branch, as the event supported internal communications.
The agency forum was videotaped so that CIDA staff members posted to Canadian missions overseas could view the forum on videotape. This is the usual practice for departments with employees posted abroad. The taping was carried out by Productions André R. Lavoie Inc., and 60 copies were made for CIDA staff abroad. All work was done in-house, with the exception of the taping which cost $400. Tape stock was purchased for $410.73 and the ADCOM Presentation Group provided technical equipment for $56.71. The total videotape cost was $867.44.
Paul Zed Liberal Fundy Royal, NB
I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)
Is that agreed?