Debates of May 17th, 1996

Privilege

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of privilege concerning a remark that was made yesterday by the member for Rimouski-Témiscouata during debate in this House, around 5.00 p.m., and that can be found on page 2912 of Hansard. On three occasions, the member for Rimouski-Témiscouata used language that was unparliamentary.

At the time, I rose in my place to point this out to the Chair, but unfortunately, because of the noise, the Chair was not really able to hear what was being said. After that, I checked in Hansard , and with Journals of the House of Commons, and I have now found it in writing on page 2912 of Hansard for May 16, 1996.

I think that the three words used yesterday were unparliamentary, and I ask the member for Rimouski-Témiscouta to take the next opportunity to withdraw them.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Dear colleagues, earlier, the member for Ottawa Centre showed me the words in yesterday's Hansard . I would like, if possible, to hear the position of the member we are speaking about. Can the member come forward and give her point of view on this matter?

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this is quite astonishing. In the presentation we have just heard, the member for Rimouski-Témiscouata is accused of having used unparliamentary language. The allegation is made, but the words are not specified. Insinuations are made, but we do not know what the words were.

The attitude of the member raising this question of privilege is astonishing, because such a comment could be made about any remark made by anyone in this House, they could be said to have shouted out something irrelevant. He has not mentioned the words in question. I think that discussion of the matter could be deferred until the member knows what he is talking about.

[The Deputy Speaker]

I think that it is quite obvious, we have Hansard here right now. I can perhaps give a copy to the member and he can speak with his colleague. We could discuss it later at the convenience of the member. I believe she is still here.

Government Response To Petitions

[Stan Keyes, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 20 petitions, 3 from the first session of Parliament and 17 from the present session.

Road Safety

[David Anderson, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to draw to the attention of hon. members that May 17 to 23 has been proclaimed national road safety week in Canada.

National road safety week, which is sponsored by the Canada Safety Council, aims to raise awareness of road safety issues and promote safe driving practices.

Because 1996 marks the 15th anniversary of operation life saver, the focus of road safety week this year will be on the need to reduce the high annual number of grade crossing accidents across the country.

Operation life saver, sponsored by both the Railway Association of Canada and Transport Canada, works in co-operation with the Canada Safety Council and provincial organizations to promote rail safety.

Operation live saver's mission is to make people aware of the dangers associated with level crossings, grade crossings and the dangers of trespassing on railway properties.

Studies show that many drivers are unaware of just how dangerous railway crossings can be. They do not understand how fast trains move, or how long it takes them to come to a stop.

Operation life saver produces printed materials, films and audio-visual presentations. It assists in driver education activities and also hosts special events aimed at promoting greater awareness of rail safety.

Mr. Speaker, like you, many of the hon. members with children will be encouraged to know that operation life saver targets educational activities toward youngsters who use railway property as a short cut to school or to a playground.

Transport Canada has been a proud supporter of operation life saver for many years, and hon. members will be pleased to hear that the federal governement intends to contineu supporting this valuable program well into the future.

On another related topic, it is also my very great pleasure to announce the federal government has reached agreements with eight of the provinces and the two territories to continue the implementation of the National Safety Code. The last agreements are with the two remaining provinces for signature.

The National Safety Code was developed in 1987 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to encourage trucking safety. It is to promote efficiency in the motor carrier industry and to ensure consistent safety standards in this area across the country.

The code covers such topics as commercial vehicle maintenance and inspection, hours of service, trip inspection reports, driver-examiner training, and the implementation of a national driver's license.

As part of this announcement, the Government of Canada will provide the provinces and territories with $20 million over five years to help put the National Safety Code in place.

This funding is a good human and financial investment. The National Safety Code will help reduce commercial vehicle accidents. That means fewer deaths and fewer injuries on our highways.

It will also help to ensure Canadians remain competitive by applying common standards across the country instead of the patchwork system of rules and regulations we have had in the past.

I would urge all members of this house to support national road safety week, specifically the efforts under way by this governement and others to reduce railway crossing accidents and strangthen commercial vehicle safety.

I urge all hon. members to take heed of the message of road safety week and drive safely.

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak today in this House to bring attention, as the minister has, to national road safety week, to be celebrated in Quebec and Canada May 17 through 23, 1996. Since arriving in Ottawa, the official opposition has always made it its duty to support and promote issues around highway safety and safe driving.

I have listened to the federal Minister of Transport's speech with interest. We share his concerns, and we support his desire to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents. We share his belief that improved safety is an excellent thing.

We were, however, a bit surprised to hear what the minister had to say on behalf of his government. Today he is trying to blow his own horn, to pass himself off as the great defender and promoter of road safety. As recently as last week, however, in response to a question by my colleague from Lévis on restoration of the Quebec bridge, he stated as follows: "The deterioration of the bridge, including the part on which vehicles drive, is due mainly to car and truck traffic- Motor traffic in the province of Quebec is the responsibility of the Quebec transport department; it is not a federal responsibility". Now today he is giving us a speech on road safety. We also need to see what that means in day to day reality.

The decrepit state of the Quebec bridge is beginning to be a threat to driver safety. The federal minister turns a deaf ear to any question of accepting his responsibilities and restoring the Quebec bridge, in conjunction with Canadian National and the Government of Quebec. We see this as contradictory to the speech the minister has just finished.

Where road safety is concerned, I would like to raise a constitutional aspect which is very likely to pose an increasing threat to the safety of drivers and the general public. As you know, the Canadian Constitution recognizes rail transportation as a federal responsibility, while highway safety within each province is a provincial one.

This somewhat artificial division poses serious problems.

As you know in rail transportation, the government's inaction has forced many businesses to use trucks rather than trains to ship their goods.

The same situation could well arise with the new policy of fees for coast guard services the federal minister of fisheries has just announced. All transportation sectors interact. The effect of the policy is to drive many maritime carriers to American ports, requiring goods destined for Quebec and Canada to be transferred by truck.

Because the federal government has failed to finance, manage and develop the rail system properly and because it is proposing an unfortunate policy of charging for coast guard services, private firms have found alternate ways to make their deliveries. The increased number of trucks on the roads of Quebec and Canada is largely the cause of the deterioration in the state of the roads, threatening public safety particularly.

The arbitrary division of powers in the transportation sector therefore prevents our having an integrated national transportation policy. With intermodality increasingly popular, the obsolescence of Canada's Constitution may well threaten our road safety. I think this is the message we must bear in mind during this national road safety week.

Of course we must support initiatives such as operation life saver, but we must recognize that, if transportation is to be modernized, Canadian and Quebec firms will have to acquire modern equipment and set aside the antiquated aspects of the Constitution to permit an integrated national standard on transportation and thus greater road safety.

In closing, I would repeat our support for National Road Safety Week and encourage everyone to drive carefully.

[Dick Harris, Reform, Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in response to the minister's statement and acknowledge the proclamation of national road safety week in Canada, May 17-23. National road safety week,

which is sponsored by the Canadian Safety Council, is to raise the awareness of the need to promote safer driving habits. In particular, this year the national safety week is featuring Operation Lifesaver, which focuses on grade crossing accidents. It is being co-sponsored by the Railway Association of Canada, Transport Canada and the Canadian Safety Council.

I could continue to talk about the virtues of national safety week and, in particular, the minister's statement today regarding the high annual number of grade crossing accidents. I appreciate what the minister is doing. Certainly no one could say that it is not an excellent project. However, I would like to take this opportunity to speak about my recent parliamentary activities with respect to the terrible carnage taking place on our highways as a result of impaired drivers.

I would like to address my remarks, in particular, to the Minister of Transport. I know he shares the concerns of millions of Canadians who, on a daily basis, see in their newspapers, in the electronic media and hear from their friends about this terrible crime. They are touched every day by crimes committed by people who choose to drink and drive. They kill over 1,400 people every year on our streets and highways.

I know the number of accidents that occur on an annual basis at grade crossings is a huge concern. We have to do everything we can to decrease those statistics.

This might be a starting point for the government. Perhaps I can encourage the minister to join with this side of the House in supporting Bill C-201. The government could join with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Canadian Students Against Impaired Drivers in Canada and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving in supporting Bill C-201. Locally there is the Nepean community council against impaired driving. The Canadian Police Association and other groups are crying out for the government to implement measures that express zero tolerance to people who even think of getting into their cars when they are impaired.

That would not be hard to do. It could be reflected easily in our criminal justice system. Penalties could be brought in like those in Sweden. Sweden has very liberal drinking laws, but its criminal justice system says that if a person drinks, gets behind the wheel of a vehicle and is caught, his or her driver's licence is suspended for life and the vehicle seized. Why cannot we reflect zero tolerance such as that?

The tragedies that occur at the hands of drunken drivers make the accidents that occur at grade crossings pale by comparison. If the government can take the initiative to proclaim May 17 to 23 as national road safety week and pay special attention to accidents which occur at grade crossings, why does the Minister of Justice stand speaker after speaker in the House to oppose Bill C-201?

I will close by saying that I appreciate what the minister and the government is trying to do but, for God's sake, let us go further to address the impaired drivers who kill in this country.

Committees Of The House

[Patrick Gagnon, Liberal, Bonaventure—Îles-De-La-Madeleine, QC]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 81(4), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the first report of the Joint Standing Committee on Official Languages regarding its order of reference of March 7, 1996 concerning the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1997.

[Carolyn Parrish, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the selection of votable items in accordance with Standing Order 92. This report is deemed adopted on presentation.

Mr. Speaker, also I have the honour to present the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership and associate membership of various standing committees.

If the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in the 18th report later this day.

Income Tax Budget Amendment Act

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, for the Minister of Finance]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-36, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, the Excise Act, the Excise Tax Act and the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, the Old Age Security Act and the Canada Shipping Act.

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

Income Tax Conventionsimplementation Act, 1996

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, for the Minister of Finance]

asked for leave to table Bill C-37, an act to implement an agreement between Canada and the Russian Federation, a convention between Canada and the Republic of South Africa, an agreement between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania, an agreement be-

tween Canada and the Republic of India and a convention between Canada and Ukraine, for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.

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

Farm Debt Mediation Act

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-38, an act to provide for mediation between insolvent farmers and their creditors, to amend the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and to repeal the Farm Debt Review Act.

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

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Regina—Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to inform the House that in accordance with Standing Order 73(1), it is the intention of the government that this bill be referred to a committee before second reading.

York Factory First Nation Flooded Land Act

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-39, an act respecting the York Factory First Nation and the settlement of matters arising from an agreement relating to the flooding of land.

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

Nelson House First Nation Flooded Land Act

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, for the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

asked for leave to table Bill C-40, an act respecting the Nelson House First Nation and the settlement of matters arising from an agreement relating to the flooding of land.

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

Committees Of The House

[Carolyn Parrish, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

[Carolyn Parrish, Liberal, Mississauga West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move:

That the following change be made to the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs: the hon. member for Fraser Valley East for the hon. member for Calgary Centre.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to.)

Petitions

[Beryl Gaffney, Liberal, Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week my colleagues and I presented 15,000 petitions from every Canadian province on the illness ME/FM. Unfortunately, Saskatchewan was missed. Today I present petitions with 279 signatures from the province of Saskatchewan.

The petitioners call on Parliament to establish national policies to control and contain instances of myalgic encephalomyelitis, fibromyalgia and multiple chemical sensitivities in Canada and to ensure care, treatment, comfort and dignity for persons afflicted with these diseases.

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assiniboia, SK]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my honour to present a petition bearing 290 signatures mostly from residents of my riding.

The petitioners state that everyone who counsels a person to commit suicide or who aids or abets a person to commit suicide is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.

They ask Parliament not to repeal or amend section 241 of the Criminal Code in any way and to uphold the Supreme Court of Canada decision of September 30, 1993 to disallow assisted suicide or euthanasia.

[John Maloney, Liberal, Erie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition from the residents of the township of West Lincoln in my riding of Erie.

The petitioners request that Parliament not amend the Canadian Constitution to remove the rights of denomination classes of persons to operate their own schools and to refer the problem of educational reform back to the Government of Newfoundland.