House of Commons Hansard #58 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was property.

Topics

Refloating The Irving WhaleOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

York West Ontario

Liberal

Sergio Marchi LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, Canadian public opinion overwhelmingly has requested the Irving Whale be lifted because it proposes the lesser of the various risk options. It must be said that no option is without its risks.

The province of Quebec and its minister of the environment have given a green light to the raising of the Irving Whale . There have been four careful technical assessments done incorporating public participation throughout. This morning the court has allowed and approved the raising of the Irving Whale .

We are taking every precaution possible. I ask for the support of the hon. member's party.

FisheriesOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Reform

John Cummins Reform Delta, BC

Mr. Speaker, nets will be set in protest on Wednesday morning if the minister does not act to end the racially segregated fishery in the Alberni Inlet. The minister should not be surprised at further protests from fishermen if he is planning similar fisheries on the Fraser River later this summer.

Will the minister not recognize that racially segregated fisheries can only lead to confrontation and deep six the policy?

FisheriesOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Vancouver Quadra B.C.

Liberal

Ted McWhinney LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member will be aware that the Federal Court of Canada last week indicated the fisheries complained of do not represent any harm to commercial fisheries. The hon. member will be aware of that because an injunction was refused to him.

The fisheries in question are part of the aboriginal fisheries strategy which is enjoined upon the Government of Canada by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The catch allocation is modest, less than 10 per cent of the expected returns, and under the terms of the agreement all net profits from any fish sold are to be used for fisheries management projects jointly agreed to by the department and by the First Nations.

Child CareOral Question Period

June 10th, 1996 / 2:55 p.m.

NDP

Audrey McLaughlin NDP Yukon, YT

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister.

Women from every province and territory are marching against poverty and are demanding in one strong voice that the Liberal government keep its promise of a national child care program.

This weekend we saw the federal funds for child care cut by over 100 per cent from the original commitment. The Minister of Finance has said he will not raise corporate taxes to help pay for programs such as child care.

Why has the government made it a priority to please corporations rather than look to the welfare of Canada's children?

Child CareOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Saint-Maurice Québec

Liberal

Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister

Mr. Speaker, we had a program and we submitted a proposal to the provinces. It was very clear that it was to be a cost shared program. We discussed it with the provinces, but the provinces were not interested in participating in an expanded program for child care.

As it is within provincial authority, and it was written that it had to be a joint program, and as the provinces did not want to move on it, we respected their jurisdiction and we did not move. We respected the constitutional responsibilities of the provinces as well as the national responsibilities.

Food And Agriculture OrganizationOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Liberal

Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Middlesex, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

On June 7 the federal government hosted a forum to discuss world hunger and food security with groups from across Canada. As a result of these discussions is the minister contemplating any changes so Canada can do more to help feed the world's hungry people?

Food And Agriculture OrganizationOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Regina—Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Mr. Speaker, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is in the process of organizing a world food summit which is to be held in Rome in November of this year.

The preparations for that summit began last year here in Canada when we hosted the 50th anniversary celebrations marking the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization which was first established in 1945 in Quebec City.

Canada is now in the process of putting together a position paper to represent the views of Canadians. On June 7 representatives of the agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors were involved in consultations on that paper together with representatives of the provinces.

Canada intends to be thoroughly represented at the world food summit in Rome because we do take very seriously our international responsibility with respect to alleviating hunger in the world.

Official LanguagesOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Reform

Bob Ringma Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC

Mr. Speaker, Treasury Board's official languages report shows that anglophones hold 5 per cent of federal government jobs in Quebec. The report concludes that this number remains unsatisfactory.

The Canadian heritage report says nothing about this situation and reveals the government accepts a French only policy in Quebec which discriminates against the English community while practising enforced bilingualism in the rest of Canada.

What will the heritage minister do to increase the representation of Quebec anglophones in federal government jobs within that province?

Official LanguagesOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Saint-Henri—Westmount Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration and Acting Minister of Canadian Heritage

Mr. Speaker, I think the jurisdictions of the various levels of government should not be confused. This government's responsibility is to help minorities of either official language throughout Canada. Consequently, we give substantial help to the French speaking population living in a minority situation, and to the English speaking population in Quebec.

But employment practices at the provincial level are strictly a provincial matter and are not within the purview of the Government of Canada.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I wish to draw to your attention the presence in the gallery of a group of Commonwealth Fellows led by Robert Doyle, member of Parliament for Malvern, Victoria, Australia.

Presence In GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3 p.m.

Fundy Royal New Brunswick

Liberal

Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to 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 response to five petitions.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3 p.m.

Liberal

Robert Bertrand Liberal Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the second report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal affairs and Northern Development dealing with aboriginal education, intituled: "Sharing the Knowledge: The Path to Success and Equal Opportunities in Education".

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved, in whatever capacity, in the preparation of this report.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Ringuette-Maltais)

On June 4, 1996, notice was given of a bill, standing in the name of the Minister of Transport, which included a royal recommendation. When the item dealing with this bill was published in the Notice Paper of June 5, 1996, the royal recommendation was omitted.

This mistake was repeated when the item was transferred into today's Order Paper. A copy of the royal recommendation is available at the Table. I regret any inconvenience this may have caused hon. members.

Canada Marine ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of Transport

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-44, an act for making the system of Canadian ports competitive, efficient and commercially oriented, providing for the establishing of port authorities and the divesting of certain harbours and ports, for the commercialization of the St. Lawrence Seaway and ferry services and other matters related to maritime trade and transport and amending the Pilotage Act and amending and repealing other Acts as a consequence.

Madam Speaker, I would like to advise the House that I intend to move that this bill be referred to a committee before second reading, pursuant to Standing Order 73(1).

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

Canadian Volunteer Service Medal For United Nations Peacekeeping ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Jack Frazer Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-300, an act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian volunteer service medal and clasp for United Nations peacekeeping to Canadians serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force.

Madam Speaker, as was said, this bill is an act respecting the establishment and award of a Canadian volunteer service medal and clasp for United Nations peacekeeping to Canadians serving with a United Nations peacekeeping force.

This bill is introduced to correct a present oversight. The United Nations now issues medals to Canadians who serve on peacekeeping activities. Some time later, the Governor General declares that United Nations medal to be a Canadian medal.

However, many of our peacekeepers do not accept this as appropriate Canadian recognition, and desire that such service be properly recognized by the award of a purely Canadian volunteer service medal for peacekeeping.

Also included in this bill is the clasp which would provide visual recognition of the great honour that was bestowed on Canada by our peacekeepers when they won the Nobel peace award on September 30, 1988.

This bill would provide for a clasp to be affixed on the medal to indicate the people who earned that award.

All Canadians are justifiably proud of our contribution to peacekeeping and it is most appropriate that we provide pure Canadian recognition of that contribution to our world esteem.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Ronald J. Duhamel Liberal St. Boniface, MB

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present three petitions from constituents of my riding bearing approximately 75 signatures.

The petitioners express their opposition to Bill C-33, an amendment to the Canadian Human Rights Act.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Cannis Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the pleasure to table a petition from my constituents,

The petitioners ask that Parliament enact Bill C-205 which was introduced by the hon. member for Scarborough West. The bill would prohibit convicted criminals from profiting financially from their crimes. I fully support that.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief Liberal Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Madam Speaker, I have a number of petitions to table in reference to the Canada Human Rights Act.

The petitioners pray and request that Parliament oppose any amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act or any other federal legislation that would provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual orientation.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Alex Shepherd Liberal Durham, ON

Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to present a petition bearing the signatures of 71 constituents. Unfortunately it is a little outdated. It has to do with term 17, the Newfoundland school amendments. I am happy to present this petition on their behalf because they are concerned about minority rights in that province.

The petitioners pray that Parliament not amend the Constitution as requested by the Government of Newfoundland, and refer the problem of educational reform in that province back to the Government of Newfoundland for resolution by some other non-constitutional procedure.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure to present three petitions, two of which relate to the issue of the Canadian Human Rights Act, one bearing 44 signatures and the other with 50 signatures.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

Madam Speaker, the third petition I am happy to table is on the issue of euthanasia, containing 51 signatures.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Madam Speaker, I wish to present three petitions.

The first petition is from 43 of my constituents from the Clarksburg and Thornbury area, calling on the Parliament of Canada to prohibit criminals from profiting financially by selling their stories for publication through the passing of Bill C-205.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Murray Calder Liberal Wellington—Grey—Dufferin—Simcoe, ON

Madam Speaker, the second set of petitions is from approximately 250 constituents from Collingwood and area, calling on the Parliament of Canada to refrain from including sexual orientation in the Canadian Human Rights Act.

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present petitions from my riding bearing several hundred signatures.

The petitioners are very concerned about the sentences for drunk drivers who kill. They pray and request that Parliament proceed immediately with amendments to the Criminal Code which will ensure that the sentence given to anyone convicted of impaired driving causing death would carry a minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum sentence of fourteen years as outlined in private member's Bill C-201, sponsored by the MP for Prince George-Bulkley Valley.