Madam Speaker, it is a pleasure to resume this marathon debate which has already lasted three afternoons, 11 hours, 77 motions and as I recollect-my counting I think is accurate-11 orators in a row from the opposition party.
There has been some comment made here on the absence of interventions but one should always remember that one gains nothing by iteration and reiteration if nothing new is said. When the debate opened on the first evening, I was very much taken by the witty and informative address of the hon. member for Chambly, by the vigorous imagination of the member for Gaspé, but I have to report, not in anger but with sadness, a certain decline in quality. That comes from repetition. It seemed to me that the ghosts who operate in this Chamber and outside may have become tired. Certainly by last night I felt tiredness had set in with the ghosts.
I was hoping in the spirit of the first evening when the member for Chambly gave us as the sacerdos musarum, the carmina non prius audita, the new songs, new visions, new attitudes that something in the same vein would continue. Instead we have had Mount Pelion piled on Mount Ossa in the poet Flaccus' words, forgetting that it is not by the number of speeches, it is by the weight and content. In a certain sense we are returning again and again to the same themes. I see no particular point in adding to these labours of Sisyphus beyond saying that in the debate from now on, could we hope for something new, something rather exciting, something not very tiring?
To comment specifically on Group No. 12 which has been put forward by the hon. member for Gaspé and which pertain to the fee setting provisions of the oceans act, Motion No. 76 modifies clause 47 which provides the minister with the authority to fix fees for a service or use of a governmental facility provided under the oceans act. Motion No. 78 modifies clause 48 which provides the authority to fix fees in respect of products, rights and privileges provided under the oceans act. Motion No. 80 modifies clause 49, according to which the minister may set fees for regulatory processes or approval provided under this act.
These motions would subject the ministerial fee setting authority to a condition outlined in Motion No. 82, namely that the House of Commons be required to adopt a resolution debated for three hours in its ordinary course of business before a fee could be fixed.
This amendment in our view would clutter House business and cause delays and additional administrative processes when this government is committed to modernizing Parliament, to streamlining its internal processes. That would be a step backward.
In any case, the intent of these motions is already addressed in existing governmental policy. There already exists a regulatory parliamentary review process. It is government policy to consult with affected users on any fees proposed. This serves to ensure the minister is in touch with the views of his clients.
Clause 50 of the bill clearly describes the consultation requirements the minister must comply with before fixing a fee. The clause also provides for the referral of fiscal regulations to the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations.
Quite obviously Motions Nos. 76, 77, 78 and 80 serve no purpose and should be defeated.
The last motion in this group, Motion No. 82, proposes to authorize the standing committee to make regulations relating to to the minister's powers to fix fees. I have already spoken of this neo-Montesquieuian confusion of powers when of course we respect the separation of powers as a basic issue of constitutionalism. Do not try to mix up legislative and executive powers unless you have a clear vision of where you are going. In this sense the motion is not well thought out and does not deserve support.
Treasury Board is the central federal authority mandated to make regulations pertaining to fiscal issues. The board is there to ensure consistency and fairness in regulations such as those provided under the oceans act.
The Bloc motion implies that Treasury Board is not ensuring this consistency and fairness and suggests the authority to make fiscal regulations should be exercised by a standing committee. This is entirely contrary to government policy and established parliamentary practice. Indeed in its aspect of all power to the assembly, it is
what we might refer to in our law schools as a Henry VIII clause. Need I say any more?
All of the motions in this group should be defeated. The House is here to improve the quality of the legislation put before it, not to hinder the progress of government. I hope I have not spoken too long because I do not want to set a bad example for this House. Brevity is the art of wit.