House of Commons Hansard #11 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.

Topics

Points Of OrderOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I would not find this to be a point of order. I think it is a point of debate because it is a way of different people looking at things.

Points Of OrderOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Langley—Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, a point of order was called on one of my colleagues and he did not get the opportunity to respond, even though the Speaker said it was a point of debate.

Points Of OrderOral Question Period

3:05 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

The Chair has already ruled that was not a point of order.

Reserve Force ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Jim Hart Reform Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-232, an act to facilitate participation in the reserve force.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Calgary Northeast for seconding this bill.

Canada is relying more on reservists to meet its military commitments. With the recent downsizing of the regular force the demand on reservists will undoubtedly increase.

The 1996 report on the restructuring of the reserves found that reservists had a serious training deficit when compared with trades and ranks in the regular force. Part of the problem is that reservists are unavailable for training, often due to the demands of their jobs or difficulty in scheduling time off to coincide with the training exercises and courses offered.

Many reservists use their annual vacations to attend exercises essential to developing their military skills. This is a great price for them and their families to pay, to have to forfeit a well deserved vacation to serve their country.

If we are to have an effective volunteer reserve force and if Canada is to meet its international commitments we must take steps to ensure that reservists are able to get the training they need and the time required to get that training.

This bill seeks to ensure that employees of the federal government are given the time they need for training in Canada's reserves. This will show leadership to employers in the private sector and facilitate the development and professionalism of Canada's citizen soldiers.

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

Final Offer Arbitration In Respect Of West Coast Ports Operations ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-233, an act to provide for the settlement of labour disputes affecting west coast ports by final offer arbitration.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Calgary Northeast for seconding my bill.

This is the second time this bill has been presented to the House. I presented it to the House during the last Parliament. I think that introducing it to the House now is timely because we expect that amendments to part I of the Canada Labour Code will come back to the House.

My motion impacts very positively on a final offer selection arbitration settlement mechanism for west coast ports. It would be a welcome addition to part I of the labour code. I look forward to debating it in the House.

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

Crown Liability And Proceedings ActRoutine Proceedings

3:05 p.m.

Reform

Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-234, an act to amend the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Wetaskiwin for seconding the bill.

It is my pleasure to rise today to reintroduce a bill that would amend the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act to ensure that inmates serving penitentiary sentences will not be able to sue the federal government or its employees.

More specifically, this legislation would prohibit lawsuits to be filed by inmates against the federal government for matters arising as a result of or during their penitentiary sentence.

There is urgent need for this type of legislation in Canada. People are imprisoned because they do not respect the law. They should not be able to further overload the legal system with frivolous litigation, particularly at taxpayer expense.

This legislation, if adopted, would put an end to the wasteful abuse of the Canadian legal system at the hands of inmates. I would encourage all members of the House to carefully consider this legislation.

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

Competition ActRoutine Proceedings

October 6th, 1997 / 3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-235, an act to amend the Competition Act (protection of those who purchase products from vertically integrated suppliers who compete with them at retail).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. member for Oak Ridges for seconding this bill. Members will know that I introduced the very same bill in the last Parliament. Unfortunately it died on the order paper. It is a bill that is both timely and necessary in terms of ensuring for consumers in this country that we actually have a fair, competitive and healthy market in terms of gas pricing.

It is very clear that with what transpired this summer and the routine fleecing of consumers at the pumps there is need for protection, particularly for the independent suppliers of product who frequently face reductions in the margins at which they operate at the retail level.

This enactment will give the basis for the enforcement of fair pricing between the manufacturer who sells the product at retail, either directly or through an affiliate, and also supplies the product to a customer who competes with the supplier at the retail level in order to give the customer a fair opportunity to make a similar profit.

In effect it changes two sections of the Competition Act, section 50 dealing with predatory pricing and section 78 dealing with abuse of dominance.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Langley—Abbotsford, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by constituents in my riding who ask that the prime minister and the Parliament of Canada declare and confirm immediately that Canada is indivisible, that the boundaries of Canada, its provinces, territories and territorial waters may be modified only by a free vote of all Canadian citizens as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or through the amending formula as stipulated in the Canadian Constitution.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Stan Dromisky Liberal Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by over 2,000 citizens from Thunder Bay, Kenora, Keewatin, Kakabeka Falls, South Gillies, Nolalu, Kaministikwia, Redditt, Manitouwadge and Dryden.

Last April, I tabled over 8,600 signatures for the same petition. This is another batch from many individuals acknowledging that there is no rail passenger service between the cities of Sudbury and Winnipeg.

Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to ensure that the federal government, Canadian Pacific Railway and VIA Rail co-operatively conduct a study to determine the feasibility of reintroducing VIA passenger service from Sudbury to Winnipeg and that VIA passenger service be revived on the CPR line from Sudbury to Winnipeg as soon as possible.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition that was signed by 54 residents of central Alberta.

The petitioners state that in their opinion 38 percent of Canada's national highways are in substandard condition, that the United States and Mexico are engaged in the repair of their national highway systems and Canada should do likewise for the obvious benefits of job creation, lower congestion and better traffic flow.

They therefore call on Parliament to urge the federal government to join with the provincial governments to make a national highway system upgrade possible.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from scores of citizens of the city and county of Peterborough who are concerned about choice in health care.

The petitioners ask that the Food and Drugs Act be amended so that the term “foods for special health uses” includes any food expected to have a specific effect on the promotion of health or the prevention of disease, and that the Government of Canada may not limit the quantity of any vitamin, mineral, amino acid or other nutrient in a food simply because it exceeds the amount deemed necessary or useful.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from 200 residents of the Peterborough area who are concerned about the transfer of women to the men's penitentiary in Kingston.

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough and its supporters want this transfer stopped. All the evidence suggests that federally sentenced women, having already suffered from male abuse, will suffer more in a male dominated institution. These petitioners ask that the right thing be done in this case.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions. One petition has 73 names of residents from the Courtenay area. They pray and request that Parliament enact legislation to establish a DNA data bank of convicted sexual offenders and murderers.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition with 25 names of residents from the Campbell River area. If Canada ratifies the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, greater incentives will exist for families to abdicate their parental responsibilities to the state.

Therefore the petitioners ask Parliament to amend section 7 of the charter of rights and freedoms to recognize the right of individuals to pursue family life and to recognize the fundamental right and responsibility of parents to direct the upbringing of their children.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Reform

John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have a third petition signed by 26 residents of the Campbell River area. They ask Parliament to affirm the duty of parents to responsibly raise their children according to their own conscience and beliefs and to retain section 43 of the Criminal Code as it is currently worded.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36. The petitioners from Etobicoke—Lakeshore call on Parliament to remove the GST from books, magazines and newspapers and to remove all federal sales tax from reading.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Jean Augustine Liberal Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36, is tabled on behalf of 37 constituents of my riding.

The petitioners state that Parliament should ask the government to authorize a proclamation to be issued by the Governor General under the Great Seal of Canada to amend section 7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to recognize the fundamental right of individuals to pursue family life free from undue interference by the state and recognize the fundamental rights and responsibilities of parents who direct the upbringing of their children and urge the legislative assemblies of the other provinces to do likewise.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Peterborough Ontario

Liberal

Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

Is that agreed?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion that Bill C-2, an act to establish the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and to amend the Canada Pension Plan and the Old Age Security Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, be read the second time and referred to a committee; and of the amendment.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

3:20 p.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)

Resuming debate. I believe the hon. member for Ottawa West—Nepean has something in the order of five minutes remaining.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, I will not use my full five minutes. I did want to be here for questions or comments if any opposition members wish to raise them.

The government has faced up to an increase in the senior population and a shrinking workforce and has taken the necessary steps to ensure that one of the fundamental pillars of the Canada pension system will remain healthy for decades to come.

Canadians have every reason to feel confident about the CPP again. Those who pay contributions today can count on getting their pensions in the future. Existing pensioners can count on continuing to receive their entitlement. All Canadians can count on an indexed pension so their income and quality of life will not be eroded over time. We can count on our contributions earning a fair rate of return, and we can count on not unduly burdening our children and grandchildren because this generation has failed to deal now with the needs of the future.

I look forward to the committee's discussion of this bill. It is a large and comprehensive bill, and I am sure there may be some very constructive amendments coming forward. I thank the House for its time.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

3:20 p.m.

Reform

Jason Kenney Reform Calgary Southeast, AB

Mr. Speaker, studies produced by the Department of Finance, the Bank of Canada, and virtually every reputable economic authority in Canada and abroad indicate that payroll taxes reduce jobs and reduce job growth. Does the hon. member think that this bill, which will increase CPP payroll taxes by 70 percent, by some $1,800 for self-employed individuals, by over $10 billion a year when fully executed, will help the government to achieve its objective of greater job growth? Or does the hon. member concur with the evidence of all of the reputable economists in Canada that this massive tax grab, the largest tax increase in Canadian history, will in fact kill tens of thousands of jobs, taking away the very kind of economic hope that people of my generation so desperately need in order to pay the kind of tax burden that has been levied on us by the fiscal irresponsibility of this and other governments?

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ActGovernment Orders

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, obviously the member was not in the House when I spoke earlier or he would have heard me address this issue.

I made a very strong point of saying that I find highly offensive this characterization of contributions to a pension plan as payroll taxes. It is contrary to the whole concept of a sharing, caring, compassionate society where programs are set up to ensure that people who have contributed to society throughout their working lives are able to live a retirement of dignity on a modest income that allows them to afford the necessities of life.

As far as job creation goes, the member is exaggerating somewhat when he says that there is absolutely no disagreement about the fact that employer and employee contributions to such a plan are job killers. The member has not addressed the fact that we will now be setting up an $11.5 billion investment fund, of which 80 percent will be invested in this country. He has done nothing to analyse the positive impact of that private sector investment of people's contributions on the economy.

After four and a half years of Liberal government the economy is in better shape than it has been in in a long time.