House of Commons Hansard #138 of the 35th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was cpp.

Topics

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

The Speaker

I will hear one more intervention on this question of privilege.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

Reform

John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB

Mr. Speaker, I refute the arguments put forth by the government whip who suggests the matter is not that relevant. He would lead us to think that the vote in the House was assumed by the government. If we ever find that the government of day can assume the outcome of a vote in the House, democracy in this country is in extreme peril.

I draw attention to page 4460 of Debates when the Speaker ruled regarding the GST issue on October 9, 1989. He said:

Under these conditions, the Chair feels it must exercise extreme caution against unduly restricting the authority of the House to deal with a perceived contempt, especially given the arguments which have been presented.

He went on to say:

I must confess that I have certain doubts regarding this case. Normally in cases of doubt, it has been the practice for Speakers to allow an appropriate motion to go forward for a decision of the House.

Therefore I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to consider in your ruling the fact that democracy is assumed by the government and to allow this motion to go forward.

PrivilegeOral Question Period

3:20 p.m.

The Speaker

This question of privilege was raised yesterday by the hon. member for Laurier-Sainte-Marie. Today I received opinions from eminent colleagues in the House, opinions which I am sure you will give me some time to consider.

I do not know at this point if I have the documents in English and in French. I saw the hon. parliamentary secretary referring to a document in English. I would ask him to table it so that I can see it.

I will take all the representations of today including the precedence of my predecessor, Mr. Speaker Frazer, a very highly regarded Speaker of the House, and other Speakers who have ruled on matters such as these. As we know, no two matters are virtually always alike. It is for that reason I will take my time in making a decision. I will get back to the House if it is necessary.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Fundy Royal New Brunswick

Liberal

Paul Zed LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 9 petitions.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Jim Peterson Liberal Willowdale, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Finance.

It deals with Bill C-70 which does two things. It makes a number of changes, clarifications and amendments to the GST. Much more important, it is the first step in creating a national harmonized sales tax replacing all 10 existing sales taxes with one. This is a first step in that direction.

I thank the many witnesses who appeared before us and made presentations. I thank members of all three parties, including the member of Beaver River who is giving me all her attention right now, who worked in an assiduous and constructive way with us. I thank, as always, the staff of the House of Commons who again has been exemplary. I have the honour to table this report, in both official languages.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

March 5th, 1997 / 3:25 p.m.

Liberal

John Nunziata Liberal York South—Weston, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During his submissions the hon. member said that this report represented the beginning of a harmonized GST across the country.

That is a misstatement of fact, given that several provinces have made it very clear they do not intend to harmonize their provincial tax with the GST.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member knows that is debate.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Richard Bélisle Bloc La Prairie, QC

Mr. Speaker, further to the comments by the chair of the Standing Committee on Finance, I would like to add a few comments on the Bloc Quebecois' dissenting opinion.

I would like to add that the Bloc Quebecois supports the concept of harmonizing sales taxes, but cannot support the Liberal government's wasting everybody's time and energy with a half-baked and unfair scheme.

In the current state of affairs, there is no proof that Bill C-70 simplifies and improves things. On the contrary, as regards the rules governing the display of prices, consumers may find an item bearing four different prices in a catalogue or on a retailer's shelves.

Bill C-70 will considerably complicate the lives of individuals and businesses. So the big questions remained unanswered, because the Liberals are putting their electoral interests before the interests of the taxpayers. We also think that the government should redo its homework and go over Bill C-70.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Paddy Torsney Liberal Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs.

Pursuant to the order of reference on Monday, October 7, 1996 the committee has considered Bill C-55, an act to amend the Criminal Code (high risk offenders), the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Criminal Records Act, the Prisons and Reformatories Act and the Department of the Solicitor General Act. The committee has agreed to report it with amendments.

Thanks to all the witnesses who provided some excellent testimony that enabled us to make these terrific amendments.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

Colleagues, I wonder if we could revert to tabling of documents. I would like to file a report on behalf of the Speaker.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Report Of Commissioner Of Environment And Sustainable DevelopmentRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

I have the honour to table, pursuant to the Standing Orders concerning the auditor general, the report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons for the year 1997.

The report is permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Immigration ActRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Liberal

Jag Bhaduria Liberal Markham—Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-378, an act to amend the Immigration Act (permanent resident status).

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely pleased to have the opportunity today to introduce my private member's bill. I want to thank the hon. member for York South-Weston for seconding this bill.

The intent of the bill is to amend section 24 of the Immigration Act, which would allow a person seeking to come into and remain permanently in Canada to be deemed a permanent resident if he or she lived in Canada for 25 years or more prior to 1970 before leaving Canada.

This amendment would address the concerns of many Canadians who have reallocated outside Canada for a period of time and are now faced with having to reapply for permanent resident status with of course the appropriate security checks. This has resulted in numerous bureaucratic delays and in many cases the process can be quite cumbersome.

My bill would eliminate a time consuming delay and also allow an immigration officer to make the decision to grant automatic permanent resident status if they are satisfied with the individual's prior resident status.

I look forward to the unanimous consent of the House on this.

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

Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Fraser Valley West, BC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-379, an act to amend the Criminal Code (arrest of those in breach of condition of parole or statutory or temporary release).

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to table in this House a private member's bill which will amend the Criminal Code to provide for the arrest of those in breach of condition of parole or statutory or temporary release.

I must acknowledge the dedication and commitment of the Abbotsford city police, particularly Constable Mike Novakowski who provided the incentive and foresight to put this bill in force. Because of police officers like Mike Novakowski throughout Canada we will eventually have safer streets in our community.

This enactment makes a breach of a condition of parole or statutory or temporary release an indictable or summary condition offence, as is the case for breach of a probation order.

Paragraph 495.(1)(a) of the Criminal Code allows a peace officer to arrest a person who has committed an indictable offence or whom he finds committing a criminal offence. Therefore this amendment enables a peace officer to arrest a person who is in breach of a condition of parole or release.

The amendment to section 497 provides for such a person to be held to give the board that granted the parole or release, if the board considers it advisable, an opportunity to apply to keep the person in custody until it is able to issue a warrant of apprehension to facilitate a review of the parole or release under the Corrections and Conditional Release Act.

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

Louis Riel Commemoration ActRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Suzanne Tremblay Bloc Rimouski—Témiscouata, QC

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-380, entitled an act respecting the designation of a Louis Riel Day and revoking his conviction of August 1, 1885.

Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured to table once again a bill to quash the conviction of Louis Riel and to try to honour his memory.

If this bill had a chance of passing second and third reading and being voted on by this House, we could honour the memory of Louis Riel annually on November 16, because this bill would create a Louis Riel Day for all of Canada.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief Liberal Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions which I wish to present to the House today.

In the first the petitioners call on Parliament to urge the government to join with the provincial governments to make the national highway system upgrading possible beginning in 1997.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief Liberal Prince Edward—Hastings, ON

Mr. Speaker, the second calls on Parliament to demonstrate the government's sincere regard for the public good and enact and bring into law the tobacco control legislation as promised, such legislation to include, in so far as possible, measures outlined in the blueprints.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Bloc

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition signed by 500 people in my riding calling on Parliament to pass legislation imposing a ceiling on interest rates on credit cards issued to consumers by banks and major retailers that would be tied to the Bank of Canada rate.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

David Iftody Liberal Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, I have three brief petitions which I will summarize with your permission.

The first petition is signed by a number of constituents from the community of Lac Brochet. Very briefly, the petitioners pray and request that the House not amend the Criminal Code or the charter of rights and freedoms to in any way indicate societal approval of same sex marriages.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

David Iftody Liberal Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I would like to present today is signed by a number of constituents from the Blumenort, Morris and Rosenort area of Provencher. The petitioners draw to the attention of the House the negative impact of pornography on men, women and children. They pray that the current laws are protected and upheld for all Canadians.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

David Iftody Liberal Provencher, MB

Mr. Speaker, in the third, the petitioners pray that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigorously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or active or passive euthanasia.

The petition is signed by a number of my constituents from Morris and the Niverville area.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

John Finlay Liberal Oxford, ON

Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by a number of my constituents and constituents from surrounding counties. The petitioners call upon Parliament to urge the federal government to join with the provincial governments to make the national highway system upgrading possible.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

Harold Culbert Liberal Carleton—Charlotte, NB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am honoured to table a petition today. The petition contains over 100 signatures from the St. Stephen area of New Brunswick. The petitioners request Parliament to support an immediate initiation and conclusion by the year 2000 of an international convention which will set out a binding timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:35 p.m.

Reform

Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to table a petition from 27 Albertans from central Alberta.

The undersigned residents of Canada allege that 38 per cent of the national highway system is substandard and that Mexico and the United States are upgrading their national highway systems. The petitioners say that it would save lives, avoid injury and lower congestion, among other things. Therefore the petitioners call on Parliament to urge the federal government to join with the provincial governments to make the national highway system upgrading possible.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:40 p.m.

Reform

Randy White Reform Fraser Valley West, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have yet another petition from the good and concerned citizens of the province of Nova Scotia. In June of 1996 the Prime Minister of Canada announced that he would work toward diverting the Sable Island gas pipeline to Quebec City. It is unacceptable for the Prime Minister to decide the destination of Nova Scotia's natural gas without consulting Nova Scotians. Nova Scotians assert their right to control the destination of Sable Island gas and demand the federal cease tampering with this issue.