Agreed.
House of Commons Hansard #163 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
House of Commons Hansard #163 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was federal.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
Some hon. members
Agreed.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
Some hon. members
No.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
The Speaker
All those in favour please say yea.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
Some hon. members
Yea.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
The Speaker
All those opposed will please say nay.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
Some hon. members
Nay.
Division No. 294Government Orders
9 p.m.
The Speaker
In my opinion the yeas have it.
And more than five members having risen:
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Division No. 295Government Orders
9:10 p.m.
The Speaker
I declare the motion carried.
The House resumed from November 30 consideration of the motion that Bill C-40, an act respecting extradition, to amend the Canada Evidence Act, the Criminal Code, the Immigration Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act and to amend and repeal other acts in consequence, be read the third time and passed.
Extradition ActGovernment Orders
9:10 p.m.
The Speaker
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the third reading stage of Bill C-40.
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Division No. 296Government Orders
9:15 p.m.
The Speaker
I declare the motion carried.
(Bill read the third time and passed)
The House resumed from November 30 consideration of the motion that Bill C-41, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mint Act and the currency Act, be read the third time and passed.
Royal Canadian Mint ActGovernment Orders
December 1st, 1998 / 9:15 p.m.
The Speaker
The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-41.
(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)
Division No. 297Government Orders
9:25 p.m.
The Speaker
I declare the motion carried.
(Bill read the third time and passed)
Division No. 297Government Orders
9:25 p.m.
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)
Order, please. I wish to inform the House that because of the delay the hour provided for consideration of Private Members' Business will not take place today. The order is therefore deferred to a future sitting.
A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.
Division No. 297Adjournment Proceedings
9:25 p.m.
NDP
Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS
Madam Speaker, I rise to express my sorrow that the Dene of Deline on Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories continue to be treated with disrespect and callous disregard by the government. I share the sadness that members of the community feel as their pleas for immediate crisis assistance continue to be ignored by the government.
Since March 20 of this year members of the community felt hope that after decades of neglect their tragic story and the grave injustices inflicted upon their people would be addressed. The Dene of Deline listened as the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development stood in the House on March 30 and stated “the government takes this issue very seriously”.
The country listened to the minister state on CBC National Radio on Saturday, May 17:
We are deeply concerned about potential impacts associated with the historic uranium mining operations in the NWT.
The country listened as the minister further stated her government's position:
—which is making sure that today, and on a go-forward basis, we are protecting the communities and the people.
The potential impacts have occurred. A people are devastated by radiation deaths in Deline and along the route the ore carriers travelled from the north to Fort McMurray. The impacts are the loss of an entire generation of elders who pass on the traditional knowledge and honourable ways to the next generations.
The impacts are the result of a federal government's inexcusable disregard and contempt for not warning the Dene in the early 1930s when the effects of these, to use the government's words, deadly and insidious substances were first identified. With a warning the people could have protected their families and their children. The families travelled with the ore carriers exposing an entire generation to the uranium radiation dangers carried on their backs in burlap sacks.
At the United Nations conference on human rights this past weekend in Edmonton this tragic story was told before representatives from countries around the globe. Six months has passed since the minister issued grand statements of caring and action. Since her empty statements Dene representatives appeared before the House Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development. Elder Baton after 30 years told the Deline story. Members were shocked. Some moved to tears.
Dene representatives met with the minister and her colleagues in June and left with hope. They still wait.
A community delegation travelled to Hiroshima in August to express their sorrow and to apologize that they did not know they were assisting in war and would contribute to the nuclear bombs that killed thousands.
I raise today the travesty that continues through the government's inaction.
This community of honour does not deserve the dishonourable treatment meted out by this government before Canadians and the world.
I ask today for the honourable answer. Where is the immediate crisis assistance? Where is the funding for the community's 14 point plan? Or will this government admit today that these past six months have been empty promises and false hopes?
Division No. 297Adjournment Proceedings
9:30 p.m.
Provencher Manitoba
Liberal
David Iftody LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Madam Speaker, I am pleased on behalf of the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development to respond to the hon. member for Halifax West on past mining activities in Deline, Northwest Territories.
The Government of Canada is very concerned with potential impacts of historical uranium mining and other activities at the Port Radium uranium mine located at Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories.
Along with the Minister of Health and the Minister of Natural Resources and the Secretary of State for Children and Youth, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development met with representatives of the community of Deline on June 10, 1998 in Ottawa.
The outcome of this meeting was a commitment by the ministers to work in a partnership with the community to try to address three subject matters. First, the immediate and long term health concerns of the community including assessments on health and the environment. Second, to establish a co-operative approach and a joint committee that includes administrative and financial assistance for the participation of the Deline community. Third, to establish a common understanding of the history and the impacts of the Port Radium mine and related activities.
The Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development wrote to confirm that all parties will work co-operatively and will provide the community with discussion papers to assist in implementing those commitments.
On August 26 and September 15, 1998 departmental officials met with Deline Chief Raymond Taniton in Yellowknife and Ottawa respectively to open up a dialogue with the community and to investigate how to move ahead on this very critical and important issue. This work continued through meetings and correspondence in October and November.
We have recently reaffirmed our commitment to provide contributions to the community to assist its participation in these important investigations and to conduct biological sampling programs in the—
Division No. 297Adjournment Proceedings
9:30 p.m.
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)
I am afraid I must interrupt the hon. parliamentary secretary as the time has expired.
The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
(The House adjourned at 9.31 p.m.)