Internal reports from his department say that about $2 billion in tax revenue will be lost in this fiscal year because of a shortage of auditors, a problem that was pointed out by the auditor general just recently. This money could be spent on health and education.

What action does the minister plan to collect this $2 billion, or is he just going to throw up his hands and say hey, what's $2 billion?

Revenue CanadaOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize the good work our auditors do in Revenue Canada. Last year we were able to bring in $5.4 billion due to their good work.

We are continuing to hire new auditors. If the hon. member is saying we should hire more, we will.

One of the reasons we are working on the agency is to give us flexibility so that we can more quickly respond to our human resources needs and quickly respond and hire more people when we need them and not have to wait for long periods of time.

I very much support the hon. member. We are working to do that.

Revenue CanadaOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

Mark Muise Progressive Conservative West Nova, NS

Mr. Speaker, in mid-December 1997 Revenue Canada announced to many owners of fishing vessels in West Nova that they were now responsible for CPP contributions on behalf of their crew members, retroactive to January 1, 1997. This sudden change in policy will have an enormous financial impact on the industry. Layoffs have already been announced.

Will the Minister of National Revenue re-examine this decision and invite his officials to meet with the fishing industry to negotiate a more equitable start-up date.

Revenue CanadaOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Vancouver South—Burnaby B.C.

Liberal

Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, I will certainly take the representations of the hon. member, look at the issue and get back to him.

We at Revenue Canada are very sensitive to the fishing industry and want to ensure that we are fair in our assessment. We will work toward ensuring that we comply fully and are sensitive to their concerns.

Atomic Energy Control BoardOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Liberal

Lynn Myers Liberal Waterloo—Wellington, ON

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Natural Resources.

The Atomic Energy Control Board recently said that Ontario Hydro's failure to show detailed plans on how it will improve deteriorating nuclear safety is entirely unacceptable.

What exactly is the minister doing to ensure that the Atomic Energy Control Board is doing everything in its power to restore faith and confidence in Ontario Hydro?

Atomic Energy Control BoardOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Wascana Saskatchewan

Liberal

Ralph Goodale LiberalMinister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board

Mr. Speaker, the control board is currently satisfied that Ontario Hydro's nuclear facilities are being operated safely, but it has called for significant improvements in management and operations to ensure that the required margins of safety will not be compromised in future.

At the request of the AECB, the chairman of Ontario Hydro will attend the next control board meeting, which is scheduled for February 19 in Ottawa. The public may be assured that the AECB will monitor the situation very closely. If there is any evidence to cause any source of concern, the control board will not hesitate to impose restrictions.

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

11:55 a.m.

Reform

Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC

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

Bruce Starlight wrote to the minister of Indian affairs last year, only to be betrayed and have his letter leaked. The minister is now investigating herself.

Yesterday we asked if the report of this investigation would be tabled. The government said it was concerned that this would be subject to the privacy act and may violate the privacy act.

Why is the government attempting to hide behind the privacy act to protect itself when it obviously had no concern for Bruce Starlight's privacy? Will the Deputy Prime Minister commit here and now in this House to table this investigative report when it is finalized?

Aboriginal AffairsOral Question Period

Noon

Windsor West Ontario

Liberal

Herb Gray LiberalDeputy Prime Minister

Mr. Speaker, my hon. friend is quite wrong. The minister is not investigating herself. She has called in an outside investigator because she is concerned as are all members of this House about this totally unauthorized leak of this letter.

We have also said that once the investigation is complete it is our intention to make the report public to the extent that we are entitled to do so under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act. We are bound by the rule of law. I do not know why the Reform Party, who keeps calling for respect for the rule of law, wants it to be ignored in this serious matter.

Ways And MeansRoutine Proceedings

February 13th, 1998 / noon

LaSalle—Émard Québec

Liberal

Paul Martin LiberalMinister of Finance

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour to table a notice of ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act, along with explanatory notes.

I ask that you designate an order of the day for consideration of the motion.

Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Peterborough Ontario

Liberal

Peter Adams 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 eight petitions.

Committees Of The HouseRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Peterborough Ontario

Liberal

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 22nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding amendments to the Standing Orders in accordance with its mandate under Standing Order 108(3)(a)(iii).

Mr. Speaker, as you know, joint committees are established from time to time. Because each of the chambers has its own procedural rules, problems have developed in the past. The proposals that the committee is presenting to the House today will in our view help solve problems that may arise.

Canadian Bill Of RightsRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-319, an act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to education).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will make education a right for every child until they turn 18.

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

Canadian Bill Of RightsRoutine Proceedings

Noon

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-320, an act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to literacy).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will amend the Canadian Bill of Rights to ensure that youth and children have a right to literacy.

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

Immigration Enforcement Improvement ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-321, an act to amend the Immigration Act (improvement of enforcement in the case of those who commit offences).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce my private member's bill known as the immigration enforcement improvement act, which died on the Order Paper when the 35th Parliament was dissolved.

I first introduced this bill following the 1994 Toronto murders of Georgina Leimonis and police constable Todd Baylis. The bill died on the Order Paper and I am asking for unanimous consent to send this bill back to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Immigration Enforcement Improvement ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member will have to wait to make his request until after the bill is introduced.

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

Immigration Enforcement Improvement ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The hon. member has requested the unanimous consent of the House that the bill be now read a second time and referred to a committee. Is there unanimous consent?

Immigration Enforcement Improvement ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-322, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (donors to food banks).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will make the donation of non-perishable goods to food banks tax deductible.

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

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-323, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (tax credit for mental or physical impairment).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will make a tax credit available to people who take care of those with mental or physical impairment.

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

National Literacy Standards ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-324, an act to establish national literacy standards across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure we have a national literacy standard across Canada.

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

Education Standards ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-325, an act to establish national standards across Canada for education provided by the provinces.

Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure we have a national education standard across the provinces in Canada.

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

Canadian Bill Of RightsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-326, an act to amend the Canadian Bill of Rights (right to housing).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure that every Canadian has a right to housing.

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

Bank ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-327, an act to amend the Bank Act (definition of “infant”).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will ensure that the Bank Act is consistent with Canada's commitment to the United Nations in 1989 concerning the definition of a child.

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

Bills Of Exchange ActRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-328, an act to amend the Bills of Exchange Act (definitions of “infant” and “minor”).

Mr. Speaker, this bill will change the definition of a child to anyone under the age of 18.

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