Debates of March 23rd, 1998

Children's Health

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of Human Resources Development, and I are currently helping children throughout Canada in co-operation with the provincial governments.

There are, for example, the changes introduced by my colleague with the child tax benefit. There are also the community action programs for children, which are under way in community centres across Canada.

We have plans for helping children and their families. These are currently being developed all over Canada and I am sure the situation will improve in the months to come.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary 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 11 petitions.

Committees Of The House

[George Baker, Liberal, Gander—Grand Falls, NL]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present to the House the first report from the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, a most excellent report.

[Yvan Bernier, Bloc, Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans just tabled the report in the House. I just have a short question.

I want to say that the Bloc Quebecois agrees with the recommendations as a whole, but there was a printing problem. Could the committee chairman confirm that the additional note from the Bloc Quebecois will be included in the report? Could he confirm that?

[George Baker, Liberal, Gander—Grand Falls, NL]

Mr. Speaker, yes, we do have that attached to the report, a statement by the Bloc concerning the translation. We did have problems and we do have that attached to the report

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is the hon. member for Bonaventure satisfied?

[Yvan Bernier, Bloc, Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-De-La-Madeleine—Pabok, QC]

Yes, Mr. Speaker. If the committee chairman is telling me that the additional note is included, I am prepared to overlook the technical problems.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Thank you.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 24th report later this day.

Food And Drugs Act

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-383, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warnings on alcoholic beverage containers).

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the bill is to ensure that containers in which alcoholic beverages are sold display a printed warning that would warn pregnant and other persons of certain dangers associated with the consumption of alcoholic beverages.

The containers would also be required to display illustrated warnings that would enhance the message contained in the printed warning.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is just one of the tragic consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

Finally, in introducing the bill I want to pay particular tribute to one of my constituents, Ms. Joy Gilmore, for her dedicated leadership on this important issue over many years.

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

Committees Of The House

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I move that 24th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Paul Steckle, Liberal, Huron—Bruce, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have before me a petition with about 500 signatures.

Basically my constituents are concerned that the government's intervention in the regulating of certain products is deemed to be interfering in their personal lives.

They are asking the Parliament of Canada to enact legislation against designating herbs, teas and vitamins as drugs. I support this resolution.

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my first petition is from thousands of people from the lower mainland of British Columbia. On November 12, 1996 in British Columbia, the honourable Judge Harry Boyle sentenced Darren Adam Ursel to two years less a day to be served in the community under section 742 of the Criminal Code. Mr. Ursel was convicted of a very violent sexual assault.

Therefore the petitioners request that Parliament exempt all physical and sexual offenders from the provisions in section 742 of the Criminal Code, conditional sentencing.

My second petition deals with violent crime. Violent crime has increased by over 40% since 1984. Youths aged 12 to 17, although representing only 8% of the population, account for 23% of all persons charged with Criminal Code offences. Canadians from coast to coast are calling for changes to the Young Offenders Act and for heavier penalties for those convicted of violent crimes.

Therefore the petitioners ask Parliament to amend the Young Offenders Act to provide that young offenders charged with murder be automatically tried in adult court; that if convicted they be sentenced as adults and that their identities should not be hidden from the public.

My final petition states that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects all Canadians, including those convicted of crimes. Victims of crimes require specific rights in the justice system as it is they as members of society for whom our laws are designed to protect. Our justice system must give victims specific rights as it does with the criminals to make our justice system fair for all.

Therefore the petitions call on Parliament to support the development of a victims bill of rights.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by more than 100 people in the Peterborough riding who are concerned about the price of prescription drugs.

They point out that Bill C-91 gives the brand name multinational drug companies 20 years of protection from competition and up to an extra two and half years with the notice of compliance regulations.

The petitioners call on Parliament to immediately withdraw the notice of compliance regulation, introduce legislation to lower patent protection from the present 20 years and implement a national pharmacare program based on the recommendations of the Prime Minister's national forum on health.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition signed by several score of citizens from the Peterborough area who are concerned about the MAI.

They point out that the most recent draft of the MAI indicates that if adopted it will have a major impact on many important areas of Canadian life.

The petitioners call on Parliament to impose a moratorium on the ratification of the MAI until full public hearings on the proposed treaty are held across the country so that all Canadians can have an opportunity to express their opinions.

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I too wish to present a petition on behalf of the constituents in Burnaby and other British Columbians on the multilateral agreement on investment, the MAI.

The petitioners note that the MAI will disproportionately expand and entrench unprecedented rights to transnational corporations and foreign investors at the perilous expense of the Canadian government's ability to direct investment policy as a tool for the benefit of all Canadians.

The petitioners therefore call on Parliament to consider the enormous implications to Canada of the signing of the MAI and put it open to debate in the House and place it for a national referendum for the people of Canada to decide.

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have another petition which has been signed by residents of my constituency of Burnaby—Douglas.

It notes concerns about the future of the Canadian retirement system, the CPP, old age security and guaranteed income supplement.

The petitioners call on Parliament to rescind the CPP legislation which imposes massive CPP premium hikes while reducing benefits and changes the CPP financial arrangements to provide a payoff for Bay Street brokers and bankers. They further petition the House for a national review of the retirement income system in Canada to ensure the adequacy of Canada's retirement system today and in the future.

Starred Question

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Question No. 42. Due to the length of the answer, I ask that it be printed in Hansard as if read. .[Text] <*Question No. 42—

[Jim Hart, Reform, Okanagan—Coquihalla, BC]

With regard to the Canadian forces: ( a ) what preparations has the government undertaken to ensure their integrity during and after a secession attempt; and ( b ) what policies, procedures and regulations has the Deaprtment of National Defence prepared to guide its members during a future referendum or negotiations?

[Art Eggleton, Liberal, Minister of National Defence]

(a) The government has made no preparation for what remains a highly hypothetical scenario. That being said, Canadian forces members swear an oath of allegiance and are subject to the code of service discipline contained in the National Defence Act. In addition, the mission of the Department of National Defence, DND, and the Canadian forces, CF, to defend Canada and Canadian interests and values while contributing to international peace and security is clearly outlined in numerous documents including the 1994 defence white paper. Canadian forces members understand their role and are proud of their contribution and accomplishments in promoting Canadian interests. At a time when the continued existence of the nation is being debated and national symbols take on more importance than ever, the unifying role of the department and the forces can only build a stronger, more dynamic and prosperous country.

(b) The Canadian forces must always act and be seen to be acting in an apolitical manner. There is no intent to limit healthy discussion of a private nature, however, public announcements and discussions that could lead to the assumption that any such statements are CF or DND policy must be avoided, and CF members are made fully aware of this through various regulations and orders which govern political activities on defence establishments and personal political activities of CF members.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

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

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland)]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of Bill C-28, an act to amend the Income Tax Act, the Income Tax Application Rules, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Canada Pension Plan, the Children's Special Allowances Act, the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act, the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, the Customs Act, the Customs Tariff, the Employment Insurance Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act, the Old Age Security Act, the Tax Court of Canada Act, the Tax Rebate Discounting Act, the Unemployment Insurance Act, the Western Grain Transition Payments Act and certain acts related to the Income Tax Act, as reported (with amendment) from the committee; and of Motion No. 2.

Income Tax Amendments Act, 1997

[Monte Solberg, Reform, Medicine Hat, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of clarification. I am unclear as to what motion we are on now. Are we still debating Motion No. 2?