House of Commons Hansard #108 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was students.
Charles Caccia Liberal Davenport, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development on the subject of the enforcement of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act ant the pollution provisions of the Fisheries Act.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to the report within 150 days.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-407, an act to amend the Bank Act (bank mergers).
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the bill is to make it a requirement, unless there is an insolvency where a bank is going down, that before any merger can take place there must be a vote in the House of Commons so every member of the House can have a chance to vote on whether it is a good idea. This would not leave the decision solely in the hands of the Minister of Finance which is the status quo. It is a way of democratizing this place and making our roles more meaningful on a very important issue that will face the Canadian population in the fall.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Stan Dromisky Liberal Thunder Bay—Atikokan, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-408, an act to amend the Criminal Code (wearing of war decorations).
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Criminal Code regarding the wearing of military decorations of order for military services. The bill provides that relatives of deceased veterans may wear, without facing criminal sanctions on Remembrance Day, at a public function or ceremony commemorating veterans, or in a circumstance prescribed by cabinet, any order, decoration or medal listed in the Canadian orders, decorations and medals directive of October 25, 1990.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Ovid Jackson Liberal Bruce—Grey, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present a petition from members of my riding of Bruce—Grey, in particular those around the Owen Sound area. They ask that parliament define marriage in the Canadian statutes as a union between an unmarried male and an unmarried female.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first is from Mr. Bud Boomer and June Boomer from my constituency. They pray that parliament enact Bill C-225, an act to amend the Marriage Act to define in statute that a marriage can only be entered into by a single male and a single female.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition from Mr. Ted Turner who asks parliament to enact legislation to repeal the Young Offenders Act and at the same time to implement prevention programs such as a head start program to address the root causes of crime.
Janko Peric Liberal Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the privilege to present to the House a petition from 83 concerned citizens from my riding of Cambridge and surrounding areas. The petitioners draw the attention of the House to their concern for all Canadians who contracted hepatitis C from the federally regulated blood system through no fault of their own.
The petitioners pray and request that the Parliament of Canada show compassion and fairness by acting on the recommendations of the Krever report calling for compensation to all those infected, as was done for those who contracted AIDS.
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to table a petition from the citizens of Guysborough county in eastern Nova Scotia pursuant to Standing Order 36.
This petition calls on parliament to revisit the issue of enterprise allocation of shrimp quota in eastern Canada with respect to a proposal made by Seafreez and ACS, respectively, of Canso and Mulgrave. The petitioners are very concerned about this allocation. They feel it is essential to the survival of the community in question and is consistent with the efforts to Canadianize the fisheries.
It gives me great pleasure to table this petition on their behalf. Hundreds of citizens have signed this petition and call on the government to give this urgent attention.
Karen Redman Liberal Kitchener Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I present to this House a petition signed by 114 of my constituents of Serbian descent petitioning this government to take action in reaching a peaceful solution to the Kosovo crisis.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions today signed by a number of Canadians, including from my riding of Mississauga South.
In the first the petitioners draw to the attention of the House that police officers and firefighters are required to place their lives at risk on a daily basis as they execute their duties and that employment benefits often do not provide sufficient compensation to the families of those who are killed in the line of duty.
The public mourns the loss of these police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Therefore the petitioners call on parliament to establish a public safety officers compensation fund for the benefit of families of public safety officers killed in the line of duty.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition deals with the family and the petitioners draw to the attention of the House that managing the family home and caring for preschool children is an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to our society.
The petitioners also agree with the national forum on health which reported that the Income Tax Act discriminates against families that choose to provide care in the home to preschool children.
The petitioners therefore call on parliament to eliminate tax discrimination against families that choose to provide care in the home to preschool children.
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition signed by a good number of petitioners from my riding. These petitioners are condemning the unwarranted increases in gasoline prices brought about by the pricing policies of major oil companies operating in Canada.
The petitioners are calling on the Parliament of Canada to adopt legislation which would require gasoline companies to give 30 days written notice to the Minister of Natural Resources of an impending significant increase in the price of gasoline and that such a notice should also contain the reason or reasons for the increase and when it will take effect.
Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am pleased to present this petition on behalf of my constituents from Wardsville, Newbury and Bothwell area of my riding.
The petitioners call on parliament to support private member's Bill C-225 which would define marriage as a union between a single male and a single female.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36. I know that if I had asked the petitioners they would have supported the previous petition regarding high gas prices, but this is not about high gas prices.
This petition is concerned about the unfair tax system Canada has. The petitioners point out a number of reasons why they think certain working people are being punished and unfairly treated by the tax system and they are calling for total tax reform.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, in the second the petitioners are concerned about some of the changes in the present legislation Bill C-36 in terms of tinkering with the pension system. The petitioners believe it may reveal that the government is planning a major overhaul of the pension system and they are simply pointing out that a complete public information process ought to be launched before any changes are contemplated.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, the third deals with the multilateral agreement on investment. The petitioners point out that while it is set aside for the next six months they continue to be opposed to it as they understand it. They call on parliament not to sign the multilateral agreement on investment ever.
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition from almost 100 people in the Peterborough area who are concerned about the multilateral agreement on investment.
They ask parliament to impose a moratorium on ratification of the MAI until full public hearings are held across the country so that all Canadians can have an opportunity to express their opinions.
I notice that the signatures include representatives of the Peterborough Diocese, Development and Peace, the King/Rubidge Community Kitchen, the Peterborough Presbytery, the United Church of Canada, the Peterborough Coalition for Social Justice, the Peterborough Ten Days for Global Justice and The Kiros Prayer Group in Peterborough.
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 38, 67 and 93. .[Text]
Gilles Bernier Progressive Conservative Tobique—Mactaquac, NB
With respect to the procurement of new maritime helicopters for the Department of National Defence, ( a ) how much will it cost to procure replacement helicopters for both the shipborne Sea King helicopters and the Labrador search and rescue helicopters; ( b ) what is the total cost of maintaining the Labrador and Sea king helicopters an extra six to ten years beyond the time they were to have been replaced under the EH-101 contract; ( c ) what was the total compensation paid to suppliers of the EH-101; and ( d ) what was the cost to the department of National Defence to operate the project management office for the procurement of the EH-101 helicopters?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
(a) The total project budget for the Canadian search and rescue helicopter, Labrador replacement, includes: a maximum of $593 million to E.H. Industries; plus approximately $200 million in government costs for project management, training, spare parts, integrated logistics support, and a small contingency allowance.
The estimated cost for the replacement of the Sea Kings will not be known until the government approves a Sea King replacement project. The final cost will be known when the government announces its decision.
(b) The annual steady state cost of supporting the Labradors is $36.4 M, current year 1997-98 dollars, and the cost of supporting the Sea Kings is $79.4 M, current year 1997-98 dollars. These costs include personnel, spares, modifications and engineering but not infrastructure costs such as base facilities and services. It should be noted that new helicopters will also have an annual steady state support cost. The delivery delay between the first delivery of a search and rescue SAR configured helicopter from the cancelled new shipborne aircraft new search and rescue helicopter project, and the first delivery of a helicopter from the current Canadian SAR helicopter project is approximately 12 months. The delay associated with the delivery of the new maritime helicopter is unknown since the project has not been approved.
(c) The total compensation paid to suppliers of the EH-101 is detailed in the Public Works and Government Services Canada and E.H. Industries Limited joint news released dated January 23, 1996 which follows.
(d) The cost to the Department of National Defence to operate the project management office during the implementation phase for the procurement of the EH-101 helicopters was $15.5M in 1993-94 dollars.
NEWS RELEASE
Public Works and Government Services Canada and E.H. Industries Ltd.
For immediate release
Date: January 23, 1996.
Settlement reached with E.H. Industries for EH-101 helicopter program.
Ottawa—The Government of Canada and E.H. Industries Ltd., a company jointly, owned by Westland Helicopters Ltd. and Agusta Spa, have negotiated a settlement agreement for E.H. Industries' claim arising from the cancellation of the $5.8 billion EH-101 helicopter program.
The details of the agreement, reached in October 1995, were announced jointly today by the Honourable David Dingwall, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Enrico Striano, Managing Director, E.H. Industries Ltd.
“Negotiating this settlement has been a long process and I am pleased that the Crown and E.H. Industries have reached this mutually satisfactory agreement,” the Minister said. “It is fair to say that the Government of Canada has closed the books on the EH-101 helicopter program.”
The announcement of this agreement was delayed pending the conclusion of negotiations between E.H. Industries and its subcontractors.
Following a promise outlined in the Government's Red Book, the contract with E.H. Industries for the supply of helicopters, valued at $1.45 billion (1992 dollars) was terminated in November 1993.
The settlement agreement with E.H. Industries totals $157.8 million. This includes $136.6 million for the cost of work completed prior to termination and work in progress at the time of termination, and $21.2 million for termination costs.
The total termination costs include a $68 million settlement reached earlier with Loral, the project's other prime contractor and the $21.2 million settlement with E.H. Industries.
The Government allocated $250 million in 1994-95 Main Estimates for termination costs of which only $89.2 million has been required.
To ensure that the approach to settlement was undertaken in a fair and reasonable manner and to provide an independent and commercial perspective on various issues, the Crown enlisted the services of an independent consulting firm, Lindquist, Avey, Macdonald, Baskerville Inc.
Funding for this consulting contract was provided in the February 1995 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
Mr. Striano, expressing satisfaction with the final settlement stated, “Although we regret the loss of this contract, I am pleased we have been able to close the matter with the Crown to our mutual satisfaction and now look forward to future opportunities for our products in Canada.”
Information:
Franca Gatto Communications Public Works and Government Services Canada (819) 997-5421
Andy Moorhead Deputy Managing Director E.H. Industries 011 44 125 238 6404
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Date: January 23, 1996
Erratum:
The english version of the news release issued by PWGSC this morning concerning the settlement with E.H. Industries did not include a paragraph that was included in the French version.
“The total termination costs include a $68 million settlement reached earlier with Loral, the project's other prime contractor, and the $21.2 million settlement with E.H. Industries.”
The following information provides further clarification:
EH-101 total project costs
Work related on the project that included project definition, research and development and project implementation:
$154.6 million
Costs of work completed prior to termination and work in progress at the time of termination. These monies were paid out prior to termination of the contract in November 1993:
E.H. Idustries—$136.6 million Loral—$98.4 million
Cost of contract termination:
E.H. Industries—$21.2 million (announced today) Loral—$67.5 million (announced March 31, 1996)
Total—$478.3 million
PWGSC regrets the inconvenience and any confusion this may have caused. The English and French releases will be re-issued.
John Duncan Reform Vancouver Island North, BC
Since the 1985 Pacific salmon treaty was signed what have been the Canadian and American catches of salmon on the Taku and Stikine Rivers and specifically ( a ) the total catch by year; ( b ) the catch for each country by year; and ( c ) the catch by salmon species by year?
David Anderson LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Canadian and American catches of salmon on the Taku and the Stikine Rivers in individual units are outlined in the tables attached.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Qu'Appelle, SK
Can the Minister of Finance specify for each year starting in 1990: ( a ) how may requests for surplus refunds has the OSFI, Office of the Superintendant of Financial Institutions, received from sponsors of terminated workplace pension plans in the federal jurisdiction; ( b ) what was the total amount requested; ( c ) how many requests did the OSFI approve each year; and ( d ) how much money was involved?
Jim Peterson LiberalSecretary of State (International Financial Institutions)
According to the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, OSFI:
Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The questions as listed by the parliamentary secretary have been answered. Are the remaining questions allowed to stand?