House of Commons Hansard #3 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was children.
Interparliamentary Delegations
The Speaker
Pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the parliamentary delegation that visited the Russian Federation from May 16 to May 22 inclusive, 1999.
Derek Lee 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 14 petitions.
George Proud Liberal Hillsborough, PE
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the first report of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association which represented Canada at the spring session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly held in Warsaw, Poland, May 27-31, 1999.
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-2, an act respecting the election of members to the House of Commons, repealing other acts relating to elections and making consequential amendments to other acts.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to confirm to the House that it is my intention to propose, pursuant to Standing Order 73(1), that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs before it is read the second time.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Don Boudria Liberalfor the Minister of Justice
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-3, an act in respect of criminal justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other acts.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-201, an act to amend the Competition Act (protection of those who purchase products from vertically integrated suppliers who compete with them at retail).
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure, along with my colleagues, to reintroduce the bill formerly known as Bill C-235, an act to amend the Competition Act to provide protection for individuals who purchase products from vertically integrated suppliers who compete with them at retail.
Contrary to the belief of some, I would like to reiterate that rumours of the bill's death have been greatly exaggerated by the industry committee and others.
The bill, along with the amendments to be put forward by my colleague, the hon. member for Cambridge, seeks to accomplish just one thing: to prohibit vertically integrated suppliers from charging their wholesale customers more for a product than what they or their affiliates are charging for the same product at the retail level.
In terms of unjustifiable and high sustained prices, the bill tries to prevent market domination in the grocery and gas industries as well as others.
I look forward to the continuing debate on this renewed bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Competition ActRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Is the hon. member suggesting the bill was in the same form as in the previous Parliament?
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, the bill itself is a votable bill under the procedures that have been changed as a result of last year. The bill is in virtually the same form. It is in the same form as it was in the previous Parliament.
Competition ActRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The Chair is satisfied that the bill is in the same form as Bill C-235 was at the time of the prorogation of the first session of the 36th Parliament.
Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the bill is deemed read the second time, referred to a committee, considered in committee, and reported with amendments.
(Bill deemed read the second time, referred to a committee, reported with amendments)
Dan McTeague Liberal Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-202, an act to amend the Criminal Code (flight).
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to reintroduce the bill. I am sorry about monopolizing the time in the context of my former bill C-235. I thank the House leader for the Reform Party.
The bill was presented in the last session. It deals with a specific provision in the Criminal Code dealing with those who evade police in pursuit. The bill provides severe penalties for anyone using a motor vehicle to escape from the police and in the process kills, injures or maims another person.
Over the summer Canadians once again saw the tragic outcome caused by those who use motor vehicles to evade the police. In Toronto another family no longer has a loved one. In Sudbury another police officer was added to the list of those killed in the line of duty.
The bill has the support of the Minister of Justice, the Government of Ontario and the Canadian Police Association. I am confident that given its previous reception by the justice committee the bill will also obtain the support of the House in the very near future.
The bill is in the same form as the previous bill in the last parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Criminal CodeRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The Chair is satisfied that the bill is in the same form as Bill C-440 was at the time of prorogation of the 1st session of the 36th parliament.
Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1) the bill is deemed read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-203, an act to amend the Auditor General Act (Poverty Commissioner).
Mr. Speaker, in the absence of tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the federal government's anti-poverty programs and policies, I move that there be created a position of poverty commissioner, whose mandate would be to analyse the causes and effects of poverty in Canada, to evaluate the effectiveness of measures taken by the federal government to reduce or eliminate poverty, and to advise the federal government on measures that it could take to reduce or eliminate poverty.
The bill is the same in form as Bill C-490, which I introduced in the House of Commons during the preceding session.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Auditor General ActRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The Chair is of the opinion that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-490 was when the first session of the 36th Parliament was prorogued.
Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the order for second reading of this bill will be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence in the Order Paper.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-204, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (parental benefits).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce Bill C-449 which was first introduced into the House on October 27, 1998.
The 1996 national longitudinal survey on children and youth found that 25% of Canadian children enter adult life with significant emotional, behavioural, academic or social problems. Therefore investing in early childhood development, particularly in the first year, is an imperative not an option.
The bill responds in part to the need to provide more flexibility, options and choices to parents by amending the Employment Insurance Act to provide up to one full year of maternity and parental leave benefits under that act.
I am pleased to reintroduce the bill and I hope we will have the support of the entire House.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Michel Guimond Bloc Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-205, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (deduction of expenses incurred by a mechanic for tools required in employment).
Mr. Speaker, the aim of this bill is to allow persons employed as mechanics to deduct the cost of the tools required for their work which they provide, if it is a condition of their employment.
This bill is at the same stage and in the same form as was Bill C-502 at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 36th Parliament, and I am requesting that it be reinstated in the order of precedence.
I would remind hon. members that this bill was a votable item. I would remind the government House leader that, in the rather chaotic end of session last June 10, I had to cut 20 minutes off my speech. He had then given me his consent to have another 20 minutes to speak.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The chair is of the opinion that this bill is at the same stage as was Bill C-502 at the time the first session of the 36th Parliament was prorogued. Consequently, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the order for second reading of this bill will be placed at the bottom of the order of precedence in the Order Paper and it will be designated as a votable item.
John Bryden Liberal Wentworth—Burlington, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-206, an act to amend the Access to Information Act and to make amendments to other acts.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is in the same form as it was before prorogation. What it does is substantially reforms the Access to Information Act.
Although it is only at first reading, I draw the attention of members to the fact that it is in the same form because I believe it is one of the first bills to obtain more than 100 seconders under the changes to the standing orders.
I have 112 seconders to this bill, mainly from the Liberals, the Reform and the Bloc Quebecois.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Maurice Vellacott Reform Wanuskewin, SK
, seconded by the hon. member for Huron—Bruce, moved for leave to introduce Bill C-207, an act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercion in medical procedures that offend a person's religion or belief that human life is inviolable.
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce the former Bill C-461, an act to amend the Criminal Code to prohibit coercion in medical procedures that offend a person's religion or belief that human life is inviolable. The seconder for the bill is the hon. member for Huron—Bruce.
The purpose of the bill is to ensure that health providers working in medical facilities of various kinds will never be forced to participate against their wills in procedures such as abortions or acts of euthanasia. The bill itself does not ban abortion or euthanasia, but it makes it illegal to force another person to participate in an abortion procedure or an act of euthanasia.
Incredibly there are medical personnel in Canada who have been fired because the law is not explicit enough in spelling out their conscience rights. The bill will make those rights explicit.
This bill is in the identical wording as before prorogation and received some 100 signatures and significant support from all parties. It is a labour issue and it is also a conscience rights issue.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, an act to to amend the Crown Liability and Proceedings Act.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce this bill.
Its purpose is to ensure that a person serving time in prison will not be able to sue the federal government or its employees under any federal legislation in respect of a claim arising while the person is under sentence.
If enacted, the bill would put an end to the practice of prisoners engaging in frivolous lawsuits against the federal government and their abuse of the legal system.
I urge all members in the House to give serious consideration to the bill.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Art Hanger Reform Calgary Northeast, AB
moved for leave to introduce Bill 209, an act to amend the Criminal Code (prohibited sexual acts).
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to reintroduce my private member's bill. This bill seeks to raise the legal age of sexual consent from age 14 to age 16. It would thus make it a criminal offence for an adult to engage in sex with children under the age of 16.
The bill was first introduced in 1996 and reintroduced in 1997. However, the growing concern over child pornography and child prostitution in the country makes it even more urgent for the enactment of this legislation to protect the young and vulnerable in our society from predators among us.
For the sake of our children I appeal to members of the House to give serious consideration to the bill and lend their support accordingly.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-210, an act to amend the Bank of Canada Act (withdrawal of the thousand dollar note).
Mr. Speaker, on the day following the victory of the Bloc Quebecois hockey team against the Parliament Hill media people's team, I am very pleased to introduce a bill that seeks to have the $1,000 note withdrawn. This bill is supported by police forces in Canada.
Withdrawing the $1,000 note will allow us to lead a more effective fight against money launderers, something most Quebecers and Canadians support.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Paul Crête Bloc Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-211, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (travel expenses for a motor vehicle used by a forestry worker).
Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce this bill for the first time. This legislation seeks to amend the Income Tax Act to allow a reasonable tax deduction for forestry workers who work far from their place of residence, so that the Income Tax Act is an incentive to work and not the reverse.
This bill is in response to a request made by several forestry workers in my riding and in my region. These people deserve to be encouraged. When a person agrees to travel 300, 400, 500 or 600 kilometres to make a living, it is normal that the government should grant a corresponding deduction.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Monique Guay Bloc Laurentides, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-212, an act to amend the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and the Public Service Staff Relations Act (prohibited provision in a collective agreement).
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill that will prohibit the application of orphan clauses in the collective agreements mentioned in the following three statutes: the Canada Labour Code, the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act, and the Public Service Staff Relations Act.
The bill's purpose is to prohibit clauses in collective agreements that discriminate against new arrivals in the labour market and to ensure that these workers enjoy the same pay and benefits as previously hired workers.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Antoine Dubé Bloc Lévis, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-213, an act to promote shipbuilding, 1999.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce a bill to promote shipbuilding in Canada.
Basically, it consists of three measures: a loan guarantee program specific to shipbuilding; a leasing write-off provision; a shipbuilding tax credit similar to the one that already exists in Quebec. These three measures were proposed two years ago by the Canadian shipbuilders' association and had the support of the interunion coalition of 4,000 shipbuilding workers in Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Daniel Turp Bloc Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-214, an act to provide for the participation of the House of Commons when treaties are concluded.
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of introducing this act, which is aimed at involving the House of Commons in the negotiation and consultation relating to treaties. Its ultimate aim is to democratize the process whereby Canada concludes such treaties.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)