Debates of Oct. 15th, 1999

Intergovernmental Affairs

[André Bachand, Progressive Conservative, Richmond—Arthabaska, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs did not really answer my question.

What we want to know is how open the government would be to any change that might come from the regions or provinces, specifically from Quebec.

What plan A or plan B would it introduce if a region, or a province or provinces, held a referendum on major changes within the federation?

[Stéphane Dion, Liberal, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, the question is too hypothetical to answer.

All that can be said is that, with respect to the present Government of Quebec, Premier Bouchard said during the last election campaign that he was not in the business of renewing federalism. This statement was repeated yesterday by Quebec's Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

The Government of Quebec therefore has no credibility on this score. In any event, Quebecers, like all Canadians, do not want a referendum. I therefore expect governments to listen to Quebecers as they would listen to all Canadians.

Justice

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, a recent survey of 450 Canadian judges found that 80% of them are so skeptical about the way conditional sentences are handled that they are leery of handing them out. Many cited inadequate supervision for the offenders as their main concern. If criminals cannot be supervised, public safety cannot be assured.

When will the justice minister change the sentencing laws to ensure that violent criminals are ineligible for conditional sentences?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said on a number of occasions in this House, five cases were heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on this very issue some months ago. We are now awaiting the decision of the supreme court. I have made it plain that after the decision of the supreme court is rendered, if changes are required to the conditional sentencing laws in this country, they will be made.

I am also awaiting the report of the justice committee in relation to conditional sentencing.

Committees Of The House

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to a commitment I made to the House some time ago and pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am pleased to table, in both official languages, guidelines for preparing government responses to the House of Commons committee reports.

National Defence

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 1998-1999 report of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman.

Public Service Of Canada

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a copy of the employment statistics for the federal public service for the period April 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999.

Committees Of The House

[John Cannis, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government response to the 18th report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Industry, entitled “The Year 2000 Problem: Will Canada Be Ready?”

Order In Council Appointments

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments recently made by the government.

Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of which is attached.

Government Response To Petitions

[Derek Lee, 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 responses to 12 petitions.

Civil International Space Station Agreement Implementation Act

[Don Boudria, Liberal, for the Minister of Industry]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-4, an act to implement the Agreement among the Government of Canada, Governments of Member States of the European Space Agency, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the United States of America concerning Co-operation on the Civil International Space Station and to make related amendments to other acts.

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

Canadian Tourism Commission Act

[Don Boudria, Liberal, for the Minister of Industry]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-5, an act to establish the Canadian Tourism Commission.

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

Personal Information Protection And Electronic Documents Act

[Don Boudria, Liberal, for the Minister of Industry]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-6, an act to support and promote electronic commerce by protecting personal information that is collected, used or disclosed in certain circumstances, by providing for the use of electronic means to communicate or record information or transactions and by amending the Canada Evidence Act, the Statutory Instruments Act and the Statute Revision Act.

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

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this bill is in the same form as Bill C-54 from the first session of this parliament and in accordance with the special order of the House of October 14, 1999 I request that it be reinstated at the same stage that it had reached at the time of prorogation.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The Chair is satisfied that the bill is in the same state as the previous bill, as indicated by the government House leader and, accordingly, the bill stands in the same position it would have been at the time of prorogation of the last session.

(Bill deemed read the second time, referred to a committee, reported with amendments)

Criminal Code

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-219, an act to amend the Criminal Code (breaking and entering).

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise on behalf of the constituents of Calgary East to introduce my private member's bill in the House today.

The bill would establish a minimum two year sentence for second or subsequent convictions for the break and enter of dwelling houses. Canadians view the crime of break and enter as more than just a property crime. They view it as a crime against the person.

It is my hope that this private member's bill will receive support from my colleagues so we can effectively address this national problem.

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

Cultural Grants Acknowledgement Act

[Deepak Obhrai, Reform, Calgary East, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-220, an act to require that in the advertising and at the opening of a cultural project supported by public money a public acknowledgement be made of the grant and the percentage of the total cost that the grant represents.

Mr. Speaker, again it is my pleasure to rise on behalf of the constituents of Calgary East to introduce my private member's bill in the House today.

This bill calls for more accountability and transparency in how government spends taxpayer money. This bill will require the recipients of the grants of public funds for cultural projects to acknowledge that a grant has been made. It would also require recipients to specify the percentage of the total cost that the grant represents at the time the program is announced or advertised and opened to the public.

I believe it is only fair that Canadians be informed of their investments in these projects.

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

Prairie Grain Elevators Act

[Lee Morrison, Reform, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-221, an act respecting the transfer of grain elevators located in a prairie province and the discontinuance of their operation.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to require persons who operate grain elevators located in a prairie province and who plan to discontinue operating any of these elevators to provide potential buyers with an opportunity to purchase them. This would place the grain companies on an equal footing with railway companies and make them jump through the same hoops that railway companies must jump through when they abandon a rail line.

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

First Nations Ombudsman Act

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-222, an act to establish the office of first nations ombudsman to investigate complaints relating to administrative and communication problems between members of first nations communities and their first nation and between first nations, allegations of improper financial administration and allegations of electoral irregularities.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the aboriginal grassroots people from across the country who have worked so hard over the last two years to try to bring accountability to their reserves, I am pleased to introduce this bill at their suggestion.

I am also pleased to hear that the new minister has supported the idea of accountability being very high on his priority list.

I am looking forward to strong support for this bill for the benefit of our grassroots natives who are suffering a great deal on our reserves.

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

Witness And Spousal Protection Program Act

[Jay Hill, Reform, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-223, an act to amend the Witness Protection Program Act and to make a related and consequential amendment to another act (protection of spouses whose life is in danger).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce my private member's bill that I call the new identities act.

Each year in Canada hundreds of women and children live in fear for their lives. Many women go into hiding, leaving behind their jobs, families and friends in order to cover their trail to hide from an abusive, violent spouse. Unfortunately, many are found and beaten, and some are even killed.

If passed, this bill will serve to formally protect those persons whose lives are in danger by bringing them into the witness protection system.

This summer I contacted over 500 shelters and organizations across Canada for their input on this bill. In return I received an incredible amount of support, constructive suggestions and, most importantly, the horrific stories that necessitate this bill.

We as parliamentarians must address the crisis of domestic violence and through the new identities program provide an escape for threatened individuals who have nowhere else to turn.

I hope that members on all sides of the House will give this bill the non-partisan support it deserves.

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

Questions On The Order Paper

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

The House resumed consideration of the motion for an address to Her Excellency the Governor General in reply to her speech at the opening of the session, of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Speech From The Throne

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Secretary of State (Rural Development)(Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario)]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to respond to the vision set out by the government in its Speech from the Throne. I particularly want to expand on what that vision means for rural and remote Canada.

This is a very exciting time in the history of our country. The Speech from the Throne is the last for this millennium and lays out the government's vision as we move into an exciting era of the 21st century. By investing our resources in focused ways, we intend to make sure that we have an infrastructure in place that will further the well-being of all Canadians. This includes not only the physical infrastructure so crucial to the renewal and development of rural communities, but also investments in children and youth, in innovation, in further tax relief and debt reduction, in health and in the environment.

Our agenda will create opportunity and prosperity for Canadians no matter where they live. One of every three Canadians lives outside a major centre, whether it is a small community near an urban centre or a more remote community, be it a farming town, a forestry or mining community, or one based on tourism or manufacturing. The government recognizes the special circumstances of rural Canadians and it specifically addressed rural Canada in its Speech from the Throne.

We know that rural Canadians have faced numerous challenges. Like all Canadians they have faced those challenges with ingenuity and an inspiring commitment to their families and their communities. Hailing as I do from a rural area of central and northern Ontario, I have seen firsthand the dynamism of our rural areas, our towns, our villages and the entrepreneurialism and energy of those who live there.

The Speech from the Throne has clearly laid out the direction in which the government intends to go in the coming months. This direction applies very much to rural Canada.

The government continues to believe that vibrant communities and a sustainable resource base are the foundations for a strong rural Canada. It is a rural Canada where residents have access to the tools, information and skills they need to make informed decisions and to take full advantage of opportunities for personal and community development. It is a rural Canada where citizens have access to science and technology, infrastructure and services to be full partners in Canada's knowledge based economy and society.

As the throne speech said, we know that technology can open new doors to all Canadians, tearing down the old barriers of distance or access and allowing rural as well as urban communities to compete globally. We have made a commitment to encourage the development and adaptation of new technologies, recognizing that they hold the promise of greater economic stability for rural communities traditionally dominated by single industries like mining, fishing, forestry, or agriculture. In other words, investments in new technologies are a critical tool in the bid to strengthen rural communities and enable them to break out of the cyclical economies. We will make those investments.

The government has also committed to work with its partners in other levels of government, in the private sector, in the voluntary sector and with citizens in general to build a better quality of life for Canadians everywhere. As the Speech from the Throne indicated, this includes rural Canadians.

I would like to point out that my appointment as Secretary of State for Rural Development is in itself a strong signal of the importance the government attaches to rural Canada. The purpose of creating a separate additional Secretary of State for Rural Development is to bolster and reinforce the government's focus on rural Canada. I am deeply honoured to serve in that position.

In my new role I plan to lead the government's efforts in improving the quality of life for Canadians who live in rural and remote Canada. I intend to work with my colleagues on both sides of the House. Most important, I intend to work with individual Canadians to ensure that we take a co-ordinated approach to rural Canada and that we work together for common priorities which have been identified by rural Canadians themselves.

In the months ahead I will be concentrating on three particular areas.

First is the rural lens. This is essentially a way of making sure the potential impact on rural Canada is taken into consideration before federal policy decisions are made.

Second is to help Canadians who live outside our cities have better access to all the resources that are available to them. That means making sure they know what programs and services are out there, as well as making sure they are able to use them.

The third area I will be focusing on is the task of turning our strong commitments into specific tangible actions that truly help rural citizens.

As I have said, rural Canadians face many challenges, a number of them quite similar from community to community, for example, the challenges presented by distance from markets, low population density and the cyclical nature of resource based industries. Depending on where one lives in rural Canada, whether it is a remote Newfoundland outport, a small rural municipality in Saskatchewan, or a community in the far north, circumstances and cultures can also be quite different.

The Government of Canada is committed to reflecting those differences and those realities in our policy decisions. In adopting the principle of the rural lens, cabinet has made a commitment to ensure that the challenges and priorities of rural Canadians are understood and taken into account, both in current initiatives and in long term planning. As Secretary of State for Rural Development, I look forward to the opportunity to work with my cabinet colleagues in applying the rural lens.

This brings me back to my second priority which is to improve the communications and information flow between the government and rural citizens. As well as sharpening our focus on rural concerns within the government, it is also critically important that we do more to let rural Canadians know what assistance or programming is already available. We have made a good start. This year for example, our departments and agencies worked together to provide information on programs and services for rural Canadians in a booklet that went out to two and a half million households in rural and remote Canada.

We also need to inform rural Canadians about the progress being made toward meeting their priorities. One key way of doing this is by producing an annual report which measures our achievements in dealing with rural issues and challenges. Not only is the government committed to helping rural Canadians, it also expects to be held accountable for doing so. Early next year I will table this report in parliament, thereby providing an opportunity both for my colleagues in the House of Commons and for all Canadians to engage in a public discussion on how we chart the future of rural Canada.

Developing rural Canada and assisting rural Canadians will be a transparent process, one that is bottom up and not top down driven. That is why at the end of April I will host a national rural conference inviting individual rural Canadians from across Canada to come to Magog in the province of Quebec. The conference will promote and showcase rural Canada. More than that it will be an opportunity to discuss our successes, our challenges, our vision, and most important the specific actions we need to take to ensure the future of rural Canada.

The third area I want to talk about and the most important part of what I am charged to do relates to specific actions to be taken to bring about tangible developments and improvements for rural Canadians.

The direction set out in the Speech from the Throne will guide us as we work to deliver the results in rural Canada. Rural communities will be involved in drafting a five year plan for improving physical infrastructure. They will also be key partners in our efforts to make Canada a nation that is highly connected through the information highway so that rural citizens have ready access to the education, technology, skills and other tools that will allow them to share in the country's wealth and opportunities.

Our focus must now shift from process to results to take the steps necessary to develop action items into specific deliverables in rural Canada and make concrete progress on the priorities of rural Canadians.

In some cases this may simply mean bringing together different departments that do similar programs to focus resources in one area. In other cases we may need something new in addition to what is already being undertaken. For example, Health Canada through the office of rural health is taking the lead on the development of a rural health strategy to ensure that Canadians in rural and remote areas have access to quality health care. In another initiative a number of service Canada projects are being tried out in rural areas as a possible way to improve access to government programs and services.

Before closing I would like to mention that I wear another hat, that of Secretary of State for Federal Economic Development Initiative in Northern Ontario, more commonly known as the FedNor program. That brings with it a responsibility for community futures which plays a role in providing access to capital and facilitating business development for rural Canadians.

The community futures development corporations are administered by four different entities within the federal government: three regional development agencies, plus Industry Canada. The program works very well. It is an excellent example of one community level program which works across several different agencies, yet is very rurally focused.

Over the next few weeks I will be discussing with my ministerial colleagues other co-operative initiatives that involve their departments or agencies. Those initiatives will be directly targeted at the priorities set forward in the Speech from the Throne, and the federal framework for action in rural Canada which rural Canadians themselves helped to write and helped to develop.

The Speech from the Throne lays out a vision and opportunity for prosperity for Canadians. It is my personal commitment to ensure that rural Canadians are equal partners in that vision, that they have the technologies, the tools and the infrastructure to build a better quality of life for their chosen communities.

Rural Canada is the foundation on which a large part of our economic wealth is built. It is a place of great energy and great ingenuity. It is our past, it is our present and it is our future. It is a way of life, a way of unique traditions and a specific social structure. Most important, rural Canada is home. It is home to my family and other members' families. It is home to our friends, it is home to my constituents and it is home to nine million Canadians. It is a place with a great future. This government is working to make sure that that future for rural Canadians is as bright as possible.