Debates of Oct. 19th, 1999

Nisga'A Nation

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, today I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the Nisga'a final agreement and the Nisga'a nation taxation agreement.

Ways And Means

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to table a notice of a ways and means motion to implement certain provisions of the Nisga'a final agreement and the Nisga'a nation taxation agreement, and I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of this motion.

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 response to seven petitions.

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the second report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership and the associate membership of committees of the House. If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the second report later this day.

Criminal Code

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-245, an act to amend the Criminal Code (mandatory counselling for certain assaults).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce what was in the last session Bill C-418, an act to amend the Criminal Code to require mandatory counselling as a condition of probation for those convicted of the crime of domestic violence.

The cycle of violence in our society can only be dealt with if there is intervention. This bill calls for Canadians to step forward, say no to domestic violence and require mandatory counselling for those convicted of criminal assault.

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

Public Safety Officers Compensation Act

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-246, an act respecting the provision of compensation to public safety officers who lost their lives while on duty.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to reintroduce what was in the last session Bill C-246.

Police officers and firefighters risk their lives on a daily basis to protect all Canadians. When one of them loses their life we all mourn that loss. This bill would seek to create a charitable foundation to receive gifts and bequests for the benefit of families of police officers, firefighters and other public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty. I hope to earn all hon. members' support for this bill.

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

Criminal Code

[Albina Guarnieri, Liberal, Mississauga East, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-247, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (cumulative sentences).

Mr. Speaker, this bill is in the same form as Bill C-251 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 36th Parliament.

This bill would end automatic volume discounts for Canada's multiple murderers and rapists. It seeks to give judges greater ability to achieve justice in the interest of all Canadians.

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

[The Deputy Speaker]

The Chair is of the opinion that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-251 was at the time of prorogation of the first session, 36th Parliament.

Therefore, pursuant to Standing Order 86(1), the bill is deemed to have been adopted at all stages and passed by the House.

(Bill deemed read the second time, considered in committee, reported, concurred in, read the third time and passed.)

Income Tax Act

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-248, an act to amend the Income Tax Act and the Canada Pension Plan (transfer of income to spouse).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to resubmit to the House what was in the first session Bill C-244, which seeks to amend the Income Tax Act to permit one spouse to split a portion of their income with a spouse who provides direct parental care in the family home.

The income split with the stay at home spouse or parent would entitle them to qualify for RRSPs and would also make the spouse eligible for Canada pension plan benefits.

This is just one way in which we could give real recognition to parents who provide direct parental care to children, and I seek the support of all members.

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

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I was intending to introduce my private member's bill tomorrow, but it is on the order paper today. Therefore I would seek the unanimous consent of the House to introduce it today.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is there unanimous consent to permit the hon. member for Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys to proceed with the introduction of his bill today?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Canada Water Export Prohibition Act

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-249, an act to prohibit the export of water by interbasin transfers.

Mr. Speaker, this bill is very timely. There is a great interest in the country in terms of bulk water exports and the bill is very specific.

There are various requests on various order papers, in a sense, of firms wishing to divert rivers into other basins in order to export water to the United States and northern Mexico. This bill would prohibit such interbasin transfers of water for export purposes.

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

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I was notified that I would be up today to present two bills under Private Members' Business. I have them prepared and ready and I would seek consent to do that at this time.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The member for Wild Rose has four bills on notice on today's order paper, Nos. 22, 23, 24 and 25. It would assist the Chair to know which ones he would like to introduce today.

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the numbers mean, but I can describe the bills. One deals with release on bail and the other is in regard to special consideration for aboriginal offenders.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Perhaps we could proceed with other routine proceedings and the hon. member could clarify which two of the four he would like to introduce and we could come back to this a little later. Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Committees Of The House

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

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

(Motion agreed to)

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

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I would move:

That the associate membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be as follows: Mr. Adams, Mr. Bellehumeur, Mr. Blaikie, Mrs. Dockrill, Mr. Doyle, Miss Grey, Mr. Hill, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Laurin, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Nystrom, Mr. McCormick, Mr. Ménard, Ms. Tremblay, Mr. White.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. Parliamentary Secretary have unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

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

Mr. Speaker, in relation to one of our standing committees I think you would find consent for me to move the following motion:

That, notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 106(1) the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans be permitted to meet for the purposes of electing a chair on Wednesday, October 20, 1999.