House of Commons Hansard #7 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was information.
Jim Jones Progressive Conservative Markham, ON
Mr. Speaker, in Air Canada's press release, Air Canada says that it can only go ahead with its proposed airline merger if the Government of Canada has determined that it will abandon its dual airline policy.
My question is for the Minister of Transport. Does the Government of Canada have a dual airline policy?
David Collenette LiberalMinister of Transport
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member knows that we are going through the very difficult process of assessing the needs of the airline industry. We have put in motion a process that has brought forward private sector solutions. Those solutions or a solution coming from the shareholders will be submitted to government to apply the public interest test against those principles. I invite the hon. member to come on Tuesday when I speak to the committee so that we can discuss this matter more fully.
Steve Mahoney Liberal Mississauga West, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Secretary of State for Children and Youth. As chair of the Prime Minister's task force on youth entrepreneurship I had the opportunity to travel across the country to speak with young Canadians on business opportunities and employment opportunities.
Could the minister tell us what the business and employment prospects are for Canada's youth?
Ethel Blondin-Andrew LiberalSecretary of State (Children and Youth)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his work on this issue.
The employment prospects for Canada's youth look very good. In 1998 we had the highest record increase for youth employment with 2.1 million working. In 1999 it increased again by 173,000 young people with new jobs. Since 1997, 14,000, 74,000 and 171,000 have been employed.
Over 85% of Youth Service Canada and 88% of youth entrepreneurship participants are either employed, self-employed or have returned to school six to twelve months after completing their projects. That is positive.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Prime Minister of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would also like to draw attention to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency François Huwart, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade of the French Republic.
Bill Blaikie NDP Winnipeg—Transcona, MB
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. During question period the member for Dartmouth raised a question in respect of her concerns about policy with regard to the disabled.
After referring to her disappointment that a certain committee was not set up to deal exclusively with the disabled, she then went on to ask a question of the government, presumably of the minister in charge of the disabled, as to how the minister would look after the concerns of the disabled in the absence of the committee she thought should be struck.
The government House leader then rose and contended that the question was out of order. There are two things here. The government House leader should not have been rising in the first place because the question was not about committee business.
However he contended, while he was on his feet, that it would have been out of order for the member to have asked the question, which is the question she did not ask. He maintained that it would have been out of order had she asked about the restructuring of committees. I contend—
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. There are two points here. First, when a question is asked it is not asked of a minister but is asked of the government. Therefore anyone on the government side who wants to answer the question may do so.
Second, I know that all hon. members will realize that it is sometimes my prerogative to say what is in order and what is out of order. When the House leader says it is out of order, he is out of order. When the complainant says it is out of order, he is out of order. I am in order and we are going to get on with the business of the House.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario
Liberal
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government response to 10 petitions.
Joe Comuzzi Liberal Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present the 40th annual report of a meeting of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group which took place in Quebec City from May 20 to 24.
I would just like to explain some of the topics at this very important function. It was a success, not only because of the venue of Quebec City but also because it drew the largest contingent available from our colleagues in the United States. There were 27 congresspersons and senators there from the United States Congress. This is the largest group of United States legislators ever to attend a meeting outside their particular jurisdiction.
The important decisions that were reached, as I have reported several times in the past and which are very important to members of the House, were regarding the implementation of section 110 of the United States immigration and naturalization act. We all know the harm that could come if that was implemented by our colleagues in the United States.
I am pleased to report—
Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
I know the hon. member is getting to the punch line but he is not going to give us the whole report, I hope. I know the member will finish up right now.
Joe Comuzzi Liberal Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON
With those words of support, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to submit the report in both official languages.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, since Canada does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, I seek unanimous consent of the House to table a report on behalf of the Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
The House has heard the suggestion of the hon. member. Is it agreed?
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, on August 1 to 7, a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians visited Taiwan to meet with Taiwanese President Lee Teng-Hui, as well as to visit with officials of the government and business executives doing business in Taiwan.
The Canada-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group has circulated this report to all members for their comments and input. We are very pleased to comment in our report on the status of Taiwanese relations with mainland China, on Canada-Taiwan relations and on matters of economic and cultural exchange.
Sheila Copps LiberalMinister of Canadian Heritage
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-8, an act respecting marine conservation areas.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Marine Conservation Areas ActRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
The Chair is satisfied that this bill is in the same form as Bill C-48 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 36th Parliament.
Consequently, pursuant to order adopted Thursday, October 14, 1999, the bill is deemed to have been read the second time, referred to a committee, considered in that committee and reported (with amendment).
(Bill deemed read the second time, considered in committee and reported (with amendment))
National Agriculture Industry Relief Co-Ordination ActRoutine Proceedings
Progressive Conservative
Rick Borotsik Progressive Conservative Brandon—Souris, MB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-252, an act to establish a national committee to develop policies and procedures to ensure co-ordination in the delivery of programs by governments in the case of agricultural losses or disasters created by weather, pests, shortages of goods or services or market conditions, and the co-ordination of the delivery of information, assistance, relief and compensation, and to study the compliance of such programs with World Trade Organization requirements.
Mr. Speaker, you have very briefly identified the subject matter of the bill. We have some difficulties in the safety net programs that have been developed by government thus far.
This piece of legislation would legislate a committee made up of all the stakeholder. The provinces and the federal government would then be able to come to the House to table those reports and propose legislation that would deal with natural disasters in agriculture, as well as other extraordinary circumstances, particularly like we are suffering today in agriculture.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Jack Ramsay Reform Crowfoot, AB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-253, an act to to amend the Young Offenders Act to transfer older offenders who commit violent offences to adult court, to limit the application of alternative measures, to allow for certain young offenders to be designated as dangerous offenders, to establish public safety as a dominant consideration in the application of the law respecting young offenders, to remove privacy provisions and to make certain other amendments.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of rising today to reintroduce my private member's bill amending the Young Offenders Act. I drafted and presented the bill during the last parliament, many months before the justice minister introduced a youth justice act.
My private member's bill resulted from the testimony and written submissions given to the justice committee from key stakeholders in the field of youth justice who persuasively argued for substantive and meaningful changes to the Young Offenders Act. Numerous witnesses made it very apparent to the justice standing committee during its 1996-97 cross-country hearings that they wanted meaningful legislation in which the protection of society was a priority.
My bill makes the protection of society the first and guiding principle of the criminal law as it pertains to youth. I sincerely hope that my bill is drawn and makes it to the floor of the House during this sitting of parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-254, an act to amend the Criminal Code (using or operating a stolen motor vehicle in the commission of an offence.
Mr. Speaker, the bill is on the suggestion of the Canadian Police Commission that is asking for assistance in dealing with those convicts who steal a car and use the vehicle in the commission of a crime.
It is asking that this be given special consideration which would involve consecutive sentencing for that crime. Consecutive sentencing is a very unusual word to the Liberal government, but I am sure it will understand the meaning of this document.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-255, an act to amend the Criminal Code (arrest without warrant).
Mr. Speaker, once again this bill is being introduced on the recommendation of the police commission and all police officers throughout the country. They are asking for the ability to arrest, without warrant and at the time of wrongdoing, any person who is visibly seen violating parole or probation. This bill would enable them to do that.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-256, an act to amend the Employment Insurance Act, 1999 (qualifying for benefits).
Mr. Speaker, this bill, which seeks to ease the qualifying rules, is part of a concerted action by the Bloc Quebecois.
It proposes, among other measures, to correct two inequities affecting newcomers on the labour market, young people and those who return to the labour market after two years absence, namely women who stay at home to raise their children. These people must work 910 hours, compared to other workers who must work between 420 and 700 hours, depending on the regional rate. This creates two categories of unemployed.
The bill also seeks to eliminate the two categories of unemployed created by the current legislation, namely those who worked 700 hours and those who worked less than 700 hours. It is impossible for those who have worked less than 700 hours to obtain parental leave or sick leave.
This bill is the same as Bill C-298, which I introduced in the House of Commons on December 8, 1997.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)