Debates of Nov. 24th, 1999

Privilege

[Randy White, Reform, Langley—Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, many times during question period ministers seriously misrepresent the positions of parties in the House, not just the Reform Party but other parties, in their responses. I think you will find today that what the Minister of Justice said concerning pedophilia was directed at the Reform Party. It was intended to be negative in connotation. It was intended to embarrass nationally the party that has fought time and time and time again against such things as sexual exploitation, pedophilia and so on.

I want to get the transcript from today's question period. I want to table it in the House and if, Mr. Speaker, you find that is so, I want a national public apology from a person who has acted totally irresponsibly in the House.

[The Speaker]

If there was something that was said in the House of Commons which is in Hansard , we will have a look at it. It is at that time that we will bring up whether there is a question of privilege or a point of order.

From what I have heard here today, we have had strong debate on both sides. However, if the hon. member has a point to bring up at another time when we have the information in front of us, I will be happy to hear him. For the time being, I prefer to let this point sit exactly where it is until we get some kind of written evidence in front of us.

Does the hon. member have another point of order?

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I ask for the Speaker's guidance.

When the position of a party is misrepresented in the House to the point where any honest evaluation of the situation is that the misrepresentation amounts to a lie—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[Chuck Strahl, Reform, Fraser Valley, BC]

I am just talking in theory. If we ask that something be done because of that, what we are left with—and this is the dilemma—is that to allege that someone has lied is a contempt of the House, but to actually lie is not. Look at the dilemma it puts us in. When we say “But that is a lie”, you, Mr. Speaker, say that is unparliamentary. Yet, the lie occurred over there.

[The Speaker]

When it comes to debate, on one side or the other, we are going to have various sides put out. This is a matter of debate. I am not here, surely, to judge on the quality of a question or an answer or a debate.

[An hon. member]

Mr. Speaker, I have a point of order.

[The Speaker]

I do not expect to be interrupted. Please give me a chance to explain.

I think what we have is a matter of debate. Words were said. I would like to hear or read what the words are before I go any further with this matter.

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I sat and listened very carefully to the back and forth which took place during question period. I heard the Minister of Justice point across the way at members of the Reform Party and say “This is the party that supports pedophilia in this country”. That is what I heard. That is on the record. I would suggest that those words are not a matter of debate. That is slander and liable. If those words were repeated outside—

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. member has made an allegation that another member has said “This is the party of pedophilia”. Is that correct?

I have just received the transcript.

We will wait for the official transcript of these words, but I want to deal with another matter.

The member for Skeena alleges that the minister said “this party”, referring to the Reform Party, is the “party of pedophilia”. Those are the words he said I believe. The minister—

[Mike Scott, Reform, Skeena, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I believe the words I reported back to the Chair were that the minister looked at the Reform Party, pointed her finger and said “This is the party that supports pedophilia in this country”.

[The Speaker]

We could deal with this when we get the blues, but the minister is here in the House. If the minister said these words, then I would ask her to withdraw those words if she said them. She is here now.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me clarify this to the best of my ability. In fact, quite truthfully what I meant to say—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I address the minister. Were these words used?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Edmonton West, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know because during the heat of debate, I cannot say. I look forward to seeing the blues. However, let me say that that which I intended to say—

[An hon. member]

What did you say?

[The Speaker]

Order, please. We are going to wait for the blues. We will wait for the blues and I will get the official transcript and see what was there. We will return to this if it is necessary.

Committees Of The House

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to table in print and in Braille in both official languages the government's response to the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities entitled “Reflecting Interdependence: Disability, Parliament, Government and the Community”.

1998-99 Annual Report On Official Languages

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the annual report on official languages for 1998-99.

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 No. 36(8) I have the honour to table in both official languages the government's responses to three petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Nipigon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour pursuant to Standing Order 34 to present in both official languages the report of the Canada-United States Interparliamentary Group at its fall conference held in Washington on September 12 and 14.

Mr. Speaker, I know you would like me to carry on, but I will just table the report as it is.

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 10th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the associate membership of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with disabilities.

If the House gives its consent, I move:

That the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. member have permission to put the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.