Debates of March 10th, 1999

Points Of Order

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Secretary of State (Multiculturalism)(Status of Women)]

Mr. Speaker, I quoted from several quotes by members of the party across the way, but not specifically at all the hon. member for Edmonton North.

[The Speaker]

I address myself to the member for Edmonton North. Is it the contention of the member for Edmonton North that she was directly quoted?

[Deborah Grey, Reform, Edmonton North, AB]

Mr. Speaker, that was my understanding, but whatever she is quoting as Reform policy is not true. I am wondering if she could table the document so we could look at it.

[The Speaker]

I address myself to the minister for the status of women. Did the hon. minister say that she was not directly quoting the member for Edmonton North?

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Out of my notes, Mr. Speaker, I made some quotations made by members of the party opposite. I do not recall making any direct one from the hon. member for Edmonton North.

[The Speaker]

It is a matter of interpretation of the facts and we will let that sit.

[Garry Breitkreuz, Reform, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I believe that probably she was quoting another member here, possibly me. I think I have the right to ask for that to be tabled.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. minister have an official document that she quoted from? Yes or no.

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the quotation is from my notes.

[The Speaker]

It is not a document and we are not entitled to look at notes. This point is settled.

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday members of the party opposite asked if I could table certain documents from which my notes had been taken. I would like to table those documents if I might.

[Nelson Riis, NDP, Kamloops, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in light of what has happened in the House of Commons over the last two days, I seek some clarification from the Speaker. Members allegedly quoted from their notes. During question period those quotes were attributed to members opposite. Are we saying that as long as we have something in a note form we can say anything we want about anybody in the House?

[The Speaker]

No, we are not saying that at all. What we are saying is that if there is an official document that a member is quoting from then we are entitled to see this document. We are saying that on a document if there were notes made we are not entitled to the notes made on the document. We are entitled to the document. That is the ruling I made.

Today I understand there is no document from the hon. minister. She says she just had some notes. I would presume that at that point—

[An hon. member]

She said she was quoting.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. Let me check over the blues as to exactly what was said during the question period and if it is necessary, I will come back to the House.

Ways And Means

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I wish to table a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act to implement measures that are consequential on changes to the Canada-U.S. Tax Convention, 1980, and to amend the Income Tax Conventions Interpretation Act, the Old Age Security Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and certain acts related to the Income Tax Act.

I am also tabling an explanatory form of notes. I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.

Government Response To Petitions

[Peter Adams, 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 two petitions.

Committees Of The House

[John Williams, Reform, St. Albert, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 22nd report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts regarding Chapter 14 of the September 1998 auditor general's report entitled “Indian and Northern Affairs Canada—Comprehensive Land Claims”.

I also have the honour to present the 23rd report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts regarding Chapter 20 of the December 1998 auditor general's report entitled “Preparedness for Year 2000: Government-Wide Mission-Critical Systems”.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests the government to table a comprehensive response to these reports.

Hazardous Products Act

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North Centre, MB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-482, an act to amend the Hazardous Products Act.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce this bill and to say a few words about the significance of it. I want to acknowledge the work of the member for Acadie—Bathurst who presented a motion on this subject to the House. I am pleased to be able to carry on his good work.

This bill amends the Hazardous Products Act. It is about safe toys for young children and ensuring that babies and toddlers are not exposed to phthalates. This is about safe products for all citizens and ensuring consumers are protected from equipment with dangerously high levels of cadmium and lead.

This bill is grounded in the precautionary principle of do no harm. It is about safety first. It is about acting now to warn Canadians of toxic contaminants in products we use every day. It is about putting the public interest first and safeguarding the health and well-being of all Canadians.

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

Blood Samples Act

[Keith Martin, Reform, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-483, an act to provide for the taking of samples of blood to detect the presence of certain viruses

Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from South Surrey—White Rock—Langley for seconding this humanitarian bill. Where persons engaging in emergency services such as police officers, firefighters and medical personnel come into contact with blood products in the actions of their duties, this bill would enable medical practitioners by order of the courts to take a blood sample from persons who are injured to test for the hepatitis B and C viruses and the human immunodeficiency virus because these are potentially lethal and infectious diseases. Those practitioners would inform the emergency personnel who were injured and who came into contact with these blood products of the test results.

This is a matter of fairness and is supported by emergency personnel across this country.

I would ask for unanimous consent that this bill be deemed adopted by the House.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Perhaps we will get the bill read the first time and then we will try the unanimous consent bit.

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

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the hon. member for Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion be adopted at all stages now?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Criminal Code

[Jim Pankiw, Reform, Saskatoon—Humboldt, SK]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-484, an act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentence for use of firearm in commission of offence).

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a bill that seeks to amend the Criminal Code. Rather than force law-abiding Canadians into registering their firearms, this bill gets tough on those in our society who use a gun in the commission of a crime.

The bill provides that an individual who uses a firearm while committing a crime will receive an additional 10 years. If the firearm is discharged during the criminal act the convicted individual will receive an additional 20 years. If someone is injured, the criminal will have 25 years added to their sentence.

I look forward to the support of members on both sides of the House.

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

CITIZEN