House of Commons Hansard #197 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was crime.
David Kilgour LiberalSecretary of State (Latin America and Africa)
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1) I wish to table the notice of ways and means motion to amend the Excise Tax Act, and I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary 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 12 petitions.
John Williams Reform St. Albert, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 24th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on chapter 27 of the December 1998 report by the Auditor General of Canada, on subsidies and contributions and certain programs of Industry Canada and the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee requests the government to table a comprehensive response to this report.
Andy Mitchell Liberalfor the Minister of Canadian Heritage
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-70, an act respecting national parks.
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table today on behalf of the Minister of Canadian Heritage a bill entitled an act respecting national parks. It will strengthen the protection of nationally significant heritage resources, facilitate the completion of the national parks system and control commercial development in park communities.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
David Kilgour Liberalfor the Minister of Finance
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-71, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in parliament on February 16, 1999.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
David Kilgour Liberalfor the Minister of Finance
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-72, an act 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.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from people in Peterborough who are concerned about the people of Iraq.
Whereas ongoing UN sanctions against Iraq regarded as the most stringent ever imposed by the United Nations have devastated the Iraq economy and resulted in the deaths of over one million civilians, many of them children, and whereas article 2 of the United Nations charter states that “all member states shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace, security, and justice, are not endangered”, the petitioners call upon the Parliament of Canada to strongly appeal to the United Nations, to the United States and to Britain for a rejection of any further military action against Iraq.
They call for a serious attempt at peace negotiation with Iraq and its neighbours. Further, in order to build a stable and sustainable society in Iraq, excluding an embargo on military materials, they request that all other sanctions be lifted.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present under Standing Order 36 a petition signed by a number of Canadians including some from my own riding of Mississauga South on the subject of human rights. The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that human rights abuses continue around the world in countries such as Indonesia.
The petitioners also point out that Canada continues to enjoy the recognition internationally as being the champion of internationally recognized human rights. They therefore call upon parliament and indeed the Government of Canada to continue to condemn those who perpetrate human rights abuses and to seek to bring to justice those responsible for such abuses.
Nelson Riis NDP Kamloops, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition pursuant to Standing Order 36 on behalf of a number of constituents from the great city of Kamloops.
They point out a number of concerns they have with the fact that the Government of Canada signs international trade agreements which lock the hands of future governments in terms of making decisions on behalf of a variety of issues.
I will not elaborate but the petition goes on at some length in terms of what these concerns are. Essentially they are asking parliament to look into the matter.
Peter Adams LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, we will respond today to Questions Nos. 170 and 172. .[Text]
Question No. 170—
Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi, QC
Concerning children who have contracted the hepatitis C virus from blood transfusions at birth, what provisions does the federal government intend to make in order to: ( a ) ensure a decent future for these children; ( b ) ensure that required medical services can be obtained in a province other than the child's province of residence; and ( c ) reimburse travel expenditures incurred to obtain these medical services since the blood transfusion?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Canada's health system provides high quality health care services in every jurisdiction to adults and children alike. Children who were infected with hepatitis C through the blood system will continue to have access to these services no matter where they live in Canada.
On September 18, 1998, the federal Minister of Health proposed to provinces and territories, a comprehensive set of hepatitis C initiatives. Recognizing that the provision of health care, including travel arrangements, falls within the jusrisdiction of provinces and territories, this proposal included an offer of up to $300 million in transfers over 20 years to help provinces and territories pay for needed medical care so that people who were infected with hepatitis C through the blood system are ensured access to the treatments they need.
Question No. 172—
Howard Hilstrom Reform Selkirk—Interlake, MB
With respect to the Canadian Lama and Alpaca Association, which has been incorporated under the Animal Pedigree Act in respect of a distinct breed, entitling it to issue certificates of registration: what actions, if any, has the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food taken to ensure that the association is not issuing, and has not issued, certificates of identification, which can only be issued by an association incorporated in respect of an evolving breed?
Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
The Canadian Lama and Alpaca Association, CLAA, was incorporated in 1989 under the Animal Pedigree Act in respect of lama and alpaca as distinct breeds. The act establishes that a certificate of registration is the correct document to be issued for distinct breeds.
As a result of questions raised by a member of the CLAA, the animal registration officer looked into which types of certificates were being issued. The association was notified in writing on December 17, 1997 that they should be issuing certificates of registration on all future animals registered with the association.
The department was informed in a letter dated April 6, 1998 that the CLAA board of directors had agreed to change the certificates and was proceeding with redesigning them.
The animal registration officer met with the CLAA president and general manager in Calgary on June 30, 1998 to discuss this and related matters.
The animal registration officer obtained a draft version of the new certificate on December 9, 1998. The registration officer has noted that changes to the draft are required and is following up the association.
Request For Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The Chair has an application for an emergency debate from the hon. member for Selkirk—Interlake.
Howard Hilstrom Reform Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is the responsibility and the duty of all elected MPs in this great country of Canada to debate and discuss issues of national importance.
It is particularly important that we debate and discuss issues where serious financial harm is happening and where that financial harm leads to dysfunctional families, to harm to children going to school, and these sorts of things.
The emergency debate I am asking for today involves the stoppage of the grain movements out of the port of Vancouver due to strike action and the unwillingness of other employees on the docks to cross those picket lines.
The seriousness of the situation is compounded due to the serious financial situation that many farmers find themselves in due to no fault of their own. I speak here of foreign subsidies that drive commodity prices down.
As a result, it is of paramount importance that members of the House express what is happening in their ridings and give the government an opportunity to speak to the situation and reassure Canadians and farmers that in fact we in this elected House are doing our job and taking care of their well-being.
I would ask under Standing Order 52 that I be granted permission to have this emergency debate tonight immediately following the normal business of the House.
Garry Breitkreuz Reform Yorkton—Melville, SK
Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak to the application for an emergency debate.
Request For Emergency DebateRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
No. I am afraid that the rules provide that the member who has asked for the emergency debate is entitled to say a few words and that is it. The Chair then is expected to rule on whether or not there will be an emergency debate.
In the circumstances the Chair has considered the hon. member's request. While the hon. member raises certain points that are valid, in the Chair's opinion the request does not meet the exigencies of the standing order at this time and accordingly the request is denied.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
moved:
That, in the opinion of this House, the government has failed to deliver criminal justice programs and laws that reflect the will and concerns of the majority of Canadians, including issues like child pornography, young offenders, impaired driving, conditional sentencing, drug trafficking, home invasions, police funding, consecutive sentencing, corrections facilities and illegal immigration, and as a consequence, have put individual safety, and in some cases national security, in jeopardy.
SupplyGovernment Orders
The Deputy Speaker
Since today is the final allotted day for the supply period ending March 26, 1999, the House will go through the usual procedures to consider and dispose of the supply bills later this day. In view of recent practices, do hon. members agree that the bills be distributed now?
Chuck Strahl Reform Fraser Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. With the exception of the mover of the motion, the member for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, all other members of the Reform Party will be dividing their time during today's debate.