Debates of March 3rd, 1999

Health

[Grant Hill, Reform, Macleod, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the health minister just made an announcement that he will allow the compassionate use of smoked marijuana for those who are ill.

Is this the first step in the Liberal government's decriminalizing marijuana for other purposes?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, what I said is I have asked officials to develop a plan that would include access to clinical trials so we can look at evidence. Surely the hon. member's mind is not so closed that he is not prepared to consider evidence from research into the question.

There are people who are dying. They want access to something they believe will help with their symptoms. We want to help. Clinical trials would allow us to get research to know more about how we can help.

Mr. Justice Robert Flahiff

[Michel Bellehumeur, Bloc, Berthier—Montcalm, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it will soon be two years since Mr. Justice Robert Flahiff was suspended with full salary of $178, 500, while defending himself against money laundering charges which have just culminated in a three year prison sentence.

Can the Minister of Justice tell us how this judge, who has just been given a prison sentence, can continue to draw a full salary and benefits, at the taxpayers' expense?

[Eleni Bakopanos, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as has been said in the House, the minister has put a complaint before the Canadian Judicial Council. The complaint is still before it. The case of the judge is in appeal.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Svend Robinson, NDP, Burnaby—Douglas, BC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday three members of the RCMP commercial crime squad in B.C. executed a search warrant on the home of the premier, accompanied to his door by two journalists from BCTV.

In view of the seriousness of this matter will the solicitor general fully review the circumstances that led to the presence of the media with the RCMP and will he clarify the policy of the RCMP with respect to this apparent collusion between the RCMP and the media?

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as my hon. colleague is well aware, the RCMP was acting under its provincial capacity which comes under the direction of the attorney general of British Columbia.

Taxation

[Jean Dubé, Progressive Conservative, Madawaska—Restigouche, NB]

Mr. Speaker, the way the Secretary of State for Financial Institutions insulted women who work in the home yesterday shows just how totally disconnected from the reality of Canadian families this government is.

His words are on record, we have heard them, and all Canadian families have heard them. His response ought to be simple.

Will the secretary of state offer his apologies to homemakers for his offensive remarks about them?

[Paul Martin, Liberal, Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is a bit late. First of all, the secretary of state has already responded to this question numerous times here in the House, and very well too. I myself have also responded.

I can say that I have known the secretary of state for a very long time and that he has always been very much aware of work in the home and outside the home. When he headed the Standing Committee on Finance, he fought very hard for the children of Canada.

Points Of Order

[Pierrette Venne, Bloc, Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert, QC]

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago, when Mr. Fraser was the Speaker of the House, he struck a committee which deliberated on matters of vocabulary, proper dress in the House and the importance of mutual respect among members. The committee no longer exists, but I have the strong impression that it should be re-established after what I heard today in the House.

I would mention that the member for Papineau—Saint-Denis, who, when I put a question shouted, or should I say, yelled, “That is dishonest”.

Mr. Speaker, I ask you to have the minister at least withdraw his words and I strongly suggest that the committee, which served a purpose at the time, be re-established.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The member has raised two points. I was not aware that there used to be a committee to review the language used by members of the House.

In my opinion, it is a very good idea, because it would be of help during Oral Question Period, and not just then. If hon. members wish such a committee, perhaps the best place to discuss it would be with the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

The hon. member also mentioned that another member had “yelled”, I think was her word. The hon. member is not here, at least I do not see him. We could ask the member if he used the word “dishonest”. I did not hear it myself.

[An hon. member]

He is here, Mr. Speaker.

[The Speaker]

He is here, I am sorry.

I did not hear the word “dishonest”. I do not know how he used it. However, before turning the floor over to the hon. minister, I merely wish to point out to members that I hear yelling from several of our members on both sides of the House from time to time, and that this is not acceptable in this place.

I agree with the hon. member that, when a question is asked, we should listen to it, and when an answer is given, we should listen to that too.

Now, If the hon. minister wishes to add something, he has the floor.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I should not have used the word “dishonest” in fact, but it is not as bad as “thief”, “liar” and whatnot that we constantly hear from the members opposite.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. May I say that the hon. minister withdraws the word?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Papineau—Saint-Denis, QC]

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the word dishonest.

[The Speaker]

Thank you. In my opinion that ends this point of order, but the hon. member's suggestion is a good one and I hope—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh.

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I do not often get an opportunity to speak, so members should listen to me a bit. If I wish to say something, I would ask members to listen to what I have to say.

If this committee were to be struck again, I would be very pleased.

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 five petitions.

First Nations Ombudsman Act

[Myron Thompson, Reform, Wild Rose, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-480, an act to establish the office of first nations Ombudsman to investigate complaints relating to administrative and communication problems between members of first nations communities and their first nation and between first nations, allegations of improper financial administration and allegations of electoral irregularities.

Mr. Speaker, indeed it gives me pleasure to table this private member's bill, an act to establish the office of First Nations Ombudsman to investigate complaints relating to administrative and communication problems between members of First Nations communities and their First Nation and between First Nations, allegations of improper financial administration and allegations of electoral irregularities.

Leona Freed and Rita Galloway were in town yesterday. They were talking to us about the problems they are facing on the reserves. They have asked for an ombudsman. This bill will do that. I have heard favourable comments from government members and the press that it might be a solution to deal with these problems. I am looking for support from all sides of the House to get this bill into action as quickly as we can.

I congratulate the people in the accountability coalition group for initiating this and I am honoured to present it on their behalf.

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

Petitions

[Roy H. Bailey, Reform, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition, mainly from people in the city of Estevan in my constituency, who are asking that the hours of entry at the port of No. 47 highway which is directly south of Estevan be extended. A number of Americans are coming north to shop in this progressive city. I am very proud to present this petition at this time.

[Roger Gallaway, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition duly certified which contains about 1,500 names of people from my riding and from the province of Quebec. It notes that the Senate of Canada costs taxpayers some $50 million a year, that it is redundant, that it undermines the role of MPs in the House of Commons, and that there is a need to modernize our parliamentary institutions. It calls upon parliament to undertake measures aimed at the abolition of the Senate.

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I too have a petition surprisingly signed by 104 people, I guess representing 104 senators. I notice they are from Hamilton, London, and Grimsby, Ontario; and Saskatoon, Regina, and Pilot Butte, Saskatchewan; and so on. These people are saying the Senate is undemocratic, unelected, unaccountable and costs the Canadian people some $50 million a year. They are saying it undermines the role of MPs in the House of Commons. They want to modernize parliamentary institutions. Because of that, these 104 people are calling upon the House of Commons to begin the process of abolition of the Senate.