Debates of April 14th, 1999

Corrections Canada

[Lawrence MacAulay, Liberal, Solicitor General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I wish my hon. colleague had given me notice of the question. I would have had an appropriate answer for him this afternoon. I will get the information for my hon. colleague and I will give it to him.

Kosovo

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, under Germany's proposed peace plan, international aid organizations will begin their work in Kosovo as soon as the first soldiers of the international peacekeeping force arrive.

My question is for the Prime Minister. Will the government undertake, here and now, to develop a plan with Quebec and Canadian NGOs working on the ground, so that Canada's assistance is effective and meets the most pressing needs?

[Diane Marleau, Liberal, Minister for International Cooperation and Minister responsible for Francophonie]

Mr. Speaker, we have a plan. We are already working with Canadian NGOs from Quebec, Ontario and the west.

We have signed agreements with CARE Canada, the CECI and World Vision. We are continuing to await requests. We will continue to work with all Canadian NGOs, who are doing an absolutely wonderful job in the country.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The other day the minister said that Canada would not be against the meeting of the G-8, but he did not say whether we would actually support a meeting of the G-8. Now that Germany is pressing for a meeting of the G-8, could the minister tell us whether he would support that call for an immediate meeting of the G-8 and what Canada would be doing to bring about that meeting as soon as possible?

[Lloyd Axworthy, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada did participate in the meeting of G-8 senior officials on the weekend. The proposal put forward by Germany was discussed. It was looked at, elaborated on and examined very carefully. We were certainly part of that process.

If there is to be a meeting of G-8 leaders then of course we would be there. We would be there in a very supportive fashion because we think this particular proposal which we have all worked on does have some chance of success if we can get Russia's agreement on it.

[The Speaker]

My colleagues, that would bring to a close our question period for today.

There are three points of order. I will listen to them in the order in which they were given to me. The hon. member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough on a point of order.

Points Of Order

[Peter MacKay, Progressive Conservative, Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

Prior to the government House leader calling the orders of the day, will he request the Minister of Foreign Affairs who has just returned from a meeting with the UN ministers in Brussels to brief the House as to the outcome of that meeting? That is what Canadians deserve.

[The Speaker]

I would think that is a form of question which would better be handled in question period. I am sure that you can get some comment if you have private discussions. That is not a point of order, by the way.

The second point of order is from the House leader for the opposition.

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

Mr. Speaker, during question period the Minister of National Defence said it is basically the official opposition's responsibility to declare a debate and vote on the Kosovo situation.

I therefore seek the unanimous consent of the House to debate and vote on the Kosovo situation this night after regular hours.

[The Speaker]

My colleague's seeking unanimous consent from this House is in order. Does the hon. member have permission to put his motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.

[Daniel Turp, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I too ask for the unanimous consent of the House to move the following motion.

I move:

That notwithstanding the usual rules and practices of the House, the House proceeds immediately to an emergency debate on the following motion:

“That the House approve the peace plan proposed by the German foreign affairs minister to put an end to the hostilities in Yugoslavia and to proceed without delay to rebuild Kosovo and return refugees to their homes in peace and safety; that no member speak for more than 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of questions and comments, and that, at the end of the debate, the motion be put to a vote”.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. member have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, as I was about to say, a number of points of order, genuine or otherwise, have been raised on this issue. The government is prepared to let the debate continue tonight, if the House so wishes. I am willing to meet with the other parliamentary leaders to continue the debate we had earlier in the week. In fact, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is ready to make a speech if that were the case.

[The Speaker]

I do not know that these negotiations necessarily take place on the floor of the House. May I suggest that if the House leaders are inclined to have prolongation of hours, perhaps they can meet with one another. May I suggest that to the House leaders. This can always come back as a unanimous consideration for the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I respect your kind words and your decision. However, I point out that it was the hon. government House leader who made that offer. I would suggest that this party would be in favour of that but with a minor amendment, that we have a vote at the end of the evening. I think our colleagues would agree to that right here without waiting for you to make a further decision.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Winnipeg—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that we need to separate two things here: the ongoing debate which would not be a point of order, about whether or not there should be a vote in the event of the commitment of ground troops or whatever, and the question of whether or not the debate of the other night should be extended.

I personally see no point in having a vote on the motion we debated the other night because it was a meaningless motion in the first place. The question is whether or not we should continue the debate so more members can have a chance to express themselves. In that sense, I would urge the government House leader and other House leaders to agree. But having a vote on what we had before us the other night would hardly be worth doing.

[The Speaker]

I see we are having negotiations whether we want to have them or not. If you want to take five minutes I do not mind sitting in the chair. Let us hear what the government House leader has to say.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, let me try this to see if the House is agreeable. I would like to offer the following:

That, notwithstanding any standing order or usual practice, at 6.30 p.m. this day, the House shall not consider proceedings pursuant to Standing Order 38, but it shall resume consideration of Government Orders, Government Business No. 23, provided that during consideration of the said Government Order, the Chair shall not receive any quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent to propose any motion; and, provided that when no member rises to speak or at 12 a.m., whichever is earlier, the House shall adjourn to the next sitting day.

If this motion is adopted, the Minister of Foreign Affairs is prepared to speak tonight.

[The Speaker]

Does the hon. government House leader have permission to put the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[An hon. member]

No.