House of Commons Hansard #128 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was transportation.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyOral Question Period
Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about a general economic development agreement to be signed with the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The argument is that the Tory Party is in favour of spending money in a low unemployment area in the city of St. John's versus an area in rural Newfoundland with high unemployment that was caused by his government's disastrous fisheries policy that allowed foreigners to take everything.
Ivan Grose Liberal Oshawa, ON
Mr. Speaker, this week the environment minister announced the establishment of an appraisal review panel that will implement a new process for the ecological gifts program.
Can the minister tell the House what the benefit of that program is for species at risk in Canada? If I might add a personal note, at my age I find this a most appropriate question.
Karen Redman LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, Budget 2000 introduced new tax measures that allowed the number of eco-gift donations to increase by more than two-thirds. This is good news for wildlife and biodiversity in Canada, as well as for Canadian taxpayers.
Species at risk, like the burrowing owl and the loggerhead shrike, have a stronger chance of recovery thanks to the 165 donations valued at in excess of $25 million.
I encourage all Canadians to consider donating ecologically sensitive lands. These gifts are Canada's future.
Presence In GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I draw to the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of my brother Speaker from Austria, His Excellency Dr. Heinz Fischer, President of the Austrian National Council.
Keith Martin Reform Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order today relating to the use of nomenclature in the House. Today members of cabinet continuously referred to members of the Canadian Alliance as the reform alliance. I point to Standing Order 10 which clearly—
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Order, please. Of course, we should refer to ourselves by not only our proper ridings but with the proper names of our parties. I would urge all hon. members to do that.
René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker on Friday, September 22, the fire alarm rang and we had to leave the House in a hurry, just as I was about to ask a question.
At that point, Mr. Speaker, you promised that the following Friday you would take into account the time that was left during that oral question period.
Last Friday, another unforeseen event took place, as everyone knows, and the following Friday, which is today, I noticed that for some reason you did not take into account that period of time, since oral question period ended at noon.
I would still like to ask my question and I would like the Chair to tell me when I will be allowed to do so.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
Is the hon. member's question for a minister who is now sitting in the House?
René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC
No, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of National Defence, but he was not there either when we came back that Friday.
On Friday the 22nd, when we came back into the House and gave our unanimous consent to allow an NDP member to put his question, the Minister of National Defence had already left.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
When we come back next Monday, you will be allowed to put your question. I will be here and I will make sure that you have the opportunity to put your question. If you so wish, you can even be the first Bloc Quebecois member to ask a question.
Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have two points of order. The first one has also to do with the name of the party. Mr. Speaker, you made the ruling very clearly. I would like to know whether you simply urge members to use that name or require them to use that name.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
We urge that more than anything. I always refrain as much as possible from giving orders in the House. Members of parliament are urged to act with respect toward one another. I know that it is not necessary in the overwhelming majority of cases to order anyone to do anything. I am sure you will find an improvement in the weeks and months ahead.
Ken Epp Reform Elk Island, AB
Mr. Speaker, my second point of order is with respect to the Deputy Prime Minister, who used the term meanspirited. I know this is unparliamentary because I was called on it once.
Points Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
There are no words which of themselves are unparliamentary. It is the tone in which they are used and at the time they are used. I see the hon. member has left so I need not explain.
Roy Cullen LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of Finance
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 11 petitions.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities AgencyRoutine Proceedings
Gander—Grand Falls Newfoundland & Labrador
Liberal
George Baker LiberalMinister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the annual report to parliament on the administration of the acts within the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency for the period from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding its order of reference of Wednesday, March 29 in relation to Bill C-213, an act to promote shipbuilding 1999.
The committee has considered Bill C-213 and reports the bill without amendments.
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 39th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of some standing committees.
If the House gives its consent I intend to move concurrence in the 39th report later this day.
Raymond Bonin Liberal Nickel Belt, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-503, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (to provide for judicial discretion to assign a security classification of maximum to high-risk violent offenders, to establish a Board of Management to oversee operations of the Correctional Service of Canada and to establish an Office of Ombudsman for Victims).
Mr. Speaker, corrections is the least visible part of our justice system. I am pleased to introduce a bill which will change this and make Canada's corrections system more transparent and more accountable to victims and Canadians.
The bill will permit sentencing judges to send high-risk offenders to maximum security, create a public board with victim representation to manage the corrections system, create the office of a victims' ombudsman to help victims, provide victims with new information like the rehabilitation efforts of the offenders, and permit victims to make victims' impact statements at parole board hearings.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-504, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (to provide for the deduction of funeral expenses).
Mr. Speaker, this enactment would permit a tax deduction of up to $10,000 for the taxpayer who has paid the funeral expenses of a person who has been buried in Canada.
Taxpayers eligible for the tax deduction include the taxpayer who has died, the legal representative of the taxpayer who has died or any other taxpayer who has paid the funeral expenses of the person who has died.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter MacKay Progressive Conservative Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-505, an act to amend the Criminal Code (recruitment of children and swarming).
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to introduce this bill to amend the criminal code with respect to recruitment of children and swarming.
This bill would bring about amendments to the criminal code that would specifically enact a section of the code for prohibiting the recruitment of children as well as a specific section that would denunciate a code section barring swarming and attacking en masse, in a group. These are two phenomena that have received a great deal of attention recently. There are enactments to the criminal code that I think would greatly enhance the law enforcement community and the justice system's ability to deal with these two matters.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON
Mr. Speaker, I move that the 39th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be concurred in.
(Motion agreed to)
Mauril Bélanger Liberal Ottawa—Vanier, ON
Mr. Speaker, on October 4 and 5, I sought the unanimous consent of the House that Motion No. 37, the second report of the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages expressing a desire for Ottawa, the capital of Canada, to be officially bilingual, be adopted without debate.
I again seek unanimous consent for this motion to be adopted without debate.