Debates of Feb. 15th, 2000

Points Of Order

[Hélène Alarie, Bloc, Louis-Hébert, QC]

Madam Speaker, following the introduction by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of a bill that denies the fundamental rights of Quebecers, I ask for the unanimous consent of the House to table a document that will enlighten it.

It is a document entitled “Quebec Today”. On the front page is a picture of the beautiful city of—

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

The hon. member knows full well that she is not allowed to use a prop in the House. Is there unanimous consent of the House to table this document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Ghislain Fournier, Bloc, Manicouagan, QC]

Madam Speaker, following the introduction by the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs of a bill that denies the Quebec people their fundamental rights, I ask for the unanimous consent of this House to table a document that will enlighten it.

It is the speech that Mario Dumont—I think you know Mr. Dumont—made on TV regarding Bill 99 and the federal legislation on referendum rules. I could read a few lines of his speech, just the introduction—

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Serge Cardin, Bloc, Sherbrooke, QC]

Madam Speaker, “with a little bit of luck, this awful intergovernmental affairs minister could have done an amazing number of things in life”.

I am quoting this excerpt from an article in Le Soleil on December 12, concerning the hon. member for Saint-Laurent—Cartierville. The title of the story is “The Blues of the Insurance Salesman”.

For the information of the Liberal members opposite, I request unanimous consent to table this document.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Is there unanimous consent?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Kamouraska—Rivière-Du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques, QC]

Madam Speaker, for the information of my colleague opposite who said this intergovernmental affairs minister is the best they ever had, which is hardly a compliment for his predecessors, I would like to table a document entitled “The Antidemocratic Drift of the Federal Government”.

After the introduction of a bill denying the fundamental rights of Quebecers, I think it is important that the House be aware of this document which shows that, as a matter of fact, the federal government is behind this antidemocratic drift.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)]

Is there unanimous consent for the tabling of this document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Government Response To Petitions

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to eight petitions.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Maud Debien, Bloc, Laval East, QC]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the report of the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group and the related financial report.

The delegation took part in the seventh general assembly of the conference on the environment and development in Chiang Mai, Thailand from November 20 to 23, 1999.

Committees Of The House

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans.

Samuel De Champlain Day Act

[Greg Thompson, Progressive Conservative, Charlotte, NB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-428, an act establishing Samuel de Champlain Day.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today an act establishing Samuel de Champlain Day.

Samuel de Champlain recognized the importance of this country, Canada, and was influential in the development of two further settlements, one at Port Royal in the Bay of Fundy and one in Quebec, which earned him the title of the Father of New France.

Champlain Day, which would be recognized by this bill, would be important to us in New Brunswick simply because the year 1604 was the year in which Champlain settled on the Island of St. Croix in the St. Croix River. We are going to have a celebration of that event in the year 2004 on the 400th anniversary.

I am pleased to introduce the bill and hope that the House will give it further consideration.

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

Petitions

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is my privilege and distinct honour to present three petitions to the House this morning.

In the first petition the petitioners pray that parliament take all the necessary measures, up to an including the use of the notwithstanding provision of the charter of rights and freedoms, to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a serious criminal offence, and that police forces be directed to give priority to enforcing this law for the protection of children.

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Madam Speaker, the second petition calls upon parliament to priorize funding for the national highway system in the 2000 budget to reduce fatalities and injuries on the roadways, to alleviate congestion, to lower vehicle operating costs, to reduce emissions, and to improve Canada's competitiveness, economic development and overall economic prosperity.

[Werner Schmidt, Reform, Kelowna, BC]

Madam Speaker, finally I present a petition with 1,500 names. It deals with a very significant subject already introduced in the earlier part of my presentation of petitions, but this one comes to the fore in a very strong motion from a number of people.

The petitioners pray that parliament ensure that present provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada be redefined to bring increased clarity as to what constitutes child pornography and that parliament make changes to any law which might be used to endorse the possession of child pornography.

These petitions have my support.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present a number of petitions on behalf of the constituents of my great riding of Bruce—Grey.

The first one deals with the charter. It come from Formosa and Mildmay. The petitioners ask that all references to God remain in the charter.

[Ovid Jackson, Liberal, Bruce—Grey, ON]

Madam Speaker, the second petition comes from Leith, Owen Sound and Kemble and deals with genetically modified foods.

The petitioners ask that all genetically modified foods be subject to labelling.