House of Commons Hansard #49 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was relationship.

Topics

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

February 15th, 2000 / 10:45 a.m.

Liberal

Ovid Jackson Liberal Bruce—Grey, ON

Madam Speaker, the third petition comes from all areas in my riding of Bruce—Grey and deals with child poverty.

The constituents ask that all possible services be provided by the Government of Canada to eradicate child poverty this year.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:45 a.m.

NDP

Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present eight petitions which contain hundreds of names and concern Canadian children living in poverty.

We know that on November 24, 1989, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Since then we realize that the number of poor children has increased over 60%.

The petitioners call upon parliament to use federal budget 2000 to introduce a multi-year program or plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children and to end poverty by the year 2000.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Madam Speaker, I also have a petition to present with respect to poverty. The petitioners point out that one in five Canadian children live in poverty and that on November 24, 1989, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Since 1989 the number of poor children in Canada has increased by 60%.

The petitioners call upon parliament to use federal budget 2000 to introduce a multi-year plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children. They urge parliament to fulfil the promise of the 1989 House of Commons resolution to end child poverty by the year 2000.

I have a second petition on exactly the same topic which I draw to the attention of the House.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:45 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Madam Speaker, I present yet another petition on behalf of Canadians who are concerned for the more than 18,000 of our fellow citizens who suffer from end stage kidney disease. They point out that kidney dialysis and transplants help many but not enough.

They point out that ministers of health across Canada have difficulties providing dialysis treatment and that rates of organ donation are inadequate for transplantation.

Therefore the petitioners call upon parliament to work and support research toward the bioartificial kidney which will eventually eliminate the need for both dialysis and transplantation.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Bloc

René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC

Madam Speaker, I am tabling a petition in the House asking parliament to quickly pass legislation providing for the mandatory labelling of all foods that are entirely or partially genetically modified.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Reform

Myron Thompson Reform Wild Rose, AB

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present four petitions today from the riding of Wild Rose. They are calling for exactly what several hundreds of thousands of people have already called for through a petition regarding child pornography and the decision made in a British Columbia court.

The petitioners are basically saying that it is time the government got some intestinal fortitude, started putting an end to judicial activism and started taking its responsibility of looking after the welfare of our country in a much better manner than it has been.

I certainly support these petitions.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

NDP

Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians from across the land on the issue of nuclear weapons policy.

The petitioners note that the Government of Canada has been a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons since 1969 and has committed to pursue negotiations in good faith to eliminate nuclear arms from the planet.

They point out that the International Court of Justice stated in a 1996 advisory opinion on the legality of nuclear weapons that the threat would be contrary to the principles of international humanitarian law.

They note that Canadians are concerned about this and they call on the Government of Canada and parliament to advocate the adoption of the report of the standing committee on foreign affairs, the full and prompt implementation of the report's implementations, and the harmonization of existing government positions and programs with the spirit and intent of the report of the standing committee on nuclear weapons.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Liberal

Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON

Madam Speaker, I have a petition from many petitioners who want to see federal government budget 2000 introduce a multi-year plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Bloc

René Canuel Bloc Matapédia—Matane, QC

Madam Speaker, I have the honour of tabling a petition on behalf of many signatories.

The petitioners declare “In the name of freedom, in the name of democracy, in the name of the right to exist as a country, in the name of the promises never kept by the Prime Minister of Canada and in the name of the undemocratic intentions of the Prime Minister of Canada, we humbly request that Bill C-20 be withdrawn and that the Prime Minister resign”.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Progressive Conservative

David Price Progressive Conservative Compton—Stanstead, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of tabling a petition signed by concerned citizens in Quebec.

The petitioners want rural letter carriers to be considered employees of Canada Post.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Madam Speaker, it is my honour to present a petition today like that of my colleague from Wild Rose on child pornography. About 8,000 people ask the government to use the notwithstanding clause.

This now brings the petitions up to over half a million from across Canada asking the government to take action on the very serious issue of possession of child pornography in British Columbia.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

Reform

John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC

Madam Speaker, I have a second petition signed by approximately 100 people from my constituency and around that area with regard to rural route mail couriers who work today for less than the minimum wage in many areas.

They ask the government to allow them to have collective bargaining rights, which I think most Canadians would appreciate and want also.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:50 a.m.

NDP

Dick Proctor NDP Palliser, SK

Madam Speaker, I rise today along with other members including the member for Halifax West to draw the attention of the House the issue of child poverty.

These petitioners from the city of Regina indicate that one in five Canadian children lives in poverty. In the 34th parliament, just over 10 years ago, the House of Commons unanimously resolved to end child poverty in Canada by the year 2000. Instead we have seen child poverty increase by some 60%.

The petitioners are calling upon parliament to use the upcoming federal budget to introduce a multi-year plan to improve the well-being of Canada's children and are urging parliament to fulfil the 1989 promise of the House of Commons to end child poverty by the end of this year.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Gilles-A. Perron Bloc Saint-Eustache—Sainte-Thérèse, QC

Madam Speaker, I have here a petition signed by constituents in my riding in support of Bill C-309, sponsored by my colleague, the hon. member for Louis-Hébert.

These people and I are asking the government to make it mandatory to label all foods that are totally or partly genetically modified.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Maurice Godin Bloc Châteauguay, QC

Madam Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I wish to table a petition asking for the labelling of genetically modified foods, so that consumers will have all the necessary information when they buy such food products.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Pauline Picard Bloc Drummond, QC

Madam Speaker, I have here a petition concerning VIA Rail and the future changes to be made to the railway network.

I am pleased to table in the House this petition signed by people from the riding of Drummond. The petitioners are asking parliament to be vigilant with regard to the anticipated changes to the railway network and to make sure that this decision takes into account services provided to the public. As we know, taxpayers' money is invested in the railway network.

The petitioners are therefore asking parliament to be vigilant, because a reduction in services would have a negative impact on the riding that I represent, and also on the general population.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Bloc

Jean-Guy Chrétien Bloc Frontenac—Mégantic, QC

Madam Speaker, I also have a petition signed by several of my constituents who are asking parliament to adopt as quickly as possible an act providing for the mandatory labelling of all foods that are totally or partly genetically modified.

Like my fellow citizens, I believe we have the right to demand to know what we are eating. It is very important, when we buy products, to be adequately informed.

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario

Liberal

Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Madam Speaker, Question No. 56 will be answered today. .[Text]

Question No. 56—

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Reform

Rick Casson Reform Lethbridge, AB

What are all the administrative costs, to date, of the federal government to deliver the Agriculture Income Disaster Assistance program, including, but no limited to, the following categories: ( a ) staffing, contract-based or otherwise; ( b ) consultant fees; ( c ) advertising costs; ( d ) lease and rent agreements for (i) office equipment and (ii) office space; ( e ) travel and expense claims; and ( f ) telephone, facsimile and courrier communication?

Questions On The Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Prince Edward—Hastings Ontario

Liberal

Lyle Vanclief LiberalMinister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

From the outset, it was stated that 3% of the total Agriculture Income Disaster Assistance, AIDA, budget would be allocated to cover administrative costs. A large infrastructure is required to process applications for the program and maintain a high quality of client service. For instance, the AIDA administration has taken more than 130,000 calls on the toll free line from producers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan alone. To date, more than 51,000 producers across the country have applied for assistance and more than $308 million has been paid out to applicants. The bulk of applications, more than 36,000, were received by the AIDA administration.

Total administrative costs for the AIDA program from the period December 1, 1998 to November 30, 1999 where the federal governement delivers the program, are $15,189,531. Of this total, salaries account for $5,817,351 and operating costs totalled $9,372,180.

In response to the specific areas raised in the question:

(a) Salaries account for $5,817,351 of total administrative costs.

(b) Consultant fees total $1,541,844, with the majority of costs incurred to develop the infrastructure for informatics necessary to support the program.

(c) Advertising was undertaken to ensure that all eligible producers were aware of the program and sent in an application. Total advertising costs were $1,516,255.

(d) The cost of furniture was $16,489. Rentals totalled $250,277.

(e) Travel costs totalled $257,405. Travel was necessary to meet with provincial officials on the design and delivery of the program and was arranged to be as cost-effective as possible.

(f) Telecommunications costs totalled $134,930.

Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario

Liberal

Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

I ask that the answer to starred Question No. 55 be made an order for return. If the House gives its consent, this return would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Ms. Thibeault)

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed. .[Text]

*Question No. 55—

Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi, QC

Can the government produce the list of employee groups within the Public Service, including salaries, that correspond to the employees of the Administration (ADS-D up to 10) and Nursing (OPN) sub-groups at the House of Commons, as of today?

(Return tabled)

Questions Passed As Orders For ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

10:55 a.m.

Liberal

Derek Lee Liberal Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Madam Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.