House of Commons Hansard #59 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
The President of the Treasury Board presented a message read by the Deputy Speaker in which His Excellency the Governor General transmitted the Main Estimates for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2001.
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments made recently by the government.
Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110, these appointments are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committee, a list of which is attached.
Government Response To PetitionsRoutine Proceedings
Scarborough—Rouge River Ontario
Liberal
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the government's response to six petitions.
Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I would seek the unanimous consent of the House to withdraw my private member's Bill C-204, which was first introduced in the House in October 1998 and was reintroduced in October 1999.
This bill sought to extend maternity and parental leave benefits to a full year. In view of the budget provisions announced last evening, I now ask the House for its consent to withdraw Bill C-204.
Employment Insurance ActRoutine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
(Order discharged and bill withdrawn)
Lucienne Robillard LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Infrastructure
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 81(4) and 81(6), I move:
That the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2000, laid upon the table on February 29, 2000, be referred to the several standing committees of the House in accordance with the detailed allocation attached.
There is a lengthy list associated with the motion. If it is agreeable to the House, I would ask that the list be printed in Hansard as if it had been read.
Main Estimates 2000-01Routine Proceedings
Some hon. members
Agreed.
To the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, L20, 25, 30, 35 and 40
To the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35
To the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
Canadian Heritage, Votes 1, 5, L10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 125 and 130
Privy Council, Votes 30 and 35
To the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
Citizenship and Immigration, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15
To the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development
Environment, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15
Privy Council, Vote 40
To the Standing Committee on Finance
Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Votes 1, 5 and 10
Finance, Votes 1, 5, L10, 15, 30 and 35
To the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
Fisheries and Oceans, Votes 1, 5 and 10
To the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Foreign Affairs, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, L30, L35, 40, 45, 50 and 55
To the Standing Committee on Health
Health, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25
To the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Human Resources Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20
To the Standing Committee on Industry
Industry, Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 and 120
To the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights
Justice, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50
Privy Council, Vote 50
Solicitor General, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50
To the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs
National Defence, Votes 1, 5 and 10
Veterans Affairs, Votes 1, 5 and 10
To the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Government Operations
Canadian Heritage, Vote 120
Governor General, Vote 1
Natural Resources, Votes 1, 5, L10, 15, 20, 25 and 30
Parliament, Vote 1
Privy Council, Votes 1, 5, 10, 45 and 55
Public Works and Government Services, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25
Treasury Board, Votes 1, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20
To the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
Parliament, Vote 5
Privy Council, Vote 20
To the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Finance, Votes 20 and 25
To the Standing Committee on Transport
Privy Council, Vote 15
Transport, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35
To the Standing Joint Committee on Library of Parliament
Parliament, Vote 10
To the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages
Privy Council, Vote 25
(Motion agreed to)
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among all parties earlier this day and I would like to move the following motion without debate:
That, in accordance with subsection 53(3) of the act to extend the present laws of Canada that protect the privacy of individuals and that provide individuals with a right of access to personal information about themselves, Chapter P-21 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, this House approves the reappointment of Bruce Phillips as Privacy Commissioner for a term of four months, effective May 1, 2000.
This is a four month extension only.
Privacy CommissionerRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
Does the hon. the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
Privacy CommissionerRoutine Proceedings
The Deputy Speaker
The House has heard the terms of the motion. Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?
Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, my constituents, along with other Canadians, are horrified by pornography which degrades children and are astounded by legal determinations that possession of such pornography is not criminal.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon parliament to take all necessary measures to ensure that possession of child pornography remains a serious criminal offence and that federal police forces be directed to give priority to enforcing this law for the protection of children.
Dale Johnston Reform Wetaskiwin, AB
Mr. Speaker, in the second petition my constituents urge parliament to fulfil the promise made in 1989 by the House of Commons to end child poverty by the year 2000.
Christine Stewart Liberal Northumberland, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to present two petitions to the House today. The first petition is from constituents from various communities in Ontario who express their concern about cruelty to animals and request that the federal government bring in new legislation to deal with it.
I am sure they will be pleased with the legislation we have tabled in the House.
Christine Stewart Liberal Northumberland, ON
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from constituents who believe that registered charities and not for profit groups deserve the same tax credit advantage for donations of $1,150 and under as federal political parties.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present this morning. The first one is from constituents in western Canada who ask the government for 25% tax relief. I wish them good luck.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition is from constituents who ask that parliament ensure that the supremacy of God remains in the Canadian constitution.
John Reynolds Reform West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC
Mr. Speaker, the third petition bears over 40,000 signatures of people who believe that the government should be doing more about child pornography, especially using the notwithstanding clause to protect young children in Canada.
Gary Lunn Reform Saanich—Gulf Islands, BC
Mr. Speaker, on November 3, 1999 I presented a petition which I had received bearing over 10,000 signatures from people residing in British Columbia who called on the Government of Canada to enact legislation which would change the immigration laws so that when refugees arrive on our shores, come through our airports or arrive in Canada through any means who are found not to be bona fide refugees, they be sent home immediately, without delay.
I am pleased to add another 203 signatures to the original 10,000, making a total of over 11,000 as of today.
Dick Harris Reform Prince George—Bulkley Valley, BC
Mr. Speaker, the people in my riding of Prince George—Bulkley Valley are very concerned about the lack of attention the government has been paying to the national highway system, in particular Highway 16, the Yellowhead highway system.
The petitioners urge the government to designate a portion of the fuel taxes that it collects on an ongoing basis to improve and maintain highways.
The petitioners call on parliament to prioritize highway maintenance funding from the revenue which the government receives from fuel taxes.
There are several hundred signatures which I am pleased to present on behalf of concerned citizens of Prince George—Bulkley Valley.
Rose-Marie Ur Liberal Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition signed by residents of the towns of Wallaceburg and Dresden who urge the government to protect human life at the pre-born stage by amending the criminal code to extend the same protection enjoyed by human beings to unborn human beings.
Paul Forseth Reform New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present three petitions today. The first one is from over 4,200 petitioners, many from my riding, who oppose any amendments to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms or any other federal legislation which would provide for the exclusion of the reference to the supremacy of God.