Debates of March 22nd, 2000

Export Development Corporation

[The Speaker]

The hon. Minister for International Trade.

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is quite important to understand the role of the Canada account. It can take the form of insurance, guarantees or financing. There is nothing new here. Canada has been using the Canada account for more than 30 years.

Virtually every other OECD country does the same thing to help their exporters on distorted markets. The United States, for example, has a $500 million war chest that it uses to help its firms match financing. Every other country does exactly the same.

Gasoline Pricing

[Pierre Brien, Bloc, Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Industry has announced with great pomp and circumstance that he would, at the cost of $600,000, give the conference board the responsibility for looking into the rising prices of gasoline, whereas in a report published in June 1998, 47 members of his party voiced their concern for the recent tendency of the federal government to turn to outside bodies for data and figures on the oil industry.

How can the minister justify such an expenditure, when the taxpayers are already paying $25 million yearly for the Competition Bureau to carry out this type of inquiry?

[John Manley, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the matters to be examined by the conference board are broader than just competition. We are trying to determine a variety of information on a variety of subjects, including the relationship between the prices of gasoline and other market factors.

The role of the Competition Bureau is limited to matters relating solely to competition, based on evidence submitted to it.

[John Solomon, NDP, Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the government's three quarter of a million dollar gas price study does nothing for people coping with high energy prices. This is buck passing at its worst. All it does is transfer hard earned cash from consumers to consultants.

By the time the conference board reports, soaring energy costs will eat up every penny of the farm aid package, all future tax cuts, and many more truckers will have gone bankrupt.

Crude prices are dropping but consumers have not seen any relief at the pumps. I ask the Prime Minister if this is all we can expect from his government. Where is his action plan to protect Canadian consumers from soaring energy costs?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

Mr. Speaker, I will quote from the Regina Leader Post of yesterday:

One of the industry's most persistent critics (the hon. member for Regina who has just spoken) praised the announcement by his Liberal counterpart. “The study is a good idea. I think there's some value in it”.

He called upon us to proceed with it right away. The member is talking out of both sides of his mouth at the same time.

National Parks

[Mark Muise, Progressive Conservative, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Mr. Jacques Gérin will be releasing a scathing report on the state of our national parks. Is the timing of the release orchestrated to justify the government's economic development restrictions contained in Bill C-27?

[Sheila Copps, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member is speaking of the report that will be released by Mr. Jacques Gérin tomorrow. I think the report will have some very pertinent information for the government in terms of ensuring the ecological integrity of the park system.

I know, because of the strong support that the budget gave to the whole issue of the environment, it is very important that ecological integrity be included at the top of the issue of parks. Those will hopefully be the points made in Mr. Gérin's report tomorrow, which I know will be supported by all members of the House.

Jeux De La Francophonie

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that the Ottawa-Hull region will host the Jeux de la Francophonie in July 2001.

Could the minister, who chairs the games' steering committee, tell us what progress has been made regarding the use of both official languages at these games?

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell this House that the linguistic issue at the Jeux de la Francophonie has indeed been settled.

Recently, at a conference held in Beirut, all the participants, including Quebec, endorsed the following proposal from Canada “First, the Jeux de la Francophonie will essentially be held in French; the games will have a francophone image and there is absolutely no intention of anglicizing these games”.

These games will be a success. The Government of Canada is committed. They will be the best Jeux de la Francophonie so far.

Employment Insurance

[Jane Stewart, Liberal, Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to paragraph 3(3) of the Employment Insurance Act, I am pleased to table two copies, in both official languages, of the annual employment insurance monitoring and assessment report for the year 1999.

Government Response To Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to six petitions.

Committees Of The House

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 21st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on Industry; that of Mr. Lowther for Mr. Schmidt. If and when the House gives its unanimous consent, I would move concurrence in this 21st report either later this day or at a subsequent sitting.

Citizenship And Immigration

[Joe Fontana, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, a bona fide copy of the second report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled “Refugee Protection and Border Security: Striking a Balance”.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank committee members for their hard work and good work, the witnesses who appeared before the committee who gave us their wisdom and thoughts, and the minister and the officials who also provided us good counsel and advice. The report contains some 46 recommendations.

We want to assure Canadians that not only is our border secure, but we want a fair and equitable refugee determination system, and I believe we have that.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

[John Richardson, Liberal, Perth—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 108, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has the honour to table its sixth report.

After considering the report on the performance of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada for the period ending March 31, 1999, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has agreed to report it.

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 108(3)(e), the Standing Committee on Public Accounts has the honour to present its seventh report. After considering chapter 21 of the November 1999 report of the Auditor General of Canada, entitled “Financial Information Strategy: Departmental Readiness”, the committee has agreed to the report.

Oath Of Allegiance To The Flag Of Canada Act

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-451, an act to establish an oath of allegiance to the flag of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to table my private member's bill, an act to establish an oath of allegiance to the flag of Canada. Many of my hon. colleagues and constituents will remember that I originally introduced this bill a few years ago; however, it died on the order paper, so I am pleased to have the opportunity to reintroduce it today.

This bill calls on a parliamentary committee to work with Canadians to draft an oath of allegiance to our flag. The oath would not be mandatory, but would be a way for Canadians to express their love for our flag and all that it represents.

I look forward to working with my hon. colleagues on both sides of the House to help make this bill a reality.

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

Motor Vehicle Safety Act

[Brenda Chamberlain, Liberal, Guelph—Wellington, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-452, an act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (ignition security switches).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table my private member's bill this afternoon, entitled an act to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which concerns ignition security switches.

Auto theft in this country poses a problem not only in terms of loss of property but also because stolen cars are often involved in high speed chases. This bill proposes to amend the Motor Vehicle Safety Act, making it mandatory for vehicles bearing the national safety mark to be fitted with a so-called kill switch, a device which prevents the vehicle from being started without an ignition key. By making it impossible to hot-wire a car this would reduce vehicle theft and as a result the number of high speed chases, resulting in safer roads for all Canadians.

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

Criminal Code

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

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-453, an act to amend the Criminal Code (attempting to disarm a peace officer).

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a bill which, as stated, would amend the Criminal Code of Canada with respect to attempts to disarm a police officer.

This bill would make it an indictable offence for any individual to attempt or to successfully disarm a police officer or a peace officer or to interfere with their protective equipment. This offence would carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. The offence would also be included within a list of offences over which a provincial court judge would have absolute jurisdiction.

There is a similar bill before the House, but I would respectfully submit that this would be a very worthwhile amendment to the criminal code. It has received broad support from those within the policing community and those in the Canadian Police Association.

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

Controlled Drugs And Substances Act

[Bill Gilmour, Reform, Nanaimo—Alberni, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-454, an act to to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (trafficking in a controlled drug or substance within five hundred metres of an elementary school or a high school).

Mr. Speaker, I thank the House for the opportunity to table my private member's bill, an act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The bill would provide greater protection for our youth against the illegal drug trade which is undermining our society.

My bill proposes to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to impose a minimum prison term of one year for the first offence and two years for further offences in cases where a person is convicted of trafficking in a controlled or restricted drug or narcotic within five hundred metres of an elementary school or a high school.

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

Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act

[Richard Marceau, Bloc, Charlesbourg, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-455, an act to change the name of the electoral district of Charlesbourg.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me today to introduce in the House a bill to change the name of the riding of Charlesbourg to Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier following consultation with all the inhabitants, as well as the principal organizations, of Charlesbourg, including the municipalities.

The name selected by the citizens of Charlesbourg is Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier.

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

[Odina Desrochers, Bloc, Lotbinière, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-456, an act to change the name of the electoral district of Lotbinière.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today a bill to change the name of the electoral district of Lotbinière to Lotbinière—L'Érable, which, I think, will be more representative of the whole district.

The purpose of this change is to give more visibility to the RCM of L'Érable which, like the RCM of Lotbinière, lies totally within the boundaries of the new federal electoral district of Lotbinière. The other RCMs that are part of the electoral district of Lotbinière are already identified in the names of neighbouring federal electoral districts. Moreover, the French word “érable” means maple tree, which is the most common tree in the area and one of the natural resources that characterize all the municipalities included in the electoral district.

In closing, I would like to point out that Plessisville in the RCM of L'Érable is the maple capital of the world.

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

Immigration Act

[Sophia Leung, Liberal, Vancouver Kingsway, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-457, an act to amend the Immigration Act.

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to introduce my private member's bill, an act to amend the Immigration Act. The bill specifically increases the fines and the jail terms for persons involved in human trafficking and others who break our immigration laws.

I hope that all members will support this bill in order to toughen the penalties for those involved in human trafficking.

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

Competition Act

[Gilles Bernier, Progressive Conservative, Tobique—Mactaquac, NB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-458, an act to amend the Competition Act (contest, lottery or game of chance).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce a private member's bill to amend the Competition Act. The purpose of this bill is to prohibit the production or distribution of printed material that contains a game of chance or where prior payment of money is required before a prize can be collected. The bill is designed to protect Canadian consumers from a specific type of mail fraud. I hope that all members of the House will support the bill.

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

Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to present four petitions. The first three hail from Hanover, Walkerton, Meaford, Owen Sound and Elmwood in the riding of Bruce—Grey.

The petitions deal with the subject of mammography. The petitioners ask that parliament establish an independent governing body to help implement and enforce uniform and mandatory mammography quality assurance and control standards in Canada.

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

The fourth petition, Mr. Speaker, is on behalf of rural mail couriers. The rural mail couriers ask that the Parliament of Canada and Canada Post make sure that rural mail couriers have all the benefits and wages that are due to them and to make sure that they are covered for things like gas prices and so on. I would like to table that petition.