House of Commons Hansard #94 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was pornography.
Reed Elley Reform Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Mr. Speaker, according to reports today the health minister will be hiring additional health spies to ensure that the provinces adhere to the Canada Health Act. The premiers and provincial health ministers have been crying out for communication and federal-provincial co-operation.
How can the Liberal government expect to improve relations with the provinces when it trusts them so little that it has to hire more health spies?
Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health
Mr. Speaker, this would be a concept entirely foreign to the right wing alliance that wants to destroy the Canada Health Act, destroy our system of health care and turn it over to the privateers. The Canadian public looks to the government as the guardian of the principles of the Canada Health Act and that is exactly what we will do.
I am happy to confirm to the House that we will indeed be reinforcing the resources at Health Canada to ensure that the principles of that act are respected throughout this country.
René Laurin Bloc Joliette, QC
Mr. Speaker, the army's ombudsman said, the day before yesterday, that the problem of domestic violence in the army is aggravated by the fact that the women facing this problem are in a totally military environment, for example, the doctors, the psychologists and other professionals are all military men.
If he really wants to help these women, should the Minister of National Defence not let community groups that help victims in civilian society intervene to help the wives of military men facing these problems so as to demilitarize the approach?
Art Eggleton LiberalMinister of National Defence
Mr. Speaker, we do that. We have family resource centres. We have 42 of them across the country and overseas where our troops are serving. They provide services for the spouses and the families of our forces personnel. They help to deal with stress related matters, health matters, matters of domestic violence and abuse.
As I said yesterday in the House, we will go beyond that. We will take the recommendations from the report that we received. We will create an action plan because we do not accept domestic violence. We do not accept abuse of our personnel, their spouses or their families. We will not tolerate that and we will take the necessary action.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the members who supported changes to the EI program.
This parliament recognized the importance of such changes for seasonal workers. Even the Prime Minister recognized their importance at the Liberal Party convention in March.
My question is for the Prime Minister. Will he launch the process of changing the EI program immediately, given that this parliament voted 100% in favour, thus indicating that the situation is urgent?
Jean Chrétien LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I answered this question before MPs and members of the Liberal Party at the Liberal Party convention held a few weeks ago here in Ottawa.
Norman E. Doyle Progressive Conservative St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the solicitor general.
The minister should be aware that RCMP officers are in St. John's today questioning students in advance of the Prime Minister's visit to Memorial University of Newfoundland. Given the way that the government has gutted funding for post-secondary education, the word is out that students may be holding demonstrations on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit.
Why are the RCMP questioning students in advance of the Prime Minister's visit based solely on the fact that there may or may not be demonstrations being held in the city of St. John's? Why are the RCMP doing that?
Lawrence MacAulay LiberalSolicitor General of Canada
Mr. Speaker, I am sure my hon. colleague is well aware that it is the RCMP's responsibility to ensure the safety of the Prime Minister, and in fact that is what the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are doing.
Paul Steckle Liberal Huron—Bruce, ON
Mr. Speaker, for the past five years I have been working with various stakeholders and DFO to secure annual funding of $8 million for the sea lamprey control program. That is an $8 million investment for over $80 million in direct returns.
I ask the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans today, why has DFO failed to provide this essential financial support? When does he intend to correct this oversight?
Herb Dhaliwal LiberalMinister of Fisheries and Oceans
Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate the member for Huron—Bruce. He has followed this subject very closely and worked very hard on this issue. The government recognizes how important the sea lamprey control program is for the health of the Great Lakes sports fishery and we will ensure that we continue to protect it.
From 1994 we have increased the budget for the sea lamprey control program from $3.8 million to $6 million to make sure we continue to play an important role.
Presence In The GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
We have a special guest with us today that I want to introduce to members. He is a gentleman who took part in the Mercury space project. He was one of the first astronauts and surely one of the first men to orbit the Earth. I present to you a former senator of the United States and truly one of the great heroes of the past century, Mr. John Glenn.
Presence In The GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
For those members who want to meet Mr. Glenn, I am told there will be a reception in room 216 a little bit later on, hosted by the hon. Minister of Industry. All members are invited to attend.
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the standing orders, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 20 petitions.
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding its order of reference of Tuesday, February 29, 2000.
Your committee has considered Votes 1, 5, L10 and 15 under finance in the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2001 less the amounts voted in interim supply and reports the same.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present petitions today which are signed by several hundred Canadians from coast to coast to coast on the subject of East Timor.
The petitioners note that the Indonesian military occupied East Timor for over 23 years in violation of UN Security Council resolutions resulting in the death of over one-third of East Timor's population.
They go on to note the participation of over 98% of eligible East Timorese in a referendum voting for independence and the ongoing human rights violations by the Indonesian military and their militia.
The petitioners therefore request that parliament call for a formal military embargo which would revoke all outstanding military export permits issued for sales of military goods to Indonesia, ensure that there are no new export permits issued for sale of military goods to Indonesia, ensure that companies which have already negotiated contracts to supply military goods will be withheld, suspend all Canadian co-operation and ties with the armed forces of Indonesia and would require consultation in parliament before being lifted.
Finally, the petitioners request that parliament work for an international military embargo against Indonesia.
Dave Chatters Reform Athabasca, AB
Mr. Speaker, I present a petition containing about 200 names mainly from the community of Fort McMurray in my riding.
The petitioners ask the House to reaffirm a motion passed in the House on June 8, 1999 to reaffirm the institution of marriage as being between one man and one woman exclusive of all others, and to reject Bill C-23.
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to table today.
The first petition is from a number of constituents in Fredericton calling on the government to withdraw Bill C-23, affirm the opposite sex definition of marriage in legislation and ensure that marriage is recognized as a unique institution.
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Mr. Speaker, the second petition calls on parliament to fulfil the 1989 promise of of the House of Commons to end child poverty in the year 2000.
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Mr. Speaker, the last petition is from a number of residents in northern New Brunswick calling on parliament to repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.
Mike Scott Reform Skeena, BC
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of several hundred constituents in my riding of Skeena, from the communities of Smithers, Telkwa, Moricetown, Hazelton, Terrace, Kitimat and other communities, I have the honour to present two petitions today which speak to child poverty.
Specifically, the petitioners call on parliament to fulfil its obligations and to fulfil the 1998 promise of the House of Commons to end child poverty by the year 2000.
Jean Dubé Progressive Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present two petitions today.
In the first petition, the signatories ask that parliament repeal section 13(5) of the Canada Post Corporation Act.
Jean Dubé Progressive Conservative Madawaska—Restigouche, NB
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my pleasure to present a petition signed by residents of my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche.
The petitioners call on the Parliament of Canada to withdraw Bill C-23 and to confirm the opposite sex definition of marriage.
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions.
The first petition refers to a falling debt burden which gives Canadians new economic freedom so that resources can be used to strengthen our health care system, provide tax relief, address social challenges and invest in all areas that will enhance productivity.
Therefore the petitioners call upon parliament to ensure that Canada's debt to GDP ratio remains on a permanent downward track.
Maurizio Bevilacqua Liberal Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON
Mr. Speaker, in the second petition, the petitioners call upon parliament to announce a timetable for the elimination of the 5% surtax.