House of Commons Hansard #109 of the 36th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was taxes.
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Canadian Heritage earlier today made reference to a cheque she had received from the Saint-Jean-Baptiste society in the amount of $350.
She has asked me, as is the custom, to table in the House a copy of the document she referred to. I am therefore pleased to table a copy of the document, namely, a photocopy of the cheque for $350 by Guy Bouthillier payable to the hon. Sheila Copps.
Stéphane Bergeron Bloc Verchères, QC
Mr. Speaker, on this same point of order, I would simply like to clarify something for the benefit of all members.
The cheque the government House leader is referring to is simply the payment of funding the Minister of Canadian Heritage herself denied a community, I believe the Sephardic community, because the celebration occurred on July 2. So, the president of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste society thought that, as a measure of generosity, it would be better to pay it in the minister's stead.
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I would ask for a delay in a ruling on the matter of the member for Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge. He had to withdraw for medical reasons. I would ask you to wait until tomorrow to rule on this.
I will consult informally with other colleagues. It is a medical situation.
Point Of OrderOral Question Period
The Speaker
If it is a medical situation, I will take that as a given. I will wait until tomorrow, but I would like him to address this House on this matter as soon as he is physically able to do so.
Ways And MeansOral Question Period
Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario
Liberal
Don Boudria LiberalLeader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among House leaders. I would like to seek unanimous consent of the House for the following motion:
That ways and means proceeding No. 11 be deemed to have been put and division thereon requested and deferred until the expiry of the time for consideration of Government Orders later this day.
Ways And MeansOral Question Period
The Speaker
Is there agreement to proceed in such a fashion?
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, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to six petitions.
Derek Lee LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 33rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the selection of votable items in accordance with Standing Order 92. This report is deemed adopted on presentation.
Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights pursuant to the order of reference of Tuesday, March 21.
Your committee has considered Recommendation No. 73 of the province of Nova Scotia's public inquiry into the Westray disaster, specifically with the goal of ensuring that corporate executives and directors are held properly accountable for workplace safety.
Your committee agreed, on Tuesday, June 6, 2000, to recommend to the Minister of Justice and her department that they introduce a bill, pursuant to the notice of motion and the principle stated in Bill C-259, for consideration by the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Bill Graham Liberal Toronto Centre—Rosedale, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the crisis in Fiji.
I also have the pleasure to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade respecting Bill C-19, an act respecting genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and to implement the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and to make consequential amendments to other acts. The committee has agreed to report it with amendments.
I should like to take one minute and share an observation with the House. It is often said that in committee time is not given to study bills properly and to amend them. I urge members of the House to have a look at the many amendments which were made to this bill with the co-operation of all members of the committee including opposition members.
I particularly single out several members such as the hon. member for Mount Royal and others who worked very hard with the government to ensure that these amendments, which represented the opinion of many NGOs, would be brought forward to amend the bill.
I believe all members of the committee are of the view that the bill is a better bill than it was originally presented. We agree and we thank the government and members of the committee for the enormous work they have done in amending the bill. All members of the committee participated.
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-486, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (expenses incurred by caregivers).
Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in the House to introduce this bill which I personally named the Pearl Fleming bill. Pearl Fleming was a woman who weighed over 100 pounds when diagnosed with an illness. She died when she weighed well under 100 pounds.
Her husband, instead of institutionalizing his wife in her final year, brought her home and cared for her in her last year there. The expenses he incurred in terms of oxygen, new equipment, a new bed, et cetera, were not tax deductible.
This bill would enable her husband and many other people in the future to claim medical expenses incurred by caregivers for ailing family members in order to deduct them as tax deductible expenses.
I am sure, after careful consideration by every member of the House of Commons, this legislation will sweep through the country like a strong wind and receive accolades and support from all members of the government.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Val Meredith Reform South Surrey—White Rock—Langley, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to present before the House 40 pages of signatures from British Columbians who are calling upon parliament to urge the Minister of Health to establish a national organ donor registry. What a marvellous thing these people are asking for. I think the country requires this petition to move the government forward.
Rey D. Pagtakhan Liberal Winnipeg North—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, I wish to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who call upon parliament to enact legislation to establish an independent governing body to develop, implement and enforce uniform and mandatory mammography quality assurance and quality control standards in Canada.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present a petition signed by hundreds of residents of Burnaby and other communities across the land urging the Parliament of Canada to stop two tier American style health care moving into Canada.
The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that the federal Liberals have ignored the top priority of Canadians in the 2000 budget by giving only 2 cents for health care for every dollar spent on tax cuts. They point out that the federal government is paying just 13.5% of health care costs and that the federal Liberals opened the door to two tier American style health care by cutting a secret deal with the province of Alberta, which in turn paved the way for Alberta's bill 11.
Finally, they note that Canadians want immediate action to save public health care in Canada and, therefore, they call upon parliament to stop for profit hospitals and to restore federal funding for health care, to increase the federal government's share of health care funding to 25% immediately, and to implement a national home care program and a national program for prescription drugs.
Norman E. Doyle Progressive Conservative St. John's East, NL
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour today to present a petition signed by 6,000 Newfoundlanders from every part of our province. The petitioners are very discouraged and upset that the CBC is cutting the national supper hour news program Here and Now from one hour to half an hour. An Atlantic Canadian poll released today reveals that 70% of Canadians are telling government to reverse that decision and 79% of Newfoundlanders are saying the same thing.
These 6,000 people are petitioning parliament to intervene to protect a program that is essential to the culture of our very large and sparsely populated province.
There are over 30,000 names on various petitions and these petitioners want all of their Newfoundland Liberal MPs to present those petitions as well, which they have not been doing. I am asking Newfoundland Liberal MPs to have some courage, to stand for their province, to stand for their people and to stand for jobs in Newfoundland and Labrador.
John Harvard Liberal Charleswood—Assiniboine, MB
Mr. Speaker, I would like to present a petition signed by hundreds of Manitobans who are concerned about the future of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
The petitioners point out that current studies toward the restructuring of the Canadian reserve forces imply a reduction in the number of infantry regiments. The petitioners further point out that the Camerons are Manitoba's only highland kilted regiment and they believe the regiment must be retained as an important symbol of Manitoba's great Scottish heritage.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon parliament to reject any plan to abolish the Camerons and amalgamate the regiment with another militia unit.
Leon Benoit Reform Lakeland, AB
Mr. Speaker, I have a petition to present today from people from the Lakeland constituency regarding child pornography and the fact that the British Columbia Court of Appeal on June 30, 1999 refused to reinstate subsection 163.1(4) of the criminal code regarding child pornography.
The petitioners therefore request that parliament use, if necessary, the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to reinstate subsection 163.1(4) of the criminal code so that child pornography will not be legal in this country.
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present three petitions today.
The first petition condemns the Chinese government for its persecution of the Falun religion.
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, the second petition which I wish to present has to do with breast cancer. I fully support the petition.
Eleni Bakopanos Liberal Ahuntsic, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the third petition which I wish to present the petitioners call upon Canada to object to the national missile defence program and to show a leadership role in banning nuclear weapons and missiles.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table two petitions.
Some people in my riding are calling upon parliament to take the necessary steps to make a retroactive amendment to the provisions of the Statistics Act relating to the prohibition against divulging information, in order to allow access to the census data after a reasonable period with respect to post-1901 data, beginning with the 1906 census.
Yvon Godin NDP Acadie—Bathurst, NB
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present another petition, this one relating to parental leave under employment insurance, which is going to be raised from 10 weeks to 35.
This extension of parental leave will apply only to parents whose babies are born after December 31, 2000. Parents of children born prior to that date will not have the same privilege as those whose children are born after.
Consequently, the petitioners are calling upon parliament to make the extended parental leave effective immediately, so that parents of children born prior to December 31, 2000 may also take advantage of it. Parents should be able to reap immediate advantage from the $30 billion surplus in the employment insurance fund.
Guy St-Julien Liberal Abitibi, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition protesting predatory gasoline pricing.
Given the soaring price of gasoline at the pump and Canadian consumers' inability to take action and protect themselves against increases in gasoline prices, the petitioners from Saint-Hubert, Lachine, Mirabel, Saint-Constant, Longueuil, Lachenaie, Quebec City and Sainte-Martine are calling on parliament to pass a resolution to stop world petroleum cartels in order to bring down overly high gasoline prices.
Howard Hilstrom Reform Selkirk—Interlake, MB
Mr. Speaker, I wish to present two petitions. The first petition concerns the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, the Camerons, Manitoba's only highland kilted regiment. The petitioners would like the regiment to be retained in Manitoba. The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders should be sustained as a vital contribution to Canada's defence.
This petition is sponsored by the St. Andrew's Society of Winnipeg and the city of Selkirk.