Debates of Nov. 2nd, 2001

Employment Insurance

[Raymonde Folco, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources Development]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to reply to my colleague by first saying that I am surprised that a member of that party would actually bring up the United States as a model for a social welfare program, when we know that Canada's social welfare programs are so much better.

I would like to repeat that employment insurance is a key element of Canada's social safety net and has been there for Canadians for more than 60 years. We have a very effective system of income support for those who lose their jobs.

I would like to remind the member as well that we just passed a law--

[The Deputy Speaker]

The hon. member for Pictou--Antigonish--Guysborough.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

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

Mr. Speaker, the verdict is in from the other place. Along with the majority of witnesses appearing before the two parliamentary committees, along with some ministers and MPs, the Senate also is extremely apprehensive about Bill C-36 going too far. This is evident in the major changes they have recommended.

Is the Prime Minister going to allow the necessary amendments as well as a free vote on this bill?

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, first, the hon. member will, I am sure, remember the extensive testimony before the House committee on justice yesterday, where the police community, both from chiefs to police organizations across the country, recommended against a sunset clause.

However, these committees are taken very seriously by the government. It has been said over and over that the information coming before it and the recommendations coming out of it will be given the fullest consideration.

Firearms Act

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the cost of implementing the Liberal boondoggle firearms registry now exceeds $650 million. It just threw in another $150 million. Amazingly, it snuck half a million dollars in through the National Parole Board.

In light of the huge new pressure on the budget and the urgent need for resources to fight the real threat of terrorism, the government should abandon this bottomless, ineffective sinkhole. It should get the terrorists and let duck hunters go free.

Will the government put former Bill C-68 on permanent hold?

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, Bill C-68 has now become law. It is an important matter of national security and it is supported by the vast majority of Canadians. The expense to Canadians is less than $3 per year per Canadian for this extraordinary security that we provide and which the people of Canada support.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

[Monique Guay, Bloc, Laurentides, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Radio-Canada and CBC are currently in the process of reviewing union accreditations. The lawyers representing the CBC before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board are Heenan Blaikie of Toronto.

The senior partner of that firm, Mr. Heenan, is on the CBC board, as well as being a member of its human resources committee.

Does the Minister of Heritage not think that there is, at the very least, an apparent conflict of interest here, and that Mr. Heenan's double role as a member of the board and counsel for the employer is untenable, and that he must step down from one or the other?

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to rise in the House and speak about the CBC.

As the member opposite knows, the CBC is arm's length from the government. Under the Broadcasting Act, the management and operations of CBC are mandated by its board of directors. I do not quite understand the member's question to the minister.

Health

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.

In the last century, there were three worldwide outbreaks of influenza. The most devastating pandemic was the Spanish flu in 1918, which claimed at least 20 million lives worldwide.

Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health tell us what the Government of Canada is doing to protect its citizens in the event of a new influenza pandemic?

[Jeannot Castonguay, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to assure the House that protecting Canadians' health against a possible influenza pandemic is one of Health Canada's greatest concerns.

To that end, the Government of Canada has reached an agreement with Shire Biologics to have it provide a vaccine for all Canadians in the case of such an outbreak.

Thanks to this measure, Canada is the first country in the world to develop and implement a flu vaccination strategy in the event of a pandemic.

Business of the House

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

Madam Speaker, after consultation, I understand there would be unanimous consent to permit the hon. member for Ottawa Centre to introduce now or later this day a bill entitled an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, notice of which was given yesterday, and to permit the bill to be eligible for being placed on the order of precedence.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Government Response to Petitions

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.

Committees of the House

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Madam Speaker, I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, the report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. This report is tabled pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 107.

Criminal Code

[Mac Harb, Liberal, Ottawa Centre, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-408, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act.

Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce this bill, an act to amend the criminal code and the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act, seconded by my colleague from Hull--Aylmer.

The objective of the bill is to eliminate the adjective "legitimate" where used with reference to a child or a descendent in the laws of Canada.

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

Income Tax Conventions Implementation Act, 2001

[Don Boudria, Liberal, for Minister of Finance]

moved that Bill S-31, an act to implement agreements, conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Slovenia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Senegal, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and Germany for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, be read the first time.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Petitions

[Paul MacKlin, Liberal, Northumberland, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring forward a petition on behalf of some of the residents of the riding of Prince Edward--Hastings.

The petitioners call upon parliament to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides as a precautionary approach until such time as their use has been scientifically proven to be safe and the long term consequences of their application are known.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Jacques Saada, Liberal, Brossard—La Prairie, QC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to move concurrence in the report I just tabled a few minutes ago.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

Does the House give its consent to go back to motions?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Ken Epp, Canadian Alliance, Elk Island, AB]

Madam Speaker, I do not know what it is we are giving consent to right now. I may have missed it.