House of Commons Hansard #116 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was police.

Topics

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

NDP

Judy Wasylycia-Leis NDP Winnipeg North Centre, MB

Mr. Speaker, the government continues to gamble with Canadian lives by obstinately refusing to set a national standard for the reuse of disposable medical devices. The Canadian Infectious Disease Society has just joined the others in calling for national standards. In fact it has said “We believe there is a real danger to the public going on each and every day in Canada”.

Since 1994 the Minister of Health, or others in his government, has known about this problem yet has done nothing. When will the health minister stop rolling the dice and introduce a national standard for the reuse of disposable medical devices?

HealthOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Etobicoke Centre Ontario

Liberal

Allan Rock LiberalMinister of Health

Mr. Speaker, the member should know that is squarely within provincial jurisdiction. They are responsible for making sure these devices are used appropriately.

Health Canada has carried out studies to determine the facts. We put those facts in front of the provincial ministers as recently as September when I met them in St. John's for our annual meeting. We told them we expect them to put standards in place that are appropriate. We will insist that they do so, that the provinces do their jobs, as we are doing ours, to protect the health of Canadians.

Hydroelectric ProjectOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Bloc

Gérard Asselin Bloc Charlevoix, QC

Mr. Speaker, Hydro-Québec plans to build a dam and a hydro-electric power station with an estimated capacity of 526 megawatts on the Toulnustouc River on the North Shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

The project should create about 900 jobs at the height of construction, and 255 permanent jobs during the years of operation. But Ottawa has twice postponed the go-ahead for this project.

Does the Minister of the Environment realize that thousands of people are affected by these delays? Does the minister—

Hydroelectric ProjectOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

The Speaker

The Minister of the Environment.

Hydroelectric ProjectOral Question Period

2:55 p.m.

Victoria B.C.

Liberal

David Anderson LiberalMinister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question. I concluded that the project was not likely to have a significant negative impact on the environment. I therefore returned the file to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, who is responsible for taking the necessary action.

Softwood LumberOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC

Mr. Speaker, over the last five months the provinces have been meeting with the U.S. department of commerce on the softwood lumber dispute. The provinces have done all the talking and the U.S. has done all the listening. Our bargaining position is completely unequal, contrary to commitments made by the U.S. at the WTO talks last week on countervail and anti-dumping.

When will the minister insist that it is time for the U.S. to start talking, rather than Canada doing all the talking?

Softwood LumberOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Papineau—Saint-Denis Québec

Liberal

Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade

Mr. Speaker, I must say that I followed very closely the discussions that were held in Washington last week. I was very pleased when the British Columbia government decided to push back from the table where international trade was co-ordinating. I was very pleased that the following day the Quebec government's proposition was very well received by the Americans. Progress is being made.

I will be very happy in the next three days to be in British Columbia. We will continue to work as a Canadian team vis-à-vis the Americans.

Anti-terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Progressive Conservative

Bill Casey Progressive Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago the Prime Minister said that the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Industry are sitting together so they can communicate well. I wonder if he could say the same thing for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the attorney general who also sit together.

Last night the attorney general amended Bill C-36 to include annual reports. Would she lean over and explain to the Minister of Foreign Affairs why annual reports are good and why he should apply the same amendment to Bill C-35?

Anti-terrorism LegislationOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Ottawa South Ontario

Liberal

John Manley LiberalMinister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, first I want to say what a pleasure it is to sit beside the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

The amendments that she proposed to Bill C-36 were not only very helpful in securing parliamentary passage of her legislation but also help us in our campaign against terrorism which we are trying to pursue with our allies and with our coalition partners around the world.

Presence in GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

The Speaker

I would like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of a group of distinguished Canadian craft artists who have over the years received the Saidye Bronfman Award for excellence which, this year, celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Presence in GalleryOral Question Period

3 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear.

The House resumed from November 20 consideration of the motion that Bill C-10, an act respecting the national marine conservation areas of Canada, be read the third time and passed; and of the amendment and the amendment to the amendment.

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3 p.m.

The Speaker

It being 3.00 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the amendment to the amendment and the amendment to the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-10.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the amendment to the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I declare the amendment to the amendment lost.

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marlene Catterall Liberal Ottawa West—Nepean, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There have been consultations among the parties and I think you would find consent in the House that the vote just taken on the amendment to the amendment be applied to the amendment.

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

Is there unanimous consent to proceed in this way?

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

(The House divided on the amendment, which was negatived on the following division:)

Canada National Marine Conservation Areas ActGovernment Orders

3:10 p.m.

The Speaker

I declare the amendment lost.

PrivilegeGovernment Orders

3:15 p.m.

The Speaker

I am now prepared to rule on the question of privilege raised by the hon. member for Surrey Central on October 30 concerning the failure of the Minister of Justice to table her reasons for making certain regulations under the Firearms Act.

I would like to thank the hon. member for Surrey Central for having drawn this matter to the attention of the House as well as the government House leader and the hon. member for Yorkton—Melville for their contributions on this point.

The hon. member for Surrey Central claims that in ignoring her obligations under the Firearms Act when making regulations the minister has breached the privileges of the House.

I should point out to hon. members the Firearms Act provides that where the minister is of the opinion that the ordinary regulatory process in section 118 should not be followed she may in cases specified by the law proceed directly to the making of new regulations or to the modification of existing regulations. However in such cases the minister is required by subsection 119(4) of the act to table in both houses a statement of her reasons for so doing.

The hon. member for Surrey Central drew to the attention of the House 16 cases between September 16, 1998, and December 13, 2000, where the minister made use of this exceptional power but failed to table the required documents in the House. He argued that although no deadline is specified in the Firearms Act it is surely unreasonable for the House to be kept waiting for up to three years for the tabling of the minister's reasons.

I draw to the attention of hon. members the fact that the minister tabled the 16 statements of reasons, along with an additional such statement concerning a subsequent regulatory change, on November 5, 2001.

As Speaker this case causes me some difficulty. In declining to include a reporting deadline in the statute, parliament has provided the minister with some latitude in fulfilling the requirement to table reasons. It would not be appropriate for the Speaker to impose such a deadline and so substitute his judgment for the decision of parliament, much as he might enjoy doing so.

Nevertheless the Chair appreciates that the hon. member has a grievance, one that appears to be entirely legitimate. The alacrity with which the minister was able to fulfill her statutory obligations following the raising of this question lends some credence to the member's claim that the delay in presenting these documents has been unreasonable.

Speaker Fraser in delivering a ruling on a related question stated the following on April 19, 1993, p. 18105 of Hansard :

I am not making any of these comments in any personal sense and members will understand that but there are people in departments who know these rules and are supposed to ensure that they are carried out.

In the case before us, the legislation drafted by the justice department contained from the outset the provisions obliging the minister to table in parliament reasons why section 118 should not apply for certain regulations. Furthermore, in the orders in council relating to each case, a standard paragraph is included which reads as follows:

And whereas the Minister of Justice will, in accordance with subsection 119(4) of the Firearms Act, have a statement of the reasons why she formed that opinion laid before each House of Parliament;

Therefore, Her Excellency, the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice, pursuant to paragraph X of the Firearms Act, hereby makes the annexed regulations--

The Chair must conclude from this evidence that far from being an arcane technicality cloaked in some dusty statute or other, the requirement for tabling of reasons is not only perfectly clear in the legislation but is invoked as an integral part of each such order in council. All the more reason, it seems to me, for the department to comply readily with the requirement given a modicum of efficiency in advising the minister.

In the case before us, when the missing documents were finally tabled several sets of supporting documents tabled by the minister lacked the privy council document which provides an easy link to the regulations cited by the hon. member for Surrey Central. In the case of the material relating to P.C. 2000-1783, and I cite Journals of November 5, 2001 at page 794, the privy council document was provided in only one official language.

Strictly speaking, these defects do not negate the minister's fulfillment of her statutory obligation, but they do point to a carelessness that appears to be characteristic of the way in which these matters are being handled by the officials in her department.

Were there to be a deadline for tabling included in the legislation, I would not hesitate to find that a prima facie case of contempt does exist and I would invite the hon. member to move the usual motion. However, given that no such deadline is specified, I can only find that a legitimate grievance has been identified.

I would encourage the hon. Minister of Justice to exhort her officials henceforth to demonstrate due diligence in complying with these and any other statutory requirements adopted by parliament. I look forward in future to the House being provided with documents required by law in a timely manner.

In closing, I would like to commend the hon. member for Surrey Central for having drawn this serious matter to the attention of the House. I might also remind all hon. members that the study of departmental estimates in committee offers an excellent opportunity to hold ministers and their officials accountable, not only for departmental policy and programs but also for their all important relations with parliament, including their compliance with these sorts of requirements laid down in the laws that we pass in this place.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Geoff Regan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

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

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Bill Graham Liberal Toronto Centre—Rosedale, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on the subject matter of Bill C-35, an act to amend the Foreign Missions and International Organizations Act.

Verbal Abuse Prevention Week ActRoutine Proceedings

November 21st, 2001 / 3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Shawn Murphy Liberal Hillsborough, PE

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-414, an act to establish verbal abuse prevention week.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce my private member's bill which will establish the first week of every October as verbal abuse prevention week.

Verbal abuse is a national problem and is present within all our communities. It exists in our schools, in our workplaces and even in our homes.

My hope is that the bill will serve to raise awareness and promote education about the negative consequences of verbal abuse.

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

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

Bloc

Jocelyne Girard-Bujold Bloc Jonquière, QC

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table in the House today a petition signed by 472 people, adding to the 40,000 signatures that I have already tabled.

I would like to emphasize that most of the petitioners are between 10 and 15 years old. They ask the government to get tougher with people convicted of sexual assaults against children.

The petitioners are telling this parliament that it is time to act and to give sentences of up to two years for a first conviction and up to five years more for repeat offences.

My private member bill on that problem has been chosen and I will appear before the Standing Committee on Private members' business this afternoon to convince them to make it votable.

It is with a lot of emotion that I table this petition.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

NDP

Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions this afternoon. The first petition is signed by several hundred petitioners. It was collected by Joan Russow in the context of a major peace rally on October 13.

The petitioners note that they are deeply concerned that terrorism in all its forms has resulted in the tragic loss of civilian lives, in racism and in societal disintegration and that military intervention in Afghanistan is aggravating the current situation.

Therefore, they call upon the Canadian government to respect international law and justice and not support military action in any form.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:25 p.m.

NDP

Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC

Mr. Speaker, the second petition I have the honour of presenting is signed by several hundred residents of my constituency of Burnaby—Douglas and other residents in British Columbia on the subject of the proposed free trade area of the Americas.

The petitioners note that the Liberal government conducted secret negotiations on the proposed FTAA and refused to make public the texts that are the basis for the negotiations.

They note that the proposed FTAA would effectively extend NAFTA to the hemisphere and, further, that the proposed FTAA would block the ability of governments to create or maintain laws, standards and regulations to provide universal public education and health care and to protect the safety and well-being of their citizens and the environment.

Therefore, the petitioners request that all texts that are the basis of the negotiations immediately be made public, that any trade deals be rejected, including the proposed FTAA which would preserve NAFTA style provisions that put the rights of corporations and investors ahead of the rights of citizens and governments.

Finally, the petitioners call upon parliament to adopt a new approach to globalization that places social, economic and ecological justice above the profits of multinational corporations and establishes an alternative rules based system that promotes and protects the rights of workers and the environment, respects cultural diversity and ensures the ability of all governments to act in the public interest.