Debates of Dec. 6th, 2001

Committees of the House

[Mario Laframboise, Bloc, Argenteuil—Papineau—Mirabel, QC]

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to congratulate my colleague, the hon. member for Champlain, on the excellent work he is doing for senior citizens, women and men of Quebec who are entitled to a little respect on the part of the Liberal government. I thank again my colleague from Champlain for his excellent work.

When the federal government tries to contact Canadians to draw up, among other things, the electoral list or simply for the census, when it wants to contact electors, including senior citizens, to get them to vote, it finds a way to do so.

Does the hon. member for Champlain not believe that the government should use all the means at its disposal to find these people? It can do it. We have the examples of the census and the make-up of the electoral list. Therefore, it should use all the means at its disposal to find these people; one way of doing it is to instruct its employees to go door to door.

Does the hon. member for Champlain believe this would be an acceptable solution? Until there is a real door to door campaign, Quebecers, including senior citizens who are watching us, who would be entitled to it, should be able to contact their member of the Bloc Quebecois so that we can help them. We are ready to do that.

[Marcel Gagnon, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. It is obvious that when the government wants to find people for something else, to ask for money for example, it has ways to find them.

The member referred to the voters list. It is the same thing. In that case, they find a way to send people out and knock on doors. It is normal. I am not criticizing this procedure. But why not do the same thing to give the most vulnerable members of our society what they are entitled to? Various associations working in the communities would be happy to lend a hand. These are often seniors associations such as the Association québécoise pour la défense des droits des retraités et des préretraités, the Quebec Federation of Senior Citizens and all sorts of community based organizations which know the community well and can easily go knocking on doors. Their help could be sought. I have met with these people and received calls from them offering to help; I know that they are prepared to help. I realize this is a huge task. They would not be asking for money, but ensuring that citizens are given the money they are entitled to. This is not a handout.

Bloc Quebecois members have already promised me their support, and we are ready. On our tour, we plan to visit all the ridings. The members of the Bloc Quebecois will participate in this bee.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I also want to congratulate my colleague, the hon. member for Champlain. To avoid any partisanship, I want to congratulate members of all parties for this unanimous report. As for Quebec Liberal members, I recognize in the House the member for Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, the member for Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, the member for Frontenac—Mégantic, the member for Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies, the member for—

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. As you are aware, it is inappropriate to call attention to the presence or absence of members in the House. I would like to draw this to the member's attention.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Order, please. The hon. parliamentary secretary is right. The presence or absence of members in the House must not be mentioned.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Beauport—Montmorency—Côte-De- Beaupré—Île-D'Orléans, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I make an appeal to the Liberal members from Quebec. Considering that in each election campaign they say to vote for someone who is on the right side; to vote for a candidate for a party that is likely to form the government, could they tell us if they will get the Minister of Human Resources Development, that paragon of stubbornness, to think?

The other day, I was on my way to visit my parents in Chicoutimi, when I heard on the radio “The Government of Canada wishes you a successful hare hunt”. Soon, we will hear messages like “The Government of Canada wishes you a good day”, “Be careful when you shovel your driveway, because we have had 25 centimetres of snow”, “The Government of Canada wishes you a good trip to the grocery store”. This is nonsense.

If the Government of Canada has such good intentions as regards information, it should give some to the needy who might qualify for the guaranteed income supplement. The list is public and 68,000 Quebecers are on it. The government should take the initiative in communicating with these persons who are often handicapped and in need.

As for me, being 45 years of age, I belong to the baby boomer generation that benefits from the self-sacrifices of the 60, 70 and 75 year olds. Not everyone is well off. Not all our senior citizens can afford a condo in Florida.

Consequently, I am urging my colleague from Champlain to maintain the pressure on the Government of Canada so that it informs these 68,000 Quebecers who qualify for the guaranteed income supplement.

[Marcel Gagnon, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will certainly accede to my colleague's request. We will not give up. We will certainly not accept that the minister not give the money back, as she said. We will not give up: the 11 month retroactivity must be eliminated. This money is owed. In this regard, we will exert enormous pressure.

I see members opposite agreeing with this. I see among others—we were told not to name members, but there are some who nodded—the member for Anjou—Rivière-des-Prairies, whom I will not name. But I know he agrees with what I am saying. We will do this work for the benefit of Quebecers and Canadians, because we want the minister to give in. It is 270,000 Canadians who will benefit.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my colleague from Champlain, who did a great job.

Are the forms available, so that I can bring them to my riding to distribute them to the seniors whom I might find?

[Marcel Gagnon, Bloc, Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the forms are extremely difficult to find. I explained earlier how to get them.

This is an amendment that we suggested in the report. The forms should be more readily available. Why not have forms in members' riding offices, for example? When people come in to get information, we could hand out forms to them so they can apply.

When the government hands out forms, it does not necessarily have to write a cheque. It is what is on the filled out forms that counts. Why not make these forms available?

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

Mr. Speaker, I move:

That the House proceed to orders of the day.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

All those in favour of the motion will please say yea.

[Some hon. members]

Yea.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

All those opposed will please say nay.

[Some hon. members]

Nay.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

In my opinion the yeas have it.

And more than five members having risen:

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

I declare the motion carried.

The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-44, an act to amend the Aeronautics Act, as reported (with amendment) from the committee.

Aeronautics Act

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, for the Minister of Transport]

moved that the bill, as amended, be concurred in.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Is it the pleasure of the House to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

On division.

(Motion agreed to)