Debates of May 4th, 2001

Housing

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise the House that a new Russian building code will open the doors to goods in the vast Russian market, thanks in large part to the respected expertise of CMHC.

Canada's housing exporters could reach a housing market of up to 400,000 units, and a potential of 700,000 housing units if the code is adopted by other former Soviet Union countries. This is very good news for Canada's housing related industries. Let me assure hon. members that CMHC will continue to promote Canada's housing expertise around the world.

Points Of Order

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

Madam Speaker, about ten days ago, I asked the Prime Minister a question in which I alluded to a lease signed by the Auberge Grand-Mère and the Grand-Mère golf club. The Prime Minister replied by making unrelated comments and denied the existence of such a lease.

Consequently, I am asking for the unanimous consent of the House to table a lease signed by the Auberge Grand-Mère and the Grand-Mère golf course.

[The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)]

Is there unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

Sahtu Dene And Metis Land Claims Agreement Report

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Madam Speaker, under provisions of Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 1999-2000 annual report of the implementation committee on the Sahtu Dene and Metis comprehensive land claims agreement.

Gwich'In Land Claims Agreement Report

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 1998-99 annual report of the implementation committee on the Gwich'in comprehensive land claims agreement.

Yukon Land Claims Agreement Report

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 1998-99 annual report of the implementation of the Yukon land claims agreement.

As you can tell, Madam Speaker, we are cleaning house. It is necessary to table these reports and I apologize that they are a little late.

Inuvialuit Final Agreement Report

[Bob Nault, Liberal, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of the 1998-99 annual report of the implementation of the Inuvialuit final agreement.

Government Response To Petitions

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to 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 five petitions.

Committees Of The House

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources on the Main Estimates, 2001-02.

[Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal, Vaughan—King—Aurora, ON]

Madam Speaker, during the last parliament the Standing Committee on Finance tabled a report entitled “Challenge for Change. A Study of Cost Recovery”.

Parliament was dissolved before the government was able to provide a comprehensive response to that committee pursuant to Standing Order 109. For that reason I have the honour to present the fourth report which restates the committee's request.

I also have the honour to present the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Finance regarding its order of reference of Monday, April 23, in relation to Bill C-17, an act to amend the Budget Implementation Act, 1997, and the Financial Administration Act.

The committee has considered Bill C-17 and reports the bill without amendment.

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 12th report later this day.

Criminal Code

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-343, an act to amend the Criminal Code (violent crimes).

Madam Speaker, the bill comes out of a desire to halt violent crimes and to protect society. It applies only to individuals who have been convicted on three separate occasions of a violent offence, for example murder, rape or sexual abuse.

A person who has demonstrated a wilful neglect for the basic respect of human life and human dignity will be met with an obligatory 25 year jail term.

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

Contraventions Act

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-344, an act to amend the Contraventions Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (marijuana).

Madam Speaker, the bill deals with the simple possession of marijuana.

Our courts are clogged today and the purpose of my bill is to unclog them. It would decriminalize, not legalize, the simple possession of marijuana. It would provide penalties, unclog our courts and save huge amounts of money for the court system. It would also allow police officers to do more important things, such as going after rapists, murderers, robbers and people involved in organized crime.

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

Immigration Act

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-345, an act to amend the Immigration Act (requirement to show evidence of identity).

Madam Speaker, the bill obligates individuals entering Canada to have identification with them. The small proviso is that individuals claiming refugee status where no identification can be produced would be exempt.

However, by and large, all individuals entering Canada who claim refugee status would be obliged to provide identification. If they want to appeal a decision they would have seven days to do so. The appeal would be heard by a senior immigration officer whose decision would be final.

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

Endangered Species Sanctuaries Act

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-346, an act respecting the creation of sanctuaries for endangered species of wildlife.

Madam Speaker, one of the challenges facing our country is the identification of critical habitat based on scientific means. The bill would enable critical habitat, habitat essential to the preservation of endangered species, to be protected. The designation of a species would be done on scientific grounds based on COSEWIC.

The bill would obligate the federal government to enter into agreements not only with provinces but with private landowners. Under extenuating circumstances where no agreement can be reached the bill would enable the federal government to impose minimal expropriation. Individuals would be remunerated at fair market value for whatever is expropriated.

The bill would strike a balance between private and public interests for species deemed endangered.

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

Blood Samples Act

[Keith Martin, Canadian Alliance, Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-347, an act to provide for the taking of samples of blood to detect the presence of certain viruses.

Madam Speaker, the bill pertains to individuals, such as police officers, firefighters, good Samaritans and hospital workers, who, in the line of duty, are exposed to blood and blood products that may contain hepatitis B, C or the HIV virus. The bill would give them the right to know the contents of the blood to see if it contained substances that could kill them.

The bill would strike a reasonable balance to enable the individual exposed to blood or blood products in an unfortunate manner to have immediate knowledge of its contents.

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

Canada Business Corporations Act

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

moved that Bill S-11, an act to amend the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Canada Cooperatives Act and to amend other acts, be read the first time. (Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Committees Of The House

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 12th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs presented to the House earlier this day be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, I rise to present a petition from citizens of the Peterborough area who support the development of a bioartificial kidney.

The bioartificial kidney is an experimental implant device which would be an alternative to kidney dialysis or kidney transplants, which at present are the only treatments available to those with end stage kidney disease.

I present a petition involving tens of thousands of signatures which was developed by Ken Sharp in my riding. I am pleased to say that next week there will be a meeting between leading researchers on this topic in the United States and Canada.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Madam Speaker, I would also like to present a petition from citizens of the Peterborough area who want a re-establishment of VIA Rail commuter service between Toronto and Peterborough.

They point to the environmental advantages, such as a reduction in greenhouse emissions and a reduction in accidents on the highways, and that it would help Peterborough become even stronger as a business, tourist and educational centre.

The petition has the support from the federal ridings of Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Durham, Whitby—Ajax, Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, Markham and even Hastings—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington.

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition on behalf of the residents of Halifax, the riding that I have the privilege to represent. It is a petition that calls upon parliament to enact an immediate moratorium on the cosmetic use of chemical pesticides.

There are two principles that underlie the petition. First is the precautionary principle, the concept that we should not allow the use of chemicals that have not been proven to be safe for human consumption and for our planet.

Second, the very principle that if we have neighbours who are suffering ill-health effects from a chemical being used for cosmetic purposes, surely the health considerations of citizens should come ahead of our aspirations to have lawns that are free of weeds.

I am pleased to table the petition and hope that the government would take it under serious consideration.

[Gar Knutson, Liberal, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is my honour to present two identical petitions signed by over 200 constituents.

The petitioners are requesting that parliament enact the necessary legislation to make it mandatory for all products containing genetically altered foods to be clearly labelled as such, regardless of percentage of content, that may prove harmful to consumers.

Questions On The Order Paper

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

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