Debates of Jan. 30th, 2002

Petitions

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition from citizens of the Peterborough area who are concerned about stem cell research. They point out that it is unethical to harm or destroy some human beings in order to benefit others.

The petitioners also point out that adult stem cell research holds enormous potential. They know that the Canadian Institutes for Health Research is developing recommendations on how current Canadian research and funding policies can be applied to stem cell research.

The petitioners call upon parliament to ban human embryo research and direct the Canadian Institutes of Health Research to support and fund only promising, ethical research that does not involve the destruction of human life.

[Peter Adams, Liberal, Peterborough, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I present a petition from citizens of the Peterborough area, many of whom, but not all, live in co-op housing and are concerned about the condition of co-op housing in British Columbia.

The petitioners point out that there are more than 50 federally funded housing co-ops in British Columbia that are suffering the devastating effects of premature building envelope failure. They point out that the survival of these co-ops is at risk if these damages are not repaired.

These citizens call upon parliament to direct the minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to take such action and provide such additional resources as are necessary to achieve the full and timely resolution of the crisis in co-operative housing in British Columbia.

[Suzanne Tremblay, Bloc, Rimouski-Neigette-Et-La Mitis, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition on behalf of over 800 of my fellow citizens. This petition was signed following the events of September 11.

The petitioners sympathize with the thousands of victims, but they are deeply concerned by the turn of events. They are asking the Canadian government to base its actions on the search for peace, to act with wisdom and serenity, to reflect on the causes of violence and to take the necessary measures in order to bring peace throughout the world.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of hundreds of constituents in Nova Scotia it brings me great pleasure to present a petition relating to chromated copper arsenate, which is used in pressure treated wood. The petitioners pray that parliament will immediately ban the use of these compounds in pressure treated wood and other wood products.

[Gerald Keddy, Progressive Conservative, South Shore, NS]

Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of the citizens of South Shore asking that the schooner Blue Nose , which has been depicted on the Canadian dime since 1937, with the sole exception, of course, of the year 1967, be reinstated and put back on the dime.

The intent of the petition is that the Blue Nose has certainly always been an icon of Canadian pride and a reflection of our Maritime heritage and the time is past due that it be put back on the dime.

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am honoured to present a petition on behalf of constituents living in Grand Bend, Forest and Bedford in the riding of Lambton--Kent--Middlesex who call upon parliament to protect the health of seniors and children and the environment by banning the gas additive MMT.

The use of MMT in gasoline results in significantly higher smog producing hydrocarbon emissions and enhances global warming.

[Rose-Marie Ur, Liberal, Lambton—Kent—Middlesex, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have a second petition, pursuant to Standing Order 36, from constituents living in the riding of Lambton--Kent--Middlesex in the town of Strathroy who have signed a petition asking the Government of Canada to reinstate capital punishment.

The petitioners state that they are reaffirming the basic principles of criminal justice as given to them in God's word, thus making a richly blessed country safer.

Questions on the Order Paper

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

Mr. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 85 and 92.

Question No. 85—

[Ted White, Canadian Alliance, North Vancouver, BC]

With respect to a recent publication of Western Economic Diversification Canada, Access West, which states that small business in Western Canada provided an average of 2,130,900 jobs per year from 1996 to 1999: ( a ) how many copies of the document were mailed to households in Western Canada; ( b ) what was the cost of producing and mailing them; ( c ) how many staff are employed at the “Over 100 Points of Service” referred to in the document; ( d ) how many staff are employed at the Francophone offices; ( e ) how many of the small business jobs in Western Canada referred to in the document were created through the efforts of Western Economic Diversification Canada; and ( f ) were the jobs at Western Economic Diversification Canada included in the 2,130,900 total?

[Stephen Owen, Liberal, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development)]

(a) Approximately 935,000 copies of this particular issue of Access West were distributed, but as a newspaper insert, 6.8¢ per copy, in western Canada;

(b) $238,326 total; production $173,439; distribution $64,887; GST not included;

(c) Approximately 961 individuals work on a full or part time basis at the 102 points of services. Of these 961 positions, only slightly more than half, 55%, are funded by Western Economic Diversification.

Western Canada Business Service Network--Staffing Summary

(d) the four francophone offices employ 92 individuals; 65 of these 92 positions are funded through other sources; 27 are funded by Western Economic Diversification.

(e) Job creation is not a primary objective of the department's activities, however WD support the federal government's agenda on job creation through a number of programs and services delivered directly or through partners. And while many of the programs and services delivered by WD help increase employment, they do not allow for tracking job creation.

(f) No. WD is not a small business.

Question No. 92—

[Libby Davies, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

With regard to the agreement the Vancouver Port Authority has to construct a concrete batch plant on the Sterling site: ( a ) what are the terms of the lease agreement for the site; ( b ) what is the current market value of the site in terms of rents and length of lease; ( c ) how does that compare to similar property in Vancouver; and ( d ) has the site been offered to users of the port under similar terms and conditions?

[David Collenette, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

The Vancouver Port authority, VPA, is responsible for managing the commercial operations of the port, including leasing arrangements, with a view to the best interests of the port authority.

According to the VPA, the application by Lafarge to develop a marine bulk loading facility and integrated concrete batch plant on the site remains under review.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 94 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 94—

[Peter Goldring, Canadian Alliance, Edmonton Centre-East, AB]

For the wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada Lands Company Ltd., located at 200 King Street West in Toronto, can the government provide a list of federal surplus properties disposed of by year and federal constituency since January 1, 1993, including the description of each property, the date each property was put on the market and the date of sale, the asking/proposed and the final selling price of each property, the name and address of each buyer and the process by which it was sold (e.g. sealed bids, noncompetitive, sole source, etc.)?

Return tabled.

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Mr. Speaker, would you be so kind as to call Starred Questions Nos. 81 and 82.

*Question No. 81—

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC]

Can Natural Resources Canada provide a breakdown by province of each of the department's votes in the 2001-02 Main Estimates, for each of the following industrial sectors: ( a ) energy; ( b ) forests; ( c ) minerals; ( d ) metals; and ( e ) geomatics?

*Question No. 82—

[Guy St-Julien, Liberal, Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, QC]

Can Natural Resources Canada provide a breakdown by province of each of the department's votes in the 2001-02 Supplementary Estimates (A), for each of the following industrial sectors: ( a ) energy; ( b ) forests; ( c ) minerals; ( d ) metals; and ( e ) geomatics?

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I ask that the answers to Starred Questions Nos. 81 and 82 be made orders for return. These returns would be tabled immediately.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Returns tabled)

[Geoff Regan, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.