Debates of Nov. 5th, 2002

Employment Insurance

[Scott Reid, Canadian Alliance, Lanark—Carleton, ON]

Mr. Speaker, last week we were stunned to learn that the EI fund surplus has reached the record level of $45 billion, while the chief actuary of the human resources directorate recommended that the surplus never exceed $15 billion.

Is it the Prime Minister's intention to lower the premiums for employees and employers, and if so, when?

[John Manley, Liberal, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance]

Mr. Speaker, normally, the rate for the following year is announced at the end of November. I presume that at the end of November, we will be announcing the premiums for 2003.

Official Languages

[Benoît Sauvageau, Bloc, Repentigny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the government has set March 2003 as its deadline for ensuring that people in positions designated bilingual are bilingual, which is self-evident.

Will the Minister of National Defence tell us if he plans on respecting this deadline, given that his department's last report on official languages indicated that 46% of the staff at defence headquarters still do not meet the bilingualism requirements?

[Lucienne Robillard, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board]

Mr. Speaker, Treasury Board policy, which must be respected by all departments, including National Defence, is very clear; all managers who work in regions designated as bilingual must reach a level of bilingualism by March 2003. Right now, those who are behind are accelerating efforts and we hope that they will all meet the standards by March 2003. If not, there will definitely be consequences.

Age of Consent

[Art Hanger, Canadian Alliance, Calgary Northeast, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice indicated that there are social and cultural considerations that must be taken into account when dealing with the change of age for sexual consent.

Would the parliamentary secretary tell the House what these social and cultural considerations are?

[Paul MacKlin, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, there are many issues that relate to this matter, whether it be in marriage or the way in which people deal with the social structure of the particular society they are living in.

The matter is very clearly and well defined. We will not go forward with any further initiatives in that area until such time as we come up with a solution that makes sense and has the consent and consensus of all those who are involved in this matter.

Presence in Gallery

[The Speaker]

As members will know, November 5 marks the first day of Veterans' Week. I have the honour of drawing to their attention to the presence in the gallery of one of Canada's distinguished soldiers.

Born in 1900, 102 years ago, Mr. Paul Métivier is a World War I veteran who enlisted in the army in 1917 when he was 16 years old, and served in Belgium and France until 1918. On behalf of all members and all Canadians, I would like to express our gratitude to Mr. Métivier and to all of Canada's veterans.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

Also in the gallery is Lieutenant-Colonel Al Trotter who flew 44 missions over Europe during World War II, was a prisoner of war and is one of the most highly decorated veterans in Canada.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Elyor Ganiev, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Agency for Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and His Excellency Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Jiri Rusnok, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[The Speaker]

I would also like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of the Honourable Marjorie Morton, President of the Assembly of Nevis Island and parliamentarians attending the 2nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Seminar.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

[Joe Jordan, Liberal, Leeds—Grenville, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. In light of the fact that issue of committee chairs has gripped the collective psyche of Canadians and inherent in this motion is the underlying premise that secrecy seems to be a hallmark of democracy, I propose that you seek the consent of the House to clear the galleries, turn off the cameras and let this recorded division take place by secret ballot under the shroud of this new democracy and completely out of the view of Canadians.

[The Speaker]

Does the House gives its consent to the proposal by the parliamentary secretary?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[Some hon. members]

No.

The House resumed from October 31 consideration of the motion.

Supply

[The Speaker]

It being 3:06 p.m., pursuant to order made on Thursday, October 31, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded divisions related to the business of supply. The question is on the motion.

Call in the members.

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

[The Speaker]

I declare the motion carried.

The House resumed from November 4 consideration of the motion.

[The Speaker]

Pursuant to order made on Monday, November 4, the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of Mrs. Wayne relating to the business of supply. The question is on the motion.

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