Debates of Dec. 10th, 2002

Kyoto Protocol

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is no longer any doubt that atmospheric pollution has a major impact on population health. Every year, 16,000 people die prematurely in Canada from smog-related diseases. The annual savings on health care if Kyoto is implemented are estimated at $1 billion.

Can the Minister of Health confirm the accuracy of this information on the public health impacts of adopting Kyoto?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, obviously in the Department of Health we are working very closely with our colleagues in the Department of the Environment.

It is quite clear and we understand that, as more research is done, there will likely be health impacts due to global warming. Obviously it is our responsibility to do the necessary research, to work with our colleagues and inform Canadians in relation to possible health impacts.

[Réal Ménard, Bloc, Hochelaga—Maisonneuve, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in her capacity as the Minister of Health, can the minister tell us whether she has a plan to encourage the government to speed up implementation of the Kyoto protocol?

[Anne McLellan, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, starting with the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Environment and others, have been absolutely clear that this afternoon in all likelihood Kyoto will be ratified and my colleagues have working on an implementation plan. That implementation plan will move forward.

Justice

[Jay Hill, Canadian Alliance, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the 1998 report of the Special Joint Committee on Child Custody and Access conducted extensive cross-country consultations on the issue affecting the children of divorce.

Contrary to the justice minister's belief, the spirit of the report was not to remove strong language from the Divorce Act. It was to ensure a shared parenting framework to allow children access to both of their parents.

Why did the Minister of Justice fail to send judges a clear message that children deserve both parents, even after divorce?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the House that this morning I tabled a bill amending the Divorce Act. Essentially, when we look at the bill itself and the whole package, there are three pillars.

We are talking about social programs to help families facing crises. We are talking as well about legislative change. We have chosen the notion of parental responsibility and to ensure that we take into consideration at all times, and this is paramount, the best interests of the child. There is very good news. We will expand the unified family court which has been a success for the legal system.

[Jay Hill, Canadian Alliance, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the minister's Bill C-21 will not ensure children's access to both parents. After marital breakdown children should not be divorced from either parent. Removing the terms custody and access from the Divorce Act will do nothing to ensure shared parenting roles for both parents.

Why did the Minister of Justice not preserve the spirit contained in the committee's report “For the Sake of the Children” by legislating shared parenting?

[Martin Cauchon, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, as the member said, I believe that we preserved the spirit. We are talking about parental responsibility. People wanted us to remove the notion of custody and access.

We will be investing money in social programs and will go ahead with expansion of the unified family court. We will invest money on that side as well.

Fisheries

[Joe McGuire, Liberal, Egmont, PE]

Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans.

Seven months ago fisherman from the Seacow pond in Tignish were barred from fishing off their traditional grounds off MacLeod's Ledge.

What progress has been made over the past seven months to restore these historic grounds to the fishermen of western P.E.I.?

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the member for his continued work on this very important file for the people of his community and of Prince Edward Island. I would also like to congratulate my parliamentary secretary, the best parliamentary secretary in the western world, the member for Bonaventure—Gaspé—Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Pabok, who worked very hard with him.

I encourage both members to continue to work together to resolve this problem for next year. I have asked them to meet, and barring a resolution, I will be making a determination prior to the next fishing season.

Canada Elections Act

[Vic Toews, Canadian Alliance, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, violent convicts are allowed to vote in Canada. Today I have introduced a private member's motion to reverse the effects of the Supreme Court of Canada decision that allows convict voting.

The integrity of democratic participation must be restored to Canadians. Will the government support the motion for a constitutional amendment to reverse this decision and restore the integrity of our democracy?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have indicated to the hon. member and to the House that I am willing to work within the existing constitutional framework and within the dictates of the Supreme Court of Canada to try to legislate again in this matter.

However, if he is asking me to amend the constitution to revoke rights of Canadians, I will not. Rights are rights in this country and I will have no part of it.

[Vic Toews, Canadian Alliance, Provencher, MB]

Mr. Speaker, is it not interesting how the government is concerned about the rights of violent convicts but nothing about the rights of children? Children are abused in this country. It does not care about them; murderers but not children.

The apathy of Canadians dropping out of the voting process at alarming rates is truly disturbing. The minister talks about giving rights to murderers. What about the rights of people who fought and died for this country? What about our veterans? What about those police officers who are out there?

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I told the hon. member and the entire House that I am willing to work within the existing court decision to try to effect the changes to the law to ensure that people who are convicted for a specific charge that would be acceptable to the courts would have the denial of the right to vote, if that is possible.

However what he is asking for is to revoke rights of people by amending the constitution. That is wrong.

Infrastructure Program

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

Mr. Speaker, we have learned that the federal government is refusing to include a $50 million to $80 million sum in the infrastructure program for highway 30. However, during the last election, a gaggle of federal ministers, headed by Alfonso Gagliano, made a firm announcement committing $357 million, saying that it was a done deal.

Rather than resorting to trickery in order to pay less, does the Minister of Transport plan on following through on the announcements made by his colleagues during the last election, and will he make the money available quickly, as promised?

[Allan Rock, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, the completion of highway 30 remains one of our priorities, under the strategic infrastructure fund. We are discussing the matter now with the Government of Quebec. We hope to be in a position, in the coming days, to be able to announce with the Quebec caucus specific measures to this effect.

Trade

[Tony Valeri, Liberal, Stoney Creek, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious trade is the lifeblood of the Canadian economy. Recently, senior U.S. officials, including trade representative Zoellick and commerce secretary Evans, made the bold proposal that all WTO countries eliminate tariffs on manufactured goods no later than 2015.

My question is for the Minister for International Trade. What is the Canadian response to this proposal given the integrated nature of the two economies and what is the strategy of the Canadian government to work closely with the United States in these ongoing international trade negotiations?

[Pierre Pettigrew, Liberal, Minister for International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, the United States proposal is bold, it is innovative and it does indeed merit careful consideration. Our tariffs are generally very low and many goods already enter Canada duty free. We are committed to the further reduction or even elimination of barriers that remain in markets of interest to Canadian exporters.

We must also call for the full consideration of the needs of developing countries.

Request for Emergency Debate

[The Speaker]

Order, please. I would like to come back to the request for an emergency debate presented yesterday by the hon. member for Saint-Hyacinthe—Bagot, regarding the future of the École de médecine vétérinaire de Saint-Hyacinthe.

Having listened carefully to the comments made by the hon. member, I have considered the request and I must conclude that it does not meet the requirements of the Standing Orders at this time.

The House resumed from December 6 consideration of the motion that Bill C-4, an act to amend the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, be read the third time and passed.

[The Speaker]

Pursuant to order made on Friday, December 6 the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at third reading stage of Bill C-4.

Call in the members.

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

[The Speaker]

I declare the motion carried.

(Motion agreed to, bill read the third time and passed)

The House resumed from December 9 consideration of the motion, and of the amendment and of the amendment to the amendment.

Kyoto Protocol

[The Speaker]

Pursuant to order made on Monday, December 9 the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded divisions on Motion No. 9 under government business.

The question is on the subamendment.

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I believe you will find unanimous consent in the House that those who voted on the previous motion be recorded as voting on the motion now before the House with Liberal members voting no and with the addition of the member for Ahuntsic.