House of Commons Hansard #203 of the 37th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was endangered.
Ghislain Lebel Bloc Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon during question period, in the heat generated by all the scandal prevailing at this time to the detriment of the government, I let myself get carried away and said that the Prime Minister had violated his oath of office.
If this can salve the consciences of the Prime Minister, the House leader of the ruling party and my friends across the way, I humbly and sincerely withdraw those words.
Denis Coderre LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I have the honour to present today, in both official languages, the government's response to the third report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, a report entitled “Building a Nation: the Regulations under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act”.
As well, pursuant to subsection 5(2) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I am pleased to table draft immigration and refugee protection regulations.
Karen Redman LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to nine petitions.
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food entitled “The Future Role of the Government in Agriculture”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, your committee requests that the government provide a comprehensive response within 150 days of the tabling of this report in the House of Commons.
I would like to point out that this is a unanimous report except for one minor provision. It was worked on by all political parties in the House. The committee met in 15 places across Canada and produced a report some eight chapters in length with 33 recommendations.
I would like to thank the members of the committee, the clerk, Suzanne Verville and the researchers, Jean-Denis Fréchette and Frédéric Forge.
In the report we advocate a significant amount of money toward the agriculture community, some $1.3 billion. We worked closely with the other two committees that also studied the agricultural community. It is a matter of national security that we have a sufficient and successful food supply for people.
The agricultural community is in great stress across our country. The farmers are of great significance. They are well trained and have excellent programs but they need the support of our government. In working closely with nature of course, we have to recognize today that the rains we have in Canada will help our community.
We look forward to action in the agriculture area.
David Anderson Canadian Alliance Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Following the excellent presentation by the chairman of the agricultural committee, I would like to seek unanimous consent that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food tabled earlier today be concurred in.
Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
Does the hon. member for Cypress Hills--Grasslands have the unanimous consent of the House to propose this motion?
Wayne Easter Liberal Malpeque, PE
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans entitled “Foreign Overfishing: Its Impacts and Solutions, Conservation on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks and the Flemish Cap”. I am most pleased to say that the report is supported by all parties and is therefore unanimous.
I would also like to thank the research staff and the staff of the committee for all their hard work in terms of the meetings we had across the country, for the hearings we had in Ottawa and in the writing of the report.
We recommend strong action on the part of the federal government, using various legislation available to it, to put an end to overfishing outside our 200 mile limit. We look forward to the government's positive response within 150 days.
Joe Fontana Liberal London North Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration entitled “Competing for Immigrants”. We have received virtual unanimity on all four of our reports. Therefore I want to thank the members of the standing committee, the minister and his staff, the Canadians who are working abroad and the locally engaged staff who serve our country well.
For over 134 years, Canada has been competing for immigrants and we have some of the best people in the world. We want to continue this tradition of inviting people from all over the world to come and help the greatest nation on earth.
Therefore, I table this report on behalf of our committee and hope that the House of Commons and the Canadian government move forward to ensure that we can process quickly the best, the brightest and the skilled workers that we need to help build our economy and our nation.
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-475, an act to amend the Canada Pension Plan.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of the bill is to amend the Canada pension plan to extend eligibility for survivor pensions to the dependant children and spouses or common law partners of deceased contributors. It deals with contributors who are disabled and would allow for those benefits, in the event the contributor is deceased, to go to the children.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Mac Harb Liberal Ottawa Centre, ON
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-476, an act to establish a National Civil Defence Force.
Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment would be to create a national civil defence force to provide effective support to emergency services during civil defence emergencies such as earthquakes, terrorism or the like.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Ghislain Lebel Bloc Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure again today, one that has been repeated just about every day for the past week—what my colleague might qualify as akin to total delight—to officially table here in the House a petition calling upon parliament to call for a public inquiry into everything relating to the scandals assailing us since January. There seems to be no end in sight and no possible way out. This morning again, we have a petition signed by 90 people, which I table on their behalf.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour of presenting a petition this morning on the subject of soaring oil and gas prices. The petition is signed by residents of British Columbia, including a number of residents of Burnaby--Douglas.
The petitioners point out that energy is a Canadian natural resource but that we have little effective control over this resource. They express concern about the big oil companies that dominate refining and gasoline sales, that are free to set whatever price they want at the wholesale level and at the pumps and that there is absolutely no effective oversight of oil and gas prices. They point out that Canadian households and businesses rely on energy and have no alternative but to pay the higher prices.
Therefore, the petitioners call upon parliament to urge the government to set up an energy price commission that would hold the big oil companies accountable for the energy prices they charge to Canadians.
Joe Fontana Liberal London North Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour and privilege to present, with a heavy heart, a petition on behalf of thousands of Londoners who are petitioning the House of Commons and the government to bring peace, security and tranquility to the Middle East region for both the Palestinians and Israelis.
The petitioners request that the Parliament of Canada take full cognizance of the crisis in the Holy Land of Palestine and Israel. In acknowledging that the cause of peace and justice in the Middle East for Christians, Jews and Muslims is inseparable from the fundamental interest of Canada to secure peace and justice at home and abroad, that it resolve to remain fully apprised of the situation and assist in every way possible to bring peace, restore justice and establish security for all people in the land where Jesus, may peace be upon Him, was born, preached and risen to the heavenly kingdom above.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to present two petitions to the House this morning. The first petition deals with the issue of child pornography.
The petitioners note that child pornography is condemned by a clear majority of Canadians. They are concerned about the recent court decisions that they believe do not properly uphold the laws of Canada and they are calling for a complete ban on all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochist activities involving children.
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to present a second petition this morning from Canadians in Atlantic Canada and in Saskatchewan wishing to draw the government's attention to the significant social contribution that adoptive parents make to Canadian society.
They are concerned about the huge cost that adoptive parents have to bear and are calling upon the government to enact legislation to bring about a substantial tax deduction to cover some of the costs involved in adopting children.
John M. Cummins Canadian Alliance Delta—South Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to present a petition this morning on behalf of constituents and other folks throughout the lower mainland of British Columbia, including people from the Quesnel area of British Columbia and even people from Ottawa.
The petition has to do with the constitutional obligation of the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to protect wild fish and their habitat. The petitioners note that the auditor general and others have found that the minister is currently not fulfilling his obligation to protect wild fish and their habitat.
They call upon parliament to direct the minister to fulfill his obligation to protect wild fish and their habitat from the effects of fish farming.
Inky Mark Canadian Alliance Dauphin—Swan River, MB
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to present two petitions on behalf of the people of Dauphin--Swan River.
During this past winter the aboriginals have been netting the stocked lakes in the Lake of the Prairies in my riding without regard for the health of the fish stock in the lake for the purpose of selling the fish on the commercial market and not for sustenance.
Thousands of petitioners are calling upon parliament to enforce the laws of Canada so that those who take advantage of their status and who breach federal laws be held accountable for their actions. Canada needs a single justice system for all its citizens.
Joe Peschisolido Liberal Richmond, BC
Mr. Speaker, it is an honour for me to rise to present a petition similar to the petition put forth by my colleague from Prince George--Peace River.
The petition has been signed by hundreds of citizens in Richmond and in the greater Vancouver area dealing with the problem of child pornography.
The petitioners note that the creation and use of child pornography is condemned by a clear majority of Canadians and some clear steps should be taken, including the outlawing of sado-masochistic and pedophilia material, and that parliament act quickly to make clear that such exploitation of children will always be met with swift punishment.
Gérard Binet Liberal Frontenac—Mégantic, QC
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the member for Ahuntsic, I have the honour to present in the House a petition in both official languages, asking parliament to urge the Government of Canada to request that the United Kingdom return the parthenon marbles to Greece.
The petitioners ask that every effort be made to have the parthenon marbles, which were removed from Greece almost 200 years ago without the consent of the Greek people, returned to Greece, their country of origin, prior to the 2004 Olympic Games, when Greece will host the 28th Olympiad.
Gérard Binet Liberal Frontenac—Mégantic, QC
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to present, on behalf of my colleague, the member for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine, a petition regarding the working conditions of rural route mail couriers.
Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings
Kitchener Centre Ontario
Liberal
Karen Redman LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, Question No. 160 will be answered today.
Christiane Gagnon Bloc Québec, QC
With respect to Radio-Canada's Centre de l'information in Montreal: ( a ) what was the estimated cost of the project when it was first announced; ( b ) what was the actual cost; ( c ) what is the cost breakdown; and ( d ) who were all the contractors and subcontractors who worked on the project?