House of Commons Hansard #147 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was provinces.

Topics

Ways and MeansRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Glengarry—Prescott—Russell Ontario

Liberal

Don Boudria LiberalMinister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 83(1), I have the honour to table a notice of a ways and means motion to amend the Income Tax Act concerning taxation of non resident trusts and foreign investment entities. I am also tabling legislative proposals and an information document on the same subject.

I ask that an order of the day be designated for consideration of the motion.

Canada's Performance-2003Routine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Westmount—Ville-Marie Québec

Liberal

Lucienne Robillard LiberalPresident of the Treasury Board

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, 87 performance reports on behalf of departments and agencies, as well as a report entitled “Canada's Performance-2003”.

ImmigrationRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Bourassa Québec

Liberal

Denis Coderre LiberalMinister of Citizenship and Immigration

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 94 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, I am pleased to present, in both official languages, the annual report on immigration for the year 2003.

Canada Customs and Revenue Agency ReportRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Thornhill Ontario

Liberal

Elinor Caplan LiberalMinister of National Revenue

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency's third annual report to Parliament for the year ending March 31.

Order in Council AppointmentsRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Geoff Regan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in council appointments made recently by the government.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Geoff Regan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to four petitions.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

Peter Adams Liberal Peterborough, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 51st report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which contains a proposed conflict of interest code for members of Parliament.

I also have the honour to present the 52nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs which describes the committee's work on the conflict of interest code and which also includes a dissenting opinion from the Canadian Alliance.

I would like to thank the members of the committee and the staff who have worked many months on the conflict of interest code. This has not been an easy matter. It is something that is very important for the House and I am most grateful to the staff and all members for their work.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Debate, Mr. Speaker?

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:05 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

To the hon. member for Elk Island, there are no provisions in the rule book for debate after presenting a report from committee.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the standing orders do provide for the official opposition to give a clear and succinct statement regarding the essence of the dissenting report.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

There is a slight difference between debate and presenting a dissenting opinion. The dissenting opinion is indeed allowed and the hon. member has the floor.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry I was not clear in my original request.

I would like to point out to members present that we did indeed enjoy working together with the committee. It was a good process, as the chairman has just stated. I have been involved in the process for approximately 10 years.

With respect to the dissenting report, I want to point out that while we agree with pretty well everything in the report, the big hang-up we have is the lack of independence of the ethics commissioner.

The method of appointment is such that the Prime Minister chooses and appoints that person. That is really our largest problem. The committee came so close to doing it right. If the committee had made that one little change we would be delighted to support the bill.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Andy Scott Liberal Fredericton, NB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the eighth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Pursuant to its order of reference of Tuesday, May 13, your committee has considered Bill C-33, an act to implement treaties and administrative arrangements on the international transfers of persons found guilty of criminal offences, and has agreed to report it with one amendment.

I have also the honour to present, in both official languages, the ninth report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

Pursuant to its order of reference of Tuesday, April 1, your committee has considered Bill C-20, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, and has agreed to report it with amendments.

If I may, I would like to thank the members of the committee and the staff. This is our fifth piece of legislation in the last two weeks. It is very important legislation and everyone has done very good work. I must say, as the chair, that I appreciated it.

Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

John Williams Canadian Alliance St. Albert, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the twenty-fourth report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on chapter 10 of the Auditor General of Canada's December 10 report: Department of Justice—Costs of Implementing the Canadian Firearms Program.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109 of the House of Commons, the committee asks that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Larry Spencer Canadian Alliance Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre, SK

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to present with nearly 300 signatures from people in the province of Ontario.

Both petitions call upon Parliament to modify legislation to ensure that children can have involvement with both parents after a divorce and that the payments would go strictly for the support of the children.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Charlie Penson Canadian Alliance Peace River, AB

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Peace River constituents, I would like to submit a petition with over 200 signatures calling upon Parliament to pass legislation that would recognize the institution of marriage in federal law as being a lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

Most people living in my riding believe that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children. They are also aware that this institution is being threatened. They wish to ensure that protection is provided to marriage.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:10 a.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition, following many others on the same subject, again signed by constituents in my riding of Mississauga South.

The constituents of Mississauga South overwhelmingly have come out against the Ontario Court of Appeal decision; and that the definition of marriage being the legal union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others is in fact constitutional and the will of Canadians.

The petitioners would also like to point out that section 33 of the charter provides an override, which is also referred to as a notwithstanding clause.

The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament and the government to invoke the notwithstanding clause so that only two persons of the opposite sex can be married.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Bloc

Richard Marceau Bloc Charlesbourg—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions to table. The first one is as a result of my meeting a man, Reverend Paul Corriveau, who impressed me very much. He asked me to table a petition asking Parliament to take every necessary step to maintain the current definition of marriage, that is the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. This is the first petition I table as a result of my commitment to him.

The second petition is on the same topic, but from the opposite point of view. The petitioners ask Parliament to enact legislation to allow same sex couples to marry.

Parliamentarians have the duty to allow petitioners to present petitions, regardless of their own position, and this is what I decided to do.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Ken Epp Canadian Alliance Elk Island, AB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I am honoured to present a petition from a number of people, both in my riding and from the city of Edmonton, some of whom will be in the riding that I will represent, hopefully, after the next election.

The petition concerns child pornography. The petitioners demand that the government take all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Inky Mark Canadian Alliance Dauphin—Swan River, MB

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to rise this morning to present four petitions on behalf of the good people of Dauphin—Swan River.

The first petition calls upon Parliament to request that Parks Canada take immediate action to save the elk herd and protect the surrounding livestock and wildlife by eliminating disease within the elk herd.

Mr. Speaker, the next petition calls upon Parliament to reduce national park fees and camping fees.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Inky Mark Canadian Alliance Dauphin—Swan River, MB

Mr. Speaker, my next petition requests that Parliament move to freeze further spending on the implementation or privatization of the national firearms registry and appeal Bill C-68 in its entirety.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Canadian Alliance

Inky Mark Canadian Alliance Dauphin—Swan River, MB

Mr. Speaker, in the last petition petitioners call upon Parliament to immediately hold a renewed debate on the definition of marriage and to reaffirm, as it did in 1999, its commitment to take all necessary steps to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to table in the House a petition signed by hundreds of Canadians, adding to the tens of thousands who have already done so, regarding Canadian involvement in the U.S. national missile defence program.

The petition specifically calls upon Parliament to declare Canada's objection to the national missile defence program of the Bush administration and, second, to play a leadership role in banning nuclear weapons in missile flight tests.

The petition takes on added urgency as this Parliament appears to be ready to wind down and as the prime minister in waiting has seen fit to declare his support for this as his very first public announcement as the official leadership candidate.

Questions On the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

Halifax West Nova Scotia

Liberal

Geoff Regan LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

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

Questions On the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

10:15 a.m.

The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)

Is it agreed?