Debates of Nov. 6th, 2003

Committees of the House

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 10th report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in regard to its review of the Seized Property Management Act. Our report makes recommendations.

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 11th report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates regarding the proposed appointment of Ms. Jennifer Stoddart as Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

I would indicate that the committee recommends that the government proceed as provided in Standing Order 111.1(2) with the appointment of Ms. Jennifer Stoddart as Privacy Commissioner of Canada and that the House do ratify the appointment.

[Tom Wappel, Liberal, Scarborough Southwest, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans entitled, “Atlantic Fisheries Issues: May 2003”, which is a unanimous report of our committee, with supplemental reasons by the Canadian Alliance regarding our findings on our trip to the Atlantic provinces.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report within 150 days.

While I am on my feet, Mr. Speaker, may I, on behalf of our committee, thank our hard-working clerk, researchers, support staff and specialized interpreters for everything they have done for us over this time.

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Burlington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the very great honour this morning to present, in both official languages, the first and second reports of the Special Committee on the Non-Medical Use of Drugs.

Specifically, this committee was given Bill C-38, an act to amend the Contraventions Act and the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. That in fact is our second report.

Our first report is also a recommendation to the government, a unanimous recommendation from all committee members, that focused on two main issues: We encourage the government to focus on the renewed national drug strategy and that the government further its work on the recommendations made by the predecessor committee and that this strategy work to resolve the issue of drug impaired driving, as this issue was raised by witnesses and by all members of the committee. We really encourage the government to move rapidly.

With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will thank all my colleagues on all sides of the House for their incredible dedication and hard work in a very short order. We were blessed with great researchers and a great set of clerks. Everyone really pulled together, and we know that there was a big team working very hard last night. To all of them I say thank you very much.

Criminal Code

[Chuck Strahl, Canadian Alliance, Fraser Valley, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-468, an act to amend the Criminal Code (joyriding).

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Dewdney—Alouette for seconding the bill.

In 2001 statistics show that there were 170,000 motor vehicle thefts reported to police in Canada. Car theft now stands 10% higher than a decade ago and costs Canadians $1 billion a year. Yet the average penalty, when someone is convicted of joyriding or car theft, is only $100. The average damage to a vehicle is over $4,000. In my own constituency in the city of Chilliwack, auto theft is up 33% this year alone.

My bill would strengthen the provisions of section 335 of the Criminal Code, a section that deals with motor vehicle theft, prescribe a minimum or maximum sentence in terms of jail, a jail term or restitution to the victim. It also states that parents of young offenders who have contributed to the delinquency of a child can be held responsible for restitution as well.

I hope that all members will take note of this serious problem in Canada, the cost to society as a whole, and give careful consideration and support for my bill which deals with joyriding and car theft before we see greater increases in this most damaging crime.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

National Heritage Hunting and Fishing Act

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-469, an act to recognize Canada's recreational hunting and fishing heritage and to establish the National Fish and Wildlife Heritage Commission.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of my bill is to establish the right to hunt and fish in accordance with the law.

The bill also establishes a National Fish and Wildlife Commission that will be required to make recommendations to the Minister, notably in respect of the promotion of activities related to fish and wildlife.

This enactment also would require that a report on the activities of the commission be tabled annually in each of the Houses of Parliament.

I would like to thank my colleagues in the Liberal outdoor caucus who co-sponsored my bill: Mr. Jordan, Mr. Szabo, Mr. Steckle, Mrs. Ur, Mr. Adams, Mr. St. Denis, Mr. Savoy and Mr. Speller.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

The hon. member has been in the House for quite a while. He knows that he cannot identify members by their personal names.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Canadian Farm-Raised Deer and Elk Month Act

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-470, an act to designate the month of November as Canadian Farm-Raised Deer and Elk Month.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for consideration of this legislation because the animals of 2,000 farmers across the country have been hit by a critical wasting disease. We need to raise awareness of this industry that has great value, not only to Canadians but to international trade as well. It provides nutraceuticalin the way of elk velvet that is very popular in Asian countries as well as in North America. The quality of red deer and elk meat is lower in cholesterol than chicken. It is of very high quality. This industry needs support and awareness brought to it.

I encourage members of the House to consider my bill because it is a very valuable bill.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Criminal Code

[Kevin Sorenson, Canadian Alliance, Crowfoot, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-471, an act to amend the Criminal Code and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (sexual assault on child--dangerous offenders).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Yellowhead for seconding my private member's bill, which I believe to be an important.

If enacted, my bill will amend section 752 to section 761 of the Criminal Code automatically making anyone convicted of two or more sexual offences against a child a dangerous offender.

I brought my bill forward for the sake of the children of the country. I believe that the laws in existence today do not deal appropriately with those who are obviously ongoing risks to society. We need laws that more properly reflect some of the bleak realities of the world, of society and of our country. I believe my private member's bill is one that would reflect that.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)

Personal Watercraft Act

[Clifford Lincoln, Liberal, Lac-Saint-Louis, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill S-10, an act concerning personal watercraft in navigable waters.

(Motion agreed to and bill read the first time)

Appointment of Privacy Commissioner

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

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations among all parties in the House and pursuant to the agreement that was made, I think you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That Motion No. 134, standing in my name on the Order Paper, is now moved and adopted unanimously.

The motion reads:

That, in accordance with subsection 53(1) of the Act to extend the present laws of Canada that protect the privacy of individuals and that provide individuals with a right of access to personal information about themselves, Chapter P-21 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, this House approve the appointment of Jennifer Stoddart of Westmount, Quebec as Privacy Commissioner for a term of seven years.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Is there unanimous consent to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Member Statement

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

Mr. Speaker, there have been further consultations among House leaders and I also believe you would find unanimous consent for the following motion. I move:

That at 3 p.m. on Thursday, November 6, 2003, the member for Davenport and a spokesperson for each opposition party shall make statements of no more than five minutes.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Is there unanimous consent to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Former Privacy Commissioner

[Derek Lee, Liberal, Scarborough—Rouge River, ON]

Mr. Speaker, there have been consultations and I think you would find unanimous consent to adopt the following motion without amendment or debate. I move:

That this House find George Radwanski to have been in contempt of this House, and acknowledge receipt of his letter of apology, tabled and read to the House earlier today.

[The Acting Speaker (Mr. Bélair)]

Is there unanimous consent to adopt the motion?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Myron Thompson, Canadian Alliance, Wild Rose, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the people of the beautiful town of Canmore in my riding, I would like to table a petition that calls upon Parliament to take all measures necessary to protect the rights of Canadians to freely share their religious and moral beliefs without fear of prosecution.

[Roy H. Bailey, Canadian Alliance, Souris—Moose Mountain, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions all dealing with the same subject. The petitioners come from across Saskatchewan. They are begging and pleading with the Government of Canada to restore the definition of marriage to be the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

I certainly have many thousands who have signed these petitions.

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to present a petition from constituents in my riding. They call upon Parliament to reject Bill C-22, to consider parental rights along with parental responsibilities and begin with the presumption of mandatory equal parenting in the event of a divorce.

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to present 12 petitions from different communities in my riding. These are from the communities of Wildwood, Edson, Jasper, Drayton Valley, Barrhead, Alberta Beach, Hinton, Grand Cache, Mayerthorpe, Tomahawk, Onoway, and Calahoo.

The petitioners are very concerned about the definition of marriage being retained and they want an open debate in the country. They are petitioning the government to have the definition of marriage retained as being between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour to present three petitions. Most of these are from the maritimes of Canada. They are also asking that Parliament pass legislation recognizing the institution of marriage in federal law as being between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Robert Bertrand, Liberal, Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise in the House today to present a petition on behalf of Canadians who wish to draw the attention of the House to the following: that marriage is the best foundation for families and for the raising of children; that the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman is being challenged; and that this hon. House passed a motion in June 1999 that called for marriage to continue to be defined as the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today signed by a number of Canadians including from my own riding of Mississauga South.

The petitioners would like to remind Parliament that on June 10, 2003, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that the traditional definition of marriage was unconstitutional. They also want to point out that under section 33 of our Constitution, referred to as the notwithstanding clause, that the charter provision could be overridden.

Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to invoke the notwithstanding clause so that the traditional definition of marriage being the legal union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others remain the law in Canada.