House of Commons Hansard #104 of the 37th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was budget.
Points of OrderOral Question Period
The Deputy Speaker
I think the hon. member for Battlefords—Lloydminster anticipated the Chair's ruling, that in fact it would be a matter of clarification and not a point of order. That having been said, the matter is now on the public docket.
Order in Council AppointmentsRoutine Proceedings
Bras D'Or—Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Madam 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
Bras D'Or—Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 10 petitions.
Paul Forseth Canadian Alliance New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates.
I am the vice-chair of that committee from the opposition side. I am standing today to demonstrate that the official opposition is constructive and does not oppose for opposing's sake and that our party will never play politics with the lives of public employees.
Pursuant to its order of reference on Thursday, February 20, the committee has considered Bill C-25, an act to modernize employment and labour relations in the public service and to amend the Financial Administration Act and the Canadian Centre for Management Development Act and to make consequential amendments to other acts, and as agreed on Thursday, May 15, reports the bill with amendment.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-438, an act to initiate cooperation among the provinces in order to achieve affordable and timely access to civil justice across Canada.
Madam Speaker, this is a justice bill that considers a number of things in terms of greater coordination between the federal government and the provinces, and providing more assistance to people who need legal aid, particularly on the civil side.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Madam Speaker, I have two petitions.
My first petition states that thousands of Canadians, through no fault of their own, now possess unregistered firearms and that any individual who now tries to register a firearm will be exposed to federal prosecution. There are conflicting statements from the Minister of Justice and the Canadian firearms centre regarding the threat of prosecution, and that is only adding to the confusion.
The petitioners recognize that 9 out of 10 provinces, as well as MPs, senators and the Auditor General of Canada all agree that the firearms registry is out of control.
They therefore call upon Parliament, the Department of Justice and the Government of Canada to call an immediate amnesty for all unregistered firearms or, in the absence of an amnesty, scrap the firearms registry completely.
Cheryl Gallant Canadian Alliance Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
Madam Speaker, the second petition states that: marriage is the best foundation for families in the raising of children; the definition of marriage between a man and a woman is being challenged; and 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 woman to the exclusion of all others.
The petitioners call upon Parliament to pass legislation to 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.
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
Madam Speaker, this petition is from many citizens living near the Kouchibouguac national park.
Most of them sold their property when the park was created. This year, due to a shortage, Parks Canada has prohibited clam digging in the park.
The petitioners point out that they regard clam digging for personal use as a historic right and they ask that the restriction be lifted.
Charles Hubbard Liberal Miramichi, NB
Madam Speaker, the second petition is from a group that is very much opposed to Bill C-250. They petition the House that the bill not be passed.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions.
The first petition is signed by constituents from Burnaby and elsewhere in British Columbia, and in particular Ms. Michelle Zhang, a UBC student, whose family has been suffering tremendously from the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The petitioners raise concern about the systematic escalation of attacks in China against Falun Gong practitioners. It has caused many deaths and severe hardship to innocent people. They point out that the crackdown violates China's own constitution as well as international human rights conventions.
The petitioners therefore call for an immediate end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, the unconditional release of all Falun Gong practitioners who have gone to prison and in some cases to brainwashing classes, and for the unrestricted access into China of the United Nations rapporteur on torture to carry out independent, third party investigations of this persecution.
Svend Robinson NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Madam Speaker, I have the honour of presenting one other petition this morning, which again was signed by residents of British Columbia, and in particular through the work of End the Arms Race, as well as residents in Ontario.
The petitioners are very concerned about the importance of signing a space preservation treaty. They point to the impact of the termination of the ABM treaty in 2002 that may lead to the United States moving toward the weaponization of space. They raise grave concerns about the proposed use of nuclear tip missiles for the star wars system that currently is being debated both in Canada and elsewhere.
They call upon Parliament to lead the world community by enacting legislation to immediately ratify the space preservation treaty, to deposit this treaty with the secretary-general of the United Nations, and immediately convene a treaty signing conference for the space preservation treaty to encourage the necessary 20 signatories to make the treaty go into full force and effect.
Tony Tirabassi Liberal Niagara Centre, ON
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition on behalf of some residents of the Niagara Peninsula. The petitioners wish to draw to the attention of the House that marriage is the best foundation for families and the raising of children, and that the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others.
Rex Barnes Progressive Conservative Gander—Grand Falls, NL
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today which calls upon Parliament to focus its legislative support on adult stem cell research to find cures and therapies necessary to treat the illnesses and diseases of suffering Canadians.
Gerry Ritz Canadian Alliance Battlefords—Lloydminster, SK
Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to present a petition on behalf of my constituents. This particular petition comes from individuals in the Kindersley area of my riding. The petitioners call upon Parliament to protect our children by taking all necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed. They would like that done yesterday.
Lorne Nystrom NDP Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition signed by a number of people in my riding of Regina--Qu'Appelle, many in the City of Regina. The petitioners call upon Parliament to protect our children by taking all the necessary steps to ensure that all materials which promote or glorify pedophilia or sado-masochistic activities involving children are outlawed.
Reed Elley Canadian Alliance Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Madam Speaker, I have two petitions to present today. The first is signed by 61 petitioners in my riding who state that because the definition of marriage is between a man and a woman as passed in a motion in the House in June 1999, they call upon Parliament to pass legislation to 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.
Reed Elley Canadian Alliance Nanaimo—Cowichan, BC
Madam Speaker, the second petition I wish to present today is signed by 764 constituents from around my riding. The petitioners are concerned and urge the Government of Canada to stand firmly for peace, to refuse all military and other involvement in support of the war in Iraq, and to use all of its influence to bring about a peaceful solution to the problems in the Middle East.
Rodger Cuzner LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, Question No. 180 will be answered today.
John Duncan Canadian Alliance Vancouver Island North, BC
In the last five years, what is the breakdown of Canada-Iraq trade; specifically, what Canadian companies have done and are doing business with the Iraqi government?
Pierre Pettigrew LiberalMinister for International Trade
For a breakdown of Canada-Iraq trade for the last five years, the information is as follows:
In the previous five years there have been approximately 24 Canadian companies/organizations that have exported products to Iraq. Due to privacy laws the government is not in a position to release the names of these companies without their signed permission. The breakdown of companies is as follows:
18 oil and gas companies/equipment suppliers
4 trading houses
1 medical equipment supplier
1 wheat exporter
The following company has provided the government with written permission to release its name:
Group Marketing Co-Ordinates (1994) Ltd.
Source of Data: Statistics Canada as cited in World Trade Atlas
Source of Data: Statistics Canada as cited in World Trade Atlas
Questions passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings
Bras D'Or—Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Liberal
Rodger Cuzner LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Madam Speaker, if Question No. 194 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.
Questions passed as Orders for ReturnRoutine Proceedings
The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos)
Is that agreed?
Jay Hill Canadian Alliance Prince George—Peace River, BC
With respect to the Canadian Firearms Program, what is the total amount spent by each of the following departments and agencies since April 1, 1994 but not reimbursed by the Department of Justice: ( a ) Sollicitor General of Canada; ( b ) Correctional Services Canada; ( c ) Human Resources Development Canada; ( d ) Office of the Information Commissioner; ( e ) Office of the Privacy Commissioner; ( f ) National Parole Board; ( f ) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; ( g ) Public Works and Government Services Canada; ( h ) Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency; ( i ) Treasury Board Secretariat; and ( j ) Indian Affairs and Northern development?
(Return tabled.)
Rodger Cuzner Liberal Bras D'Or—Cape Breton, NS
Madam Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.