Debates of Oct. 13th, 2004

Textile Industry

[Paul Crête, Bloc, Rivière-Du-Loup—Montmagny, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the elimination of quotas in the textile industry, scheduled for 2005, will cause a disastrous loss of 12,000 to 24,000 jobs in Quebec alone, thereby weakening the textile and clothing industry just a little more.

Will the federal government make public, and quickly, for time is of the essence, an action plan to stop this massive loss of employment? The government's current inaction is leading directly to catastrophe.

[David Emerson, Liberal, Minister of Industry]

Mr. Speaker, to meet the needs of the apparel and textiles industries, the government launched in 2003 a three year $33 million Canadian apparel and textile industries program, and provided $10.9 million to enhance Canada Border Services Agency efforts against the illegal transshipment of textile and apparel products into Canada.

At that time the government also created the joint government-industry working group on textiles and apparel to examine the longer term issues affecting the competitiveness of these two industries.

Child Care

[Tony Martin, NDP, Sault Ste. Marie, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Social Development.

We now have a commitment in the throne speech to a national child care program. This is a benchmark after years of promises by Conservatives and Liberals in election campaigns. I just crossed the country meeting with and listening to the child care community. There is great expectation out there.

Can the minister assure us that this new program will be enshrined in legislation, and be publicly funded and publicly delivered?

[Ken Dryden, Liberal, Minister of Social Development]

Mr. Speaker, we have meetings scheduled for November 1 and November 2 with the provinces and the territories where these matters that the hon. member has raised will be discussed.

Port Security

[Caroline St-Hilaire, Bloc, Longueuil, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transport has expressed his intent to introduce a new policy on security in Canadian ports, including potential invasion of the privacy of longshoremen and other workers. There is talk of an investigation and even digging into their pasts.

Does the Minister of Transport not think it would be wiser, during the first phase of his policy, to return the RCMP to its previous strength in the ports, especially the port of Montreal, in order to attack criminal activity more effectively?

[Jean Lapierre, Liberal, Minister of Transport]

Mr. Speaker, I am very surprised to hear the hon. member for Longueuil—Pierre-Boucher make excuses for the events of last week. In my opinion, investigation of workers' backgrounds is essential. We only need look at the court appearance last week of the port of Montreal worker who pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to import drugs valued at $2.1 billion. I think these background checks are essential.

House of Commons

[The Speaker]

Pursuant to Standing Order 28(2)(b), I have the honour to lay upon the table the House of Commons calendar for the year 2005.

Points of Order

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Mr. Speaker, during question period, the Minister of Public Works stated in his answer to a question from the member for Wellington—Halton Hills that the members of Parliament of all parties lobbied for sponsorship moneys. The Minister of Public Works would know that this is incorrect because he used to be in the same party at one time. He then went on to mention a number of members of Parliament by riding. He specifically included the member for South Shore, which would be my old riding in the 37th Parliament.

This was a deliberate attempt, a scandalous attempt to mislead the Canadian public, and I insist that the minister retract his statement because at no time did I ever lobby for any sponsorship moneys, nor was I aware that they even came into the riding.

[Scott Brison, Liberal, Minister of Public Works and Government Services]

Mr. Speaker, I urge the hon. member to check the blues. I did not say that he lobbied. I said that organizations within his riding did receive sponsorship money, which is the case of the Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival. I am sure it was more than appreciative. It is a good organization that received money from the sponsorship program.

[The Speaker]

I am sure both hon. members will want to have a look at the blues. If there is continuing disagreement, I am sure we will hear about it at another time.

Order in Council Appointments

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a number of orders in council made recently by the government.

VIA Rail Commercialization Act

[Jim Gouk, Conservative, Southern Interior, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-203, an act respecting the commercialization of VIA Rail Canada Inc..

Mr. Speaker, there are only three viable reasons for rail: commuter rail wholly provided by the private sector far more cost effectively than VIA Rail; rail tourism provided without subsidy at all by the private sector; and in remote regions for transportation that can be provided far more effectively and studies have proved that.

My bill would move VIA Rail toward commercialization instead of continuing to get half a million dollars a day subsidy, which it has been getting ever since we came to this place in 1993.

If the government is serious about cutting wasteful programs, this would be a great place for it to start.

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

Corrections and Conditional Release Act

[Jim Gouk, Conservative, Southern Interior, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-204, an act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (elimination of statutory release) and to make consequential amendments to other acts.

Mr. Speaker, currently convicted criminals get out of jail automatically at two-thirds of their sentence, sometimes going from administrative segregation straight into the public sector. Even the Parole Board does not have the power to stop it.

Recently in Okanagan Valley we had yet another murder by one of these people who was released and who was known to have tendencies toward violence, but got out of jail automatically. Paroles should be earned, not given automatically. Then they would be taken more seriously.

This is long overdue and I hope the government will support the bill.

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

Criminal Code

[Jim Gouk, Conservative, Southern Interior, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-205, an act to amend the Criminal Code (eliminating conditional sentencing for violent offenders).

Mr. Speaker, when former justice minister Allan Rock introduced conditional sentencing, judges started giving it to violent offenders such as people who had committed crimes like rape. The public was outraged andwe raised it in the House. The minister said that he never intended that it should apply to violent offenders, yet the government, after all these years, has still not made that correction. Schedule I and Schedule II offenders should not have access to conditional sentencing.

Surely the government will support this legislation. Its own minister who brought it in said that it was never intended to apply to violent offenders. This is the government's opportunity to correct that mistake.

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

Food and Drugs Act

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-206, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning labels regarding the consumption of alcohol).

Mr. Speaker, fetal alcohol syndrome is 100% preventable and it is the leading known cause of mental retardation in Canada. In addition, alcohol consumption is also the cause of 45% of motor vehicle collisions, 30% of accidental fires, 30% of suicides and I could go on.

I am pleased to reintroduce a bill calling for health warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers. The bill passed at second reading two Parliaments ago. In the last Parliament a motion passed by a vote of 220 to 11, or 95% support for the motion.

It is my pleasure to reintroduce the bill and I look forward to it earning the support of the House.

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

Public Safety Officers Compensation Act

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-207, an act respecting the provision of compensation to public safety officers who lost their lives while on duty.

Mr. Speaker, September 11 showed us that police officers and firefighters rush in to help while others flee for their safety.

Bill C-207 proposes the creation of a public safety officers compensation fund comparable to the one that exists in the United States. It would be for the benefit of families of police officers, firefighters and other public safety officers who lose their lives in the line of duty.

I look forward to discussing this matter with my colleagues. I hope my bill will earn the support of all hon. members.

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

Divorce Act

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-208, an act to amend the Divorce Act (marriage counselling required before divorce granted).

Mr. Speaker, the Vanier Institute on the Family reported that one out of every two marriages in Canada ends up in divorce and that 50% of children will experience family breakdowns before their 18th birthday.

A joint Senate-Commons committee discussed custody and access issues, particularly in a report called “For the Sake of the Children”, and one of its recommendations was to require mandatory counselling prior to the granting of a divorce.

I am pleased to introduce the bill to enact the committee's recommendation. I look forward to it earning the support of all hon. members.

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

Petitions

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure for me to rise for a second day in a row to present another petition from the residents of Mackenzie, British Columbia, in my riding of Prince George—Peace River. The petitioners demand that Parliament restore their eligibility for the northern residence tax deduction.

As with many of Canada's northern and remote communities, it is difficult to attract and retain employees such as skilled trades people and health care professionals, without this tax deduction which is designed to counterbalance the higher cost of living.

The government's inexplicable decision to revoke Mackenzie's eligibility is blatant discrimination, and I call upon the government to reverse that.

[Jay Hill, Conservative, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my second petition is another one on behalf of the men and women in the Canadian armed forces who reside on base. This is from residents of Lakefield in Peterborough, Ontario.

The petition notes that the housing accommodations provided by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency in many incidents are substandard to acceptable living conditions. It notes that families of Canadian Forces soldiers living in accommodation provided by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency have seen dramatic increases in their rental charges.

Therefore, the petitioners call upon Parliament to immediately suspend any future rent increases for accommodation provided by the Canadian Forces Housing Agency until such time as the Government of Canada makes substantive improvements to the living conditions of housing provided for our military families.

Questions on the Order Paper

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it is the first time that I rise with you in the chair. Let me congratulate you on becoming Deputy Speaker.

I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Motions for Papers

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the notices of motion for the production of papers be allowed to stand.

[The Speaker]

Is it agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Bill C-2. On the Order: Government Orders)

October 8, 2004--The Minister of Justice--Second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness of Bill C-2, an act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act.