House of Commons Hansard #12 of the 38th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was langley.
Marcel Gagnon Bloc Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC
Mr. Speaker, in the Speech from the Throne, the government states that seniors have earned the right to be treated with dignity and that, as one step, it will increase the guaranteed income supplement for the least well-off seniors.
Ought the government not to first do the right thing and pay back to those seniors the $3.2 billion stolen from them over 10 years, and then raise the GIS?
Tony Ianno LiberalMinister of State (Families and Caregivers)
Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to rise and answer the question of the hon. member. He knows, as we have spoken earlier, that the government is very committed to ensuring that all senior citizens who are eligible for guaranteed income supplements get what they deserve. This government is working hard to ensure everyone is aware of it and we will continue to do so, as we promised in our election platform, to ensure that senior citizens who deserve guaranteed income supplements will get an increase.
Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities.
The elimination of the GST for communities has resulted in huge savings this year alone for all municipalities. In Thunder Bay alone, for this year there have been savings of over $1.5 million, yet many municipally elected representatives and their administrators, let alone municipal taxpayers, seem unaware of the significance of this action.
Municipal organizations from coast to coast asked for this and received it as part of the Prime Minister's initiative. Is there a way of having communities--
MunicipalitiesOral Question Period
The Speaker
The hon. Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities.
John Godfrey LiberalMinister of State (Infrastructure and Communities)
Mr. Speaker, while I thank the hon. member for his question I also thank the Prime Minister for reminding the House and the leader of the New Democratic Party of the $7 billion rebate of the GST over a 10 year period, which will go to every municipality in the country.
As for accountability, that money is like own source revenue. There were no conditions imposed. That said, I think it would well suit municipalities to invest that money in the infrastructure which is so clearly needed in this country and to give a full accounting of it.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would like to draw the attention of hon. members to the presence in the gallery of His Excellency Tsendiin Munh-Orgil, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.
Presence in GalleryOral Question Period
The Speaker
I would also like to draw to the attention of hon. members the presence in the gallery of Dr. William McCarter, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland.
Business of the HouseOral Question Period
The Speaker
It is my duty, pursuant to Standing Order 81(14), to inform the House that the motion to be considered tomorrow during consideration of the business of supply is as follows:
That, in the opinion of this House, the government's national defence policies are seriously out of date and funding has fallen dramatically short of what is needed to meet defence commitments, the combat capabilities of the Canadian Forces have been permitted to decay and the government is continuing this trend by proposing to raise a peacekeeping brigade at the expense of existing combat ready forces; and accordingly,
This House call on the government to commit to maintaining air, land and sea combat capability by ensuring that members of the forces are trained, equipped and supported for combat operations and peacekeeping, in order to enhance Canada's status and influence as a sovereign nation.
This motion, standing in the name of the hon. member for Carleton—Mississippi Mills, is votable.
Copies of the motion are available at the Table.
Yasmin Ratansi Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise to clarify remarks I made earlier this week and to make a correction to Hansard .
On October 12 during the debate on the Speech from the Throne, I referred to an investment that the Government of Canada has made in Ontario regarding affordable housing. On page 237 of Hansard , the figure I gave as the government's commitment was $56 million.
It has come to my attention that this figure is out of date. I would like to point out to the House the correct figures. Under the first phase of the affordable housing initiative, the federal allocation for Ontario is approximately $245 million. A significant portion of that allocation, totalling 2,300 units so far, has been announced, though it has not yet been spent. To date, the government has spent approximately $10 million on the creation of over 700 units in Ontario.
I hope this will clarify the record.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs concerning the associate membership of certain committees of the House. If the House consents, I intend to move concurrence in the fourth report later today.
I also have the honour to present to the House the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the guidelines for access to committee meetings by the electronic media. I wish to indicate to the House that if the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the fifth report later this day as well.
Massimo Pacetti Liberal Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Finance, entitled “Duty Remission and the Zero-Rating of Tariffs on Textile Inputs: The Canadian Apparel Industry”, which was agreed upon on Tuesday, October 9, 2004. I am reporting it without amendment.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.
I would request that the finance department look at it. It is something we are awaiting a response on.
Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Finance, “Study on Small Business Tax Measures; Review of Excise Duties and Taxes”. The committee agreed on Tuesday, October 19, 2004 to report it without amendment.
In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government provide a comprehensive response to this report.
Don Boudria Liberal Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON
Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the provisional Standing Orders governing private members' business.
If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the sixth report, as well as the other two I just mentioned later this day.
Bryon Wilfert Liberal Richmond Hill, ON
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to present a report from an interparliamentary delegation.
Committees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
Is there unanimous consent to revert to reports from interparliamentary delegations?
Bryon Wilfert LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker I appreciate the indulgence of the Chair. Pursuant to Standing Order 31(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the 13th annual bilateral meeting of the Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group held in Richmond Hill, Cambridge, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Banff from August 22 to 28, 2004.
Chuck Cadman Independent Surrey North, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-230, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (street racing).
Mr. Speaker, since this is my first opportunity to rise in this Parliament, I would like to congratulate you on your re-election to the chair. I would also like to thank the constituents of Surrey North for the confidence they have shown in me since 1997 by returning me here.
Street racing continues to kill or seriously injure innocent people in Canada.
I am reintroducing this legislation to amend the Criminal Code specifically to provide that street racing is to be considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing a person convicted of dangerous operation of, or criminal negligence involving a motor vehicle.
In addition, the bill provides that any person convicted under these provisions who was involved in street racing must be subject to a regime of mandatory national driving prohibitions ranging from one year to life, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.
The bill received broad support in the last Parliament and I hope that will continue to be the case.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Workers Mourning Day Act (national flag to be flown at half-mast).
Mr. Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague from the Bloc Québécois as well as the hon. member for Sarnia—Lambton and the hon. member for St. John's East. The bill has all-party support.
The bill honours those workers who went to work in the morning or at night but did not have a chance to go home.
April 28 is the day of mourning in this country. We are making a request on behalf of Kim Wild-Lewis, a woman who lost her husband as a result of an occupational problem and he died at work. We request that the flags on all federal buildings throughout the country be lowered to half-mast on April 28, the day of mourning in Canada.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-232, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (herbal remedies).
Mr. Speaker, I introduced this bill in 1998 and am reintroducing it one more time. For the millions of Canadians out there who cannot take sulpha-based prescription drugs, if a licensed physician prescribes a herbal alternative, they should be able to claim that alternative as a medical tax deduction.
I seek a very quick adoption of this fine piece of legislation.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-233, an act to amend the Income Tax Act (community service group membership dues).
Mr. Speaker, this is the reintroduction of a bill that has great support among volunteer groups throughout the country.
We all know that this country could not operate without the valued effort of those millions of volunteers. The bill is asking that any volunteer of a registered organization who donates 250 hours of his or her time per year be able to claim a $1,000 one-time income tax deduction. This would benefit all the volunteers in this country tremendously.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Peter Stoffer NDP Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-234, an act to propose and examine a program giving financial assistance to high school students visiting overseas military memorial sites.
Mr. Speaker, Remembrance Day is approaching and one of the great faults in this society is the inability of our provincial and federal governments to teach our children what happened during the wars that Canada was involved in. It is quite astonishing that people in Holland, Belgium and other countries know more about Canadian military history than our own children do.
The bill basically wants the federal government, the provinces and the school boards of the country to examine ways of getting this country's children over to the battlefields in Europe and around the world. In that way, they themselves could learn what happened on those tragic days during the war. It would enhance the remembrance of the bravest people in our country, our veterans.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Jay Hill Conservative Prince George—Peace River, BC
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-245, an act to amend the Divorce Act (shared parenting).
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague from Provencher for seconding the bill.
It is the first private member's bill I would like to reintroduce in Parliament this afternoon. It would ensure that courts granted shared custody of a child to both spouses undergoing a divorce, unless there existed evidence that it would not be in the best interests of the child or children.
The bill includes the recommendations of the joint House of Commons and Senate subcommittee on custody and access. The subcommittee issued its report in 1998, six years ago, yet despite the input of hundreds of parents, social workers, lawyers and child advocates, the government has shelved those recommendations. As a result, Canada's Divorce Act remains an antiquated, dysfunctional piece of legislation that does not reflect the realities of life in this century.
Also, at this time I am seeking the unanimous consent of the House that the bill be numbered C-245 as it was known in the last Parliament.
(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)
Divorce ActRoutine Proceedings
The Speaker
Is there unanimous consent that the bill be numbered C-245?