Debates of Nov. 19th, 2004

Canadian International Development Agency

[Randy Kamp, Conservative, Dewdney—Alouette, BC]

Mr. Speaker, in October the government of Vietnam demolished a Mennonite chapel as part of an intensifying campaign against independent religious groups. From banning religious freedom to torture and persecution, the Vietnamese government is blatantly violating basic human rights.

At the same time, Canada continues to provide aid to the Vietnamese government, close to $50 million in recent years. Canadians want to know why the government is giving millions of dollars in aid to communist Vietnam, which is shamelessly violating human rights.

[Aileen Carroll, Liberal, Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, first and foremost let me advise the hon. member that the Government of Canada through CIDA does not give money directly to the government of Vietnam. What it does is enable that country to reduce its poverty, to grow in governance, and we assist in a variety of initiatives to do just that.

If the hon. member and his colleagues are concerned about the human rights records of these countries, allow us to assist these countries by building their rule of law capacity so they are able to change exactly what the member and his colleagues are not happy about. Also, I might add that the standing committee is looking at this issue.

The Environment

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Labour and Housing.

In the throne speech, the government reiterated its commitment to comply with the Kyoto protocol.

Since 17% of greenhouse gases are the result of households heating with polluting energies, what is the government prepared to do about replacing pollution-producing residential heating systems with cleaner energy sources?

[Judi Longfield, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour and Housing]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Labour and Housing was pleased to announce two new federal housing initiatives that will help meet Canada's climate change objectives and provide cleaner air and healthier cities, communities and homes.

Effective immediately, CMHC, Canada's national housing agency, will offer a 10% refund on its mortgage loan insurance premium when a borrower buys or builds an energy efficient home or makes energy saving renovations to existing homes.

The second initiative will allow repair work under the residential rehabilitation assistance program, or RRAP, to include energy saving renovations and retrofits that will help improve the energy performance of housing units.

[Cheryl Gallant, Conservative, Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON]

Mr. Speaker, since 1993 the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement commits Canada to reducing the amount of cancer-causing chlorination by-products from entering the Great Lakes watershed. The government, together with the Province of Ontario, is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on water treatment systems that use a cancer-causing toxic chemical.

Why are they doing so when environmentally friendly alternative water treatment systems are available and have been in use in other countries for years?

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the member has an interest in clean water and in ensuring that what goes into our Great Lakes is monitored.

To that end, of course, the hon. member will know that the Council of Great Lakes Governors has convened on many occasions and is in constant consultation with the provinces and states to ensure that one of the most valuable resources this country has not only remains safe for people to drink but is an asset that generations to come will be able to enjoy.

Canada Border Services Agency

[Jim Abbott, Conservative, Kootenay—Columbia, BC]

Mr. Speaker, unbelievably, at the same remote border crossing in my constituency where a customs officer died alone on duty, another officer was left alone this week.

An alarm system was broken and the communications network was inoperative. Her supervisor, who was supposed to be backing up the officer, was not answering the phone and, unknown to her while she was on duty, a violent felon was rumoured to be approaching the border.

Why is the government imperilling the lives of our border officers and Canadian security by not giving them the tools to do the job?

[Roy Cullen, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, when these incidents happen at our borders the government is very concerned. As well, the member would know that with respect to the case where the officer was alone and certain things transpired which were not very favourable, it is under review and investigation.

Indeed, the way the Canada Border Services Agency is resourced is a matter that is always under review. We want to make sure that our officials are given the resources and tools necessary to keep our borders safe and secure.

Agriculture and Agri-food

[Robert Bouchard, Bloc, Chicoutimi—Le Fjord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Union des producteurs agricoles is again calling for assistance. The losses sustained as a result of the mad cow crisis are wreaking terrible havoc. Despite the compensation packages, dairy farmers for example are being hit by losses of $15,000 per farm, on the average.

What is stopping the government from implementing the solutions proposed by Quebec's farmers and offering them proper compensation, as well as contributing, with the provinces, to setting a base price for animals sold to abattoirs?

[Andy Mitchell, Liberal, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food]

Mr. Speaker, it is very important to me and to the Government of Canada to help the farmers of Quebec and those in the other regions of Canada.

We are working very diligently with the Province of Quebec and with producer groups in Quebec to address the issues that those particular producers face.

Canadian Heritage

[Alan Tonks, Liberal, York South—Weston, ON]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Government of Canada announced that it hopes the Victoria Cross awarded to Corporal Fred Topham will remain in Canada.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage please outline those specific steps the government has taken to ensure that this and future powerful symbols of our history and heritage remain here in Canada to be understood and respected in perpetuity by future generations of Canadians?

[Sarmite Bulte, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage]

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is committed to the protection of Canada's cultural heritage. In fact, our government has already intervened to delay the export of Corporal Topham's medal, which is being sold by the estate. I am pleased to advise the House today that we will also be working to support the purchase of this very important part of our history through the movable cultural properties grants program.

Citizenship and Immigration

[John Reynolds, Conservative, West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, BC]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. She has asked the ethics commissioner, under the Parliament of Canada Act, for some confidential advice, which I understand she said she will make public. That is fair.

Could she tell the House what is it she asked him for advice on? Is it the issuance of the permit, the unauthorized use of staff during an election, or the non-reporting of the deportee? Could she tell us, is it one of those or all of those that she has asked advice on from the ethics commissioner?

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration]

Mr. Speaker, I have asked the ethics commissioner to give me advice on whether or not I breached any of the ethical codes, but I would like to tell the member something else.

The deputy leader of the Conservative Party requested a permit a couple of weeks after the election for a personal friend. I have since learned that the hon. member's personal friend was a former Conservative candidate and has been a big political contributor to the Conservative Party. I guess I should have asked, did he work on the campaign?

[The Deputy Speaker]

The time allotted for questions is over. That was my first question period; we survived.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Government Response to Petitions

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36 I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to one petition.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Paddy Torsney, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table two reports from the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

One of the reports relates to our meeting of the Twelve Plus Group which is a specific group within the IPU, kind of like an executive committee. We had a meeting of the steering committee of the Twelve Plus Group in Ghent, Belgium, on September 10 and 11.

I am also pleased to table, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), the report of the seventh session of the Steering Committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO. It was held in Geneva on September 6 and 7.

As I have said, the second report is on the meeting of the steering committee of the 12-plus group within the IPU, which met in Ghent, Belgium, on September 10 and 11.

Committees of the House

[Marlene Catterall, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on the order in council appointment of Robert Rabinovitch to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the membership of certain committees.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 15th report later this day.

Canada Elections Act

[Chuck Cadman, Independent, Surrey North, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-297, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (candidate selection).

Mr. Speaker, in response to a large number of communications from constituents, I am pleased to introduce an amendment to the Canada Elections Act.

There is much concern being expressed about the mass signing up of thousands of members of special interest groups and political party riding associations simply to secure nominations. Many of these instant members have no knowledge of the process in which they are engaging. We want all Canadians to participate but this practice risks distorting the electoral process. In many cases instant party members are ineligible to vote in the actual election for which they effectively choose candidates.

The bill would require a minimum of a one year membership in a party and eligibility to vote in a federal election in order to vote in the candidate selection process.

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

Criminal Code

[Myron Thompson, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-298, an act to amend the Criminal Code (dangerous offender).

Mr. Speaker, the bill is intended to amend section 753 where offenders can be declared as dangerous at the time of sentencing. The bill would extend that to an earlier of the following dates: the date on which the offender is released from imprisonment for the offence on parole or statutory release, and the date on which the sentence expires.

Many cases of recidivism have been shown over the last few years. These people need to be identified in a different fashion. I believe the authorities on the front lines of the prisons are the best people to do that. This bill would take care of that language.

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

[Myron Thompson, Conservative, Wild Rose, AB]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-299, an act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing principles) and another act in consequence.

Mr. Speaker, a number of ladies from the Aboriginal Rights Coalition group have asked that the Criminal Code be amended where it requires that the circumstances applying to the offender, if he is aboriginal, be examined. They feel that this is treating the victims as second class citizens and that race should not be a basis for deciding what the sentence should be for any criminal offence of a violent nature. This bill would correct that situation in the Criminal Code.

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

Committees of the House

[Don Boudria, Liberal, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, ON]

Mr. Speaker, if the House gives its consent, I move that the 15th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in. It only deals with a change in membership.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Randy White, Conservative, Abbotsford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I submit two petitions today for essentially the same issues. They are asking that Parliament oppose any legislation that would directly or indirectly redefine family, including the provision of marriage and family benefits to those who are not family as defined in this petition.