Debates of April 2nd, 2004

Presence in Gallery

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear.

Points of Order

[Lorne Nystrom, NDP, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, in question period today I referred to a memo. Members across the way asked me to table the memo. I ask for unanimous consent now to table the memo I referred to during my question about the activities regarding the former minister of finance and current Prime Minister.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Does the member have consent to table the document?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed

Committees of the House

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I am pleased to present today, in both official languages, the government's response to the 25th report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, concerning chapter 5 of the April 2003 report of the Auditor General of Canada.

[John Harvard, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to the report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade entitled, “Reinvigorating Economic Relations Between Canada and Asia-Pacific”.

Order in Council Appointments

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

Mr. 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 Petitions

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

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government responses to 157 petitions.

Committees of the House

[Mark Eyking, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food (Agri-Food)]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 109, I would like to present, in both official languages, the government's response to the third report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food entitled, “The Investigation and the Government Response Following the Discovery of a Single Case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy”, which was tabled in the House of Commons on November 4, 2003.

[Marcel Proulx, Liberal, Hull—Aylmer, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have three reports to table.

First, I have the honour to present the 16th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on issues relating to electoral boundaries.

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

I also have the honour of presenting the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs on the resources needed by members of Parliament to ensure effective representation in certain electoral constituencies.

Finally, I have the honour of presenting the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding its order of reference from the House of Commons of Tuesday, February 24, 2004, in relation to the main estimates for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2005, in regard to vote 5 under Parliament—House of Commons.

The committee reports the same.

[Paul Forseth, Canadian Alliance, New Westminster—Coquitlam—Burnaby, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates regarding the Governor General of Canada, the role, duties and funding for activities.

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

I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates. Pursuant to Standing Order 111(1), the committee recommends that the proposed appointment of Ms. Maria Barrados, as president of the Public Service Commission of Canada, be confirmed.

Canada Elections Act

[Chuck Cadman, Canadian Alliance, Surrey North, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-513, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act (candidate selection).

Mr. Speaker, in response to the hundreds of communications from Surrey North constituents and many others across Canada, I introduce on their behalf an amendment to the Canada Elections Act.

Canadians are growing increasingly concerned about the mass signing up of thousands of members of special interest or ethnic groups in the riding associations, simply to secure nominations. Many instant members have little or no idea of in what they are participating. Many colleagues here have expressed the same concern from all sides of the House.

Canadians should participate, but this practice of instant membership risks distorting the electoral process. In many cases, instant members, who are ineligible to vote, whether for reason of age or citizenship, effectively choose election candidates. This bill aims to address those concerns.

Despite years of warning signs, political parties have shown no appetite to police themselves in this regard. Therefore, I believe it is time for Parliament to act.

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

Special Service Medal for Domestic Operations Act

[Alexa McDonough, NDP, Halifax, NS]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-514, an act respecting the establishment and award of a Special Service Medal for Domestic Operations (SSM-DO).

Mr. Speaker, it is my honour today to introduce this bill, entitled an act respecting the establishment and award of a special service medal for domestic operations. I was very much inspired to introduce this bill by the outstanding work that I saw among the armed forces personnel in the Swissair 111 tragedy and the hurricane Juan devastation that occurred in Halifax and surrounding communities.

This bill would recognize the contribution of women and men of the Canadian armed forces who participate in rescue and salvage operations during national emergencies in Canada. This does not happen just in Nova Scotia. We have seen it in other provinces in floods, fires and ice storms. Of course, what they do is work around the clock without remuneration or overtime and often in collaboration with civilians who in fact are remunerated for their work.

The very least we can do is recognize that outstanding contribution through the awarding of a medal.

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

Petitions

[Rick Casson, Canadian Alliance, Lethbridge, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of my colleague and my neighbour from Medicine Hat to present three separate petitions that deal with the same issue.

They come from wonderful towns like Redcliff, Bow Island, Seven Persons, Tilley, Brooks and Dunmore. It is a wonderful part of the world. I know that, Mr. Speaker, because you have told me you have been through there and you really liked it.

These 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.

[Jay Hill, Canadian Alliance, Prince George—Peace River, BC]

Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honour and a privilege for me to present this petition in the House of Commons today. It is from Canadians all across the land, from British Columbia to Ontario to Nova Scotia, who are concerned about the housing that our armed forces personnel live in on some of our bases.

Because the rents have been increasing for these armed forces personnel and because in many cases the housing itself is substandard and deplorable, the petitioners are asking Parliament to immediately suspend any future rent increases for the 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

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

Mr. Speaker, Question No. 65 will be answered today.

Question No. 65

[Maurice Vellacott, Canadian Alliance, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Does the government intend to end the practice of maintaining two sets of financial statements by ending the practice of “netting” in all the government’s financial statements, not just the public accounts; and if so, when?

[Reg Alcock, Liberal, President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for the Canadian Wheat Board]

The official financial results of the government are published in the Public Accounts of Canada and in the annual financial report of the Government of Canada on an annual basis.

The practice of netting revenues and expenses in the public accounts and in the annual financial report changed in fiscal year 2002-03. This change involved eliminating the netting of some revenues and expenses and presenting these only on a gross basis instead of both net and gross.

These financial statements received an unqualified, clean, audit opinion from the Auditor General. The Auditor General viewed this change as a major improvement in financial reporting.

The government does not have immediate plans to discontinue the practice of presenting the net authorities to be voted in estimates, that is, vote netting, but the government’s commitment to increasing transparency and improving reporting to Parliament will provide an opportunity to look at how the presentation and transparency of this information could be improved in the future.

The public accounts also present expenditures against budget; however, the budget is prepared on a net basis. Adjustments were made to the budget figures presented in the public accounts to disclose budgets on a gross basis, so that they could be accurately compared against actual amounts expended. The Auditor General endorsed this approach and commended the government for presenting expenditures against budget in the public accounts.

Fiscal year 2002-03 was the first year that the public accounts disclosed expenditures against budget. This was in response to recommendations for public sector accounting from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants. The federal government was early in its adoption of this recommendation.

In addition, the government has already signaled its intention to review the Financial Administration Act, to look at issues of accountabilities and discipline.

We will continue to engage and consult parliamentarians on these issues.

Questions Passed as Orders for Returns

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

Mr. Speaker, if Question No. 6 could be made an order for return, this return would be tabled immediately.

[The Acting Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

Question No. 6

[Rob Merrifield, Canadian Alliance, Yellowhead, AB]

With regard to grants and contributions made by the government in the riding of Yellowhead for each fiscal year since 1999-2000: ( a ) what was the amount disbursed to each recipient; ( b ) which government department was involved; ( c ) what was the name of the recipient organization or business; and ( d ) what was the address of the recipient organization or business?

(Return tabled)

[Dan McTeague, Liberal, Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[The Deputy Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.