Debates of April 13th, 2005

Employment Insurance Act

[Joe Comuzzi, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what the accusation is, but I never left the chamber and I was in my seat when the vote was called.

[Bill Blaikie, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Mr. Speaker, on the same point of order, without pointing fingers at anybody in particular, the fact of the matter is that over time the practice of people having to be in their seats before the vote is called and staying in their seats until after the result is read has fallen away. It has not been enforced by the Chair, or by parties or by whips.

The votes are getting more and more chaotic. People are getting up in the middle of votes, they are talking to other members, people are coming in after votes start and leaving after they vote themselves. All this is happening because there is no discipline in this place, either collectively or individually. There are rules and the sooner people start following them, we will not have this kind of mess.

[The Speaker]

What I will do right now is declare the motion carried because my recollection of the vote was that the yeas were more than the nays. I will make the declaration that the vote is carried, and I will deal with the point of order raised by the whip for the Bloc Québécois in a moment. Regardless, if the vote is varied by three votes, in my view the motion is carried.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

[The Speaker]

Accordingly the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

[The Speaker]

I want to point out the rules governing decorum in the House during a vote, and I quote Standing Order 16(1), “When the Speaker is putting a question, no Member shall enter, walk out of or across the House, or make any noise or disturbance”.

I have already said all this to all the hon. members. Perhaps the next time a question is put, everyone will respect this rule in order to ensure there is silence in the House during a vote. That was not the case today.

I will also cite page 493 of Marleau and Montpetit to reinforce the message. It says:

When Members have been called in for a division, no further debate is permitted. From the time the Speaker begins to put the question until the results of the vote are announced, Members are not to enter, leave or cross the House, or make any noise or disturbance.

Members must be in their assigned seat in the Chamber and have heard the motion read in order for their votes to be recorded. Any Member entering the Chamber while the question is being put or after it has been put cannot have his or her vote counted. Members must remain seated until the result is announced by the Clerk. Members' votes have been questioned because they left the Chamber immediately after voting and before the results of the vote were announced, or because they did not remain seated throughout the process. However, if a Member's presence is disputed and the Member in question asserts that he or she was present when the motion was read, convention holds that the House accepts the Member's word.

If the hon. minister indicated that he was here when the question was put, and heard it, we will take it that his vote counts and at the moment with respect to the two--

Two other ministers were mentioned by—

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker]

Order, please. The hon. minister has indicated that he was in his seat when the motion was read. If so, as I mentioned, his vote will be recorded.

As for the other two ministers mentioned by the hon. member for Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, the whip indicated that they were present at that time. Perhaps we can obtain their confirmation of this fact later. For now, the motion has already been carried. We can change the division, if need be.

However, today, I have read the Standing Orders to the entire House. There has not been a discussion of these rules for many years. I am prepared to reinforce them if necessary. Everyone has now heard them.

I understand that there is an agreement between the parties to have some brief statements at this time and I therefore call upon the hon. chief government whip.

Richard Paré

[Karen Redman, Liberal, Kitchener Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the distinct honour today, on behalf of my party to pay, tribute to Mr. Richard Paré, Parliamentary Librarian, who has decided to retire after 11 years of great service on the job.

Mr. Paré was born in Quebec City in 1938. After receiving degrees from Laval University and the University of Ottawa, Richard undertook an intensive program in management in an assistant deputy minister orientation course.

Mr. Paré served as associate parliamentary librarian for 14 years before being appointed Parliamentary Librarian in 1994 by the Prime Minister of Canada.

For those who do not know Richard, he is without question, a true gentleman. He is a soft-spoken individual. His step could also be described as soft. For those who are familiar with the halls of Centre Block and Parliament Hill there will be an understanding that the long hallways and the marble floor it is very easy to hear an individual's footsteps as they echo throughout the corridors. Not so with Richard's.

One only realizes that Richard is walking behind one when he is actually at one's side making a greeting of a quiet smile and in a soft voice saying, “bonjour”.

We will miss his kindness. I hope Richard's grandchildren will allow him to actually read some of those books he has cared for so well and that he will enjoy this in his much deserved retirement.

On behalf of the national Liberal caucus, I want to thank Richard Paré for all the work he has done for Canadian parliamentarians over the years. I also want to wish him a wonderful retirement with his wife Renée, his children and his grandchildren.

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Niagara Falls, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition, it is my pleasure to offer my party's best wishes on the occasion of Richard Paré's retirement as Parliamentary Librarian for Canada's Library of Parliament.

Retirements are always filled with a mix of emotion and pride, but they also provide an opportunity to look back on past accomplishments and achievements.

Speaking as an individual member of Parliament, I know I speak for everyone when I say how much parliamentarians appreciate the work of the library and all those who work within it.

Mr. Paré has seen many changes over the years. As an MP who has recently returned to Parliament, I have been particularly impressed with the automation that has taken place at the Library of Parliament under his watch this past decade. Intraparl of course now plays a huge role in the daily life of Parliament Hill and beyond.

It is also important to note that Richard Paré is the first francophone chief librarian in the history of the Library of Parliament.

Mr. Paré has always felt it was a great honour to be the first francophone Parliamentary Librarian in the history of Canada, and to have spent 24 years in the service of Parliament, its institutions, parliamentarians and their staff, and the general public.

Mr. Paré worked under six different Prime Ministers, six Speakers of the Senate, and six Speakers of the House of Commons.

I want to commend Mr. Paré and his staff for his commitment to customer service. I know this can be a very demanding place, but there are only good things to be said about him and the work that he has provided.

In closing, I am informed that he is a dedicated family man and a proud grandfather who enjoys golf and tennis. I expect he will be keeping very busy with those pursuits in his retirement, but as a politician I am somewhat loath to sound too envious of the notion of retirement.

I wish on behalf of the Conservative Party to extend to him our very best wishes for his dedication to Parliament and to Canada.

[Michel Guimond, Bloc, Charlevoix—Montmorency, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have this opportunity to pay tribute to our Parliamentary Librarian, Mr. Richard Paré, who will soon be leaving us for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Paré was born in the Limoilou area of Quebec City. His grandparents on both sides came from Saint-Joachim-de-Montmorency in my riding. We can consider him a son of Côte-de-Beaupré, the cradle of French civilization in America. What is more, he has the distinct honour of being the first francophone Parliamentary Librarian in the history of the Library of Parliament. He has worked for this institution for 25 years, the first 14 of them as associate parliamentary librarian, and now close to 11 as the Parliamentary Librarian.

Mr. Paré has played an important part in the administration of the library and also in the lives of a number of members of the House of Commons and the Senate. In addition to his strong commitment to the field of political librarianship and information, he has had an equally strong commitment to enhancing the status of the Francophonie within this parliamentary organization. He most certainly has played a large part in the success of the Library of Parliament, which now enjoys an international reputation due in part to his skills and expertise, as well as those of the entire library team.

On behalf of all the members of the Bloc Québécois, I congratulate Richard Paré on his past accomplishments and wish him a wonderful future in a long and happy retirement with his wife, children and grandchildren.

[Charlie Angus, NDP, Timmins—James Bay, ON]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the New Democratic Party it is a real honour to stand today and pay tribute to Mr. Richard Paré for the service he has given not just to us parliamentarians, but in a way to the people of Canada.

Educated at Laval and Ottawa universities, he has built a reputation as a Canadian leader in library sciences. His staff provide excellent service to parliamentarians of all political stripes, and it should be particularly noted not just their research skills but their ability to turn around complex questions in very short order.

As a new member of Parliament, I have to admit that when I landed here I felt I had landed in some kind of Byzantine labyrinth and that it would take me years and years to find my way through all the obscure traditions and knowledge. Of course as we know, members of Parliament do not have a long learning curve; we have to hit the ground running. His staff and the way that material and information is organized in the House makes it possible for new members and veteran members to come to Parliament prepared on an equal footing. That is very important.

I would also like to pay tribute to the man and his staff who have shown that the fundamental pillars of service are based on dedication to the democratic principle of impartiality and to research and to integrity. We see that throughout the parliamentary system in Canada. We might be a somewhat unruly lot here in the House, but we are backed up by people who set the highest standards on every level.

On behalf of the New Democratic Party, I wish Mr. Paré well in his future endeavours. I would especially like to thank his wife, his three children and his five grandchildren for sharing him with the parliamentarians and by extension, the people of Canada.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker]

I would like to thank the hon. members who have made speeches or comments on this subject today.

There is a reception in Room 216 now to honour Mr. Paré. I invite all hon. members to come and meet Mr. Paré and wish him well in his retirement.

Points of Order

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point or order, which I hope will be very short and I am sure that you hope that too.

I am referring to the fact that during the soft lob question during question period the Minister of the Environment tabled a document as part of question period.

Mr. Speaker, you know that we have enough trouble trying to keep the questions and the answers related to the questions the way it is now, and surely we do not want question period to degenerate into a time when ministers take up our time tabling documents.

I refer you to page 371 of Marleau and Montpetit which states:

A Minister or Parliamentary Secretary acting on behalf of the Minister may table documents in the House during Routine Proceedings--

On the last line of that page it states:

--if a Minister wishes to table a document which is not required to be tabled, it can only be tabled in the House during Routine Proceedings.

I submit that the document which was tabled by the Minister of the Environment is not yet properly tabled. I think it should be tabled during routine proceedings which is to follow soon.

[Mauril Bélanger, Liberal, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, during question period the minister offered to table a document. There were no objections. The document was received by a table officer. Therefore, it is considered a public document tabled.

[The Speaker]

I must say I am surprised to hear the citation from the hon. member for Edmonton—Sherwood Park because I was unaware of any writing that said it could only be done during routine proceedings.

My clear understanding since my arrival here 16 years ago was that a minister could table a document at any time in the House simply by standing in his place and tabling the document. The minister did that and I took no objection at the time because I believed it was entirely proper and in accordance with practice, unusual to do it in question period, I admit. The hon. member for Edmonton—Sherwood Park is diligent in that respect, but I was unaware of any citation and I am surprised to read it.

What I will do is look at Beauchesne's on this point, because my recollection was this could be done at any time. Indeed I had seen it done at other times in the House by various other ministers.

I will look into it and get back to the House on the point.

I should inform the House that because of the deferred recorded divisions, government orders will be extended by 55 minutes.

Committees of the House

[Paul Devillers, Liberal, Simcoe North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

In accordance with its permanent mandate under Standing Order 108(2), your committee undertook a study of a draft report on the subject matter of Bill C-43, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 22, 2005, and agreed to it on Tuesday, April 12, 2005.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 32nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the list of members of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the 32nd report later this day.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act

[Christian Simard, Bloc, Beauport, QC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-363, an act to amend the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act (profits distributed to provinces).

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to introduce in this House, under private members' business, an act to amend the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Act (profits distributed to provinces).

This enactment requires the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation to distribute any surplus from its reserve fund to the provinces for social housing purposes, to encourage the supply of quality housing at affordable prices and to increase housing choices for the people in the provinces.

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

Committees of the House

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

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent of the House to move concurrence in the 32nd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs tabled earlier today.

[The Speaker]

Is that agreed?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

(Motion agreed to)

Petitions

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I have three petitions to present.

The first petition is signed by hundreds of people in my riding and is with respect to the processing of applications to sponsor parents. These new Canadians are very concerned about the increasing delay and backlog in processing applications to sponsor parents. In fact, in some cases it has quadrupled.

The petitioners ask the House in the spirit of humanitarianism to increase the quotas and decrease the backlog in these applications.

[Diane Ablonczy, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Madam Speaker, the other two petitions also are signed by hundreds of people in my riding who pray that Parliament define in federal law marriage as being the lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others.

I am pleased to present these petitions to the House today.