House of Commons Hansard #18 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was provinces.

Topics

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is there unanimous consent for the motion proposed by the hon. member for Windsor West?

Income Tax ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

No.

Pedro da Silva Recognition ActRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-477, An Act to recognize Pedro da Silva as Canada’s first officially commissioned letter carrier.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a bill entitled “an act to recognize Pedro da Silva as Canada's first officially commissioned letter carrier”.

The bill calls on the government to recognize the 55th anniversary of officially sponsored immigration to Canada and the many contributions made by the Portuguese-Canadian community. The bill also requests that the government take appropriate measures to designate a national park or monument in recognition of Pedro da Silva for his dedicated service as Canada's first official letter carrier.

Pedro da Silva, a Portuguese trapper and carter living in the colony of New France, was commissioned to transport letters from Quebec to Montreal in the early 1700s, a service he provided for the rest of his life. Historians also know that Portuguese descendants have had a strong presence in North America, dating back over 500 years. In fact, many names in Newfoundland have a Portuguese origin and this heritage is continuously growing from coast to coast to coast in Canada.

Canadians of Portuguese heritage have a lot of which to be proud. From world renowned artists such as Albert de Castro, Nelly Furtado, Shawn Desmond and Canadian Idol Brian Melo, to hockey players like Mike Ribeiro and to business, labour and legal professionals, the community continues to contribute to the socio-cultural fabric of our nation.

The bill bestows appropriate recognition for the contributions of the Portuguese Canadian community to Canada's development, heritage and progress.

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

Income TrustsPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Ken Boshcoff Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table a petition. The petition contains another regrettable list of people who have been financially damaged by the income tax breach of trust.

The petitioners ask the government to acknowledge that its final justification for imposing the tax was flawed, to apologize to Canadians who were unfairly harmed by its reckless broken promise and to repeal the 31.5% tax on income trusts.

LiteracyPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present two petitions. The first petition calls upon the government to reinstate the cuts to the literacy program.

Literacy affects many adults. It is increasingly difficult for them to access resources when they need help and the programs are not there. Literacy lies at the root of many social issues. By investing in adult literacy programs, these programs aid Canadian adults to gain valuable skills essential to employment, which improves their economic well-being as well as that of the whole Canada.

JusticePetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Mario Silva Liberal Davenport, ON

Mr. Speaker, I also have another petition. I stand today, united with my constituents in Davenport, as I table this petition.

The petitioners ask the government to put an end to politicking and seriously address the issues of handgun crimes. It is not enough to simply punish offenders after a life is taken. We must also prevent future tragedies from occurring.

They call upon the government to intervene with at risk youth by funding social programs. They call upon government to enforce better gun laws proven to make our citizens safer, not populist propaganda that has failed in the U.S. Finally, they call upon the government to ban handguns and create stricter gun control policies.

Let us be proactive and prevent these tragedies.

Visitor VisasPetitionsRoutine Proceedings

12:05 p.m.

Liberal

Gurbax Malhi Liberal Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to present the following petition signed by the constituents of Bramalea—Gore—Malton.

The petitioners call upon the government to institute a system of visa bonds for temporary resident visa applicants wishing to come to Canada as members of the visitors class, to give immigration counsellors discretion over the creation of visa bonds, to establish minimum and maximum visa bond amounts as a guideline for immigration officials and to allow the visa bond to apply to either the sponsor or the visitor.

Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, the following question will be answered today: No. 42.

Question No. 42Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Bloc

Gilles Duceppe Bloc Laurier—Sainte-Marie, QC

With reference to the work of Bernard Grenier, the Commissioner of Inquiry appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer of Quebec to investigate the activities of Option Canada during the referendum held in Quebec in October 1995: (a) how many lawyers with the Attorney General of Canada worked on this matter; (b) what was the cost of the federal government's involvement in the work of this inquiry; (c) how many witnesses were assisted by the lawyer or lawyers with the Attorney General of Canada; and (d) did the Attorney General of Canada retain the services of private-sector lawyers to work on this matter and, if so, what are their names and how much were they paid?

Question No. 42Questions on the Order PaperRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Niagara Falls Ontario

Conservative

Rob Nicholson ConservativeMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

Mr. Speaker, the answer is as follows:

a) Two litigators from the Attorney General of Canada participated in the work of this inquiry.

b) The costs and disbursements associated with the federal government's involvement in the work of this inquiry total approximately $21,450.00 (representing costs for photocopies, transcriptions and travelling as well as the costs authorized, in accordance with the terms of the policy on the indemnification of and legal assistance for crown servants, for the provision of legal assistance by private sector lawyers to witnesses who testified before Commissaire Grenier).

c) The lawyers from the Attorney General of Canada represented the interest of the Attorney General of Canada and in this capacity, assisted two witnesses and were present at the testimony of two other witnesses.

d) The Attorney General of Canada did not retain the services of private sector lawyers to work on this matter.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, if Questions Nos. 20, 21, 62 and 67 could be made orders for returns, these returns would be tabled immediately.

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?

Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

Question No. 20Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

Marcel Proulx Liberal Hull—Aylmer, QC

For the fiscal years 2004–2005, 2005–2006, 2006–2007, 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec: (a) what is or was the total budget for grants and contributions; (b) what is or was the total amount of approved grants and contributions; and (c) for previous fiscal years, what was the total amount of grants and contributions awarded?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 21Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Paul Dewar NDP Ottawa Centre, ON

With regard to the government's intention to harmonize regulations on pesticide residue limits for fruits and vegetables with those of the United States: (a) what evidence does the government have that shows that there will not be an increase in pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables; (b) what safeguards are in place to ensure that Canadians are not exposed to higher levels of pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables; (c) will independent and peer-review tests continue to be used to determine pesticide limits and the cumulative effect of the resulting residue on health and the environment; and (d) what are the implications to Canada's sovereign right to determine regulatory standards, affecting Canadian food security and food safety, in adopting foreign standards for regulations of pesticide residue limits?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 62Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

John Cummins Conservative Delta—Richmond East, BC

With regard to the land areas and persons who reside within the area covered by the Tsawwassen Territory as set in the Tsawwassen Final Agreement: (a) what is the number of persons who currently reside in the Territory; (b) how many persons reside in the Territory and how many of these persons are under the Indian Act members of the Tsawwassen Band in (i) each of the Gulf Islands, (ii) the City of Richmond, (iii) the City of Vancouver, (iv) the Municipality of Delta, (v) the City of White Rock, (vi) the City of Surrey, (vii) the City of Burnaby, (viii) the City of New Westminster, (ix) the City of Coquitlam, (x) the City of Port Coquitlam, (xi) Langley City, (xii) the Municipality of Pitt Meadows, (xiii) the Municipality of Maple Ridge, (xiv) the Township of Langley, (xv) the Greater Vancouver Regional District Electoral Area “A”; (c) what was the population of the Tsawwassen Indian Band on an annual basis from its establishment to December 31, 2006; (d) what were the land holdings, in hectares, of the Tsawwassen Indian Band on an annual basis from its establishment as a band to December 31, 2006; (e) if the Tsawwassen Indian Band landholdings were decreased in any year, for what reason did the decrease occur and what, if any, compensation or payment was provided to the Band; and (f) what other bands, tribes or aboriginal organizations have territorial claims that overlap Tsawwassen Territory?

(Return tabled)

Question No. 67Questions Passed as Orders for ReturnsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Libby Davies NDP Vancouver East, BC

With respect to women working as prostitutes: (a) does the government have statistics on women working as prostitutes who have gone missing or have been murdered and, if so, how many have gone missing in Canada since 1999, and how many have been murdered in Canada since 2003; (b) what studies and reports have been carried out by the Department of Justice in relation to Canada's prostitution laws since 1999, and what are their findings and recommendations; (c) what recommendations from the Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws, as enumerated in the Sixth Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, of the First Session of the 39th Parliament, does the government agree with; and (d) how much federal funding is allocated to programs and organizations that deliver exit strategies for women working in the sex trade and (i) what are those organizations, (ii) how much money do they receive per year?

(Return tabled)

Starred QuestionsRoutine Proceedings

November 16th, 2007 / 12:10 p.m.

Regina—Lumsden—Lake Centre Saskatchewan

Conservative

Tom Lukiwski ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, if Starred Question No. 72 could be made an order for return, the return would be tabled immediately.

Starred QuestionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Is that agreed?

Starred QuestionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

*Question No. 72Starred QuestionsRoutine Proceedings

12:10 p.m.

NDP

Dawn Black NDP New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC

With regard to support and maintenance activities for the Cormorant Helicopters: (a) which companies are currently carrying out work on behalf of the government; (b) what is the value of the contracts signed with these companies; (c) what is the duration for each of these contracts; (d) have any contracts encountered any cost overruns and, if so, what has that overrun been; (e) has the government conducted a program review of any of these contracts and, if so, what was the outcome of this review; (f) is the government considering re-tendering or revising any service contracts for the Cormorant Helicopter; and (g) what are the cut off dates for any decision for re-tendering or revising service contracts?