Debates of Nov. 21st, 2007

Fisheries and Oceans

[Loyola Hearn, Conservative, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans]

Mr. Speaker, in a unanimous report to the House, the all party Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans said:

By custodial management, the Committee did not intend that Canada should claim sovereignty over or exclusive rights to the resources of these regions of the ocean but that Canada should assume the role of managing and conserving the fisheries resources of the NAFO regulatory area in a way that would fully respect the rights of other nations that have historically fished these grounds.

We have done that in spades.

Health

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, the toys our kids have learned to love are turning out to be toxic. Dora the Explorer and her cartoon cousin Diego, Thomas the train, Barbie, and toy cars and trucks all were found with unacceptable levels of lead. Just yesterday, lead-laced duck-shaped umbrellas were pulled from Canadian store shelves.

With Christmas coming, this is becoming a very urgent matter. A government-sponsored recall website is not going to fix the problems. Will the minister make companies responsible for their imports? Will he take serious action against violations?

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Indeed I will, Mr. Speaker.

[Judy Wasylycia-Leis, NDP, Winnipeg North, MB]

Mr. Speaker, surely the minister would like to say something to Canadians about the fact that unsafe products should never enter Canada in the first place.

Surely he would want to say something about more testing at the border paid for by importing companies like Mattel, out of its $592 million in profits. Surely he would like to see beefed-up powers for Health Canada to order recalls. Surely he wants tougher import controls. Surely he would like a toxic import protection act.

Will he at least take seriously the issues around toxic toys and do something about this kind of train?

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I do not know what the member for Winnipeg North was waving around, but whatever it is, I do not think it was a glass of water. I suggest that she show proper restraint and comply with the rules of the House.

The hon. Minister of Health.

[Tony Clement, Conservative, Minister of Health and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, what the hon. member might have been waving around was a copy of a speech that I in fact delivered just 10 days ago, saying exactly what she is demanding. That is exactly my position.

Department of Justice

[Robert Thibault, Liberal, West Nova, NS]

Mr. Speaker, in 1996, under oath, Mr. Mulroney said he knew nothing about Mr. Schreiber's business interests in Canada, yet he accepted $300,000 in cash from Mr. Schreiber. It does not make any sense. If accepting $300,000 is not a business transaction, then what exactly is it?

Has the Minister of Justice relaunched his department's investigation and will he recover from Mr. Mulroney the $2 million that is owing to taxpayers?

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

Mr. Speaker, in accordance with what the Liberals and a number of others asked for, the government has agreed to a full public inquiry. We have appointed a very eminent Canadian in the person of Dr. Johnston and he is having a look at this. He will set the parameters for a public inquiry. I think that should satisfy the hon. member.

Foreign Affairs

[Scott Reid, Conservative, Lanark—Frontenac—Lennox and Addington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canadians are concerned with the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. The Iranian government is blatantly disregarding its commitments and its obligations under international law as well as its own domestic legal obligations.

Canada, along with 41 co-sponsoring nations, brought forward a resolution at the UN this year to call attention to our serious concerns regarding Iran. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on the situation regarding the UN resolution?

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the UN adopted a Canadian sponsored resolution calling attention to the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran.

At the UN General Assembly meeting this September, the Minister of Foreign Affairs worked hard to build support for this resolution by his participation in almost 30 meetings with his foreign counterparts.

United by our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, our government will continue to restore Canada's international leadership through concrete actions that bring results.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

That will conclude question period for today.

Before we leave, the Minister of the Environment made a bit of a blunder during question period. A couple of hon. members have pointed it out to me and I have checked the blues.

He apparently referred to the presence of persons in the gallery and used the words “in the gallery” which he is well aware is quite contrary to the rules and practices of the House.

I know that having been admonished by the Chair, he will want to refrain from such conduct in future. I suggest he have a chat with his whip at an early opportunity.

The hon. Minister of the Environment.

[John Baird, Conservative, Minister of the Environment]

Mr. Speaker, I would certainly offer my full apologies to you. I am a rookie member and I appreciate your wise counsel. You are the great wise helmsman of Parliament.

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, on this issue, you will recall that you were the Speaker of the House when one of our members referred to somebody in the gallery. She lost the right to speak in this House of Commons for 30 days.

I propose to the Speaker that the Minister of the Environment be taken off of his duties for 30 days.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

His parliamentary secretary might suffer from overwork.

We will have continuing discussions on this subject, I am sure.

The hon. House leader for the official opposition is rising.

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Wascana, SK]

Mr. Speaker, the whip for the NDP has made an eminently important point. I think we should also consider the beneficial effect that that action would have in reducing greenhouse gases.

[John Godfrey, Liberal, Don Valley West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I, too, was once a rookie and I, too, made the same mistake and I, too, was cut off for 30 days. Fair is fair.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will remind you that I actually was a rookie. I had been here several months and had made the mistake of referring to a group of seniors who were visiting from my riding. I was chastised and for 30 days I could not stand and ask a question or speak in the House. So I think the same conditions apply.

[Peter Van Loan, Conservative, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that on behalf of the Minister of the Environment I can commit that he will not ask a question for the next 30 days here. However, there were times when he has not had to answer a question for 30 days, since opposition members abandoned that issue long ago when they abandoned so many other issues in favour of just sitting down every day.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I think that we have probably heard sufficient submissions on this point. I am quite prepared--

Is the member for Acadie--Bathurst rising on another issue?

[Yvon Godin, NDP, Acadie—Bathurst, NB]

Mr. Speaker, just for the record, a member does not lose the right to raise a question. A member loses the right to make a speech in the House of Commons. A member loses the right to make a statement. That is what a member loses. A member loses the right to speak in the House of Commons. That is what he should lose.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

Oh, oh!

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

The Chair did not see any gesture from the minister. I am going to look at the tape and I will get back to the House in due course. If further punishment for the minister is warranted, I am sure that there will be the necessary steps taken in this matter.

Government Response to Petitions

[Tom Lukiwski, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions.

Criminal Code

[Rob Nicholson, Conservative, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-27, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (identity theft and related misconduct).

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

Budget and Economic Statement Implementation Act, 2007

[Jim Flaherty, Conservative, Minister of Finance]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-28, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 19, 2007 and to implement certain provisions of the economic statement tabled in Parliament on October 30, 2007.

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