Debates of March 21st, 2007

Aboriginal Affairs

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, my friend goes too far, even by the standards of rhetoric in this place. I can assure him that I have met with the chief and specifically asked him if he was content with the steps that the department was taking. I inquired specifically about steps that needed to be taken to ensure the engineering safety of the dike. We discussed that. We struck a committee to ensure that work is being undertaken.

The water system is up to standard. We have spent a significant amount of money in the community with respect to housing and water. We are acting on the situation.

Comments by Member for Winnipeg Centre

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order in regard to an incident that occurred in this House during debate on a concurrence motion on Friday, March 2.

The NDP member for Winnipeg Centre said, “the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, who we call II Duce because Mussolini has nothing on this guy”. This is clearly unparliamentary language. In fact, page 150 of Beauchesne's 6th Edition has the word “fascists” listed as unparliamentary, and for obvious reasons.

The fascist regime committed untold atrocities during World War II and for any member of this House to compare another member to anyone in the fascist regime is unconscionable.

The statement by the New Democratic Party member is a slur against the good character of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and, in fact, is a slur and a condemnation about the membership of this place in general.

Even more troubling is the fact that over the past several months the New Democratic Party has stood in this House and in committee and has complained about the lack of decorum and civility in this place.

In light of that rhetoric, I would assume that the NDP can only be considered as sanctimonious and hypocritical. I would ask the member for Winnipeg Centre to apologize immediately, unreservedly, and withdraw his remarks.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I do not see any hon. member rising. I will take the matter under advisement and return to the House in due course.

The hon. member for South Shore—St. Margaret's on a different point of order.

Comments by Member for Timmins—James Bay

[Gerald Keddy, Conservative, South Shore—St. Margaret's, NS]

Mr. Speaker, during a discussion in the House, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was speaking and the member for Timmins—James Bay made a very unparliamentary comment. We are talking about parliamentary language in this place. I would offer the member for Timmins—James Bay the opportunity to stand and apologize, first to the minister and second to the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is a question of unparliamentary language but I think it speaks to a larger issue, which is the complete disgraceful response from the government to deal with one of the most desperate communities that we have in this country, desperate, shameful conditions, the suffering and the deaths that they have endured over this last year and the young people who have gone. I have seen the problems because nothing has been done by the government.

However, I will apologize to this House for saying something unparliamentary but I will not apologize to that party for the disgraceful misrepresentation of the facts on the James Bay coast.

[Jim Prentice, Conservative, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians]

Mr. Speaker, as a follow up to that point of order, the privilege in respect to this is personal and I would expect a personal apology from the member for Timmins—James Bay.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will take the minister's request under advisement. I will speak with the leadership and the people of Kashechewan and I will take my direction from them because they were at the meeting with the minister. I will come back tomorrow and say what I should respond. If it is necessary for me to make a personal apology, I will be more than willing, but I will be asking the chief and council of Kashechewan what they felt from their meeting first.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

I think that brings to a conclusion the points of order and questions of privilege for today.

Criminal Code

[Stockwell Day, Conservative, Minister of Public Safety]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the 2005-06 annual report issued pursuant to section 25.3 of the Criminal Code.

This report covers the RCMP's use of specified provisions within the law and within that law enforcement justification regime where it is set out in sections 25.1 to 25.4 of the Criminal Code. This report also documents the nature of the investigations in which these provisions were used.

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 responses to three petitions.

Public Safety and National Security

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security.

In accordance with the order of reference of Friday, October 20, 2006, the committee has considered Bill C-286, An Act to amend the Witness Protection Program Act (protection of spouses whose life is in danger) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, and has agreed to report it with amendments.

Finance

[Brian Pallister, Conservative, Portage—Lisgar, MB]

Mr. Speaker, I have the obligation and the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Finance in relation to Bill C-253, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (deductibility of RESP contributions), with amendments.

As is my privilege, I would like to go on record as saying that I believe this is not the committee's best work. I believe that in hindsight many members of my committee will, on further consideration, regret the conclusions they draw within this report.

Status of Women

[Yasmin Ratansi, Liberal, Don Valley East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 14th report of the Standing Committee on the Status of Women, entitled “Elimination of Discrimination against Women in the Employment Insurance Program”.

Canadian Heritage

[Gary Schellenberger, Conservative, Perth—Wellington, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 17th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage, entitled “The Funding Crisis of the Canadian Television Fund.” Pursuant to Standing Order 109, my committee requests a government response.

Mr. Speaker, I also have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 18th report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage relating to the nomination of Mr. Konrad von Finckenstein to the position of chairperson of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.

Scrutiny of Regulations

[Paul Szabo, Liberal, Mississauga South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 108(4) I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Joint Committee on the Scrutiny of Regulations. The report has to do with the Broadcasting Act, particularly section 11 and more particularly the broadcasting licence fee regulations, 1997.

In brief, the courts have found that fees levied under the prescribed regulations in fact are excessive and constitute a tax. In its findings, the court's central concern must be to guarantee respect for constitutional principles. One such principle is that the Crown may not levy a tax except with authority of the Parliament or the legislature, Constitution Act, 1867. This principle of no taxation without representation is central to our conception of democracy and the rule of law. When the government collects and retains taxes pursuant to ultra vires legislation, it undermines the rule of law.

The committee fully agrees with that viewpoint, which reflects the fundamental nature of Parliament's authorization for the lawful collection of fees and taxes.

Criminal Code

[Dawn Black, NDP, New Westminster—Coquitlam, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-413, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (leaving province to avoid warrant of arrest or committal).

Mr. Speaker, there is a large problem in Canada with warrants that are issued across the country but are unenforceable because they are non-returnable warrants.

Eighteen months ago, the Vancouver police found on city streets over a three month period 726 people who had a total of 1,582 warrants against them for crimes committed elsewhere in Canada. A quarter of them faced multiple outstanding charges and 84% of them had lengthy criminal records with an average of 19 convictions per person.

My bill would address this issue by amending the Criminal Code of Canada to provide that every person who knows or believes that a warrant of arrest has been issued or will be issued to them and leaves the province of jurisdiction before or after a warrant of arrest or committal has been issued will be guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years less a day.

This is an issue that has been going on for a long time. It is of prime importance in my province of British Columbia where I suppose people travel to a kinder climate to flee these warrants. We must address the issue.

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

(Bill C-286. On the Order: Private Members' Bills:)

October 20, 2006--Second reading of Bill C-286, An Act to amend the Witness Protection Program Act (protection of spouses whose life is in danger) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act—Mr. Steven Blaney.

Witness Protection Program Act

[Steven Blaney, Conservative, Lévis—Bellechasse, QC]

Mr. Speaker, as the members know, last spring I tabled a bill to protect spouses whose life is in danger, in particular, to protect women from their violent ex-spouses. Since then, I have had several meetings with the Minister of Public Safety and representatives of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, and last Friday, measures were initiated to take action, after years of waiting.

This is why I seek the unanimous consent of the House to have Bill C-286, An Act to amend the Witness Protection Program Act (protection of spouses whose life is in danger) and to make a consequential amendment to another Act, standing in my name in the order of precedence on the order paper, withdrawn and the order discharged, since our government is implementing a single program for victims of abuse.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

Does the hon. member for Lévis—Bellechasse have the unanimous consent of the House?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Speaker, Liberal, Peter Milliken]

(Order discharged and bill withdrawn)

Marriage

[Garry Breitkreuz, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table a petition signed by hundreds of constituents in my riding and throughout Saskatchewan.

The petitioners state that they support the traditional definition of marriage, the union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others. They state that healthy societies are built on the foundation of healthy marriages and families, relationships which cannot be replaced by legally recognized gay unions. They ask for the traditional definition of marriage to be reinstated under law in Canada.

Age of Consent

[John Maloney, Liberal, Welland, ON]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise to present a petition from the constituents of Welland riding. The petition calls upon the House to protect our children from sexual predators as a top priority. As 14 and 15 year olds are especially vulnerable to sexual exploitation, the petition calls upon Parliament to raise the age of consent from 14 to 16 years of age.

Canada Post

[Marc Lemay, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure of submitting today two petitions signed by a total of more than 5,000 citizens who, contrary to what the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities thought, are calling for the post office in the city of Noranda, in the municipality of Rouyn-Noranda, to remain open. This post office serves an older population. We therefore ask that it stay in operation.

Passports

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise in the House to present a petition from hundreds of residents of the city of Timmins, Ontario, where the issue is the need for passports for travel.

The delays at Passport Canada have caused applicants to part with valuable documents for long periods of time. Passport Canada returns to applicants by mail entire documents and applications due to any number of reasons, such as rejected documents or photographs, causing further unnecessary delay.

The fact is there is no fully operational passport facility or expedited service for the residents of northeastern Ontario. This lack of service is hampering the economic opportunities in our region, which is dependent a great deal on mining. There is a lot of travel back and forth to different countries.

Whereas people in southern Ontario already have fully operational walk-in centres with expedited services, including 24 to 48 hour emergency services, citizens in my region have to drive at least eight to ten hours to get such services. The residents from the Timmins region are calling upon Parliament to approve the granting of a fully operational passport office in the city of Timmins, Ontario to serve the people not just in Timmins, but in all of northeastern Ontario and to alleviate the current workloads and delays we are seeing at Passport Canada.