House of Commons Hansard #70 of the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was ndp.

Topics

Presence in GalleryOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Hear, hear!

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

April 2nd, 2008 / 3:05 p.m.

Conservative

Mike Wallace Conservative Burlington, ON

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Yesterday, the member for Halton, during his question in question period, said:

--the member for Burlington has broken the rules with an illegal mailing that he expects taxpayers to pay for.

I have followed every single rule set out by this House of Commons. The member's statement was inaccurate.

Through you, Mr. Speaker, I ask that the member for Halton have the integrity to apologize and withdraw his statement of yesterday.

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:05 p.m.

Liberal

Garth Turner Liberal Halton, ON

Mr. Speaker, obviously, I would never bring an issue to this House that is that serious without having much justification and also without having verification.

Actually, the member opposite had delivered, this week, 29,000 copies of a 10 percenter to a postal substation which is only allowed to have 5,600 copies distributed. It is a flagrant abuse of the rules.

The party opposite has been sending out millions of pieces of mail and all of these mailings have been breaking the rules of this House.

Mr. Speaker, you are responsible for the oversight of these rules and I think it is time that you looked into this.

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

York—Simcoe Ontario

Conservative

Peter Van Loan ConservativeLeader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform

Mr. Speaker, I believe the member is mistaken and what he is characterizing as one 10 percenter is in fact very many. Furthermore, he is suggesting that it is inappropriate to send them in other constituencies.

I have in my hands a mailing that the member for Halton sent in Edmonton, with the Liberal Party logo at the top, under the caption, “A Message From [and it has the name of the member for Halton] and the Alberta Liberal Caucus”, whatever creature that is, talking about all the very important issues in Alberta that he cares about.

Obviously, the man is speaking with no basis in reality and he is in one of those glass houses, throwing stones that he really should not attempt.

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Calgary Southeast Alberta

Conservative

Jason Kenney ConservativeSecretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity)

Mr. Speaker, I was thinking of raising this prior to the Easter constituency week, but I decided not to out of generosity of spirit.

However, now that the member has refused to apologize, I want to bring to your attention the fact that, I believe it was on the Wednesday prior to our Easter constituency break, I received, and I believe all members of this place received, in an official House of Commons franked envelope from the member for Halton, an advertisement for his new book, entitled Greater Fool:, what an appropriate title, Greater Fool: The Troubled Future of Real Estate, published by Key Porter Books Ltd., inviting us all to a book launch to go and buy his book.

I would like to know why that member is using taxpayer-funded parliamentary resources to sell his book from which he receives personal profits?

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Order, please. I think we are getting a little beyond points of order here.

I will hear the hon. member for Halton and then the matter will end.

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Garth Turner Liberal Halton, ON

Mr. Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to respond.

Just so the member is not under any false impressions, the invitation that I laid on his desk, hoping he would come to my event, was paid for by me, and I have the receipt. The envelopes in question were purchased from the House of Commons. It cost me $8.95 to buy that box. Again, I really regret the member did not come--

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!

Hear, hear!

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

Order. He can go and see the member and look at the receipt in his office. We are not getting into that.

Franking PrivilegesPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

Garth Turner Liberal Halton, ON

The hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services on another point of order.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam B.C.

Conservative

James Moore ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics

Mr. Speaker, in my answer to the supplementary question from the member for Beauséjour, I gave my colleague from Calgary Northeast an unexpected promotion in his career. He was actually a detective, not the chief of the Calgary police. I wanted to make sure that was clear.

Oral QuestionsPoints of OrderOral Questions

3:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Speaker Liberal Peter Milliken

I am sure that the member for Calgary Northeast will appreciate the correction.

Government Response to PetitionsRoutine Proceedings

3:10 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, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to three petitions.

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Statutes TreatyRoutine Proceedings

3:10 p.m.

Calgary East Alberta

Conservative

Deepak Obhrai ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) I have the pleasure to table, in both official languages, a treaty entitled “The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance Statutes” as amended. An explanatory memorandum is enclosed with this treaty.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Peter Goldring Conservative Edmonton East, AB

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the OSCE Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the election observation mission held in Kiev, Ukraine, on September 30, 2007.

Interparliamentary DelegationsRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Leon Benoit Conservative Vegreville—Wainwright, AB

Mr. Speaker, I have two reports from interparliamentary delegations.

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation in the joint meeting of the defence and security, economics and security, and the political committees held in Brussels, Belgium, and the European Commission on February 17 to 19, 2008.

As well, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the delegation of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association respecting its participation at the defence and security committee held in Berlin, Germany, on November 5 and 6, 2007.

Access to Information, Privacy and EthicsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in relation to its study of the access to information request for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade internal report entitled, “Afghanistan 2006: Good Governance, Democratic Development and Human Rights”.

There are a number of recommendations in this report, the most significant of which is that the government introduce a new Access to Information Act.

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

Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with DisabilitiesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Conservative

Dean Allison Conservative Niagara West—Glanbrook, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities entitled, “Employability in Canada: Preparing for the Future”.

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

Access to Information, Privacy and EthicsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:15 p.m.

Liberal

Paul Szabo Liberal Mississauga South, ON

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in relation to the study of the Mulroney Airbus settlement entitled, “The Mulroney-Schreiber Affair--Our Case for a Full Public Inquiry”.

The report contains only one recommendation as follows:

That the Government appoint a commissioner of inquiry pursuant to Part 1 of the Inquiries Act at the earliest possible date and that the commissioner be granted a broad mandate to inquire into the Mulroney-Schreiber Affair.

The report also includes two supplementary opinions and one minority report.

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

As the chair of the ethics committee, I want to thank the permanent members of the committee and other members of Parliament who participated in the hearings for their support and efforts in discharging our collective responsibilities.

As well, no parliamentary committee can function properly without the experience and support of House of Commons and Library of Parliament personnel. Our clerks, legal advisors, research analysts, translators, and other technical and support personnel were invaluable in helping us to organize and present our hearings directly to the people of Canada. I am extremely grateful for their exceptional efforts under some of the most challenging and historic circumstances ever experienced in the Parliament of Canada.

Procedure and House AffairsCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Bloc

Michel Guimond Bloc Montmorency—Charlevoix—Haute-Côte-Nord, QC

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour, as chair of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, to present to the House the 15th report of that committee, concerning the list of members of standing committees.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in this 15th report later this day.

Government Operations and EstimatesCommittees of the HouseRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Liberal

Diane Marleau Liberal Sudbury, ON

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates in relation to its study on the implementation of Justice John Gomery's 19 recommendations.

The committee strongly recommends that the government immediately embark on a formal study of Justice John Gomery's 19 recommendations arising from the commission of inquiry into the sponsorship program and advertising activities and report back to the House of Commons within six months on how it intends to address the recommendations, including those recommendations that it rejects.

International Treaty Accountability ActRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Alexa McDonough NDP Halifax, NS

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-530, An Act to ensure accountability in respect of Canada's obligations under international treaties.

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege this afternoon to introduce a bill entitled, “an act to ensure accountability in respect of Canada's obligations under international treaties”. If enacted, the Minister of Foreign Affairs or any minister responsible for implementing Canada's international obligations would be required to submit to each House of Parliament a report setting out Canada's progress in implementing the international treaties to which Canada is a signatory.

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

Currency ActRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

NDP

Pat Martin NDP Winnipeg Centre, MB

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-531, An Act to amend the Currency Act and the Royal Canadian Mint Act (abolition of the cent).

Mr. Speaker, let me clear. This is the abolition of the cent, not the abolition of the Senate.

This bill is based on the premise that the penny is of no commercial value. It does not circulate and it costs more to produce than it is worth. I guess there are some parallels to the Senate. There are approximately 20 billion pennies--

Currency ActRoutine Proceedings

3:20 p.m.

Some hon. members

Oh, oh!