Jim Pankiw

[Questions Passed As Orders For Returns, February 29th, 2000]

For each of the past five (5) fiscal years and with respect to federal funds used in the promotion of French and English across Canada, what has the government through the Department of Heritage determined to be: ( a ) the total amount spent on promoting French in communities outside Quebec; ( b ) the total amount spent on promoting English within Quebec; ( c ) the names of all organizations, in respect of the foregoing, and the amount of funding received by each; ( d ) the total number of Francophones, by mother tongue, who reside outside Quebec; and ( e ) the total number of Anglophones, by mother tongue, who reside within Quebec?

Return tabled.

[Committees Of The House, February 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I respect your decision. However, I have one other matter.

I seem to be the victim of a procedural quagmire. This is unrelated, but when I introduced my private member's bill, Bill C-436, the Speaker said that it would be read a second time on Thursday, February 24. I have reviewed the order paper for that day numerous times and it is not listed in the order of precedence.

I simply seek unanimous consent that Bill C-436 be placed immediately on the order of precedence.

[Committees Of The House, February 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, in that case, I would seek a ruling from you.

Standing Order 52 states that I must bring the matter up after Routine Proceedings but I was not allowed to do that on Friday. Since I was not allowed to do that, it stands to reason that my application would carry over to the next sitting day. This is common sense because all our rules in the House follow that logic. When votes are deferred they are held over to the next sitting day, even if it is months later, and so are motions. There is no reason why an application for an emergency debate should not be dealt with in the same way instead of being arbitrarily deleted. It cannot just disappear into thin air.

[Committees Of The House, February 28th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order.

On Friday, I put in an application for an emergency debate regarding three Canadian children who are being held by the state of California. They are facing a possible hearing for adoption which is illegal and a violation of international protocol. They ought to be returned to Canadian authorities.

As I was not able to make my application on Friday because of procedural obstacles, I am seeking the unanimous consent of the House to have that application heard today.

[Canada Elections Act, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, since it appears that we will not be able to hear the application for an emergency debate, I wonder if the members who declined that request would be willing to discuss it with the parents involved.

[Canada Elections Act, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Again, with respect to my application for an emergency debate, I would beg the brief indulgence of the House to explain the application so I can seek unanimous consent to move to that now.

The situation is that three Canadian children are being held hostage by the child protection services agency in California. They have been there for six months, separated from their parents. It is a violation of their rights and the rights of—

[Criminal Code, February 25th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-441, an act to amend the Criminal Code (consecutive sentence for use of firearm in commission of offence).

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment is to require that a sentence for the commission of certain serious offences be supplemented if a firearm is used.

The additional sentence is to be served concurrently to the other sentence and is to be a further minimum punishment of 10 years imprisonment if the firearm is not discharged, 20 years if it is discharged and 25 years if it is discharged and as a result a person, other than an accomplice, is wounded, maimed or disfigured.

The offences affected are those specified in the sections of murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, assault causing bodily harm with intent, sexual assault with a weapon, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, hostage taking, robbery and extortion.

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

[Medically Unnecessary Abortion Referendum Act, February 25th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-440, an act to provide for a referendum to determine whether Canadians wish medically unnecessary abortions to be insured services under the Canada Health Act and to amend the Referendum Act.

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment is to provide for a referendum to be held on the question of whether public funds should be used for medically unnecessary abortions.

If the electors agree that this should not be the case, an amendment to the Canada Health Act would be brought into force which would allow a reduction in fiscal transfers to provinces that allow such funding.

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

[Members Of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, February 25th, 2000]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-439, an act to amend the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act (rights ceasing to accrue after the end of 2000).

Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this enactment is simply to provide that the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act shall cease to apply to service as a member after the end of 2000. Members will not be entitled to contribute or accrue any benefits for service after December 31, 2000.

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

[Canadian International Development Agency, February 25th, 2000]

Mr. Speaker, as you know, I have submitted an application for an emergency debate regarding an international event which falls within the scope of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Because of the urgent nature of this matter, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to move immediately past the daily routine of business directly to applications for emergency debates.