Paul Zed

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Committees Of The House, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, with the leave of the House I move that the 56th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented to the House earlier this day, be concurred in.

(Motion agreed to.)

[Committees Of The House, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the 56th report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, which lists the members and the associate members of the Standing Committee on Industry.

With leave of the House, I intend to move for concurrence in this report later this day.

[Government Response To Petitions, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to 15 petitions.

[Points Of Order, February 19th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest to what my hon. colleague suggests is a question of privilege. It would be my submission to you, Mr. Speaker, that it is not a question of privilege.

It is no secret that the government, since coming to office, has attempted to demystify budget making. Out of respect for the traditions of budget making, it is important to remember that we campaigned based on the fact that we felt this was important to Canadians and to all members of the House. The Standing Committee on Finance has travelled the country and continues to travel the country on prebudget consultations.

The principle behind budget secrecy is to ensure that no individual profits from information gained before the budget is read. I submit there has been no opportunity for private gain. In fact, to specifically deal with my hon. colleague's second point, the documents to which he alludes were on the desks of members of Parliament. No member of the public had those documents.

Since the Minister of Finance is coming into the House of Commons to speak to members of Parliament, I submit that it would be impossible for there to have been a breach of security, a release or disclosure of pertinent information, as my hon. colleague has suggested.

The stock markets were closed at the time of the deposit of these materials. There was no opportunity for any member of the public to take any advantage. As members, we are honourable members. The materials were placed quite properly on our desks as the Minister of Finance was about to speak.

[Points Of Order, February 18th, 1997]

How dare you.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 18th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand.

[Government Response To Petitions, February 18th, 1997]

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

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 17th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the remaining questions be allowed to stand.

[Questions On The Order Paper, February 17th, 1997]

I am informed as follows: The Export Development Corporation has been approached by Ultramar and has offered support for this transaction on a commercial (i.e., non-concessional) basis. Financing arrangements have not yet been concluded.

Other departments and agencies have no information on this subject.