Mac Harb

[Territorial Lands Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-435, an act to amend the Territorial Lands Act (definition of adult).

Madam Speaker, this is also one of the series of bills the intent of which is for us to address each specific aspect of the federal legislation as an entity on its own. Simply put, it is imperative for us when dealing with the federal statutes to study each statute separately in order to see its ramifications when it comes to children. There is not one piece of federal legislation that would not have an impact on a child. To that extent, the intent is to address each specific piece of legislation.

For example, if these bills were introduced as an omnibus bill as the province of Ontario did and if one member of Parliament or one cabinet minister had a problem with one of those pieces of legislation, we would vote against all the legislation.

To that extent, because it is such an important initiative and such an important commitment that Canada has made to the United Nations and its other member nations, it is imperative for us to give this matter the priority it deserves and to address it in a cohesive, comprehensive and progressive fashion.

That is why all those pieces of legislation are being put before the House today, hopefully for study after the election. When we come back, we will have a chance to reintroduce them. Specific committees could look at each one and try to strengthen each piece of legislation to ensure that the interests of the child are protected and paramount.

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

[Privacy Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-434, an act to amend the Privacy Act (definition of minor).

Madam Speaker, this is an act to amend the Privacy Act. More specifically, this bill amends section 77 of the Privacy Act. Its purpose is to amend the Privacy Act by adding to the section providing for the making of regulations and a definition of "minor", so that the act will be consistent with the proposed definition of "child" under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, that is a person under eighteen years of age.

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

[Pension Fund Societies Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-433, an act to amend the Pension Fund Societies Act (definition of minor child).

Madam Speaker, this is an act to amend the Pension Fund Societies Act (definition of minor child). Specifically, we propose an amendment to section 2 of the Pension Fund Societies Act, to include the following definition of "minor child": "a person under eighteen years of age".

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

[Canada Transportation Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-432, an act to amend the Canada Transportation Act (definition of adult).

Madam Speaker, this bill attempts to amend the Canada Transportation Act (definition of adult). This bill amends the Canada Transportation Act to add the definition of adult. This ensures that the act would be interpreted consistently with the definition of child proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Some people may ask why we did not have one act to cover all those together. Simply put, it is not feasible. No matter what, each act would have to be amended and that is why this bill has come forward.

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

[Land Titles Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-431, an act to amend the Land Titles Act (age of majority and definition of infant).

Madam Speaker, this is an act to amend the Land Titles Act (age of majority and definition of infant). This act has been replaced with respect to the Northwest Territories and the Yukon Territory but remains in force with respect to Nunavut.

This bill changes the meaning of full age of majority and various provisions of the act to 18 years old. It also ensures that infants and infancy in relation to land transactions will also mean a person under 18 years of age. The act would then be interpreted consistently with the definition of child proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a person who is less than 18 years old.

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

[Insurance Companies Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-430, an act to amend the Insurance Companies Act (definition of infant).

Madam Speaker, this is a bill to amend the Insurance Companies Act (definition of infant). Its purpose is to ensure that the term "infant" as it is seen in the context of dealing with issues in regard to insurance will be interpreted consistently with the

definition of child as proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

As members know, under that convention country members have agreed to amend all of their legislation in order to ensure that they have a cohesive policy when dealing with children. This amendment will ensure that is the case.

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

[Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-429, an act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act (definition of child).

Madam Speaker, this particular bill seeks an amendment to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act (definition of child). This bill would amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act to add the definition of child to the section that relates to children who testify to be accompanied by a parent. This would ensure that the act would be interpreted consistently with the definition of child proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a person who is less than 18 years of age.

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

[Indian Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-428, an act to amend the Indian Act (definition of infant child).

Madam Speaker, this particular bill attempts to amend the Indian Act dealing with the definition of infant child. Also, if we were to look into this act, this legislation would ensure that the term "infant child" as is mentioned in the act in relation to guardianship and administration of the property of Indian children would be interpreted consistently with the definition of child proposed by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child as a person who is less than 18 years of age.

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

[Excise Tax Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-427, an act to amend the Excise Tax Act (definition of child).

Madam Speaker, this bill provides that a "child" is "a person who is less than eighteen years of age", so as to reflect the definition of "child", as proposed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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

[Canada Cooperative Associations Act, April 22nd, 1997]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-426, an act to amend the Canada Cooperative Associations Act (definition of infant).

Madam Speaker, in the act, when we refer to children we use the word "infant", not "child". Therefore, this bill seeks to amend subsection 3(1) of the Canada Cooperative Associations Act by adding the following in the alphabetical order: ""infant" means an individual who is less than eighteen years of age".

The purpose of this amendment is to ensure consistency in the act by specifying that a child is a person who is under 18 years of age.

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