René Laurin

[Canada Marine Act, April 14th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am sorry but we did not hear simultaneous interpretation while you were reading the text in one language only. I would like to understand the meaning of the amendments moved by the parliamentary secretary. I think interpretation was not working then.

[Income Tax Budget Amendments Act, 1996, April 10th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, as the bells started sounding, the official opposition asked that the vote on Motion No. 92 be deferred, and the Chair did not recognize our request at that point.

I would submit, with all due respect, to your attention, Standing Order 73(1)( d ), which provides in French:

-after not more than 180 minutes of debate, the Speaker shall interrupt the debate and the question shall be put and decided without further debate.

In our opinion, putting the question does not mean we cannot defer the vote. Standing Order 45(5)( a )(ii) provides:

(ii) During the sounding of the bells, either the Chief Government Whip or the Chief Opposition Whip may ask the Speaker to defer the division.

This is what we did. Nothing in this Standing Order either indicates that we cannot ask to have the vote deferred to another

time. The French text is clear, and I would ask you to recognize the request of the official opposition, please.

[Canada Labour Code, April 9th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Quebecois will vote against the motion.

[Criminal Code, April 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Bloc Quebecois vote yea on this motion.

[Criminal Code, April 8th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, the members of the Bloc Quebecois vote yea on this motion.

[Seasonal Workers, March 21st, 1997]

That is right, Mr. Speaker. The minister is replacing measures that worked well by ones he is unsure of.

Will the minister recognize that, by refusing to continue funding this program in the future, he will promote the hiring of foreign labour at the expense of thousands of workers in Quebec and Canada who will be denied the seasonal jobs available?

[Seasonal Workers, March 21st, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Human Resources Development.

The federal government's financial participation in the agricultural day haul transportation assistance program officially ends on March 31 in Quebec. This program gives labourers living in the city access to farm jobs they could not get if it were not for organised transit between urban areas and rural areas.

Does the minister agree that, by refusing to provide the $350,000 required to maintain this program, he is directly responsible for the loss of thousands of jobs for seasonal agricultural workers and that the resulting social costs will be much higher than the savings?

[Petitions, March 12th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to table today a second petition like the one I tabled a few weeks ago on behalf of residents of my riding who are asking Parliament to pass legislation to set a ceiling on interest rates charged on credit cards issued to consumers by banks and major retailers, based on the Bank of Canada rate.

[Public Gallery, March 12th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Bloc Quebecois, I join with the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in recognizing that the government must extend an apology for the incident that occurred yesterday.

The Bloc Quebecois and the people of Quebec have always had great respect for aboriginal people, as demonstrated time and time again in our long-standing relations with these people. We regret such an incident occurred. That is why, today, we want to make it clear that the respect the people of Quebec have for aboriginal people is always there.

We feel that the apologies made today by the Minister were justified and in order, and we support his action.

[Correctional Service Of Canada, March 7th, 1997]

Mr. Speaker, what guarantee can the minister give that correctional services will take all the necessary steps to remedy the situation and to provide women prisoners with detention conditions that respect the spirit and intent of the Arbour commission's recommendations?