Royal Galipeau

[Samuel de Champlain, June 4th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, today marks the 395th anniversary of Samuel de Champlain's first visit to Ottawa.

Morris Bishop wrote in his book Champlain: The Life of Fortitude that on this day in 1613, “he admired the superb fall of the Rideau throwing its waters forward, clear of the cliff, to make a curtain (Rideau). The Indians passed behind the waterfall for amusement, barely wetting themselves. Champlain was captivated by this beautiful spot, where one day was to rise the towered capital of all his realm”.

It is Champlain who gave us the name for the Rideau Falls and the river of the same name and, indirectly, for Rideau Street and the city wards of Rideau, Rideau-Vanier and Rideau-Rockcliffe.

Champlain also inspired the naming of Rideau Hall, the Rideau Centre and the former Rideau Township.

[Gasoline Prices, May 12th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, in Ottawa—Orléans and across the country, Canadians are paying more for gas than ever before.

Now, new reports show that about one pump in twenty shortchanges me and other consumers and gives out less fuel than what appears on the meter. The people whom I serve will not put up with this. Can the Minister of Industry tell the House if he has any plans to address these concerns in order to protect Canadian consumers?

[Barbara Ann Scott, May 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, today I invite this House and all Canadians to celebrate the 80th birthday of Barbara Ann Scott, a Canadian figure skating icon.

From Ottawa's Minto Skating Club, where my daughter and her Capital Blades team also skated, Barbara Ann had a stunning career. She began winning national awards when she was 11 years old. She was the first woman to perform the double Lutz in competition.

In 1948, she competed on an outdoor rink during the winter games in Saint-Moritz, Switzerland, becoming the first Canadian to win a gold medal for figure skating. To this day, she is the only woman who has done that.

A hundred thousand people lined the streets of Ottawa to acclaim her.

She has been an inspiration for generations, including my daughter, Miriam.

Happy birthday, Barbara Ann Scott King.

Canada loves you.

[National Volunteer Week, May 1st, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, this week, we thank 12 million volunteers who help make our communities better.

Volunteers play a major role in the delivery of all the services provided in our communities: health care, heritage, education and youth.

They work in many other areas: arts and culture, churches, schools and libraries and, of course, skating rinks and soccer fields.

Last night, volunteers in all these domains and more were officially recognized in a special ceremony dedicated to them, the heavy lifters of Ottawa--Orléans.

The fabric of our country is stronger thanks to the contributions of our volunteers.

On the occasion of National Volunteer Week, I take great pleasure in recognizing all our volunteers and especially those who work so hard in Ottawa-Orléans.

They truly have a heart of gold.

[Points of Order, April 9th, 2008]

Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could have the unanimous consent of the House to revisit a mistake for which I was responsible a few minutes ago.

On the fourth vote, I voted to support Bill S-203. In the confusion of all the noise, when the Speaker called for the nays, both chair occupants sitting here in the rump stood again, definitely in error, and my vote was included as having voted against. Thankfully my colleague from Regina—Qu'Appelle was not counted as voting against, but I was. It will appear that I voted twice. My intention was to vote once and was to vote in favour of Bill S-203.

[Montessori Educational Method, December 7th, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, this year, 2007, marks the centennial of the work of Dr. Maria Montessori. We proudly recognize the great work inspired by her discoveries.

The purpose of education is to nurture the energies of childhood—intellectual, physical, emotional, moral and spiritual—so that every member of the human race can make a constructive contribution to the world.

All children deserve the best possible conditions at every stage of their development.

When fully developed, children become individuals committed to human solidarity, social progress and peace.

Montessorians declare their commitment now and in the future to participate in a universal social movement that places children at the centre of society, recognizing them as citizens of the world.

They are also committed to reforming education as a reciprocal, lifelong process in which every member of the human race is profoundly engaged.

Please join us in championing the cause of all children.

[Old Age Security Act, November 26th, 2007]

I am now prepared to rule on the point of order raised by the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform concerning the need for a royal recommendation for Bill C-362, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirement), standing in the name of the hon. member for Brampton West.

On October 18, the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader and Minister for Democratic Reform drew attention to the fact that Bill C-362 would increase old age pension security and guaranteed income supplement benefits by lowering the threshold for residency requirement from the current 10 years to three years, thus resulting in significant new expenditures for the government.

The hon. parliamentary secretary argued that precedents clearly establish that bills which create new expenditures for benefits by modifying eligibility criteria or changing the terms of a program require a royal recommendation.

In support of this view, he cited rulings on Bills C-265, C-278, C-284 and C-269 from the previous session.

I would like to thank the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader and Minister for Democratic Reform for having raised this issue.

The Chair has examined Bill C-362, An Act to amend the Old Age Security Act (residency requirement), to determine whether its provisions would require a royal recommendation and thus prevent the Chair from putting the question at third reading.

As has been pointed out, Bill C-362 amends the Old Age Security Act to reduce from 10 years to three years the residency requirement for entitlements to a monthly pension.

The parallel made by the hon. Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader and Minister for Democratic Reform between Bills C-362 and Bill C-269, An Act to amend the Employment Insurance Act (improvement of the employment insurance system), is a pertinent one.

Although Bill C-269 contains several elements that involve new expenditures, one particular element sought, much like the provisions of Bill C-362, to reduce the qualifying period for benefits.

As the Chair pointed out on November 6, 2006, in a ruling on Bill C-269, “...all of these elements [contained in the bill] would indeed require expenditures from the EI Account which are not currently authorized”.

It went on to say, “Such increased spending is not covered by the terms of any existing appropriation”.

By reducing from 10 years to three years the residency requirement for entitlements to a monthly pension under the old age security act, Bill C-362 would reduce the requirements currently authorized for payment of benefits. In doing so, the bill would authorize an inevitable increase in the amount of expenditure of public funds and therefore requires a royal recommendation.

Consequently, I will decline to put the question on third reading of this bill in its present form unless a royal recommendation is received; however, the debate is currently on the motion for second reading, and this motion shall be put to a vote at the close of the second reading debate.

Resuming debate, the hon. member for Laval.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I am not going to jump into a partisan trap that was set up by my very generous friend.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague should be pleased to know that the National Research Council exists in all provinces of Canada. That is precisely what bothers me at times. For instance, there are certain marketing operations that would be better established here in Ottawa. They have been moved to other parts of Canada, with managers who have no experience in the business world.

I appreciate the hon. member's comments. I will continue to work on grouping the marketing operations together in one place, specifically in the east end of Ottawa, in order to create a technology transfer centre.

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, October 23rd, 2007]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the hon. member for his good advice to the House. I am sure that the government will take notice. However, given what else I have said in my speech, I do not intend to respond in a manner that would be considered partisan.