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CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 142 Ï NUMBER 049 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 39th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, February 12, 2008 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 2921 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, February 12, 2008 The House met at 10 a.m. Pursuant to Standing Order 86.2, I wish to state that this bill is in the same form as S-211, which was before the House in the first session, and I ask that this bill be reinstated. Prayers As reported in the news this morning, more and more tragic suicides are happening because of gambling problems. In light of what we have learned about this, I think it is high time we addressed this issue. Members of the other place have done excellent work, and ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS now it is our turn to move forward with this well-crafted bill. Ï (1005) (Motion deemed adopted and bill read the first time) [English] The Speaker: Order, please. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS The Chair is of the opinion that this bill is in the same form as Bill Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of S-211 was at the time of prorogation of the first session of the 39th the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for Parliament. Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the Accordingly, pursuant to Standing Order 86.2, the bill is deemed government's response to five petitions. read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. *** (Bill read the second time and referred to a committee) COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE *** PUBLIC ACCOUNTS [English] Hon. Shawn Murphy (Charlottetown, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third PETITIONS report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled “The BILL C-458 Testimony of Deputy Commissioner Barbara George before the Public Accounts Committee”. Mr. Mervin Tweed (Brandon—Souris, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to present more petitions from across Canada. These In this report, the committee found that the testimony presented by particular petitions are from Alberta and New Brunswick and are all Deputy Commissioner Barbara George was either misleading at best in support of Bill C-458, An Act to amend the Canada Post or untruthful at worst. As such, the committee is recommending that Corporation Act (library materials), which will protect and support the House find Deputy Commissioner George in contempt of the library book rate and extend it to include audio-visual materials. Parliament. As this is sanction enough, we are also recommending that no further action be taken. [Translation] *** THE ENVIRONMENT [Translation] Mr. Luc Malo (Verchères—Les Patriotes, BQ): Mr. Speaker, today I am tabling a petition calling for the elimination of detergents CRIMINAL CODE containing phosphates. It has been signed by 409 citizens of Hon. Denis Coderre (Bourassa, Lib.) moved for leave to Verchères—Les Patriotes, and 171 others signed a reply coupon introduce Bill S-213, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (lottery about this that appeared in my householder last fall. In all, 580 schemes). people have expressed their support for this measure. He said: Mr. Speaker, once again, I am pleased to sponsor Bill I would invite the members to do the same by supporting Bill S-213, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (lottery schemes), C-469, which was introduced by my colleague from Berthier— concerning video lottery terminals. Maskinongé. 2922 COMMONS DEBATES February 12, 2008 Routine Proceedings I would also like to salute those companies, such as Innu-Science including resources deployed in “C” Division as part of a broader in Sainte-Julie, that are miles ahead on this issue and have been examination of organizational issues following receipt of the report providing biodegradable household and industrial cleaners for 15 of the Task Force on Governance and Cultural Change in the RCMP. years now. Question No. 134—Hon. Mauril Bélanger: [English] AGE OF CONSENT With regard to the tracking mechanism put in place by Canada Post in calendar year 2007 to accurately determine the cost and usage of the Library Book Rate Mr. Dave MacKenzie (Oxford, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased Program, based on the data available to date: (a) what is the total cost of the program to present a petition from a number of constituents in my riding who for libraries; (b) what is the total cost of the program for Canada Post; (c) what are the urge Parliament to help protect the children of Canada from sexual financial losses and revenues of the program for Canada Post; (d) how many libraries are participating in the program; and (e) what were the actual and estimated costs of exploitation by an adult by raising the age of consent from 14 to 16 the program for each fiscal year from 2002-2003 to 2006-2007? years of age. Hon. Lawrence Cannon (Minister of Transport, Infrastruc- *** ture and Communities, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the library book QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER rate, LBR, allows libraries to move books between public libraries Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of and to rural and remote residents at significantly reduced postage the Government in the House of Commons and Minister for rates. Canada Post appreciates the importance of the library book Democratic Reform, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the following questions rate to Canadian libraries. Canada Post remains committed to will be answered today: Nos. 1 and 134. working with the major Canadian library associations to ensure that the library community’s concerns are understood and that their needs [Text] are considered in the future. Question No. 1—Hon. Sue Barnes: In order to collect accurate data with respect to the LBR, Canada With regard to RCMP officers: (a) when will the 2500 new RCMP officers be hired; (b) how many additional RCMP officers will there be by the end of 2007; (c) Post developed an electronic shipping tool for libraries in how many additional RCMP officers will there be in 2008; (d) where will the collaboration with the Canadian Library Association and l'Associa- additional RCMP officers be sent; (e) what is the proposed budget allocation for tion pour la science et les techniques de la documentation. The fiscal year 2007-2008 and 2008-2009; and (f) how many C-division detachments library book shipping tool enables eligible libraries to prepare and have been reopened since January 2006? pay for library book shipments. The library shipping tool was Hon. Stockwell Day (Minister of Public Safety, CPC): Mr. introduced in November 2005 and libraries were given until January Speaker, in response to (a), as recently announced in the 2007 2007 to begin using the new shipping tool. Consequently, 2007 is the Speech from the Throne, the government is committed to ensuring first year for which Canada Post will have accurate data on the LBR effective law enforcement, starting with resources to recruit 2,500 based upon use of the library book shipping tool. more officers to police our streets. To this end, the minister has been undertaking focused discussions with his provincial and territorial In response to (a), Canada Post does not have information on the counterparts for the purpose of obtaining their views on how best to total cost of the LBR incurred by libraries. The only data available to move this proposal forward. This initiative is intended to enhance Canada Post is the postage paid by libraries to Canada Post under the provincial, territorial and municipal police capacity across Canada, LBR. The 2007 year-end data from the electronic shipping tool will and is not specifically directed toward increasing resources for the be available in mid-March. For the first 11 months of 2007, libraries Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP. paid postage of approximately $647,000. In response to (b), the RCMP added 639 additional regular members in 2007. In response to (b), based on the data collected from the library book shipping tool, Canada Post calculates that the LBR cost In response to (c), the RCMP is forecasting that there will be $5 million during the first 11 months of 2007. Therefore, Canada 1,034 additional regular members by the end of 2008. Post’s contribution shortfall in respect of the LBR for this period was approximately $4.35 million. Canada Post’s legislated mandate is to In response to (d), the regional deputy in consultation with the provide affordable, universal postal services to all Canadians and to regional management team decides where the new RCMP officers do so on a financially self-sustaining basis. Canada Post receives no will be placed. National and regional priorities are considered in the government appropriation or compensation of any kind for the decision making process. reduced library book rates. Canada Post is committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders, including government, to ensure that In response to (e), the budget allocation for the RCMP as per the this funding shortfall is appropriately addressed. main estimates for 2007-08 was $3.771 billion inclusive of revenues credited to the vote of $1.403 billion. The approved budget level for 2008-09 is $3.72 billion inclusive of revenues credited to the vote of In response to (c), please refer to the response to part (b). $1.484 billion. In response to (d), Canada Post does not collect information as to In response to (f), there have been no detachments reopened in which libraries mail under the library book rate.