Tuesday, November 26, 1996
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CANADA VOLUME 134 S NUMBER 107 S 2nd SESSION S 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, November 26, 1996 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) The House of Commons Debates are also available on the Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 6709 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, November 26, 1996 The House met at 10 a.m. This bill, were it to come to a true free vote, would be the next best thing if MPs were allowed to vote the view of their constitu- _______________ ents, rather than their conscience or their party’s position. Prayers In addition to reinstating the death penalty for adults convicted of first degree murder, the bill also imposes a range of stiffer _______________ minimum sentences for youths convicted of first degree murder. Too many Canadians have died at the hands of violent criminals who exhibit no remorse for their horrendous crimes. Those individ- ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS uals will never be rehabilitated no matter how long they remain in prison. In my opinion, breathing is too good for the likes of [Translation] Clifford Olson and Paul Bernardo. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) Mr. Paul Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, * * * pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government’s response to six petitions. PETITIONS * * * GOODS AND SERVICES TAX [English] Mr. Morris Bodnar (Saskatoon—Dundurn, Lib.): Mr. Speak- er, I have a petition from people primarily from the Biggar and COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Perdue area of Saskatchewan indicating that they wish that the GST ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS AND NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT be removed from reading materials. Mr. Raymond Bonin (Nickel Belt, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have EDUCATION the honour to present, in both official languages, the sixth report of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is Development concerning the rights of Canada’s aboriginal peoples. a pleasure for me to present this petition from a group of Manitobans who object to the constitutional amendment to term 17 * * * of the terms of union between Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador which removes the rights to denominational classes of CRIMINAL CODE persons to operate their own schools. Mr. Jay Hill (Prince George—Peace River, Ref.) moved for They oppose the removal of constitutionally acquired rights leave to introduce Bill C-354, an act to amend the Criminal Code given to minorities so that Newfoundlanders would join Confed- and the Young Offenders Act (capital punishment). eration, that is Canada. He said: Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the hon. member CRIMINAL CODE for Yorkton—Melville for seconding my bill. On June 21, 1994 I introduced Bill C-265. On March 4, 1996 I Mr. Art Hanger (Calgary Northeast, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I introduced Bill C-218 and on May 14 it was granted just one hour have four petitions bearing 278 signatures. of debate. Today I will try yet again. The petitioners call on Parliament to enact two strikes legislation The government continues to ignore the opinion of the majority requiring everyone who is convicted for the second time of one or of Canadians on the issue of capital punishment for first degree more sexual offences against a minor person as defined by the murder. It refuses to hold a binding national referendum to let the Criminal Code of Canada shall be sentenced to imprisonment for people decide. life without eligibility for parole or early release. 6710 COMMONS DEBATES November 26, 1996 Government Orders D (1010 ) GOVERNMENT ORDERS Also, for anyone awaiting trial on any such offences mentioned in this petition, the petitioners pray that such a person be held in [English] lawful custody without eligibility for bail or release of any form until such time as the matter is fully concluded in a Canadian court CANADA ELECTIONS ACT of law. Hon. Herb Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of GAS PIPELINE Commons and Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.) moved that Bill C-63, an act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Mr. Randy White (Fraser Valley West, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I Referendum Act, be read the third time and passed. have two petitions, one of which comes from citizens of the province of Nova Scotia. Mr. Kilger: Mr. Speaker, there are ongoing discussions between the parties to facilitate the addition of other amendments. I ask that The petitioners remind the House that in June 1996 the Prime we suspend the sitting for approximately 10 minutes in order to Minister of Canada announced that he would work toward divert- conclude these negotiations before we proceed any further with ing the Sable Island gas pipeline to Quebec City. They state it is third reading. unacceptable for the Prime Minister to decide the destination of Nova Scotia natural gas without consulting Nova Scotians, that [Translation] Nova Scotians assert their right to control the destination of Sable Island gas and demand that the federal government cease tamper- SUSPENSION OF SITTING ing in this issue. The Deputy Speaker: Is it the pleasure of the House to suspend NATIONAL UNITY sitting for ten minutes or more if necessary? Mr. Randy White (Fraser Valley West, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, my Some hon. members: Agreed. second petition asks that the Parliament of Canada declare and (The sitting of the House was suspended at 10.14 a.m.) confirm immediately that Canada is indivisible and that the boundaries of Canada, its provinces, territories and territorial _______________ waters may be modified only by (a) a free vote of all Canadian citizens as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and [English] freedoms, or (b) through the amending formula as stipulated in the Canadian Constitution. SITTING RESUMED LAND MINES The House resumed at 10:35 a.m. Mr. Bill Blaikie (Winnipeg Transcona, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I Mr. Kilger: Mr. Speaker, there have been additional discussions have a great many petitions from virtually thousands of Canadians. among the parties and I would like to thank the hon. member for These petitions are in both English and French and have been Bellechasse on behalf of the Bloc Quebecois, the hon. member for gathered from across the country. Calgary West on behalf of the Reform Party and the hon. member The petitioners call on Parliament to legislate the prohibition in for Winnipeg Transcona on behalf of the New Democratic Party. Canada of the use, production, stockpiling, sale, trade and transfer As a result of these discussions I understand that there would be of all anti-personnel land mines; to work for a international unanimous consent to make a number of additional amendments to convention banning these activities; to substantially increase Cana- Bill C-63 regarding the contents and availability of the list of dian contributions to the UN fund for assistance in mine clearance electors and the minimum period for byelections. and to indigenous and other humanitarian mine clearing initiatives; and to increase Canadian funding and other types of assistance to All parties and the table have complete sets of these amend- programs to rehabilitate mine victims. ments. I could read each one to the House or the House could take them as read. In any case, I am asking for unanimous consent: * * * That the House order that the bill be so amended without debate or division. QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER The Deputy Speaker: I wonder if there is a disposition to give unanimous consent to the motion. I will deal with the question of Mr. Paul Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the whether the amendments should be put on the record in a moment. Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand. [Translation] The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed? Do we have the unanimous consent of the House? Some hon. members: Agreed. Some hon. members: Agreed. November 26, 1996 COMMONS DEBATES 6711 Government Orders [English] That Bill C-63, in Clause 18, be amended by replacing lines 34 and 35 on page 8 with the following: Mr. Blaikie: Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say, with respect ‘‘name, given names, sex and date of birth, and indicating’’; to whether unanimous consent should be granted, that the NDP will That Bill C-63, in Clause 22, be amended by replacing line 27 on page 11 with the give its unanimous consent but will do so reluctantly in the sense following: that this process has not been well executed. It is an obvious case of ‘‘surname, given names, civic address’’; closure having been moved too soon. The process has been rushed and rushed in such a way that, given the way the speaking roster That Bill C-63, in Clause 22, be amended by works here, we have not had a chance to participate in this debate (a) replacing line 9 on page 13 with the following: and will not as a result of the process. That will continue to be the ‘‘list contains the surname, given names, sex, date of birth’’ case, which is why I wanted to rise on this point of order, to say that we are happy to co-operate in improving the bill but we wish the (b) replacing line 17 on page 13 with the following: process had been one in which we had more opportunity to ‘‘(b) his or her surname, given names, sex, date of birth’’ participate.