Thursday, January 20, 1994
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VOLUME 133 NUMBER 004 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, January 20, 1994 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, January 20, 1994 The House met at 10 a.m. (1005) [Translation] _______________ These constituents are asking for a report on what is being Prayers done about taxes. They want the injustices to be removed. [English] _______________ THE CONSTITUTION Mr. Myron Thompson (Wild Rose): Mr. Speaker, pursuant ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to table a petition on behalf of the constituents of Wild Rose, in and around the town of [Translation] Sundre, which states: ‘‘The undersigned, your petitioners, humbly pray and call upon Parliament to enact legislation INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION providing for a referendum of the people binding upon Parlia- Hon. Sheila Finestone (Secretary of State (Multicultural- ment to accept or reject two official languages, English and ism)(Status of Women)): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing French, for the government and the people of Canada; the Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both acceptance or rejection of the proposed amendments to be official languages, the report of the Canadian group of the determined by a majority vote of the total votes cast in the whole Interparliamentary Union. of Canada, together with a majority vote in a majority of provinces with the territories being given the status of one This is the report of the official delegation representing province. And as, in duty bound, your petitioners will ever Canada at the 90th Interparliamentary Conference held in pray’’. Canberra, Australia, from September 13 to September 18, 1993. On behalf of these petitioners, I submit this today. * * * VIOLENCE [English] Mr. Dennis J. Mills (Broadview—Greenwood): Mr. Speak- er, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I have the privilege to present PETITIONS before this House petitions that have been signed by constitu- ents from not only my riding but from around the greater TAXATION Toronto area. They call on Parliament to recognize that the incidence of violence against women and children is unaccept- Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface): Mr. Speaker, I have a able. petition from my electors that asks the government to undertake a comprehensive review of taxation at its earliest convenience to The petitioners humbly pray and call upon Parliament to remove the current injustices. accept legislation designed to eliminate violence against women and children, encourage and support women to report incidents These petitioners indicate a particular injustice in the current of assault or abuse, provide assistance and support for women legislation; single income families with special needs children reporting assault or abuse and the need for abuser rehabilitation. are discriminated against for their decision to remain at home They want to concentrate special effort on the training of with their children. police, lawyers, court workers and judges to become knowl- They point out that there is a significant cost that is incurred edgeable about women and child abuse and also to focus public by families advised by physicians to place their children in day attention on this very important and long ignored problem. care catering to special needs children. I may add as well that CANADIAN FORCES BASE MONCTON these costs remain the same whether the family has a single or double income. This is, in the opinion of these petitioners, Mr. George S. Rideout (Moncton): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to unfair and discriminatory. Standing Order 36, it is a pleasure to introduce a petition from 071 COMMONS DEBATES January 20, 1994 The Address the workers at Base Moncton who are petitioning the govern- GOVERNMENT ORDERS ment to maintain the depot facilities that are there. [English] THE CONSTITUTION SPEECH FROM THE THRONE Mr. George S. Rideout (Moncton): Mr. Speaker, second, it is my obligation to introduce certain petitions pursuant to Stand- RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON ADDRESS IN REPLY ing Order 36 dealing with language and referendums. The House resumed from January 19 consideration of the motion for an address to His Excellency the Governor General in SERIAL KILLER BOARD GAMES reply to his Speech at the opening of the session; and of the amendment; and the amendment to the amendment. Mr. George Proud (Hillsborough): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I rise to present a petition on behalf of Mrs. Ablonczy: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. constituents and people of my province. They ask that govern- Pursuant to Standing Order 43(2), I would advise the Chair that ment ban the sale of the serial killer board game and prevent any Reform members speaking in this debate will be dividing their other such game or material from being made available in this time. For each 20–minute time period two speakers will speak country. for 10 minutes each for the rest of this debate on the throne speech. Mr. Paul DeVillers (Simcoe North): Mr. Speaker, I have a The Speaker: The notification is duly recorded. similar petition signed by my constituents in Simcoe North. It deals with the importation of the serial killer cards. It denounces [Translation] the sale and the importation of these cards into Canada. Mr. Duceppe: Mr. Speaker, I suppose that the five minutes I am cognizant of the danger of restricting freedom of for questions and comments will follow right after the first ten expression in a democratic society, but nevertheless I must minutes and not come at the end. endorse this petition and its denouncement of the glorification of the horrors of these crimes particularly when one considers The Speaker: Yes, usually that is the case. Today it will be that many of the victims of these killers are women and children. that way as well. [English] (1010) Hon. Ralph E. Goodale (Minister of Agriculture and The Speaker: My colleagues, with unanimous agreement, Agri–Food): Mr. Speaker, I am very honoured to join in this may we revert to private members’ bills for one moment? debate on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne at the beginning of a brand new Parliament and the beginning of Some hon. members: Agreed. the mandate of our new government. In that government I am very grateful to have the opportunity to represent the people of Regina—Wascana. I want to thank * * * them for the trust they vested in me in the election of October 25. [Translation] Regina—Wascana includes the southern half of the city of Regina and a rural area running south and east from the city. I am PARLIAMENT OF CANADA ACT proud to represent Saskatchewan’s provincial capital, together with several thousand rural residents. I would note that most of the rural voters now in Regina—Wascana were previously in a Mr. Eugène Bellemare (Carleton—Gloucester) moved for Saskatchewan constituency known in earlier Parliaments as leave to introduce Bill C–201, an act to amend the Parliament of Assiniboia which I had the honour to represent in this House in Canada Act (oath or solemn affirmation). the 1970s. I am pleased that a respected friend and colleague from that earlier Parliament has been chosen by this House as its He said: Mr. Speaker, it is a great honour for me to present a chief presiding officer. I also want to congratulate you, Mr. bill amending the Parliament of Canada Act so that from now on Speaker, upon your election to this high responsibility. members would make an oath of allegiance not only to the Queen but also to the country, Canada and the Constitution. I want to pay tribute to the two distinguished members who moved and seconded the Address in Reply to the Speech from (Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) the Throne. They are representative of the diversity, strength 072 January 20, 1994 COMMONS DEBATES The Address and depth of the government caucus, of which I am very pleased tional Trade, and I made a number of visits to Geneva and to be a part. That caucus has worked hard to get to this House and Brussels to deliver Canada’s message personally to trade nego- to get to the government side of this House and I know they are tiators and ministers from other countries. We fought hard and I determined to play a strong and positive role. They have already believe we have a good agreement. done so in working with me in my responsibilities as Minister of Agriculture and Agri–Food Canada. They have been vigilant, It is true that we did not get everything we wanted in the mature and highly effective in advancing the interests and bargaining process, but we gained much more than we may have concerns of their constituents on agricultural issues. given up. (1015 ) Although much of the focus in this round of the GATT has been on agriculture per se, the agreement over all will benefit all As Minister of Agriculture and Agri–Food, I am responsible Canadians. It should stimulate the world economy and help for a very important component of Canada’s economy and a create badly needed jobs in our country. The OECD has esti- major source of economic growth. This sector employs more mated that the agreement will give the Canadian economy an $8 than 1.8 million Canadians and generates 8 per cent of Canada’s billion boost by the year 2002. It is in my opinion a good deal for gross domestic product. Food production and processing are Canada. important activities in all parts of Canada, east, west and central, rural and urban. Our agri–food policy was spelled out very clearly in the famous red book during the election cam- Agriculture, of course, was a major part of this Uruguay round paign.