CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 143 Ï NUMBER 008 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 40th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, November 27, 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 319 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, November 27, 2008 The House met at 10 a.m. The petitioners call on the government to ensure continuing funding for the CBC Radio Orchestra and a strong and renewed commitment from CBC/Radio-Canada to classical music in its over the air programming. Prayers I am sure these petitioners believe that it is not too late to save the CBC Radio Orchestra. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS Ï (1005) Ï (1000) INTERPROVINCIAL BRIDGE [Translation] Hon. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, sensing perhaps the need for time, if the House will indulge me, I INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS will read the whereas clauses of the petition and— Mr. Bernard Patry (Pierrefonds—Dollard, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the The Speaker: The hon. member knows that he cannot do that, but House, in both official languages, the reports of two delegations of he can give us a brief summary. Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francopho- Hon. Mauril Bélanger: I will give a brief summary then, Mr. nie concerning their participation in the Canada-France Symposium, Speaker. “The legacy of France in Canada after 400 years”. held in Paris on March 7 and 8, 2008, and in the Parliamentary Affairs Commission This is the sixth in a series of petitions. I hope the government will of the APF held at Andorre-la-Vieille, Principality of Andorra, on respond positively to them. May 6 and 7, 2008. [English] The petitions have been signed by people living in the city of Ottawa, the national capital region. They are asking the government Ms. Yasmin Ratansi (Don Valley East, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, to direct the National Capital Commission to proceed to a detailed pursuant to Standing Order 34(1) it is my pleasure to present, in both assessment of an interprovincial bridge linking the Canotek official languages, the report of the Canadian parliamentary industrial park to the Gatineau airport in the east of the respective delegation to the 16th session of the Steering Committee of the cities. This is also known as option seven of the first phase of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization held in interprovincial crossings environmental assessment. Geneva, Switzerland on October 3, 2007. The Speaker: If I could seek consent to move to petitions, we will We are waiting for the final report of the consultant. That phase come back to motions in a few minutes. Is that agreed? proposes that a bridge be built at a certain location which would essentially cause further problems. This seeks the removal of heavy Some hon. members: Agreed. truck traffic from the core of the nation's capital. Every self- respecting city has a ring road. There is a need to build a bridge, *** perhaps even two bridges, but in the appropriate location so that PETITIONS eventually there would be a ring road around the national capital region. CBC RADIO ORCHESTRA The petitioners are asking the government to take the appropriate Mr. Bill Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I am action in directing the NCC to do the right thing. pleased to table petitions signed by many residents of greater Vancouver, including a number who live in Burnaby—Douglas. GASOLINE PRICES These petitioners are all fans of the CBC Radio Orchestra. They Hon. Larry Bagnell (Yukon, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have a note that it has played a key role in the cultural life of Canada and petition signed by hundreds of people from the quaint Ontario Vancouver over its 70 year history and it has been key to the communities of Finch, Crysler, Apple Hill, Cornwall, Berwick, promotion of Canadian musicians and composers. Monkland, Roxborough, Moose Creek and Maxville. 320 COMMONS DEBATES November 27, 2008 Privilege The petitioners point out that gas prices at the pump are not What would happen if we in the House, in the next provincial indicative of the true cost of gas. When gas prices go up, they go up election in any province, used our franking privileges day in and day immediately at the pump, but when gas prices go down, they do not out to mail out and advocate for a certain politician? We do know go down at the pump. that the government, that the Minister of Agriculture has lifted third party spending rules and that allows the big grain companies and Considering that there is 5% GST, 10% federal excise tax, and others to work for their opponents which is against, I believe, 14.7% provincial tax, the petitioners would like the federal individual farmers. government to reduce federal taxes and put in a mechanism where companies would have to justify a proposed increase in gas prices This is a very serious matter. The question, Mr. Speaker, that you and also be required to give 30 hours' notice of that increase. The must resolve, is whether by using the privileges of a member of petitioners also indicate that when the price of a barrel of oil goes Parliament, as has been done by the member, a parliamentary down, the price at the pump should automatically go down at the secretary no less, has he not impugned the integrity of an election close of the stock markets on that day. which is supposed to be independent of government interference and *** thereby called into question the integrity of the election and the role of all members of the House? The question here is, what will the QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER government and its members not do to achieve their ends? Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I The misuse of the letterhead of a member of Parliament and the ask that all questions be allowed to stand. franking privileges to attempt to blatantly influence a democratic The Speaker: Is that agreed? process of the Canadian Wheat Board constitutes, I believe, a clear violation of those privileges. Mr. Speaker, I believe that you should Some hon. members: Agreed. find that member in contempt of his parliamentary privileges by what has happened. *** PRIVILEGE I have a last point to make. The recent election for Speaker was all about decorum in this House. In fact, the Prime Minister in his USE OF MEMBER'S LETTERHEAD AND FRANKING PRIVILEGES throne speech said that upholding the ideal of democracy that we The Speaker: The chair has notice of a question of privilege from embody in the world is a responsibility that each of us bears. I the hon. member for Malpeque and I will hear him now. believe the member for Cypress Hills—Grasslands, the Parliamen- Hon. Wayne Easter (Malpeque, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am rising tary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the on a question of privilege relating to a letter that was sent under the Canadian Wheat Board, has undermined what we are talking about franking privileges of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of in terms of the ideal of democracy because he has taken away Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board, the member fairness and equal rights in terms of a democratic election for for Cypress Hills—Grasslands. directors of the Canadian Wheat Board. He is undermining the very thrust of what the Prime Minister talked about in the throne speech. The letter, a copy of which I am prepared to table, was sent to a number of individuals, farmers in fact, and organizations in western This is an extremely serious issue and cannot be allowed to Canada. The letter is directed to those producers. I would like to continue. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to rule in that way. quote from the letter: A change in leadership around the Board of Directors' table would mark a new era Ï (1010) of opportunity in Western Canada. Your vote can make that happen. Mr. Tom Lukiwski (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of The member then makes reference to the individuals for whom he the Government in the House of Commons, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I is advocating. I will quote again from his letter: would like to respond to the member for Malpeque's question of Together, we can bring marketing choice to Western Canada. Time is running out, privilege. vote for Sam and Walter today and mail or fax it back to Myers Norris Penny. First, I would point out that questions of privilege are designed for I believe this is a very serious breech of parliamentary privilege one very important reason. If a member's ability to do his or her job and a breach of democratic principles in this country. The letter has been impeded or thwarted somehow, then that is a question of comes from a parliamentary secretary who has access to confidential privilege. That does not hold water in this case whatsoever. I see information of the Canadian Wheat Board. Is he or is he not using nothing in the presentation that the hon. member for Malpeque made that list which should remain confidential to target a political agenda just a few moments ago that would even suggest remotely that the within his own riding? I understand other members of the letter sent out by the hon.