Tuesday, December 2, 1997
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CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 042 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 2, 1997 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) All parliamentary publications are available on the ``Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire'' at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 2541 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, December 2, 1997 The House met at 10 a.m. (1) No later than 4 p.m. this day any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted and all questions necessary for the completion of the second reading _______________ stage shall be put without further debate; (2) At the beginning of the committee of the whole stage any member wishing to propose an amendment or amendments shall table the same and the said amendment Prayers or amendments, if found to be in order, shall be deemed to have been duly proposed at the appropriate point in the proceedings of the committee provided that no later _______________ than 6.30 p.m. this day proceedings before the committee shall be interrupted and all questions necessary for the completion of the committee of the whole stage shall be put without further debate; ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS (3) No later than 10 p.m. this day any proceedings before the House shall be interrupted and all questions necessary for the completion of the third reading stage shall be put without further debate. D (1005) (Motion agreed to) [English] * * * GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the D (1010 ) Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in PETITIONS both official languages, the government’s response to two peti- tions. CANADIAN FLAG * * * Mr. Peter MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, PC): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present a petition today from the [Translation] constituents of my riding of Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, pursuant to Standing Order 36. INFORMATION COMMISSIONER Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House These petitioners call upon Parliament to adopt an official of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I think you will find unanimous pledge of allegiance to the Canadian flag, the wording of which consent for the following motion, to be passed without debate. I would be determined through consultation with Canadians. move: NUCLEAR WEAPONS That, in accordance with subsection 54(3) of the Act to extend the present laws of Canada that provide access to information under the control of the Government of Canada, Chapter A-1 of the Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, this House approve Mr. John O’Reilly (Victoria—Haliburton, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the reappointment of John Grace as Information Commissioner, to hold office until pursuant to Standing Order 36, it is my pleasure to present a April 30, 1998. petition from the people of Victoria—Haliburton calling on the (Motion agreed to) government and the Parliament of Canada to support the immediate initiation and conclusion by the year 2000 of the international * * * convention which will set out a binding timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. [English] THE FAMILY POSTAL SERVICES CONTINUATION ACT, 1997 Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I move: pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition to the That, with respect to Bill C-24, an act to provide for the resumption and House today from a number of Canadians, including those from my continuation of postal services: riding of Mississauga South. 2542 COMMONS DEBATES December 2, 1997 Government Orders The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House period of negotiations. Despite the efforts of the parties, the two that managing the family home and caring for preschool children sides were unable to reach a resolution to their differences. is an honourable profession which has not been recognized for its value to our society. As hon. members will recall, I had stated on several occasion in the House that the collective bargaining process as part I of the The petitioners would also like to agree with the report of the Canada Labour Code had to be allowed to work. National Forum on Health which suggests that the Income Tax Act does not take into account the cost of raising children for those who D (1015 ) choose to provide care in the home to their preschool children. I am a firm believer in the democratic concept of free collective The petitioners, therefore, pray and call upon Parliament to bargaining. Naturally I am disappointed that in this case the parties pursue initiatives to assist families who choose to provide care in failed to accept their responsibilities under the process and achieve the home for preschool children. a settlement. I am also mindful of the resulting economic harm which the work stoppage has had on Canadian businesses and RETIREMENT INCOME charities. However, I have no regrets in having provided the parties Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre, NDP): with every possibility to resolve the dispute themselves. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased and Fortunately the Canadian experience has been that these occa- honoured to present a petition on behalf of the constituents of sions are relatively few and far between. The vast majority of Winnipeg North Centre and from other Manitobans, reflecting their labour negotiations, in excess of 90%, are settled without resort to concerns with respect to proposed and current changes to Canada’s work stoppage action by either of the parties. That underscores the retirement system. faith which governments at various levels have expressed in the The petitioners call upon this government to rescind Bill C-2 and collective bargaining system. to put in place a national review of the retirement income system in Canada in order to ensure adequacy of Canada’s retirement system The dispute which has led to the proposed legislation involves today and tomorrow. negotiations for the renewal of the collective agreement between the corporation and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers which covers some 45,000 employees. The previous collective agreement * * * which was reached in direct negotiations expired on July 31 of this [Translation] year. QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER Following six weeks of direct negotiations between the two sides, the union filed a notice of dispute pursuant to section 71 of Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the the Canada Labour Code. While the union expressed a preference Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): I move that all for no further assistance from my department, I felt the interest of questions be allowed to stand. all parties would be well served by the appointment of a concilia- tion officer to assist the parties in their deliberations. This was done The Deputy Speaker: Is it agreed? on June 20, 1997. Some hon. members: Agreed. The parties decided to continue with direct negotiations prior to the conciliation officer joining in the discussions on August 19. _____________________________________________ Following a series of conciliation sessions, the union asked the officer to report to me, ending their involvement. On September 18 GOVERNMENT ORDERS CUPW rejected a global offer made by the employer three days earlier. [English] After careful consideration of the situation, I decided to provide the parties with a second stage of conciliation assistance and POSTAL SERVICES CONTINUATION ACT, 1997 appointed Mr. Marc Gravel, a well-respected third party neutral, as conciliation commissioner on October 7. Mr. Gravel held meetings Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (Minister of Labour, Lib.) moved on October 14 and continued to explore avenues of settlement with that Bill C-24, an act to provide for the resumption and continua- the parties until the end of the month. tion of postal service, be read the second time and referred to a committee of the whole. In his report to me, the conciliation commissioner indicated he He said: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to Bill C-24, the was unable to help the parties resolve their differences. He Postal Services Continuation Act, 1997, legislation directed at suggested the parties needed the pressure of a strike or lockout bringing about the resumption of postal service in Canada. deadline to conclude a settlement. He also recommended that they urge the parties to negotiate their dispute promptly, diligently and Hon. members will be aware that the work stoppage which began in good faith and that they make the services of the Federal at Canada Post Corporation on November 19 followed a lengthy Mediation and Conciliation Service available to them. I released December 2, 1997 COMMONS DEBATES 2543 Government Orders the commissioner’s report to the parties on November 10 and they into account the need for good labour-management relations acquired the legal right to strike or lockout at 12.01 a.m. on between the employer and the union. November 18. The guiding principles contained in the legislation are designed During the week that followed the release of the commissioner’s to ensure that the mediator-arbitrator recognizes the directions report the parties met on several occasions in direct negotiations. which have been provided to the employer by the Government of These meetings continued following a nationwide strike action by Canada in terms of financial performance and service standards, CUPW on November 19. while at the same time balancing these issues with the importance of good labour relations within the workplace. Most experienced arbitrators take such factors into account and this clause is included After speaking with both parties and being given their assur- ances that they still desired a negotiated settlement of the dispute, I in the legislation for greater certainty.