CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 138 Ï NUMBER 072 Ï 2nd SESSION Ï 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, March 18, 2003 Speaker: The Honourable Peter Milliken 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 4325 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, March 18, 2003 The House met at 10 a.m. [English] PETITIONS Prayers STEM CELL RESEARCH Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS am pleased to present a petition on behalf of a number of Canadians, including from my own riding of Mississauga South, on the subject Ï (1005) matter of stem cells. [English] ORDER IN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that thousands of Canadians suffer from very debilitating diseases which need to be Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of addressed and that Canadians support ethical stem cell research the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam which has already shown encouraging potential to prevent and to Speaker, it is my honour to table, in both official languages, a cure many of the illness and diseases that they hold. number of Order in Council appointments made recently by the government. They also point out that non-embryonic stem cells, which are also *** known as adult stem cells, have shown significant progress without GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS the immune rejection or ethical problems associated with embryonic stem cells. Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to pursue legislative in both official languages, the government's response to 10 petitions. initiatives in support of adult stem cell research to find the cures and therapies necessary for Canadians. *** [Translation] *** COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER OFFICIAL LANGUAGES Mr. Mauril Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier, Lib.): Madam Speaker, Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages. Speaker, the following questions will be answered today: Nos. 118, 144, 148 and 149. Pursuant to Standing Order 108, the committee adopted a resolution and agreed on Monday, March 17, 2003, to report to [Text] the House. It concerns a request that we had already presented to the House— Question No. 118—Mr. Rick Borotsik: but it contained a small misprint—to reduce the committee's quorum from nine to seven members. Now that the misprint has been What, in detail, are all of the funding options being considered regarding the corrected, one of the seven must be an opposition member. It was my twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway in the Province of Manitoba, and with respect to this process: (a) how many road and/or highway construction projects has clear understanding that this matter would be referred to the Standing the government approved in Manitoba; (b) what was the dollar amount for each Committee on Procedure and House Affairs. project; and (c) what work has been carried out under each project? 4326 COMMONS DEBATES March 18, 2003 Routine Proceedings Mr. Marcel Proulx (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Question No. 148—Mr. Werner Schmidt: of Transport, Lib.): Transport Canada is currently managing a What was the total cost of the expense accounts of the Honourable André Ouellet, highway construction program, the Strategic Highway Infrastructure P.C., Q.C. President and CEO of Canada Post Corporation during the fiscal years Program, or SHIP. Under the SHIP, $500 million is available for 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 2001- strategic improvements to the national highway system, or NHS, 2002? which includes the Trans-Canada Highway. Under the agreement, the total federal allocation for Manitoba is $20.2 million for capital Mr. Steve Mahoney (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister highway improvement projects on the NHS, to be cost shared on a of Transport, Lib.): Canada Post has operated without govern- fifty-fifty basis with the Province of Manitoba. It is the responsibility ment funding since 1989 and all its expenses are self-funded. The of the Province of Manitoba to submit projects for funding under the corporation is committed to providing universal, affordable postal SHIP. The eligibility criteria require that projects be major capital service while sustaining a financially healthy business. The details of improvements on east-west or north-south trade routes of Canada’s the corporation's activities are considered privileged and commer- NHS, meet engineering standards and environmental assessment cially sensitive and cannot be specified. requirements, and be supported with detailed justification. Question No. 149—Mr. James Lunney: To date, two projects have been announced for funding under the What was the total cost of the expense accounts of Vivian G. Albo, Chairman of Canada-Manitoba SHIP agreement: twinning of Highway 1, the the Board of Canada Post Corporation, during the fiscal years 1995-1996, 1996- Trans-Canada Highway near Virden, $3.15 million federal/$3.15 1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2000-2001 and 2001-2002? million provincial, and rehabilitation/safety improvements along Mr. Steve Mahoney (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister Highway 16, the Yellowhead Trans-Canada Highway between of Transport, Lib.): Canada Post has operated without govern- Neepawa and Minnedosa, $8.15 million federal/$8.15 million ment funding since 1989 and all its expenses are self-funded. The provincial. Construction along Highway 1 involves completing the corporation is committed to providing universal, affordable postal twinning of 12 kilometres of the Trans-Canada Highway, starting service while sustaining a financially healthy business. The details of near Virden and finishing 1.2 kilometres west of the Highway the corporation's activities are considered privileged and commer- 1/Highway 83 junction. The project also includes intersection work cially sensitive and cannot be specified. at the same junction and installing a new culvert under the Trans- Canada Highway at Scallion Creek, just west of Virden. The project [English] has an estimated total cost of $7 million, $6.3 million eligible, and is Mr. Geoff Regan: Madam Speaker, I ask that the remaining expected to be completed in 2003, with 57% of the project scheduled questions be allowed to stand. to be completed this fiscal year. The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos): Is that agreed? The Highway 16 project involves safety-related improvements and rehabilitating 28.1 kilometres of Highway 16 between Highway Some hon. members: Agreed. 10, near Minnedosa, and Highway 5, near Neepawa. This includes adding four 1.8 kilometre long passing lanes, two eastbound and two Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of westbound, improving the intersections at Highway 466 and order. I seek permission of the House to revert back to the Highway 464, constructing fully paved shoulders, and improving introduction of private members' bills. I realize I need unanimous the load-bearing capacity of the road to accommodate growing truck consent. traffic. The project has an estimated cost of $18 million, $16.3 The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos): Is it agreed that we million eligible, and is expected to be completed in 2004, with 18% return to the introduction of private member's bills? of the project scheduled to be completed this fiscal year. Some hon. members: Agreed. There remains $17.8 million in unnallocated funds in the Canada- Manitoba SHIP agreement. No formal proposals have been received *** to date for this funding. Ï (1010) Question No. 144—Mr. Grant McNally: What did Canada Post pay in tuition, time off and for any other expenses FOOD AND DRUGS ACT associated with the professional development training of Ms. Pierrette Ringuette- Ms. Judy Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre, NDP) Maltais during her employment with the corporation? moved for leave to introduce Bill C-410, an act to amend the Food Mr. Steve Mahoney (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods). of Transport, Lib.): Canada Post values the contribution of its employees and actively supports their development. The details She said: Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce a bill to requested constitute personal information about Ms. Pierrette amend the Food and Drugs Act with the specific purpose of Ringuette-Maltais and would be inappropriate to disclose. legislating mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods. Canada Post has operated without government funding since 1989 The bill flows from the government's continued refusal to act on and all its expenses are self-funded. The corporation is committed to Canadians expressed concerns about the rapid entry of genetically providing universal, affordable postal service while sustaining a modified organisms into the marketplace without the benefit of long financially healthy business. term safety studies and without public information. March 18, 2003 COMMONS DEBATES 4327 Government Orders Our knowledge of the impacts of genetic modification is far from Prime Minister to allow his MPs to vote freely on the bill and this complete and mandatory labelling to identify and trace these items is group of amendments. the only way long term safety can be verified. Soon wheat, a staple of both our diet and trade, may be added to the GMO products Speaking of the Group No. 2 amendments, I will start by saying available, with huge implications for both consumers and producers. that I will deal with the motions thematically and not numerically as some of my colleagues have chosen to do.