Thursday, March 19, 1998
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 077 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 19, 1998 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 5091 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 19, 1998 The House met at 10 a.m. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) _______________ * * * Prayers SENATOR SELECTION ACT _______________ Mr. Bill Gilmour (Nanaimo—Alberni, Ref.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-382, an act to allow the electors of a province to ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS express an opinion on who should be summoned to the Senate to represent the province. D (1000) He said: Mr. Speaker, as it presently stands, several provinces [English] have Senate selection acts. Alberta is going to use its this fall to elect senators in waiting. However, there is no requirement for the GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Prime Minister to recognize that elected person. Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the The purpose of my bill is to ensure that the Prime Minister looks Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, at the will of the people of the province and appoints to the Senate pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in those people duly elected by a province that has a selection act in both official languages, the government’s responses to three peti- place. tions. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) * * * * * * SPECIAL IMPORT MEASURES ACT Hon. Jim Peterson (for the Minister of Finance, Lib.) moved PETITIONS for leave to introduce Bill C-35, an act to amend the Special Import Measures Act and the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Act. TAXATION (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Nelson Riis (Kamloops, NDP): Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my honour to present three petitions pursuant to Standing Order 36. * * * The petitioners from various cities and towns in British Colum- BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION ACT, 1998 bia point out the need for a major reform of the Canadian tax system. As this is the time of year when people fill out their tax Hon. Jim Peterson (for the Minister of Finance, Lib.) moved returns, I suspect that most people would agree. for leave to introduce Bill C-36, an act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 24, 1998. MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENT (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Nelson Riis (Kamloops, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the second * * * petition, a very lengthy petition and signed by members of the city of Kamloops as well as, interestingly, Fredericton, New Bruns- D (1005) wick, points out a whole set of arguments against the MAI and simply calls on Parliament to urge the government to reject the JUDGES ACT current framework of MAI negotiations and instructs the govern- Hon. Don Boudria (for the Minister of Justice and Attorney ment to seek an entirely different agreement by which the world General of Canada, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-37, might achieve a rules based global trading regime that protects an act to amend the Judges Act and to make consequential workers, the environment and the ability of government to act in amendments to other acts. the public interest. 5092 COMMONS DEBATES March 19, 1998 Routine Proceedings RETIREMENT PACKAGES EMERGENCY PERSONNEL Mr. Nelson Riis (Kamloops, NDP): Mr. Speaker, the third petition concerns the retirement package that is being contemplated Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am by the government and will be introduced soon. pleased to present a petition signed by a number of Canadians, including Canadians from my own riding of Mississauga South. The petitioners point out a number of concerns they have in terms of what this retirement package could include, going on The petitioners draw to the attention of the House that our police record early in opposition to a number of initiatives. officers and firefighters are required to place their lives at risk on a daily basis as they discharge their duties and that when one of them [Translation] loses their life in the line of duty, we all mourn that loss. Often the employment benefits they have do not often provide adequately for TAX EXEMPTION FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS their surviving families. Mr. Gérard Asselin (Charlevoix, BQ): Mr. Speaker, pursuant The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to establish to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to lay before this House a a public safety officers compensation fund for the benefit of police petition signed by 71 residents of the riding of Charlevoix, and the officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty. municipality of Saint-Aimé-des-Lacs in particular. [Translation] This petition contains the signatures of the mayor, fire chief, councillors, volunteer firefighters and citizens of the municipality. NATURAL PRODUCTS Volunteer firefighters often represent a community’s only fire- Mr. Michel Guimond (Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, fighting force. Not once since 1980 has there been an increase in BQ): Mr. Speaker, I was starting to think I should wave a flag to get the tax exemption for expenses incurred in discharging their duties. recognized. The petitioners therefore ask that the government double the tax exemption on volunteer firefighters’ expense allowance from $500 I am tabling a petition signed by 1,298 citizens of the riding of to $1,000. Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans and elsewhere in Quebec, who consider that using natural substances like herbs, plants, vitamins D (1010) and minerals should be a free choice made by consumers. [English] They also consider that health professionals such as naturopaths, herbalists, phytotherapists, homeopaths and acupuncturists are NUCLEAR WEAPONS trained to advise their clients on these natural products. These petitioners ask that the Government of Canada not restrict Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have a in any way the quantity or dosage of plants, herbs, vitamins, petition from scores of citizens in the Peterborough area who are minerals and trace elements, so as to preserve the consumers’ right concerned about the continuing existence of nuclear weapons. to choose how to care for their own health and prevent disease and These petitioners believe these pose a threat to the health and to consult with any alternative or allopathic health professionals survival of human civilization and the global environment. they see fit. They pray and request that Parliament support the immediate [English] initiation and conclusion by the year 2000 of an international convention which will set out a binding timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons. CRIMINAL CODE IRAQ Mr. David Iftody (Provencher, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have a number of petitions to present this morning from a number of Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have communities in my riding, Niverville, Steinbach and the Grunthal another petition from some hundreds of citizens of the Peterbo- area, all dealing with the same subject matter. rough area who are concerned that the people of Iraq have suffered untold hardship in the wake of the gulf war and subsequent These people are concerned about amendments to section 43 of sanctions with an estimated death toll of a million people. the Criminal Code dealing primarily with the discipline of chil- dren. The petitioners call on the Parliament of Canada to reject the military option against Iraq and, in conjunction with those nations It is their view that the rights of parents are to be protected under already committed to the non-military route, to patiently pursue these circumstances, that the best interests of the children are diplomatic efforts toward solving the present impasse. protected by parents and not the state. March 19, 1998 COMMONS DEBATES 5093 Government Orders May I conclude on their behalf by saying therefore the petition- The transportation industry is a vital component of our economy. ers request Parliament to affirm the duty of parents to responsibly As we know, the marine industry operates in the context of an raise their children according to their own conscience and beliefs international and domestic environment which provides consider- and to retain section 43 in Canada’s Criminal Code as it is able challenges and opportunities for Canadians. The industry and currently worded. related services employ more than 400,000 Canadians and contrib- utes more than $20 billion to our gross domestic product. CRTC Every work day 2.3 million tonnes of freight are on the move in Mr. Peter Goldring (Edmonton East, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I rise Canada. A substantial amount of work has been done in an effort to in this Chamber today as a servant of the constituents of Edmonton modernize the national transportation system to meet the demands East. I am pleased to discharge my duties today by presenting to of a global marketplace and prepare this sector for the coming this House a petition. century. This petition asks for the very prudent review of the mandate of In order to achieve these objectives the government has pursued the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commis- a number of initiatives in all modes particularly in the area of sion, the CRTC, to discourage the provocation of pornography and streamlining regulations and legislation. It will become increasing- rather to encourage the broadcasting of ecclesiastical programming ly difficult for Canada to compete in the international market to support morality and wholesome family lifestyles. unless we pursue transportation policies that are consistent with other nations with whom we trade and compete.