Tuesday, June 20, 1995
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VOLUME 133 NUMBER 222 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, June 20, 1995 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, June 20, 1995 The House met at 10 a.m. (1005) _______________ [Translation] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE Prayers ENVIRONMENT _______________ Hon. Charles Caccia (Davenport, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fifth report ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS of the Standing Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, on the statutory review of the Canadian Environ- mental Protection Act. [English] The report, entitled It’s About Our Health! Towards Pollution GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Prevention in English and Notre santé en dépend! Vers la prévention de la pollution in French, contains 141 recommenda- Hon. Alfonso Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary tions and is the result of 12 months of lengthy hearings held in Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House Ottawa and all parts of the country. of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the [English] government’s response to 10 petitions. The report perhaps could be summarized as urging Parliament and the government to adhere to the fact that the protection of * * * humans and ecosystems requires strong federal leadership, [Translation] including national standards and mirror legislation in close co–operation with provinces and territories. INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS I thank the members of all parties for their co–operation and Mr. Don Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Lib.): full commitment in the production of this report. I thank the Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to witnesses who appeared before us and in particular the staff present to the House, in both official languages, the report of the which was very helpful during the entire procedure. Canadian section of the Assemblée internationale des parle- AGRICULTURE AND AGRI–FOOD mentaires de langue française (AIPLF), as well as the financial report concerning the meeting of that organization’s political Mr. Bob Speller (Haldimand—Norfolk, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, and general administration committee, held in Beirut, Lebanon, I have the honour to present the eighth report of the Standing on March 20 and 21, 1995. Committee on Agriculture and Agri–Food which deals with Bill [English] C–92, an act to amend the Canadian Wheat Board Act, without amendment. Mr. Joe Comuzzi (Thunder Bay—Nipigon, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to * * * present, in both official languages, the report of the Canadian [Translation] delegation to the 36th annual meeting of the Canada–United States interparliamentary group which was held this past May. BANK ACT The meeting, like many before, has once again demonstrated Hon. Douglas Peters (on behalf of the Minister of Finance the very valuable conference between Canada and the United and Minister responsible for the Federal Office of Regional States and reflected those areas on which we agree and those on Development— Quebec, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce which we disagree. I am happy to report the conference was very Bill C–100, an act to amend, enact and repeal certain laws successful once again. relating to financial institutions. 14187 COMMONS DEBATES June 20, 1995 Routine Proceedings (Motion deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) He said: Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce this private member’s bill which I have called the taxpayers bill * * * of rights. The actions of Revenue Canada are often consistent and fair but from time to time the administrative practices get [English] out of hand, so much so that one of my constituents actually CANADA TRANSPORTATION ACT suffered a heart attack over some of the actions taken by Revenue Canada. Things like rights of seizure without proper Hon. Douglas Young (Minister of Transport, Lib.) moved notice and arbitrary change of collection arrangements are only for leave to introduce Bill C–101, an act to continue the National some of the aspects which the bill deals with. Transportation Agency as the Canadian Transportation Agency, to consolidate and revise the National Transportation Act, 1987 Most important, it creates an ombudsman who will act as a and the Railway Act, and to amend or repeal other acts as a buffer between taxpayers and Revenue Canada. consequence. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and He said: Mr. Speaker, I wish to inform the House that I move printed.) for referral of the bill to committee before second reading. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and * * * printed.) FOOD AND DRUGS ACT * * * Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.) moved for leave SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBERS ACT to introduce Bill C–337, an act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (warning on alcoholic beverage containers). Mr. John Finlay (Oxford, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C–335, an act respecting the use of social insurance He said: Mr. Speaker, in the interests of the health of all numbers. Canadians we often use warning labels on items such as ciga- rettes, antihistamines, cleaners, bags and other items which may He said: Mr. Speaker, I stand today to introduce a private affect the health of Canadians. This does not apply to alcoholic member’s bill entitled an act respecting social insurance num- beverages and this bill seeks to have a warning label, particular- bers. ly with relation to the problem of foetal alcohol syndrome and In introducing this bill, I would like members of the House to the ability of all of us to operate machines and cars while under note the federal government has never placed controls on the use the influence of alcohol. of the social insurance numbers by other levels of government or by the private sector. The private sector may currently deny a (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and service to an individual who refuses to divulge his or her social printed.) insurance number. * * * This bill would require other levels of government and the private sector to state exactly why this information is needed PETITIONS and will give an individual an opportunity to refuse to divulge his or her social insurance number unless required by federal OFFICIAL OPPOSITION statute to do so. The bill would also impose penalties on groups, individuals, Mr. Lee Morrison (Swift Current—Maple Creek—Assini- agencies or businesses which divulge another person’s social boia, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I have one petition to present from insurance number without that person’s consent. residents of my riding, pursuant to Standing Order 36. It has been duly certified by the clerk of petitions. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) The petitioners state that since the Bloc Quebecois has publicly dedicated itself to a disloyal objective, since it is * * * comprised solely of members elected from one province and since the Reform Party represents constituencies in five prov- (1010 ) inces and has constituency associations in every province of TAXPAYERS BILL OF RIGHTS Canada, the current situation is a travesty on the institution of Parliament. The petitioners therefore call on Parliament to Mr. Alex Shepherd (Durham, Lib.) moved for leave to preserve Canadian unity, parliamentary tradition and protect the introduce Bill C–336, an act to appoint to a taxation ombudsman rights of all Canadians by prevailing on the Speaker of the and to amend the Income Tax Act to establish certain rights of House to recognize the Reform Party of Canada as the official taxpayers. opposition. 14188 June 20, 1995 COMMONS DEBATES Routine Proceedings Mr. Jay Hill (Prince George—Peace River, Ref.): Mr. INCOME TAX ACT Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am presenting today petitions on behalf of the constituents of Prince George—Peace Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, River. pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to present a petition that is circulating across Canada. The first petition asks Parliament to recognize the Reform Party of Canada as the official opposition during the remainder This petition comes from Alberta and also from Windsor, of the 35th Parliament. The petitioners feel the rights and Ontario. The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of interests of all Canadian citizens cannot be adequately protected the House that managing the family home and caring for by the Bloc Quebecois. preschool children is an honourable profession that has not been HUMAN RIGHTS recognized for its value to society. Mr. Jay Hill (Prince George—Peace River, Ref.): Mr. They also state that the Income Tax Act discriminates against Speaker, the second and third petitions ask Parliament not to families that make the choice to provide care in the home to indicate societal approval of same sex relationships or homo- preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged. sexuality by amending legislation to include the undefined phrase sexual orientation. The petitioners therefore pray and call on Parliament to pursue initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against fami- (1015 ) lies that decide to provide care in the home for preschool children, the disabled, the chronically ill or the aged. JUSTICE Mr. Ed Harper (Simcoe Centre, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I have HUMAN RIGHTS four petitions to present on behalf of the constituents of Simcoe Centre. Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have two petitions this morning. The first reads: ‘‘We, the under- The first petition concerns the use of the legal defence that has signed residents of Canada draw the attention of the House of become known as the drunk offence. The petitioners believe that Commons to the following: That members of Parliament have in committing the act of choosing to consume alcohol, the recently made hateful comments which contribute to a climate individual must also accept all the responsibility for his or her of intolerance, fear and violence for the lesbian, gay and actions while under the influence.