Tuesday, November 18, 1997
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CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 032 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, November 18, 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 1801 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, November 18, 1997 The House met at 10 a.m. D (1010 ) _______________ NATIONAL HEAD START PROGRAM Mr. Keith Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, Ref.): Mr. Prayers Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce in this House a motion that asks for the unanimous consent of the House to _______________ develop, along with provincial counterparts, a comprehensive national head start program for children in the first eight years of life, to ensure that this integrated program involves both hospitals ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS and schools and is modelled on the experience of the Moncton Head Start Program, the Hawaii Head Start Program and the Perry D (1005) Preschool Program. [English] This motion could be the greatest single effort of this House to decrease youth crime in this country that we have ever seen. I ask ORDER IN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS the government to work with the provincial counterparts on this matter. Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am The Deputy Speaker: Does the hon. member have the unani- pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of order in mous consent of the House to propose the motion? council appointments which were made by the government. Some hon. members: No. Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list of The Deputy Speaker: There is no consent. which is attached. * * * * * * PETITIONS GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS ANTHONY DUDLEY GEORGE Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Mr. Gordon Earle (Halifax West, NDP): Mr. Speaker, I rise to Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, present a petition for a public inquiry into Ipperwash. This petition pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both concerns the fatal shooting death of Anthony Dudley George on official languages, the government’s response to three petitions. September 6, 1995 at Ipperwash Provincial Park where over 200 armed officers were sent to control 25 unarmed men and women. * * * The petitioners ask that the House of Commons support a full IMMIGRATION ACT public inquiry into the events surrounding the fatal shooting on September 6 to eliminate all misconceptions held by and about Mr. John Reynolds (West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast, Ref.) governments, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Stoney Point moved for leave to introduce Bill C-281, an act to amend the people. Immigration Act (removal of those convicted of serious criminal offence). * * * He said: Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to provide for the [Translation] removal from Canada of any immigrant or person seeking immi- grant status who is convicted of a serious criminal offence in QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER Canada. If the order for removal is sought by the crown, it is mandatory. Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) suggest that all questions be allowed to stand. 1802 COMMONS DEBATES November 18, 1997 Government Orders The Deputy Speaker: Is it agreed? It not only classifies all goods that may be imported into Canada but also provides for applicable tariffs and import duty relieving Some hon. members: Agreed. measures to assist Canadian businesses. Put simply, despite going largely unnoticed by the general _____________________________________________ public, the customs tariff touches on the daily economic activities of millions of Canadians. GOVERNMENT ORDERS It is thus important that we take every effort as we are doing with Bill C-11 to ensure that the tariff is as efficient and as up to date as possible. Anything less would in fact entail an unnecessary burden [English] to Canadian industry. I remind the House that the Canadian industry has played an CUSTOMS TARIFF integral role in developing this legislation. Since 1994 when this initiative was launched, extensive and detailed consultations have The House proceeded to the consideration of Bill C-11, an act been undertaken with interested parties regarding the proposals respecting the imposition of duties of customs and other charges, to contained in Bill C-11. give effect to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, to provide relief As well, to facilitate input and to help secure consensus, the against the imposition of certain duties of customs or other charges, government has disseminated the proposals as broadly as possible. to provide for other related matters and to amend or repeal certain In fact, each of the proposals to change the existing customs tariff acts in consequence thereof, as reported (with amendment) from has been published in the Canada Gazette. the committee. Hon. Jim Peterson (for the Minister of Finance) moved that In addition, letters were sent to all known interested parties and the bill be concurred in. in March 1996, when a draft of the proposed new simplified customs tariff was made public, it was placed on the Internet and (Motion agreed to) on Revenue Canada’s electronic bulletin board. To go further, advertisements were placed in some of Canada’s leading newspa- Hon. Jim Peterson (for the Minister of Finance) moved that pers inviting comments from both industry and individuals. the bill be read the third time and passed. As a result, the importing and manufacturing communities Mr. Tony Valeri (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of strongly support the changes embodied in this bill. They particular- Finance, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to speak to ly support the measures for greater simplicity, for transparency and Bill C-11, an act to simplify and update Canada’s tariff system. predictability, all of which should help to improve the competitive- ness of Canadian industries. Members will recall that during the second reading debate, widespread support was voiced for this legislation from both sides Moreover, industry unanimously endorses the implementation of of the House. I am pleased to report that support was also evident at the new simplified customs tariff on January 1, 1998. committee. Indeed, I believe that most members were of the view that while Bill C-11 is and might be low profile and somewhat To sum up the virtues of this bill, let me use the words of the hon. technical, it nevertheless represents an important contribution to member for Calgary South rather than my own. As he eloquently making Canada a more competitive player in world trade and will put it during the second reading debate, the cumulative effect is a in fact help to maintain jobs in Canada. more predictable, simplified tariff legislation with less regulatory burden and increased competitive strength. Very eloquently put. D (1015) As I mentioned, this view was confirmed during the hearings of In that respect, we heard during debate and in committee that Bill C-11 in the House standing committee on industry. Clearly the trade is the economic lifeblood of Canada. Clearly then, it is in our witnesses from the manufacturing and importing associations national interest to advance measures, such as Bill C-11, that welcomed the benefits of this bill, especially with respect to the simplify importing and enhance Canadian producers’ ability to positive effects the legislation will have on their competitiveness. compete both at home and abroad. Particular mention was made of the duty reductions on a wide Members will know that the customs tariff is a key component of range of inputs used in the manufacturing processes. They also Canada’s import regime. In my view it represents the nuts and bolts welcome the streamlining of the existing tariff system to facilitate of import transactions undertaken by thousands of Canadian im- the importation of goods into Canada and to reduce compliance and porters on a daily basis. administrative costs for business. November 18, 1997 COMMONS DEBATES 1803 Government Orders We did hear some concerns. I first wish to address a concern those who need help to identify the proper statistical information that was raised on a policy issue relating to the tariff on auto parts. to do so before goods are imported into Canada. Specifically, some witnesses objected to the inclusion in the The government has every confidence that the new simplified tariff schedule to Bill C-11 of the provision that continues duty free customs tariff represents a positive change for the importing status for auto parts used by non-auto pact producers as inputs in community. For its part, the importing community looks forward to assembling motor vehicles in Canada. the benefits the bill will confer, benefits including some $90 million in duty reductions in 1998. Importers are also looking forward to having less red tape associated with their import The purpose behind this measure being continued in Bill C-11 is transactions. to maintain a uniform manufacturing environment for all auto assemblers in Canada. The continuation of a zero tariff on auto parts is consistent with this objective. These are all issues that not only the importing community has made reference to, but the business community at large. This is an area where the government has taken a step forward in reducing the D (1020) regulatory burden and easing the administrative burden that small businesses and businesses in general face. That goes forward on the competitive issue in allowing our Canadian companies to compete Bill C-11 ensures that Canada will continue to be an attractive both domestically and internationally on a more level playing field.