CANADA VOLUME 134 S NUMBER 078 S 2nd SESSION S 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, October 1, 1996 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) The House of Commons Debates are also available on the Parliamentary Internet Parlementaire at the following address: http://www.parl.gc.ca 4899 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, October 1, 1996 The House met at 10 a.m. COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE _______________ FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE Mr. Bill Graham (Rosedale, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the Prayers honour to present in both official languages the second report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade on _______________ Bill C-54, an act to amend the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act. The committee has agreed to report this act without amend- ment. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS [English] Mr. Paul Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS have the honour to present the 33rd report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding the member- Mr. John English (Kitchener, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to ship and associate membership of some committees. Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House in If the House gives its consent, I move that the 33rd report of the both official languages the report of the Canada-Europe Parliamen- Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be concurred tary Association on the fifth annual meeting of the parliamentary in. assembly of the OSCE, the Organization for Security and Co-op- eration in Europe, held in Stockholm, Sweden from July 5 to July (Motion agreed to.) 9, 1996. * * * Mr. John Maloney (Erie, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present in both official languages the report of the Canadian D (1005 ) delegation to the seventh annual meeting of the Canada-Japan Interparliamentary Group which was held in Toronto, Montreal and PETITIONS Ottawa from September 1 to September 5, 1996, as well as the THE DEFICIT report of the executive committee meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum held in Ottawa from September 6 to Septem- Mr. Maurizio Bevilacqua (York North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, ber 8, 1996. pursuant to Standing Order 36, I am pleased to present to the House three petitions which focus on Canada’s economy, signed by the The Asia-Pacific region is becoming increasingly important in residents of York North. Canada. Japan is now our second largest trading partner. Asia has become Canada’s second most important trading region. The first petition draws the attention of the House to the government’s red book commitment to reduce the deficit to 3 per The recently completed seventh annual Canada-Japan meeting cent of the GDP. The petitioners call upon Parliament to continue to focused on our growing and harmonious bilateral relationship. keep its commitment to Canadians and pursue its deficit action so Discussions focused on bilateral and multilateral co-operation in a that the government will reach its revised deficit target of 2 per cent rapidly changing world. Relations with our other Asia-Pacific of GDP by 1997-98. neighbours are also changing. THE ECONOMY Canada will be hosting the fifth annual meeting of the Asia-Pa- cific Parliamentary Forum in January in Vancouver. The executive Mr. Maurizio Bevilacqua (York North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the committee of the APPF just held a highly successful and produc- second petition draws to the attention of the House that in the past tive meeting here in Ottawa and approved the arrangements for the year alone short term interest rates have declined three percentage Vancouver meeting. We look forward to hosting this meeting and to points. For the last two and a half years inflation has averaged less kicking off Canada’s year of Asia-Pacific. than 2 per cent and by 1997-98 the federal deficit will have been 4900 COMMONS DEBATES October 1, 1996 Government Orders reduced by $25 billion. The petitioners further draw to the attention drome or other alcohol related birth defects are 100 per cent of the House that since the Liberal government took office, over preventable by avoiding alcohol consumption during pregnancy. 600,000 jobs have been created. The petitioners therefore pray and call upon Parliament to enact The petitioners therefore call upon Parliament to work diligently legislation to require health warning labels to be placed on the to continue to maintain a healthy environment for jobs and containers of all alcoholic beverages to caution expectant mothers economic growth. and others of the risks associated with alcohol consumption. SMALL BUSINESSES * * * Mr. Maurizio Bevilacqua (York North, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER final petition draws to the attention of the House the important role that small businesses play in our economy. They have created over Mr. Paul Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the 85 per cent of new jobs and account for almost 60 per cent of Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I ask Canada’s economic output. that all questions be allowed to stand. The petitioners further draw to the attention of the House that the The Acting Speaker (Mr. Kilger): Is it agreed? government is improving the climate for small businesses by addressing the need for financing, reducing overlap and duplica- Some hon. members: Agreed. tion, increasing access to the information highway and assisting their ventures into exports. _____________________________________________ The petitioners call upon Parliament to continue to create a healthy environment for small businesses, to ensure they have the financing they need and to help them explore and capitalize on new GOVERNMENT ORDERS opportunities. [English] PROFITS FROM CRIME DIVORCE ACT Mr. John Maloney (Erie, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present two petitions today pursuant to Standing Order 36. Hon. Alfonso Gagliano (for Minister of Justice) moved that Bill C-41, an act to amend the Divorce Act, the Family Orders and These petitions implore Parliament to introduce legislation Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act, the Garnishment, At- which would prohibit criminals from profiting in any way from the tachment and Pension Diversion Act and the Canada Shipping Act crimes which they have undertaken. be read the second time and referred to a committee. TAXATION D (1010 ) Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have Mr. Gordon Kirkby (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of two petitions today. Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to speak in favour of the act to amend the Divorce The first one concerning taxation of the family comes from Act and other acts. Before I get into the details of the amendments I Calgary, Alberta. The petitioners would like to draw to the would first like to provide a broader context for the changes. attention of the House that managing the family home and caring for preschool children is an honourable profession which has not There is a yearning in Canada today to focus on what we have in been recognized for its value to our society. common and to return to basic values. Canadians do have values in common. We have not prevailed for 130 years and produced one of The petitioners therefore pray and call upon Parliament to pursue the world’s most prosperous and successful nations without a initiatives to eliminate tax discrimination against families who foundation of shared principles and beliefs. When we set aside the choose to provide care in the home to preschool children, the quarrels about jurisdiction and the forms of the federation, and chronically ill, the aged or the disabled. when we focus on the features that define us as a nation, we will find that what is common to every province and to every region of LABELLING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Canada is our shared values. Mr. Paul Szabo (Mississauga South, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the We are a society that is compassionate, tolerant and civil. We second petition comes from Midland, Ontario and concerns label- take pride in social programs that are intended to protect the most ling of alcoholic beverages. vulnerable. We care deeply about our commitment to sharing. These values are reflected in the way we treat our children. The petitioners would like to draw to the attention of the House that the consumption of alcoholic beverages may cause health Canadians understand the importance of early intervention of problems or impair one’s ability. Specifically, fetal alcohol syn- safe and secure childhoods if we are to enable all individuals to October 1, 1996 COMMONS DEBATES 4901 Government Orders reach their full potential. Canadians also place a strong emphasis supplement of the federal child tax benefit over the next two years. on the importance of individual responsibility while governments I would like to describe each of these initiatives in more detail. have a role in helping the most vulnerable. We also believe in people taking responsibility for themselves. D (1015) How do these values relate to our strategy for child support? They require laws and policies that produce adequate and consis- At the heart of this approach are the guidelines that will be used tent child support levels, that respect fathers and mothers who across Canada by the courts, by lawyers and by parents to establish make their payments and ensure that those who are obligated to pay appropriate levels of support payments for children. At present, actually do so. Viewed from that perspective, I suggest that the courts determine child support levels on a case by case basis. The measures we have proposed in our child support strategy very issue prolongs litigation and adds to the anguish of the parents.