CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 137 Ï NUMBER 105 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, October 30, 2001 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 6695 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, October 30, 2001 The House met at 10 a.m. kidney in its title rather than having a relatively obscure academic title. Prayers The petitioners call upon parliament to encourage the Canadian institutes of health research to explicitly include kidney research as one of the institutes in its system to be named the institute of kidney ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS and urinary tract diseases. Ï (1005) *** [English] [Translation] YUKON NORTHERN AFFAIRS PROGRAM DEVOLUTION QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER TRANSFER AGREEMENT Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of Hon. Robert Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both would ask that all questions be allowed to stand. official languages, the Yukon Northern Affairs Program Devolution Transfer Agreement. The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed? *** Some hon. members: Agreed. GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Mr. Geoff Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, GOVERNMENT ORDERS pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's response to two petitions. Ï (1010) *** [English] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS Hon. Brian Tobin (Minister of Industry, Lib.) moved: Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the WHEREAS section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982 provides that an amendment to the Constitution of Canada may be made by proclamation issued by the Governor honour to present the 34th report of the Standing Committee on General under the Great Seal of Canada where so authorized by resolutions of the Procedure and House Affairs regarding its order of reference from Senate and House of Commons and of the legislative assembly of each province to the House of Commons of June 12, 2001 concerning private which the amendment applies; members' business, and I should like to move concurrence at this NOW THEREFORE the House of Commons resolves that an amendment to the time. Constitution of Canada be authorized to be made by proclamation issued by Her Excellency the Governor General under the Great Seal of Canada in accordance with (Motion agreed to) the schedule hereto. *** SCHEDULE AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF CANADA PETITIONS 1. The Terms of Union of Newfoundland with Canada set out in the Schedule to KIDNEY DISEASE the Newfoundland Act are amended by striking out the words Province of Newfoundland wherever they occur and substituting the words Province of Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am Newfoundland and Labrador. pleased to rise to present another petition from citizens of the greater 2. Paragraph (g) of Term 33 of the Schedule to the Act is amended by striking out Peterborough area who are concerned about kidney disease and the word Newfoundland and substituting the words the Province of Newfound- kidney research. land and Labrador. 3. Term 38 of the Schedule to the Act is amended by striking out the words They believe that it would be better if Canada's national institute, Newfoundland veterans wherever they occur and substituting the words New- which does wonderful work on kidney research, include the word foundland and Labrador veterans. 6696 COMMONS DEBATES October 30, 2001 Government Orders 4. Term 42 of the Schedule to the Act is amended by striking out the words The government then asked the Government of Canada to take Newfoundland merchant seamen and Newfoundland merchant seaman wherever appropriate measures at the federal level to effect a constitutional they occur and substituting the words Newfoundland and Labrador merchant seamen and Newfoundland and Labrador merchant seaman, respectively. amendment. Our role and our responsibility now, as parliamentar- 5. Subsection (2) of Term 46 of the Schedule to the Act is amended by adding ians, is to consider the proposed amendment at the national level and immediately after the word Newfoundland where it first occurs the words and to decide whether to approve it. Labrador. CITATION It is the longstanding practice of the Government of Canada to 6. This Amendment may be cited as the Constitution Amendment, [year of take positive action in response to provincial requests for bilateral proclamation] (Newfoundland and Labrador). amendments to the constitution. He said: Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to be joined by my Once proclaimed, this will be the seventh bilateral amendment to colleague, the member for Labrador, and to note as well the presence the constitution to have successfully completed the amending in the gallery of the House of Commons of the minister of formula. This shows that progress on modernizing and improving intergovernmental affairs of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Hon. the Canadian federation can be made, and that our constitution Tom Lush, for what I believe is an important and historic resolution. continues to evolve in a range of areas. Today I have the pleasure of introducing a resolution to authorize As I have indicated on several occasions, the Government of a bilateral amendment to term 1 of the terms of union of Canada supports the amendment which provides a tangible way for Newfoundland with Canada. The amendment would change the us to formally recognize the contribution of Labrador and of name of the province to Newfoundland and Labrador. Labradorians. Newfoundland became part of Canada on March 31, 1949, with the Newfoundland Act which ratified the terms of union between Changing the name of the province is an importance symbolic Newfoundland and Canada. recognition of Labrador's status as a full and vital part of Canada's easternmost province, with its own unique geography, history and The government of Newfoundland and Labrador has taken many culture. It is about respect for Labrador and its inhabitants as steps over time, beginning with the passage of the Labrador Act in essential contributors to my home province and to its rich and 1964, to recognize the reality that Labrador is a vital part of the diverse cultural heritage. province. The Labrador Act provided for the official recognition of Labrador in the provincial coat of arms, on government stationery The proposed constitutional amendment will also reflect Labra- and in government publications. dorians' understandable desire that this reality be reflected officially in the province's name. While this was an important measure, the name of the province provided for in the terms of union with Canada remains the province Ï (1015) of Newfoundland. That name does not reflect by itself the [Translation] fundamental reality of my home province, which includes both Newfoundland and Labrador. What is at issue here is not a border, but a symbolic gesture for Newfoundland and Labrador citizens. Indeed, it is a unique province in the sense that so much a part of the history, the reality, the culture, the songs and the tradition of the [English] province of Newfoundland and Labrador is separated by the Atlantic Ocean and the Strait of Belle Isle. Section 43 of the Constitution Act, 1982 provides for an amendment to Canada's constitution in relation to any provision Many of our citizens, small in number but so dynamic, have never that applies to one or more but not all provinces. Such an amendment fully felt their contribution and their presence reflected fully in the can be made by proclamation issued by the Governor General under governance of my home province or in its official name. the great seal of Canada where authorized by resolutions of the In April 1992 the Newfoundland house of assembly unanimously Senate, the House of Commons and the legislative assembly of each adopted a resolution calling on the provincial government to take the province to which the amendment applies. necessary steps to change the name of the province to Newfoundland I am joined today by the member for Labrador, and I believe by all and Labrador. members on both sides from the province of Newfoundland and The Newfoundland and Labrador throne speech of March 20, Labrador, in asking the House to give consideration to this request. 1996, called upon the provincial government to take the necessary action to change the name of the province. In deferring to the member for Labrador, with whom I want to split my time, I would ask the House to give the member time to I was very honoured as the premier of Newfoundland and finish his remarks. I also want to note that we have consulted with Labrador on April 29, 1999, to rise in the Newfoundland house of members of the opposition. I specifically want to note that we have assembly and to seek and receive the unanimous adoption of a consulted with members of the Bloc Quebecois. Indeed, I have resolution authorizing the Governor General to issue a proclamation consulted with the government of Quebec on behalf of the to amend term 1 of the terms of union to reflect the new name of the Government of Canada, as has the government of Newfoundland province to that of Newfoundland and Labrador. and Labrador. October 30, 2001 COMMONS DEBATES 6697 Government Orders In anticipation, I would like to thank all members from all parties time was had. We had a great time, absolutely phenomenal, down in but notably colleagues from Quebec on both sides of the House for Battle Harbour and along the straits of Labrador.