CANADA House of Commons Debates VOLUME 140 Ï NUMBER 030 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 38th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, November 23, 2004 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 1691 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, November 23, 2004 The House met at 10 a.m. COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD Mr. Paul Steckle (Huron—Bruce, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the Prayers honour to present, in both official languages, the first report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food. In accordance with its order of reference of Friday, October 8, the ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS committee has considered votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 under Agriculture and Agri-Food in the main estimates for the fiscal (1000) Ï year ending March 31, 2005 and reports the same, less the amounts [English] granted in interim supply. ORDER IN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS *** Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Parliamentary Secretary to the PETITIONS Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, a CANADIAN FORCES HOUSING AGENCY number of order in council appointments recently made by the government. Mr. Jay Hill (Prince George—Peace River, CPC): Mr. Speaker, as has become a pattern here, it is a privilege to present yet another *** petition on behalf of our military families. Ï (1005) The petition was sent in by citizens of Borden, Levack, Onaping and Schreiber, Ontario. As with the previous petitions, the petitioners FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL FISCAL ARRANGEMENTS ACT wish to draw to the attention of the House that the Canadian Forces Hon. Joseph Volpe (for the Minister of Finance) moved for Housing Agency does provide our military with on base housing. leave to introduce Bill C-24, an act to amend the Federal-Provincial However many of those homes are substandard to acceptable living Fiscal Arrangements Act and to make consequential amendments to conditions and are subject to annual rent increases. other acts (fiscal equalization payments to the provinces and funding to the territories). Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to immediately suspend any future rent increases for accommodation provided by (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) the Canadian Forces Housing Agency until such time as the *** Government of Canada makes substantive improvements to the living conditions of housing provided for our military families. REMOTE SENSING SPACE SYSTEMS ACT Ï (1010) Hon. Joseph Volpe (for the Minister of Foreign Affairs) moved FINANCE for leave to introduce Bill C-25, an act governing the operation of remote sensing space systems. Mr. Nathan Cullen (Skeena—Bulkley Valley, NDP): Mr. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Speaker, I would like to present a petition today on behalf of the residents of Queen Charlotte Islands, Haida Gwaii who are not *** currently considered sufficiently isolated to claim full northern residence deduction through the federal Department of Customs and CANADA BORDER SERVICES AGENCY ACT Revenue. Hon. Joseph Volpe (for the Minister of Public Safety and Therefore the petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation Emergency Preparedness) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-26, that calls on the federal Department of Finance to immediately an act to establish the Canada Border Services Agency. review the classification of the Queen Charlotte Islands and restore (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) the full northern residence deduction to the residents of the islands. 1692 COMMONS DEBATES November 23, 2004 Government Orders QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER modern statutes of its kind, measuring favourably against the best Hon. Dominic LeBlanc (Parliamentary Secretary to the features of similar statutes throughout North America. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I ask that all questions be allowed to stand. It may be asked: why now? Why has Parliament not addressed The Deputy Speaker: Is that agreed? this in the last 80 years? In fact, there have been four previous attempts to reform the CCA but, for a variety of reasons, members of Some hon. members: Agreed. this House or our partners in the other place have never been able to complete the necessary scrutiny of previous bills before they died on the order paper. GOVERNMENT ORDERS We are now presented with an opportunity to bring this legislation [English] up to date and to position federal not for profit law as the new benchmark for other jurisdictions. CANADA NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATIONS ACT Bill C-21. On the Order: Government Orders The development of a new not for profit corporations act has been November 15, 2004—The Minister of Industry—Second reading and reference to a long journey. It began with a commitment under the voluntary the Standing Committee on Industry, Natural Resources, Science and Technology of sector initiative in June 2000, followed by two rounds of cross- Bill C-21, an act respecting not-for-profit corporations and other corporations without share capital. country consultations with shareholders. Hon. Andy Scott (for the Minister of Industry) moved: The not for profit sector plays many important roles in Canadian That Bill C-21, an act respecting not-for-profit corporations and other corporations without share capital, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Industry, society and our economy. It mobilizes citizens and creates a sense of Natural Resources, Science and Technology. community, enhances democracy, fosters community participation Hon. Jerry Pickard (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister and strengthens our ties to one another. From national corporations of Industry, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, it is my honour and privilege today created to fight disease to local sports associations, from faith to come before this House and speak to Bill C-21, an act respecting organizations to facilities that provide job training and education to not for profit corporations and other corporations without share new Canadians, the sector touches most aspects of Canadian life. It capital. is essential to our national identity and to our economy. Many are important government partners in providing services to Canadians. The legislation, which would enable the governance regime for federally incorporated not for profit organizations, is a long overdue The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of replacement of the present Canada Corporations Act, or CCA. The strengthening Canada's social economy and the thousands of CCA, which, to this point, has set the rules for some 18,000 entrepreneurial enterprises that form its backbone. These organiza- organizations, was first enacted in 1917 and has not been tions are not only the key to social economy, but they are also an substantially changed since. important pillar of the economy as a whole. Needless to say, the CCA no longer responds to today's needs for the not for profit sector. For example, it is silent on major elements Research indicates that there may be up to 160,000 not for profit of modern corporate governance which creates uncertainty in the organizations creating opportunity in this country. When universities public mind. and hospitals are included in these figures, the revenue of the sector is estimated up to $112 billion a year. Second, it is an administrative burden on the sector and the government. The not for profit sector is one of the country's largest employers, Finally, it fails to provide adequate protection for men and women employing more than 2.2 million people, with payroll expenditures who manage or operate these corporations. as high as $64.1 billion. Most of these corporations are incorporated provincially. However more than 18,000 are federally incorporated In the years since the CCA was originally enacted, the world has and many are among the largest and most influential not for profit changed dramatically and the not for profit sector faces governance corporations in Canada. challenges that cannot be dealt with under the existing legislation. Ï (1015) In response to these challenges, the government has taken a measured and reasonable approach to addressing the urgent need to reform the not for profit statute. It has looked at the Canada Business The proposed new statute would demonstrate the government's Corporations Act as a model of worldclass corporate statute. It then commitment to strengthening its partnership with the sector. Current built on the provisions of the CBCA to reflect the requirements of federally incorporated organizations include national charities such the not for profit sector. It utilized, where appropriate, examples as the United Way of Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation found in provincial not for profit statutes. of Canada. It includes umbrella organizations such as the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy and the Consumers' Association of Canada Finally, it was benchmarked against similar legislation in the and several national businesses. It includes religious groups such as United States. As a result, the new act will be one of the most the Canadian Jewish Council. November 23, 2004 COMMONS DEBATES 1693 Government Orders There are health and community based organizations, environ- on this and 10 other bills. We are limited to 10 minute speeches with mental organizations, and cultural and heritage societies. Also no time for questions and comments and no time to question the included are transport related organizations such as airport minister on the bill. authorities and small harbours. There are also many private foundations that pursue philanthropic objectives to the benefit of Canadians. Each of these and thousands of other small and large The fact is that a reference to committee before second reading is a organizations perform an important function for their members, their handy scapegoat for a minority government.