CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 113 S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, June 2, 1998 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 7451 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, June 2, 1998 The House met at 10 a.m. The Acting Speaker (Mr. McClelland): Thank you very much. I was most honoured to attend that conference representing our _______________ parliament. Prayers * * * _______________ COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE D (1005) CANADIAN HERITAGE [English] Mr. Clifford Lincoln (Lac-Saint-Louis, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth COMMONWEALTH SPEAKERS AND PRESIDING report of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage. OFFICERS [Translation] The Speaker: My colleagues, I have the honour to lay upon the table the report of the 14th Conference of Commonwealth Speakers Pursuant to its order of reference of Friday, April 3, 1998, the and Presiding Officers which took place at Port of Spain, Trinidad committee has considered Bill C-38, an act to amend the National and Tobago, January 2 to 8, 1998. Parks Act, and has agreed to report it without amendment. _____________________________________________ * * * [English] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS NATIONAL SYMBOL OF CANADIAN UNITY ACT [Translation] Mr. Lynn Myers (Waterloo—Wellington, Lib.) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-413, an act to provide for the recognition GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS of a national symbol for the promotion of Canadian unity. Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my private Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, member’s bill, which is an act to provide for the recognition of a pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in national symbol for the promotion of Canadian unity. both official languages, the government’s response to 10 petitions. The purpose of this bill is to promote Canadian unity and to * * * provide a symbol which assists in this very important endeavour. I look forward to debating this bill in the House and I look forward to [English] the support of my colleagues. INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Mr. Bob Speller (Haldimand—Norfolk—Brant, Lib.): Mr. * * * Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34, I have the honour to present to the House a report from the Canadian Branch of the D (1010 ) Commonwealth Parliamentary Association concerning the 47th Commonwealth parliamentary seminar which took place March 3 INCOME TAX ACT to 14, 1998 in the United Kingdom. Mr. Lynn Myers (Waterloo—Wellington, Lib.) moved for As you know, Mr. Speaker, it was attended by a very able leave to introduce Bill C-414, an act to amend the Income Tax Act opposition member of the Reform Party who is sitting in the Chair. (wages of apprentices). 7452 COMMONS DEBATES June 2, 1998 Routine Proceedings He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce my private [English] member’s bill, an act to amend the Income Tax Act. The purpose of the bill is to allow an employer a tax credit equal COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE to the wages paid by the employer to a person hired as an apprentice. This deduction could only be made upon completion of the full term of the apprenticeship with the employer. FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE I look forward to debating the bill in the House and I look forward to the support of my colleagues. Mr. Peter Goldring (Edmonton East, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, I move that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Foreign (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) Affairs and International Trade, presented on Thursday, May 7, 1998, be concurred in. * * * D (1015 ) [Translation] I rise today representing the constituents of Edmonton East to move concurrence in this motion. As the sands of time run out on CRIMINAL CODE the 20th century they do too for Canada’s World War II veterans who were captured and enslaved by Japan 57 years ago. Mr. Michel Guimond (Beauport—Montmorency—Orléans, BQ) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-415, an act to amend the Criminal Code (gaming and betting). On Christmas Day in 1941, 2,000 soldiers surrendered to Japan beginning a 44 month tenure of a hell of inhumanity at the hands of He said: I wish to inform this House, and you in particular, Mr. the Japanese and at the feet of Emperor Hirohito. Many barely Speaker, that if passed this bill would allow international cruise survived, only to suffer lifelong misery from the effects of Japan’s ships to continue operating casinos on board while in Canadian engineered slave labour camps. These men were sentenced to pay waters. with their lives and health by a Canadian government eager for a war posting and by an enemy, Japan, indifferent to humanitarian treatment and the Geneva convention. I am reintroducing this bill because it is essential to the Quebec tourist industry, particularly in the greater Quebec City region, as this region could then undergo an incredible expansion as a Japan went on to recover from its war injuries to prosper as an destination and stopover for international cruise ships. industrial giant, somewhat due to our veterans’ efforts. Canada’s Hong Kong enslavement veterans deserve an apology and some (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) recompense. It is fair. It is right and the Liberals agree. Some of these very modern industries then employed slave * * * labour treating the workers with brutality beyond contempt. On the eve of the new millennium as we face the globalization of the CORRECTIONS AND CONDITIONAL RELEASE ACT international marketplace, Canada must take a leadership role in insisting that we Canadians are not simply purveyors of timber and oilfield technology. Canadians also export our Constitution and Mr. Richard Marceau (Charlesbourg, BQ) moved for leave to Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When the outside world sees our introduce Bill C-416, an act to amend the Corrections and Condi- flag, the symbol of our nation, it feels warm in the solace that it tional Release Act (accelerated parole reviews). stands for freedom and rights of all Canadians. He said: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce this bill, the purpose of which is to prevent high-profile criminals from getting Our government could do well and reflect on this to act to paroled after serving one-sixth of their sentence, even if the crimes redress wrongs committed years ago to our brave veterans. By for which they have been sentenced were not of a violent nature. example Canada could lead the way to show to other nations as Japan that their shame is our shame if we do not act. The latest example of this is Mr. Lagana, a notorious drug trafficker specializing in money laundering who, unfortunately, Japan’s shame is well documented in all the nations of the world was granted parole after serving one-sixth of his sentence. The except Japan itself. Revisionists and extinguishment of history may purpose of this bill is to prevent such decisions. well suit the Japanese population as a whole but Canada should not participate. Canada must not wait for Japan to act. Canada must (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) reference Japan’s shame, lead by example and act alone. June 2, 1998 COMMONS DEBATES 7453 Routine Proceedings To acquiesce and support Hong Kong veterans in spirit but not in Darrah, John Davies, Morgan Davies, Frederick Dawe, John recompense as the Minister of Veterans Affairs wishes is to be an Dearden, Pierre-Lionel Delarosbil, Albert Delbridge, Elmer Deni- accomplice to the same and to share Emperor Akihito’s bewilder- son, William Derhak, Thomas Dewar, Ralph Dewby, Arthur Diehl, ment in the veterans’ disdain and to share Hirohito’s shame. To be Samuel Disensi, Phillip Doddridge, John Doiron, Leonard Doiron, mute to the outrageous honouring of Hirohito’s son Akihito for chivalry when our Hong Kong veterans still suffer from the ravages Rosaire Doiron, Gerald Doucette, Lts Doull, Lloyd Doull, Robert of enslavement is unconscionable and displays a government Dunlop, Gordon Dunn, Daniel Dunseath, Gordon Durrant, George callousness that cries out for question. Edgecombe, Harold Englehart, Arley Enright, Roderick Everson, Kenneth Ewing, John Fair, John Fertal, Cecil Fines, Horace Certainly the Government of Canada must achieve fiscal respon- Fitchett, Audrey Flegg, John Fleming, Robert Fleming, Thomas sibility by a balanced budget and reduced taxes, but we have a duty Forsyth, Earl Francis, Homidas Fredette, Isaac Friesen, Frederick to show Canadians that we care and will support their legitimate Gard, John Gauthier, Donald Geraghty, Horace Gerrard, David concerns. We also have a duty to show to the world that we are not Golden, Jack Goodey, Edward Granham, Walter Gray, Glenford followers but rather a leader when recognition and recompense are Gregoire, Richard Grieves, Anthony Grimston, Gerald Gunson, appropriate. James Guthrie, Harry Gyselman, Michael Haddad, George Hallada, Lloyd Hanna, George Harbour, Allan Harper, Wallace Harrington, We can and must act now to do right and provide compensation Harry Hawryshok, John Hay, Harold Heath, Norman Henderson, to our war veterans who were forced to endure slave labour at the Walter Henderson, Elwin Herring, Joseph Hickey, William Hickie, hands of the Japanese and Hirohito. We must not hesitate or skip Henry Hladych, Kenneth Hogarth, James Houston, Alfred Hunt, one heartbeat in the conduct of our duty to Canada’s veterans. Clarence Hunt, Hector Hunt, Joseph Hunt, Edmond Hurd, Thomas Certainly we should claim costs from Japan but at a later date.