VOLUME 133 NUMBER 173 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, March 23, 1995 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, March 23, 1995 The House met at 10 a.m. opment concerning Bill C–77, which was adopted with amend- _______________ ments. Prayers * * * _______________ [English] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS WITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM ACT [Translation] GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS Hon. Herb Gray (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of Canada, Lib.) moved Mr. Peter Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of for leave to introduce Bill C–78, an act to provide for the the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam establishment and operation of a program to enable certain Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to persons to receive protection in relation to certain inquiries, table, in both official languages, the government’s response to investigations or prosecutions. 20 petitions. * * * (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed.) [English] ORDER IN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS * * * Mr. Peter Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speak- er, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, a number of RAIL STRIKE order in council appointments made by the government. Mr. Peter Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 110(1), these are the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam deemed referred to the appropriate standing committees, a list Speaker, in light of the serious rail strike afflicting the country of which is attached. which has been going on all week, I move: * * * That, notwithstanding any standing order, at the conclusion of Private Members’ Business this day the House shall continue to sit in order to consider ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS the report stage and the third reading stage of Bill C–77, an act to provide for the Hon. Ron Irwin (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern maintenance of railway operations and subsidiary services; that, for the purposes of this order, notice of any report stage amendments may be submitted Development, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, under the provisions of to the Clerk no later than 5.00 p.m.; Standing Order 32(2), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, copies of a special report entitled ‘‘Treaty Making in That during the consideration of the aforementioned business no divisions may be deferred to another sitting day; that immediately after disposing of the the Spirit of Co–existence’’ prepared by the royal commission third reading stage of the said bill the sitting shall be suspended to the call of the on aboriginal people. Chair, when it shall be reconvened for the sole purpose of a royal assent; * * * That, when the House returns from the said royal assent, it shall be adjourned until the next sitting day, provided that if a royal assent has not taken place by (1005) 9.00 a.m. on March 24, 1995, the House shall be reconvened for the sole purpose of being adjourned until 10.00 a.m. on that day. [Translation] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE I seek the unanimous consent of the House for this motion. HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu): Does the parliamentary Mr. Francis G. LeBlanc (Cape Breton Highlands—Canso, secretary have unanimous consent? Lib.): Madam Speaker, I have the honour to present the second report of the Standing Committee on Human Resources Devel- Some hon. members: Agreed. 10859 COMMONS DEBATES March 23, 1995 Routine Proceedings Some hon. members: No. Hon. Alfonso Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House Mr. Blaikie: Madam Speaker, on a point of order. I would like of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I move, pursuant to to make it clear that in view of the changes made by the Standing Order 56(1): government to the legislation in committee last night in re- That, notwithstanding any standing order, the House shall sit at 9.00 a.m. on March sponse to suggestions I made during question period yesterday, 25, 1995 and at 1.00 p.m. on March 26, 1995 for the purpose of considering the NDP would like to go on record as giving unanimous consent Government Orders and, if necessary, for the purpose of attending a royal assent this morning to the request by the government. ceremony. [Translation] The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu): Will those who object to the motion please rise? Mr. Duceppe: Madam Speaker, this is not a point of order. I realize the hon. member for the NDP in engaged is some And less than 25 members having risen: face–saving, but this is not a point of order. The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu): Adopted. [English] (Motion agreed to.) Mr. Milliken: Madam Speaker, I will try something else * * * which might be more acceptable to members of the House. If they do not wish to sit late tonight to deal with the bill, I am PETITIONS going to seek now by way of a motion that we deal with the bill tomorrow. I move: GUN CONTROL That, notwithstanding any standing order, the report stage and third reading stage of Bill C–77, an act to provide for the maintenance of railway operations and Mrs. Jane Stewart (Brant, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I am subsidiary services, may be taken up on March 24, 1995, provided that no divisions tabling two petitions in which the petitioners request that requested during the aforementioned business may be deferred to another day. Parliament support legislation which will improve public safety The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu): Does the parliamentary and reduce the criminal use of guns. secretary have unanimous consent? JUSTICE Some hon. members: Agreed. Mrs. Jan Brown (Calgary Southeast, Ref.): Madam Speak- Some hon. members: No. er, I rise once again to present another petition in this course of action undertaken on behalf of constituents who wish to halt the [Translation] early release from prison of Robert Paul Thompson. Mr. Duceppe: Madam Speaker, we have already told the The petitioners I represent are concerned about making our government that we are prepared to settle this matter very streets safer for our citizens and they are opposed to the current quickly. In this case, as far as parliamentary procedure is practice of early release of violent offenders prior to serving the concerned, if the government had the decency to consult us full extent of their sentences. beforehand, we could talk about it. Since it did not, for the time being, the answer is no. The petitioners pray that our streets will be made safer for law–abiding citizens and the families of the victims of con- (1010) victed murderers. [English] (1015 ) Mr. Blaikie: Madam Speaker, on the same point of order I HUMAN RIGHTS would like to make it clear that the NDP gives its consent to this. I urge the Bloc to reconsider its position. Mr. Tony Valeri (Lincoln, Lib.): Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36, I wish to table two petitions. One is signed Mr. Milliken: Madam Speaker, I will try another technique. by the constituents of Lincoln and the second is signed by the If members do not wish to deal with this bill tomorrow, I move: constituents of Hamilton East. That, notwithstanding any standing order, the House shall sit at 9.00 a.m. on March 25, 1995 and at 1.00 p.m. on March 26, 1995 for the purpose of considering The petitioners request that Parliament not amend the Cana- Government Orders and, if necessary, for the purpose of attending a royal assent dian Human Rights Act or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms ceremony. so they would provide for the inclusion of the phrase sexual The Acting Speaker (Mrs. Maheu): Is there unanimous orientation. consent? Mr. Ronald J. Duhamel (St. Boniface, Lib.): Madam Speak- Some hon. members: Agreed. er, these petitioners believe that the inclusion of sexual orienta- tion in the Canadian Human Rights Act will provide certain Some hon. members: No. groups with special status, rights and privileges. 10860 March 23, 1995 COMMONS DEBATES Routine Proceedings They also believe that it will infringe on the historic rights of would infringe on the historic rights of Canadians such as Canadians, such as freedom of religion, conscience, expression freedom of religion, conscience, expression and association, the and association. They oppose any amendments to the Canadian petitioners call on Parliament to oppose any amendments to the Human Rights Act. Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which would provide for the inclusion of the ASSISTED SUICIDE phrase sexual orientation. Mr. Morris Bodnar (Saskatoon—Dundurn, Lib.): Madam The signatories come basically from the Langham, Asquith Speaker, I wish to present a petition wherein the petitioners and Saskatoon area. request that Parliament ensure that the present provisions of the INCOME TAX Criminal Code prohibiting assisted suicide be enforced vigor- ously and that Parliament make no changes in the law which Mr. Elwin Hermanson (Kindersley—Lloydminster, Ref.): would sanction or allow the aiding or abetting of suicide or Madam Speaker, the second petition is signed by people in the active or passive euthanasia. Unity–Lloydminster area. Mr. John Solomon (Regina—Lumsden, NDP): Madam The petitioners state that as citizens of Canada they wish to Speaker, I have two petitions to present today pursuant to bring to the attention of the House that Canadians are already Standing Order 36. overburdened with taxation due to high government spending and that the federal government is considering high tax in- The first petition is from a number of residents in my creases in the next federal budget, which of course has already constituency of Regina—Lumsden and pertains to the Criminal passed.