CANADA VOLUME 137 S NUMBER 054 S 1st SESSION S 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Thursday, May 3, 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 3525 HOUSE OF COMMONS Thursday, May 3, 2001 The House met at 10 a.m. [English] _______________ I believe it is important that members of parliament have an opportunity to reflect upon the draft legislation and to lead a Prayers non-partisan dialogue with Canadians in relation to this important issue. _______________ * * * D (1000) [Translation] GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Madam Speaker, The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos): I have the honour to pursuant to Standing Order 36(8) I have the honour to table, in both inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate official languages, the government’s response to five petitions. informing this House that the Senate has passed certain bills, to which the concurrence of this House is desired. * * * _____________________________________________ [Translation] ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS [English] Hon. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I have PARLIAMENTARY BUILDINGS ADVISORY COUNCIL the honour to present, in both official languages, the second report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. Hon. Alfonso Gagliano (Minister of Public Works and Gov- ernment Services, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I am proud to table this [English] morning a report from the Parliamentary Buildings Advisory Council, entitled ‘‘The Hill: Past, Present, Future’’. Pursuant to the order of reference of Monday, March 26, your committee has considered Bill C-7, an act in respect of criminal [Translation] justice for young persons and to amend and repeal other acts, and I am tabling as well the working document, ‘‘A Legacy for has agreed to report it with amendments. Future Generations: The Long Term Vision and Plan for the TRANSPORT AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS Parliamentary Precinct’’. Mr. Ovid Jackson (Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound, Lib.): Mad- * * * am Speaker, I have the honour to present the second report of the [English] Standing Committee on Transport and Government Operations on Bill C-14, which deals with the Shipping Act. The bill is presented HEALTH to the House with amendments and in both official languages. Hon. Allan Rock (Minister of Health, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I am pleased to table draft legislative proposals as well as accompa- * * * nying documents to set the framework for the regulation of assisted SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD DAY AND THE SIR human reproduction. WILFRID LAURIER DAY ACT D (1005) Mr. John Godfrey (Don Valley West, Lib.) moved that Bill [Translation] S-14, an act respecting Sir John A. Macdonald Day and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Day, be read the first time. I intend to ask the Standing House Committee on Health for its comments on these proposals. (Motion agreed to and bill read the first time) 3526 COMMONS DEBATES May 3, 2001 Routine Proceedings PATENT ACT [Translation] Hon. Don Boudria (for the Minister of Industry) moved that MINING INDUSTRY Bill S-17, an act to amend the Patent Act, be read the first time. (Motion agreed to and bill read the first time) Mr. Guy St-Julien (Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am tabling a petition signed by the residents of Val-d’Or and of the Vallée de l’Or RCM, and by workers at the * * * Beaufor and Sigma-Lamaque mines. PETITIONS This petition states that the government ought to take action to increase its presence and its involvement in resource regions that KIDNEY DISEASE are having trouble adjusting to the new economy, and to make the rules for its existing programs less stringent and ensure that they Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I am are used in the resource regions. pleased to present a petition on behalf of citizens of Peterborough who would like to see the Canadian Institutes of Health Research * * * modified to better include kidney research. They call upon parliament to encourage the Canadian Institutes QUESTIONS ON THE ORDER PAPER of Health Research to explicitly include kidney research as one of Mr. Derek Lee (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the the institutes in its system to be named the kidney and urinary tract Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I ask institute. that the all questions be allowed to stand. VIA RAIL The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos): Is that agreed? Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I Some hon. members: Agreed. have yet another petition from citizens of Peterborough who would like to see VIA commuter service re-established between Toronto [English] and Peterborough. They point to the environmental benefits of that, Mr. Peter Stoffer: Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I for example, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, reduction apologize to the House for being a bit delayed this morning, but I of accidents on the highways and congestion. was wondering if I may seek unanimous consent to introduce a The petitioners also point to the way this would strengthen private member’s bill which would amend the Income Tax Act Peterborough as a business centre, as an educational centre and as a (volunteers). tourist centre. They call upon parliament to authorize the recom- The Acting Speaker (Ms. Bakopanos): Does the hon. member mencement of VIA service between Peterborough, Ontario and have unanimous consent? Toronto as soon as possible. Some hon. members: Agreed. I would point out that this is a petition which has support in the federal ridings of Haliburton—Victoria—Brock, Durham, Whitby—Ajax, Pickering—Ajax—Uxbridge and Markham. * * * D (1010 ) INCOME TAX ACT KIDNEY DISEASE Mr. Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—East- ern Shore, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-342, an act to Mr. Peter Adams (Peterborough, Lib.): Madam Speaker, amend the Income Tax Act (volunteers). lastly, if I might, I have another petition related to kidney research. He said: Madam Speaker, I thank all members of the House for This is from people across Canada who, with Ken Sharp of allowing me to introduce the bill. Peterborough, would like to see more research done in Canada toward developing the bioartificial kidney, which is an implant that The bill recognizes that this is the international year of the would replace kidney transplantation and dialysis as the only volunteer. The bill would amend the Income Tax Act to allow all means of treating end stage kidney disease. volunteers, who donate a minimum of 250 hours a year or more to a registered service, charity or non-profit sporting organization, to a FALUN GONG tax deduction of up to $1,000. This would be similar to the tax deduction claimed by individuals who give cash contributions. Mr. Tony Tirabassi (Niagara Centre, Lib.): Madam Speaker, I submit the following petition asking parliament to urge the Chinese In my conversations with charity groups across the county, they government to stop persecuting Falun Gong practitioners and to think they would support the legislation. I look forward to its lift the ban of Falun Gong practice. speedy passage. Again, this is another great idea by the NDP. May 3, 2001 COMMONS DEBATES 3527 Government Orders (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed) consumers, businesses, and the legal and academic communities were encouraged to provide their views. The bill is the product of that consultation process. _____________________________________________ The bill proposes improvements to the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act in four key areas: first, prohibiting GOVERNMENT ORDERS deceptive contests; second, broadening the scope under which the tribunal may make temporary orders; third, streamlining the competition tribunal processes; and, fourth, facilitating co-opera- D (1015) tion with foreign competition authorities. [English] Let me say a bit about deceptive contests. Accurate information in the marketplace is critical to all Canadians. In 1999 provisions COMPETITION ACT were introduced to the Competition Act to address telemarketing scams. However the competition bureau’s crackdown on deceptive Bill C-23. On the Order: Government Orders telemarketers has caused some con artists to migrate to other April 4, 2001—the Minister of Industry—Second reading and reference to the technologies such as mail and the Internet. Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology of Bill C-23, an act to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act. Deceptive contests involve the mass mailing of announcements Hon. Lawrence MacAulay (for the Minister of Industry) which tell recipients that they have won a valuable prize. Some- moved: times the prospective victim is told that he or she must first pay a fee or taxes before delivery. In other cases the recipient is duped That Bill C-23, an act to amend the Competition Act and the Competition Tribunal Act, be referred forthwith to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science into telephoning a toll number to obtain further details or to claim and Technology. the prize. In most cases the prize turns out to be worthless or of minimal value. That pales in comparison to the charges the Mr. John Cannis (Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of recipient incurs. Industry, Lib.): Madam Speaker, the purpose of the motion is to provide members of the House with a greater role in preparing legislation through House of Commons committees. It is only the The bill creates a new criminal offence to combat deceptive third of three bills referred to committee before second reading in contests sent by mail or the Internet.