CANADA VOLUME 135 S NUMBER 118A S 1st SESSION S 36th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, June 9, 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 7773 HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, June 9, 1998 The House met at 10 a.m. ROUTINE PROCEEDINGS _______________ [Translation] Prayers _______________ GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS D (1000) Mr. Peter Adams (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, [English] pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government’s response to 20 petitions. POINTS OF ORDER BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE * * * Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House [English] of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I seek unanimous consent to move: INTERPARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS That the Order of the House of June 8, 1998, respecting motions pursuant to Standing Order 57 and 78(3) be rescinded. Hon. Sheila Finestone (Mount Royal, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I The Speaker: The government House leader has asked for have the privilege to table the report of the parliamentary wing of unanimous consent to put a motion. Is there unanimous consent? the United Nations called the Interparliamentary Unions where Some hon. members: Agreed. delegates worked effectively to raise the urgency to commit to the humanitarian clearing of land mines and the removal of same and An hon. member: No. moved to adopt the needed Ottawa convention. [Translation] Therefore, it is my pleasure to table the report of the 99th Mr. René Laurin: What is this about, Mr. Speaker? interparliamentary conference held in Windhoek, Namibia, on April 5 to 11. The Speaker: My colleague asked a question. For his informa- tion, the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons has moved a motion. It reads as follows: * * * [English] COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE That the Order of the House of June 8, 1998, respecting motions pursuant to Standing Order 73 and 78(3) be rescinded. AGRICULTURE AND AGRI-FOOD [Translation] The Speaker: Is there unanimous consent? Mr. Joe McGuire (Egmont, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I have the pleasure and honour to table today, in both official languages, the Some hon. members: Agreed. third report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri- Some hon. members: No. Food on biotechnology. D (1005) Your committee reviewed the issue of biotechnology as it [English] pertains to agriculture and agri-food. As part of the process of renewing the Canadian biotechnology strategy it came up with a The Speaker: The reason I explained this to the hon. member number of recommendations which are contained in this report. for Joliette was that he wanted to know what the motion was. However, I had already asked for unanimous consent to put this The new Canadian biotechnology strategy involves three depart- motion and I heard a ‘‘no’’ from my left. Therefore, the motion ments: Industry, Health and Agriculture and Agri-Food. With the cannot be put. explosion of genetically modified products, this strategy will have 7774 COMMONS DEBATES June 9, 1998 Routine Proceedings to be an ever-changing one which members of parliament will have D (1015 ) to respond to. The Speaker: The House leader for the Conservative Party The committee is also requesting a comprehensive answer to the makes a very interesting point, as does the opposition House leader. report from the government pursuant to Standing Order 109. I point out to the House that it would be one thing to go with the strict wording of this rule. However a motion was put on February I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the committee 19, 1998 which perhaps went beyond the scope of the wording and members from all sides for their work. I also wish to thank the it went through the House. On December 1, 1997 a motion pursuant committee staff, especially our research co-ordinator, Sonya Dak- to Standing Order 56.1(1) was put and it went through the House. ers, who will be retiring at the end of the month. This happens to be her last major piece of work after 12 years with the agriculture My interpretation of both of those motions is that we cannot pick committee. We all wish her well. and choose on the way through. Those two motions went through before and they seemed to go somewhat beyond the scope of the wording, and at that time no one raised a voice of objection. * * * I am loath to interfere at any time like this. I would rule that because of these other two motions that went through as prece- BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE dents, I will allow this one to go through. I would strongly urge the committee on procedure to perhaps take this up again and to give direction more clearly to the House and the Speaker. I am going to Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House allow this Standing Order 56.1 to stand. of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 56(1), and having raised the issue earlier today, I move: Mr. Randy White: Mr. Speaker, what happened in this House That the Order of the House of June 8, 1998, respecting motions pursuant to last night was in effect an order of the House. Now we are going to Standing Order 57 and 78(3) be rescinded. get into a discussion of the principles of this House of Commons. It is an order of the House. The government cannot just come in here Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, and change an order of the House, something which was passed by I understand that the government House leader is trying to put this this whole House. Otherwise all of the issues we deal with here— motion to the floor this morning, but this is the time for routine motions to be put and this is not a routine motion. The Speaker: I made a ruling on this issue. Now the House will have a chance to pronounce itself. D (1010 ) An hon. member: Mr. Speaker, a point of order. Hon. Don Boudria: Mr. Speaker, to assist the Chair, if I may, I The Speaker: Not on this issue. I have made a ruling. know that the opposition House leader has raised the proposition that this was not, in his view, a routine motion. I draw to your The question is on the motion. Will those members who object to attention Standing Order 67(1)(p) which states: the motion please rise in their places. (p) such other motion, made upon Routine Proceedings, as may be required for the The hon. member on a point of order. observance of the properties of the House, the maintenance of its authority, the appointment or conduct of its officers, the management of its business, the arrangement of its proceedings, the correctness of its record, the fixing of its sitting D (1020 ) days or the time of its meetings or adjournment. Mr. Ken Epp: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I point out I think this very well covers the fact that indeed this motion is to your attention Standing Order 67: receivable the way it was presented under Standing Order 56(1). 67.(1) The following motions are debatable: Mr. Peter MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, The Speaker: This motion is not debatable. I repeat, will those PC): Mr. Speaker, I am very new to this place and I do not profess members who object to the motion please rise in their places. to be an expert in this, but my understanding is that what happened yesterday was that a substantive motion was passed on the floor of And 25 members having risen: the House and that cannot simply be overturned by a routine motion from the government. There is a procedure that has to be in The Speaker: Because there are 25 members standing in their place. There is notice that has to be given. My understanding is that places, this motion is deemed withdrawn. this cannot happen in the way that the government House leader is trying to put it before the House. (Motion withdrawn) June 9, 1998 COMMONS DEBATES 7775 Routine Proceedings Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House bothering average everyday grassroots Canadians out there like of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order debt, like spending, like taxes, like problems at the immigration 27(1), I move: department, like crime, like where is the national victims bill of rights. For instance where is the bill on drunk driving that was That, commencing June 10, 1998 and concluding June 23, 1998, the hours of sitting be extended to 4 a.m. committed to by this government in May and which was reneged by this government, that was changed apparently to November 30. Mr. Randy White (Langley—Abbotsford, Ref.): Mr. Speaker, Now we understand it is not going to do that either when every I am very pleased actually to debate this motion. Could you tell me, party here in opposition agreed with the government for a change. Mr. Speaker, first of all how much time I have? Now the Liberals say ‘‘We have some things on the agenda’’— An hon. member: As long as you want. not too much on the agenda I might add—‘‘and we cannot have our own way, so you will have to stay until four in the morning’’.