HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
35th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
JOURNALS
No. 134
Thursday, February 20, 1997
10:00 a.m.
PRAYERS
DAILYROUTINE OF BUSINESS
Tabling of Documents
Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary
to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the
Table, -- Government responses, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), to the
following petitions:
(1) No. 352-1538 concerning capital punishment. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8545-352-30C;
(2) No. 352-1552 concerning profits from crime. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8545-352-97O;
(3) Nos. 352-1555, 352-1579, 352-1583 and 352-1592 concerning
the nuclear industry. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8545-352-46G;
(4) Nos. 352-1567 and 352-1611 concerning police and firefighters' death
benefits. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8545-352-133A;
(5) No. 352-1570 concerning sexual orientation. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8545-352-45Y.
Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board) laid
upon the Table, -- Document entitled "Getting Government Right: Governing
for Canadians". -- Sessional Paper No. 8525-352-17.
Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board)
laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "Program Expenditure Detail:
A Profile of
Departmental Spending". -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-83.
Pursuant to Standing Order 79(3), the Speaker read a Message
from His Excellency the Governor General, presented by Mr. Massé
(President of the Treasury Board).
Message on Estimates
His Excellency the Governor General transmits to the House of
Commons the Main Estimates of sums required for the service of
Canada for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 1998, and, in
accordance with section 54 of the Constitution Act, 1867,
recommends these Estimates to the House of Commons.
Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board)
laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "1997-98 Estimates, Part I:
The Government Expenditure
Plan and Highlights by Ministry". -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-84.
Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board)
laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "1997-98 Estimates, Part II:
The Main Estimates".
-- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-85.
The Speaker laid upon the Table, -- Document entitled "1997-98
Estimates for the House of Commons: Expenditure Plan". -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-86.
Statements by Ministers
Pursuant to Standing Order 33(1), Mr. Massé (President of
the Treasury Board) made a statement.
Presenting Reports from Committees
Mr. English (Kitchener), from the Standing Committee on
Foreign Affairs and International Trade, presented the 5th Report
of the Committee (Ending Child Labour Exploitation -- A Canadian
Agenda for Action on Global Challenges). -- Sessional Paper No.
8510-352-78.
Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government was requested
by the Committee to table a comprehensive response.
A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Issue No. 10,
which includes this Report) was tabled.
Introduction of Government Bills
Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of
Mrs. Robillard (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration),
seconded by Mr. Eggleton (Minister for International Trade), Bill
C-84, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration
Act, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed
and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the
House.
Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))
His Excellency the Governor General recommends to the House of
Commons the appropriation of public revenue under the
circumstances, in the manner and for the purposes set out in a
measure entitled "An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the
Immigration Act".
Introduction of Private Members' Bills
Pursuant to Standing Order 68(2), on motion of Mr. Marchand
(Québec-Est), seconded by Mrs. Debien (Laval East), Bill C-373,
An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act
(provincial legislation contravening the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms), was introduced; and pursuant to Standing
Order 69(1), on motion of Mr. Marchand (Québec-Est), seconded by
Mr. Lebel (Chambly), the Bill was read the first time, ordered to
be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting
of the House.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of
Mr. Marchand (Québec-Est), seconded by Mr. Lebel (Chambly), Bill
C-374, An Act to amend the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements
Act (social services for the French linguistic minority of a
province), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be
printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of
the House.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of
Mr. Benoit (Vegreville), seconded by Mr. Stinson (Okanagan --
Shuswap), Bill C-375, An Act to amend the Agreement on Internal
Trade Implementation Act, was introduced, read the first time,
ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the
next sitting of the House.
Motions
Pursuant to Standing Order 81(6), Mr. Massé (President of
the Treasury Board), seconded by Mrs. Robillard (Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration), moved, -- That the Main Estimates
for the fiscal year ending March 31, 1998, laid upon the Table on
February 20, 1997, be referred to the several Standing Committees
of the House, as follows:
(1) to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern
Development
-- Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15,
L20, L25, L30, 35, 40, 45 and 50
(2) to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food
-- Agriculture and Agri-Food, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15
(3) to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage
-- Canadian Heritage, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, L20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,
50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120,
125, 130, 140 and 145
(4) to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
-- Citizenship and Immigration, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15
(5) to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable
Development
-- Environment, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 15
-- Privy Council, Vote 30
(6) to the Standing Committee on Finance
-- Finance, Votes 1, 5, L10, 15, 20, L25, 35 and 40
-- National Revenue, Votes 1, 5, and 10
(7) to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
-- Fisheries and Oceans, Votes 1, 5 and 10
(8) to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and
International Trade
-- Foreign Affairs, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, L30, L35, 40, 45,
50 and 55
(9) to the Standing Committee on Government Operations
-- Canadian Heritage, Vote 135
-- Governor General, Vote 1
-- Parliament, Vote 1
-- Privy Council, Votes 1, 5, 10 and 35
-- Public Works and Government Services, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20,
25, 30 and 35
-- Treasury Board, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20
(10) to the Standing Committee on Health
-- Health, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30
(11) to the Standing Committee on Human Resources Development
-- Human Resources Development, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and
35
(12) to the Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Status of
Persons with Disabilities
-- Justice, Vote 10
(13) to the Standing Committee on Industry
-- Industry, Votes 1, 5, L10, L15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55,
60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115 and 120
(14) to the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs
-- Justice, Votes 1, 5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45
-- Privy Council, Vote 40
-- Solicitor General, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45
and 50
(15) to the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans
Affairs
-- National Defence, Votes 1, 5 and 10
-- Veterans Affairs, Votes 1, 5 and 10
(16) to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources
-- Natural Resources, Votes 1, 5, 10, L15, 20, 25, 30 and 35
(17) to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs
-- Parliament, Vote 5
-- Privy Council, Vote 20
(18) to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts
-- Finance, Vote 30
(19) to the Standing Committee on Transport
-- Privy Council, Vote 15
-- Transport, Votes 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40
(20) to the Standing Joint Committee on Library of Parliament
-- Parliament, Vote 10
(21) to the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages
-- Privy Council, Vote 25
Presenting Petitions
Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of
Petitions were presented as follows:
-- by Mr. White (Fraser Valley West), one concerning the Canadian Charter
of Rights and
Freedoms (No. 352-1791), one concerning natural gas from Sable Island (No.
352-1792),
one concerning the highway system (No. 352-1793) and one concerning the tax on
gasoline (No. 352-1794);
-- by Mr. Speaker (Lethbridge), one concerning AIDS research (No. 352-1795);
-- by Mr. Taylor (The Battlefords -- Meadow Lake), one concerning the highway
system (No.
352-1796);
-- by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat), one concerning the highway system (No.
352-1797) and
one concerning the appointment of justices (No. 352-1798);
-- by Mr. Stinson (Okanagan -- Shuswap), one concerning the tax on gasoline
(No. 352-1799);
-- by Mr. Jordan (Leeds -- Grenville), one concerning the nuclear industry
(No. 352-
1800);
-- by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South), one concerning police and firefighters'
death benefits (No. 352-1801) and one concerning the income tax system (No.
352-1802).
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin
(Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the
Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of
Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy
of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)
And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe --
Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies), -- That
the motion be amended by replacing all the words after the
word ``That'' with the following:
``the budget statement by the Minister of Finance be rejected by
the House of Commons because it:
unilaterally maintains major reductions in transfer payments to
the provinces in the fields of postsecondary education, health
and social assistance, while intruding in areas of exclusive
provincial jurisdiction, particularly by creating the Canada
Foundation for Innovation from money earmarked for the provinces,
introducing a national child tax benefit system, and setting up
pilot projects filled with national unity propaganda in the field
of health and social programs;
proposes no tangible job creation measures, does not
substantially reduce Unemployment Insurance contribution rates,
or improve protection for unemployed persons, which has been
greatly reduced by Employment Insurance;
conceals its lack of action in creating jobs and fighting
poverty, knowingly reducing effectiveness in these areas and
distributing electoral gifts around Canada and Quebec;
does not include an in-depth reform of the tax treatment of
businesses or individuals, for example, by maintaining benefits
for large corporations and rich Canadians; and
introduces no measures to compensate the Quebec government for
the 1991 harmonization of its sales tax with the federal GST,
although Quebec would be eligible for this compensation in light
of the $1 billion being paid to the maritime provinces.'';
And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest),
seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat), -- That the amendment be
amended
(a) by inserting after the words ``health and social assistance,''
the following:
``a measure which is not the answer to stronger sustainable social
programs,'';
(b) by inserting after the words ``proposes no tangible job
creation measures'' the following:
``, such as lower taxes to create long-term jobs,''; and
(c) by inserting after the words ``electoral gifts around Canada
and Quebec'' the following:
``which, among other things, hampers the government's ability to
balance the budget;''.
The debate continued.
STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS
Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.
ORAL QUESTIONS
Pursuant to Standing Order 30(5), the House proceeded to
Oral Questions.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin
(Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the
Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of
Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy
of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)
And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe --
Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies);
And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest),
seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat).
The debate continued.
MOTIONS
By unanimous consent, Mr. Zed (Parliamentary Secretary to
the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons), seconded
by Mr. Campbell (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Finance), moved, -- That the Standing Committee on Agriculture and
Agri-Food be authorized to travel to Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon,
Calgary and Grande Prairie from March 17 to March 21, 1997, in
relation to their examination of Bill C-72, An Act to amend the
Canadian Wheat Board Act, and that the necessary staff accompany
the Committee.
The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Martin
(Minister of Finance), seconded by Mr. Gray (Leader of the
Government in the House of Commons and Solicitor General of
Canada), -- That this House approves in general the budgetary policy
of the Government; (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 15)
And of the amendment of Mr. Loubier (Saint-Hyacinthe --
Bagot), seconded by Mr. Pomerleau (Anjou -- Rivière-des-Prairies);
And of the sub-amendment of Mr. Manning (Calgary Southwest),
seconded by Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat).
The debate continued.
At 6:52 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 84(4), the Speaker
interrupted the proceedings.
The question was put on the sub-amendment and it was
negatived on the following division:
RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE
Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the
Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:
-- by Mr. Axworthy (Minister of Foreign Affairs) -- Report of the
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
on the Annual Summary of Steel Import Permit Information
for the year 1996, pursuant to the Export and Import Permits Act, R. S.
1985, c. E-19, sbs. 5.1(3). -- Sessional
Paper No. 8560-352-525A. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5),
permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign
Affairs and International Trade)
-- by Mr. Eggleton (Minister for International Trade) -- Report of
the Northern Pipeline Agency,
together with the Auditor General's Report,
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, pursuant
to the Northern Pipeline Act, R. S. 1985, c. N-26, ss. 13
and 14. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8560-352-43A.
(Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to
the Standing Committee on Natural Resources)
-- by Mr. Massé (President of the Treasury Board) -- "1997-98 Estimates,
Part III: Expenditure Plans", pursuant to the 12th
Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts adopted by the
House on Wednesday, June 23, 1982, for:
(1) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-87;
(2) Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-88;
(3) Atomic Energy Control Board. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-89;
(4) Canada Information Office. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-90;
(5) Canada Labour Relations Board. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-91;
(6) Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations
Tribunal. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-92;
(7) Canadian Centre For Management Development. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-93;
(8) Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-94;
(9) Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-95;
(10) Canadian Heritage. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-96;
(11) Canadian Human Rights Commission. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-97;
(12) Canadian Intergovernmental Conference Secretariat. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-98;
(13) Canadian International Development Agency. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-99;
(14) Canadian International Trade Tribunal. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-100;
(15) Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-101;
(16) Canadian Space Agency. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-102;
(17) Canadian Transportation Agency. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-103;
(18) Citizenship and Immigration Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-104;
(19) Civil Aviation Tribunal of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-105;
(20) Competition Tribunal. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-106;
(21) Copyright Board Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-107;
(22) Correctional Service Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-108;
(23) Department of Finance Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-109;
(24) Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-110;
(25) Department of Justice Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-111;
(26) Environment Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-112;
(27) Federal Office of Regional Development-Quebec. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-113;
(28) Fisheries and Oceans. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-114;
(29) Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-115;
(30) Health Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-116;
(31) Human Resources Development Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-117;
(32) Human Rights Tribunal Panel. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-118;
(33) Immigration and Refugee Board. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-119;
(34) Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Canadian Polar Commission. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-120;
(35) Industry Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-121;
(36) Medical Research Council of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-122;
(37) NAFTA Secretariat, Canadian Section. -- Sessional Paper No.
8520-352-123;
(38) National Archives of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-124;
(39) National Battlefields Commission. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-125;
(40) National Defence. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-126;
(41) National Energy Board. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-127;
(42) National Film Board. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-128;
(43) National Library of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-129;
(44) National Parole Board. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-130;
(45) National Research Council Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-131;
(46) National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-132;
(47) Natural Resources Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-133;
(48) Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-134;
(49) Northern Pipeline Agency Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-135;
(50) Office of the Auditor General of Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-136;
(51) Office of the Chief Electoral Officer. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-137;
(52) Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-138;
(53) Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-139;
(54) Office of the Correctional Investigator. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-140;
(55) Offices of the Information and Privacy Commissioners. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-141;
(56) Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-142;
(57) Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-143;
(58) Privy Council Office. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-144;
(59) Public Service Commission of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No.
8520-352-145;
(60) Public Service Staff Relations Board. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-146;
(61) Public Works and Government Services Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-147;
(62) RCMP External Review Committee. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-148;
(63) RCMP Public Complaints Commission. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-149;
(64) Registry of the Federal Court of Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-150;
(65) Revenue Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-151;
(66) Royal Canadian Mounted Police. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-152;
(67) Security Intelligence Review Committee. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-153;
(68) Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of
Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-154;
(69) Solicitor General Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-155;
(70) Statistics Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-156;
(71) Status of Women Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-157;
(72) Supreme Court of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-158;
(73) Tax Court of Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-159;
(74) Transport Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-160;
(75) Transportation Safety Board of Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-161;
(76) Treasury Board of Canada, Secretariat. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-162;
(77) Veterans Affairs Canada. -- Sessional Paper No. 8520-352-163;
(78) Western Economic Diversification Canada. -- Sessional
Paper No. 8520-352-164.
PROCEEDINGS ON ADJOURNMENT MOTION
At 7:19 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 38(1), the question
"That this House do now adjourn" was deemed to have been
proposed.
After debate, the question was deemed to have been adopted.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow
at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).