37th Parliament, 1st Session
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 002
CONTENTS
Tuesday, January 30, 2001
1420
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
1530
| The Speaker |
| OATHS OF OFFICE
|
| Motion for introduction and first reading
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| The Speaker |
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
1535
| BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY
|
| The Speaker |
| COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
|
| Procedure and House Affairs
|
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
| COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE
|
| Appointment of Chairman
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
| Appointment of Deputy Chairman
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
| Appointment of Assistant Deputy Chairman
|
| Right Hon. Jean Chrétien |
| Motion
|
| SUPPLY
|
1540
| Hon. Lucienne Robillard |
| Motion
|
| GOVERNMENT ORDERS
|
| SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
|
| Address in Reply
|
| Mr. Paul Harold Macklin |
1545
1550
| Motion
|
| Ms. Carole-Marie Allard |
1555
1600
1605
| Mr. Howard Hilstrom |
| Mr. Benoît Sauvageau |
1610
| Mr. Paul Crête |
1615
| Mr. Stockwell Day |
| Hon. Don Boudria |
| Motion
|
(Official Version)
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 002
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Tuesday, January 30, 2001
The House met at 2 p.m.
Prayers
1420
[English]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
A message was delivered by the Usher of the Black Rod as
follows:
Mr. Speaker, Her Excellency the Governor General of Canada
desires the immediate attendance of this honourable House in the
chamber of the Senate.
Accordingly the Speaker with the House proceeded to the Senate
chamber.
1530
[Translation]
And the House being returned to the Commons chamber:
The Speaker: Order, please. I have the honour to report
that, the House having attended on Her Excellency the Governor
General in the Senate chamber, I informed Her Excellency that
the choice of Speaker had fallen upon me. On your behalf, I made
the usual claim for your privileges which Her Excellency was
pleased to confirm to you.
* * *
OATHS OF OFFICE
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.) moved for leave
to introduce Bill C-1, respecting the administration of oaths of
office.
(Motion deemed adopted and bill read the first time)
* * *
[English]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
The Speaker: I have the honour to inform the House
that when this House did attend Her Excellency this day in the
Senate chamber, Her Excellency was pleased to make a speech to
both houses of Parliament. To prevent mistakes I have obtained a
copy which is as follows:
Honourable Members of the Senate,
Members of the House of Commons,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my great pleasure to greet you on this first day of the 37th
Parliament since Confederation. The vital
relationship that exists between the Canadian people and Parliament is
what we celebrate today through
history, custom and symbolism.
I also have the pleasure of welcoming new members to the House of Commons,
and I want all
parliamentarians to know how deeply I appreciate the ideals that motivate
you to serve your country. I
also appreciate the sacrifices brought on by your task and made in the
name of the common good and of
leadership. And in a healthy democracy, leadership can come from everyone,
because it is a sense of
really knowing what you want and what you can contribute.
A little more than a year ago, I became Canada's 26th Governor General. I
set out as the main objective
of my first year in office to visit every province and territory and to
meet as many Canadians as possible,
wherever they live and make their lives—to engage in a true dialogue
with them. I have seen many
places that Canadians have decided to call home, from big cities to small
hamlets, from the Island of
Montreal to Ellesmere Island.
But what we call home is more than a place name on a map. It is our
belonging to a community of ideas
and ideals; it is the knowledge that we can say something and be listened
to, and the conviction that we
can respect, rely upon and help each other.
Meeting Canadians across the country has given me the opportunity to hear
about the different
challenges we face. Looking at these issues, we of course remember that we
have demonstrated, time
and time again, that we have the self-confidence to act, and to act
successfully. Change does not frighten
us—we have always harnessed it to our advantage.
It is often said that our country's strength lies in its diversity. Why is
this so? Because diversity imposes
serious responsibilities. Indeed, if we accept our place in a rich and
successful society, we must also
acknowledge and engage with the parts of our society that are less advantaged.
The Government has been given a third mandate by Canadians. In leading
Canada into the new
millennium, its overarching goal will continue to be to build a stronger,
ever more inclusive Canada and
secure a higher quality of life for all Canadians. In pursuing this aim,
the Government will carry out the
commitments set out in its election platform.
Canada is proud, optimistic and strong. The Government has achieved the
critical objective of restoring
the nation's finances. The economy continues its longest period of
economic expansion since the 1960s.
Inflation and interest rates are low and stable. More than two million new
jobs have been created since
1993. Significant new investments are being made in children and youth, in
innovation and skills, in health
care, and in the environment.
As we enter this new century, Canada and Canadians face the challenges of
competing in a faster-paced,
technology-driven world economy. Of responding to economic uncertainty
among our trading partners. Of
continuing to strengthen the fabric of our society in an era of increasing
globalization. And of advancing
our Canadian interests and values in the international arena.
We must ensure that every region, every province and territory, every
community, and every citizen has a
strong voice and can contribute to building our nation. To bring the
benefits of our prosperity to all
communities, whether urban, rural, Northern or remote. To promote
innovation, growth and development
in all parts of our economy, including our agricultural and resource
sectors and our manufacturing and
service industries.
Canadians must rise to these challenges. Success in our more
interdependent and complex world will
require the contribution of all Canadians. The Government of Canada, for
its part, will focus on:
building a world-leading economy driven by innovation, ideas and talent;
creating a more inclusive society where children get the right start in
life, where quality health
services are available to all, and where Canadians enjoy strong and safe
communities;
ensuring a clean, healthy environment for Canadians and the preservation
of our natural spaces;
and
enhancing our Canadian voice in the world and our shared sense of
citizenship.
In fulfilling its responsibilities, the Government of Canada will be
guided by the values of Canadians. It will
work with other levels of government, the private and voluntary sectors,
and individual citizens.
It will continue to set bold goals and work toward them in a pragmatic,
step-by-step way. It will continue to
be a prudent steward of the nation's finances as it focusses on the
priorities of Canadians. Its efforts will
be affordable and sustainable. The Government reaffirms its commitment to
balanced budgets.
To assist the Government in fulfilling its responsibilities, Canada must
have a public service distinguished
by excellence and equipped with the skills for a knowledge economy and
society. The Government will
seek bright, motivated young women and men to accept the challenge of
serving their country in the
federal public service. The Government is committed to the reforms needed
for the Public Service of
Canada to continue evolving and adapting. These reforms will ensure that
the Public Service is
innovative, dynamic and reflective of the diversity of the country—able
to attract and develop the talent
needed to serve Canadians in the 21st century.
The Government will help to create opportunity for Canadians and ensure
that opportunity is shared by
all. This is the Canadian Way for the 21st century.
Creating Opportunity
An innovative economy is essential to creating opportunity for Canadians.
An innovative economy is driven by research and development. It requires a
highly skilled work force and
investments in new technology. A business environment and tax policies
that encourage smart risk taking
and entrepreneurship and that reward success. An attractive environment
for investment. And a strong
global brand for Canadian excellence.
An innovative economy is one where the benefits of new ideas are shared by
every sector and every
region—from East to West to North, from office workers to farm families.
Canada has laid a solid foundation for success in the new economy. Our
economic fundamentals are
among the best in the world. Spiralling debt and deficits have been
replaced by social and economic
investments, tax cuts and debt repayments. On January 1st of this year,
most elements of the
Government's comprehensive and broad-based package of $100 billion in tax
relief took effect.
We are better positioned than at any time in the last three decades to
seize the opportunities of the global
economy and to weather a short-term slowing of growth experienced by
Canada's major trading partners.
Innovation
To secure our continued success in the 21st century, Canadians must be
among the first to generate new
knowledge and put it to use.
Our objective should be no less than to be recognized as one of the most
innovative countries in the
world. Achieving this will require a comprehensive approach and the
support and participation of all
governments, businesses, educational institutions, and individual Canadians.
We must strive for Canada to become one of the top five countries for
research and development
performance by 2010. This is a challenge for all Canadians, but in
particular for the private sector as the
largest research investor in Canada.
As its contribution, the Government will at least double the current
federal investment in research and
development by 2010. In making new investments, the Government will:
continue to pursue excellence in Canadian research by strengthening the
research capacity of
Canadian universities and government laboratories and institutions;
accelerate Canada's ability to commercialize research discoveries,
turning them into new
products and services; and
pursue a global strategy for Canadian science and technology, supporting
more collaborative
international research at the frontiers of knowledge.
New federal investments will include strategically targetted research that
is co-ordinated with partners.
These investments will directly benefit Canadians in areas such as health,
water quality, the environment,
natural resources management, and oceans research. Among its investments,
the Government will
increase support for the development of new technologies to assist
Canadians with disabilities.
Research in life sciences will benefit all of Canada, particularly our
agricultural and rural economies. The
Government will help Canada's agricultural sector move beyond crisis
management—leading to more
genuine diversification and value-added growth, new investments and
employment, better land use, and
high standards of environmental stewardship and food safety.
Skills and Learning
Canada will only realize its full potential by investing aggressively in
the skills and talents of its people.
To succeed in the knowledge economy, Canada will need people with advanced
skills and
entrepreneurial spirit. Canada's youth are optimistic, technologically
savvy, globally connected and the
most highly educated generation in our history. The Government will
continue to help young Canadians
contribute to their country, gain employment, and apply their business and
creative skills.
Building a skilled work force must be a national effort. The Government of
Canada will work with
provinces and territories and with non-governmental organizations to
ensure that all Canadians, young
and old, can achieve their learning goals. Canada must see at least one
million more adults pursue
learning opportunities during the next five years.
The Government will also help adults who want to improve their skills, but
who may face difficulty in
finding the time or resources to do this while providing for themselves
and their families. It will create
Registered Individual Learning Accounts to make it easier for Canadians to
finance their learning. And it
will improve the loans that are available to part-time students, so more
workers can learn while they earn.
Some Canadians face particular challenges in upgrading their skills and
enhancing their education. The
Government will take steps to make it easier for them to access skills and
learning.
Youth at risk are among the most likely to drop out of school or to have
difficulty in making the
transition from school to work. The Government will work with its partners
to ensure support for
youth who particularly need help staying in school or getting their first job.
Today, many Canadian adults lack the higher literacy skills needed in
the new economy. The
Government of Canada will invite the provinces and territories along with
the private sector and
voluntary organizations to launch a national initiative with the goal of
significantly increasing the
proportion of adults with these higher-level skills.
Persons with disabilities face barriers to full participation in the
economy and society. The
Government of Canada will work with the provinces and territories and
other partners toward a
comprehensive labour-market strategy for persons with disabilities.
Increasing numbers of Aboriginal people are developing their business
skills and competing in the
new economy. The Government will work with Aboriginal people to help
strengthen their
entrepreneurial and business expertise.
Immigrants have enriched Canada with their ideas and talents. The
Government will take steps to help
Canada attract the skilled workers it needs. It will also work in
co-operation with the provinces and
territories to secure better recognition of the foreign credentials of new
Canadians and their more rapid
integration into society. The Government will re-introduce changes to
immigration legislation to streamline
and improve the immigration system.
Connecting Canadians
The Government has helped to make Canada one of the most connected
countries in the world, yet the
speed of change continues to accelerate. Canada must continue to develop
and strengthen its
information infrastructure.
The private sector today is expanding high-speed access to the Internet in
many regions. The National
Broadband Task Force will advise the Government on how Canadians together
can achieve the critical
goal of making broadband access widely available to citizens, businesses,
public institutions and to all
communities in Canada by 2004.
The Government will continue to support the Community Access Program and
SchoolNet, ensuring that
Canadians, their communities and their schools can have an on-ramp to the
information highway. These
programs are critical to Canada's effort to close the digital divide,
particularly in rural, remote, Northern
and Aboriginal communities. The Government will also enhance SchoolNet,
focussing on creating more
and better learning content on-line.
The Government will continue to work toward putting its services on-line
by 2004, to better connect with
citizens.
It will also modernize federal privacy law to safeguard the personal
information of Canadians and provide
better copyright protection for new ideas and knowledge.
Trade and Investment
The Government's investments in innovation, skills and connectivity, as
well as its reduction of corporate
taxes and improved treatment of capital gains, are making Canada one of
the most attractive places to
invest and to do business. In addition, the Government will:
ensure that Canadian laws and regulations remain among the most modern
and progressive in
the world, including those for intellectual property and competitiveness; and
re-introduce legislation to promote a strong and efficient financial
services sector that will benefit
the Canadian economy and all Canadians.
The Government will work closely with the United States, Canada's most
important trading partner, to
maintain secure and efficient access to each other's markets. It will
continue the joint work begun to
modernize the shared border.
At the Third Summit of the Americas in Quebec City this April, the
Government will advance work toward
creating the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
The Government will also launch a branding strategy to raise awareness of
the advantages of investing in
Canada. As part of this effort, the Government will continue its
successful Team Canada trade missions
and launch Investment Team Canada missions to the United States and Europe.
Sharing Opportunity
The Canadian Way recognizes that economic and social success must be
pursued together. We cannot
build a prosperous society in the absence of economic growth. We cannot
lead in innovation and new
ideas without healthy and secure citizens. We must not pursue our
interests in the world without
strengthening our distinct culture and values here at home.
Nowhere is the creation and sharing of opportunity more important than for
Aboriginal people. Too many
continue to live in poverty, without the tools they need to build a better
future for themselves or their
communities. As a country, we must be direct about the magnitude of the
challenge and ambitious in our
commitment to tackle the most pressing problems facing Aboriginal people.
Reaching our objectives will
take time, but we must not be deterred by the length of the journey or the
obstacles that we may
encounter along the way.
The Government is committed to strengthening its relationship with
Aboriginal people. It will support First
Nations communities in strengthening governance, including implementing
more effective and transparent
administrative practices. And it will work to ensure that basic needs are
met for jobs, health, education,
housing and infrastructure. This commitment will be reflected in all the
Government's priorities.
Children and Families
Securing a good start in life for children is the only way to ensure that
they are ready to learn, to seize
opportunity as adults, and to contribute to the building of their country.
There was a time in Canada when retirement often meant facing a new life
of hardship. A generation ago,
Canadians set a national goal to eliminate poverty among seniors, and we
have made significant
progress.
There was a time in this country when falling sick meant risking one's
life savings. Working together,
Canadians built a national, publicly funded health care system to ensure
access to quality care for every
citizen regardless of income.
There was a time when losing a job also meant immediate loss of income for
workers and their families.
And so Canadians created Employment Insurance.
Now Canadians must undertake another national project—to ensure that no
Canadian child suffers the
debilitating effects of poverty.
Canadians and their governments have already taken significant steps in
this direction.
A strong economy and job creation have been essential to reducing poverty
and ensuring that families
have the resources to care for their children. But economic growth alone
is not enough. Governments
also have a key role to play in helping families left behind and in
providing support to families and
children.
All governments have put in place a range of measures to help families and
children. The National Child
Benefit is the cornerstone of our collective efforts to provide children
with a better start. It is the single
most important social program to be introduced in this country since
medicare in the 1960s. The
Government of Canada's contribution to the National Child Benefit will
continue to rise over the next four
years.
Most recently, the Government of Canada and provinces and territories
launched the Early Childhood
Development initiative to expand and improve access to services for all
families and children. The
Government of Canada is investing more than $2 billion in this initiative
over five years. As part of this
agreement, governments will begin reporting to Canadians on the outcomes
of their programs and
services for children. These reports will give the Government of Canada
and its partners the information
they need to take whatever additional steps are necessary to provide
Canadian children with a better start
in life.
The Government of Canada will also take immediate action with its partners
where the challenges are
greatest.
Single parents and their children often face special challenges
overcoming poverty. The
governments of Canada, New Brunswick and British Columbia have been testing new
approaches to help single parents become more self-sufficient. The
Government of Canada is
prepared to test innovations with other provinces and territories, with
the longer-term aim of
developing new measures that help these parents overcome poverty.
The Government will work with its partners on modernizing the laws for
child support, custody,
and access—to ensure that these work in the best interests of children
in cases of family
breakdown.
It will improve the support available to parents and caregivers in times
of family crisis. No
Canadian should have to choose between keeping their job and providing
palliative care to a
child. The Government will take steps to enable parents to provide care to
a gravely ill child
without fear of sudden income or job loss.
In securing a better future for Aboriginal children, the Government will
work with First Nations to
improve and expand the early childhood development programs and services
available in their
communities. It will also expand significantly the Aboriginal Head Start
program, to better prepare
more Aboriginal children for school and help those with special needs.
The Government of Canada will also co-operate with Aboriginal
communities and provinces and
territories on the measures required to reduce the number of Aboriginal
newborns affected by
fetal alcohol syndrome. No child should experience this syndrome, but
Canada's immediate aim
must be to significantly reduce its incidence in the Aboriginal population
by the end of this
decade.
Good Health and Quality Care
A healthy Canadian society is built on the health and well-being of
individual Canadians and the health of
our communities.
Canadians place a high priority on good health and on their health care
system. We know that our system
of medicare, which ensures access to needed services regardless of income
or place of residence, is vital
to our quality of life. It is a Canadian advantage and deeply valued by
all citizens.
The Government of Canada will uphold the Canada Health Act. It will work
with the provinces and
territories to ensure that all governments continue to fulfil their
commitment to the principles of medicare.
Governments in Canada have come together to strengthen and renew Canada's
health care system. Last
September, First Ministers affirmed the commitment of their governments to
the principles of the Canada
Health Act and endorsed a health action plan that will enable them to move
forward in building a modern,
integrated and sustainable health system for Canadians.
Over the next three years, governments will take concrete action to reform
and support innovation in
primary care, to adopt modern health information technologies, and to
purchase needed diagnostic and
medical equipment. For its part, the Government of Canada is committing
more than $21 billion in new
funding to the provinces and territories over five years through the
Canada Health and Social Transfer.
The Government will also champion community-based health promotion and
disease prevention
measures.
It will strengthen its efforts to encourage physical fitness and
participation in sport, and take
further steps to combat substance abuse, reduce tobacco consumption,
prevent injuries and
promote mental health.
It will advance progress on disease prevention, focussing in particular
on reducing the incidence
of preventable diabetes and tuberculosis—especially among Aboriginal
people, who suffer
disproportionately from these diseases.
The Government will also provide a further major increase in funding to
the Canadian Institutes of
Health Research. The new funding will enable the Institutes to enhance
their research into
disease prevention and treatment, the determinants of health, and health
system effectiveness.
Building on the health action plan's commitment to public reporting, the
Government of Canada will work
with the provinces and territories to create a citizens' council on health
care quality. This council will
ensure that the public's perspective is considered in developing
meaningful indicators of health system
performance.
As public reporting begins on how the health system is meeting the needs
of Canadians, governments
will use this information to continue to move forward with the renewal of
medicare.
A Clean Environment
Canada is blessed by the beauty of its vast landscape and the wealth of
its natural resources. But with
this blessing comes the responsibility to ensure its preservation. A
healthy environment is an essential
part of a sustainable economy and our quality of life.
The Government's focus will be on the three priorities of clean air, clean
water, and the conservation of
Canada's natural spaces.
Last December, the Government of Canada signed an agreement with the
United States to significantly
reduce the emissions that cause smog. This agreement will lead to a 90
percent reduction in smog-
causing vehicle emissions by 2010, bringing cleaner air to millions of
citizens in both countries. The
Government will move quickly to implement this agreement and other
measures, working with the
provinces and territories to achieve cleaner air.
It is Canada's responsibility, as steward of one of the world's largest
supplies of fresh water, to protect
this critical resource. Safeguarding our water is a shared task among
governments, industry and
individual Canadians. The Government of Canada will fulfil its direct
responsibilities for water, including
the safety of water supplies on reserves and federal lands.
The Government will also lead in developing stronger national guidelines
for water quality by
enhancing scientific research and continuing its collaboration with
partners. Drawing on expertise
within the Government and from across Canada, it will significantly
strengthen the role of the
National Water Research Institute.
It will fund improvements to municipal water and waste water systems
through the federal-
provincial-municipal Infrastructure Canada program.
It will also invest in research and development and advanced information
systems to enable
better land use and protect surface and ground water supplies from the
impact of industrial and
agricultural operations.
Canadians are the guardians of a significant percentage of the world's
wilderness and wildlife. The
Government will invest in the creation of new national parks and implement
a plan to restore existing
parks to ecological health. It will work with its partners toward more
integrated, sustainable management
of Canada's oceans. And it will re-introduce legislation for marine
conservation areas and to protect
species at risk.
As part of its efforts to promote global sustainable development, the
Government will ensure that Canada
does its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It will work with its
provincial and territorial partners to
implement the recently announced first national business plan on climate change.
To safeguard Canadians from toxic substances and environmental
contaminants, the Government will
also strengthen laws, research efforts and other measures for health
protection. This will include the
development of appropriate standards that reflect the special
vulnerabilities of children.
Strong and Safe Communities
Strong and safe communities are an essential part of the fabric of our
society. They are critical to
providing Canadians with the security to build a better future for
themselves and their families. They are
also important to attracting talented people from around the world to come
and make their home here.
Canadian communities of all sizes—whether urban or rural, Aboriginal or
multicultural—face diverse
challenges and have unique needs. The Government of Canada will strive to
ensure that, wherever
possible, its actions and programs are co-ordinated to help build local
solutions to local challenges. It will
work with partners across Canada to launch a dialogue on the opportunities
and challenges facing urban
centres. It will co-operate with provincial and municipal partners to help
improve public transit
infrastructure. And it will help to stimulate the creation of more
affordable rental housing.
Ensuring that Canada's communities are safe is an important element of
fostering and attracting the
talented people needed for success in the new economy. Crime rates in
Canada have fallen steadily for
almost a decade.
The Government of Canada will continue to work with provinces and
territories, communities, and all its
partners to implement a balanced approach to addressing crime—focussing
on prevention as much as
punishment, strengthening penalties for serious crime, and considering the
needs of victims.
The Government will focus on safeguarding Canadians from new and emerging
forms of crime. It will take
aggressive steps to combat organized crime, including the creation of
stronger anti-gang laws and
measures to protect members of the justice system from intimidation. It
will provide enhanced law
enforcement tools to deal with emerging threats to security, such as
cybercrime and terrorism. It will act to
safeguard children from crime, including criminals on the Internet. The
Government will take steps to
ensure that our laws protect children from those who would prey on their
vulnerability.
The Government will re-introduce legislation to change how the justice
system deals with young
offenders. It will encourage alternatives to custody for non-violent
offenders, emphasizing rehabilitation
and re-integration into society, while toughening consequences for more
violent youth.
Working with the provinces, territories and communities, the Government of
Canada will strengthen the
capacity of local communities to deal with conflict, prevent crime, and
address drug abuse.
It is a tragic reality that too many Aboriginal people are finding
themselves in conflict with the law. Canada
must take the measures needed to significantly reduce the percentage of
Aboriginal people entering the
criminal justice system, so that within a generation it is no higher than
the Canadian average.
Vibrant Canadian Culture
Canada is defined by far more than its political boundaries or economic
relationships. In these times of
rapid change and globalization, it is more important than ever that we
know who we are as Canadians
and what brings us together.
The focus of our cultural policies for the future must be on excellence in
the creative process, diverse
Canadian content, and access to the arts and heritage for all Canadians.
Both the English and French networks of the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation have long been
cornerstones of Canadian cultural policy. The CBC helps connect Canadians
to each other, their history
and their country. It reaches all parts of Canada, from big cities to
small towns to Northern and Aboriginal
communities. It provides a distinctive Canadian voice in both official
languages and important
opportunities for our creative people. The Government will increase its
support to help the CBC fulfil its
distinct role as a public broadcaster serving all Canadians.
The Government will assist the book-publishing and sound-recording sectors
to make the transition to the
new economy. It will continue to support the development of digital
content for the Internet and other new
media in French and English. And it will work to expand international
markets for Canadian cultural
products and services.
Communities across Canada are increasingly recognizing the importance of
arts and heritage for their
quality of life and ability to attract talent, investment and tourism. The
Government of Canada will
continue to work with the private and not-for-profit sectors and other
governments to strengthen Canada's
cultural infrastructure. It will help communities to develop arts and
heritage programs that are sustainable
and relevant to their diverse circumstances and aspirations.
Creating and Sharing Opportunities Globally
The well-being of Canada and Canadians depends on global human security,
prosperity and
development.
The Government of Canada is committed to working with its international
partners to promote
international peace and security by enhancing the mechanisms for conflict
prevention and resolution. It
will work to strengthen global governance as well as existing and new
multilateral institutions. These
include the G-20—a new forum of which Canada is the first chair—
which is striving to enhance the
stability of the world economy and ensure that globalization benefits all
its participants.
The Government will increase Canada's official development assistance and
use these new investments
to advance efforts to reduce international poverty and to strengthen
democracy, justice and social stability
worldwide.
Canadians have become leaders in harnessing the power of technology to
build a more inclusive society.
This experience serves as a powerful model for the world. Through its
participation on the Digital
Opportunities Task Force established by the G-8 nations and through its
own investments in developing
countries, Canada will contribute to closing the global digital divide.
The Government will continue Canada's proud record of peacekeeping. In
Budget 2000, the Government
provided funding increases for the Canadian Forces to help ensure that
they are equipped and prepared
to respond quickly to calls for help at home and abroad.
The Summit of the Americas this year presents an exceptional opportunity
to promote a balanced and
coherent vision for deepening co-operation among the nations of the
Western hemisphere. The summit
declaration and action plan will support Canada's interest in
strengthening democracy and human rights,
expanding commerce through the Free Trade Area of the Americas initiative,
increasing people's access
to the benefits of growth, and providing opportunities for all nations in
the Americas to improve the quality
of life of their citizens.
At the Summit of the Americas and as chair of the G-8 in 2002, Canada will
work to expand opportunities
for more countries to participate in the benefits of globalization, while
pressing for peace and security in
the world.
Celebrating Our Canadian Citizenship
Canada was born of a noble vision and an act of will.
Our Canadian citizenship has been built over time through the experiences
we have shared:
When together we celebrate the successes of our scientists,
scholars, athletes and artists, our leaders
on the world stage, and our peacekeepers. And when we remember and honour
our war veterans.
When we visit other parts of our country or when we travel abroad
and see ourselves through the eyes
of others.
When every year thousands of new Canadians stand proudly with their
families to take on the
responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.
When we come together to help each other in tough times. And when
millions of Canadians volunteer
their time and energy to make their communities a better place.
The Government will help Canadians to strengthen their bonds of mutual
understanding and respect, to
celebrate their achievements and history, and to exercise their shared
citizenship.
It will continue to expand exchange programs for young Canadians to
reach its goal of 100,000
exchanges each year.
Canada's linguistic duality is fundamental to our Canadian identity and
is a key element of our
vibrant society. The protection and promotion of our two official
languages is a priority of the
Government—from coast to coast. The Government reaffirms its commitment
to support
sustainable official language minority communities and a strong French
culture and language.
And it will mobilize its efforts to ensure that all Canadians can interact
with the Government of
Canada in either official language.
The institutions of Government will continue to be strengthened. Since
1993, the Government has taken a
range of measures to enable members of Parliament to more effectively
represent the views of their
constituents. MPs have participated in pre-budget consultations, at the
end of which recommendations
were made to the Government. Moreover, private members' bills from the
House and Senate have been
taken into account more often and considered with greater attention than
at any time in the past.
In this new session of Parliament, the Government will make further
proposals to improve procedures in
the House and Senate. Among other measures, voting procedures will be
modernized in the House of
Commons and, to assist parliamentarians in carrying out their duties, the
Government intends to increase
the resources of the Library of Parliament to better serve the research
needs of standing committees of
the House and Senate.
Every Canadian is called upon to make a contribution to building our
country. To ensure that the promise
of Canada becomes an even greater reality in the 21st century. And to
ensure that our Canadian Way
remains the best example of what is possible when women and men of every
race and creed come
together in community in search of a better future.
Members of the House of Commons:
You will be asked to appropriate the funds required to carry out the
services and expenditures authorized
by Parliament.
Honourable Members of the Senate and
Members of the House of Commons:
May Divine Providence guide you in your deliberations.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.) moved:
That the speech of Her Excellency the Governor General, delivered
this day from the throne to the two houses of Parliament, be
taken into consideration later today.
(Motion agreed to)
* * *
1535
BOARD OF INTERNAL ECONOMY
The Speaker: I have the honour to inform the House that
the following members have been appointed as members of the Board
of Internal Economy for the purposes and under the provisions of
the act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act, Chapter 32,
Statutes of Canada, 1997, namely: Mr. Boudria and Mr.
Mitchell, members of the Queen's Privy Council; Ms. Catterall and
Mr. Saada, representatives of the government caucus; Mr. Strahl and Mr.
Reynolds, representatives of the Canadian Alliance caucus; Mr.
Bergeron, representative of the Bloc Quebecois; Mr. Blaikie,
representative of the New Democratic caucus; and Mr. MacKay,
representative of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
* * *
[Translation]
COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE
PROCEDURE AND HOUSE AFFAIRS
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.): I move:
That the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs be
appointed to prepare and report lists of Members to compose the
Standing and Standing Joint Committees of this House and that
the Committee be composed of Mr. Bergeron, Mr. Borotsik, Mrs.
Catterall, Mr. Godin, Mr. Guimond, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Lee, Mr.
Macklin, Mr. McNally, Mrs. Parrish, Mr. Regan, Mr. Reynolds, Mr.
Richardson, Mr. Saada, Mr. Strahl and Ms. Tiribassi.
(Motion agreed to)
* * *
[English]
COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE
APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I move:
That Mr. Bob Kilger, member for the electoral district of
Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh, be appointed Deputy Speaker
and chairman of committees of the whole House.
(Motion agreed to)
[Translation]
APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I
move:
That Mr. Réginald Bélair, member for the electoral district of
Timmins—James Bay, be appointed Deputy Chairman of Committees of
the Whole House.
(Motion agreed to)
[English]
APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien (Prime Minister, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, I move:
That Ms. Eleni Bakopanos, member for the electoral district of
Ahuntsic, be appointed assistant deputy chairman of committees of
the whole House.
(Motion agreed to)
* * *
SUPPLY
1540
[Translation]
Hon. Lucienne Robillard (President of the Treasury Board and
Minister responsible for Infrastructure, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I
move:
(Motion agreed to)
[English]
The Speaker: It is my duty to inform the House that a
total of eight days will be allotted for the supply period ending
March 26, 2001.
GOVERNMENT ORDERS
[English]
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE
ADDRESS IN REPLY
The House proceeded to the consideration of the speech delivered
by Her Excellency the Governor General at the opening of the
session.
Mr. Paul Harold Macklin (Northumberland, Lib.): Mr.
Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride and humility that I
move the motion on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the
Throne.
I would like to pay my humble respects to Her Excellency the
Governor General and thank Her Excellency for delivering the
speech today.
As well, I would like to thank the Right Hon. Prime Minister for
bestowing this honour upon me and the riding of Northumberland to
bring forward the motion on the Address in Reply to the Speech
from the Throne.
I would like to thank the people of Northumberland who have
placed their trust and confidence in me to represent their
interests in the House. As their member, I vow to work in
conjunction with my colleagues to address the concerns and
challenges that we face today and in the future.
To my predecessor, the hon. Christine Stewart, I extend my
personal regards for her 12 years of dedicated service to her
riding, to her colleagues and to her nation. She has been an
inspiration to all of us. On behalf of my colleagues I thank her
for giving so much to so many.
I would like to thank my family who are with me today for their
endless motivation, inspiration and support. I am reminded of
the importance of family and it is a value I cherish. Today's
speech has demonstrated the commitment of the government to
support families and children.
To you, Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere congratulations on your
election as Speaker of the House. You have earned the confidence
and support of your colleagues to guide us through the many
complex issues that face us.
Today, as I reflect on the history that surrounds this Chamber
and the Fathers of Confederation, I am reminded of a lawyer who
practised law for 15 years in the riding of Northumberland, who
bore the name James Cockburn. On November 6, 1867, he was
unanimously chosen as the first Speaker of the House. Indeed
Northumberland has strong roots within Confederation and to the
Speaker's chair.
It is a privilege to say that I hail from one of the best
ridings in the country. Northumberland is a picturesque riding,
with vast rolling land and freshwater lakes to the north and
south borders. Along the east and west borders of Northumberland
we have the Trent Severn waterway and the Ganaraska River, both
opening into Lake Ontario.
These bodies of water remind all of my constituents that fresh,
clean water is something to be cherished and enjoyed. This is
part of the positive quality of life experienced in
Northumberland and it needs to be preserved so it may be shared
with others.
1545
Canada, as a country with one of the largest masses of fresh
water in the world, needs to continue to demonstrate its
commitment to the environment and to protect this great natural
resource. Fresh water is our future.
In my riding we rely heavily upon natural resources to ensure
the success of one of our largest industries, and that is
agriculture. I know firsthand the farming way of life because I
come from five generations of farmers. I am proud to say that my
great great-grandfather introduced the first Holstein cattle into
Northumberland in 1884. Since then we have come a long way, yet
there is much work to be done.
Our rural voices must continue to be strong in supporting our
food supply system, for agriculture is not only a way of life in
my riding, it is a way of life for so many across this great
nation of ours.
We cannot stand by and allow the family farm to die. We must as
a government provide support for the farming community in their
time of need.
I am very pleased to see today that our government has pledged
to work with the agricultural community to move beyond crisis
management, to support them in their time of need and to ensure
that family farms that helped build our nation prosper once
again.
As a member of this House and a representative of the people of
Northumberland, I have pledged to bring forward the concerns of
my constituents on the issue of agriculture. It is important
that we continue to support the family farm, which has been a
cornerstone of our Canadian heritage.
I am very optimistic when envisioning our future. In today's
knowledge based economy, innovation and creative thinking are the
currency of success. Our government is investing in today's
pioneers because they are the architects of our future.
By such investment in knowledge and innovation, we are laying
down a strong foundation for a stronger nation. The building
blocks of our foundation are found in our youth and to make them
strong requires education and opportunity.
With the introduction of programs, such as the Canadian
opportunities strategy, the Canadian government is opening more
doors to post-secondary education than ever before. The Canadian
millennium scholarships are the centre of this strategy and will
provide more than 100,000 scholarships to low and middle income
students for the next 10 years.
As a government, we are strengthening the institutions where
learning and research take place. Canadian universities and
laboratories will benefit from programs, such as the Canada
foundation for innovation and the networks of centres of
excellence, as a means of expanding future opportunities through
education.
Locally in my riding, I have taken the initiative to integrate
technology, research and innovation through the municipal,
provincial and federal governments. I have launched a research,
innovation and technology advisory committee to establish
seamless connections between all levels of government and all
aspects of our community. By bringing together these key groups
my constituents have the opportunity to work together to shape
the vision of our future as a riding.
Today's throne speech exemplifies the commitment by the
government to Canadians young and old.
1550
We have once again demonstrated our ability as a government to
respond to the needs of Canadians while maintaining fiscal
responsibility. The speech not only affirms Canada's
position at the forefront of a knowledge based economy, but it
stresses that concerns about health care and early childhood
development shall be answered by the government.
We have demonstrated time and time again that we are a
government that supports all those in our society while looking
after the fiscal needs of our country. As a government we
continue to reflect the Liberal values on which we were elected.
We are a growing country, a country of which to be proud. We
are a nation that has again been named the best country in the
world in which to live. We are a country where people are
recognized for their cultural diversity, varying interests and
are motivated toward keeping Canada the best country in the world
in which to live.
In conclusion, I would like to remind all hon. members of the
House, regardless of our party loyalties, that Canadians from
coast to coast have spoken. We have been chosen to hear their
voices, address their concerns and instil confidence in them that
we are fighting the same battle, the battle to make Canada the
very best.
I extend to you, Mr. Speaker, and all members of the House
my best wishes. I am certain that this parliament will stand as
the best in history. Let us leave our legacy now to drive the
future.
I hereby move, seconded by the hon. member for Laval East, that
the following address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor
General of Canada:
To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, a
Member of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Chancellor and
Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and
Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Governor General and
Commander-in-Chief of Canada.
May it please Your Excellency:
We, Her Majesty's most loyal and dutiful subjects, the House of
Commons of Canada, in parliament assembled, beg leave to offer our
humble thanks to Your Excellency for the gracious Speech which
Your Excellency has addressed to both Houses of Parliament.
[Translation]
Ms. Carole-Marie Allard (Laval East, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I want
to thank the members on both sides of the House for the warm
welcome they have given me this afternoon.
Her Excellency the Governor General has read the Speech from the
Throne. I have no doubt all of my colleagues in this House
would like her to know how moved they were by the great dignity
with which she read it.
1555
I would like, if I may, to congratulate as well the member for
Northumberland on the excellent speech he has just delivered.
His interest in Canada and his hopes for the future do him
honour.
I would like to thank our Prime Minister for honouring Laval
East by asking me to second the motion for an Address in Reply
to the Speech from the Throne. It is a real joy for me,
especially since, for a number of years, in the mid 1980s, I sat
way up in the press gallery following the proceedings of the
House. I loved every minute of it. I can understand why the
journalists who were there at the time are still there today.
It is therefore a real delight to find myself here on the floor
of the House of Commons and, although I have come down from the
stands to be here, I consider it a promotion.
Let us not forget that, during the latest election, our friends
opposite, the hon. members of the Bloc, tried unsuccessfully to
present themselves as the sole defenders of Quebec. The people
of Laval East gave me a majority, and this government has
received its third mandate in a row—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh.
The Speaker: Order, please. The hon. member from Laval East has
the floor. This is her first speech in the House and perhaps
all of us could listen to it.
Mrs Carole-Marie Allard: On behalf of all my colleagues, I want
to thank the people of Quebec and assure them of our intention
to fully defend their interests during this mandate.
The riding of Laval East offers many challenges. Canada is a
vast country, and I have noticed that several of us do not know
my riding well.
Laval, in the province of Quebec, is the name of a renowned
university, but it is first and foremost a great city, located
on an island near Montreal. The city of Laval is buzzing with
economic activity. I must say that the infrastructure program
put in place by the government is a valuable tool for growth and
development at the disposal of our local decision makers in
Laval.
Laval's economic development cannot be dissociated from that of
the greater Montreal area.
It has been stimulated by the Canadian action strategy for the
greater Montreal area and very sizeable federal investments
exceeding $1.5 billion. These measures have helped consolidate
the economic base of the Montreal region, and Laval has
benefited from that.
Laval East is one of three ridings located on the island of
Laval. It is an urban area bordered by two rivers, but it also
includes a large agricultural area.
When travelling on certain secondary roads around Laval in
September, one feels that one is in the country, seeing the vast
fields and mounds of cabbages on farmers' trailers.
All this to say that Laval East and the entire city of Laval are
more than just a suburb.
1600
That is why the priorities announced in today's Speech from the
Throne coincide perfectly with those of the people living
in Laval East, who want to work on their island.
My riding welcomes the government's initiatives to promote a new
economy based on research and development.
The high tech sector has been taking on increasing importance in
Laval in recent years. The government's continued emphasis on
developing new technologies augurs well for the biotechnology,
pharmaceutical and computer industries. One has only to think of
the Institut Armand Frappier, which offers leading-edge training
at the master's and doctoral levels.
The partnership with industry approach has been a winning one
for this new economy, with its emphasis on innovation and new
global markets.
In my humble opinion, the Speech from the Throne reflects a
vision of modern society focused on the family, youth and the
less fortunate, a lasting Liberal vision.
The Speech from the Throne outlines an action plan for the
future, based on a Canadian way of doing things.
The tax breaks promised last fall took effect one month ago. It
has been reassuring to see that they have been driven by a sense
of fairness and responsibility, and that low income Canadians,
particularly families with children, have been the principal
beneficiaries.
The government has also shown that it was able to react quickly
and introduce short term measures, such as last fall's rebate to
low income Canadians for heating costs.
I can tell you that this measure was extremely well received in
Laval East, where seniors are having a very hard time coping
with the increase in heating costs.
As a lawyer who had to deal with heart-wrenching matrimonial
disputes, I am glad to see that my government is concerned about
the help being provided to single-parent families and the best
interests of the children when a family breaks down.
Increasing the child benefit and introducing a one-year parental
leave are just some of the concrete measures that will be taken
to ensure a brighter future for our children.
During the election campaign, I also came to realize how
important the health agreement signed last September was to my
constituents of Laval East, who are however still wondering how
this agreement will be implemented by the provincial government.
The commitment of our government to take concrete measures
during the next three years to promote health and prevent
illnesses is crucial to our aging population.
Also, the way our government keeps insisting on maintaining a
medicare system where all patients, rich or poor, are equal is
certainly reassuring for all of us.
By acting to fight organized crime and protect the public
against new forms of intimidation, the government is showing how
responsible it is. We all remember the panic created by the
murder attempt against reporter Michel Auger. This truly
reflects the terror a large segment of our population is living
under.
As another sign of openness, the government insists on helping
more adults develop advanced skills. Therefore, it will create
registered individual learning accounts. Throughout his public
life, our Prime Minister has shown deep concern for labour force
training.
1605
In a motion on the Address in Reply to the Speech from the
Throne in 1965, which was submitted at the request of Prime
Minister Pearson, the hon. member for Saint-Maurice—Laflèche said:
For the past 50 years, the Liberal Party has always been at the
forefront of social policy in Canada and it will show vision and
determination to retrain displaced workers and promote manpower
mobility, so that every part of Canada can become a comfortable
place for each and every citizen.
Such was the vision of our Prime Minister back in 1965, a vision
that has since been updated to include the notion of lifelong
learning and to better reflect the concerns of today's society.
In a recent book on the life of the late Right Honourable Pierre
Trudeau, an eminent Canadian, Jim Coutts, wrote the following:
[English]
There are only two kinds of political leaders: those who want to
be somebody and those who want to do something.
[Translation]
Our Prime Minister is proving to us that he is still pursuing
goals. His determination, some 30 years after entering politics,
to put in place measures to help workers be better equipped to
face today's challenges is proof that, in politics,
determination is what counts.
I do not have the same number of years as our Prime Minister to
achieve my goals. He entered politics at age 29, which is not my
case. So, I hope you will forgive me if I am impatient at times
during this mandate and I apologize in advance for it.
In conclusion, I am confident that we as parliamentarians have
the ability to go beyond partisanship to make ours a better
society.
Today's Speech from the Throne is eloquent when it comes to
preserving our future.
Therefore, it is with enthusiasm that I support the motion on
the Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.
[English]
Mr. Howard Hilstrom (Selkirk—Interlake, Canadian
Alliance): Mr. Speaker, the member spoke of a modern society
being built which all Canadians will be able to enjoy. Modern
society is based on eating.
In this throne speech there is no mention whatsoever of a farm
income crisis or of concrete steps being taken to reduce and
alleviate the ongoing crisis. What is there by way of concrete
steps to address the farm income crisis?
[Translation]
Mr. Benoît Sauvageau (Repentigny, BQ): Mr. Speaker, I have a
question for the hon. member for Laval East who wants to protect
Quebecers' interests without engaging into partisanship.
On page 18 of the Speech from the Throne it says, and I quote:
The Government reaffirms its commitment to support sustainable
official language minority communities and a strong French
culture and language—
The government refers to sustainable official language
communities. Which are Canada's official language communities
that are not sustainable and that the government wants to
abandon?
1610
Ms. Carole-Marie Allard: Mr. Speaker, allow me to reaffirm our
dedication to the cause of bilingualism in Canada.
Mr. Paul Crête (Kamouraska—Rivière-du-Loup—Témiscouata—Les Basques,
BQ): Mr. Speaker, on page 11 of the Speech from the Throne I
have found the most arrogant statement I have heard in a long
time. It reads:
There was a time when losing a job also meant immediate loss of
income for workers and their families. And so Canadians created
Employment Insurance.
How can a government say such a thing? How can the member defend
such a statement when the employment insurance plan is the plan
that has created the most poverty in Canada in the last 50
years?
Ms. Carole-Marie Allard: Mr. Speaker, if I remember correctly, it
was the Bloc Quebecois that blocked the bill—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh.
[English]
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point
of order. I would like to say that we have done something
unusual today. Never before have we had a proposer or a seconder
questioned in the House of Commons. It is a precedent. Also,
never before on the first day in the House of Commons has a
member of parliament blocked the Bloc Quebecois like that.
[Translation]
Mr. Gilles Duceppe: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I
just want to let the member know that she ought to have realized
that the alleged employment insurance bill could not have been
blocked by the Bloc Quebecois because it was never tabled in the
House. There has been no vote on this matter. It would however
have been interesting to see the government table such a bill to
find out what people thought—
Some hon. members: Oh, oh.
[English]
The Speaker: Order, please. I remind hon. members that
this was a maiden speech.
[Translation]
The Chair has recognized the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie for
questions and comments. The member then said he was rising on a
point of order. If he has a question or a comment, he has the
floor. He can speak now if he so wishes.
Mr. Gilles Duceppe: It will be all, Mr. Speaker.
Right Hon. Jean Chrétien: Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say that
never before on the day of the Speech from the Throne in the
House of Commons have hon. members questioned one another.
Coming from the leader of the Bloc Quebecois and from the Parti
Quebecois, this attitude is as irritating as the whole rag
business.
[English]
Mr. Chuck Strahl: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of
order. If this is parliamentary reform then we have a long, hard
session ahead of us.
The Speaker: I do not think that is a point of order.
1615
[Translation]
Mr. Gilles Duceppe: Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I
find it difficult to understand that the Prime Minister would be
pleased that we innovate by asking questions and then blame hon.
members who do so. As for the “rag”, he should not be sorry
that, for once, a sovereignist is seeing red.
[English]
Mr. Stockwell Day (Leader of the Opposition, Canadian
Alliance): Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the official opposition
I extend our congratulations to Her Excellency the Governor
General on her presentation of the Speech from the Throne, and to
you also.
I can see we are moving along lines of precedent here, with the
government once again at fractious odds with the Bloc and the
official opposition continuing to be seen as the group that
brings peace, order and good government.
[Translation]
I would also like to congratulate the Chairman, the Deputy
Chairman, the Acting Chairman and the Assistant Deputy Chairman
of the Committees of the Whole House on their appointments.
[English]
I also extend congratulations to the members for Laval East and
for Northumberland on their enlightened speeches and the presence
of their families here today. That support is so treasured by
all of us.
I also acknowledge, as I move to adjourn, that Canadians see
stormy economic waters ahead. Tomorrow I would like to talk
about charting a safe course through those waters. I now move to
adjourn the debate.
(On motion of Mr. Day the debate was adjourned)
Hon. Don Boudria (Leader of the Government in the House of
Commons, Lib.) Mr. Speaker, I move:
(Motion agreed to)
The Speaker: Accordingly, this House stands adjourned
until tomorrow at 2 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).
(The House adjourned at 4.17 p.m.)