HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
37th PARLIAMENT, 3rd SESSION

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JOURNALS

No. 25

Friday, March 12, 2004

10:00 a.m.

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Prayers

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Cotler (Minister of Justice) , seconded by Ms. Bennett (Minister of State (Public Health)) , — That Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. Casson (Lethbridge) , seconded by Mr. Duncan (Vancouver Island North) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the purpose of reconsidering all of its clauses, with the view to eliminate loopholes identified by the nation's most notorious child pornographer, Robin Sharpe.”.

The debate continued.

Mr. Grewal (Surrey Central) , seconded by Mr. MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough) , moved the following subamendment, — That the amendment be amended by adding the following:

“and that the Committee report back to the House no later than April 5, 2004.”.

Debate arose thereon.

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.

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Pratt (Minister of National Defence) laid upon the Table, — Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the 23rd Report of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Chapter 7 of the April 2003 Report of the Auditor General of Canada -- Environmental Stewardship of Military Training and Test Areas) (Sessional Paper No. 8510-372-144), presented to the House on Wednesday, October 22, 2003. — Sessional Paper No. 8512-373-144.

Introduction of Government Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform) , seconded by Mr. Pratt (Minister of National Defence) , Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and, pursuant to Order made Thursday, March 11, 2004, ordered for a second reading later this day.

Recommendation
(Pursuant to Standing Order 79(2))

Her 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 Parliament of Canada Act”.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Proulx (Hull—Aylmer) , from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the Ninth Report of the Committee, which was as follows:

The Committee recommends, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, that the names of the following Members be added to the lists of associate members of the following standing committees:

Foreign Affairs and International Trade

David Kilgour

Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and Status of Persons with Disabilities

John Herron

National Defence and Veterans Affairs

Carmen Provenzano Rose-Marie Ur

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 1) is tabled.

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Mr. Proulx (Hull—Aylmer) , from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the Tenth Report of the Committee (Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act and the Income Tax Act, with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-373-13.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 5, 7 and 9) was tabled.

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Mr. Laliberte (Churchill River) , from the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources, presented the First Report of the Committee (Bill C-11, An Act to give effect to the Westbank First Nation Self-Government Agreement, with amendments). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-373-14.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 3 and 4) was tabled.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was resolved, — That the Ninth Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented earlier today, be concurred in.

Presenting Petitions

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were presented as follows:

— by Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre) , five concerning alcoholic beverages (Nos. 373-0467 to 373-0471);

— by Mr. Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin) , twenty-three concerning marriage (Nos. 373-0472 to 373-0494), one concerning the income tax system (No. 373-0495) and one concerning pornography (No. 373-0496).

Government Orders

Pursuant to Order made Thursday, March 11, 2004, the Order was read for the second reading and reference to a committee of Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act.

Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform) , seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to a committee.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Order made Thursday, March 11, 2004, the Bill was deemed adopted at all stages.

Accordingly, Bill C-24, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act, was deemed read the second time and referred to a committee, deemed reported without amendment, deemed concurred in at report stage and deemed read the third time and passed.

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The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Cotler (Minister of Justice) , seconded by Ms. Bennett (Minister of State (Public Health)) , — That Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. Casson (Lethbridge) , seconded by Mr. Duncan (Vancouver Island North) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the purpose of reconsidering all of its clauses, with the view to eliminate loopholes identified by the nation's most notorious child pornographer, Robin Sharpe.”;

And of the subamendment of Mr. Grewal (Surrey Central) , seconded by Mr. MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough) , — That the amendment be amended by adding the following:

“and that the Committee report back to the House no later than April 5, 2004.”.

The debate continued.

Presenting Reports from Committees

By unanimous consent, Mrs. Jennings (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce—Lachine) , from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the Second Report of the Committee (protection of whistle blowers). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-373-15.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meetings Nos. 3, 8 and 9) was tabled.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Cotler (Minister of Justice) , seconded by Ms. Bennett (Minister of State (Public Health)) , — That Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be now read a third time and do pass;

And of the amendment of Mr. Casson (Lethbridge) , seconded by Mr. Duncan (Vancouver Island North) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C-12, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (protection of children and other vulnerable persons) and the Canada Evidence Act, be not now read a third time but be referred back to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness for the purpose of reconsidering all of its clauses, with the view to eliminate loopholes identified by the nation's most notorious child pornographer, Robin Sharpe.”;

And of the subamendment of Mr. Grewal (Surrey Central) , seconded by Mr. MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough) , — That the amendment be amended by adding the following:

“and that the Committee report back to the House no later than April 5, 2004.”.

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 1:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food of Bill C-340, An Act respecting the use of dairy terms.

Mr. Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin) , seconded by Mr. Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster) , moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Debate arose thereon.

Pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Order was dropped to the bottom of the order of precedence on the Order Paper.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 92(4), the Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented on Friday, February 27, 2004, was deemed concurred in.

Accordingly, Bill C-450, An Act to amend the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act in order to protect the legal definition of “marriage” by invoking section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, standing in the order of precedence on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Pankiw (Saskatoon—Humboldt) , was designated non-votable.

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 the Speaker — Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons for February 11 and 18, 2004. — Sessional Paper No. 8527-373-02.

— by the Speaker — Amendments to the By-laws adopted by the Board of Internal Economy of the House of Commons on March 10, 2004. — Sessional Paper No. 8527-373-03.

— by Mr. Alcock (President of the Treasury Board) — Report on the administration of the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Members of Parliament Retiring Allowances Act, S.C. 1992, c. 46, s. 67. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-173-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— by Mr. Alcock (President of the Treasury Board) — Report on the administration of the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act, R.S. 1985, c. S-24, s. 12. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-366-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— by Mrs. Longfield (Chair of the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities) — Report on the Centennial Flame Research Award for the years 1999 to 2003, pursuant to the Centennial Flame Research Award Act, S.C. 1991, c. 17, sbs. 7(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-326-01.

Petitions Filed with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, petitions certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions were filed as follows:

— by Mr. Boudria (Glengarry—Prescott—Russell) , one concerning marriage (No. 373-0497);

— by Mr. Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin) , three concerning marriage (Nos. 373-0498 to 373-0500);

— by Mr. Kilger (Stormont—Dundas—Charlottenburgh) , one concerning abortion (No. 373-0501).

Adjournment

At 2:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until Monday, March 22, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Orders 28(2) and 24(1).