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

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JOURNALS

No. 36

Monday, April 19, 2004

11:00 a.m.

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The Clerk informed the House of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker.

Whereupon, Mr. Bélair (Timmins--James Bay) , Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole, took the Chair, pursuant to Standing Order 8.

Prayers

Private Members' Business

At 11:12 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(7), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Item No. 1 in the order of precedence, standing in the name of Mr. Martin (Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca) , was called and, not having been proceeded with, in accordance with Standing Order 94(2)(c), was dropped from the Order Paper.

Interruption

At 11:14 a.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 12:00 p.m., the sitting resumed.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Finance) , seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , — That Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

The debate continued.

Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat) , seconded by Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) , moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“this House declines to give second reading to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, since the principle of the Bill fails to address the government's record of wasteful spending and does little to tackle the real priorities of Canadians.”.

Debate arose thereon.

Deferred Recorded Divisions

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division on the motion for referral to committee before second reading of Bill C-25, An Act to establish a procedure for the disclosure of wrongdoings in the public sector, including the protection of persons who disclose the wrongdoings, deferred until Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders, was deferred anew until the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division on the motion for second reading of Bill C-246, An Act to amend the Income Tax Act (child adoption expenses), deferred until Wednesday, April 21, 2004, immediately before the time provided for Private Members' Business, was deferred anew until Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Finance) , seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , — That Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance;

And of the amendment of Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat) , seconded by Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“this House declines to give second reading to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, since the principle of the Bill fails to address the government's record of wasteful spending and does little to tackle the real priorities of Canadians.”.

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.

Daily Routine Of Business

Tabling of Documents

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Efford (Minister of Natural Resources) laid upon the Table, — Document entitled “Final Report on the August 14, 2003 Blackout in the United States and Canada: Causes and Recommendations”. — Sessional Paper No. 8525-373-04.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gallaway (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) laid upon the Table, — Orders in Council concerning certain appointments made by the Governor General in Council, pursuant to Standing Order 110(1), as follows:

— P.C. 2004-379, P.C. 2004-403 and P.C. 2004-404. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-1-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources)

— P.C. 2004-410. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-2-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food)

— P.C. 2004-384 to 2004-386, P.C. 2004-405 and P.C. 2004-406. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-3-04. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage)

— P.C. 2004-394 and P.C. 2004-395. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-14-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration)

— P.C. 2004-409. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-7-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development)

— P.C. 2004-380, P.C. 2004-411 and P.C. 2004-412. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-9-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Finance)

— P.C. 2004-381 and P.C. 2004-400. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-8-04. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

— P.C. 2004-371, P.C. 2004-396, P.C. 2004-397, P.C. 2004-401, P.C. 2004-402 and P.C. 2004-407. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-4-03. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— P.C. 2004-387 to 2004-390. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-16-04. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills Development, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities)

— P.C. 2004-383, P.C. 2004-398, P.C. 2004-399 and P.C. 2004-408. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-22-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology)

— P.C. 2004-377 and P.C. 2004-378. — Sessional Paper No. 8540-373-13-04. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(6), referred to the Standing Committee on Justice, Human Rights, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness)

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Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Gallaway (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:

— Nos. 373-0200 and 373-0362 concerning environmental assessment and review. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-58-01;

— Nos. 373-0282 and 373-0283 concerning missing persons. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-59-01;

— No. 373-0300 concerning the Radio-Canada Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-60-01;

— Nos. 373-0323 and 373-0324 concerning gun control. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-25-05;

— Nos. 373-0326 to 373-0328 concerning mad cow disease. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-13-03;

— Nos. 373-0330 to 373-0335 concerning transportation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-1-02;

— No. 373-0338 concerning the Canadian Armed Forces. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-20-04;

— No. 373-0361 concerning the protection of the environment. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-56-02;

— No. 373-0381 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-40-04;

— Nos. 373-0419 to 373-0422 and 373-0590 concerning marriage. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-14-04;

— No. 373-0436 concerning national parks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-28-02;

— No. 373-0448 concerning illicit drug use. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-3-02;

— Nos. 373-0506 and 373-0554 concerning the Criminal Code of Canada. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-34-05;

— No. 373-0516 concerning pornography. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-16-04;

— Nos. 373-0556 and 373-0583 concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-6-05;

— No. 373-0560 concerning Constitutional amendments. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-49-02;

— No. 373-0598 concerning the sexual exploitation of minors. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-373-27-03.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Williams (St. Albert) , from the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (Report of the Auditor General of Canada on the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-373-31.

Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the Committee requested that the government table a comprehensive response.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 24) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South) , one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 373-0709), one concerning stem cell research (No. 373-0710) and one concerning marriage (No. 373-0711).

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Pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(b), the failure of the Ministry to respond to the following petition was deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade:

Ms. Lalonde (Mercier) — No. 373-0348 concerning the United States' policy towards Cuba.

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Gallaway (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answers to questions Q-48, Q-49 and Q-70 on the Order Paper and a supplementary answer to question Q-10.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Gallaway (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the returns to the following questions made into Orders for Return:

Q-46 — Mr. Barnes (Gander—Grand Falls) — Since 1993, what grants, contributions, contracts and/or loan guarantees made through a crown corporation, department, and/or agency of the government were received by Burrard Communications Inc., specifying, in each case, the source and dollar amount, the date made, the reason(s) for providing funding and the present status of the grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee (whether repaid, partially repaid, or unpaid, including the value(s) of any repayment(s)) and, in the case of contracts, specifying whether the contract has been fulfilled, whether it was tendered and any reason for limiting the tender? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-373-46.

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Q-47 — Mr. Barnes (Gander—Grand Falls) — Since 1993, what grants, contributions, contracts and/or loan guarantees made through a crown corporation, department, and/or agency of the government were received by Pilothouse Public Affairs Group, specifying, in each case, the source and dollar amount, the date made, the reason(s) for providing funding and the present status of the grant, contribution and/or loan guarantee (whether repaid, partially repaid, or unpaid, including the value(s) of any repayment(s)) and, in the case of contracts, specifying whether the contract has been fulfilled, whether it was tendered and any reason for limiting the tender? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-373-47.

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Q-51 — Mrs. Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar) — With regard to all contaminated sites in Saskatchewan known to the government, what, in each case, and with a detailed description of each, is the type and the scope of the contamination, including any clean-up action plans involving government departments or utilizing financial assistance from the government? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-373-51.

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Q-52 — Mrs. Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar) — What, in detail, are all of the costs associated with the Non-Insured Health Benefits program from its inception to the present time? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-373-52.

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Q-53 — Ms. Lill (Dartmouth) — At each level of the Canada Pension Plan disability application and appeal process, for each financial year from 1990-1991 to 2000-2001, what were the numbers of men and women (listed separately for each group) who: (a) applied for or appealed denials of disability benefits; and (b) were awarded benefits? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-373-53.

Application for Emergency Debate

Pursuant to Standing Order 52, Mr. White (Langley—Abbotsford) asked leave to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, avian flu.

The Speaker decided that the matter was proper to be discussed and, pursuant to Standing Order 52(9), directed that it be considered on Monday, April 19, 2004, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Finance) , seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , — That Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance;

And of the amendment of Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat) , seconded by Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“this House declines to give second reading to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, since the principle of the Bill fails to address the government's record of wasteful spending and does little to tackle the real priorities of Canadians.”.

The debate continued.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the emergency debate ordered for later today be deferred until Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Goodale (Minister of Finance) , seconded by Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , — That Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance;

And of the amendment of Mr. Solberg (Medicine Hat) , seconded by Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“this House declines to give second reading to Bill C-30, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on March 23, 2004, since the principle of the Bill fails to address the government's record of wasteful spending and does little to tackle the real priorities of Canadians.”.

The debate continued.

The question was put on the amendment and, pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division was deferred until Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

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The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development of Bill C-28, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act.

Mr. Anderson (Minister of the Environment) , 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 the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

Debate arose thereon.

The question was put on the motion and it was agreed to.

Accordingly, Bill C-28, An Act to amend the Canada National Parks Act, was read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development.

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The Order was read for the second reading and reference to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources of Bill C-31, An Act to give effect to a land claims and self-government agreement among the Tlicho, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada, to make related amendments to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts.

Mr. Anderson (Minister of the Environment) for Mr. Mitchell (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) , seconded by Mr. Graham (Minister of Foreign Affairs) , moved, — That the Bill be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources.

Debate arose thereon.

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 Prime Minister — Report of the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet to the Prime Minister on the Public Service of Canada, pursuant to the Public Service Employment Act, R. S. 1985, c. P-33, sbs. 47(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-376-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates)

— by Mr. Efford (Minister of Natural Resources) — Report of the National Energy Board for the year ended December 31, 2003, pursuant to the National Energy Board Act, R.S. 1985, c. N-7, s. 133. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-188-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources)

— by Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister responsible for Democratic Reform) — Regulations amending the Federal Elections Fees Tariff (P.C. 2004-272), pursuant to the Canada Elections Act 2000, c. 9, s. 542(3). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-466-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs)

Adjournment Proceedings

At 6:30 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.

Accordingly, at 6:41 p.m., the Acting Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).