HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
37th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION

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JOURNALS

No. 105

Monday, May 26, 2003

11:00 a.m.

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Prayers

Private Members' Business

At 11:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

Mr. Masse (Windsor West) , seconded by Mr. Comartin (Windsor—St. Clair) , moved, — That this House call upon the government to take the necessary measures, including the drafting of legislation, to prevent medical conditions and illnesses caused by exposure to identifiable environmental contaminants. (Private Members' Business M-399)

Debate arose thereon.

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

Question of Privilege

A question of privilege having been raised by Mr. Boudria (Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , the Speaker ruled that there was a prima facie case of privilege;

Whereupon, Mr. Boudria (Minister of State and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , seconded by Mr. DeVillers (Secretary of State (Amateur Sport)) , moved, — That the question of the immunity of Members of the House from being compelled to attend court during, immediately before and immediately after a Session of Parliament be referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

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

Business of Supply

The Order was read for the consideration of the Business of Supply.

Mr. Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia) , seconded by Mr. Elley (Nanaimo—Cowichan) , moved, — That this House, acknowledging that health issues transcend political borders as seen with the recent outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), express its support for the admission of Taiwan as an Observer to the World Health Organization and call upon the government to actively urge other member states and non-governmental organizations to support this goal.

Debate arose thereon.

Statements By Members

Pursuant to Standing Order 31, Members made statements.

Certificates of Election

The Speaker informed the House that the Clerk had received from the Chief Electoral Officer a certificate of the election of Mr. Gary Schellenberger (Perth--Middlesex) .

Mr. Schellenberger (Perth--Middlesex) , having taken and subscribed the oath required by law, took his seat in the House.

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. Regan (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:

— No. 372-1108 concerning international trade. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-9-3;

— No. 372-1227 concerning national parks. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-58-3;

— No. 372-1410 concerning gasoline additives. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-26-03;

— No. 372-1432 concerning the fishing industry. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-22-09;

— Nos. 372-1433 and 372-1434 concerning the Employment Insurance program. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-29-08;

— Nos. 372-1484, 372-1485, 372-1489, 372-1501, 372-1502, 372-1526, 372-1529 to 372-1531, 372-1539, 372-1540, 372-1559, 372-1571 and 372-1579 concerning stem cell research. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-14-36.

Presenting Reports from Inter-parliamentary Delegations

Pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), Mr. Lincoln (Lac-Saint-Louis) presented the Report of the Canadian delegation of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association (OSCE) concerning its participation at the Expanded Bureau Meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on April 24 and 25, 2003. — Sessional Paper No. 8565-372-61-04.

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Fontana (London North Centre) , from the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, presented the Fourth Report of the Committee (Main Estimates 2003-2004 — Votes 1, 5 and 10 under CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-372-80.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 61) was tabled.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by Mr. Bailey (Souris—Moose Mountain) , one concerning the income tax system (No. 372-1586), one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 372-1587), one concerning marriage (No. 372-1588), one concerning stem cell research (No. 372-1589) and two concerning pornography (Nos. 372-1590 and 372-1591);

— by Mr. Harris (Prince George—Bulkley Valley) , one concerning stem cell research (No. 372-1592) and two concerning marriage (Nos. 372-1593 and 372-1594);

— by Mrs. Skelton (Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar) , two concerning the income tax system (Nos. 372-1595 and 372-1596);

— by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville) , one concerning stem cell research (No. 372-1597), one concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (No. 372-1598) and one concerning gun control (No. 372-1599);

— by Mr. Szabo (Mississauga South) , one concerning pornography (No. 372-1600) and one concerning stem cell research (No. 372-1601).

Questions on Order Paper

Mr. Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the answers to questions Q-174, Q-198, Q-202 and Q-209 on the Order Paper.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 39(7), Mr. Regan (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-184 — Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) — Concerning the regional economic development bodies (i.e. Western Economic Diversification Canada, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Federal Economic Development Initiative in Northern Ontario, and Canada Economic Development/Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec) and the Community Futures Program since 1993: (a) what was the annual budget for each body; (b) what amount of the annual budget was for grants, loans and contributions broken down by province and territory; (c) what percentage of the grants, loans and contributions is repaid on an annual basis; (d) what percentage of the grants, loans and contribution is written off on an annual basis; (e) what are the top 50 annual write-offs for each body/program since 1993 (including the name of the company, province and the amount written off); and (f) who were the Ministers responsible since 1993 for each body or programme? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-372-184.

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Q-186 — Mr. Ritz (Battlefords—Lloydminster) — Concerning contracts: (a) what is the total value of contracts made annually by the government since 1993 broken down by province and territory; (b) what is the total value of contracts made annually by department, agency, and/or crown corporation since 1993; (c) what are the top ten contracts in value for each year since 1993 (please provide the name of the recipient, location, and the value of the contract); (d) for the last five years, what are the top five lawsuits on an annual basis against the government over contractual disputes and what was each dispute about; and (e) for the last five years, what are the top ten contracts awarded to companies outside of Canada and what were those contracts for? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-372-186.

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Q-191 — Mr. Hill (Macleod) — What consultations are departments and agencies of the government currently conducting with environmental groups, environmental lobbyists, environmental stakeholders, non-governmental climate scientists, non-governmental energy experts, non-governmental industry experts and non-governmental agricultural experts regarding the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol; what environmental groups, lobbyists and stakeholders, non-governmental climate scientists, non-governmental energy experts, non-governmental industry experts and non-governmental agricultural experts are being consulted in this regard; what are the names and addresses of these consultants, and what are the particulars of any grants, payments and/or contracts awarded to them, including dates, amounts and types of funding? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-372-191.

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Q-199 — Mr. Penson (Peace River) — Identifying each recipient with the amount and a description of the transaction, what contracts, grants and loans did the government and all of its agencies make to organizations or individuals in the riding of Perth–Middlesex from November 15, 2001, to March 1, 2003? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-372-199.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 39(5), the failure of the Ministry to respond to the following questions was deemed referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade:

Q-197 — Mr. Casson (Lethbridge) — With regard to the announcement on October 8, 2002 of the $246.5 million aid package for the softwood lumber industry: (a) what actual amounts have been given out as of February 28, 2003 and to whom or to what groups; (b) has Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) kept track of how many employees are taking advantage of the enhanced program; (c) how much has it spent on the enhanced program; (d) is HRDC monitoring the success of the enhanced program and if so, by what criteria is success being measured; (e) has Industry Canada given out any money under the Softwood Industry and Community Adjustment Fund; (f) has Industry Canada received any suggestions for workable ideas for community development and if so, has it or will it be publishing these plans or ideas; (g) has Natural Resources developed a plan for dealing with the pine beetle-killed wood and for containing or eradicating the beetle; (h) has Natural Resources planned how it will create both a centre of excellence for pulp and paper research and a boreal forest research consortium; (i) will they be stand-alone institutions or be connected with an existing school or other institution; and (j) what will their mandate be and will this information be made public?

Q-204 — Mr. Rajotte (Edmonton Southwest) — With regard to border crossings between Canada and the United States since June 1, 2002: (a) what submissions have been made to the government of the United States; (b) what forms did these submissions take – verbal or written or both; (c) what was on the agenda at any face to face meetings or conference calls; (d) what were the titles of any written submissions; (e) what were the dates of the meetings and/or written submissions; (f) what correspondence, if any, was sent directly to the President of the United States or, if not, to which departments and/or agencies of the United States government were the submissions made; (g) have there been any submissions specifically dedicated to the possibility of a second checkpoint; (h) have there been any submissions specifically dedicated to the proposed 24 hour advance notice for commercial trade; (i) has there been any discussion and/or memoranda within Canadian departments concerning the possibility of sending a trade team or special envoy to the United States with respect to border crossing, trade and/or trade corridors; (j) have Canadian departments received verbal or written submissions from Canadian industries concerning problems with the border, and if so, how many; and (k) have Canadian departments received verbal or written submissions from Canadian exporters concerning a possible decline in trade and/or exports with the United States?

Applications for Emergency Debate

Pursuant to Standing Order 52, Mr. Clark (Calgary Centre) asked leave to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

The Speaker decided that the matter was proper to be discussed and, pursuant to Standing Order 52(9), directed that it be considered later this day at the ordinary hour of daily adjournment.

Business of Supply

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia) , seconded by Mr. Elley (Nanaimo—Cowichan) , in relation to the Business of Supply.

The debate continued.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, at the conclusion of the debate on today's opposition motion, all questions necessary to dispose of the motion be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

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By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, when the House begins proceedings under the provisions of Standing Order 52 later this day, no quorum calls, dilatory motions or requests for unanimous consent shall be received by the Speaker after 9:00 p.m.

Business of Supply

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Abbott (Kootenay—Columbia) , seconded by Mr. Elley (Nanaimo—Cowichan) , in relation to the Business of Supply.

The debate continued.

At 6:15 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 81(16), the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

Pursuant to Order made earlier today, the question was deemed put on the motion and the recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

Emergency Debate

Pursuant to Standing Order 52(10), the House proceeded to the consideration of a motion to adjourn the House for the purpose of discussing an important matter requiring urgent consideration, namely, bovine spongiform encephalopathy.

Mr. Clark (Calgary Centre) , seconded by Mr. Doyle (St. John's East) , moved, — That this House do now adjourn.

Debate arose thereon.

At 10:30 p.m., the Speaker declared the motion adopted.

Returns and Reports Deposited with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), the following paper, deposited with the Clerk of the House, was deemed laid upon the Table on Wednesday, May 21, 2003:

— by the Speaker — Report of the Chief Electoral Officer for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Privacy Act, R.S. 1985, c. P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-645-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

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Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows:

— by Ms. Bradshaw (Minister of Labour) — Reports of the Canadian Artists and Producers Professional Relations Tribunal for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-857-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) — Report of the Royal Canadian Mint for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, pursuant to the Alternative Fuels Act, S.C. 1995, c. 20, s. 8. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-372-659-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development)

— by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) — Reports of the Pacific Pilotage Authority for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-716-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by Mr. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Statutes of Nunavut for February 2003, pursuant to the Nunavut Act, R.S. 1999, c. N-28, sbs. 28(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-372-300-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources)

— by Mr. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Statutes of the Yukon for March 2003, pursuant to the Yukon Act, R. S. 1985, c. Y-2, sbs. 22(1). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-372-387-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources)

— by Mr. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Reports of the Canadian Polar Commission for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-325-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by Mr. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Reports of the Nunavut Water Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-869-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by Mr. Nault (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Reports of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the Access to Information Act and to the Privacy Act, R. S. 1985, c. A-1 and P-21, sbs. 72(2). — Sessional Paper No. 8561-372-870-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights)

— by Mr. Thibault (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) — Report on the Marine Oil Spill Preparedness and Response Regime for the period of August 15, 2000, to August 15, 2002, pursuant to the Canada Shipping Act, S.C. 1993. c. 36, s. 6. — Sessional Paper No. 8560-372-747-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans)

Adjournment

At 10:30 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).