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

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JOURNALS

No. 73

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

2:00 p.m.

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Prayers

National Anthem

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.

Notice of Motion

Mr. Bevilacqua (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)) laid upon the Table, — Notice of a Ways and Means motion to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on February 18, 2003. (Ways and Means Proceedings No. 6) — Sessional Paper No. 8570-372-10.

Pursuant to Standing Order 83(2), at the request of Mr. Bevilacqua (Secretary of State (International Financial Institutions)) , an Order of the Day was designated for the consideration of this Ways and Means motion.

Royal Assent

A message was received informing the Commons that on March 19, 2003, at 10:01 a.m., Her Excellency the Governor General signified Royal Assent by written declaration to the following Bill:

Bill C-12, An Act to promote physical activity and sport — Chapter No. 2.

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:

— Nos. 372-1075, 372-1076, 372-1101 and 372-1109 concerning the Canada Post Corporation. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-1-13;

— Nos. 372-1077 to 372-1079, 372-1111 and 372-1123 to 372-1125 concerning the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-44-06;

— No. 372-1080 concerning marriage. — Sessional Paper No. 8545-372-40-06.

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Pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), Mr. Pettigrew (Minister for International Trade) laid upon the Table, — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2003-07 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2003 of the Export Development Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-372-851-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

Presenting Reports from Committees

Mr. Adams (Peterborough) , from the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, presented the 22nd Report of the Committee (electoral boundaries for Prince Edward Island). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-372-45.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 26) was tabled.

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Mr. Lastewka (St. Catharines) , from the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, presented the Second Report of the Committee (extension of time to consider Bill C-249, An Act to amend the Competition Act). — Sessional Paper No. 8510-372-46.

A copy of the relevant Minutes of Proceedings (Meeting No. 27) was tabled.

Introduction of Private Members' Bills

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Bonwick (Simcoe—Grey) , seconded by Mr. Stoffer (Sackville—Musquodoboit Valley—Eastern Shore) , Bill C-411, An Act to establish Merchant Navy Veterans Day, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

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Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Ms. Wasylycia-Leis (Winnipeg North Centre) , seconded by Mrs. Desjarlais (Churchill) , Bill C-412, An Act to establish a National Organ Donor Registry and to coordinate and promote organ donation throughout Canada, was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

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Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Cadman (Surrey North) , seconded by Mr. Burton (Skeena) , Bill C-413, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (vehicle identification number), was introduced, read the first time, ordered to be printed and ordered for a second reading at the next sitting of the House.

Presenting Petitions

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

— by Mr. Rocheleau (Trois-Rivières) , one concerning war on Iraq (No. 372-1207);

— by Ms. McDonough (Halifax) , two concerning war on Iraq (Nos. 372-1208 and 372-1209);

— by Mr. Johnston (Wetaskiwin) , one concerning stem cell research (No. 372-1210) and two concerning pornography (Nos. 372-1211 and 372-1212);

— by Mr. Breitkreuz (Yorkton—Melville) , one concerning pornography (No. 372-1213).

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-119, Q-151 and Q-166 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 return to the following question made into an Order for Return:

Q-126 — Mr. Casey (Cumberland—Colchester) — With regard to reports in December 2001 that the Department of Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) was taking steps to cooperate with Canada Customs and Revenue (CCRA) to identify from tax returns, seniors who were entitled to receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), but did not do so, in 2001 and 2002: (a) what steps were taken to ensure that Canadian seniors who were entitled to the GIS received the benefit; (b) were seniors contacted by HRDC or CCRA by mail regarding eligibility for the GIS; (c) if seniors were contacted, which department made the inquiries; (d) how many seniors, if contacted, responded to the inquiry; (e) if inquiries were made, how many of the seniors who responded were granted the GIS; (f) what steps have been taken to identify the shortcomings in the system that allowed approximately 250,000 seniors between 1993 and 2001 not to receive the GIS even though their tax returns indicated that they were eligible; (g) what changes have been made to the administrative process in both HRDC and CCRA to ensure that all seniors entitled to the GIS receive it? — Sessional Paper No. 8555-372-126.

Notices of Motions for the Production of Papers

The Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers P-20 was called pursuant to Standing Order 97(1) and was transferred by the Clerk to “Notices of Motions (Papers)”.

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It was ordered, — That an Order of the House do issue for copies of all reports and background papers prepared by Ray Hession respecting the gun registry program. (Notice of Motion for the Production of Papers P-31 — Mr. Hearn (St. John's West) )

Mr. Regan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) presented the Return to this Order. — Sessional Paper No. 8550-372-31.

Government Orders

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) , seconded by Mrs. Stewart (Minister of Human Resources Development) , — That Bill C-26, An Act to amend the Canada Transportation Act and the Railway Safety Act, to enact the VIA Rail Canada Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts, be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Transport.

The debate continued.

Private Members' Business

At 5:30 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 30(6), the House proceeded to the consideration of Private Members' Business.

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier) , seconded by Mr. Jordan (Leeds—Grenville) , — That Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (linguistic duality), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages.

The debate continued.

Mr. Castonguay (Madawaska—Restigouche) , seconded by Mr. LeBlanc (Beauséjour—Petitcodiac) , moved the following amendment, — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (linguistic duality), be not now read a second time but that the Order be discharged, the Bill withdrawn, and the subject-matter thereof referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages and that the said Committee report back to the House on or before October 31, 2003.”.

Debate arose thereon.

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That, at the conclusion of the today's debate on Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (linguistic duality), all questions necessary to dispose of the second reading stage of the said Bill be deemed put and a recorded division deemed requested and deferred until Thursday, March 20, 2003, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

Private Members' Business

The House resumed consideration of the motion of Mr. Bélanger (Ottawa—Vanier) , seconded by Mr. Jordan (Leeds—Grenville) , — That Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (linguistic duality), be now read a second time and referred to the Standing Joint Committee on Official Languages;

And of the amendment of Mr. Castonguay (Madawaska—Restigouche) , seconded by Mr. LeBlanc (Beauséjour—Petitcodiac) , — That the motion be amended by deleting all the words after the word “That” and substituting the following:

“Bill C-202, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (linguistic duality), be not now read a second time but that the Order be discharged, the Bill withdrawn, and the subject-matter thereof referred to the Standing Committee on Official Languages and that the said Committee report back to the House on or before October 31, 2003.”.

At 6:14 p.m., pursuant to Standing Order 93, the Speaker interrupted the proceedings.

Pursuant to Order made earlier today, the question was deemed put on the amendment and the recorded division was deemed requested and deferred until Thursday, March 20, 2003, at the expiry of the time provided for Government Orders.

Returns and Reports Deposited with the Clerk of the House

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

— by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2003-07 of the Atlantic Pilotage Authority, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-372-842-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

— by Mr. Collenette (Minister of Transport) — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for 2003-07 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2003 of Marine Atlantic Inc., pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-372-846-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Transport)

— by Mr. Pettigrew (Minister for International Trade) — Summary of the Corporate Plan for 2001-02 of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R.S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-372-817-02. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade)

Petitions Filed with the Clerk of the House

Pursuant to Standing Order 36, a petition certified correct by the Clerk of Petitions was filed as follows:

— by Mr. Bellemare (Ottawa—Orléans) , one concerning the Canada Post Corporation (No. 372-1214).

Adjournment Proceedings

At 6:14 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 6:34 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).