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

---

JOURNALS

No. 1

Monday, February 2, 2004

3:00 p.m.

---

Parliament having been convoked by Proclamation of the Governor General for the despatch of business, the Members of the House assembled.

Prayers

Opening of the session

The Speaker informed the House that Their Excellencies, the Governor General and John Ralston Saul, will arrive at the Peace Tower at 3:00 p.m., and, when it has been indicated that all is in readiness, Their Excellencies will proceed to the Chamber of the Senate to formally open the Third Session of the Thirty-Seventh Parliament.

A Message was received from Her Excellency the Governor General desiring the immediate attendance of the House in the Senate.

Accordingly, the Speaker, with the Commons, proceeded to the Senate.

The Commons returned to the Chamber.

Pro Forma Bill

Pursuant to Standing Orders 68(2) and 69(1), on motion of Mr. Martin (Prime Minister) , seconded by Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , Bill C-1, An Act respecting the Administration of Oaths of Office, was introduced and read the first time.

Speech from the Throne

The Speaker reported that when the Commons was in the Senate, Her Excellency the Governor General was pleased to make a speech to both Houses of Parliament.

The Speaker laid upon the Table, — Copy of the Speech from the Throne. — Sessional Paper No. 8525-373-1.

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the Speech of her Excellency the Governor General, together with the address of welcome made by the Prime Minister in the Senate Chamber on Monday, February 2, 2004, be printed as an appendix to the official report of debates of the House of Commons and form part of the permanent record of this Parliament.

Mr. Martin (Prime Minister) , seconded by Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , moved, — That the Speech from the Throne delivered this day by Her Excellency the Governor General to both Houses of Parliament be taken into consideration later this day.

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

Vacancies

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the representation in the House of Commons, for the Electoral District of Saint-Maurice, in the Province of Quebec, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Jean Chrétien, and that, pursuant to paragraph 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on December 13, 2003, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

---

The Speaker informed the House that a vacancy had occurred in the representation in the House of Commons, for the Electoral District of Etobicoke Centre, in the Province of Ontario, by reason of the resignation of Mr. Allan Rock, and that, pursuant to paragraph 25(1)(b) of the Parliament of Canada Act, he had addressed, on December 12, 2003, his warrant to the Chief Electoral Officer for the issue of a writ for the election of a member to fill the vacancy.

Business of Supply

Pursuant to Standing Order 81, Mr. Alcock (President of the Treasury Board) , seconded by Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , moved, — That the Business of Supply be considered at the next sitting of the House.

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

---

The Speaker informed the House that, pursuant to Standing Order 81(10), a total of six days will be allotted for the Supply period ending March 26, 2004.

Statement by the Speaker

Pursuant to Standing Order 86.1, all items of Private Members’ Business originating in the House of Commons that were listed on the Order Paper at prorogation, on Wednesday, November 12, 2003, are deemed to have been considered and approved at all stages completed at the time of prorogation and shall stand, if necessary, on the Order Paper or, as the case may be, referred to committee.

The Speaker ruled that all items of Private Members’ Business standing in the name of Mr. Mac Harb would not be reinstated.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-231, An Act to amend the Divorce Act (limits on rights of child access by sex offenders), was deemed introduced, read the first time and read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-338, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (street racing), was deemed introduced, read the first time and read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

---

Accordingly, C-408, An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act (oath or solemn affirmation), was deemed introduced, read the first time and read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-420, An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act, was deemed introduced, read the first time and read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Health.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-421, An Act respecting the establishment of the Office of the Chief Actuary of Canada and to amend other Acts in consequence thereof, was deemed introduced, read the first time and read the second time and referred to the Standing Committee on Finance.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-212, An Act respecting user fees, was deemed introduced, read the first time, read the second time and referred to a committee, reported with amendments, concurred in at report stage and read the third time and passed.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-249, An Act to amend the Competition Act, was deemed introduced, read the first time, read the second time and referred to a committee, reported with an amendment, concurred in at report stage and read the third time and passed.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-250, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (hate propaganda), was deemed introduced, read the first time, read the second time and referred to a committee, reported without amendment, concurred in at report stage with an amendment and read the third time and passed.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-260, An Act to amend the Hazardous Products Act (fire-safe cigarettes), was deemed introduced, read the first time, read the second time and referred to a committee, reported with amendments, concurred in at report stage and read the third time and passed.

---

Accordingly, Bill C-300, An Act to change the names of certain electoral districts, was deemed introduced, read the first time, read the second time and referred to a committee, reported without amendment, concurred in at report stage and read the third time and passed.

---

Accordingly, Private Members' Business motion M-432, standing in the order of precedence on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. Godfrey (Don Valley West), is withdrawn from the order of precedence.

Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House

Mr. Martin (Prime Minister) , seconded by Mr. Saada (Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , moved, — That Mr. Bélair (Timmins—James Bay) be appointed Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House.

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

Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House

Mr. Martin (Prime Minister) , seconded by Mr. Johnston (Wetaskiwin) , moved, — That Mrs. Hinton (Kamloops, Thompson and Highland Valleys) be appointed Assistant Deputy Chair of Committees of the Whole House.

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

Motions

By unanimous consent, it was ordered, — That the following changes be made to the membership of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs: Mr. Breitkreuz, Ms. Caplan, Mr. Duplain, Mr. Hearn, Mr. Gallaway, Mr. Proulx, Ms. St-Jacques and Mr. Strahl for Ms. Catterall, Mr. Cuzner, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Keddy, Mr. Regan, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Saada and Mr. Schmidt.

Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne

The Order for the consideration of the Speech from the Throne delivered by Her Excellency the Governor General to both Houses of Parliament was read.

Mr. Jobin (Lévis-et-Chutes-de-la-Chaudière) , seconded by Mrs. Redman (Kitchener Centre) , moved, — That the following Address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor General:

To Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces, 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.

Debate arose thereon.

Mr. Hill (Macleod) , seconded by Mr. MacKay (Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough) , moved, — That the debate be now adjourned.

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

Motions

Mr. Bélanger (Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons) , seconded by Mr. Peterson (Minister of International Trade) , moved, — That this House do now adjourn.

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

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. Mitchell (Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development) — Report of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, together with the Auditors' Report, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, pursuant to the British Columbia Treaty Commission Act, S.C. 1995, c. 45, sbs. 21(3). — Sessional Paper No. 8560-373-37-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, Northern Development and Natural Resources)

— by Mr. Regan (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans) — Summaries of the Corporate Plan for the period 2003-2004 to 2007-2008 and of the Operating and Capital Budgets for 2003-2004 of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act, R. S. 1985, c. F-11, sbs. 125(4). — Sessional Paper No. 8562-373-826-01. (Pursuant to Standing Order 32(5), permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans)

— by Ms. Scherrer (Minister of Canadian Heritage) — Response of the government, pursuant to Standing Order 109, to the Eighth Report of the Standing Committee on Official Languages, “Francophone television productions in minority environments” (Sessional Paper No. 8510-372-114), presented to the House on Friday, June 13, 2003. — Sessional Paper No. 8512-373-114.

Adjournment

At 5:55 p.m., the Speaker adjourned the House until tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).