Statements in Debates
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be supporting the motion brought forward. This bill is a very sensitive issue and, as my colleague has indicated, I think we should go back to our aboriginal and municipal governments, get their input, and from the general public again. It doesn’t hurt to wait three months and get reintroduced…
Thank you, Madam Chair. Although my previous comments said maybe we should wait until the next sitting in May to discuss this, I just was thinking about the process. This gives the government direction. If we give them direction, then hopefully they will start working on developing the required legislation or make amendments to the various legislation. That’s just a first step. Then once the bill is developed, it will go through the process, go back to committee and they will have public hearings. At that time, if they want the date to be changed, we will have a good, healthy debate and...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, will be in support of this motion. I did experience calls from my constituents pertaining to WCB. It is very difficult, Mr. Speaker, just to try to get information, especially for MLAs to try to get information on a specific client. I had an opportunity -- I even tried to go through the Minister’s office, Mr. Speaker -- to try to get details as to where this client was or how he was being treated.
I just needed general information. I listen to both sides, this is the WCB’s rationale and the client and what he has to say, and then I determine how I should...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If that’s the case, as the Minister indicated that they are working on a transitional plan in regard to land issues, then my constituents shouldn’t be having any problems obtaining Crown land leases in the Tlicho communities or even land reserved for Indians for housing, which is Crown land. So even the Indian Affairs department that deals with land leases should be continuing to use the same process as we have before. Is that the case that the Minister is indicating to me? Thank you.
Thank you. Madam Chair, I can’t see why other Members can’t support this type of motion that we’re putting forward. It doesn’t take away from the intent of the bill. If this motion gets passed, I’m sure the bill will get passed and coming into force is on either of these two dates that are there. So no matter what happens, the bill is going to come, but it will be on the later date. This motion, if passed, also gives comfort to Members on this side of the House that haven’t had an opportunity to explain to their constituents as to why this bill is being passed. So an explanation can be...
I move that the following be added after section 10 of Bill 17:
Commencement
11. This Act comes into force on the earlier of:
a) the day the First Session of the 38th Parliament of Canada is prorogued; and
b) the day the Civil Marriage Act (Canada) comes into force.
Madam Chair, I move that Bill 17 be amended by -- how am I going to put this now -- by inserting:
11. This act comes into force on the day the Civil Marriage Act (Canada) comes into force.
Thank you. Just to follow up on what my colleague is saying; first of all, I guess I want to make a comment. I don’t know why this particular legislation, Bill 17, is a high priority for this government.
---Applause
Number one. There are other priorities, like the Wildlife Act, that have been sitting on our books for the last how many years…
You have me really confused now. On the same-sex marriage and unmarried couple, if they are living together more than six months or less than six months or a day or two days, the Conflict of Interest Act would apply to them. If something happens, then they have to fall under that act to determine something. I guess it doesn’t matter how long they live together then. Is that the point under the Conflict of Interest Act?
Mr. Chair, I had a question on clause 1. I wanted some more clarification.