Mr. Gordon Taylor (Bow River):

Madam Speaker, the Minister of Finance (Mr. MacEachen) is taxing the people of Canada on items contained in the November 12 budget on the strength of a non-debatable Ways and Means motion, the necessary preliminary to the imposition of a new tax or the extension of an existing tax, etc., and before a law is passed by the House of Commons and Senate. Without a law being passed, the government issued a leaflet telling the people who may be affected to fill in their income tax forms on the basis of the information in the leaflet. Therefore 1 move, seconded by the hon. member for Mississauga South (Mr. Blenkarn):

That this House condemns this totalitarian act which is completely contrary to the Magna Carta and in addition undermines the justice system in Canada.

Should not Canada have an impeachment law to protect the people in such cases?

Madam Speaker:

Is there unanimous consent for this motion?

Agreed.

No.

Mr. Albert Cooper (Peace River):

Madam Speaker, unemployment rates have reached an all-time high, and this has caused an extraordinary burden on staff in unemployment offices as they are literally unable to keep up with the huge increase in applications for benefits. This inefficiency has caused a real hardship on those whose survival depends on these cheques. I therefore move, seconded by the hon. member for Prince George-Bulkley Valley (Mr. McCuish):

That the minister responsible for employment immediately transfer person-years to offices experiencing more than a 40 per cent increase in applications.

Madam Speaker:

Is there unanimous consent for this motion?

Agreed.

No.

Mr. Lome Greenaway (Cariboo-Chilcotin):

Madam Speaker, on February 23, at a special meeting called by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (Mr. Munro), members of the Standing Committee on Indian Affairs and Northern Development were assured by the minister that the Tait report on the implementation of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement would be brought before cabinet for a decision within three weeks. Twelve weeks have now passed since that meeting and still nothing has happened. In 1980 a number of Cree children died of gastroenteritis, a condition predisposed by deplorable sanitary conditions in Cree villages. In view of the fact that health officials have warned that a repeat of the 1980 outbreak has every chance of occurring this summer, I move, seconded by the hon. member for Prince George-Peace River (Mr. Oberle):

That the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and his cabinet colleagues recognize the urgency of this situation and act immediately on the recommendations of the Tait report.

Madam Speaker:

Is there unanimous consent for this motion?

Agreed.

No.

Hon. Edward Broadbent (Oshawa):

Madam Speaker, yesterday the Governor General's awards were announced in the important field of writing.

May 18, 1982

In view of the fact that the degree of civilization of a nation depends not only on its social justice, but also on its creativity-

-I move, seconded by the hon. member for Mission-Port Moody (Mr. Rose):

That the House congratulate this year's winners of the Governor General's awards for distinguished writing and thank them for their enriching the lives of Canadians and of those who live beyond our shores.

Madam Speaker:

If the House wishes to applaud these writers, it is free to do so.

Hear, hear!