Mr. Deputy Speaker:

In my opinion the nays have it.

And more than five members have risen:

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

Pursuant to Standing Order 114(11), the recorded division on the proposed motion stands deferred.

Is it the pleasure of the House that I call it one o'clock?

Agreed.

Mr. Deputy Speaker:

It being one o'clock, I do now leave the Chair until two o'clock.

At 12.56 p.m. the House took recess.

______________________________8653

Mr. Jean-CIaude Malepart (Montreal-Saint-Marie):

Mr. Speaker, we have just learned today that, regardless of the wishes expressed by most Canadians, the Economic Council of Canada is urging the Conservative Government to tax bread, milk and butter.

Mr. Speaker, I want to dissociate myself from this kind of recommendation made by the Economic Council of Canada. It is all too easy for an economist sitting in his sixth-floor office in Ottawa to make such recommendations, he does not do anything but studies.

I would invite the Economic Council of Canada members to travel with me throughout Canada to meet with the real citizens who will be paying this tax on bread and butter. I am sure they will change their mind and make an altogether different recommendation to the Government.

Mr. Alan Redway (York East):

Mr. Speaker, the recent rail strike and the near-strike last night have started many Canadians thinking and talking once again about compulsory arbitration for essential services. The right to bargain collectively is a vital part of our economic, social and democratic way of life. Most labour disputes are settled. Few result in strikes. There are fewer strikes still in essential services.

Strikes in essential services affect not only the parties involved but the general public and national production as well. That is why we need a new procedure, not to prohibit strikes but, rather, to settle disputes in essential services, a procedure called binding arbitration. Neither management nor labour like binding arbitration. In my experience it usually results in higher than normal wages and benefits. But that is the price we pay to avoid the shut-down of an essential service.

Binding arbitration works for municipal fire-fighting services. It can work for all essential services. It is time for the Government to take a serious look at it.

September 1, 1987

Mr. Vic Althouse (Humboldt-Lake Centre):

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Hon. Member for Bellechasse (Mr. Blais) on his promotion to Minister of State for Agriculture. May he enjoy his new position, and may his answers always be succinct!

Now with three Ministers handling the agriculture portfolio we hope that the Government will give agriculture more attention than has been the case in the past. The Government keeps insisting that it is giving agriculture a very high priority. Yet even though we now have three Ministers in charge of agriculture not one in this so-called high priority sector sits on the Priorities and Planning Committee of Cabinet where all the decisions are made.

Even the hated Liberals had their Minister, their single Agriculture Minister, Eugene Whelan, on this very important committee. It is time the Government took priority for agriculture seriously, actually made it a priority and put one of these Ministers in a position where he can do something.

Mr. Geoff Wilson (Swift Current-Maple Creek):

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay special tribute to a distinguished Canadian, Bob Simmonds, who has provided outstanding service to the RCMP and to Canada.

Commissioner Simmonds, born and raised in Saskatchewan, joined the force in 1947. He began on highway patrol and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner in 1977. He retires today after 10 years of leading the force.

Bob Simmonds has been a trusted public official whose counsel and advice have been called on many times by different Governments. The current and previous Solicitors General have remarked on the professionalism, good judgment and overriding concern for the rights of Canadians which have characterized Bob Simmonds' work. The RCMP, under his leadership, has weathered difficult challenges and maintained its professionalism and formidable influence for good in Canadian society. We are very grateful to him for the leadership he has contributed to policing in Canada.

I am confident that the standards of excellence set by Commissioner Simmonds will be maintained by the new Commissioner, Norm Inkster.