Mr. Robert Wenman (Fraser Valley West) moved

for leave to introduce Bill C-450, an act to amend the Excise Thx Act (electric motor vehicles and low emission vehicles).

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Pursuant to Standing Order 68(2), the motion is deemed adopted.

Mr. Wenman:

Madam Speaker, the main reason most people in greater Vancouver move to the Fraser Valley is for the quality of life: the green open spaces and the quality of the air, but we are losing on both those fronts with tremendous growth.

This bill is the first of three private members' bills that I have been working on in this area. It provides both individual and corporate consumers with an incentive to purchase electric vehicles or vehicles that run on alternative low emission fuels by offering an exemption from the GST for a period to end January 1, 2005.

The second bill will encourage mass distribution of these alternative vehicles in our marketplace through government and a Crown agency replacement program. The third will require 2 per cent of all vehicles purchased by the year 1998 to be low emission or electric vehicles.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Mr. Wenman moves that the bill be now read the first time and printed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 69(1), the motion is deemed adopted.

Bill read the first time and printed.

Ms. Margaret Mitchell (Vancouver East) moved

for leave to introduce Bill C-451, an act to amend the Emergencies Act (protection of ethnic minorities).

June 9, 1993

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Pursuant to Standing Order 68(2), the motion is deemed adopted.

Ms. Mitchell:

Madam Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to limit the powers of the Governor in Council to ensure that the emergency powers in this act will not be used in an emergency to restrict the liberty of Canadian citizens and permanent residents on the basis of citizenship of a nation other than Canada.

We all will recall the shameful injustices that were imposed in World War I when Ukrainian Canadians were interned and again in World War II when those of German, Italian and Japanese descent were unjustly interned.

This bill adds the phrase "on the basis of-citizenship of a nation other than Canada" in addition to the existing prescribed grounds and it will not limit rights or impose obligations on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship of a nation other than Canada, colour or religion.

I think those groups that are pressing for redress for that shameful part of Canadian history have asked for these changes.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Ms. Mitchell moves that the bill be now read the first time and printed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 69(1), the motion is deemed adopted.

Bill read the first time and printed.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Pursuant to Standing Order 68(2), the motion is deemed adopted.

Mr. Soetens:

Madam Speaker, first I want to thank the hon. member for Red Deer for seconding this motion. It has been apparent to me in my tenure in this Parliament that many public sector employees are not satisfied with

Routine Proceedings

the representation they have received from the unions they are forced to be members of.

This bill gives individual employees the freedom to choose whether or not to associate with other employees for the purpose of advancing their collective employment interests. This bill will also put in place protection measures for those who choose not to associate with a union and of course it affects all employees covered by federal contracts under the Canada Labour Code.

Madam Deputy Speaker:

Mr. Soetens moves that the bill be now read the first time and printed.

Pursuant to Standing Order 69(1), the motion is deemed adopted.

Bill read the first time and printed.